The Argent Empress by Stuart Kerrigan

The Argent Empress is an adventure location for Warhammer tive subjects. He did not count on them rebelling, slaying their
Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition suitable for characters of all levels captor, looting his tower and disappearing into the fens of the
and can be easily converted to prior editions of the game. western Reik.
The College were more concerned with clearing their tower out
Introduction before the Witch Hunters moved in than realising one of their
A new luxury river boat plies its trade on the River Reik, taking failed projects had escaped, although the loss of the tower’s
passengers from the spires of Altdorf to the metropolis of considerable treasure cut deep.
Marienburg and back. No-one knows which conglomerate owns
the vessel but despite coming from nowhere the vessel outstrips For the past decade the Grey Ones have hidden in the marsh of
even the Emperor-class vessels of the Hindelin Lines for luxury. the Reikland. They have been hunted, loved, bred, had adven-
tures but all looked with envy at the society of mankind and its
Its captain, Georg Meinhart announced that his vessel, with its ilk, desperately seeking those they could finally imprint on and
dwarven engine, would soon beat the record for the trip from allow them to join the larger Imperial society.
Altdorf to Marienburg by Hindelin’s Emperor Magnus – a vessel
that relies on conventional oars. What started as a drunken Thus the Grey People had coin, but were forced to keep to the
boast has become a matter of pride for the vessel. shadows, drifting amongst the mutants and making their way to
the Imperial Capital.
Of course the truth about the vessel, its amazing wealth and the
vast silver-gilded dining saloon that is open to the good-and- Using the Argent Empress
great of the Empire and beyond is more sordid. The Argent Empress is an adventure for groups travelling from
the city of Altdorf to Marienburg for further adventures. It can
Grey Areas therefore serve as an interim adventure on the travel.
The Grey College have for centuries experimented with the use
of doppelgangers in espionage. They have created mutant strains Adventure Hooks
of the creatures, hoping to create a superbreed the conven- If your Characters are not planning a trip to Marienburg other
tional brethren’s limitations (feeding brains for example is quite hooks to ensure the PCs join the Argent Empress on her grand
distasteful). voyage include:-
The Grey Ones are a tribe formed from a remnant of one of $ It is an occupational hazard for Characters is that after a suc-
these experiments. They can, like normal doppelgangers, cessful adventure they often need to disappear - and what
copy (or imprint) a single individual, replicating their appear- better way to do so than an all expenses paid trip on this new,
ance. However they require continual line of sight for several fast experimental vessel that will see the Characters out of
hours and are particularly choosy about which person they their hair. Especially if the alternative is being disappeared in
copy - unable to copy thousands of candidates and fixating on a far more permanent basis.
a seemingly random person. Sometimes they are able to hold $ There are many parties who would like to know exactly how
the form for a few hours, other times the change is permanent. Captain Georg Meinhart managed to go from a ruined huffer
They do not duplicate their personality, instead forming their to captain of an ostenatatious river-tredding dirigible. There
own personality. Lastly once they have copied a person they lose are the Hindelin Lines, the Captain’s ex-wife, the Directorate
their ability to change shape and are effectively human. of Marienburg, the Brotherhood of Purity and even the Grey
Given these limitations the Grey Magister who created them College. Any one of these would be happy to employ the
eventually gave up and decided to terminate his uncoopera- Characters.
The Grey Ones
comparable vessels. See separate handbill for detail.
** Terms and Conditions Apply. Records will be for
Others Admitted by Prior Invitation Only
* Saloons Open to Stateroom and Cabin Passengers -

The majority of Grey Ones seek

Finest Wines and Spirits Served In Our

a person whose form they can

Staterooms Fit For An Elector Count!

permanently wear so they can

Break the Records from Altdorf to

live in human society. They do

not wish to harm their target,
Berths Are Now Available
on The Argent Empress!

