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Black Pitch
by
Trevor Christensen
This adventure has been designed for 4-6 PCs at any point in their careers. The main goal
of the scenario is to provide a heroic situation for the reluctant anti-hero PCs to shine.
They will be presented with various moral, social, and tactical problems that will
hopefully challenge your players while providing both you (the GM) and them
entertaining role-playing situations.
Background
The adventure takes place in the town of Grissenwald, but could easily be adjusted or
changed to any medium to small town along any of the many rivers that cross the Empire.
Grissenwald is located approximately 35 miles northwest (downstream on the Reik) of
Nuln and is a mildly prosperous town of about 4,000. The town’s main income comes
from building barges used in the transportation of goods up and down the Reik. (SigH
pg83 and DotR pg22)
The town is ruled by Count Bruno Pfeifraucher, but no one pushes his weight around
more then Tilmann Liengotz the master of the boatbuilders guild. Tilmann has worked
his way to the top of society in Grissenwald using brash economical and managerial
skills, along with a fair amount of bribery, extortion, and violence. Three years ago
Tilmann was approached by a Tilean assassin named Vittorio Najerra and presented with
an offer he was hard pressed to refuse. Vittorio, a council member in a very secret
assassins guild in Nuln, was looking for someone who could smuggle in large quantities
of Black Lotus extract (WFRP pg 122) from Estalia without traceable evidence. Vittorio
and Tilmann mutually agreed that the extract could be barreled and shipped in with
barrels of coal tar already coming from Erengrad. That way it would meet with very little
questioning and fairly cheap tariffs on its way up the Reik to Grissenwald because
Tilmann was already bringing in quite a few barrels of tar each year for use in
boatbuilding. Vittorio agreed to pay Tilmann 2,500 gold crowns for each barrel smuggled
in and said he would take a barrel every three to four months. At first Vittorio would
show up just as he had promised every three to four months to pick up the barrel of
poison but soon began to slow and now has not come to pick up a barrel for the last eight
months.
Just a little over 18 months after Tilmann’s little business adventure began, a young noble
by the name of Hildebrand Pfiefraucher noticed Tilmann’s increasingly affluent lifestyle
and wanted to know more. Hildebrand, the nephew of Count Bruno Pfeifraucher, was the
youngest son of a youngest son and knew he would need to make his own move if he
were to have any fortune of his own. With a little investigation and some late nights at the
docks, Hildebrand deducted where Tilmann’s excess funds were coming from and
confronted Tilmann about it. Tilmann tried to bribe the noble into keeping quiet but
Hildebrand demanded to be part of the operation. The two initially worked well together
to smuggle in the Black Lotus extract, Hildebrand would deal with toll collectors and
river patrols while Tilmann dealt with handling and management of the operation.
Business went well at first until Vittorio quit showing up, but they now have several
barrels of the stuff stacking up at Tilmann’s supply house with no buyer. Hildebrand
began pushing Tilmann to look for a buyer in Altdorf instead, but Tilmann did not wish
to cross a Tilean assassin by selling to his competitors (which could have very
detrimental consequences).
Hildebrand decided to take a trip to Altdorf on his own and look for someone to purchase
the poison. While searching at a local seedy establishment, Hildebrand was overheard by
a sigmarite inquisitor who was busy investigating crimes against the empire. When
approached by the undercover priest, Hildebrand was more then happy to share
information about his contraband. They arranged a meeting in three weeks time in
Grissenwald where the product could be inspected and a price agreed upon.
Two weeks ago, upon returning from Altdorf Hildebrand entered the River Rat tavern to
get a drink with some of his friends. He met a young barmaid named Emma, and the two
of them flirted, had a few drinks, and then left together. Hildebrand took Emma towards
the docks and started becoming quite garrulous in his drunken stupor. He told her about
the next shipment of Black Lotus extract and how it was going to make him “filthy rich”
when he sold it to a man from Altdorf. Emma was just as inebriated as Hildebrand was
and remembered very little from the conversation. The next day, when Hildebrand
realized what he had told the young woman, he hastily told Tilmann what he had done
(leaving out the part about the buyer in Altdorf). Furious with him Tilmann demanded
that he somehow fix the situation before their operation was uncovered. The two came up
with a plan to get rid of Emma and her secrets permanently. Tilmann had some of his
Tilean bodyguards poison a few semi-notable members of the town with Black Lotus
poison while Hildebrand began spreading rumors that Emma was responsible.
Hildebrand then convinced his uncle to have the town guard conduct an investigation.
Five days ago the guardsman Sigwald Pfushen, on his first big assignment from the
captain, began his investigation. Sigwald is the youngest son of an accomplished witch
hunter who demanded that all his sons pursue the same path. Sigwald failed in the
priesthood and never came close to becoming a witch hunter. He has lost faith in Sigmar
and has been shunned by his family. He took the investigation seriously and wanted to
show some small success to his father and his family. Emma denied any wrong doing but
Sigwald found several witnesses who claimed the deceased had eaten at the River Rat
tavern while Emma was on staff. Hildebrand claimed she was trying to kill important
members of the city and that she was plotting against his uncle, the count. Wanting to
seem resolute and competent Sigwald rapidly found Emma guilty and had her imprisoned
for murder and conspiracy against the state. She was sentenced to be hung, and the date
was set.
