WFRP - Middenheim - City of Chaos

A Compleat Guide & Defcription of

MIDDENHEIM

Greateft City-State of the World

With much Information of ufe to Travellers and Vifitors to the great
City. many lmpreffions and Maps fhewing the moft Notable Buildings.
and Portraits of Middenheim's higheft Citizens including his Worfhip

GRAF Boms ToDBRINGER. to whom this Work is humbly Dedicated

Publifhed at SWINDON at the house of the Twins

near to the workshoppes at Groundwell, this year 2018

Middenhcim: City of Chaos is a ltupplcmcm to the Warbammer Fantasy Roleplay game, and you will need the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay
rulebook (I BN l--899749-01-2) to use it. Middcnhcim is a fu$r-paced ciry where circum�tances may change suddenly and unexpectedly, and
Cubicle 7 c-.m not be held responsible for any loss or injury rc�ulting from inaccuraLc infom1ation contained wi.lhin this book.

A SOURCEBOOK FOR
WARHAMMER FANTASY ROLEPLAY

ORIGINAL CITY DESIGN

Carl Sargent

EDITING AND DEVELOPMENT

Phil Gallagher

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

Jim Bambra, Paul Cockburn, Graeme Davis, Sean Masterson

COVER ART

Ian Miller

COLOUR CITY MAP

Charles Elliott, H, John Blanche

INTERNAL ART AND MAPS

Tony Ackland, Charles Elliott, H, Martin McKenna, Russ Nicholson, Stephen Tappin

Publisher: Dominic McDowall Produced by Hogshead Publishing Ltd and Cubicle 7
Scanning: Jon Hodgson Entertainment Ltd, under licence from Garnes Workshop Ltd. All
contents of this book are copy­right 1987, 1998, 2018 Games
This edition published by Workshop Ltd. All rights reserved. 'Warharnmer' and the Garnes
Workshop logo are registered trademarks, and 'Warharnmer
Cubicle 7 Entertainment Ltd Fantasy Roleplay', 'The En­emy Within', 'Middenheim', 'City of
cubicle7.co.uk Chaos', 'Power Behind the Throne' and 'Warharnmer City' are
trademarks of Games Workshop Ltd, used under licence and with
ISBN 1-899749-12-8 permission.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any
means without prior permission from the pub­lishers. All
characters, settings and events are fictitious.

All artwork in all Warbammer FRP products published by
Hogshead Publishing Ltd and the imagery contained therein
have been produced either in-house or as work for hire. The
exclusive copyright on the artwork and the images it depicts is
the property ofGames Workshop Ltd.

CONTENTS

CITY OF THE WHITE WOLF __4 CHAOS CULTS IN MIDDENHEIM_58

How to Use This Book (4), City Adventures (5), The Cult of the Purple Hand (58), The Cult's
Planning (5) Organization (58), The Cult in Middenheim (58), The
Ordo Terribilis (59), The Jade Sceptre (60), Members
THE CITY OF MIDDENHEJM __ 6 of the Cult (60), Gotthard von Wittgenstein (61), The
Pie-Eyed Piper (62)
History (6), Timeline (6), The Extracts (7), People and
Resources (9), Beyond the City Walls (9), Middenheim THE UNDERCJTY______63
Society (10), So Why Visit Middenheim? (10)
Inside the Fauschlag (63), Under the Skin (63), The
RELIGION AND WORSHJP ___ ll Upper Tunnels (63), Deeper into the Underearth (64),
The Undercity Environment (64), Handling Undercity
General Information (11), The Celibacy Issue (11) Expeditions (65), A Campaign in Darkness (66), The
Inter-Cult Hostilities (12), Temples (12), Becoming an Restless Dead (66), The Caves (68), Further
Initiate (13), Cult Entry Requirements (14), Promotion Adventures (69), Creatures of the Caves (69)
to the Priesthood (14)
GOODS AND SERVICES____70
POLITICS OF THE CITY STATE_ 15
The Black Market (70), GM's Discretion (71), Street
Who Rules Middenheim? (15), Relations with the Markets (71), Making Money in Middenheim (72)
Emperor (15), Nordland (15), The Graf's Advisers
(15), Decline and Fall? (15), The Graf's Advisory TYPICAL BUILDING PLANS __73
Councils (16), City Guilds (17), So, Who Runs the
City? (18) Armourer/Weaponsmith (73), Other Artisans (74),
Alchemist/Herbalist (75), Printer (75), Jeweller/
THE MILITARY 6 MIDDENHEIMS Goldsmith (76), Leatherworker (77), Bookshop/
DEFENCES________ l9 Antique Shop (78), Cafe (78), Scriptorium (78)

