Death of a Baptist - In Thy Blood Primer

The Baptist Altair is dead, killed in Lucatore, an Anabaptist stronghold in the Purgan Alps. Yet this mountain village is much more than a crime scene, it was his seat of power: The man who guided the fate of the Anabaptists together with seven brethren was born in Lucatore. Here in the mountains, his stellar rise through the ranks of his Cult began. For decades, he guided its fate, made history by leading the Anabaptists onto the Adriatic battlefields, only to negotiate the long-desired peace with his former enemies, the Jehammedans, in the end. His efforts united his family, the Benesato Clan, like a noose that ties together a bundle of twigs until they finally fully merged with the Anabaptist Cult. Finally, his Cloister came up with the recipe for the Elysian oils.

But now, everything has changed within a day — a cowardly killer’s hand has struck down the powerful Neognostic in his own hometown.

While Lucatore is stunned, Scrapper broadcasts, outriders and courier pigeons spread the word of the crime. From all corners of the known world, a cry of outrage rings out.

The Anabaptists are deeply terrified—they have lost a man who was almost a messiah to them. But the other Cults are shocked, as well. Someone dared to attack a leader of a Cult. The fragile balance between the various factions is threatened; false accusations might lead to new wars.

Lucatore itself is unique to the followers of the Broken Cross. Its Oil Mills produce the Elysian oils – core element of their rites and war implement of the Anabaptists. But Altair’s death makes the mountain village the center of attention for various factions. The Spitalians want to find out who killed the dignitary. The Cult has fought the Jehammedans in the Adriatic Basin together with the Anabaptists. They need to know if this murder threatens their alliance. But the widow of the deceased man opposes an investigation and insists on keeping up the time of mourning, no matter what the cost. The Chroniclers insist on seeing things for themselves. Secretly, they activate an undercover agent in the mountains. While the Fragment Modus and the Council of Emanations calculate the potential effects of the murder in Cathedral City, the spy tries to get a firsthand impression of the events that occurred. The Hellvetics whose nearest bases are only a few kilometers from the site of the events are worried. They have pacified the area around Lucatore. Important trade routes run close to the village. Major changes are unwanted, just as political firebrands are.

Components

Hooks

As the events take place in Purgare, there are many Cultures nearby that could find their way into the region but the vast majority of people either hail from Purgare itself or Borca to the north of the Alps.

In addition, there are many reasons why the Cults may be interested or concerned with the present situations surrounding Lucatore. To help guide your way, below are some excerpts on how they could tie into the events.

Spitalians

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The Spitalians east of Lucatore are the first to hear about Altair’s murder. Vivaco sickbay has gained notoriety by the static warfare in the Adriatic Lowlands. Here, many of the devastating campaigns of the Anabaptists and Spitalians against the Jehammedans started. Today, the sickbay serves as an outpost for operations throughout Northeastern Purgare. The leading surgeon, Carmino Ferro, once Altair‘s personal doctor, at once offers his help in their search for the killer. Yet the Anabaptists refuse. The Spital is confused. Who could solve the murder better than the Spitalians? Instead, the Anabaptists refuse to surrender the body, wanting to bury the Baptist before he can be autopsied. A unit needs to have a closer look at Lucatore and investigate the Anabaptists behavior. Carmino is said to ignore the Anabaptists‘ orders and personally heads for Lucatore.

Chroniclers

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The Council of Emanations immediately meets with Fragment Modus in Cathedral City. The Council members ask for help, the murder needs to be investigated at once. The Chroniclers‘ willingness to help is supposed to strengthen the fledgling alliance between the two Cults. Yet the Chroniclers have already reacted and sent out the Shutter Decoy 5. Instead of putting faith in a supervised investigative commission, the Chroniclers prefer to trust in a secret agent on location who can mingle with the population inconspicuously in cases like this. However, to appease the Council, the Chroniclers will take part in the official investigation when asked to do so. It cannot be bad for the collective intelligence, and the helpfulness of the Tech-Cult will probably substantiate the peace treaty. This way, the Cult buys time for the Fragment Modus to keep moving throughout Cathedral City freely...

Hellvetics

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The borders of Territorial Region III are just a few kilometers away. Beyond, there are the Purgan axis across the Reaper’s Blow and the trade routes to Borca. Anabaptists and Hellvetics know each other well, and even if they don’t have a lot in common, the missionary movement of the Anabaptists across the Alpine passage has brought a nice income in customs fees to the Alpine Fortress in recent decades. Hellvetics need supplies. Always and at all times. Anabaptists supply them with food, grease, ointments, medical herbs, honey from Franka and everyday kitsch that saves the Hellvetics from bunker fever. In exchange, the Council of Emanations often relies on armed mercenary groups from Hellvetica to safeguard the terrestrial route through southern Borca. Verhoest and Bianchi, the Corps Commanders of Territorial Regions III and IV agree that at least one soldier should be part of the investigations in Lucatore. As a gesture of goodwill of course...

