bramblefoot
the party staggers out into the sun and collapses, breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the feel of the grass against your fingers. the sound of birds singing fills your ears, and you hear the marines hustle over, saying  "you guys alright? It's been about two days since we last heard from you" 

what are all of you doing?
wilphe
Wighard stumbles a few times on the way up but bursts into the sunlight and feels the sun's warmth on his tired body.

Then he realises part of that warmth is the blood dripping from a scalp wound.

  Carry the lady to the fire please, I need to get some warmth back in my hands before I do anything  

He will try and get some feeling back, whilst supervising Siobhan doing the prep.

He throws a few brown grounds into some hot water and then drinks it down in as close to one go as he can manage, grimacing as he does so.

  Once this is done I will crash hard, so be ready  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 86 ]  61 Heal

Offsetting one level of fatigue with that  kaffee  thing from Tilea people are going nuts over
 
LarsWester
Gimgroth emerges with bruises and scrapes.   He squints at the sun.   Two days. That can't be right but that might explain my thirst.  This way with Lady Jasmine.   Gimgroth readies a place on the ground near the fire for the halfling as Wighard takes a drink of a brown steaming draught.   The dwarf notices the good doctor's hand shaking a bit.  He tries to help Wighard see to the halflings wounds but more likely just gets in the way.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Going to roll heal on the outside chance Gimgroth can help.    HealVs28  - (1d100)[ 75 ]    Wounds  - (1d10)[ 6 ] 
 
MrAbdiel
“Two days…”

The time did not sound right at all.   Was this the work of that monsterous magic?  Or the fog?  Did the mists swallow  days  as a price of admission?

With Jasmine safe in Wighard’s care, Bertelis slumps to his knees and breathes, before looking up to the inquiring marine.

“We’ve escaped much in tact, but not with much room to spare.  Two days… has the throne been broken apart into shares, and everything packed for the return trip, via Westvein..?”
farothel
This was one of the reasons the empire didn't like magic, Bruno thought.  All these weird things that happened.  Well, there was little that could be done about it now.  He doesn't know anything about healing, so there's little he can do there but making sure the doctor has all the supplies he needs and Jasmine is comfortable.  And help Bertelis with the marines.
dojango
Jasmine doesn't say much as the two 'doctors' prod at her wounds, mostly because she was trying to bite through a stick at the time.  Afterwards, a thoughtful marine slips a flask of something foul-smelling and strong into her good hand and after a few swigs she manages to fall asleep, despite the pain.  She wakes up a few hours later in her bedroll in the marine's camp, her injured arm tightly bound to her side.  One of the sergeants laughs and says to her, "You took that blow like a marine kid, but you gotta learn to move yer feet.  Once you get back up I'll show ya a coupla tricks, best not to let the bastards hit ya, and best to hit them first!"
bramblefoot
 "of course sir"  the marine says.  "it's all packed on those two ships for transport back to altdorf" 

wighard: jasmine is stable, but for how long you can't be certain.

is there anything else you wish to do before the return journey
wilphe
After failing to help Jasmine Wighard will borrow a few swigs of rotgut spirit off the marines and collapse by a fire; trusting Siobhan to clear up and asking her to have ingredients for a poultice ready in the morning

On waking, he will take another look at her arm

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 47 ]  Heal 71
 (1d10)[ 6 ] 
 
bramblefoot
siobhan has gotten the ingredients for a poultice ready, and helps you with the application of it on jasmine
wilphe
Wighard still doesn't feel better until he has some breakfast inside him - even if it is hardtack and few sausages.

  Well we probably didn't kill his Lordship, but we have set him back quite a bit and he can go join our list of recurring enemies.

We got anything else to do here or can we return to civilisation?  
LarsWester
 Our foes keep evading us lately.   Do you think this has anything to do with your recent upshot in the magical school Wighard.   Any chance a new rival has brought the attention of some foul force to curse our luck?   Gimgroth says in between sausages.   I was there and can state that there were quite a few with a sour disposition towards you and your appointment.   Gimgroth pulls out six marbles and shows them to the scholar of arcane arts.   Glod and I recovered these from that accursed place.  Any idea what their purpose might be? 
Morovir
Glod groans as he finally catches up with them, sinking to the ground in exhaustion. He had not navigated the stairs successfully on their way out, and had a newly-bruised pair of shins for his trouble. And inside the tomb... The less said about that infernal place, the better. He had had enough time to sweep the sword and the bones of the fallen Borri Greybeard into a sack before they had made their escape - it had slowed him down, and almost certainly was the reason why he had stumbled during their escape, but he could not have simply left them there in such a place of darkness.

 "I got what we came for, at least. Hopefully, with time, effort and the grace of the ancestors, Borri Greybeard can rest easy, knowing that his remains have been laid to rest in a more... amiable location. If I return them to the embassy in Altdorf, I am certain that they can make the arrangements. It's no less than he deserves." 
MrAbdiel
After a disoriented while, Bertelis is up; and much closer to himself than he has previously been.  He checks in on the marines; likely to find the loading of the loot has been judiciously done; and only a moderate extra percentage lost to sticky fingers.  On the way back, he’ll have to help Wighard sorting the paper work of the slain marines and the reimbursement clauses.  Or perhaps that’s a task they can lean on their old friend Emil for; a man of the modern fad of contract oriented justice, perhaps it may be part of Westvein’s act of gratitude for these marines dying to make safe their waters to see their families receive their due.

“Alright.  We have done our bitter work, here; fire the huts, lest their tainted remnants attract new hopefuls, or the returning Lord of the Foxwood find reestablishing too easy.  We set course for Westvein in four hours; after a little rest, so that we, and especially lady Jasmine, will have the clarity to guide us out of the mangrove switchbacks to the Talabec.”
wilphe
Wighard pauses his chewing for a moment, then swallows,   Were you and Glod surface born or did you spend your early life in a hold? If the latter, do you remember the first time you saw the sun and the sky? Or seeing a deep born dwarf do so?  
dojango
Jasmine says, " I dunno much about magic or whatevers, but that slimy old creep down there grabbed me and it was like, I don't know, he was tryin' to grab my soul or somethin'.  Good thing I gots a slippery soul and a pocket full of gunpowder, else I'd have been in real trouble.  He done ran away, although I think I winged him.  Wish I'da had silver bullets or summat.  You know much about how to hurt these bastards, Wighard? "
bramblefoot
the oars are raised, and the two boats are rowed out to the creek, and then out to the talabec, where the triangular sails are lifted, and prepared to sail to westvein.

can i get a d100 roll from one of you?

wighard: gimme an AK: magic roll at -10 to see if you know what they do

bertelis: are you gonna show the flute and the dagger to wighard?

grimgoth and glod: what are you two doing as the hours tick by on the journey to westvein?

jasmine: tell me what worries you about the collector
LarsWester
 
 Originally Posted by wilphe 
 Wighard pauses his chewing for a moment, then swallows,   Were you and Glod surface born or did you spend your early life in a hold? If the latter, do you remember the first time you saw the sun and the sky? Or seeing a deep born dwarf do so?   
 

Gimgroth lowers his head while answering Wighard.  It doesn't take much emotional intelligence to see that his answer is a matter of shame to the dwarf.    Suppose you wouldn't have a way of knowing but aye, I be a Zon-Garaz.  I have lived my days more among you Umgi than my own kin.  I have heard of the Zon-Werit though I've never seen a dwarf in such a state.  Why do you ask? 
 
 Spoiler: Khazalid &amp; OOC 

Zon-Garaz transliterates into Sun-Youth but means one born on the surface.
Gimgroth feels a disconnect between his life living on the surface world and his ancestry.   It's a bit of an internal struggle of how he views himself constantly falling short of the ideals of his dwarfish heritage even as he is more accepted by his fellow surface dwelling races.   I think he has a bit of third culture kid thing going on.
Zon-Werit transliterates into Sun-Befuddled and I'm saying this is the Khazalid term for when a dwarf first beholds the sun on the surface of the world.
 

 On the trip back to Altdorf. 
Gimgroth would attempt to get Glod to tell him more about dwarf culture some of the more recent stories and legends of the mountain homes.   His own stories date back to his parents time under the ground and he doesn't have anything more recent in his cultural memory.   He would also seek to spar with Jasmine upon hearing that the halfling was interested in improving her martial capabilities.  Besides this Gimgroth gambled a fair bit with the marines and trained relentlessly with a new crossbow he won off a marine.


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

I've realized that Gimgroth left his crossbow in the tunnel under the ground.  I've already subtracted a bunch of bolts and another crossbow from his GC.   Fluffing this as he won the crossbow in gambling from a Marine but he also lost a fair bit of gold.   Let me know if there's any issues with this.
 
wilphe
  I only meant as an example within your experience; not to distress you brother

Yes, the Zon-Werit, I've read about them in the case histories but never seen one.

Your kin can live without the Sun; you can see, you don't need it for nutrition and your bodily rhythms are not dependent upon.

Humans, if they live away from the light of the sun for too long will become ill, their bodies need a day-night cycle to know when to sleep and when to rise, go without that for too long and well, it won't kill you, but its not good for you either.   

He grimaces,

  My order's founder, Aetius the Bright, did a lot of the early research on this. The thing is, you've been to the College of Light and that thing is like that all the time.

Humans are not any better at living in perpetual light than they are in perpetual dark; be there long enough and you tend to find leaving to the "real" world as disconcerting and unpleasant as a deep-born seeing the sun and sky for the first time.

His peers didn't like the implications of that research, which is why we are semi-independent, but from a strictly medical perspective everyone in there is subtly but chronically ill.  And they are perpetually bathed in  Hysh, which is not natural.

Ghyran, of the Jade Order and the Druids is the force of natural life. Hysh, well its not that, it's hard to explain, but it would be like surviving on nothing but healing draughts rather than real food and drink.

Unfortunately, one of the traits wizards assess themselves is by how much their bodies have been changed by exposure to magic and the Light Order think the adverse consequences of living in perpetual light are signs of their own mastery of magic

We on the other hand view them as unhealthy and in denial about it.

So relations are formal but not warm  
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is withdrawn and quiet for the boat ride.  He has only those short conversations he is required to, once the crew is underway; spends a deal of his time  sitting near to the rear of one boat where the bodies of the fallen marines are wrapped and stacked, gazing on the still heap of humanity with grim introspection.  Eventually, he finds himself in the vicinity of his company again; and lays out before him on the deck the things he took from the tomb.

The bone flute, which grew cold at the moment of the necromancer's demise.  The nebulously slick dagger, with its covering partly soaked into the rumple of cloth beneath it.  The rolled tapestry, miraculously preserved.  He certainly seeks Wighard and Glod's opinions on the flute and dagger - but will wait until either and both are not snared in discussion, before flagging them over.

 "Guarded by an ogre's skeleton, in the pit where I landed.  I can make no pronouncement, either on the nature of this... oil or poison on the blade, nor on the nature of the flue; but I must suspect the last has black magic to it.  It grew troublingly cold in my keeping at the moment Jasmine shot the necromancer; and again as his bone-puppets collapsed.  My instinct is to destroy it - but I fear it is in some way tethered to the fate of the fallen Runemaster." 
dojango
Jasmine spends most of her time in a hammock slung in the cargo hold.  She tries to start reading the notebooks she had found so recently in Westvein, the ramblings of Till Krahl.  Helps keep her mind off the pain in her arm, and the unease she feels whenever she remembers the sinister voice of the collector in her ear.  It's a little hard, with her injured arm immobilized in a sling, but when nobody's around, she pulls down her collar and examines her shoulder where he had grabbed her.  What suspiciously looks like a handprint is a red mark on her pale skin...

 
 Spoiler 
Anything interesting in the notebooks we found way back when?
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: as you peruse the explorers handbook, it appears like he found a way into norsca that was mostly unmolested by raiders. there is no map, but a wandering explanation of landmarks and such, along with a cryptic message.  so long as reason not cloud your judgement, a way into norsca you will find 

wighard: the flute radiates a strange combination of ghyran and dhar. it appears to be able to summon the spirits of those entrapped by the flute for questioning, but at a cost. you can tell that the dagger produces a supply of black lotus on the blade from an unknown reservoir
wilphe
Wighard is concerned at the flute, Kwolf alights on the rail behind him

  This is a most odd piece. It appears to be enable one to speak to spirits trapped within it, but an item of that kind I would expect to use the Amethyst magic, not Jade.

It also reeks of black magic, not good at all.

If such a thing does truly trap the spirits inside it, it would be an abomination in the eyes of Morr for it would prevent them from travelling on.  

He eyes Kwolf

  But, well, there are only two reasons the Raven Lord could be interested in me.

Firstly, because he has need of someone with my talents  

Kwolf gives a low chuckling noise

  Or because he needs someone to do things his priests and templars cannot because they would be a grave violation of his strictures.

I have sworn no oath to him, so I am not bound by them  
  Check out the big brain on the featherless one here

I can see why he was accepted for med school

I swear I caught him demonstrating basic tool use once when he used a stick to scratch his arse  

A few of the marines turn to see who this new speaker is, especially as he's using Riekspeil and not Tilean for once

  Ark! Polly wants a cracker!   Kwolf stares at them for an uncomfortably long time then blows a raspberry

  You know I do try to keep a low profile  
  Ark! Show us your boobs darling!  
  Moving on, the dagger should be handled with care. It would seem to generate Black Lotus to coat the blade, but how I do not know.

It does not seem intrinsically evil but probably not a weapon for a Knight of Bretonnia.  
MrAbdiel
“Indeed; not a weapon for anyone with a shred of honor.  But if this menace held it, it must hold some… historical value.  How dangerous is this poison precisely?  As for the flute… well.  Perhaps when we are back in Altdorf, we can consult your magician colleagues about it.  If it had snared the spirit of the rune master… then we are bound to strive for its freedom.  A noble soul ought to rest with his ancestors.”
farothel
 "I'm certainly not going to walk around with a venomous dagger,"  Bruno said,  "and I would be very careful if we sell to whom.
  I'd rather not have some assassin or thieves' guild running around with a weapon like that." 
wilphe
  I would need to examine it more closely, run some tests, but it is extremely nasty stuff.

Otherwise it is a tool, to be used for good or ill; but yes a weapon for assassins, a holdout of desperation or a leveller for those untrained in arms or weak of body

If the flute maybe holds the rune master perhaps we should go with Glod and talk to his colleagues about it, or ask the Spirit Bottles

I don't know what things will be like in Altdorf, been trying to keep you two as the twin rival faces of the Company and hide myself in the background.

However wizards gossip too, and I'm maybe the youngest Magister ever who happens to wear the Cloak of Destiny, was unaffected by whatever spell put Altdorf to sleep and is accompanied by an apparent emissary of the Raven Lord. One of those things would make me a person of interest, all 4 - well  
bramblefoot
westvein comes into view after a half-day down the talabec. It's looking a lot better, and you hear the high clang of an alarm bell as the boats come into view. men-at-arms have assembed in the green as the boats pull up outside the dock. you hear emil say  "hold, hold"  as the men-at-arms get a little jumpy

emil calls over with an  "identify yourself" 

wdyd?
MrAbdiel
 "Hail Sigmar, and his valorous kinsmen, ah?"   Bertelis calls out, in his distinctively accented baritone;  "It is your friends, Emil; the Company of the Burning Slug.  And with us, we bring pleasure to many gods: justice for Verena's appetite; unquiet souls quieted, for Old King Morr; and hard, bloody vengeance for Ulric's pride.  The raiders of the river are no more; you may trade freely and, if you make rivermen as courageous as these men-at-arms, you may dissaude such a band from testing your steel ever again." 
bramblefoot
emil waves off the men-at-arms and signals for the alert to cease  "my friends welcome"  he calls, and offers hospitality. you see new buildings coming up, and the tavern has been refurbished, along with the smiths workshop

can i get a montage from all of you, along with your general itinerary?
dojango
Jasmine spends the first few days in the inn.  With Siobhan and Wighard changing her bandages and liberal amounts of good food and ale, her recovery from her wounds is remarkably quick.  Once she feels able to use her arm fully again, she spends some time hanging out with the marines, following them in their drills as sergeants yell at them to move their feet, gods damn it!  The marines show her a few of the dirty tricks they use to get an edge in combat, and she explains to them the importance of insulting your foe in a fight; something she learned from watching the knights sparring.  Eventually though she realizes she has more important work to do, and starts overseeing the repair and refurbishment of the two riverboats.  While their fundamental construction is sound, the state of the rigging is such to send a midshipman into apoplexy and the decks have not felt the touch of the holystone in who knows how long, both of which she makes sure that a crew of river rats soon starts to rectify.  By the time the party is ready to sail back to Altdorf the two boats are fit for an inspection by an admiral himself, although probably only passing if he was very drunk or near-sighted.

 
 Spoiler 
Mostly recovering and learning how to dodge, although also hiring some crew to fix the boats.  Probably will take a dozen men about a week, so 12 x 8s/week would be 96s in wages, plus maybe 10gc for rope, spars, tar, nails and other necessary supplies.
 
MrAbdiel
   An Errant Knighthood   
 In the tavern, soon after arrival... 

The young Bretonnian is not a natural carouser.  There are stereotypes among his people about those folk from Bordeleaux, and propensity to debauch in their own winestocks.  For a few cups, it seems to be trying to fill out the profile; but the second cup, embarassingly, sends him pale and a little queasy; much to the delighted mockery of the marines.  They mock him because it is natural for men of low station to mock those of high station, and they are rarely afforded the opportunity to do so with one they have reasonably come to expect can take it.  And take it he does - though he makes some transperantly poor deflections, for comedy's sake.   "Perhaps, had I grown up drinking such Imperial piss-water, I should find it as much to my liking as you, ah?  Roger?  Daglan?  It's bad, it's bad! You know it's bad.  The dwarves- the dwarves will tell you, your beer is bad!  Good dwarves! Tell these men that human beer is bad." 
 In the field near the dock, under the fading colors of the evening sky... 

Bertelis braced his foot to his rickety old shovel, and breaks ground again.  This will be the eight grave, of ten required; and he has put his effort to all of them, in some small portion balanced against the other volunteers.  Here, among the the hastilly marked graves of those the raiders had slain now months before, would lie the bodies of those killed avenging them.  They fought for coin, not  justice  as such.  But they  had  fought; and they  had  died; and as a result, justice had been done.  They deserved some amount of honor, here.  He brings Emil to look over the process; to get the scholar's eye on the places where tomorrow morning they will use the manpower on hand to sink posts for a fence surrounding this graveyard, and a plot to set aside for a humble shrine to Morr.  Emil, he has no doubt, will take note of the names of all those buried, and where they are buried; and will ensure that once the temple in Altdorf can spare an acolyte to add Westvein to their itinerant loop, they graves will receive proper blessing and marking.  That would be some small peace, for the dead; and perhaps, also, for Bertelis.

 Bright and early, the following morning... 

One marine shrugs to another.   "Well,"  the first says,  "I suppose we just get started.  Spear drills first." 

For all the mornings Bertelis has been with these soldiers, he has harangued them to rise early and drill, and practice; and again a shorter session at night.  Before that, he would insist on the same for the Company, in as much as he could persuade them; throwing onto his own shoulders the role of company  commander  in manner if not in elected title.  But this morning, he does not come out to train.  Perhaps, they speculate as they get to training, he is exhausted from the ordeals; or perhaps, now that the deed is done, he is done with them.  But he sleeps through, that morning; shuffles out of his room to take a heel of bread for breakfast, and retreats to sleep again.  He does not emerge until well after midday.

 Later, on the second evening... 

Having tracked down Jasmine making her assessment of the riverboats for repairs, Bertelis makes himself minimally useful; holding this rope, or hoisting this sail as directed, while he asks the recovering daughter of the Moot:  "I must admit, I am pleased to see you recovering so well,   ma petite dame.   You endured a great deal of punishment, back there.  Struck by hissing spectres.  Seared by gleaming jellies.  Slashed by haunted armors.  And seized, with mystic malice, by the monsterous proprietor of that place.  I noticed you fought with your dagger - did you lose your sword, in the fray preceeding?" 
wilphe
Wighard makes sure the wounded and recovering are comfortable and conducts a brief service for the dead. He's not a real priest of course, but he has done such rituals too many times. Kwolf he asks to head to Altdorf to request a real Priest pass by.

The morning of the second day he and Emil have a brief conversation, apparently marking out land for some project or other before he and Siobhan disappear into the woods until the evening. They want a little bit of privacy so she can get some practice in and he can learn better what she can do. If Gimgroth wants to come with he will not be oppossed.
dojango
Jasmine laughs nervously at Bertelis. " Haha yeah, first rule of fightin', don't drop your weapon an' I dropped it in the stupid slime thing. Least I made it out with my new shield. "
MrAbdiel
Jasmine's nervous laughter gives room for the knight to offer a generous smile; which goes a long way to redeeming his fact which, normally handsome and pleasant enough, is haggard with what looks like backlogged exhaustion.

 "Alas, it happens more often the more you are in the thick.  My axe, alas, got hooked on the gorget of one of those dancing armors, and rattled inside; therefore I can hardly chastise you for it."   He loops the rigging rope he's holding in one hand around his forearm as instructed; but his left hand slowly drifts to the axe at his waist; unloops it, scabbarded, from his belt, and offers it hilt first to the halfling.   "Here.  Try the weight.  It seemed light to me - it might be just right for you.  I took it from one of the northmen that we fought, in Altdorf; the one that Adelhard killed.  It's a marine weapon, I think; see the long beard of the blade, and the smoothed hollow under the chin for hooking over ropes?  Norscans have no gift for steel; it was, perhaps, plundered from a kislevite merchantman in the Sea of Claws, or some such.  But axes are less ideal for me, in the end; I fight from my horse, when I can.  The handle is too short, for that work; and axe blades, unlike swords and maces... they bite the bones, yes?  And then I will be dropping it, and breaking the rule."   He gives the smooth handle of the weapon, extended to Jasmine, a waggle.   "Go on.  See how it likes your arm." 
bramblefoot
wighard: what are you drilling into siobhan? she seems to have a preternatural ability to soak up theory and other stuff. she also has a strong magical aura

bruno: you see a man in a tall floppy hat walking past with his horse. he has a sword in his sheath, and seems to be watching the goings on. he takes special interest in wighard and siobhan and grimgoth walking into the woods.

bertelis and jasmine: you two notice the floppy-hatted man as well. jasmine, do tell me what this man is infamous for in the empire (he's a witch-hunter)

grimgoth. are you coming with wighard and siobhan? or are you gonna keep an eye on this floppy-hatted man?
Morovir
Although Glod spends a couple of hours a day working on the company's runesword, as is necessary for its completion, the majority of his focus remains on the runesword he had retrieved from the cursed sepulchre. The infernal presences in the tomb had corrupted the blade somehow, but until he completed his examination, there was no way to be certain in what way, and whether the process was reversible. Long he spent into the night each day trying to wrest the secrets from it, ceasing only to snatch a few hours of rest before awaking the next morning to continue his work.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Academic Knowledge (Runes), maybe? Something Int related anyway:  (1d100)[ 70 ]  TN 54 (Int 54)
 
bramblefoot
glod: the collector has bound their soul securely to the runeblade, and it is beyond your skill to remove. you could consult thurfam longbelly for his wisdom.
LarsWester
 In the tavern soon after arrival 
 "Perhaps, had I grown up drinking such Imperial piss-water, I should find it as much to my liking as you, ah? Roger? Daglan? It's bad, it's bad! You know it's bad. The dwarves- the dwarves will tell you, your beer is bad! Good dwarves! Tell these men that human beer is bad." 