and avoid combat or being seen

in their doppelganger form.
Silberspiegel Saloon*

Finding their secret existence

Marienburg! **

gh

onboard the Argent Empress

is the main dilemma for the
R

scenario - do the Characters

turn them over, or do they allow
them to exist peacefully?
The Grey Ones can be created
by using the default NPC in
WFRP Page 311, though add
the Regenerate Trait until
the Enemy Within describes
Doppelgangers.
Several sample NPCs are given
later who are Grey Ones. For all
intents they are human - albeit
with regenerative capabilites.
1
 The Ar gent Empr ess
Overview of the Argent Empress
They are allowed fresh air at noon each day, though the inten-
Accommodations tion on the voyage is to allow ‘day-ticketers’ who intend to only
travel one stage along the Argent Empress’s route. Thos who do
Silberspiegel Saloon require accommodations find they include a makeshift bed of
The jewel in the crown of the Argent Empress is this well straw alongside bread and salted stew.
appointed parlour, serving the finest malange of Bretonnian, There are narrow crawlspaces between stacks of cargo to allow
Imperial, Estalian and Kislev cuisine along with their assorted inspection of goods and any furnishing that longer-term steer-
spirits and wines. age passengers wish to secure.
Its tasteful easily sits 80 people, though many of subchambers Components of the experimental steam engine takes up both
are curtained off. Each subchamber’s walls are adorned gener- this deck and the next, and when active steerage becomes hot,
ously with mirrors tastefully lined with exquisite depictions damp and unpleasant for those not able to adopt a recumbant
wrought from Bretonnian silverine. position.
The Captain’s table is in a curtained area at the back of the
room. Only first-class passengers from the Imperial and Peerage Crew Deck
deck are admitted into the saloon by the maitre-de. The excep- This deck is highly secure and those without authority are soon
tion is those who have been invited by Captain Georg Meinhart. moved on by the captain’s crew. The crew sleeps in shifts in
Georg appears quite generous and egalitarian with these invita- shared beds, despite there being a large area seemingly unused
tions, as it provides a way for suitable candidates to be brought on the deck. This means that there are twenty-five beds shared
to the table for imprinting. amongst fifty sailors sleeping in shifts.
The mirrors are one-way, allowing Georg’s benefactors to There is a pantry housing the ship’s food, and a linen room. A
observe and imprint on suitable targets. There is a network of discrete staircase allows those servicing the upper classes or
hidden corridors where Grey Ones observe diners and attempt the saloon. Crew meals are served in a communal commissary
to imprint on them. Usually the sound of the minstrels enter- and there is little space for the Captain and his officers. The
taining the assembled masses is sufficient to hide the sound of Captain’s quarters are minimal, a bed doubles as a day-table and
bones popping and flesh suppurating - usually. he and his officers typically eat in the saloon - while the space
The Empress has two passenger decks; the upper deck, referred they would use is a rest area for Grey Ones after attempting
to as the Imperial Deck, and the more relatively modest accom- imprinting.
modations of the Peerage Deck. Access is restricted to the
appropriate classes and their attendants only. The Route of the Argent Empress
As noted in the handout below the route of the Argent Empress
The Imperial Deck is west-to-east from Altdorf to Marienburg, stopping at all
Luxurious, thick Kislevite carpet lines the marble hallway from major settlements along the way (referencing the Glorious
which one can access the nine luxury staterooms all themed Map of the Reikland in WFRP should be helpful). Exact speeds
after precious stones and metals. Alongside these ostentatious are left to your discretion though the handbills below should
rooms are eighteen far more ascetic servant’s quarters, contain- suggest an optimistic and swift journey to Marienburg. You can
ing bunks for up to three servants at once. also reuse this with some modification if your Characters are
going from Marienburg to Altdorf.
Passengers here have the option to take their meals in their
quarters, or in the Silberspiegel Saloon. The captain makes a In Flagrante!
point of inviting any guests here to his table at least once on
their journey for appearance’s sake. A Grey One mid-change resembles a suppurating, mutating pile
of flesh, somewhere between its original doppelganger form,
The Peerage Deck and that of its intended target. Which to an uninformed person
resembles that of a Chaos Spawn.
The lower deck, while slightly less opulent holds 20 luxury
passenger cabins with side-room space for their servants. The
high quality linens, embroidered with the Argent Empress’s
crest, and four-poster beds dominate these rooms and the guests
are provided with a dresser, wash basin and sea-chest.
The Steerage and Engine Deck
The damp, dark, fetid cargo deck also holds steerage passengers.