The Militia, the Knights and the Templars (19), The CITY OF ADVENTURES ___ so
Standing Army (20), The Knights Panther (20), The
Templars of the White Wolf (20), The City Watch (20), Running City Adventures (80), Cameo Adventures (80)
Military Careers (21)
THE POWERS THAT BE ____ 84
THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW_22
High Priest Ar-Ulric (84), Allavandrel Fanmaris -
Civil Law (22), Religious Law (22), Military Law (22), Master of the Hunt (84), Gotthard Goebbels -
Criminal Law (22), The Crimes (23), Putting Komission Convenor (84), Rallane Lafarel - Court
Characters through the Courts (23) Minstrel (85), The Ladies-at-Court (85), The Law Lords
(86), The Midden Marshalls (87), Luigi Pavarotti - the
HOSTELRIES 6 ACCOMMODATION_25 Court Physician (87), Siegfried Prunkvoll - the Knight
Eternal (87), Dieter Schmiedehammer - the Graf's
Excellent Hostelries (25), Good/Average Hostelries Champion (87), Josef Sparsam - the Chancellor (88),
(25), Cheap Hostelries (26), The Night Life in Katarina Todbringer - the Graf's Daughter (88), The
Middenheim (26) High Wizard & his Deputy (88), Hildegarde
Zimperlich - the Chaperone (89)
A GAZETTEER OF MIDDENHEIM_27
SNOTBALL 6 OTHER PASTIMES_ 90
How to Use the Gazetteer (27), Handling City
Movement (27), The Districts (27), Entrances to the Snotling Football (90), Drugs in the Old World (91)
City (27), City Gates (28), Chair Lift Terminus (28),
A. Palace (29), B. The Great Park (31), C. Grafsmund­ COMMON KNOWLEDGE___ 92
Nordgarten (33), D. Ulricsmund (35), E. Altmarkt­
Altquartier (37), F. Southgate-Ostwald (39), THE CITY WATCH_____ 93
G. Neumarkt-Osttor (41), H. Freiburg (43), I. The
Wynd (45), J. Westor-Sudgarten (47), K. Geldmund AREA MAP________ 94
Kaufseit-8rotkopfs (49)
GAZETTEER ________
ENCOUNTERS IN MIDDENHEJM_51

Using the District Encounter Tables (51), Encounter
Notes (51)