Gimgroth laughs at Bertelis's imploring for back up.   "Aye it's bad.  What does this human beer have in common with with sex on the beach?  They're both f**king close to water!"   the dwarves shakes with laughter at his own joke unaware and uncaring if anyone else joins him.

 The next morning 
Gimgroth trains with the marine taking over the commander role for Bertelis when he doesn't show up.     "Right let the Sir Knight rest. He needs his beauty sleep." Pointing to about a dozen of the marines. "You lot see to the halfling's needs with the boats she's offering fair coin for a day's work and you seemed least likely to tie yourself in a knot when working on the rigging. The rest of you seadogs its high time a master of the boarding axe teach you a trick or three."  
 After the training session. 
Gimgroth noticed a rather strange fellow come through the town.  The man's hat is what stood out most being rather tall and floppy.  The stranger appeared to have a keen eye towards Wighard and Siobhan.  Gimgroth watches as those two make to disappear off into the woods.  Gimgroth follows at a distance and takes up a position of hiding in the forest keeping an eye on Westvein for the floppy hat man to make a pursuit into the woods.
bramblefoot
grimgoth: you find a good place to overwatch on siobhan and wighard. you settle in and wait, and wait, and wait. finally you see a flash of movement to your left, but no sound

wdyd?

wighard: while you are busy training siobhan, you sense something is wrong, a little way back out of the clearing. wddy?
dojango
Jasmine takes the axe, and giggles. " Jes need to grow a beard and I'll be a proper dwarven lady ," she tells Bertelis. And then,  "Hey, that's 'the Hammer', that famous witch hunter from Altdorf! 'the Hammer of Sigmar crushes all wickedness Johnson' is his name. They say he once kilt three evil wizards in one day, once! Wonder what he's doin' here? "
MrAbdiel
Having a few pointers to offer about the use of the yielded axe, Bertelis follows instead his halfling companion's eyeline.  He frowns a little.   "...That is Johansson, the Hammer?  I had thought him... less than real.  Templars of Sigmar do not often enjoy their personal reputations growing - or so I had thought.  The three slain in a day - that was the Coven of Three, on the road to Kemperbad, as I heard it.  All taken alive and burned, back, to back, to back, on the same stake.  Why is he prowling around Westvein..?  Perhaps... word of our expedition to the Lord of the Foxwoods reached him..?  Perhaps he has thought to verify the reports of the slain former lord of this place.  Hmm." 
farothel
Sir Bruno had been using the time in the town to help Emil with his correspondence, as he had some idea who might be interested in the books.  So he could give a few names and help with some introductions.  And he had some knowledge on the correct phrases to use when writing nobles.  In the evenings he had been signing for the marines and the villagers.  He wasn't an expert, but he could hold a tone.

When he noticed the man, he went in search for the others, quickly finding Jasmine and Bertelis discussing the man.  He had thought the man looked familiar, but he assumed he had been on a wanted poster, not as the guy who had wanted posters made.
 "I know the name, but I haven't worked with him,"  he said to the two others,  "I did notice him looking at wighard, siobhan and grimgoth.  Maybe we best go to talk to him.  Those guys often jump to conclusions and might take rash action against our friends.  Maybe Bertelis and I can have a word with him." 

He wasn't sure if Jasmine was already recovered enough to go into another potentially dangerous situation.
dojango
Jasmine nods and says, " Ha, yeah, he's probably gonna be jealous he don't get in on the action. Let's go say hello an' tell him all about our adventures. "
wilphe
Wighard takes the opportunity to have Siobhan discuss and if necessary demonstrate what she can do, whilst also taking the opportunity to see if there is any wind she channels better than most

  Interesting, you have at least some mastery beyond the usual level for the self-trained, however it is as well that you joined up with us as you did because such informal progression almost always ends badly  
 Almost always? 
  I am at least open to the theoretical possibility that it might have, somewhere somewhen, not turned out badly.

Unfortunately with formal study of a magical language and the discipline that instils such practitioners do inadvertently end up using dark magic - dhar - in their spells without realising it.

And when they do realise it they don't care and soon after that they start doing it deliberately.

Thus is the nature of chaos

That's why amongst my first duties are to instruct you in magical language and grammar so you can shape your thoughts in a controlled way and in a magical tradition so that you draw clean power.

You won't lose the ability to do what you can already do, but it will shape your future development  

Kwolf is not there, but that little voice that sits in Wighard's head that once told him to duck moments before a unseen cannonball that would have taken his head off went through his trench, the one that tells him not to go down certain alleys, that little voice, is telling him something is up

  That's enough practice for now, we can return to the others where it will not freak the muggles  
bramblefoot
the party meeting the witchhunter: he looks at sir bertelis and bruno, sizing you up with a practiced eye as his hand moves a little closer to the sword at his hip  "i heard there was a chaos cult around here. what do y'all know about that?" 

wighard: you really should get running, as you see a flick of glass dialing in on your position
wilphe
Wighard looks at Siobhan and speaks quietly

  Condition Blue, 135  

The two of them then split up, one zigging, one zagging, trying to keep the trees between them and whoever is watching them and heading back towards the village
farothel
 "Greetings,"  Sir Bruno said,  "my name is Sir Bruno, Baronet Richter.  And to answer your question, yes, we are aware of the chaos cult and we have already dealt with it.  That's why we have the marines in the town, as it was a rather extensive group of cultists who lived in the swamps and pirated on the river.  We are here with the blessing of the reiksmarshall and the temple of Sigmar." 
bramblefoot
 "i know exactly who you are baronet richter"  hammer responds with a wink.  "tell me, what would people do if they knew what i know?" 
 "sir bertelis roche. it appears you havent gotten over that daemonette incident in the basement at altdorf"  hammer grates, continuing on to

 "our dearest halfling. those boats wouldnt pass inspection at the dock, now would they?" 

he finishes with  "and if you should kill me, i have letters prepared to be sent to karl franz himself."  he cracks a rictus grin and says  "lets talk business. i have information you'd rather not have get out. i also have a mission for you that goes in your general direction." 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is momentarilly flabbergasted by the man's opening; but soon, with some color in his cheek, finds his voice again.

 "Regardless of your  letter , I imagine Sigmar would be less than impressed for you to arrive at his side prematurely for such a ridiculous boast.  I do not care for your extortive tone to myself or my companions; and had most men presumed to use such threats, I would already have demanded satisfaction.  If you are hell-bent of being our  puppeteer  rather than a civil acquaintance, then this meeting is ill-fated from the start and the enemies of mankind will thrill for it.  But we are a company of no small virtue, along with our valor; and we are easily enticed to do righteous deeds.  So perhaps speak your peace; and perhaps we will be compelled without this..."   He gestures loosely with one hand, fanning it in the air as if waving off sulphuric vapors of the witch hunter's insinuations.  "...Clumsy espionage." 
bramblefoot
hammer continues with a  "do you think consorting with daemons can be ignored, sir bertelis roche? the empire strikes hard and fast against corruption of mind, body, and soul"  he coolly pulls a whistle from his pocket and holds it close to his mouth.  "the choice is yours" 
MrAbdiel
 "All of us have only ever  fought  the daemons where we have found them.  I have never consorted with one until this conversation - but speak your peace.  If you are tracking the pirate-cult, we have smoke them at cost already.  If you had concerns about the monstrosity that lurked in the gully nearby, we have slain it also.  But if there is some other dark threat for which you are enlisting aid, it may be as simple as  asking.   You need neither beg, nor bully." 
bramblefoot
 "bruno, do tell them about your family"  hammer says, holding the whistle.  "it turns out that bruno's family in altdorf were nurgle worshippers for the past few generations. that's all the info i need to send you all to the pyre" 
dojango
Jasmine just laughs again and says, "Depends on who's doin' the inspection, I guess. If it's Corporal Nobson, then yeah, no flippin' problem. If'n it's Lieutenant Marston, then yeah, we might be spending a few weeks scrapin' barnacles an' fixing the rigging..." After he accuses Bruno she scowls a bit and starts looking around suspiciously.
Morovir
  Meanwhile...  

Glod gives a start as the pieces fall into place. It all made sense now, though he dearly wished it did not, and that a different conclusion would present itself. Through some foul perversion, the Collector had bound his soul to the runeblade, desecrating it in the eyes of all  dawi , and rendering it beyond his ability alone to rectify. Suppressing the urge to vomit at such an abomination, Glod grits his teeth and wraps the blade in cloth, binding it together with leather straps so that it can be carried without getting into contact with the blade. He will have to return to Altdorf and consult the master runelords at the embassy in order to solve this particular problem.

Leaving his room for the first time in days, he looks around and the empty abode.

 "Bugrit, where did everyone go?" 
farothel
 "They know that,"  Bruno said,  "we killed my cousin... well, adopted cousin to be honest... when he turned into some sort of monstrosity.  And yes, that branch of the family apparently is not who I thought they were.  Nobody in the family does, at least as far as I know.  And when we get back to Altdorf, I will inform the temple of Sigmar of my findings and have them deal with that branch.  But I doubt myself and my companions should end up on a pyre just because a cousin twice removed is a cultist.  If that is the case, you can probably burn half the empire.  But you were speaking of a mission.  I can't speak for everybody in our group and you insulting us might not help matters with them, but what mission?" 
bramblefoot
 "there have been rumblings that a daemon weapon has been uncovered in mousillon"  hammer says with reticence.  "the empire needs to know, and so when i heard you guys were going to brettonia, i'd pay you a visit, and ask you to destroy it" 
MrAbdiel
 "Mousillon..?"   The Bretonnian echos, with disgust, and dread.   "How much more  damned  can a place become?  You are right that we are going West.  But why is a sword, however curses, so far away from the Empire of such interest to the Templars of Sigmar?  This seems to be a  particular  sword, if you want it destroyed so badly.  Furthermore, I'd ask in what manner, if you know, it ought to be destroyed." 
bramblefoot
 "it is a weapon containing the essence of a great unclean one"  hammer says, proffering a pouch  "inside contain  three blessed stones which must be placed into the handle slots to destroy it" 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis looks at the proffered pouch, hovering in the air between the party, in the witch hunter's grasp.  He looks, and feels, even more tired in the hanging five seconds before he reaches out to take it.

 "...Fine.  We will strive to accomplish this.  I suppose it would be too easy to ask if your information suggested the sword be in a particular lord's hand, or within a certain estate?  Or must we roust that information from the benighted and cursed locals.  And, succeeding, our company gains what - the nebulous appreciation of the Order of the Silver Hammer, and your word that you will no longer seek to extort our people?" 
dojango
Jasmine laughs and interjects, a little nervously, " Foreigners, am I right?  They don't understand quite how things are in the Empire.  What my foreign companion is asking for, I think, is a 'writ', signed by the good gentleman, authorizing the Order of the Burning Slug to carry out this little task on behalf of the Order of the Silver Hammer.   Something that lets us draw upon help and supplies, should we need it, from those loyal to the Hammer, and somethin' that lets us know what authority we have in this matter.  That makes it all nice and legal-like, you know how these Bretonnians are with their 'laws' and 'noble rights', ya know? "
bramblefoot
 "that you do, assuming you complete the mission"  hammer says  "when the weapon is destroyed, the letters will be burnt to ashes. you have my word"  he blows on the whistle thrice, mounts his horse, and rides off, calling back  "the writ will be waiting for you in altdorf" 
MrAbdiel
 
 Spoiler: Woops!  Retracted Because I got ahead of myself.  Scene yet to resolve. 
   A Little Later On...  

It was hard to find anything like privacy while there were so many marines and visitors in town.  The tavern was crowded, and it seemed a bad idea to roust all the men out for a private pow-wow shortly after any of them might have also seen the witch hunter.  And so they assembled in the stables, with the borrowed donkeys noshing away on their sorghum in their stalls; the Company of the Burning Slug assembled on bales repurposed as a circle of seats.  And laying on a rickety stool between them all, subtly containing all of their fates, was the little draw-string bag with its blessed stones.

 "...I... perhaps, should not have agreed so swiftly.  I lost patience with the man's threats, and wanted him to move on.  Therefore I will not hold any of you to the binding agreement I made, to do this thing in Mousillon.  I will, when we have passed through Couronne, turn south on my own as required.  But this rumor of a cursed blade holding a powerful daemon of the flylord has happened too close in sequence to the stories of a stranger spreading unusual illnesses in Bordeleaux.  And those illnesses have afflicted my father's wife.  These may be connected matters; they may not be.  But my interest is personal enough that I must look past the extreme danger of the quest.  But it does sound dangerous, in the extreme: I do not know the nature of the daemon weapon, or the daemon within it; but it must be significant indeed to warrant international interest.  And Mousillon is cursed enough without it - a land of twisted, wretched folk striving to live amidst toxic roses and restless corpses." 

He rubs his face with one hand, before his fingers drift to tough the flanges of the mace that once more hangs by his side, now that the axe has been bequeathed to its new bearer.  His tired blue eyes hunt some unseen answer to his problems on the hay-covered ground, before dragging their gaze up and back to the bag of blessed stones.

 "Therefore I say, not to be too dramatic about it, if anyone should like to say now that they would not do this thing, you might do so with no shame or ill feeling."   
 
bramblefoot
wighard: you hear the high crack of a hochland long rifle. apparently whoever is shooting is good at this, as it thwacks through the leather in your left shoulder

 (1d100)[ 34 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 10 ] 

gimgroth, you hear the high crack of a rifle and a shout of pain from wighard

wdyd?
LarsWester
Gimgroth's attention was already in the direction of where his sharp eyes caught some movement.   At the sound of the hochland rifle firing he is in a sprint towards that direction.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Full Action Run
Gimgroth is closing the distance on whoever fired the rifle and should get there before it is reloaded as it takes two full rounds to do so.
Perception check if needed  (1d100)[ 70 ] 
 
bramblefoot
Gimgroth: as you run towards the sound of the rifle shot you see the net trap a hair too late and get a heavy hempen net with iron weights dropped upon you. You hear a cackle from father in the forest and the sound of departing feet
LarsWester
Gimgroth would start cutting through the net with his axe swearing in dwarven the entire time.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Trying to understand the premise here.
Has Wighard been making a habit of going to this spot to train Siobhan?
Is this scene occurring as the Witch Hunter is talking to the other party members in town so while he eyed Wighard and Siobhan suspiciously, this sniper isn't him?

I guess I'm stuck now so how many rounds until I get free.
 
wilphe
Wighard 9/13W 2/2FP


Wighard drops back behind a tree and signals Siobhan to head for the village. He then gets his bow ready and makes his back towards the direction of the shooter moving from cover to cover.

The sound of Dwarven swearing gets his attention   Is that you Gimgroth?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Trying to understand the premise here.

Has Wighard been making a habit of going to this spot to train Siobhan?  No this is the first time they've done anything except theory 

Is this scene occurring as the Witch Hunter is talking to the other party members in town so while he eyed Wighard and Siobhan suspiciously, this sniper isn't him ?   Correct. I think it is Wighard's rooftop friend from Altdorf 
 
bramblefoot
grimgoth: there is no way you're gonna be catching that sniper. he has since vanished into the forest

wighard: a good gm does not spill his secrets, at least not yet
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

 
 Originally Posted by bramblefoot 
 wighard: a good gm does not spill his secrets, at least not yet 
 

Wouldn't expect you too, but that's Wighard's thinking.

Unless he has unwittingly made an enemy of the Engineer's Guild and/or the population of Hochland
 
bramblefoot
The party in the village: you hear the sound of a gunshot

Wdyd
farothel
Bruno was just turning to Bertelis to try and see the pouch when he heard a shot coming from the direction of the forest.  The only people with firearms in their group were here, so it had to be someone else.
 "Gimgroth, wighard and Siobhan went that way,"  he said to the others,  "I think we best go and have a look." 

He quickly loaded his pistol and then headed out to see what was going on.
dojango
Jasmine tells Bertelis, once the Hammer has left, " We'll jes' have to check out his bonafides later, in Altdorf, but at least he left us alone... "  When the shot rings out a few moments later, she adds, " Maybe. "  She draws her pistol and slides into the woods, trying to move quickly but quietly towards the sound of the shot.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 72 ]  v. 64 Silent Move to not be noticed,  (1d100)[ 3 ]  v. 62 follow trail to see which way they've headed
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis has already turned back toward the village proper when the shot rings out, and Jasmine fangs off into the trees at a stealthy scamper.

 "It's probably just a local game-hunter!"   He calls; but then plods after.  He pauses when he glances back at the form of Glod on the way, flagging him on with one hand and keeping a reserved pace to let the dwarf catch up, and let the sneaky halfling sneak without a platey pal giving her away.
bramblefoot
you all meet up in the woods. the sniper is nowhere to be found, and grimgoth has cut his way out of the net
MrAbdiel
After twenty minutes of scouring the woods, with Jasmine's pronouncement there is nothing to track, Bertelis takes her word for it.  If she can't track the attacker, no one can.  At least it gives Siobhan a chance to practically learn how to extract a bullet.  Putting his shield away, he loiters near to where Siobhan tends to Wighard's wound; but he keeps a loose watch, just in case.

 "Someone wants you dead. Wighard.  You've been targeted each time, yes?  Or more than anyone else, for sure.  And we have assumed this gunman was working with the yellow-eyed man.  But perhaps he is... something else?  I am at a loss as to how to investigate such a thing." 
LarsWester
 
 Originally Posted by wilphe 
   Is that you Gimgroth?   
 

 Aye! Confounded net.   I saw something of a glimmer but couldn't make much more sense of it until the shot rang out.  Are you hurt?  How is Siobhan?  That coward is nowhere to be seen. I wonder how he had time to set up this trap and he seemed to know your intent to train the girl out here in the woods.   When did you first discuss your training with Siobhan?  Is it possible he got a lead an hour ago or so? Regardless let me look at your wounds it looks like your armor stopped most of the force but you'll have a nasty bruise. 
After inspecting the mage's armor and body applying what medicine he is capable of doing Gimgroth suggests.   Let's return to the others.   It is at this moment the others find them first.   Disappointed in the lack of a trail Gimgroth returns to Wighard.   Aye I swear it be one of your own Wizard.   Someone who's heart is dark as the arts they practice no doubt driven mad with jealousy over your quick assent in rank among the robed ones.   But how to determine who is responsible? 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Apologies for the delay in responding to this.
  Heal  - (1d100)[ 67 ]    Wounds  - (1d10)[ 5 ] 
 
bramblefoot
The party regroups at the dock. Emil wishes you safe travels and the boats sail away can I get a d100 roll?
LarsWester
Gimgroth waves back to Emil.   It was good to see the Scholar again was it not Sir Bertelis? I remember a time when I thought the two of you were to come to blows.   I think our journey together has changed you as much if not more than it changed me Knight.   the dwarf took a drink from his bottle of spirits before offering the knight a drink from the same bottle.  Boats made Gimgroth anxious, he drank when he was anxious.
wilphe
  It is a most unwizardly way to deal with an enemy if it is, though neither my order nor the Bright College are known for their powerful attack spells.

Still, those are rare weapons so some enquiries at the Engineers' Guild may be interesting  
bramblefoot
we cut to another dream sequence

bertelis: you have a disturbing dream of the dancer in the dark at Baudouin's home in talabheim. tell me what new scar appears on your body after the dream

gimgroth: when you wake, there is a lock of your illegitimate daughters hair in an envelope along with a letter. tell me the story of how you got this daughter

jasmine: you have a dream involving a large kraken-like monster and a ship. tell me how it ends, and which of the party you see get eaten in its maw

wighard: you see a sumptuous suite in the city of altdorf. three wizards sit around the table, but you cannot see their faces. what are they plotting, and how bad will it be for the empire if this plan comes to fruition?

bruno: you see the richter estate in flames. templarites of sigmar burn your adopted family. who if any escapes, and in what condition?

glod: you see a vision of the forging of ghal maraz by the dwarven smiths. what crucial detail do the legends leave out of the weapon itself?
dojango
Jasmine was gripped with an iron certainty that the treasure they sought was in the forbidding mountains of Norsca.  She knew the way, it was in the notebook that Till Krahl had written, and that she would be able to guide the company there.  She saw them sailing towards towering grey cliffs in a fine ship that she knew that they owned.  She saw the ship being attacked by the dreaded kraken of the deep, and she saw the dwarves furiously hacking at its tentacles with their axes; she saw herself with a fine long rifle, lashed to the mast and taking shots at the monster's eyes.  She saw the hull of the ship flexing, with dark grey water filling the holds.  And she saw Bertelis leap overboard, harpoon in hand.  As the kraken sunk beneath the waves, with Bertelis wrapped up close, shouting and jabbing at the giant eye, she awoke with an iron certainty.  That if they travelled to Norsca they would find the treasure and return with riches beyond their wildest dreams; but also that Bertelis would certainly die.
farothel
While he was sleeping, Bruno flew over the empire.  He wasn't sure where he was, as a lot of the empire actually looked the same, especially from above.  He zoomed in towards a burning manor house and only then did he recognise it, the estate of his uncle Konrad, father to his late cousin Gottfried.  He had been there once to deliver a few trinkets and some letters.  He noticed that around the house there were a number of Sigmarite templars and they seemed to be very methodical.  They had locked a number of people inside the manor and at least one was laying dead in the courtyard.

A bit further he noticed a small group of templars chasing after one person on a horse.  Looking closer it was his uncle and as Bruno was watching, he jumped of the horse, which was at the end of its power and dissapeared into the forest.  As it was night, if the templars didn't have a tracker with them, he would probably get away.  While he had some scratches, he looked quite well, so he probably ran as soon as the Sigmarites arrived.
wilphe
Wighard does not recognise the room nor the voices, but then he has not been through every wizard college and they are not exactly the sort of places to welcome casual exploration.

  So, gentlemen, are we any closer to discovering the who and how of what we must refer to as "The Event"?  
  Our agents have found nothing; all the cult cells we have tabs on were as surprised by this as we were and equally affected.  
  And divination?  
  Nothing, no sign in the heavens, we have not yet proven so desperate as to ask fortune tellers or back alley astrologers. We'd likely get answers that way but precious little truth.  
  Well let us hope it does not come to that, it would embarrassing to resort to such expedients 
 
  Not as embarrassing as admitting that the entire capital can be put to sleep without anyone in the colleges knowing in advance or having any idea how to stop it happening again  
  Well there is that.  
  And the academics still have nothing?  
  They have established it was an arcane ritual, and was sustained by the cultists. They are uncertain what ingredients and other elements were employed to get the ritual started  
  We are trying to see if there were any unusual movements or thefts beforehand that might be acquisition of components  
  Can you assign a team to that?  
  Most certainly  
  Now do we have anything on why this "Company of the Burning Slug" appear to be unaffected? Are they in league with the perpetrators?  
  We have investigated their backgrounds and histories; nothing to indicate that
 save some rumours around Baronet Richter's adopted cousins  
  And the mage?  
  Clear as they come; he was in the Light College being inducted as a Magister only a few days prior. They didn't notice anything,  
  Do we want to be reassured about that, or worried that cultists can possibly go undetected even by the Light College whilst  within  the Light College? What have you found out about him anyway?  

There is an embarrassed cough

  Well, eh, that's the thing. We have tried, several times, but we cannot get a look at him.   
  What does that mean, well why the hell not?  
  All scrying and divination attempts relating to Magister Wighard return a null value and are blocked by what we can only describe as a blanket of divine energy.