The adventure begins on the evening of Bazehltag (taxday) one day before Emma’s
execution. She is scheduled to be hung in the market square one hour after noon on
Konigstag (kingday).
Synopsis and Message to the GM
The PC’s are stopped by Emma’s mother, Lenora, in front of the River Rat tavern and
asked to help. Emma is held at the guardhouse under tight security and is going to be put
to death in about 15 hours.
Assuming that the PC’s accept Lenora’s request they will find that the evidence
supporting Sigwald’s accusation is somewhat skewed, but solid enough to convict her.
Also that Tilmann and Hildebrand have oddly been spending a lot of time together. They
will most likely find out that Tilmann has a retinue of Tilean bodyguards and an
infrequent visitor from Nuln.
On Bezahltag (Taxday) Vittorio arrived in town and that night he and Tilmann will meet
at the store house and make a secret exchange of what looks like a barrel of coal tar…
The PCs do not have enough time to gather sufficient evidence to exonerate Emma and
must decide if they should attempt make a daring rescue at the gallows…
I have presented characters and events here that can be used to fit your style of GMing. If
you do not like using my boxed text then put it in your own words with your own flair. I
encourage you to make the NPC’s as lifelike and interesting as possible for the players.
They will make this adventure very memorable for everyone involved if you do so. I also
encourage you to make the encounters suspenseful and interesting having events timed
properly to keep the action flowing at a good pace. If the players seem to be waiting for
something to happen… make something happen! There is a limited amount of time
involved before Emma will be brought to the town square and executed so do not be
afraid to push on to the next event or bring one of the NPC’s in to encourage the players.
Main NPC’s
These are the main NPC’s that the players will meet during the adventure, feel free to
adjust them as you see fit. Their trappings are only what they are currently carrying.
Tilmann Liengotz
– Guild Master (ex-Merchant, ex-Tradesman)
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 290 lbs.
Age: 42
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Not much
Distinguishing Features: Balding, Ruddy Face
WS BS
S
T
Ag
Int WP Fel
41
39
37
42
29
61
52
63
A
W
SB
TB
M Mag IP
FP
2
18
3
4
3
-
4
0
Skills: Gossip (+10), Drive (+10), Haggle (+10), Evaluate (+10), Perception, Read/Write
(+10), Secret Language – Guild Tongue (+10), Trades – (Shipwright (Int) Carpenter (Ag)
Merchant (Fel) Boatbuilder (Int +10)), Charm (+10), Common Knowledge – The Empire
(+10), Ride, Speak Language – (Reikspiel, Tilean), Command.
Talents: Dealmaker, Super Numerate, Savvy, Etiquette.
Trappings: 123 gc, Dagger
Description: Tilmann is ruthless, shrewd, and tubby. He has pushed his way into the
upper echelon of Grissenwald society by force and cunning. He began his career as a
boatbuilder in the dry docks but soon decided that an administrative position would better
suit him. His family ran one of the smaller boat building businesses and Tilmann knew
that he would need to make a brash move to take the company away from his father.
Tilmann paid a man to seduce his mother and then tipped his father off during one of
their passionate encounters. During the ensuing chaos his father killed his mother and the
man Tilmann had hired. Tilmann had the city watch arrive shortly thereafter and his
father was hung for murder. Over the next twenty years Tilmann has moved his family’s
boatbuilding company ahead of all other competitors, many times using sabotage and
force to do so. Three years ago Tilmann began smuggling Black Lotus extract on boats
bringing coal tar from Erengrad and selling it to the assassin Vittorio. He has used the
extra money to build a bigger home and take over as the boatbuilder’s guild master in
Grissenwald. He is very arrogant and feels there is nothing a little money or force cannot
bring him. Tilmann tolerates Hildebrand, finding the association convenient, but plans on
framing the young noble some time in the future when he decides to stop the smuggling.
Hildebrand Pfeifraucher -
Noble
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 175 lbs.
Age: 22
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blonde
Distinguishing Features: None
WS BS
S
T
Ag
Int WP Fel
42
37
33
36
37
43
29
41
A
W
SB
TB
M Mag IP
FP
1
14
3
3
4
-
0
0
Skills: Blather, Common Knowledge – (The Empire), Charm, Gamble, Read/Write, Ride,
Speak Language – (Reikspiel).
Talents: Etiquette, Public Speaking, Savvy, Schemer.
Trappings: Foil, 23 gc, various jewelry
Description: Hildebrand is young and somewhat naïve, yet astute. He learns quickly and
is very intelligent. However, he would rather swindle someone out of a crown than earn
an honest shilling. Hildebrand decided it would be easy to find a disreputable business
and bribe or extort his way into it. After only a few weeks of observation, it was
somewhat apparent that the Liengotz Boatbuilding Company was not as legitimate as it
seemed. After further investigation, Hildebrand discovered their secret and moved to
corner Tilmann. At first Tilmann was not intimidated or impressed, but he played along
and decided that Hildebrand could make a powerful ally or an easy scapegoat. Hildebrand
is oblivious and thinks he has everything under control. He was happy with the easy
money he was making but quickly became anxious when the Tilean assassin quit
showing up to purchase poison. After Tilmann refused to find another buyer Hildebrand
set out on his own to sell a barrel or two, convinced that no one would notice if one came
up missing.
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