the City of the Whit€ wolf
As Humankind increased and spread of my temples, and where my followers to the top. But since you have asked, I
across tbe area that would one day be can look to find me even in the beat of shall make you a gift of it."
known as The Empire, theyworshipped summer. Sinceyou are my brother I/eel
two gods above all others. It is the Way that I can ask you this, and I am sure Ulric walked all round the pinnacle,
ofHumans tothink only oftbeproblems that you will not think it too much." and looked at itfrom every side. Then
that are immediately to band, both in Taal consideredfor a moment, and then be struck the rock a mighty blow with
their labours, and in their worship. So turned to bis brother. bisfist, shattering the top and leaving
their devotion went all to Taal, God of "Sinceyou are my brother," be said, "I a flat stump a mile across.
Wild Places, and bis younger brother wtll give you such a place. But I will
Ulric, God of Wolves and Winter. make certain conditions. "This will make a good place for a
Both gods gained many worshippers, "First, the place must be of my choosing. temple," be said, '�nd on this rock shall
and many temples were built to their Since I amyour brother, I shall choose grow agreatfortress city, secure against
glory. Andyet Ulric was troubled. As be a place to please both of us, but once all enemies. Thefires in my temple here
roamed the forests in wolf-form, and I have chosen, you must accept my shall burn eternally, and men shall look
swept the bills in the guise of the icy choice. here to find me, above all places in tbe
north wind, it seemed to him more and "Secondly, you must agree that the world.
more that bis brother came before him winters in this place shall be no longer
in all things. So he visited Taal in bis nor more severe than the winters in the "Thank you, brother, I am more than
mountain palace, and spoke of bis rest of the land; although it shall be the pleased with your gift."
troubles. centre of your worship, it shall still be
"Brother," said Ulric, "we are both in my kingdom, and must suffer no And so it came to pass. The Humans of
powerful gods; we both have many more at your bands than the rest. TheEmpire found the "Fist-strikeRock"
worshippers throughout the world, and "Thirdly, you must be contentwithwhat (or Fauscblag in their tongue), and on
we are both revered and feared, as we I shall giveyou, and never again come itssummit a rockyfortress and amighty
should be. And yet Ifeel that I am less to me asking/or more. Ishall makeyou temple were built. And, in the fullness
in stature than you." this gift out of brotherly love, but to ask of time, tbefortressgrew into a city; and
Taal leaned forward, bis habitual for more may make us enemies. If I the city was named Middenbeim - the
frown growing deeper with concern. accede to any further requests, I may City of the White Wolf.
"Wbyis this, brother?"be asked, and bis feel that you are acquisitive and you
voice was like the wind in the trees. may begin to despise me and covet my how to US€ this BOOk
"You haveyour own kingdom," replied kingdom; and ifI refuseyou more, you
Ulric, •�verywild place belongs toyou. may feel that I am cold-hearted and not This book is intended as a reference
My kingdom vanished long ago, before a true brother to you. So this must be work for GMs only. The large, colour
I was even strong enough to protect it." the end of it, for both our sakes. map of Middenheim can be cut out and
"But surely,"countered Taal, 'you have "Ifyou agree to my conditions, I will shown to your players, and there are a
my kingdom for nearly half the yea,; give you a place of your own, to be number of appendices at the back which
and neither I nor any other deity can yours for the rest of time regardless of you may wish to photocopy to give to
banishyour wintersfrom our lands. ls the season. your players during play (permission to
this not enough?" do this, for your own personal use, is
given herewith!), but the bulk of the
material presented here is for your eyes
only.

"But even in the depths of winter, I am "What say you?" This book is your key to the City State
subject to your rule," said Ulric. "My Ulric thought for a long time, of Middenheim - whether your players'
wolves take only the old and weakfrom considering Taal's conditions carefully. characters go there to buy that special
your animals, and mysnowsfreeze only At last, be decided. The storm clouds item they always wanted, or to do some
the smallest of your rivers. T here is vanished, and be resumed bis favourite trading, or set up a criminal racket, or
nowhere that is mine all the time; with form - a great, silver-white wolf. even just to see the sights. Within the
the coming of each spring I am leftwith "Very well," be said - and bis voice was pages of this book, you'll find more than
nothing." like the baying of a hundred wolves, "I enough to satisfy their needs and keep
"Then what would makeyou content?" accept your conditions." 'em busy for weeks!
asked Taal. "You cannot expect to So Taal took Ulric to a place in bis
shroud the world inwinter all the time, kingdom where a single pinnacle of All the background you need is here -
for that would make you greater than rock stood out above theforest, pointing histor y, campaign ideas, 'cameo'
all the gods." skywards like tbe finger of a god. adventures, NPCs, detailed descriptions
Ulric sat in thought for some time, and "Here is tbe place,"be said, "I bad been of temples, shops, inns - the list is
Taal's mountain palace was shrouded thinking of making myself a temple endless. Tuke some time to flick through
in snow-bearing storm clouds. here, so tbat my most faitbful followers the book, and familiarise yourself with
"I would like a place," be said at last, can prove their devotion by climbing the lay-out. You don't need to memorise
the whole thing, nor even read it all at
••� place where I can found the greatest once - but you should be aware of where
the different kinds of information can
be found.

CITY OF THE WHITE WOLF

City abventUR€S

City adventuring may not come easy to
players used to "dungeon-bashing." But
agood GM can make it just as much fun,
just as tension-filled as any raid on an Ore
lair, for example, and we have tried to
provide plenty of tips and hints on how
to keep your players interested and on
their toes.