There is no taint of chaos in that so our current working hypothesis is that the Raven Lord himself is frustrating his efforts  
  You want us to pull him in for questioning?  
  No, he was thoroughly debriefed at the time, however keep an eye on his and his companions' movement and activity.

I am sure whoever is behind this will be just as interested in them as we are  
MrAbdiel
 It's a collision of anxieties - a messy collage of two scenes.  Is it Baudouin's estate in Talabheim, boarded up cautiously for fear of plague, or invasion?  Is it the cult-house in Altdorf, windows shuttered to deny the outside knowledge of the dark deeds within?  At the first, he received the chilling news of his step-mother's  ailment, and the strange plague spreader at his home.  At the second, he had died.

No, that's not true.  He was injured badly; but had not died.  He had suffered in an emulsion of terror and bravery, like a sailor lashed to the wheel of his ship in a storm.  But he had survived, hadn't he?

Hadn't he?

He pushed through the doors of the silent house, looking for signs of Baudouin, or his wife; no one was there.  And then the light vanished - darkness engulfed the room, and he reached for his weapons but they were gone too, scattered somewhere in the dark.  And he smelled the ash and roses and sweat smell of the daemon, and the flash of pain and extinction closing on his neck... 

When he thumped on Wighard's door, waking up the surgeon and his apprentice, and probably everyone else in the adjacent rooms, he looked even more wretched than usual.  The failure of sleep to really  rest  the knight had accrued on his features over the last few days; now he was pale as death, though Wighard would know quickly it was a fright response and not an exsanguination like the last time.  Bertelis seems to be under the impression that he is about to die, throat cut, and is grasping wildly toward his friend, the beacon of medicine and life to abate it.  But the cuts on his neck are note deep, and do not even require stitching; one long on the right side of the neck, one a little shorter on the left; as if the razor serrations of some monstrous claw had pressed there, but had not closed to shear through jugular, and scallene muscle, and bone.  There's nothing to be done but to clean them, so they would leave the finest and palest scars possible.  Beyond that, the only medicine for the ailment is prayer.

And pray he does.


  Just Before Leaving Town...  

It was hard to find anything like privacy while there were so many marines and visitors in town.  The tavern was crowded, and it seemed a bad idea to roust all the men out for a private pow-wow shortly after any of them might have also seen the witch hunter.  And so they assembled in the stables, with the borrowed donkeys noshing away on their sorghum in their stalls; the Company of the Burning Slug assembled on bales repurposed as a circle of seats.  And laying on a rickety stool between them all, subtly containing all of their fates, was the little draw-string bag with its blessed stones.

 "...I... perhaps, should not have agreed so swiftly.  I lost patience with the man's threats, and wanted him to move on.  Therefore I will not hold any of you to the binding agreement I made, to do this thing in Mousillon.  I will, when we have passed through Couronne, turn south on my own as required.  But this rumor of a cursed blade holding a powerful daemon of the flylord has happened too close in sequence to the stories of a stranger spreading unusual illnesses in Bordeleaux.  And those illnesses have afflicted my father's wife.  These may be connected matters; they may not be.  But my interest is personal enough that I must look past the extreme danger of the quest.  But it does sound dangerous, in the extreme: I do not know the nature of the daemon weapon, or the daemon within it; but it must be significant indeed to warrant international interest.  And Mousillon is cursed enough without it - a land of twisted, wretched folk striving to live amidst toxic roses and restless corpses." 

He rubs his face with one hand, before his fingers drift to tough the flanges of the mace that once more hangs by his side, now that the axe has been bequeathed to its new bearer.  His tired blue eyes hunt some unseen answer to his problems on the hay-covered ground, before dragging their gaze up and back to the bag of blessed stones.

 "Therefore I say, not to be too dramatic about it, if anyone should like to say now that they would not do this thing, you might do so with no shame or ill feeling."  
wilphe
Wighard realises that this is a case where listening to them is far more useful than any actual treatment, therefore he will patiently listen to Bertelis, calm him down and prescribe a few days dosage of sleep medication to try to give him sweet, and hopefully dreamless rest rather than mere sleep.

++++++++

  In the stables:  
  I think more than person told him at the time that it was not necessary to try to weakly blackmail us into doing something we would have done anyway if asked.

An analysis with which I am in full concurrence.

Therefore I don't see the problem  
 
bramblefoot
the riverboats pull into the docks at altdorf. you are all disembarking when a whistle sounds and river captain von sydow strolls up, backed up by at least two dozen bullyboys.  "jasmine featherblossom, come with me"  he says, working the words around in his mouth like a particulary bitter apple. he addresses the rest of you dismissively  "just some river warden business, stand aside" 
wilphe
  Hey at least it's not me this time.  

Wighard looks at Jasmine to see if she wants accompanying.
LarsWester
 
 Originally Posted by bramblefoot 
 grimgoth: Your vision is of an ancient dwarf hold. tell me what treasure was lost here, and how it might be reclaimed 
 

Perhaps it was the dealing with the old dwarven master's spirit in that accursed place or perhaps it was just the uneasiness of being afloat in a boat but Gimgroth's sleep was a trouble one.

 Being born and raised in the towns and cities of the Empire Gimgroth's breath caught in his throat as he looked down upon the glory of one of the ancient mountain homes.    The stone fortresses and walls that wound along the mountain ridge provided a foreshadowing of the great riches and expanse of the mines and homes below the surface.   Gimgroth's view rapidly descended from this eagle height perspective as if he was falling from the clutches of a great bird.   As the ground grew before him he noticed that the walls were being overrun by greenskins.   The orcs were setting fire to what could burn and numbered greater than the stars in the night sky.   Gimgroth knew in his bones he was witnessing the fall of Karak Drazh the Black hold.  He saw the fabled King Vikram Ironside final charge.   The fighting was fierce and playing out at an accelerated view in Gimgroth's dream.   The dwarves fought hard and slayed countless foes but were eventually surrounded and killed to the last man.  Gimgroth noticed that the King's ring had been cut loose from his finger and bounced until falling into a crack.   Gimgroth laughed as the orcs could not reach the ring in this crack.   The king's ring was safe from the filthy greenskin hands.   In Gimgroth's dream time rapidly passed as the snows fell and melted.  Even the rocks shifted through the ages with the ring further falling within the crack.  
dojango
" Ah, Luddy.  Good ta see you.  Last time I saw you you was when we pulled ya out of the river.  Good ta see you managed to dry off eventually!  Hey guys, tell the marines I'll meet them a little later, got some river warden business to attend to, as the kid says... "  With that she grabs her gear and follows von Sydow, trying to strike up a conversation with the bullyboys, recounting a few of von Sydow's more amusing mishaps with the riverwardens.
MrAbdiel
Bertelis drums his fingers on the helm under his arm as Jasmine is being led away.  With the mob out of earshot, he voices the obvious.

 "No one who had only simple business would need such a throng to enforce their will. This bodes poorly - but Jasmine made sure to declare loudly about the marines expecting her.  Reminding us, I think, that we might ask their service a little more if this turns out to be trouble, and we may need to even the odds.  Still, it would be odd to detain and do mischeif to someone so publicly, so obviously... Perhaps it is nothing.  I think I will follow, at a remove; but we all have errands in the city, I expect.  Let us regroup at the estate, if it pleases the Baronet Richter, at one bell." 
farothel
 "No problems,"  Bruno said,  "Mi casa e su casa.  I'll go and have a look for a tailor as I know a few good addresses.  But we will all need to go there for a at least one fitting as soon as I come to an understanding.  Sir Bertelis, can you later tell me about the fashion in Bretonnia?  Or at least the do's and don'ts.  Things that are forbidden or compulsory for me?" 

He agreed that having one of them follow Jasmine might not be a bad idea and while Bertelis wasn't the stealthiest of the group, neither was he and he knew his way around a bit better to get the shopping on the way, while Bertelis would have more problems with that.  With a nod to the others, he took the bolt of silk with him (if he could carry it, otherwise he would cut of a small square at the edge to take with him as sample) and started out.
bramblefoot
jasmine: you are asked some rather pointed questions about the company of the burning slug by the river captain when you reach the riverwardens office. gimme a fellowship roll to deflect suspicion, and an intelligence roll to figure out why he's so interested in this

bertelis: gimme silent move to avoid being spotted. assuming you can succeed on that, you'll be able to follow the bullyboys to wherever they're going. if not, well things just got interesting  😁

bruno: where are you going, and who is selling the riverboats?

wighard: kwolf alights on your shoulder with a letter in his beak. the letter is from the light college, and clearly is not meant for your eyes. tell me what it says

glod and gimgroth: are you both going to the dwarven embassy? if you are, what are your plans?
Morovir
  Before...  
 He looked down over the assembled smiths, led by the Ancestors themselves, as they worked on the hammer that rested between them. He recognised this display instinctively - any dwarf worth his beard knew the tales of the forging of Ghal Maraz - but what was he doing there? This had been millennia in the past. Nonplussed, he continued to watch, as they finished the final runework on the sacred hammer, and Smednir raised it in triumph, to the approval of the others. All part of the legend, just as he had learned as a beardling.

 But then they moved onto the next hammer.

And the next three. 

Ghal Maraz was but one of five rune hammers crafted by the Ancestors - each the same in design, but with different runes bound within them. 

Glod awakes with a start. The dream had been so... vivid, but what had it meant? Why had it come to him? Was it a sign of great things to come? Or was it simply the result of eating too much cheese before retiring to his quarters? In any case, it mattered not. There was still much to be done.

  Now...  

Accompanied by Gimgroth, Glod returns to the dwarfen embassy, carrying both the wrapped runeblade and the remains of Borri Greybeard in the hopes of presenting them both to a dwarf of seniority.
dojango
The marines had taught Jasmine that the best defense was a good offence, both in war and in conversation.  In retrospect that, Jasmine decided, was where the conversation had started to go way off track...  " What have we been doin'?  Killin' the Lord o' the bloody Foxwood for a start!  I seem ta remember you sayin' you'd put him down yerself, and yet here we found the Sigmar-damned bastard in the middle of a bloody swamp, sittin' on a throne o' gold, leadin' his court o' the damned! "  From there it devolves into something of a shouting match, and when it is all said and done, Jasmine realizes that she's been a bit too direct about what the company has been doing and has planned, but on the other hand, so has the 'good' captain, and she now has a pretty good idea of his purposes and designs...

 
 Spoiler 
Hyper-failed on the fellowship roll, easily passed the int. roll
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: it appears that river captain von sydow is in deep to some nasty fellers. you notice a letter on the desk that you could swipe, but if caught, it will get you in deep trouble
LarsWester
 
 Originally Posted by Morovir 
 Accompanied by Gimgroth, Glod returns to the dwarfen embassy, carrying both the wrapped runeblade and the remains of Borri Greybeard in the hopes of presenting them both to a dwarf of seniority. 
 

Gimgroth followed silently and reverently behind Glod.  They had lain the bones of Borri Greybeard within Gimgroth's heavy chest.  The stout dwarf had secured the chest on his back and was keeping pace with Glod as he carried the accursed runeblade.  Even through the silence of that journey Gimgroth could sense Glod also had interesting dreams on a boat.   Gimgroth finally broke about 5 minutes of silence to offer out a  Good to feel solid ground beneath the boots again.  as he shifted the weight of the chest and Borri's bones.   I'll let you do the talking amongst the elders.  I've got too much of the Umgis' accent to my tongue. 
dojango
Jasmine noticed that Ludwig kept glancing at a letter at the corner of his desk and seemed to sweat a little when he spotted it.  She wished she had spotted it sooner, or that she was quicker with her fingers, like some of her more light-fingered cousins.  But she did know that she was quick and silent unlike those mudfoot humans, and so once she left the river-warden's offices she told Bertelis her suspicions.  " I think the good captain's gambling debts have caught up with him, he weren't doin' no warden business.  I reckon Imma gonna tail him once he leaves and see who he's dealin' with.  If I ain't back at Bruno's place by tomorrow mornin', send in the marines... "

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 61 ]  v. 64 shadowing to tail the captain once he leaves the place,  (1d100)[ 57 ]  fp if needed
 
MrAbdiel
 "I had dared to hope it might have been news about the captives that went downriver.  Alas.  But,  ma petite madame ..."   Bertelis glances from the halfling to the bustling street of the morning - people living their lives, and not risking them.   "I fear that, if you are right and this man is ensnared in association with wicked and violent people, then I cannot allow you to simply sneak off and invite calamity.  It was not so long ago that you nearly perished, and..."   He looked back to his short friend, with a faint and apologetic smile.   "I would-" 

Oh; she was already gone.  The knight pivoted on the spot; looked up and down the street; stepped back a couple of paces and looked down an alley.  No; she was quite gone, and had gone probably fairly early in his winsome elaboration.  He frowned.

   "Toi petite merde..."   

With nothing else to do, he trusted in the halfling's clandestine skills; and took in the streets at leisure on his way to Bruno's estate.
wilphe
  So are you a carrier pigeon now?  
  Kaw! Kaw!  
 
 Spoiler: Tilean 
  The Garden got the following message from some bigwig at the Gold College, thought you might want to read it, be quick I have to take it back  
 


The message is in fact from one Abraham Nostitz, Magister Vigilant of the Gold College, requesting information on Wighard's status within the cult.

  And what answer do they intend to give?  
  Kaw! Kaw!  
 
 Spoiler: Tilean 
  Already sent; that you are not a cult member, but are in good standing and that they had been forewarned of your arrival as a favoured servant of the Rabenherr.

They have however no idea as to his ultimate purposes nor why he would have chosen you specifically.  
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: you follow river captain von sydow to a seedy dive bar in the slums. two beefy individuals wave him in after some sort of exchange between them. could there be a pass phrase or something like that?

bertelis: as you wander the districts, you see a small figure in a hooded cloak following you. they move with the preternatural grace of a cat burglar, and always stay at least 20-30 feet back, never once losing you in the hustle and bustle

glod and gimgroth: you are presented to master smith dekagg stoutbelt. he will take the bones and the blade with reverence  "thank you for bringing these home. i shall reward you both"  he takes you down a few dozen flights of stairs to a room full of dwarven craftsmanship. suits of armor sit polished to a shine, along with row after row of amulets and rings. along the far wall, weapon racks sit full to bursting with runed weapons.  "one thing, dealers choice. you have until the sandglass runs out to choose"  dekar says, turning over a sandglass.

 
 Spoiler: glod and gimgroth 
you have 7 rounds to find one thing that interests you. It's a half move to the armor and rings , and full move to the weapons. feel free to roll weapon skill to find the best weapon, or AK: runes to find the best runed gear
 


bruno: you find a tailor of good repute for noble clothes. gimme a haggle roll to see how expensive its gonna be

wighard: are you gonna investigate this gold college magister?
wilphe
Wighard is not surprised to hear this, in fact he would be amazed to find out there weren't people very interested in him - but its nice to have a name.

He will conspicuously and obviously take himself and Siobhan to the Light College and to the Cathedral of Sigmar; spending a few hours in the Nihonese suite writing letters to his own order, the Maga Onyll and the Magus Trakore.

Also going to write to the Reiksmarshall thanking him for his help, and report that they have come across a certain artefact (Misericorde of Poisonous Malice - but won't explicitly say so) that he feels that this is best given to one of the more direct Imperial authorities that might make use of it and can he recommend someone to take it off his hands?
(Effectively angling to be put in touch with Imperial Intelligence)
dojango
Not entirely confident about her ability to talk her way past the bouncers, Jasmine slides around to the back of the establishment and cases it for back doors, windows, fire exits, skylights, or other alternate forms of entry.
Morovir
Bowing in reverence to the venerable elder, Glod moves over to the runed wargear, careful to not appear too avaricious. Using an appraising gaze, he looks over the items, seeking something of true value that would bring him strength.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Academic Knowledge (Runes):  (1d100)[ 98 ]  TN 54

FP rerolled in OOC thread for a 36
 
farothel
Bruno headed towards a tailor he had done business with before, knowing he did business with the nobility and would at least be interested in buying the silk.  Arriving in the shop he explained the deal he wanted to make.  The bolt of silk for a set of clothing like the nobility wore for himself and his companions.  He also added that he wanted an extra set of clothing in the Bretonnian style.  He would get the others to come in for a fitting of course, and he made sure to mention that this bolt of silk was something quite unique and quite rare, even in a city as Altdorf.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

I don't have the haggle skill, so half Fel it is:  (1d100)[ 41 ]  vs 28
reroll with FP in OOC:  14 
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: the windows are all barred and bolted, the back door has a sturdy padlock, and the fire escape is a good two feet above your head. whoever is in charge of this dive is clearly no slouch in the saddle. if you want in back, gimme pick lock at -20

glod: you see two choices. there is an BQ axe with a temporary rune of grudges and a permanent rune of luck, or a BQ warhammer with a permanent rune of fury, and a temporary rune of spellbreaking

bruno: you get the noble garb for 40 gc per person
LarsWester
Gimgroth bows his head in thanks and walks over to the piles of weapons looking them over for a mastercrafted great pick.   He strokes his beard as he looks over the assembly of fine weapons.  Picking a few up to test the weight.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

  WS  - (1d100)[ 29 ]  4 degrees of success.  If Glod shares what runic weapons he's found Gimgroth would be happy to take which ever he doesn't select.
 
dojango
Jasmine scowls and mutters that she'd better tell the fire marshal about this place, if he isn't already passed out face down inside.  Then when nobody is watching, she pulls some lockpicks out of a back pocked of her coat and tries to finesse the padlock.  Good thing they used the exact same model she'd spent hours learning on during long boring shifts...

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 3 ]  v. 44, FP if needed  (1d100)[ 10 ] 
 
bramblefoot
gimgroth: you find a BQ greatpick on a back rack. its shine has dimmed somwhat, but it calls to you.

jasmine: the lock clicks open, exposing a cooking spot where halflings wash dishes. you hear a  "what was that?"  in reikspiel from farther in
farothel
Bruno agrees to the bargain and hands over a small advance, letting the tailor know that he would have the others come in for fittings as soon as possible.  He could start with Bruno's outfits in the meantime.  After that he will go to an armourer to have a full chainmail fitted, as well as a better helmet.  He will offer his mailshirt in exchange.
dojango
Jasmine moves to one of the tubs of dirty dishes and says in the halfling patois " Sorry I'm late, bloody humans and their strict conception of 'time', yaknowwhatImean?  Shift over, let me at them pots, if the boss comes let's say I always been here, whaddya say, proudfoot? " as she finds a washtub that offers a slightly better spot to avoid notice from prying eyes and gets to work scrubbing (and eavesdropping).
bramblefoot
jasmine: the halfling nods agreeably, and goes back to washing pots and pans: gimme a perception check at -10 to see what you pick up and a toughness test to avoid getting a level of fatigue
dojango
Jasmine quickly gets in the flow of washing the dishes and pots.  The chore is not done too often, and they are all covered with thick layers of grime, dried food, and tarnish.  They would never pass inspection and Jasmine tackles the task with a vengeance, very quickly producing a large pile of shining clean dishes and pots.  Unfortunately in the clatter and bustle of the washing station she loses track of the conversation inside...
MrAbdiel
Bertelis takes the liberty of seeing the horse seller he used last time in town, lining up the purchase of the two drafts and the carts for them tomorrow, as well as teeing up the sale of the black warhorse for one of the hagglers tomorrow.  But on his way out he spots the figure that has been following him through town, and as it darts out of sight again, he gives it a chance for honest engagement.

“Come now; were you looking to speak with me - or are you too shy to to pick my pocket in the end?  Won’t you come out?”
wilphe
Sometimes Wighard gets the feeling that something is about to happen, or possibly it is that his senses are heightened these days to a level he is not consciously aware of.

Either way he feels the presence of about half a dozen young men outside the door, apparently waiting for something. He drops Schlapp gently onto the pillow and beckons Siobhan to ready her crossbow to cover the door.

With his own axe and shield ready he heads over to the door

 You sure he's here? 
 Positive 
 Well go on then 
 You do it 

If these are assassins they are remarkably diffident ones, he flings open the door to find half a dozen apprentices in ages from late teens to early 20s looking sheepish

  Can I help you? 
 
There is an awkward pause

  Well?  
 Well.  We. 
 ustwantedtoseeifyouwerereal 
  Am I?  
 Are you? 
  This is not a game of "Are you ****ing for real".

Neither am I in the mood for entry level philosophical dialogue

What. Do You. Want.  
 We'dheardtherewasarealyoungmagisterhere.

Wewantedtoknowifitwastrueornot 

Wighard blinks

  Come in  

Wighard takes the standard Nihonese kneeling position, forcing the apprentices to do the same save one and cuddling Schlapp in his lap

  You don't want to sit with us  
 I would rather remain standing sir 

It turns out that rumours of Wighard's elevation have been filtering through the College, a little bit warped by the time they reach the Junior Apprentice level but still.

A few are resentful of this, the majority seem to be very happy because it gives them some hope and they are anxious to know how he did it

  I don't know either, sorry. As much as a surprise to me as it is to you  
bramblefoot
bertelis: there is no response, and the person has disappeared into the crowd

jasmine: you got nothing out of washing dishes. gonna call it quits or attempt something else?

wighard: whatcha doing with the apprentices? gonna tell them some stories?
dojango
Jasmine attempts to quiz the other halfling workers to see if they know which crime syndicate runs the tavern or if they know who the "fat pompous lord who's sitting in the back room" meets with on the regular.  Halflings workers tend to be overlooked and usually know more than they let on...  of course, they're also far savvier than they let on and once she gets going, she finds herself talking about some of her more recent wild adventures and doesn't really let them get a word in edgewise.  Any rate, once she's finished gossiping and made a dent in the dishes she'll slink out the back door and head back to Bruno's estate to meet the others and to wash off all the grease from her hands and clothes.

 
 Spoiler 
Gossip test, I guess?   (1d100)[ 72 ]  v. 61
 
bramblefoot
jasmine, im gonna offer you a choice. you figure out which criminal enterprise runs this place, but youre gonna get in their bad books and get a death mark
farothel
During his time at the tailor and the armourer, Bruno will talk to them to see if he can get some of the common gossip that goes around in Altdorf at the moment.  That way he knows a bit what's going on.  But he's not going to push for information and heads home as soon as his purchases are complete.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

gossip roll: [roll]1d100[/rol] vs 77
 
MrAbdiel
That evening, Bertelis has taken the time to rack up his armor and clean it up nicely.  There are pits and scratches and dents that will require Glod's touch; but it stands on the armor doll proud and presentable.  When Bruno passes by sporting his own new chain, Bertelis calls him into the room, which now smells of polishing compound and candlesmoke, and gestures to the armor.