Rule Of Law Saloon Menu Tarrifs Our Route

All Imperial Law will be
upheld aboard the Argent
Empress.
Services to Manaan & St.
Olovold take place by
seventh bell each day.
All Albatrosses are to be
consider honoured guest of
the Argent Empress!
Ales
Bugman’s, Stromdorf, Mme.
Stella d’Artois, Albion Gold
Wines
Selections available on
request. Consult your server
Spirits
Akavit (Horned Dog,
Throggit), Uisce (Albion
Short Journey: 5s/stage
Berth in Steerage: 10s/stage
Bed in Servant’s Room:
10s/stage
Luxury Passenger Cabin:
4 GC/stage
Stateroom: 10GC/stage
F Altdorf
A Carroburg (2 days)
D Prie (2 days)
D Lechiem (1/2 day, stage)
D Worlin (1/2 day, stage)
D Essel (1/2 day, stage)
A Marienburg (2 days)

Captain Georg R.R. Meinhart

Single) Kvas Stage = 1 dest. or 1/2 day
All times are estimates.
Payment in advance.

2
 The Ar gent Empr ess
Personage onboard the Argent Empress
Georg Meinhart
Captain of the Argent Empress
A large bear of a man, of mixed
Reikland and Kislev heritage, Georg
has plied his living on the River Reik,
building up a small flotilla of barges
and riverboats. A series of accidents
sank most of Meinhart’s fleet, and the
subsequent line of creditors ruined him.
Were it not for Johann von Abiner he
would now be languishing in Mundsen
Keep, but the mysterious business-
man threw him a lifeline and gave him free reign over the
construction of the Argent Empress - with the exception of the
Silberspiegel Saloon.
He discovered the existence of the Grey Ones when he
surveyed the secret corridor behind the saloon. However when
he realised that the Grey Ones are benevolent, simply using
the one-way mirror system to audition perspective imprintings
so that they can pass through human society, he relented and
allows the current status quo to exist. Were he to be convinced
the Grey Ones were a threat he would of course act to remove
them, something Johann is fearful of.
M WS BS S T I Ag Dex Int WP Fel W
4 47 38 63 55 57 53 40 35 38 36 20
Skills: Consume Alcohol 75, Endurance 68, Lore (Riverways)
46, Melee (Basic) 59, Ranged (Blackpowder), Sail 51, Swim 75
Traits: Armour (Leathers) 1, Ranged (Pistol) +8, Weapon
(Sword) +10
Talents: Seasoned Traveller
Trappings: The Argent Empress, Sword, Pistol, 5d10 GC
Johann von Abiner
Co-Owner of the Argent Empress
A thin, reedy man with shock blond
hair and a seemingly nervous disposi-
tion Johann appears to be in his early
20s but has seen more than half a
decade of life. He imprinted on a ner-
vous Altdorf University student who
had the decency to die shortly thereaf-
ter in a pointless and unreated duel.
His human-form allowed him to make
contact with Georg Meinhart, and together they created the
Argent Empress. At first Johann tried to keep Georg from find-
ing out the purpose of his elaborate saloon, but for now Johann
is content with their partnership. His main mission is to find
the rest of the unimprinted Grey Ones and bring them to the
Argent Empress, and then allow them to imprint on passengers
and, once certain their imprinting is permanent, allow them to
travel freely through human lands.
M WS BS S T I Ag Dex Int WP Fel W Wanda Meinhart, Georg’s ex-wife, has been surprised by the
4 32 44 32 32 45 33 45 35 31 45 21
Skills: Bribery 55, Entertain (Speeches) 65, Haggle 58,
Perception 45
Traits: Armour (Leathers) 1, Ranged (Pistol) +8, Weapon
(Sword) +10
3
Trappings: The Argent Empress, 1d100 GC of Jewelry
Sonya Chugunkin
Vengeful Grey One Noblewoman
A tall, statuesque, blonde-tressed
beauty whose features might as well
be carved from marble, Sonya dresses
in ornate black gowns of exquisite
workmanship. She speaks with a deep
Kislevite accent and is rarely seen
without a glass of kvas and a foul
smelling cheroot in the other.
Sonya was the one who slew the Magister and freed her people
three decades ago, having imprinted on his apprentice. Her
personality became more warlike and she left the tribe to
travel north to near the Chaos Wastes as a mercenary. She
has returned to undermine Johann’s leadership of the Grey
Ones and is winning many converts to her fiery rhetoric about
