Grimvember 2019 is here! Will you heed the "Carrion Call"?

Grimvember 2019 continues as we take a look at Ben Counter's "Carrion Call". Will it reach the standard of his Black Library work?

Ben Counter has penned a lot of stories for both Warhammer Fantasy and its dark, futuristic sibling. His work includes the Grey Knights trilogy, a bunch of Imperial Fists stories, the grim tale of Egrimm Van Horstmann, and many more. Until recently I've just learned that he also wrote for the Black Industries! "Carrion Call", a spooky scenario from the "Plundered Vaults" anthology was penned by Mr. Counter, and it does not dissapoint.

I've originally ran it almost a decade ago, during a time when I still had the capabilities to organize a all-night session, from time to time. I fondly remember this adventure for actually being genuinely creepy (something that very few WFRP scenarios can actually accomplish), and challenging - both things that I hold in high regard, as a Gamemaster. It starts with the players discovering a dying young man, Gustav Vonreuter, laying on a remote road, somewhere within the borders of the Empire of Man. He tells them about his estate, and asks to inform his folk about his imminent demise. The Schloss Vonreuter is a text book horror mansion, which is too gothic even for Warhammer!

That's pretty metal!

Inside the PC's will find a strange and eccentric mix of individuals, including Ondurin Vonreuter, the head of the family, his wife Sanne, and their children, as well as a single granddaughter, Elena. It's clear from the begnning that something about the Vonreuters is not right, but the players will only discover the whole truth, when it will be too late...

Ben Counter proved to be another Black Library writer, who's not only good at writing books, but also scenarios for roleplaying games. "Carrion Call" is similar to Carl Sargent's "Haunting Horror" in that it A) takes place in a scary house, and B) is genuinely creepy and fear-invoking. Even today I remember the unease and tension, present on my players' faces, as I've described the grim and haunted corridors of Schloss Vonreuter. This adventure also focuses on the Undead, rather than Chaos or Skaven, which is a welcome thing. In my opinion the spawn of Nagash are criminally underused in WFRP, something that I hope the 4th edition will be able to change.

The living dead have so much potential, that it's crazy!

When it comes to difficulty this is one is not too tough, but the final combat encounter can be a bit too much for a bunch of inexperienced characters. Still, I do recommend "Carrion Call", as well as Ben Counter's many books. He proves to be a writer of many talents, and it's well worth for you, my dear readers, to check them out.

Until next time!

Xathrodox86