 "I have told you about this armor, yes?  We recovered it from an unknown, fallen warrior in the woods near Trundheim.  We saw him turned over to the Morrites, and the armor cleaned up; and it has served me ever since.  But... I cannot wear it into Bretonnia."   He makes a gesture loosely up and down at it.   "It is, I find, good enough - the knight who wore it before me did not die of it's failure, but some other cause.  But plate armor like this... it is Imperial, you see?  Born of Sigmar's sons, and their generations of trade and good will with the dwarves.  Bretonnians do not wear such things; our heavy armor is a hauberk of chain over the first layer, leather cuirass...  No, I think I will not wear it anymore, as we take this pilgrimmage.  It's home belongs to Sigmar; it ought to be worn by a son of Sigmar.  Would you wear it, Baronet Richter?" 
wilphe
Wighard will spend an hour or so chatting with the apprentices and talking to them about his military service and the ideals of his order but expressly not about the fraught relations between the college and his order before dismissing them to be about their chores.
LarsWester
At the Dwarven Embassy's armory Glod points out a fine pair of rune inscribe weapons to Gimgroth.  After a few seconds of thought he picks up the Warhammer with the runes of Fury and Might inscribed.  The Fury is a permanent rune while the Might rune could be activate in dire situations.  Gimgroth lifts the weapon and kisses its head bowing low thanking the master smith Dekar Stoutbelt for the great reward.
 Master smith besides these astonishing gift do you perhaps have an extra suit of plate that I could purchase before leaving Altdorf? I doubt that I'll get the opportunity to purchase one elsewhere.  
farothel
Bruno was surprised at the offer from Bertelis.  He had become used in seeing the Bretonnian in full plate.
 "I'm honoured,"  he said,  "but I don't understand.  Don't Bretonnians use full plate?  I think I once saw a few Bretonnian knights wearing full plate." 
bramblefoot
everyone please gimme a rumor you heard about either the caravan, the route or the city of couronne

anyway, we cut to the party leaving the city of altdorf with the shallyan caravan. two outriders take the lead, followed by several wagons pulled by draft horses. the rear is the camp followers and other walking folk

please put yourselves in the caravan where you will

 
 Spoiler: ooc 
im gonna use that 99 somewhere on this trip, so be prepared
 


now is a time to rp, so make good use of it before something happens
MrAbdiel
 
 Originally Posted by farothel 
 Bruno was surprised at the offer from Bertelis.  He had become used in seeing the Bretonnian in full plate.
 "I'm honoured,"  he said,  "but I don't understand.  Don't Bretonnians use full plate?  I think I once saw a few Bretonnian knights wearing full plate."  
 

 "Plate, yes - gauntlets, sabatons, helms.  But this interlocking construction?  It is fine, but... it is not how my father rode into battle, or his father; or my king."   He gives Bruno a firm clap on the shoulder.   "Wear it, with pride; pass it on, some day, to the next young knight who joins the Company who needs it, ah?  We make a tradition, this way." 

* * * * *

Siobhan has spent more time with Rainier than Bertelis, in recent months; and he is a little struck with bittersweet feelings as the riding horse instinctively turns to her, and not him, for a nuzzle when they are setting out.  But he is happy to be back in the saddle, once more; less burdened in his mere chain and leather, tearing up and back the length of the column from time to time and then, once he has made his personal patrols, dismounted to walk alongside the pilgrims.  This is a halfway measure with which he is satisfied; he does not find it honorable to ride while ladies walk, but can saddle up without concern when he is actively outriding.  He spends most of his time toward the rear of the column, chatting with the pilgrims; teaching them phrases in Breton and filling their hearts with stories of his homeland - its many and broad plains, not so crowded and full of beasts and goblins as the heart of the Empire.  Most of all, he takes delight in making the handful of children who are present in the pilgrimage laugh: he develops a habit of being somewhere in the column of pilgrims, and then piping up on his flute, which sends the children swarming to find him... only to discover him hanging off the side of Adelhard's saddle, using the horse as a blind, or some other ridiculous thing.  Some, or all of this, might be to take the traveller's minds off the  rumor  he has heard circulating - that dark elves have been prowling the coast of Couronne; a historical prelude to a season of slaving, and rapine by the malicious Drukhi.
wilphe
Wighard brings up the rear with the medical cart, there to succour any who might drop out, with a few casks of light ale for the thirsty and some waybread for the hungry.

His bow is secured neatly between the seats as is his newly acquired blunderbuss whilst he surveys the group of pilgrims to see who will be the first to fall.

He knows that the attrition rate on this pilgrimage is very high, but if you get as far the Bretonnian border you will probably make it. He wants to get as many people there as he can - and has the added advantage that he's got a  Light of Purity  burning in the glass on the cart so thdose who are ill are not going to get worse during the trip.

Of course that is a direct challenge to the Fly Lord and the clergy in Altdorf seemed more than usually worried about that.

Still, its not like they had not been a spider to the Fly Lords' minions before and that's the one opponent that Shallyans will actually fight

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

PS Wighard will have taken two locks of hair from everyone unless they have some Samson like objection
 
farothel
 "Very well, I accept,"  Bruno said.  He didn't know much about Bretonnia, but one thing he did know was that they were very touchy about honour.
 "One thing I would like to ask,"  he said,  "can you teach us a bit about Bretonnia during the trip, so we don't make too many social mistakes?" 

*************

Bruno would take point.  He had been a roadwarden, so this was not the first time he had guided a group of people on the road.  He knew about ambushes so he would try to check out potential trouble spots.  He was still adapting to the full plate armour, but while on his horse it wasn't too bad.  Walking with it made him a bit slower, but he could still move more than he had expected.  He had gone back to the roadwardens in Altdorf before they left, and they told him that lately a few coaches had disappeared on the spot where the road skirted the swamps around Marienburg.  They didn't know why, and it was out of their jurisdiction as it was outside the empire, but they had heard about it.  Bruno had told the rest of their group, but not the pilgrims as he didn't want to panic them and besides, there was little they could do besides trying to protect them if an attack occurs.
Morovir
Glod sits in one of the wagons near the front of the caravan, continuing work on the company's runesword. It was still a long way off completion, but he still needed to put in the effort each day in order to bestow upon it the potency it needed to have, and so he saw this as a better use of his time than walking alongside the camp followers. As he works patiently on the rune, muttering arcane words over it and delicately polishing it, he glances down briefly at the helm gifted to him by the dwarfen elders. A masterwork piece of armour, it provides full protection to his entire head, covering his face and the top of his beard with a pitiless visage, much in the same style as those used by the ironbreakers guarding the tunnels beneath the Karaks. If the rumours were correct, the road to Couronne was the preferred hunting ground for bands of orc brigands, and so he feels that he may have need of its protection sooner rather than later. That, and the runes he had studied whilst in the embassy made him confident that he could face anything that the road to Bretonnia could throw at him.
bramblefoot
the first two days go by smoothly, but at midday on the third, the sky is split by torrential rains and lightning. still the caravan proceeds along the twisting roadway, barely able to see twenty feet in front of you.

bruno: you are riding ahead. you see a pair of crudely felled trees across the road. your senses are tingling that there is an ambush coming

bertelis: strange things seem to move in the woods to the left. the shadows themselves seem to form mocking images of daemonettes. can i get a wp roll at -10 or take an IP?

wighard: kwolf alerts you to something  bad  in the area headed your way. do tell me what it is, and what it would take to kill it

jasmine: what issues have the rain caused, and how are you attempting to rectify them?

glod aand gimgroth: any questions for thurfam longbelly?
dojango
Once the rains begin, the roads start to turn to a river of mud. The wagons have to be lightened to make it through, which means nobody can ride them, and it means that everyone has to carry that much more. There's not much she can do, other than add a double load to her mule's pack, but while they are getting things organized, she makes sure to kindle a large fire and get a pot of tea going, to which she adds a generous helping of brandy, and makes sure everyone gets a hot mug of it to warm them. At least until they get cold. And wet. And then they have to stop...
wilphe
24th Ploughtide Bezahltag/Taxday

Wighard 13/13W 0/2FP


Kwolf lights on Wighard's shoulder,

  You sure? 
 Kaw!  

Wighard leads the horse in a pivot to head back the way they came.

  Back and to high ground! Flood is coming!  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 93 ]  Drive 34
 
farothel
The weather wasn't good, and Bruno wasn't all too happy about traveling in such weather.  But he still knew his job and that was to check for potential trouble along the road.  Coming around a corner he spotted the two logs across the road, clearly cut by someone (or something).  He didn't wait and immediately turned around towards the group to warn people for the ambush.  He had just arrived when Wighard called out for flooding.
 "And I've noticed an ambush down the road,"  he said,  "let's put the wagons so on high ground that we can defend ourselves behind them and hopefully the flood will wash the logs from the ambush away." 

He will check for higher ground and lead the wagons there.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

in case it's needed: outdoor survival:  (1d100)[ 31 ]  vs 59
 
MrAbdiel
 
 Spoiler: Flashback - Previous Conversation with Gimgroth 

 
 Originally Posted by LarsWester 
 Gimgroth waves back to Emil.   It was good to see the Scholar again was it not Sir Bertelis? I remember a time when I thought the two of you were to come to blows.   I think our journey together has changed you as much if not more than it changed me Knight.   the dwarf took a drink from his bottle of spirits before offering the knight a drink from the same bottle.  Boats made Gimgroth anxious, he drank when he was anxious. 
 

He took the drink; even swigged it without complaint, though not deeply; an easy phlegmatism replacing the melancholy that was beginning to visit him in some frequency.   "Hah, yes.  Emil, like strong drink, is best enjoyed in small dozes, lest one be driven to foolishness.  It is easier to like him, now that we are not travelling with him.  But I do respect him, moreso for the good he is doing these poor people.  Perhaps he has become less naïve; perhaps I have become more accommodating.  But you are right; it was good to see him again."   He gives the dwarf a glance over as he passes back the bottle, and intuits some of his discomfort.  It didn't seem right to ask about about the changes he was referring to - Gimgroth's habit for self reproach was as clear as his truncated beard.  And Bertelis was developing his own self reproach, now; his inability to protect the halfling lass from nefarious actors weighing on him... much like he imagined Gimgroth's own frustration when Wighard suffers, on the field.

So he talked about something else, instead; his favorite topic of all: Bretonnia.

 "I wonder, my friend, if you have ever heard the tale of the Grail Companions, and the Twelve Battles.  You would like them, I think; they mostly involve the hewing of orcs, and goblins, and giants.  Of the twelve, my favorite is Marcus d'Bordeleaux, for obvious reasons.  But Marcus comes later - first, you must hear of Gilles; and the great red dragon, Smearghus..." 

He rabbits on in this manner for the rest of the boat ride.
 


 
 Originally Posted by bramblefoot 
 the first two days go by smoothly, but at midday on the third, the sky is split by torrential rains and lightning. still the caravan proceeds along the twisting roadway, barely able to see twenty feet in front of you.

bertelis: strange things seem to move in the woods to the left. the shadows themselves seem to form mocking images of daemonettes. can i get a wp roll at -10 or take an IP? 
 

Bertelis knows the images are false.   She  was taunting him.  He could not see her when she was there; and when she was was not there, he frequently saw her.  He watched the shapes only he could see caper and cavort in the treeline until the rain came, blessedly obscuring them; a mercy of the Lady, perhaps.

When he snapped back to reality, he realized how he had missed the beginning of the flood - and burst into action, racing down the line on Adelhard's back, splashing through the running shallows as he goes, encouraging the line to move, and to help one another, and where necessary, pulling someone up onto his horse to deposit them a little higher up the slope on the high side of the road.  He did not hear the call about the ambush; but if he had, he would be exasperated.  These pilgrims had nothing to steal - why rob them?
LarsWester
Gimgroth had been walking amongst the pilgrims as a dwarf does not complain nor tire as easily as the Umgi.  He would occasionally spell one of the humans pulling a handcart loaded with a lame friend or family member.  While pulling the old, frail, sick or lame Gimgroth would ask them to entreat him with a family story or legend.   He was in such a position when when the rainwaters surged toward the caravan and the cries of  Flood! Flood! To the high ground!  spread around the column.
 Wilhelm ye must carry your own father again and get to the high ground quickly now lad.   Gimgroth called the young teen back to the handcart loaded with the boys lame father. He had noticed a nearby wagon driver was haven difficulty getting the wheels to grip as the ground rapidly became a slog of mud and water.  Gimgroth sprung into action helping the larger Umgi driver out of his seat and taking his place behind the reins.
 Ya! Come now steeds we must move before ye drown. 
Under Gimgroth's hand the wagon loaded with supplies vital to the pilgrimage begins to surge forward through the muck.  Eventually gaining drier footing as it creaked and strained up to higher ground.  As he drove the horse forward Gimgroth repeated the call.  Flood waters rise and so must we!  After me if you wish to see Couronne. 

In the back of Gimgroth's mind doubts swirled already they were facing difficulties and they haven't even reached the first waypoint.   His thoughts turned toward Axe-Bite Pass and the rumors of the Skullsmasher Orcs and their recent raids of farms around Helmgart and Hochpointe.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

  DriveVs51  - (1d100)[ 13 ]   Success!
 Fortune Point reroll if needed   DriveVs51  - (1d100)[ 70 ]  
 
bramblefoot
the party finds a patch of high ground, and the laborious process of setting up the wagons commences. everyone gimme toughness or take a level of fatigue

when thats all done, lightning strikes and in the flash, you all see a dragon ogre lumber on by on the road

can i get a terror test at -20?
wilphe
Wighard manages to get his cart to dry ground without too much of any issue but is then yanked to the ground as he and his horse try to spook in different directions
farothel
Bruno had just helped some people to get on dry ground when he saw the dragon ogre.  Swallowing his lunch back down, he turned his horse around and charged down, his demilance ready to impale the dragon ogre in order to buy his friends time to reorganize themselves.

 
 Spoiler: OOC round 1 

charge with my warhorse:  (1d100)[ 44 ]  vs 56 (reroll FP if needed:  (1d100)[ 15 ] )

damage:  (1d10+4)[ 13 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 13 ]  (impact quality)

if needed:
Ulric's fury:  (1d100)[ 36 ]  vs 56 for extra damage:  (1d10)[ 8 ] 
 
bramblefoot
the demilance hits the dragon ogre's scales, and does minor damage before shattering. the dragon ogre roars in anger and will attempt to tail strike bruno off his horse, while the scaled forelegs slash at the horse

 (1d100)[ 95 ] 
 (2d100)[ 62 ][ 42 ](104) 
 (1d10+8)[ 12 ] 
 (1d10+8)[ 16 ] 

the tail strike misses, but the two clawed legs strike deep.

after this, the dragon ogre opens the throttle and moves on past
farothel
As his horse buckles under him from the blows, Bruno quickly slips out of the stirrups and jumps off, despite being burdened by the full plate.  Seeing the critter run off away from the group, he decided wisely not to pursue it, at least not alone.
dojango
" Well, ya don't see one of those every day, eh? " comments Jasmine as she spots the huge beast.  Her pistol is almost instantly in her hand, but she stays her shot as Bruno charges down the hill.  In a moment, the fight is over and the beast keeps going, so she rushes down the hill to where Bruno is recovering.  " Taal's horns, did ya see the size of that thing?  Course ya did, sorry about yer horse, poor beastie is ridin' with Taal's herds now, I reckon.  Where's the thing goin?  Should we chase it down?  Mebbe figure out where it came from? "
MrAbdiel
Bertelis pulls up Adelhard as he sees the tremendous figure in the pounding rain.  And for a moment, his heart tight in his chest, his mind desperately makes connections that aren't there.

 She has send this one to kill me. 

And he can  feel  himself dying, like he almost died in Altdorf; in the dark, helpless to even land a redeeming blow-

He is out of his own body, now; watching himself make a desperate charge: lance shattering, Adelhard paying the price.  But that's not him, is it?  No - it's Bruno, in the armor recently gifted.  And oh, the bloody spectacle of the steed struck down beneath him!  This act, this rough and unforgivable equicide, snaps Bertelis back; and preparing his own lance, he spurs Adelhard to close the distance.  But by then, the creature is gone, and Jasmine is already there to check on the baronet.  When it's clear Bruno is alright, Bertelis regards the fallen horse with genuine sorrow; but gets about the necessary act of removing its saddle and harness.

 "A dragon-ogre - horrific.  A leftover of the Everchosen's hordes, perhaps; gone to ground near where his part of the warhost came apart.  They live in the World's Edge Mountains, especially up toward Norsca.  When storms come - "  He glances up at the rain, and brewing thunder as he works, -  "...they come out and dare the lightning, to spite the gods.  He goes, perhaps, to a high place; and will return to his cave or lair as the storm gives out.  On many days I would say chase - especially to avenge this noble charger - but we cannot leave the pilgrims!  We must mark this place, and return with retribution another day!"   A crack of lightning breifly illuminates the road, as if goading them to hurry.  He hands off the saddle and tack to a couple of pilgrims who have come over to help, directing them to deposit it in one of the party's wagons.   "Now, we must look to our charges - we dare not retreat to truly high ground, lest we encounter the creature or more of its kind - but we cannot stay in the path of the waters!  We must take them, and the wagons, off the road and halfway up the slope, into the trees; and wait the wrath of the tempest past!" 
wilphe
Wighard picks himself up out of the mud, calmer now that the beast has departed but concerned that at least some of the pilgrims have fled into the woods.

  We have two problems now: Some of our charges have fled and when their wits return they will need to find their way back

Secondly if someone was intending to ambush us, it was not that.  
bramblefoot
the party gathers the fleeing supplicants and beds down for the night. can i get toughness tests or gain the common cold?

in the morning, the tents are struck and the caravan moves out. the logs have been pushed to the side by the floodwaters, allowing a path through

after another few hours of travel, you come across a carriage. the driver is dead, an orc arrow through the eye. baggage and bodies lie in the way of the path

can i get a wp test or take an ip
LarsWester
Gimgroth wakes from troubled dreams of Dragon Ogres dancing in lightning storms.   Relieved to find the logs cleared by the floodwaters the pilgrimage caravan begins winding its way again.
When they reach the site of the carriage ambush Gimgroth moves to the head of the line to help clear the bodies from the path.  As he is clearing the bodies he does a quick search of the site to gain any knowledge or any valuables left unplundered.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

  Search  - (1d100)[ 1 ]   ohhh a 1 vs 28!
Toughness and WP rolls in OOC forum.   Both passed.
 
farothel
The following morning, Bruno made sure he was up early to search for any missing horses that were not returned.  He would use his riding horse (if it was still there), a bit sad that he didn't have his charger anymore.  His lance was less a problem, as he was better with a sword and his pistol and without a warhorse it would be useless anyway.  Hopefully he would be able to get another horse in Bretonnia.

When they arrived at the carriage, he immediately looked around.  There was little he could do for the bodies (except maybe burry them) but this could also be an ambush.  He quickly loaded his pistol, just in case.  And he made a mental note to report this and the dragon ogre at the nearest authority.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

perception:  (1d100)[ 93 ]  vs 59
 
bramblefoot
gimgroth: you find a single golden coin with a skull motif on it. as you pick it up, the wind begins to blow strong and the smell of salt begins to amplify on the wind
wilphe
Wighard stays at the back, covering the rear quarter for any signs of ambush from that direction
bramblefoot
the wind amplifies to a gale for a few seconds and then ceases. the caravan is alight with muttering. you hear things like  "cursed endeavor"  and  "great what now" 

can i get a fellowship roll at -10 to allay suspicions
dojango
Jasmine wakes up the next morning with a rasping cough and rheumy eyes.  She feels miserable and grouchy, but when the other pilgrims start complaining, she starts reminding them that they're heading towards good health and good fortune, and leaving disease and misfortune behind.  Besides, she points out, the purpose of the pilgrimage is to overcome the trials of the path and become stronger by it.  Or die trying...

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 93 ]  v. 41 Fel (less whatever the penalty for being sick is)
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis takes to riding ahead, now that Bruno is unhorsed of his battle steed; but he keeps parallel and checks in frequently with the baronet for what seems like small reasons.  After a few such visits, with their probing, vague concerning questions, it might become clear to him that Bertelis is probing for a much deeper grief, over the loss of the horse - and seems almost wary and disbelieving when Bruno's sorrow is measured and statesmanly instead of poetic and rich.

The ambush site, though, is distressing to see.. but it's the least of the horrors they've experienced. He rides out to check the surrounds to see if there's another lingering ambush; but failing that, he checks to see the condition of the carriage; the fate of its horses; the fate of the occupants.  Who did they seem to be?  What were they doing?

He offers to Gimgroth, who seems to be rapidly taking account of the scene:   "I am certain you noticed, also, the arrow is orc fletching.  They might have taken the horses to eat later.  If you find their prints, they may indicate the direction of the killer's flight." 
farothel
 "And let us have a prayer to Morr to take this man into His embrace and to ask Him to spare us the same fate for many years to come,"  Bruno added, as he didn't really want to talk too much about dying,  "and not to worry, we're here to protect you." 
He led the group in a short prayer to Morr.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

let's see if the religious way works:  (1d100)[ 21 ]  vs 47 (57 if the charm skill applies)
 
bramblefoot
the religious aspect seems to work for now, and the muttering ceases.

grimgoth, you find orc tracks leading away from the carriage. ze tracks are several hours old, but you could follow them
Morovir
Seemingly unfazed by both the horrific sights that had come their way and the less frightful, yet no less pernicious, cold, damp weather, Glod stumps through the mud as the pilgrims stumble around along the road.

 "Urk..."  he growls, joining Gimgroth in looking at the tracks leading away from the carriage.
bramblefoot
we cut to the party watching the orc camp. eight orcs sit around a fire, eating horsemeat and talking amongst each other. in typical orc fashion, they have posted no guards and are confident that nobody could sneak up on them.

should you choose to attack immediately, gain a suprise round
LarsWester
Gimgroth behind the bushes surveys the orc camp eight of them.  He flashes 4 fingers of his left hand twice back to Bertelis.  His right hand closing on a throwing axe.    He makes a wide circle with his left arm fingers pointing down before making a fist and showing three fingers followed by a fist.   Communicating to the knight in the common hand gestures martial men have used for years to implore the party to spread out and attack the camp in unison.  After his signals he winds his left arm through his shield.

Gimgroth creeps close to within 8 yards of one of the orcs and then quickly launches two throwing axes at his target.  As the second throwing axe streaks towards the orc Gimgroth already has his new runed warhammer in his right hand.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Figuring the above is a use of Battle Tongue which I take not only as series of vocabulary but also hand gestures for instances when one must be quiet or can't be heard.
Full action Swift Attacks (Throwing Axes have Reload of free due to Rapid Reload and so can throw 2 with swift attack)
  Initiative  - (1d10+3)[ 9 ]  for later rounds.
  BSvs56  - (1d100)[ 94 ] 
  Damage  - (1d10+4)[ 10 ] 
  BSvs56  - (1d100)[ 43 ] 
  Damage  - (1d10+4)[ 7 ] 
He would then use Quick Draw to pull out his new warhammer.
  Fury  - (1d100)[ 42 ]    FuryDamage  - (1d10)[ 10 ] 
 
MrAbdiel
 "Eight of them.  On Gimgroth's signal.  We hit them together and hard; we will outnumber them before they know what is happening." 

Bertelis passes the battle cant on to the rest of the group as they make their subtle approach.  At Gimgroth's signal, and simultaneous to the axe throwing, Bertelis discards the subtlety for which he has rarely any purpose.

Adélard thunders around the brush concealing their approach; the mail clad knight's lance lowered to strike at an orc sitting on the perimeter of the group as he roars into melee; Adélard's hooves threatening to bowl over and trample another!

 
 Spoiler: Attack! 
Bertelis' Lance Charge.  Since the enemy is surprised, I guess they get no defences right now!
  vs71  - (1d100)[ 26 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 7 ]  or  (1d10+6)[ 7 ] , whichever is higher.  (FP Reroll as necessary   vs71  - (1d100)[ 34 ] )

Adélard   vs40  - (1d100)[ 94 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 14 ] .