revenge against the Grey College for decades lost in the wilds.
and win converts amongst the Grey Ones.
M WS BS S T I Ag Dex Int WP Fel W
4 53 48 73 55 42 43 35 45 54 32 22
Skills: Charm 40, Dodge 65, Gossip 50, Intimidate 50, Intuition
60, Melee (Fencing) 67, Perception 56,
Traits: Armour (Leathers) 1, Ranged (Pistol) +8, Regenerate,
Weapon (Rapier) +11
Talents: Iron Will, Noble Blood, Seasoned Traveller
Trappings: Two similarly stout bodyguards (Yaga and Yurtz),
State Room aboard the Argent Empress, Jewellery worth 500
GC
A Dish Best Served Cold
Should the Characters or NPCs reveal or attack the Grey Ones
this provides ammunition for Sonya’s argument that they
cannot co-exist with humanity. This means they have made an
implaccable enemy.
Steigel Meinhart
Purser and “Brother” to Georg
Stiegel is a Grey One that imprinted
on Georg. He has grown his hair and
beard and lost a little of the Captain’s
paunch, creating sufficient that most
assume the cover-story that they are
brothers is true.
Stiegel’s imprinting led to an initial
misunderstanding between Georg and
Johann, with the captain fearing he
would be replaced. Stiegel has no real
skill or desire to be captain, he prefers numbers and thus serves
as the ship’s purser. Georg at times considers him unnerving...
Matrimonial Disputes
recent reversal in his fortunes. She has attached herself to one
of Georg’s creditors, Baronet Heinrich von Finkelstein. The
pair intend to employ agents to investigate the Argent Express
and find evidence Georg has short changed her in the divorce.
Reports of a brother serving as purser are met with surprise –
Wanda is adamant Georg has no brother!
 The Ar gent Empr ess
Skotti Muntemo and Himmel Kalkstein
Dwarven Engineer and Human Alchemist
Muntemo and Kalkstein were associates of Georg’s from before
the Argent Empress who he pressed into his service with copi-
ous rewards.
Kalkstein is a reed-thin, efeet figure of a man, complete with
high-pitched voice and a penchant for giggling. Skotti by
comparison is the epitome of dwarven dourness. The two are
good friends however despite the fact that they argue incessently
about matters of engineering.
Muntemo in particular is loyal to Georg as he allowed the
dwarf to practice his craft - whilst his kinsfolk back in the dwarf
holds have a gentlemen’s agreement that he sticks to blowing up
human cities instead of dward holds.
Warpstone Speed, Skotti!
Should the Argent Empress fall behind in her race to
Marienburg then Kalkstein has a new experimental batch of coal
that will increase the engine’s efficiency and speed - the secret % That evening Rosette von Daulisson is attacked after leav-
ingredient - a dash of warpstone of course! All seems fin until
the steam from the engine starts to have a negative effect on
the Grey Ones - those recently imprinted on their targets (last
couple of days or so) start to morph back and forth, providing
evidence of their original form subtly - a small change here and
there (the eyes, the chin, an arm. At your discretion this should
That Dish You Like
The halfling chef of the Argent Empress is one Machilomery
J. Applestone III. In truth he is one of the Grey Ones who
imprinted on a halfling passenger on the Argent Empress’s
maiden voyage. However that halfling, Jeremius Wurthing-
Lowhaven, was the husband of Virtue Lowhaven, niece of Mercy % If the Characters are not suspicious by this point - arrange
Lowhaven of Ubersreik. He knew too much about Lowhaven
activity and decided a long trip to Marienburg was in order. His
blissfully unaware duplicated, Machilomery, has been noticed
by members of the Lowhaven clan and a very messy misunder-
standing is about to happen in the kitchens when the Characters
pass by. Especially as to the Lowhaven mob “Jeremius” is playing % Should the knowledge of the Grey Ones be made public
exceptionally well at being dumb.
The Music in Steerage Has No Peerage...
Rosette von Daulisson has read to many penny-dreadfuls and
has romantic notions about life in steerage - thinking it is full of