Judges

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The Judges know the concept of murder and investigation, it is daily fare in the Protectorate to expose killers and investigate their motives. Yet beyond the Protectorate, hammer, hat and coat do not mean a thing. Purgare is not the country of the Judges — and still the Chroniclers try to influence the Senate to help with the investigation. The Protectorate is too dependent on the water that the Anabaptists in Liqua control. The long-standing tradition of trade and brotherhood in arms should not be endangered.

Clanners

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Benesato, Lombardi, Romano, Flayers. Many Clans are active in and around Lucatore. Some are rooted in the history of the city, others have strong ties to the Anabaptist Cult. Some Clans make no secret of the conflict between them and the broken cross and silently rejoice in Altair’s death because they want to seize the moment. The power vacuum could lead to major changes, and the Clans see a chance. If they find out who is responsible for the murder they will know with whom to side with to expand their strength. For too long, the Neognosis has covered the faith of the old Clans like viscous mud. It’s time to breathe the wind of resistance.

Scrappers

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Lucatore is grazed, nothing of use has been found there for 200 years. Every Scrapper from the land of the Crow has passed through the region or the city on his way to Bedain at least once, was waved through with a nod and quickly sent on. In Lucatore, there is not a lot for Scrappers to do. Sometimes one of them is hired to repair a cooking kettle or to help build the water towers, but these Scrappers never stay for long. The West is much more enticing. The things still buried there are much more valuable than the meager spoils that might be found in the land of the Anabaptists.

Neolibyans

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The Sheikhs of Bedain have offered their help to the Anabaptists, but they refused. They do not want the Africans to meddle with their interior affairs. Generally, Neolibyans are rarely seen in or around Lucatore. However, a few weeks ago, a caravan passed the town on its way to Borca. A Neolibyan left the caravan and settled down. He is supposed to have built a small cabin somewhere beyond the city walls where he repairs and overhauls rifles in complete isolation. What he needs for his trade he buys from passing Scrappers. He only visits the market in the city for groceries. The inhabitants know and avoid him.

Scourgers

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Scourgers continually pass the city in the baggage train of their masters. They have no comprehension of the meager life in the mountains, the myths of the Anabaptists mean nothing to them. There communities seems too incestuous to Scourgers, their reclusiveness too bizarre. Where are the battles, the contention and the trials of strength that the Anabaptists brag about? If their leader was killed, he was too weak to live. The Scourgers shake their heads and travel on to the Alpine fortress. They are much closer to the Hellvetics.

Anubians

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The Anubians have been following the reports from Franka for a while now — the Anabaptists’ Elysian oils bear a strong resemblance to Marduk oil. How can this secret have fallen into the wrong hands? Reason enough to send one of their own northwards from Bedain to help the Cults new allies, the Spitalians, with their investigation.


Jehammedans

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The Jehammedans have heard of Altair’s murder. Some shepherds think that the Cult shouldn’t celebrate too loudly. Otherwise, grief could quickly turn into hurt pride and anger and bring the old enemy to whet the blades of war again. The Jehammedans prefer to be a helping hand instead of adding fuel to the flames. They will send emissaries carrying a peace banner to Lucatore to offer their help with the investigation. However, they cannot expect hospitality — the Anabaptists will meet any Jehammedan with utter suspicion and generally ascribe clandestine glee to him.


Apocalyptics

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The slag deserts of Western Purgare are the home of the Flocks. The east is not their land, the Anabaptists are too stubborn and too recalcitrant to deal with them for any amount of time. However, there is still covert trade between the two Cults. The Ascetics of Lucatore need lots of potent Burn from the Spore Fields in the West, and the Apocalyptics get good money for their goods. However, since Altair’s death, business has come to a halt. A considerable shipment went unpaid, and the Flock of the Rust Falcons feels duped. Especially since the intern cannot pay the debts to the Albatrosses from Western Purgare. Someone needs to check if everything’s in order in Lucatore. As a group, the Apocalyptics will not show up there. However, a single one could mingle with the populace and follow the trail of the Burn shipment.

Anabaptists

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Since Altair’s death, there has been resentment within the Cult. Everybody’s nerves are stretched to breaking point. Everyone in Lucatore could be responsible. Cathedral City rages and sends emissaries to quickly solve the murder. Yet Neva, Lucatore’s Iron Emissary, balks at any intrusion. She informs Cathedral City by Scrapper radio that she does not want to be besieged. She desires to be left alone in her grief and expects the Council of Emanations and the other Baptists to respect it.

Palers

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There are many reasons for a Paler to be in the Alps: the Alpine fortress, intercepted Triglaw broadcasts, a broken navigation tracker or simply the Demagogue’s order to look for the lost bunkers. However, the Anabaptists themselves are not interesting. The surface dwellers praying to false gods are a misguided lot. But wait a minute — maybe it’s just that? All this secrecy, a murder and this religious fuss. Who knows what’s behind it? Reason enough for a Paler to pry into it and have a look around. Covertly, of course.