Edit: Additional half-action attack in the OOC for  15 damage  against the lance target!
 
farothel
Sir Bruno still wasn't all that happy to be on foot again, although he had been for quite some time of his life.  But now he could take it out on some unsuspecting orcs.  He took careful aim over his shield and as the first axe flew in, he let go a shot on what he thought was the leader of the group.  Then he quickly switched to his sword instead of reloading.

 
 Spoiler: OOC surprise round 

half action: aim
half-action: shoot:  (1d100)[ 54 ]  vs 58 for damage:  (1d10+4)[ 9 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 8 ] 
free action: switch to sword
 
wilphe
25th Ploughtide Konistag

Wighard 13/13W 1/2FP


Wighard isn't greatly assured by the idea of leaving the pilgrims alone when Morr only knows what is about, but they can have the chance to dry out and get themselves together.

Of course he is also very aware of what happened the last time they fought orcs, and doesn't propose to give  these ones a chance. Of course with everyone spreading out he doesn't get to try his new blunderbuss and just uses his bow against whichever one looks wimpiest


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d10)[ 2 ]  Init +5
 (1d100)[ 26 ]  BS 64 (34+30)
 (1d10)[ 7 ]  Dam3
 
dojango
Jasmine finds herself lying in a bit of brush a short distance from the disgusting creatures. From her vantage point she could tell that not only had they failed to marinate the horse meat before cooking it, but they had cooked it well-done! The idea was sickening, although the fact that it was so charred and tough meant that they were too busy chewing to notice the group sneaking up. Once she saw the dwarf's furious attack she leveled her blunderbuss at the group and fired, trying to get to cook responsible for this mess in it's shrapnel blast.
bramblefoot
bertelis: the lance goes clean through the throat of the orc. he falls with a gurgle

gimgroth: the first axe whistles over the orcs head and into the bushes. the second catches it in the muscular shoulder, slowing it some, but not alot. the second arrow catches him between the eyes and he falls over dead

bruno: the orc that you shot seems to be more pissed off than actually hurt  "waaagh get em boys"  he calls, waving his choppa and preparing to charge.

jasmine, you hit two. roll for damage

orcs initiative:
8, 8, 14, 13, 13 ,13
bramblefoot
the orcs as one grab choppas and move to engage

your back up
farothel
With at no orc in front of him, Bruno charges in towards the nearest and starts chopping, trying to take the guy down as quickly as possible

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

full attack (as I have a dodge blow and a free parry from shield, so I can't get any more anyway)
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 23 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+4)[ 14 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 99 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+4)[ 14 ] 

EDIT: as I'm not in range apparently, I'll charge in and drop the second attack.  22 damage in total (see OOC for extra rolls).
 
MrAbdiel
 
 Spoiler: Glod, OOC: 
Hey buddy, I'm being your co-pilot for until you tag back in.  Hope you're just normal-busy and not serious-busy.  Let me know when you're back in the OOC so I can knock it off.
 


Bertelis, not quite ready to move to hand weapons, dares the wrath of the orc who has moved to engage him by charging past him at one of the orcs that has proven too slow to arm himself yet!

 
 Spoiler: Le Charge! 
  vs71  - (1d100)[ 1 ] .  This attack inflicts a -10% penalty to parry and dodge attempts.  (1d10+6)[ 10 ]  or  (1d10+6)[ 8 ]  damage, if the orc either doesn't have a free parry or dodge from somewhere, or fails.

Adelhard also tramples, at   Vs40  - (1d100)[ 81 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 12 ] .

Edit: That's 10 damage to the head.
 


Glod pulls his axe out of the side of the orc he sunk it in during his charge, and attempts to finish it off!

 
 Spoiler: Kneel before Glod! 
  vs71  - (1d100)[ 95 ] . For  (1d10+5)[ 8 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 10 ] .

Edit: That's a whiff.
 
bramblefoot
the orc, for maximum disrespect goes for a chop at adelhard

 (1d100)[ 25 ] 
 (1d10+6)[ 9 ] 

that is a hit for 9 wounds
bramblefoot
another orc goes down. the one unattended will make a runner for the woods, pulling a horn from his belt as he does so and raising it to his lips
wilphe
Wighard sends an arrow after the fleeing orc


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 66 ]  34
 (1d10)[ 1 ]  +3
 

  Bertelis kindly kill the fleeing one there's a good chap  
dojango
Spotting the fleeing orc, Jasmine coolly draws her pistol with a practiced flourish, aims for a moment, and then takes the shot...  " Winged him! " she says.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 4 ]  v. 74,  (1d10+4)[ 9 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 10 ] 
 
LarsWester
As an orc makes the foolish decision to pull a weapon and come within hammer distance with Gimgroth the dwarf smiles underneath his helm.  He starts swinging his new hammer happy to be given a chance to test it in battle.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

FULL ACTION SWIFT ATTACK
  WSvs82  - (1d100)[ 98 ]    Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 13 ] 
  WSvs82  - (1d100)[ 15 ]    Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 14 ] 
  WSvs82  - (1d100)[ 74 ]    Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 11 ] 

Any Fury Confirm   WSvs82  - (1d100)[ 78 ]    FuryDamage  - (3d10)[ 8 ][ 2 ][ 9 ](19) 
 
bramblefoot
the orc goes down with his head pulped in like a melon
bramblefoot
the unattended orc will make a beeline for bertelis and attempt to tackle him off adelhard

 (1d100)[ 3 ]  hit

 (1d100)[ 99 ]  fumble

the one on glod will make an desperate attack

 (1d100)[ 59 ]  miss

 (1d10+6)[ 8 ] 

the other orc will make an attack on bertelis

 (1d100)[ 14 ]  hit

 (1d10+6)[ 9 ] 
wilphe
3 on 5 in the main melee, his intervention doesn't seem necessary

Wighard sends another arrow after the fleeing orc, which happens to hit just above the wrist where he is holding the horn

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 23 ] 34
 (1d10)[ 7 ] +3
 
MrAbdiel
    Kneel Before Glod    
Glod deflects the Orc's dying blows with his shield, and strikes to finish what he started!

 
 Spoiler: Wrath of Glod 
  Vs71  - (1d100)[ 54 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 9 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 6 ] .
 

    Bertelis Brings the Hurt-elis    
Bertelis wheels on Adelhard and avoids the grabbing paws of one orc; but in doing so he permits the first assailant's choppa to slip beside the shield, and lacerate his shoulder.  Burning with righteous indignation, he spurs and wheels on the wounded and equally furious Adelhard, horse and rider striking with lance and hoof at the enemy!

 
 Spoiler: Gallic Bravo 

The first orc is already injured, so we'll work on him before any later attacks track onto the johnny-come-lately.

  Attack1Vs61  - (1d100)[ 53 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 16 ] , and a -10 to the Orc's parry.
  Attack2Vs61  - (1d100)[ 82 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 10 ] , and a -10 to the Orc's parry.
  AdelhardVs30  - (1d100)[ 58 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 15 ] 
 
wilphe
Wighard looks at the aftermath of the short and one sided battle.

  Bertelis you are walking please until I get a chance to look at Adelhard, I'm heading back to tell the pilgrims to break camp with haste. I would like to be out of here before someone reacts to the shots.

Do not tarry please  

He hustles back the way they came
MrAbdiel
 "Oui, as you say,  herr-doktor ; we shall not be here long." 

And indeed, they need not be.  They need only confiscate back whatever trinkets the brutes thought worth looting.  Bertelis would take a moment to, with respect, actually pray over the skulls of the horses taken for eating, commending them to the herd of the Lord of all Horses, rather than this ignoble end; and will enlist Glod and Gimgroth in a duty he is sure they will agree is necessary - taking the heads from all the orks, and mounting them on the broken hafts of the orc's crude weapons as a warning to whoever shall find them.

 
 Spoiler: OOC Activities! 
If there's any personal effects with names that we can return to families, or anything else, we'll take them for sure.  But otherwise, since this was just a carriage of normal folks and not a treasure train, I don't expect much loot before we head back!
 
dojango
Despite Bertelis not actually inviting her, Jasmine will also enthusiastically help with beheading the orcs and putting their heads up as a warning.  After all, not only is it important that justice be done, it is also important that it be seen that justice has been done.  " Don't worry about the bodies, " she says as she tries to lift a massive skull onto a broken shaft, " The wolves and crows will come along to clean them up. "
bramblefoot
The company of the burning slug loots the campsite finding only a clay horse figurine and a crude set of knucklebone dice

As you return to the caravan, you find an imperial messenger waiting for you all  “message for one sir bertelis roche”  he calls holding up a letter. It has the seal of your fathers holding

 “there is also a message to the company of the burning slug”  he calls, holding out an letter with no seal

Who is taking the letters, and are you gonna read them now or later
MrAbdiel
Impressed at the fortune of the courier finding them, Bertelis is eager to take his letter.  He takes the other, too; but will hand it off to Wighard; or honestly, anyone who appears eager to read.  He immediately opens his own letter, and digests the import within.
wilphe
 “there is also a message to the company of the burning slug”  
  Present  

Wighard will take the company letter and tip the messenger

  Get ready to move out please people. We killed a bunch of orcs but there will be more, because there always are. Want to be at the camp ground by the Pink Peacock well before nightfall.  
bramblefoot
sir bertelis: the letter is from your father, and his handwriting seems to have deteriorated slightly from the last time. there is a slight bit of blood on the paper, as if he was coughing while writing .

 dear bertelis. the situation is grim. the vermilion flue has struck the holding with a vengeance, and your mother has disappeared. the healthy are stuck tending to the bedridden, and the dead are burned daily. there is no one left to search for your mother, so if you find her, take care of her as i may not be long for the world. do not return home, i beg of you

with love, your father 

wighard: the letter is unsigned. written in a looping script is  see you at castle lyonesse 
farothel
Sir Bruno was surprised that they managed to get the Orcs down as quickly as they had.  He reloaded his pistol, just in case, before heading back to the pilgrims, just in case there would be an ambush from the other side.  He was working on making sure the pilgrims were ready to move on as soon as the rest of the group headed back.  He was at the wrong end of the column when the letters arrived, so Wighard took it and started to read it.  Bruno just waited to see what was going on, while looking around for any problems.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

perception:  (1d100)[ 29 ]  vs 69
 
wilphe
 
 Originally Posted by bramblefoot 
 wighard: the letter is unsigned. written in a looping script is  see you at castle lyonesse  
 

  Charming, are you able to take a reply back?  

Having already given a tip, and not so subtly signalling that another might be on the way


Also does this writing match any other that he has seen?
bramblefoot
 "of course"  the imperial messenger says.  "fair warning, i took that all the way from the border of marienburg, so i dunno if you'll get an answer" 
 
 Spoiler: wighard 
it does not
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis reads over his letter in silence in the midst of the group, and his countenance falls precipitously.  Visibly, he is desolated by the news.

Dazed, he takes his brother's battered and worn writing kit from a saddlebag, and begins to compose a short reply.

 Father,

I am on my way home.  Do not despair; the testing of our faith develops perseverance.

Your Son,

Bertelis. 

This he hands off to the courier, nodding his understanding of the warning just given.  He secures its passage with a few gold crowns; and then is quiet, and shellshocked, for the rest of the day's march towards Marienburg, on the way to Couronne.
bramblefoot
the caravan stops a few hours before nightfall at the pink peacock. the caravan makes camp. there is a travelling circus in the next spot over, and a long raven haired knife thrower comes over to the company of the burning slug. "im looking for emil reissner?"  she purrs, looking at all of you with a sultry expression. the pendant dangles between her voluptuous boobs, and it seems to have grown a little bigger

can i get a wp at -10 for everyone but bertelis, who rolls at +10 due to his glum mood
LarsWester
Gimgroth smiles as he imagines his student friends adventures with this sultry circus performer.   The legend of the Order of the Burning Slug grows if it's preceded us to your ears.
Unfortunately you won't find Emil among our numbers this evening.  While he remains an honorary member of the order he is no longer actively serving.  the dwarf answers with an honest smile.  Who might you be to our friend and compatriot, my Lady? 
bramblefoot
 "emil and i had a torrid encounter in a talabheim bar's rented room"  zarinna says, chuckling a little at the silliness of it all  "i just thought i'd let Emil's' comrades know he's got a beautiful bouncing baby on the way"  she says, patting her stomach
wilphe
  They neglected to sign it, so just tell us who its from and I'll save you the effort of having to take a reply but still pay you
  

Wighard gives Bertelis his space during the next part of the trip, when the Bretonnian is ready to talk, he'll take


++++++++++++++

Wighards decides to sabotage any attempt at seduction from this woman by being a boorish *******

  Well if you are   sure   it is his, you'll find him playing dress-up lordship at Westvein on the Reik

A unacknowledged bastard is something else he needs to complete the set.   
bramblefoot
 "it was given to me by a masked man"  the courier says.  "suffice it to say he didn't give his name" 

at the camp

zarinna harrumphs, and says  "fine. I'll be sure to tell him about your boorishness"  she stalks off after making eye contact with bertelis, and beckoning him to follow.

bert, gimme wp at -10 or follow
wilphe
 
 Originally Posted by bramblefoot 
  "it was given to me by a masked man"  the courier says.  "suffice it to say he didn't give his name"  
 

  Did he happen to have one arm?  
LarsWester
 
 Originally Posted by wilphe 
   Well if you are   sure   it is his, you'll find him playing dress-up lordship at Westvein on the Reik

A unacknowledged bastard is something else he needs to complete the set.    
 

Gimgroth looks shocked at Wighard's response.  After Zarinna leaves he address Wighard  Dress-up lordship.  Has your view of our former companion dropped so much?
An unacknowledged bastard is still one's offspring.  I'm sure a man of Emil's disposition would raise the child as a proper heir.   Did something happen between you two when we were last in Westvein?    Are you jealous of the books Wighard? 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Gimgroth is shocked at Wighard's out of character boorishness concerning a former companion.  I'm playing that his WP was so good he didn't even detect the seduction attempt.  But he also is not the brightest so he doesn't get what Wighard is doing here.
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis's eyes drift after Zarinna for a moment - he's a man of principle, but he's not literally carved from stone - and for a crazy moment it looks like he will wander off after the apparent hookup-turned-mother-to-be of his friend's child.  But even he can see he doesn't want that - he just wants to be confronting something other than the truth.

Back in the privacy of their camp next to the Pink Peacock, shows Wighard the letter.

 "This ... is madness to me.  The last I heard from them, it was a mysterious illness with odd features like striking people mute, and he forbade me from coming home.  Perhaps there were letters between that one and this in which things got worse.  But now, they have a name for it - have you ever heard of a vermilion flue? - and it is raking through the region with much desolation.  And my step-mother has vanished entire - what curse is this that takes people, voice first?  He did not mention my young step sister; she must be with him still... but to say there is no one left to search for her is to say that my three brothers, each knights like myself, have sought and... at best found nothing, at worst disappeared themselves.  To say he may not be long for this world is all but to confess that he suspects he is plagued, or will soon be.  But the -audacity- of him to write these things then ask me not to return... I cannot have it!  I cannot simply  read , a nation removed, about my family turning to  vapor  and  memory !" 

He had begun the confession quietly, so that Wighard alone might hear; but by the end of it he is in such a state of animation that the rest of the company (and probably some boggled pilgrims) have likely heard the pertinent details.  He touches his forehead, his eyes closed and expression tight with turmoil.   "I would endure the shame of defying his wish rather than the shame of standing aside.  The pilgrimage, once we pass through Axe-Bite Pass, must continue to Couronne.  I am bound to go this way, much as I want to cut across Bastonne straight to Bordeleaux.  But the difference in land travel, going home or to Couronne, is ... not so great.  It may be a day or so faster to get to Couronne, given how well patrolled and cleared the pilgrimage road is; and how that travel is exempt from the need to check with regional lords before passing through their territory.  If we go to Couronne, and do not linger but ... but charter a  boat  the same day to take us around the cliffs of Lyonesse and down to Bordeleaux...  It may be only... three days longer than cutting overland.  If the winds are favorable.  But Manaan has always loved the sons of Bordeleaux.  He will not spite me here." 

Finally, he opens his eyes, and looks around at those 'Sluggers' who have chosen not to hide the fact that they have easily overheard.   "... On top of all this.  The stranger, who they say brought the plague to my father's lands and those around him.  And the 'sudden emergence' of this evil weapon, in Mousillon.  It is to much, yes?  To many chances at once?  My father's lands are not adjacent to the river, but they are close enough that if a plague, or plague carrier should come from there, it is not outlandish to think they would make it that far." 
LarsWester
Gimgroth frowns at hearing Bertelis's news and his emotional outburst.  Family is important Sir Knight we will not tarry in Couronne long but perhaps that holy city might have a remedy among the Shallyan Priests for what ails your lands and line.  I have seen the plague during some of my tours in the mercenary companies of Tilea.   Terrible stuff.  I hope the Ratfolk have nothing to do with this new disease racking Bordeleaux.  I think it best that we move on tomorrow then and push the caravan a bit harder and tarry not and trust in the gods for a safe undelayed trip. 
dojango
Jasmine cheers up when she hears about Zarinna's news.  " That's fantastic!  I hear motherhood changes a woman, and for the better!  I don't know meself, but why, I remember when my sister was givin' birth, she was screamin' and there was blood  an' **** an' she swore that she'd never let a man touch her again, and now she's got five kids!  It's great to see the little nieces and nephews havin' her run around doin' stuff... "  Jasmine then launches into a very detailed description of her observations of the child birth process.
bramblefoot
the company of the burning slug beds down for the night. the last thing you see before falling asleep is the dreaming stone flash bright purple

bertelis: you get a vision of your mother in the forests of brettonia. tell me what is chasing her, and end on a cliffhanger.

glod: the camera pans to a mining camp in the grey mountains. a pair of humans hammer at rock, until they expose a bauble glowing with green light. the humans make the mistake of staring at it for too long, and melt like taffy, becoming goop on the cave floor

gimgroth: the man with yellow eyes appears in your dream.  "care to play a game?"  he says, shuffling a tarot deck one handed.  "the rules are simple. you ask a question, and i answer honestly. then i do the same, and you must answer honestly."  he chuckles and continues  "lies, deception and half-truths are punished by a draw off the deck. refusing to answer is two draws" 

wighard: you get a vision of castle drakenhof. bats fly around the battlements, and a tall figure stands in the topmost tower with a glass of something red in his hand. a ghoul capers up behind the figure saying  "master, shall i call the hunt?"  the figure smiles, showing fangs.  "yes heinrich, call the hunt"  the ghoul nods and lets out a piercing whistle. the  doors of the castle fly open and direwolves let out howls to start the hunt

jasmine: you have a vision of your home village in flames after an orc raid. tell me who if any survives, and who dies

bruno: you see yourself brought before a witch-hunter tribunal  "baronet richter, we find you guilty of conspiring with chaos!"  the judge booms.  "hans, gunther, take him outside and burn him now"  the hammer barks.

can i get flat wp rolls or take an IP
wilphe
 Dress-up lordship.  Has your view of our former companion dropped so much?
An unacknowledged bastard is still one's offspring.  I'm sure a man of Emil's disposition would raise the child as a proper heir.   Did something happen between you two when we were last in Westvein?    Are you jealous of the books Wighard? 
  I was being deliberately rude to get her to go away Gimgroth; not interested in being another notch on her bedpost.

As for Emil, no I have not quarrelled with him.

He is a Lord now, whether he recognises himself as one or admits it even to himself or nay

He has people that he has undertaken to lead and protect.

That's what lords do

Or rather are supposed to do - few do

Whether his high-minded principles will survive contact with reality and responsibility would be interesting to watch

The most interesting bit will be if the community decides they don't want him in charge anymore, especially if he has an heir


They say magic corrupts, and it does, but that's because magic is power and power corrupts the best intentions. Different forms of power do it differently, but few can resist.

I don't think Emil fully realises that succeeding in Westvein could be more dangerous than failing  
farothel
Bruno had seen that Bertelis had been worrying about something after getting the letter, but he had not inquired.  If the Bretonnian wanted to tell, he would listen, but he wouldn't pry.

 "Gimgroth is right,"  he said after the story,  "if there is a plague, the temple of Shallya is your best option to find a cure.  They know more about plague than just about anybody else.  We can ask a few of their priests to check things out at your father's estate.  My small talents of persuasion stand at your disposal for this purpose, no problem." 

After going to sleep, he doesn't have a good night, with nightmares wrecking his sleep.  He's not sure what's going on, but he does know that this isn't normal anymore.  In the morning, he seeks out wighard.
 "I've had some very strange dreams tonight,"  he said,  "and it's not the first time.  I'm quite sure it's nothing I've eaten or drunk.  Can this be induced with magic?" 
wilphe
Wighard sits quietly and listens to his friend unburden himself, stands as he does and then hugs him tightly.

  Remember, we undertook this pilgrimage to seek the aid of merciful Shallya. We need that more than ever and must continue especially as how we have taken responsibility for the protection of the innocent and helpless. A true knight sees his quest through to the end, regardless. Understand?  

He grips the young knight even tightly and looks him the eyes until he signals assent, then releases him

  Now understand that there is perhaps nowhere better to find information on this than Couronne itself.

Not just the the very centre of Shallya's cult, but the court may well still be there.

And don't forget that     you   are   not   alone 

You are the boon companion of one of the greatest medico-magical prodigies in the Old World, a man in whom the gods have taken a very personal interest and one considered uniquely qualified to investigate this matter.
  

He lets his voice drop from drill sergeant levels

  And you also have four other companions who are really really good at killing things   
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

[roll]1d100[/100] Heal 61 for knowledge of Vermilion flue

[roll]1d100[/100] WP 77
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 (1d100)[ 60 ]  Heal 61 for knowledge of Vermilion flue

 (1d100)[ 92 ]  WP 77
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

FPing that


 (1d00)[ 1 ]  WP 77
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: Dream 


Wighard stops looking through Kwolf's eyes from his perch on the battlements and returns to his own position, waiting in the woods with the Knights of the Raven and the mages at his side.

He smiles slightly

  They have taken the bait  

The direwolves continue to howl
 


Also everyone is going to get woken up by Schlapp and his sister howling with a timbre and power you didn't really think was possible
wilphe
 
 Originally Posted by farothel 
   In the morning, he seeks out wighard.
 "I've had some very strange dreams tonight,"  he said,  "and it's not the first time.  I'm quite sure it's nothing I've eaten or drunk.  Can this be induced with magic?"  
 

  Some dreams are just dreams. Not all dreams come from Morr, and even the ones that do are not all necessarily supposed to be taken literally

Did you pray for guidance or receive a message?  
LarsWester
Gimgroth slams the ale mug on the table splashes what remains onto a fully restored and glorious beard.  The dwarf laughs as he smiles across the table as Bertelis and Bruno struggle to keep pass with Gimgroth and Glod as the dwarves lift their next cup to their mouths.   The table is strewn with empty tankards some standing some resting on their sides it is obvious that this drinking contest has been going on for some time.  Jasmine and Wighard are resting heads down on the table.   Then one by one his friends disappear in an instant and

 
 Originally Posted by bramblefoot 
 gimgroth: the man with yellow eyes appears in your dream.  "care to play a game?"  he says, shuffling a tarot deck one handed.  "the rules are simple. you ask a question, and i answer honestly. then i do the same, and you must answer honestly."  he chuckles and continues  "lies, deception and half-truths are punished by a draw off the deck. refusing to answer is two draws"  
 

Gimgroth stands up feeling the effect of the night's tally doing so.  He looks around for his axe but doesn't see it.   What are you doing here?  How are you in my dreams? 
bramblefoot
 "magic"  the man says smugly.  "for my question i ask what your plans are in brettonia." 

he sits primly on a stool and awaits your answer
LarsWester
Gimgroth looks puzzled for a second before frowning.   A look of understanding comes over the dwarf before the start of a smile.
 Ah but you did not answer my first question so draw two you must first before it is my turn to answer. 
farothel
 
 Originally Posted by wilphe 
   Some dreams are just dreams. Not all dreams come from Morr, and even the ones that do are not all necessarily supposed to be taken literally

Did you pray for guidance or receive a message?   
 

