"Beat the boredom!" Episode 6: "Strange Harvests" by Professor Eggburger

You know what I really love? Cheese. Hard, soft, blue, cottage - doesn't matter. I am a dairy man through and through, and so when I've stumbled upon the "Strange Harvests" scenario, I knew that I had to GM it!

Professor Eggburger, the author of "Strange Harvests", tells a very interesting tale with with this adventure. It takes place in the south of the Empire, where the sun is always worm, the fields are always green, and the rich, healthy climate allows for the people living there to experience a modicum of joy and peace. No wonder that no one likes Averlanders, eh? They just have it too easy!

Anyway, the party visits the idyllic and rich city of Edelpilzen, where a trial is taking place. A beloved noblewoman has been murdered in the most brutal way imaginable, and the two suspects are awaiting the final verdict of the judges - all of whom are the ruling members of the town, as well as masters of the Cheese Makers guild. The party can partake in the trial of Karl Kuhmann, a humble farmer, and Massimo Naso, the crazed “Affineur Principale”, Edelpilzen's chief cheese maker. The tensions are high, since lots of people don't belive that Kuhmann is guilty (not to mention they're members of his extended family), and the main accuser is clearly intent on placing the full blame on the hapless farmers' head. Inevitably all hell will break loose, and the mad Tilean will esccape into the caves beneath the city, used for the maturing process of the famous local cheese, the delicious Edelpilzen Blau. It will be up to the PCs to find him and uncover a sinister plot that threatens the whole of the Empire!

No wonder the tensions in Edelpilzen are running high! (artwork by Francisco Muñoz)

Let's get one thing out of the way - this is a very linear adventure. VERY linear. So if you're allergic to railroading (hi, Andreas!) skip this one altogether. However, if you like a short, tight story with a few interesting twists, bizzare, cheesy humor (pun fully intended) and challenging fights, then "Strange Harvests" might just be a scenario for you. It won't win any grand prizes for its storytelling, clever plot twists or memorable NPCs, but its composed of individual, interesting elements that when combined, create a well-written story which will entertain you for a session or two. I respect that and I suggest that you give this one a try. It's a perfect adventure to fill a gap in between larger campaigns' chapters. Also - it's not made for any particular edition of the game. The author gives a few tips on how to modify certain aspects of this scenario, based on which version of WFRP you're actually playing.

Oh, and I absolutely adore the fact that many young rakes of Edelpilzen carry on them swords shaped like cheese knives! That's what I love about a cleverly written scenario - small details like this make all the difference, and really enhance the gaming experience for everyone involved.

You can download "Strange Harvests" from Francisco Muñoz's "Paco's Miscelaneous Stuff" website (he also did all the artworks and maps for this adventure). It was also included in the 2nd issue of the "Ratter", the "Rat Catchers' Guild" Discord server's fantastic fanzine! Seriously, it's a great place. It's worth creating a Discord account just for this one server.

I will probably write 1-2 more articles for the "Beat the boredom!" series, and then return to my standard, 2-week schedule. I plan to make at least a single interview this year, as well as to review a couple of Warhammer Fantasy video games and some WFRP-themed movies. Stay tuned because there is going to be a lot more Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay-related content, present on this blog.

Can't wait to review "Ironclad". It's a quintessential Warhammer movie, starring James Purefoy!

Until next time!

Xathrodox86