Coffee, Code, and Chronicles

Flowing out the Grey Mountains on the western edge of the province of Reikland, the River Teufel runs red, literally, through the city of Übersreik and then north where it meet the River Reik at the Castle Reikguard. The color of the river is thought to be the result of the great deposits of iron ore in the mountains, mined by the dwarves at the river's source. It is most commonly thought to be the blood of great dwarven losses in their unceasing battles with the Greenskin hordes that besiege the dwarven holds. Which is superstition and which is fact remains debated. The river's confluence at Castle Reikguard is thought to be the most dangerous part of conducting commerce on the Teufel from Übersreik. It is often braved over the toll of the Grünberg Canal, the banditry on the roads that follow the river through town and village, or the creatures of the Reikland Forest.

The mysterious Schmitterling is the leader of the Red Triangle, a cult of the chaos god Tzeentch. He has only been seen by the Company in the distance and spoken to through his corrupted followers. The Schmitterling makes no secret of his goals. They are in his name: The Butterfly. From cocoon to larve to beauty: change embodied in nature.  Change.  The very change in nature shows the beauty of Tzeentch’s perfect goal for the world.

Of the sanctioned cults in the human realms, Ranald is not widely worshiped. Shrines and places of worship are hidden in dark alleys, snugs of “shrine clubs," and other quiet out of the way places. Priests and Initiates of Ranald are, simply, thieves and trickster. Most are wanderers, many are adventurers, and few still publicly known. The “priest" Pit van Karrs of Übersreik and proprietor of the Bricks Keller is an example. Known to the underground and well connected, his initiates run a wide reaching congregation from the tavern. The most publicly known center of worship is in Marienburg, a charter city-state, separate from the Empire. The temple to Ranald is a grand house of worship, rivaling the greatest temples to Sigmar and Ulric in Altdorf and Middenheim, respectively, with a grand, golden chancel and altar and towering vaulted ceilings. Ranaldans will often say a prayer with their index and second fingers crossed. The symbol is used not just in prayer but to invoke Ra...

Quentin is the crank, kook, quack, eccentric, and inventive craftsman of the Institute. Quentin's gadgets are largely useless, but make a big show, and the show often results in an unmitigated disaster in the moment, but an equally unparalleled success that makes for Quentin's impeccable reputation. Recent devices included: The “Throat-Singer’s Deceiver" A stiff leather collar with a hidden reed-and-bellows mechanism tucked under the chin. The agent twists a small knob to activate it. It’s supposed to perfectly mimic any voice the wearer has heard that day; ideal for impersonating a guard captain or seductive noblewoman during a whispered conversation at a feast. How it actually works is the first twist makes the collar emit a loud, wet QUACK like a startled goose. Every subsequent word the agent tries to speak comes out as a ridiculous, warbling mix of their own voice and farm-animal sounds. The “Nightwalker’s Deception" Soft-soled leather boots with a heel-mounted c...

The Purple Hand is an insidious cult dedicated the Chaos god of Tzeentch, known also as the The Changer of Ways. The cult seeks to bring the downfall of the Empire and in the upheaval realize a quest of power that will bring about change, in its most primal sense. This goal is affected through the manipulation and infiltration of Cult members in political and religious positions as well as the corruption of those already in power.  The cult is highly effective in these positions and sows rumors that pit many factions against each other to affect Tzeentch's goal. Unfortunately, the Purple Hand's power makes other cults of the Ruinous Powers envious rivals. The strife attenuates the Purple Hand's plans as other cults work against them. Khorne cultists may murder the best agents of the Purple Hand. Nurgle cultists may sow sickness in a district of a city that a well placed agent may have an interest in for rents or commerce. Slannesh cultists will leverage a vice a particular ...

There once was a ranger so bold,   Who joined a wild band for some gold.   On a dwarven steamship,     Mid the waves' furious grip,   His head flew off—lost in the cold   So goes the tale of the Owly in many port taverns on the Sea of Claws. Untold is that his murderer met summary justice in the labyrinthine decks of the HIS Potemkin.