 "I didn't pray for guidance,"  Bruno said,  "it could be a message, but I'm not sure who would send it.  And I certainly hope it will not be happening." 
bramblefoot
two cards flash in front of the man. he looks at them and guffaws. "these are helpful cards"  he cackles, pocketing them in his sling bag. you notice a mirror-helm has spawned next to him, and a tattoo of a dragon curls up his one arm

 "waiting on you master dwarf"  he cackles, wiggling his fingers
LarsWester
Gimgroth ponders his nemesis's question  "what are your plans in Brettonia?"  and smiled thinking to himself their plans are yet unknown.  He answers the twisted mage.  Our plans are simple.  Protect the weak.  Honor the gods.  Heal the sick.  Keep yer cursed cards to yerself twisted fool. Now to find me axe I see another arm to take.  Gimgroth shoots furtive glances around the room looking for his weapon any weapon.
bramblefoot
 "my plan is to cause chaos and harm people close to the company of the burning slug, and by my reckoning, its going like clockwork"  the man says. no cards are dealt for him

 "this is the dream world gimgroth. im in control here"  the man with yellow eyes gloats. there is no weapon here in the bar

 "do you perhaps have any family or children i should know about?"  the man with yellow eyes probes, and then asks a second question

 "what is your greatest fear?" 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 
if you dont want me to bring your child into this just say the word
 
MrAbdiel
   Another Night, Another Vision...   
 Deanna Roche runs.  Her panting is almost soundless; her throat  forbidden by strange magic to utter vocalizations.  But her pursuer is not so bound; thrashing through the trees behind her is a silhouette of a rider; armored and mounted like a night, but dark and terrible as a parody of one.  Its steed was tireless; a monstrosity of bone and sinew rendered from the body and spirit of a once-loyal steed... but it was not gifted to ride amongst the roots and branches, and these delays permitted Deanna her lead.  She, herself, was tiring; though a child of privilege, she was a daughter of Aquitaine; and she spent much of her youth with her handmaidens and sisters, often swimming in a creek or running through the friendlier outskirts of the Forest of Chalons.

But this was not Chalons.

The rider was closing.  She risked a glance over her shoulder, and saw the red lacquered helm, the flash of fangs in its interior; and her feet struck one of the very roots she was relying on to keep him at bay.  Down she went, hard; tumbling onto the forest floor in her now truly stained and torn sleeping shift, dark hair tangled and messy.  But no sword fell; no fangs struck her skin.  Infact the hoofbeats retreated the other way.  And looking up, she saw why.  Looming over her, flanked by impossibly graceful and terrible warriors, was a being unlike any she had ever beheld, or heard in story.  Twelve feet tall.  Rippling with primordial power.  Green of skin; dark of eye; and gazing down upon her from beneath a crown of antlers that might be seen otherwise on a great majestic stag.  No wonder the vampire turned and fled.

What is a mere vampire, to a god? 
LarsWester
 
 Originally Posted by bramblefoot 
  "do you perhaps have any family or children i should know about?"  the man with yellow eyes probes. 
 

Gimgroth strokes his beard thinking a second weighing the costs of not answering with the costs of answering before answering.  I can think of no one you  should  know about.  Now again I say take yer cards and begone.  Trouble me no more. 

Accounts squared for the time being the sound of braying from Schlapp and his sister wakes Gimgroth from his troubled sleep.
bramblefoot
 
 Originally Posted by LarsWester 
 Gimgroth ponders his nemesis's question  "what are your plans in Brettonia?"  and smiled thinking to himself their plans are yet unknown.  He answers the twisted mage.  Our plans are simple.  Protect the weak.  Honor the gods.  Heal the sick.  Keep yer cursed cards to yerself twisted fool. Now to find me axe I see another arm to take.  Gimgroth shoots furtive glances around the room looking for his weapon any weapon. 
 

the man with yellow eyes says  "the game is done for now'  he waves his hand,and you are jerked awake by the howling of schlapp and his sister

bertelis: as you awaken, there is a note written on tree bark on your chest. it reads  come to the outskirts of the forest two hours ride from here. we will talk terms for your mother

the green knight 
dojango
Jasmine's Dream

Perhaps it was the talk of her sister, but Jasmine found herself thinking of her family back in Malmford as she drifted off to sleep.  A sleepy little hamlet, tucked into the arms of a slow-flowing river.  Long fields hemmed in by the brooding forest.  But in her dream the village was burning.  The ferry, with a few huddled survivors drifted down the river.  Her sort-of ex-husband at the tiller, hollow-eyed and weeping.  Her two youngest nieces holding hands with one of her cousins.  A few other people; the miller and his son (of course they'd run), Old Human Karl trying to balance on his wooden leg as the ferry rocked in the current.  The ferry headed towards the opposite bank and she could hear the wolves howling, see the red eyes glinting in the darkness.  The survivors were headed straight for it...  then she woke up with a start to the howling of the wolves.  It took her a few minutes to calm down, to remember that it was just a dream.  Just a dream.  She wouldn't get back to sleep that night.  Once she heard the cooks starting to stoke the ovens in the kitchen for the day's bread she made her way down there and spent a few hours annoying them with small talk and chatter (and maybe helping out a little) until daybreak.
wilphe
 "I didn't pray for guidance,"  Bruno said,  "it could be a message, but I'm not sure who would send it.  And I certainly hope it will not be happening." 
  You wish to share it? I would not begrudge you keeping it to yourself.

Dreams are very private things  
MrAbdiel
  Before...  

Bertelis receives the hug; and after a moment, returns it.  It's a fortifying thing, even if somewhat vulnerable to show that much emotional bareness.  But for now, he needed to hold the threads of his fraying spirit together.  If a handful of pilgrims thought him unusually sentimental for a knight.. he would have to live with their unspoken judgements.

Once he has accidentally 'outed' his state of distress to the group, he is easily enough invited to confide in them the content of the letter, and the manner it changes the projected travel.  A burden shared is a burden halved, they say; and it seems to take the edge off the troubling routine of melancholy and tenseness creeping into the habits of the knight.  The words and assurances of Bruno, Gimgroth and Wighard - even the quiet presence of Jasmine, Glod and Siobhan - makes a great deal of difference that he will not completely appreciate until he is reflecting on the events in a memoir years later.

  After...  

Bertelis might be the last to wake, sleeping through a few rounds of the pups yowling; and he sits in silent disbelief staring at the impossible letter, after he wakes.
 
"It seems undeniable that our company is touched by the gods; as we so frequently have dreams of dread or prophecy.  Dreams are often personal; but I think we may profit from developing the habit of speaking candidly with each other about them, where we can afford to.  I, myself, had a vision in my sleep..." 

He recounts the dream of the night before; his step-mother Deanna, her flight, the vampiric pursuer, the shocking confrontation.

 "...The rider reminds me of the Red Duke - the one whose victory, before his downfall, is recorded on the banner I took from the tomb in the swamp.  He was once a hero of Aquitaine; the same Duchy as Deanna.  But it was not the Duke himself - atleast I think not, knowing it not to be the case as one knows things in dreams.  That mad tyrant is well destroyed and consecrated.  Perhaps a... vampiric admirer, in his style?  I do not know.  But the being she ran into can only be the King of the Forest; the strange ruler of the elves of Athel-Loren.  If this is a true vision, and not merely an impression, then I cannot fathom how she came to be there.  She could not run across the whole of the nation, let alone under pursuit.  She must have been... taken, transported, and then escaped, or... Or I don't know.  But to complicate matters..." 

He shows the bark-scribed note, signed apparently by the Green Knight.

 "I do not know if any of you know of the Green Knight.  He is the chief servant of the Lady of The Lake; a warrior of Legend.  Few Bretonnians ever see him.  Only those who happen to be on the field of battle when he rides from the trees, unbidden, to turn the tide of a battle with his dolorous blade and vanish into mystery.  Those, and also those knights at the end of their quests, finding him the last and ultimate challenge before being permitted to drink from the grail.  It is rare to the point of myth when he has taken a hand in events at other times; typically for kings, or cases of legendary blessing like the Maiden Repanse du Lyonesse.  I had hoped one day to challenge him for the grail like so many before, but I have not been recognized as a knight of the realm, nor given my grain vision.  This is not an invitation to glory and virtue.  It's something else.  And I believe it to be authentic, given how supernaturally the note came to me and immediately after such a dream.  So I will have to take Adelhard and Ranier and veer off the main road, take this strange meeting, and return to you in the evening.  I will catch up to you without trouble, on horseback; and we cannot slow the pilgrimmage for this.  At the very worst, I will camp briefly and catch up to you the next morning.  Either way, I will be with you again before we approach Bogenhafen." 
wilphe
  I don't see anything in that note that said you had to come alone

And the pilgrims are due a restday and the Pink Peacock is a traditional spot for that to happen.

Everyone is filthy, need to wash themselves and their cloths, rest their feet, Siobhan needs to check and change dressings and I will leave some money with the inn staff to make that easier.  
MrAbdiel
Bertelis looks conflicted.

 "...You know their condition better than I, Wighard.  And you know why I do not want any additional delays on our arrival to Couronne.  If you say they need the rest, I will not contest you on it.   I would prefer my friends with me in what could, I admit, be an ambush of a clever enemy.  But at a certain point on the approach, I will need to go on alone.  It is... a sacred thing, you see?  He is the warden of the Covenant between the Lady with her Fey, and my King and his knights.  It would be impious, bordering on blasphemous, to approach it in anything less than the spirit of single audience that the Knight induces when operating out of that covenant." 
bramblefoot
wighard: the vermillion flue is a highly contagious disease. symptoms are blue veins in the hands and feet, followed by lack of agility and finally, death by lung failure. it is unknown how the disease spreads, and the only cure is shallyan healing magic .
farothel
  You wish to share it? I would not begrudge you keeping it to yourself.
Dreams are very private things  
 "It was quite simple,"  Bruno said,  "I was convicted and executed for being in league with chaos." 
 later 
 "You probably know best,"  Bruno said to Bertelis,  "but I would like to stay within visual and shouting distance, just in case."  
dojango
Jasmine pulls out a small glass lens and says, " Can I have a look-see? " to Bertelis.

[Assuming he assents she'll closely examine it with the magnifying glass looking for anything unusual or unexpected that might hint at it being genuine or a forgery]

Regardless of whether he agrees or not, she then says, " We live in an age of miracles but also one of treachery.  The best way to trick someone is to tell them what they already want to hear. "

 
 Spoiler 
Perception roll, in case it matters  (1d100)[ 19 ]  v. 66
 
bramblefoot
dojango: it looks genuine to your eyes
wilphe
 "It was quite simple," Bruno said, "I was convicted and executed for being in league with chaos." 
  Well all things considered that's entirely understandable.

I don't think it counts as a portent unless you are actually seen doing something.

Though sometimes premonitions of death are a signal to get your affairs in order; you might want to check with a real priest but I think just a regular nightmare  
bramblefoot
the company of the burning slug finds a grove of ancient trees. in the middle of the trees, the green knight stands, sword in his sheath.  "approach sir bertelis"  he calls. as you approach, he waits for you to come to him  "your mother is safe and sound, but i'd like to give a gift"  he passes a horn of green wood to bertelis.  "blow it once, and i shall come to your side. be warned though, each use will siphon a year off your life" 

he continues with  "tell me what oath you would swear right now to have your mother back safe and sound. swear a second oath, and i will work to ameliorate the vermillion flue sweeping bordelaux." 

he waits for your response

wdyd?
MrAbdiel
Bertelis approaches with not so much hesitation as religious reverence.  In his dream he had seen a demigod of the forest.  But here, in life, he was seeing something very close to a demigod; a figure of legend and glory that some knights, despite their valor and good hearts, did not ever see before dying.  Coif pulled back, he bows a little with hands outstretched as the horn is placed in his hands.

He imagines what he might sell a year of his life to accomplish.  What if the next time Yellow Eyes attempted his demonic escape, he was pursued by such an unshakable foe?  What if the Dancer in the Dark, thinking herself in power, was instead caught at the edge of the famous Dolorous Blade?

What if the next time he was required to be a leader of men, instead of ten or twenty or a hundred never making it back to their loved ones, they  all  made it back with a tale of grand salvation?

 "...I... Wonder what I might swear.  The Lady has my oath of Errantry, and Chivalry.  I await only to be called, by King or Lord, to become a Knight of the Realm; and out lady will not require me to seek the grail until I have become a man of credibility among my people, in that way.  I... have been blessed with some treasure in travel, but I have striven to be quick to give it away.  I am rich with companions; and I have only ever wanted for..." 

Ah, was that it?  Home was all he had wanted for.  He had not been home in years, now; and forbidden so, because of his father.  He loved adventure... but preferred it at his whim, not as a necessity.

 "Take this, then: my Oath of the Road.  Birds have nests, and foxes have holes; but let this son of Bordeleaux have no home until he has completed this oath.  With your witness, I will not spend two nights under the same roof until I, with my noble companions, have seen slain or banished a champion of each of the four dark powers who torment and weaken good men and women.  And..." 

How easy it might be, if he was able to call on the knight.  Just four years off his life - off the end of his life, even; one for each champion.  But a second oath, then; with hopes the Knight was here in response to his prayers, and could make some entreatee with the Lady, and through her the nurturing goddesses like Shallya and Rhya.  To halt the plague, or atleast stall it.  What had he to commit to oath, now?  What would would be noble to  do without , or to strive  to do?   He glanced back over his shoulder at his five Companions, then back to the knight; and extended his hands back to the towering warrior, the horn still in his palms.

 "...And take this Oath also - that I shall do this with my companions, and not the power of this gift; that your work may go on unhindered, and the glory of victory, however costly and hardfought, will fall on them, and not on me and you." 
bramblefoot
 "let it be done!"  the green knight calls, clapping his palms together. the wind picks up, and he says  "i look forward to your oaths being honored"  your mother appears out of the leaves, clad in a green dress with a matching headscarf.  "bertelis?"  she whispers, and runs to you weeping

wdyd?
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is stunned.  He had anticipated a clue, or a direction - but here was Deanna, safe, if perhaps not yet completely sound.

The fact that he could hear her voice was a surprise too - had the muteness been something unrelated to the plague entirely?  Some part of a spell or lure by the vampiric pursuer, happening at the same time as the plague by chance?

Questions for later.  For now, he embraced her; barely able to imagine the ordeal through which she had been.   "It's alright, Deanna.  You are safe, now.  No more running." 

The dress given to her, perhaps fabricated by the fey with whom the Green Knight does his work, is long, and slim with no grand frills or hooped skirts as popular in the more fashionable corners of the empire.  Sheer dark green with paler green embroidery of intricate vinework, with long sleeves tightly fitted down to halfway past the elbow, before dramatically flaring  into loose, bell cuffs.  Her hair might be very long indeed, but it is pinned up in some intricate style beneath the scarf of similar fey silk which covers from her forehead, the backward sweep of the elaborate braided bun, and then trails behind her had with a few feet of gauzy train.  A few dark curls of hair peek out from beneath the edges of the headscarf - it is not the full wimple a woman of the court would normally wear, but modest enough for such an extreme situation.

She is beautiful in a way that penetrates the tiredness she has in her features; large green eyes that suit the gifted apparel, and a pleasingly warm and maternal demeanor.  She is, however, quite young for such a demeanor.  If Bertelis is around twenty years of age, his step-mother Deanna cannot be more than five years older.

He leads her back to the group, and introduces her; and he is at once glad that she has the courtly education to speak to them all in Reikspiel, and also... somewhat glad Emil isn't here.  Not that Emil would  necessary  try his roguish charms in such a situation. But why take the risk?

 
 Spoiler: OOC! 
Make some assumptions about details for Deanna's present appearance, hope that's alright.  Bertelis would let her ride Rainier while he walks, and probably encourage Siobhan to keep an eye on her.  When she seems ready to talk about it, he'd ask her about how she ended up in this situation; what happened with her muteness; what she remembers about their home when she was last there, and such details.
 
wilphe
Wighard remains silent and reverent, though frantically taking notes down as to exactly what the two of them have agreed to.

Of course insisting on the letter of an oath rather than the spirit is a somewhat caddish act typical of honourless scum like Tileans - or Imperials, and in any case the really interesting bits come when two or more oaths are mutually incompatible

He will show Deanna her space and respect and not initiate any discussion until she is done with her stepson


He'd like to give her a full examination, but maybe wait for that until they hit one of the way-temples of Shallya
bramblefoot
the company of the burning slug makes its way back to the pink peacock. siobhan comess out, saying  "bandages are changed and clothes are laundered"  she says. she approaches and says  "the pilgrims are a tad grumbly. you might want to alleviate their concerns" 
wilphe
  Sure, what's the problem?  

Wighard will do rounds, checking up on people
bramblefoot
the pilgrims are a superstitious lot, and have taken the dragon ogre as a sign that the venture is cursed.
farothel
Bruno wasn't sure what they had seen, but he was sure that he would wait until he asked.  First let him settle down and figure out for himself what was going on.  For now he had the pilgrims to worry about.  He would help Wighard calming down the pilgrims.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

charm:  (1d100)[ 50 ]  vs 67
 
wilphe
Wighard handles this on an individual level as he moves from patient to patient, letting Bruno speak en bloc

  On the contrary, we were blessed that it ignored us

Let us see that foot, you need these boots seen too, see the cobbler, tell him to charge it to me  

Moving on

  Nevertheless we have a knight who was ready to sacrifice himself for you without hesitation

Two actually, the other didn't get the chance

Still coughing blood? Draw some clean cloths and stay near the lantern on my wagon. It won't make things better but it will stop them getting worse.  

Again

  This is the best equipped and supported pilgrimage to leave for Couronne in decades, and we are determined to make it one of the most successful.

Siobhan changed the dressing on your head? Good. Now keep it dry. Doctors orders  

Moving on

  Its not your father I'm worried about, its you. You aren't supposed to be pulling a handcart 8 hours a day.

Yes I know a Pilgrimage isn't supposed to be easy, perhaps explain that to your companions?

Still not an excuse to make your travel harder on yourself than it needs to be  
bramblefoot
the pilgrims are calmed, and a dozen days later, you reach ludwigs nose in axebite pass. the clouds have drawn in, and the wind is bitterly cold.

can i get perception checks at -20 pls?
wilphe
  Could you be so kind as to scout for us, I know we are going to get ambushed but it would be nice to know where and when  
  Screw you its cold up there  
  Its cold down here too.

Would you do it for a bowl of egg and sausage salad?  
  Bribing me with your cooked food; stupid mastery of fire and opposable thumbs  

Kwolf takes off and proceeds from perch to precipice to perch to precipice again

 
 Spoiler: Internal dialogue 
  Nice view from up here primate 
 

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Well about a dozen or more days later by my nerdy reckoning

 https://forums.giantitp.com/showsing...&amp;postcount=303 
 (1d100)[ 96 ]  Perception Wighard 51, 61 if visual

 (1d100)[ 30 ]  Perception  Kwolf 47, 57 if visual
 
bramblefoot
bertelis: at the last second you notice the ratling gunner ensconced high and dry behind the rocks on the right side of the pass. he is out of melee range

wighard: kwolf also reports skaven moving down the rocks to encircle you. they're mostly skavenslaves with a few clanrats

ratling gunner
 (1d10+4)[ 10 ] 

skavenslaves

 (1d10+2)[ 10 ] 

clanrats
 (1d10+3)[ 5 ] 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis's eyes catch the hunched, furry shape; a figure he would have called a beastman if not for the wink of brass and glass on the weapon.  His instincts fill in the rest.  He knows the enemy from stories, more than anything; knows men of the Empire of Sigmar don't believe in them.  And he also knows that Gimgroth is the one carrying a weapon with the range capable of contesting this one; likely at hand, as they pass through the well known dangers of Axe Bite Pass.  A complicated  message would take too long to spell out if Gimgroth is going to possibly react, so Bertelis just points with his lance, and calls out one of the loan words he's picked up in their rambling conversations together.

  "Raki!"  
farothel
Bruno was worried about this part of the trip, so he made sure that there were people on the lookout everywhere.  While the pilgrims might not be fighters, they still all had two eyes and two ears (well, mostly anyway).  So he had organised the ones who wanted to help by having them look around.  While it gave for false alarms (he had asked them to be discreet about raising the alarm), it was better than missing something.  He was just talking to some pilgrims when Bertelis shouted something and pointed with his lance, so Bruno looked that way and then around him for other possible problems.
wilphe
  RAIDERS!  

Wighard regrets not having had the pilgrims practice a drill for this sort of eventuality and hopes that this does not lead to a massacre, instead he concentrates on barking orders on the grounds that so long as someone sounds like they know what they are doing there will be less panic

  Wagons, circle on me. Infirm to the centre.  

He looks at his companions   ROLANDS!   and points direction

He then turns his attention to the ladies

  Madame, please steady the horse, cut him loose if necessary. If we win we can get him back, if we lose   

He shrugs

  Siobhan you have the pills? Give one to her ladyship.

There maybe worse things than a slave to the ratmen; I don't really want to think what they are. If everything is beyond hope take one of these and bite on it hard. Deny them that victory at least  

He keeps the blunderbuss ready for when they get closer and bunched up and gets out his bow

 
 COME ON THEN YER RAT FACED BASTARDS. WE'LL MAKE OWL PELLETS OF YOUR MISERABLE SKINS YET  
dojango
Once the alarm goes off, Jasmine moves to the wagon laager and draws her pistol, scanning the area for the ambushers.  " Don't fire until you see their horrible little faces, " she tells Deanna.  " Whaddya mean you don't have a pistol?  You oughta get one next time we're in town. "
LarsWester
 
 Originally Posted by wilphe 
   Wagons, circle on me. Infirm to the centre.  

He looks at his companions   ROLANDS!   and points direction 
 

Gimgroth had his crossbow resting in reach from his seat at the front of one of the pilgrimage wagons.  He quickly hands the reins over to a young man sitting next to him and drops down to the ground armed with the crossbow.  Looking in the direction pointed out.  He takes aim and lets the bolt fire.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Tied with the ratling gunner and skavenslaves so going to go ahead and post an attack.  Half action aim.
  BSvs66  - (1d100)[ 15 ] 
  Damage  - (1d10+5)[ 13 ]   Drop Crossbow and Quick Draw free ready Shield.
 
Morovir
At the sound of the alarm, Glod's mind flashes back to the dream he had had of the men discovering the warpstone. He had not dwelt on it since then, merely briefly ruminated on the easily corruptible nature of men, but now, he almost viewed it as a portent, for who else other than the skaven made such frivolous use of warpstone?