Unlike a 'hack & slash' adventurewhere
the players' characters use survival and
combat skills to battle against a hostile
environment, city play revolves around
the role-playing and the use of role­
playing skills. Warhammer Fantasy
Rolcplay is ideally suited to such
adventures, providing a plethora of skills
which can only be used to greatest effect
in an urban environment.

Adventures will arise simply from the
PCs wandering the streets - but it's up
to the players whether their characters
decide to get involved or not. As a richly
dressed merchant raises a hue-and-cry
after a wily pickpocket, the characters
have the chance to join in the chase -
earning the gratitude of a wealthy patron
- or theycould mislead the pursuers and
make a useful underworld contact, or
theycould simply shrug their shoulders
and walk away.

Social interaction is both the vehicle and
object of each game. Prepare your
encounters to test the players with a
variety of pressures - from the coarse
insults of an itinerant drunk, to the
snooty comments of a privileged
nobleman. And don't always let them get
away with a violent response. Make the
point that Middenheim is a civilised
place • and those who behave like
barbarians tend to die like them! The
players need to remember that the City
has a complex legal code - and its
authorities have the magical and martial
means to enforce it!

plann1nq

Try to learn what the intentions of the
player characters are, before play starts
- perhaps you could conclude each
session by asking them to saywhat they
intend to do next time, so that you can
prepare accordingly

Armed with this information, you But don't forget Murphy's first law of start asking everyone's names,
should prepare a variety of encounters GM'ing - "No matter how much occupations, places of residence and so
beforehand - from interesting things they preparation you do, the players are on; or have a drunk suddenly come
might see (e.g. a funeral procession), but bound to come up with some brilliant crashing through the window of a
which aren't really intended to get them idea or oddball scheme which you failed nearby inn; the possibilities are limited
to do much, to extended 'cameo' to foresee." So it's a good idea to have only by your imagination. With practice,
adventures - a run-in with a few Chaos a stock of 'one-off' encounters which you'll soon find yourself more than
cultists, maybe, or an encounter with a aren't dependent on a particular
clever conman (see p80,for more ideas). location; have a Watch patrol arrive and *happy to make thingsup as you go along

- and then the real fun begins.

the c1ty or m1bbenhe1m
Ancient and imposing, the walled city sources, dealing with but one or two of built. By making your PCs investigate the
of Middenheim perches atop a sheer­ these major events. Notes on where these City's history, you have a neat way of
sided pinnacle of rock rising five sources may be consulted, and how else communicating the atmosphere and
hundred feet from the surrounding the PCs might come to learn of the background of the campaign, and of
countryside. Around it, on all sides, information therein, are provided in making them feel involved in something
stretches the seemingly endless forest, each case. larger than life; a way of showing them
and to the east lie the desolate Middle that their actions are but one small part
Mountains. Middenheim has stood for The extracts presented here represent of a vast tapestry.
over two thousand years; it is not that but themerest tip of theiceberg. Feel free
far to the spawn of Chaos in the north, toinvent extra myths and variants to feed a t1mel1ne
and the Drak Wald forest harbours your players when they consult libraries, of m100€nhe1m
isolated bands of B eastmen, but the talk to priests and so on. There will
solidity and majesty of the city seem to undoubtedly be a fair amount of Date
hold out the hope that it will endure for falsification, and distortion of facts, (Imperial
centuries to come. depending on the author of the Calendar)
particular source - the Temple records
hlstORY of the Temple of Ulric make no mention -50 Artur, chief of the Teut­
of the High Priest's humiliation by ognens, discovers the
The History of Middenheim is enshrined Magnus the Pious, for example, while the Fauschlag rock - site of future
in a vast number of different sources. Sigmarian version has three or four Middenheim. He enlists the
There are ancient and academic tomes devoted to this apocry phal aid of a Dwarven clan to
manuscripts, myths and legends (some incident (see The Tuar oftbe Shaming, tunnel up through the rock
of them in epic poems, others preserved page 9). and build a mighty fortress.
only by word of mouth), Temple records,
and so on. Major events in the City's long The point of all this background is 63 Wulcan, High Priest of Ulric
and chequered history are outlined in t wofold: first, we think it's fun (and has vision of deity and builds
the Timeline (below). This is followed anyone who says it isn't obviously
by a few short extracts from a variety of disagrees), and secondly, it provides the
foundations on which most of the
adventures in The Enemy Within are

•