cheerful scamps who scamper and dance to fiddle music. A few
hours locked below her state-room with the dregs of humanity,
particularly when she finally is let out on deck and they pursue
her.
Should the Characters intervene this gets them invited to the
Captain’s table. A Grey One imprints on Rosette (and one on a
Character of your choosing if you like). Rosette is due at Frau
Henriette’s Finishing School for Young Girls in Essel, so when
she disembarks it might be surprising for the Characters when
they encounter her double on the decks a few days later...
The Solkan Connection
Dieter van der Claff was a ne’er-do-well trafficker in forbid-
den items who met a sticky end during one of the Marienburg’s
Knights of Purity’s raids on the Doodkanal. A recent émigré to
Marienburg on the Argent Empress an imprinted Grey One now
serves on the crew as a petty office, going by the not-so-cunning
alias of Dietger von Karloff.
Herrena van der Kwik, secretary to Nadia van Onderzoeker, a
member of the Brotherhood of Purity is sequestered aboard the
Argent Empress. If she finds any evidence of doppelgangers and
their ilk on the ship she can send a messenger bird with instruc-
tions for the vessel to be wylaid by members of the Brotherhood
led by the Solkanite Witch Hunter Waldemar Duistjaeger, a
formidable opponent.
Events on Route
Events on the Argent Empress are largely left to the GM’s discre-
tion, as it is presented here more as a sandbox to get Characters
from the Reikland to Marienburg. A typical outline might
include:-
% Leaving the Altdorf Flats the boat is inspected by the River
Wardens. Characters may note that the Wardens receive a
substantial bribe.
% The experimental engine is engaged once free of Altdorf ’s
periphery. The Argent Empress makes good speed to
Carroburg, arriving ahead of schedule.
% At Carroburg Sonya and her entourage board the Argent
Empress. She takes up residence in the Platinum State
Room, which may seem curious to passengers on the ship
as she appears to be a Kislevite sell-sword.
ing steerage. She and any rescuers are invited to dine at the
captain’s table. The Characters may be invited for several
nights as one of them might be a suitable imprint.
% Arriving in Essel, Rosette disembarks. The Characters may
encounter her double leaving the crew decks and the recov-
ery area there.
% If the Characters start to piece things together then Sonya
and her men threaten the Characters. On the other hand if
Johann is aware of them, he may try to take them into his
confidence and explain the Argent Empress’s true purpose -
and explain how it is harmless what they are doing!
an encounter to delay the boat - river pirates, a bog octo-
pus, a treasure hunter onboard who wants to check out
a small island, or another bothersome inspection by less
corrupt and thorough river wardens. This then leeds to the
Warpstone Speed, Skotti event.
then the Brotherhood of Purity are informed via der Kwik.
If this happens it is set upon either in the marsher or at the
Suiddock by the members of the Brotherhood of Purity.
% Ultimately there is an attempt by Sonya to assert her
authority over the Grey Ones - if Johann’s attempts to
co-exist with humanity have failed she leads them into the
marshes and scuttles the ship, taking its wealth. If however
the Characters side with Joshua and Georg, they have made
friends that will be useful in the future.
4
 The Ar gent Empr ess

Forgive the crudeness of my

map, mapping a ship in a hurry is
hard work! This is loosely the
Maps Made in Campaign Cartographer and Adobe Photoshop. Character Portraits made in Daz3D.

topology of the Argent Empress.

Additional Scenarios and Resources for WFRP 2e/4e at http://www.skerrigan.co.uk/Warhammer
Listen to the Perilous Realm Podcast at http://www.anchor.fm/peril
If you enjoy this scenario please send feedback to perilousrealmpodcast@gmail.com about your Access to the Crew Quarters
exploits on the Argent Empress!
is highly restricted, suggesting
some underlying secret I have
yet to penetrate. I fear in I
have aroused suspicion. Send men
to escort me at Prie!
J.