 " Thaggoraki  scum"  Glod snarls as he readies his axe.
bramblefoot
the ratling gunner lets out a burst of fire from the gun at sir berteilis. the gun jams, and he curses

 (1d100)[ 92 ] 
 (1d10+6)[ 8 ] 

the skavenslaves close from front and back, a roiling line of bodies pouring over each other in their haste to get to the caravan
MrAbdiel
Beretelis hears the weapon's gears grind, and lets loose a battle cry that is almost a scream it's so excited.

 "AAAAAhahahah!  Imbécile! C'est la terre de la Dame!" 
dojango
Jasmine lets out a number of curses as the horde charges the caravan and quickly holsters her pistol and draws the blunderbuss and aims at the center of the roiling mass before pulling the trigger.  The cloud of shrapnel and debris shreds into the mass but they keep coming...

 
 Spoiler 
Firing off the decksweeper, they gotta dodge it or get hit
 
bramblefoot
the skavenslaves all do neo backbends under the blunderbuss and keep coming

 (1d100)[ 2 ] 
farothel
Bruno moves to a location where skaven approach and none of his companions are at the moment, trying to protect the pilgrims.  He has his shield and pistol ready.  As soon as they came in range, he tried to shoot what he thought was the leader, before switching to his sword to defend himself.

 
 Spoiler: OOC round 1 

aim, then shoot the leader (if there is no leader I can see, the first one):  (1d100)[ 78 ]  vs 58 for damage:  (1d10+4)[ 5 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 9 ]  (impact)

free action to switch to sword

initiative:  (1d10+4)[ 9 ] 
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 (1d100)[ 35 ]  Ag 44
 (1d3)[ 1 ] 
 (1d100)[ 57 ]  Siobhan
 (1d3)[ 2 ] 
 (1d100)[ 65 ]  Deanna
 (1d3)[ 2 ] 
 
wilphe
With a little time before the horde hit Wighard casts, and a ball of light appears by his left shoulder

 Can you keep the Roland with the bang bang busy? 
 How do you propose I do that? 
 I don't know, **** on him, drop rocks, tell him his father was a gerbil, offer him pamphlets with the good news about Morr. 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (3d10)[ 1 ][ 10 ][ 6 ](17)  -3 TN 14

Radiant Sentinel
Casting Number: 14
Casting Time: Full action
Ingredient: A buckler (+2)
Description: You create a ball of glowing light the size of a Human head that floats around your body, moving slowly or quickly as the situation demands. The ball deflects blows aimed against you, protecting you from harm. Once per round the radiant sentinel can parry a melee attack made against you, using your Will Power in place of Weapon Skill. This does not count towards your limit of one parry per round. The ball dissipates after a number of minutes equal to your Magic Characteristic ROS
 
bramblefoot
the clanrats in front, three will engage bertelis, while the other two will charge into the fray. two wield long spears, the third a sword and shield

 (3d100)[ 45 ][ 24 ][ 7 ](76)  all hits


 (1d10+4)[ 14 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 13 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 10 ] 

the skavenslaves, hopped up on sigmar-knows what, pull deanna off the riding horse and start dragging her off through the crush of bodies

siobhan is grabbed, but stabs the skavenslave in the eye. she goes down with the skavenslave on top of her
MrAbdiel
 
 Spoiler: oops should have been in the OOC 
Guess I’m gonna try to dodge the first one!

  Vs32  - (1d100)[ 86 ] 
 
MrAbdiel
 
 Spoiler: oops should have been in the OOC 
 Since that will drop me to Crits immediately I’d better try a reroll  (1d100)[ 81 ] . If that passes, I’m at 6/15.  If it fails I’m at a -1 crit on the third blow.
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis’s vision has alerted them to the gunner, but the foot soldiers are so close they spring their trap when he is caught completely unaware.  Both spears strike up and punch cleanly into his torso, their surprisingly brawny rat operators ramming them though chain and leather.  The third grabs him by the leg and rips him from the saddle, vanishing him under the wave of vermin.  He goes down with a cry of bewildered dismay.

Adelhard, faithful and furious, thrashes about at the assailants.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Dropping the lance, drawing the mace, taking the stand action.  If Bert isn’t beat to death next turn, he’ll surge to his feet defiantly; but mechanically now he is “on his feet”.

  AdelhardVs30  - (1d100)[ 29 ] 
 
wilphe
Well being stabbed is what knights are for, Siobhan can look after herself and they only just got Deanna back so Wighard's choice is pretty obvious.

He snatches up axe and shield and jumps down into the fray and starts cutting his way towards Deanna

 They grabbed Deanna, try and keep her in sight and see where they are dragging these people 
 I like that much better than "attract the attention of the Roland with the big bang bang" 
 I'm glad you approve 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Ready
Swing at Rolands

 (1d100)[ 21 ]  49
 (2d10)[ 9 ][ 8 ](17)  +3

 (1d100)[ 92 ]  49 Shield Parry

 (1d100)[ 32 ]  77 Magic Parry
 
farothel
Seeing the rats go after the pilgrims, Siobhan and Deanna, Bruno charged the rats and started attacking anything in fur that hadn't been in their group before the attack.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

move to intercept, charge.
attack one rat:  (1d100)[ 22 ]  vs 56 for damage:  (1d10+4)[ 13 ] 
 
bramblefoot
wighard: the skavenslaves will throw themselves in your path and on your blade to prevent you from saving deanna. kwolf reports that they're taking her up the mountain to god knows where. the mass of skavenslaves has thinned, but there is still enough to count as dangerous

bruno: the other two clanrats will hold you off with long spears.

 (2d100)[ 54 ][ 96 ](150)  no hits

 (1d10+4)[ 11 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 8 ] 

bertelis: as you stand, you see the skavenslaves dragging deanna up the mountain.
dojango
Jasmine ducks behind the wagon for a moment to grab her pistol and pops out to shoot the nearest of the clan-rats attacking Bruno.  " Hey!  Leave 'er alone!  We jes got her back! " she shouts in frustration at the fleeing rats.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 84 ]  v. 52 (aim - shooting into melee)
 
Morovir
Bellowing an oath to Grimnir, Glod charges into the fray, swinging his axe at the nearest clanrat:

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
First Round:
Charge (Full Action):  (1d100)[ 58 ]  TN 76 (WS 56 +10 Charge +10 Rune)
 Damage:  (1d10+6)[ 9 ] 
 Impact:  (1d10+6)[ 14 ] 

Second Round: (If clanrat dies, charges into the skavenslaves trying to escape as by this point he would have noticed their prisoner)
Aim + Standard Attack / Charge:  (1d100)[ 1 ]  TN 76 (WS 56 +10 Action +10 Rune)
Damage:  (1d10+6)[ 14 ] 
 Impact:  (1d10+6)[ 7 ]  
 
bramblefoot
you kill the clanrat, but as you charge the group of skavenslaves, one of them puts a rusted blade to deanna's throat and drags it across. deanna falls with a gurgle, and the skavenslaves book it, gloating all the while. you manage to kill two, but the one who murdered deanna escapes you
bramblefoot
the ratling gunner lofts a shimmering glass vial of green liquid at glod as he charges by. after that, he'll pack up and disengage

 (1d100)[ 60 ]  miss

assuming this hits, glod im gonna need a toughness test at -20
MrAbdiel
Mercifully, Bertelis can't see the terrors unfold upon Deanna from where he is.  Covered in blood, he struggles to a knee and lays about with his mace, trying to keep his shield to the striking blades.

 
 Spoiler: Attacks! 
Well, here goes!  Spreading the attacks around. Adelhard continues his duel with the one sword and board, while Bertelis lashes at the two with longspears.

  Attack1Vs61  - (1d100)[ 88 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 7 ] 
  Attack1Vs61  - (1d100)[ 91 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 7 ] 
  AdelhardVs30  - (1d100)[ 71 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 9 ] 

EDIT: Well that's about par for the course right now. sacre bleu.
 
MrAbdiel
Gimgroth, full of dwarven fury against the raki scourge, charges into the mass of rats who launched this most cowardly assault on the bushwacked Bretonnian!

 
 Spoiler: For Lars-Modan! 
Free action draw magic warhammer; charge!

  Vs87  - (1d100)[ 98 ] , for  (1d10+6)[ 10 ]  against one of the spear rats.
 
MrAbdiel
The rats prove slippery - what else to expect from such cowards?  But this dwarf, this  hero , is undeterred as his blows rain on!

 
 Spoiler: For Lars-Modan 2: Electric Boogaloo 
  HammerInTheMorningVs77  - (1d100)[ 35 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 9 ] 
  HammerInTheEveningVs77  - (1d100)[ 13 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 15 ] 
  HammerAtSupperTimeVs77  - (1d100)[ 71 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 16 ] 
 
wilphe
R3 Wighard


Wighard basically ignores everything else and focuses on the fallen Deanna, who is attempting to scream but instead producing a horrible gurgling sound through the gash in her windpipe. There is a lot of blood too, and if enough gets in her lungs she'll drown but that's a problem for much later if she even survives that long

He dumps his weapons and pulls out one of his glass beads.


  Tell your boss he doesn't take this one, not today. Then find the dove, we might need a miracle 
 I feel you maybe abusing this connection 
 Yeah well I've been passed around that family like the only whore who showed up for the orgy and I don't recall complaining or asking for anything 
 That's because you are into it you dirty bitch 
 Could you kindly do as I ask while I work on saving this innocent woman's life? Thanks a bunch  

Kwolf pops out of existence and Wighard's hands find Deanna's severed carotid, holding the glass bead next to it and channeling the Hysh specifically at that wound and not her body in general.

It knits together, restoring blood supply to her brain. of course this does mean that the jugular vein that takes the blood down from the head is now leaking more.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Healing of Hysh
Casting Number: 10
Casting Time: Full action
Ingredient: A clear glass bead (+2)
Description: Your touch heals an injured character a number of Wounds equal to your Magic Characteristic. You can also heal yourself. This is a touch spell.


 (1d100)[ 68 ]  Heal 81

 (3d10)[ 7 ][ 6 ][ 4 ](17)  -3+2
 
bramblefoot
in a startling display of ratlike grace, the clanrats easily dodge gimgroths wild attacks. they form a triangle, spears and swords ready

wighard, what are you willing to sacrifice to bring back deanna?
dojango
Jasmine holsters the spent pistol, cursing as the shot went wide.  She draws her second one, takes a deep breath to steady her aim, and fires again at one of the rats hounding Bertelis.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 87 ]  v. 52,  (1d10+4)[ 10 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 14 ] 
 
farothel
Bruno didn't know anything about healing, so he kept at what he did know, namely causing more need for healing.  There was only one clanrat in front of him, so he kept chopping at it.

 
 Spoiler: OOC round 3 

full attack on clanrat in front of me
1st attack rat:  (1d100)[ 14 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+4)[ 9 ] 
2nd attack rat:  (1d100)[ 75 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+4)[ 10 ] 
 
bramblefoot
Jasmine: you accidentally wing bertelis with that shot. Please apply the damage against bertelis

Bertelis: you got shot by jasmine. You are currently bleeding to death on the pass

Everyone else, you see Siobhan lever the skavenslaves body off and let out a piercing shriek. The skaven all run away, taking those they have with them

We are outta combat.
MrAbdiel
Bertelis certainly  feels  like he's been shot (and he's been shot before); but in this case, it's the two longspear wounds in his chest causing him the burning pain and grief.  Spitting blood, he manages to club one of the spear rats down while Gimgroth hares off after the escaping clanrat; the knight intending to give chase, even fumbling for Adelhard's stirrups before collapsing to his knees, wheezing blood and coughing.  A weary groan substitutes for the primal scream he wishes he could unleash; the world spinning around him, unmoored by the bleeding wounds dealt him by the damned daemon woman.

Or... no, by the rats.  The ratmen did this.  He shakes his head, throbbing with pain, trying to order his fear-wracked thoughts; his senses clouded with the sounds of pilgrims wailing in distress as they are torn away from their loved ones.  They had done well - only a new count would tell if the rats had gotten away with the higher or lower end of  several ; but well on this occasion wasn't good enough.

 "We must pursue!"   The greviously wounded Bertelis insists to his companions as they regroup, his words slurred through spat blood.  He gestures with, of all things, one of the longspears the skaven jabbed him with; its end still wet with his blood.   "We must... give chase before it becomes too late." 

Then he wheezes, and sinks to his knees; taking his place in the line of medical urgency behind...

Behind Deanna, her new elf-gifted green dress streaked with her blood; Wighard toiling at her pale form in his divine efforts.

The knight's eyes glaze over.  For a period of ten or fifteen seconds, it's like he's not there at all.
farothel
Bruno's first reaction is to follow the rats, but he knows he won't be able to catch up in his heavy armour.  And as soon as they were in the hills they would not be easy to track and they probably had either reinforcements or traps and possibly both.  So he stands guard and quickly reloads his pistol, just in case.  Then he goes to organise the pilgrims and make a list of who's missing, so they can make a complete count.
wilphe
The rabbit pelt warms slightly in its pouch and the sight of Deanna and the battlefield fade away.

Wighard finds himself again in the glade outside the side-entrance to the Trundheim mine.

There are 6 birds watching him now, the Dove and the Eagle, the Raven and the Owl, Kwolf though bigger than his master is a little way behind and lower down resembling the avian equivalent of a knight in the presence of his monarch and the Hawk off to the side looking amused

  Ah, I see the family whore has arrived; get ready to spread those legs   says the hawk

The raven ignores him   Colourful similes aside, the doors to my kingdom are always open  
  Just like a whorehouse in fact   
  And I won't bar them even for my own daughter   he glares at the hawk as if daring him to say something

  So why do you get to tell me who and who doesn't get to come in  
  Because if you wanted meek, diffident followers incapable of independent and original thought you'd be Sigmar. And if you wanted followers incapable of any thought at all you'd be Ulric  

The eagle appears to find this amusing

  Thank you for reminding me why I sent Kwolf to be your partner. Nevertheless
I can't just not have someone die nor can we interfere directly. We might be persuaded to give you some extra power, then that's in your responsibility for what you do with it  

The owl speaks up.  Well let's see, you did donate some books to the Temple in Altdorf that might otherwise have been destroyed, so I will give you a discount deal.

I have an interest in truth and justice and you have a spell that makes people more believable if they speak the truth.

Therefore I will call on you a dozen times to cast that for the benefit of deserving clients - most likely in trials. Is that acceptable?  
  That sounds like it would be mildly inconvenient and make me new and exciting enemies. But it also sounds like those enemies would be ********s who have it coming.

I accept your offer Ma'am, anybody else  

He addresses the dove   For you milady we are on a pilgrimage to your centre, yet the pilgrims believe the enterprise cursed - no doubt even more so after the skaven attack - and a miracle would greatly restore their morale    
  You can carry the light of Purity to two dozen shrines, hospitals and other places it is needed  
  I was going to do that anyway, but wanted official sanction from your church before starting because that's the sort of thing that can get you in trouble  
  I know you were going to do it anyway. You will get credentials, and my people will be instructed to assist and keep the fires lit  
  I will chip in too  

Everyone looks at him

  Why?   says the Eagle

  I already own a little part of your soul Wigard and you will never be free of me.

But mostly because I find the Company of the Burning Slug amusing to watch, especially that Bretonnian who has had enough **** kicked out of him to require a whole company of dung sweepers and lost enough blood to make a boudin for every peasant in New Lyonesse and the extremely effective dwarf you hang out with who is like whirly death and disturbs even me

They are like the yin and yang of my cult.  
  That's it? No "you must slit a dozen other throats"  
  You wouldn't do it anyway, not til I've worked on your mind a bit more. It's for my selfish amusement, don't look a gift hawk in the beak  
  Thank you  

The vision fades
wilphe
No time seems to have passed in the glade and Wighard begins to feel the power flowing into him, hurridely he grasps the lock of Deanna's hair he took a few weeks ago when she joined the party


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (6d10)[ 10 ][ 4 ][ 3 ][ 7 ][ 10 ][ 8 ](42)  TN24

Boon of Hysh
Casting Number: 27
Casting Time: 2 full actions
Ingredient: A lock of hair from the target, cut while he was well (+3)
Description: You wrap a single character in the healing power of Hysh and all damage and maladies affecting him are healed. This includes all Wounds sustained, diseases currently being suffered, poisons currently in the system, and the like. You can also cast this spell on yourself. This is a touch spell
 
wilphe
As the energy dissipates a whole flock of doves alights on both sides of the pass

Deanna is still covered in warm blood and has regained consciousness and slowly realises she is not dying or in pain.

 Am I not dead? 
  Not today milady

REJOICE PRINCESS FOR A WIZARD OF THE EMPIRE IS YOUR SHIELD.

Hah!

Always wanted to say that

Now if you will excuse me there will be others who need my assistance  

The rabbit pelt in Wighard's pouch is back at the heat of a freshkill and dripping blood
bramblefoot
wighard: deanna gives a thumbs-up

bertelis: can i get a toughness test at -10?
MrAbdiel
As the action settles and the most critical injuries are taken care of, Bertelis clears his head enough to check in with Deanna.  They were not outrageously close before his departure for his errantry, but she was family; and facing peril such as this has a way of firming frail bonds.  She has cultural hesitations about being attended by a male spellcaster - there are none, in Bretonnia, and precious few female - but it's hard to argue with such a miraculous rescue.  Bertelis does not thank Wighard.   Such a thanks required has too much volume, too much necessity, to be offered in this grim aftermath while so much else is on everyone's minds.  His restraint might almost come off as ingratitude; though that is not a trait one associated much with Bertelis.

But after things have calmed some, lying on a blanket on the road so that Wighard can sew up his spear wounds, Bertelis calls one of his 'war room' meetings with the Company.

 "We have lost perhaps ten people - Bruno, I think was getting an exact count.  And there is some sense in suggesting we hurry on and do not look back.  But not only do I not think that is the moral option... I do not think it is an option at all.  My friends, we must give chase, and return these pilgrims to our train.  For I do not know the ways of the rat-men; but I understand them to be cunning; and I understand both slavers, and war.  They attacked us with perhaps a hundred of their mangy, malformed slave-caste and only a handful of warriors.  I ask you, what force would commit such an incompetent body of warriors to a battle, only to have half of those beasts of station killed, or badly quarrelled?  I will tell you: a force that does not expect much resistance at all.  These rats must  know  about the pilgrimage path.  I do not know if that means they have spies in the empire to know when one leaves, but a column of desperate humans, religiously forbidden from carrying more than a walking stick, is a slaver's delight.  Now, elven corsairs prize fighting slaves, as do the flesh-takers of Araby; but I suspect these rats are more like the wretched Northmen.  Their purpose must be chattel.  They use their own kind as warriors - perhaps they can absorb a military scale of abuse, that humans cannot.  But this must tell us the ratmen's plan: to surround the column, tease out any fighters with their small force of rat warriors, and then eliminate them viciously with their hellish contraption gun - the one that misfired, before Gimgroth fletched him.  After that, there would be no stopping them, and they could drag off as many as they wanted into the dark, never to see the sun again.  But the Lady has given us a miracle, with that weapon's malfuction - we fought back, claimed some of their warriors, and - Ssss..." 

He hisses as Wighard's needle makes an inexplicably especially painful passage.

 "...and now they only have a handful of captives for their purposes.  I do not know how deep their tunnels go, but I must bet that such a small claim of captives does not outweight the cost in feeding - even sparingly - the horde of their own rat-slaves they brought up here.  It's not enough.  And if we carry on down this road, I promise you they will attack us again tomorrow.  They brought the minimum resources for an easy slave raid, and their plan has been set awry by valor and fortune.  We must strike before they strike us." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Knowledge: Strategy and Tactics paying for itself already.
 


With Wighard's stitching finished, he sits up with another wince, and then takes the skaven weapon in one hand, holding it out for all to see.   "This is a longspear.  It is ideal for doing exactly what was done - unhorsing cocky knights from a safe distance.  But it is also ten feet long.   This ... was not carried up from the bowels of the earth through miles of tight winding corridors.  The obstacle hazard would drive a cave-diver mad, getting caught and snagged and jabbing one another as it needs to be carried forward-facing.  They would use shorter spears, if they had come that far.  No,  this  came from a reasonably broad underground cavity; one that they could not have dug for this specific assault.  Given that Axebite pass lies between the historic dwarf holds of Karak Zilfin and Karak Azgaraz, it may well be a segment of the old dwarven underways they hade made their staging ground.  But they will have some kind of pen there, to keep their captives while they decide which are worth the trouble of taking with them, and which are for... more immediate uses.  That is where they will have our people." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Knowledge: Geography paying for itself already, also.
 

 "I say Axe-Bite pass is Bretonnia, but I say so out of love for home.  In truth, the path is the sight of the greatest shameful wars between our nations; a riot of pointless blood back and forth between Ubersreik and Montfort.  The path is held by petty Lords, usually of intermarried families from both nations, who pay taxes to both as they demand it and take it out of travellers in tolls, pilgrims excluded.  The coaching inns, whose walls we have camped within our way through the pass so far, belong to these Lords.  And if rat-men are setting up slave-taking operations in the pass, then those Lords are about to lose most of their income from merchants who would rather pay the Marienburg wharf to ship their goods around the coast than to lose men and materiel in this way.  And the estate of the nearest is Lord Pelford du Moll; a far cousin of the Duke of Montford, whose wife is half-sister to the woman who was once wife of the the uncle of Graf William von Suponatheim, of Bogenhafen." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Knowledge: Geneology and Heraldy paying for itself also, also.
 

 "But neither the Elector of Reikland, nor the Duke of Montfort will march an army of any size into this gap and torment the fragile peace, so soon after this great war against the Enemy.  The lords of the pass must, now and for some time prior, have looked to themselves for defence against bandits and goblins.  So here is what we must do.  Lord Pelford's estate, sharing the same walls as the next coaching inn,  Lambord's Rest , will take us most of the rest of the day's travel.  Bruno and I will take the pilgrims there, to safe rest; and then we will have nobles of both sides of the mountains to make earnest our plea for help.  Lord du Moll will send pigeons to his neighbors, who will, preferring this task now than to lose their needed tolls, send us a small force of their men at arms to assemble here, where we were attacked.  We will not need many - just thirty or so, is enough to put the fear of Man into the beasts.  We do not need to kill them all; just to show them they are in mortal peril and must flee, unencumbered by their slaves.  Slavers always run, to steal flesh another day.  But while Bruno and I are making our plea..." 

He looks, plaintively, at Wighard, Jasmine, Glod and Gimgroth.   "I must ask you to perform the harder and riskier task; picking through the surrounds here, disarming any traps left behind, and hopefully finding the way in so we do not need to spend time with the men-at-arms scouring the ground.  You may do best, if you find one, to capture one of the rats alive - the bigger ones, that are not so whip-marked, must have enough Reikspiel to direct slaves.  And then... force it to betray its fellows, in exchange for a chance to flee up into the mountains - the right to die, likely, to the elements, or the goblins in the high places.  But if we can do all this - rapidly secure some aid, find the way in, and force-march over night to get here in time, we can storm their den while they are still nursing their own wounds, waiting for word from the scouts they  must  have now up past  Lambord's Rest  that the pilgrimage is moving again, and once more vulnerable.  And they they will flee to... wherever they come from; and we will not have shamed Shallya for failing in our vow to defend her children." 

Exhausted from the grand explanation (and bloodloss), he looks wearilly to his companions, desperate for their support.
wilphe
  You would appear to be making a lot of unsupported and frankly wishful assumptions about our opposition.

I will not stay here, my place is with the pilgrims -  and to keep an eye on your family

In any case I am not suited to such work - however Gimgroth, Glod and Jasmine can all see in the dark so if we are going along with this noble but probably insane plan they are the best to leave behind with a combination of stealth and combat power  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 58 ]  Heal 81
 (1d10)[ 6 ]  Points
 
bramblefoot
bruno, bertelis and wighard at lambords rest: you all make it to the keep of lord du moll in early evening. the doors to the great hall open as you walk in. the lord waits there. if he was roused, he seems unperturbed. the steward introduces you all, and the lord says  "how can i help you sir bertelis"  a scribe sits at the foot of the throne, taking notes

gimme fellowship at +10

gimgroth, glod, and jasmine: please split the following checks amongst yourselves. I'll need perception and search rolls to find the traps, and agility rolls to disarm them. ill also need a follow trail roll at -10 to find where they went

every hour you linger here, gimme a d100 roll. as always, lower is better
LarsWester
 
 Spoiler: PossibleRetraction 
Gimgroth stands in the dusty pass of Axe Bite watching the pilgrimage disappear over the horizon.  Turning to Jasmine and Glod he offers  And now we hunt raki!  Let's see what signs these beasts left for a trail. 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

I see that Gimgroth owes an agility test from the combat to avoid skavenslave damage.
  Agilityvs32  - (1d100)[ 38 ]  barely missed
  Wounds  - (1d3)[ 1 ]  took 1 wound
  HealVs28  - (1d100)[ 37 ]    Wounds  - (1d10)[ 2 ]   any healing if required.  No healing done.
  PerceptionVs48  - (1d100)[ 10 ]   Success!
   FPvs48  - (1d100)[ 64 ]  FP if needed.  This would be first FP spent this day.  Don't think the character sheet was updated correctly.   FP remains 2/2
 

 
farothel
 "Before we make any decision about this,"  Bruno said,  "we best consider the pros and cons of such a plan.  Leaving a few people behind against an enemy who already outnumbered us, despite what we did to them, who most likely knows the environment better than we do, especially in the hills away from this road, and who had time to call up reinforcements and probably set traps, is just insane.  We need to continue and let the local lords know.  They have the manpower to deal with this or the resources to hire a company of mercs to guard caravans, if needed." 
dojango
Temporarily embarassed by her poor shooting and failure to protect Deanna, Jasmine spends some time skulking around the edges of the caravan, making sure that the beast-men are well and truly fled.  She meets up with Bruno and agrees with him adding, " Sir Bertelis has forgotten that we were bein' spied on back in Altdorf.  I wasn't able to figure out who was buyin' and sellin', but someone was very interested in where we was goin' and when we was doin' it.  We can go searchin' but I reckon we'll either be chasin' shadows or run into the teeth of another ambush. "

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 41 ]  v 66 perception,  (1d100)[ 61 ]  v 56 for search,  (1d100)[ 68 ]  v. 64 agi, [roll]1100[/roll] mystery roll not staying too long.
 
wilphe
  If I may be blunt for a moment.    Wighard looks around to make sure none of the pilgrims are too close   We have a duty to the living not the dead; fewer than 50% of the pilgrims who leave Altdorf make it even as far as Montfort, and we are doing way better than that so far. We were never going to do this without losing people. It sucks but there it is.

And anyone taken by them is as good as dead; and before you ask if I would think differently if they had gotten away with Deanna or Siobhan I would remind you that Siobhan is a wizard of no small power so that's unlikely to happen, and her location I can track anyway so long as she is not too far away.  

He stares very directly at both Gimgroth and Bertelis and speaks calmly and deliberately

  And also I had given both of them a  Blausäure  pill to end their lives quickly in the event of capture.

I should have suggested that we drill for what we do in the event of attack - I will have to live with that.

And had I reason to expect Skaven - I would have offered that way out to more people  
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is looks genuinely stunned that there is any resistance to his scheme at all; and then positively betrayed when Wighard indeed pulls his first rejoinder out of his mouth to pre-empt him, about Deanna or Siobhan, and the pills.    It clearly hits something in him - dueling tenets of his code are both to never give up, and also never to permit oneself to be taken alive.  The better-to-die/better-than-be-captured dichotomy, especially when framed with the only just recovered and then throat-cut and healed Deanna, is a trolley problem he is just not equipped to engage with in the moment.  So silence hangs in the air, and the conflict on Bertelis' features strips back the veneer of valor and determination he tries so hard to maintain.  Briefly, in the sight of his companions, he not the self-appointed shot-caller; but the youngest of them again.  A young man, who left his teens at some point on the road with them and never thought to mark its passing.  But also a fraying one, who has been nearly fatally injured three times in the last two months; in all cases because of his desire to be first into the breach, to throw himself underequipped into a battle, to stand at the head of the column where the enemy collides first.

This all said, after that naked and undermining pause, he is not denuded of his convictions.  He musters himself, frustrated and feeling outflanked, and retorts with growing exasperation.

 "Not assumptions.  Deductions.  Not without some leaps, but with the best information available with a view to offering us a way to act other than to shrug and give up.  There is risk in my way, but risk managed against possible hopes.  If we all go for aid and return with it, we lose time that may be crucial in saving lives.  If we march on and strike these people off as lost, they are  certainly  doomed - and we may yet be assaulted again on the road, as I have postulated.  But if some of us do the night scouting here while others muster aid, we can move against the enemy as quickly as possible while securing enough force to accomplish our goal." 

He wheels to Bruno, picking up the man's stated concern.  "Not behind the lines - the rats  cannot  be operating out here in large numbers or over a long time, or else the local lords would already have made moves to secure their tolls and taxes.  They will not be waiting around behind trees in the hopes someone stumbles through the dark to them - perhaps a scout or two, and I have faith in our power and cunning to subdue such.  But no one is to go into the lair until we return with force.  This is the only way we can take that force to them as soon as we can, instead of wasting hours accomplishing work that might have been done before hand - and under cover of dark, where even a cunning night scout might only see so far, instead of daylight where such a scout might see thirty men marching easily and take those spare hours to muster a defence, or flee." 

And then to Jasmine, growing more frantic in tone and nearing desperation.   "Yes - yes, perhaps we were being watched.  But what is better - to risk a clash at night for the chance to attack and destroy the enemy later, or to carry on our way, cloaked in hope that the enemy will not try again - and that on such occasion, we will again have the fortune to spot the gunner, or that his weapon betrays him, instead of sawing in half those of us they now know can fight?  We take one risk to avoid another - and to gain the greatest chance to pluck the pilgrims from the jaws of doom." 

Finally, with that pause, he seems ready to address Wighard's earliest pre-emption.   "And if it  had  been Deanna or Siobhan, or  any of us , this would not even be a discussion we would be having.  We would take the steps to ensure the  maximum  chance to spare them these terrors, with the cold hope they had denied their captors their lives as a secondary consolation.  I am not asking for a doomed charge into the enemy heart without aid, or sight; just for us to do  everything  in our power to deliver these souls, in as much as is possible." 

Puffing, holding a hand over one of his spear wounds, his gaze then naturally drifts to Glod, and Gimgroth - the dwarves stoic for now, as is their way.  The Company of the Burning Slug has never decided a matter by vote; but the Bretonnian, wounded and frayed as he is, seems infatuated with the idea enough to break that record of harmonious democratic action.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Sorry for long posts, I know it's a bore sometimes.  That's just how I write.  Also, while I'm playing Bertelis as feeling betrayed and alienated, that's naturally all IC and I'm having a great time.  It's good to have a group solid enough you can RP internal conflict!
 
LarsWester
Gimgroth's head hung low as the members of the Order of the Burning Slug debated the next course of action.   Wisdom and common sense dictated that Wighard, Bruno, and Jasmine had the right of it.   That the order continue with escorting the pilgrims through Axe-Bite and then report the raid to the local human lords so that they can hire the appropriate mercenaries to deal with the Skaven threat.   Gimgroth himself served in many such mercenary tours in his years among the Tilean companies.  He had faced these accursed  Raki  or rat-folk as the  Umgi  referred to them and Gimgroth was more accustomed to calling them himself.   Through the years Gimgroth has lost numerous companions to the Skaven of Tilean.   None more impactful than his former companion, Gottfried.  Gottfried and Gimgroth shared many campaigns of service together.  Saving each other's lives on the battlefield countless times the two grew close enough that Gottfried confided in his supporting a daughter with his hard won coin.  Gimgroth's mind turned to Gottfried's laying in a pool of his own blood riddled by the Skaven warpstone bullets and Gimgroth's oath to look after Beatrix- Gottfried's young daughter.   The  raki  have taken too much from this dwarf already.

All this turned over in the dwarf's mind as he sat silent alternatively looking at the ground by his feet and the hills to which the Skaven retreated.  He shifted his weight, looked to the company, and simply said.
 I mean to go after the rat-bastards.  Gimgroth exhaled slowly and sorrowfully.   My book ain't got room for any more Skaven grudges.   I can't walk away from this one.   He takes his purse of coin and hands it to Wighard.     I won't be needing this where I'm going so hold on to it and most my weapons.  If I don't meet up with you again by the time you reach Couronne please see that the coin finds it's way to young girl named Beatrix at the Sell-Sword Inn in Miragliano.  Let her know that her father loved her dearly.   Make that fathers.  Gimgroth starts handing over his weapons until he has just his new hammer, shield and crossbow.    I'll try to leave an obvious path for the local lord's men to follow.  But I'm hunting rat.   Gimgroth states empathetically.
wilphe
Wighard looks at Gimgroth, knowing that there can be no argument,

  It shall be as you wish   he embraces his dwarven companion

  Kill some for me my friend  

He looks at Bertelis,   If you are intent upon this course you go now and take only the essentials as Grimgroth is. Adelard will be no good under ground and we don't want the Skaven getting hold of your treasure notes.

You know where we are going, if we succeed, we then Deanna will be at court. the pilgrims will be safe and we can come look for you.

If nobody else has anything to add, I want us out of here to get to the next stop  
farothel
 "Very well,"  Bruno said.  He didn't know the group all that long, but he did know that once a dwarf had decided on a course of action there was no budging them.
 "I'll stay with the pilgrims to protect them,"  he said,  "also I can't see in the dark and with this heavy armour I make a lot of noise, so they will hear me coming from far away." 
LarsWester
Gimgroth smiles as Wighard gives him a warm embrace.   I'll kill more than some.  Mind Siobhan.  nodding in the direction of the remaining pilgrims.   Get them to Couronne.  With any luck we'll be joining you again as soon as the local lords muster the forces required to purge the Skaven from the path. 

Gimgroth offers a firm handshake to Sir Bruno.  I will hunt with a clear head and heart knowing that you are with the Pilgrims and Wighard keeping Siobhan and the others safe Sir Bruno.   I won't ask that any of you accompany me on this as I highly doubt the chances of full success.  But if you like me see no other way to proceed without this foolhardy attempt than I would welcome the company on my path forward into the hills. 

As Wighard is ministering to Sir Bertelis's wounds, Gimgroth shares with the two of them.
 Last night I had a dream of yellow-eyes.   He seemed in control of my dream and offered me a chance at playing a game with him.   The rules being answers given to questions with fateful cards being drawn for mistruths or failures to answer.   It's my believe that this sorcerer has found the means to affect others dreams.   He seems bent on the destructive of the Order of the Burning Slug and those it holds dear.  
bramblefoot
those at lambords rest

you all make it to the keep of lord du moll in early evening. the doors to the great hall open as you walk in. the lord waits there. if he was roused, he seems unperturbed. the steward introduces you all, and the lord says  "how can i help you fine gentlemen"  a scribe sits at the foot of the throne, taking notes

gimme fellowship at +10

glod, gimgroth and bertelis: after a half-hour of searching, you find a passage concealed behind a gorse bush. It's a steep way down, and you'll probably be unable to get back up, unless you wish to do more looking. as it stands, this is the first passage you found, and there are plenty of gorse bushes.

wdyd?
Morovir
 "Your path is a worthy one, Gimgroth. I will walk it with you, and the blood of many  thaggoraki  will be spilt before our axes are sated." 

Glod knew that this was the right path for him. His wasted youth in the Empire had caused him many regrets, one of which was the fact that he had never served the customary stint in the ironbreakers that his family traditionally subscribed to. And most importantly, how could he look at his ancestors at the end of his life and tell them that he had voluntarily surrendered a chance to kill skaven when it was offered to him, and turned his back on a fellow  dawi  at the same time. He might as well shave his head and swear the Slayer's Oath at that point.
dojango
 
 Spoiler 
After the rat-hunters go in one direction and the pilgrims go in the other, Jasmine (who can see quite well in the dark) slips out behind Gimgroth and Bertelis with her loaded guns.  If they got lost they'd need someone to guide them, after all...

 (1d100)[ 10 ]  v. 64 Silent move to not be noticed
 
MrAbdiel
The meeting hadn’t gone the way he'd envisioned; but the outcome was close to the same, except with worse feeling.  His expression takes on confusion when Wighard yields immediately to Gimgroth’s determination and not his own - wondering why it is the dwarf’s honor is respected and not his own (a thought only possible because he cannot see his own signs of mental fray).  But it’s done now - his night eyes were no better than anyone else’s, but that hasn’t stopped him before.  He puts his extraneous gear on his horses, and gives the reins to Bruno…

 “Here - Adelhard has taken on a little limp to the left fore.  He hides it at a gallop, but  when we slow to rest he takes weight of it.  From the wound the north man have him.  I… hope to retire him when we get to Bordeleaux.  But he will serve you well in the interim.  You understand courts and lords as well or better than I; money will compel them, though tales of walking rats will close imperial ears.  But I have faith in your talent to compel, Baronet.” 

And then, in the company of Wighard after receiving the first infusion of healing magic from his arts, he takes a moment to find words.  The discomfort of the clash hasn’t faded, even if both men are equipped not to take it too personally.

 “I… appreciate it.   I know your position, on using your magic this way.  And especially for Deanna.  Having gotten that letter, and then negotiating with the knight, I don’t know what I would have…”.   He trails off there.  Then it’s time to part, and part they do.

It’s almost too easy to find this entrance.  Bertelis squints at it in wonder, and confers with his comrades.

 “No good - a way in, but no way out.  A rope too easily thwarted.  Perhaps there is another way - but ah, it grows dark.  Here - I can do little in the gloom.   Let me do what I can.  I will play the rube, walking in the dark with candle and wounds.  If there are rats, let them ambush me, thinking to take me prisoner - then you may fall on them instead.  If we take a prisoner, we might get information.  And if we have no takers… we may have to take our chances with this pit.” 
bramblefoot
bertelis: ten skavenslaves pour out of a small hole to your 12 o'clock

glod and gimgroth: can i get perception tests at -10?

jasmine, the same, but flat?
MrAbdiel
Bertelis startles back, lets out a somewhat staged bark of surprise; shield on his arm, candle gripped in his other hand... and a slim dagger held in an inverted grip in that same hand.  The candle won't survive long in the fight, he knows; the illusion of vulnerability was part of the ruse.  But he would just have to make use of its light while it lasted, and then hope his eyes adjusted quickly to the gloom once it inevitably whiffed out in the coming scramble for supremacy over this horde of snivelling wretches.

 
 Spoiler: OOC Actions! 
I may actually go first, with an 11 initiative.  Wouldn't that be a treat!  If I go before the slaves, or before they can reach Bertelis, he'll take a full defense stance, giving the slaves a -20% to hit him.  That'll counteract the +20 they'll get for outnumbering him three to one, leaving them hitting, I hope, on their crappy slave weapons skill. After that, I've got a parry and dodge to try; and with those there might be some kind of roll to see if this awkwardly held candle goes out.  Maybe 50/50, with each attempted defense?  Up to you.
 
wilphe
Wighard's eyes are slightly tear stained as his companions depart but he does not look back. The doves take flight in waves from rock to rock as the caravan advances.

It seems that the mood of the pilgrims has improved in mark contrast to Wighard whose countenance can best be described as grim but determined.

Deanna takes Rainier close to the wagon,  Msr, may I ask you a question 
  By all means milady  
 I understand you made a great sacrifice to save my life, why? 
  Because you are very dear to someone very dear to me, who had recently paid a greater price to bring you back and I have had enough of his blood on me during our travels together that I feel I am practically family  
 Yet you refused to follow him on his rescue mission but acceded instantly when the dwarf wanted to 
  I make it a habit of trying to talk my friends out of suicidal actions; one of them I might have been able to convince, but two of them? Not a chance.

Besides for Bertelis alone it would have been suicidal, with the four of them, some of whom have actually fought ratlings before and can see in the dark it is merely highly dangerous  
 Do you feel bad about leaving them? 
  Of course, but I have a greater duty, the more so now that the defenders of this pilgrimage are reduced to Bruno, myself and Siobhan. In any case I have not totally abandoned them, you are a perceptive young lady you might have noticed that I did have a raven once and now I don't  
wilphe
  So what is happening? 
 It seems they found a big hole in the ground and in contrast to how we would both expect did not instantly jump in 
 Wow, they might actually live 
 Well their next plan appears to have Bertelis blunder around with a candle like a night blind fool and draw out an ambush 
 Play to your strengths I suppose 
 You still want me to follow them in? 
 Of course, if you wouldn't mind 
 I would mind very much actually not least because I am a bird not a bat 
 But you are black and you can pop out of reality if you get in trouble 
 This had better be the best bowl of sausage and egg ever prepared by primate hands  
wilphe
Wighard returns his attention to the real world, his expression now looking slightly less grim

  Now may I ask you a question milady?  
 Mais oui 
  How do you feel? Both physically and emotionally?

You have suffered a near terminal injury and had a great quantity of magic flow through you. I cannot really deal with the psychological part but you may experience some magical side effects. Candles may be brighter around you, objects may move, this should fade with time

Further, you may find people treat you differently now  
 How? 
  It will go one of two ways: You will either be treated as a living symbol of Shallya's mercy  
 The other? 
  An unholy abomination snatched from the gates of Morr's garden by a sinister foreign sorcerer using terrible magics

We would of course both prefer the former, and the fact that I am on good terms with the Holy Family and we are on a pilgrimage to Shallya's principle shrine surrounded by devoted followers of the Maiden of Mercy who watched it happen means that that is probably what will happen.

But there will be the odd exception  
 I see 
  Also you need to change that dress at the earliest opportunity, not just because its covered in blood but also its likely to get treated as a holy relic and peasants will descend on you and try and cut pieces off it until there is nothing left. You don't want to be wearing it while that happens  
 And what happens to you? 
  I will probably attract a great deal of attention by people wanting to be healed, and that's not unwelcome given that fair Brettonia is not renowned for its friendly welcome to foreign spell-casters.  
wilphe
Wighard will let Bruno do the talking at Lambords Rest and, assuming Bruno consents - enhance his persuasiveness a bit. Otherwise he will present himself and Deanna, leave the latter in the care of the women of the place and excuse himself to attend to the pilgrims


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (3d10)[ 6 ][ 5 ][ 4 ](15)  -3+2 TN 18
The Power of Truth
Casting Number: 18
Casting Time: 1 full action and 1 half action
Ingredient: A blank sheet of vellum (+2)
Description: A character you touch becomes more convincing to others but only if he speaks honestly. If he abides by that restriction, the character gains a +30% bonus on Charm Tests and can affect double the normal number of people (such doubling should be done after the effects of the Public Speaking or Master Orator Talents are factored in). The influence of this spell is not obvious (the target doesn’t have a glowing aura or the accompaniment of unearthly music), so there is no easy way to gauge the honesty of the recipient. You can also cast the power of truth on yourself. This is a touch spell.
 
 +
wilphe
Wighard flinches and curses   **** NUGGETS  , fortunately they have not got inside yet

  I'm sorry.

I have tried

Too much magic

In one day

You will have to

Rely on your natural charm  
farothel
While part of the group was going to chase the Skaven, Bruno would have to be extra vigilant for the rest of the trip.  At least until they returned.  If they returned.  He felt a bit bad for not joining, but he thought it was a suicide mission.  And someone had to protect the pilgrims.  He would use Bertelis' horse as it was the best trained of the group and he was sure he would need it to protect the group.

During the trip to Lambords rest, he kept mostly to himself, trying to be everywhere while letting Wighard take care of the pilgrims.  He did push to move as quickly as possible so they would spend as little time as possible in the pass.

==== Lambords rest ====

 "Thank you for taking us in, mylord,"  Bruno said after bowing,  "my name is Baronet Bruno Von Richter and these are my companions." 
He introduced Wighard and Siobhan as part of the group, then mentioned Deanna (he had asked her for her titles to do a proper introduction).
 "We are here to protect a group of pilgrims on their way to the temple of Shallya,"  he continued,  "in the pass we were attacked by a number of Skaven who took some of the pilgrims.  We continued with the pilgrims, while Sir Bertelis of Bordeleaux, Gimroth, Glod and Jasmine, the other members of our group, are tracking the skaven and trying to rescue those taken.  We would like to request you send a group of soldiers to help and maybe some wagons as well.  Those rescued pilgrims are most likely in a very bad shape." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

fellowship:  (1d100)[ 100 ]  vs 67 (FEL 57, +10 from the GM).  If it's the charm skill, +10% and if etiquette applies, another +10%

EDIT: FP used,  22  in OOC topic
 
bramblefoot
lord du moll steeples his fingers.  "you present a compelling case. i shall send twenty men to assist"  he walks up to bruno, and whispers  "my price is an assortment of black-powder weapons and the ability to make powder and shot" 

he steps back and says  "do we have a deal?" 

the two who could hear that was wighard and bruno
farothel
Bruno had expected a lot, from a flat refusal to the full garrison moving out, but not this.  But he was nothing, if not adaptable.
 "Unfortunately I can't help you there, mylord,"  he said, also making sure no others except Wighard could hear,  "I have only one black powder weapon myself and the way to create such is a secret to me.  I do know they take quite a bit of training to use, and they can explode in your face if you're not careful, or if they are not maintained properly or are not correctly made.  That training can't be kept secret, it is my duty to warn you.  But I can use contacts I have to bring you into contact with people who build them.  You will need at least one such person to reside here permanently to keep making powder and bullets anyway.  And I can give basic training in the use of such weaponry, should you desire to continue on this course." 

Then he thought of something he had picked up from conversations with Bertelis.
 "Such contraptions, you might have seen during visits in the empire,"  he continued,  "are most effective when used en masse.  To use such effective, one will have to train peasants in their use, which I assume, when it inevitably comes out, will not endear you to your peers." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

let's play on a Brettonnian noble's vanity and his not wanting to give these weapons to peasants.
charm I guess:  (1d100)[ 9 ]  vs 77 (57 Fel, +10% mastery, +10% etiquette)
 
wilphe
Wighard nods sagely
bramblefoot
lord du moll waves a hand  "peasants? the very thought"  he sniffs.  "i merely seek to modernize my defenses as the empire does" 

he clears his throat saying  "it is late. best to sleep on it" 
wilphe
  As your Lordship wishes, the pilgrims have had a stressful day and I will endeavour to lighten their spirits with as best accommodation and food as can be found for so many  

Wighard would prefer to keep Deanna close by him - but that would require her to stay at the inn and he would rather be with the pilgrims and he doesn't want to broach the matter directly in case his lordship would treat that as an insult to his hospitality.

Also that gives a minor degree of profit to their host and a subtle reminder of how lucrative the pilgrim trade can be
wilphe
He will allow a little degree of bonhomie from warm food and fine wine to develop in Deanna before raising serious matters   If milady would oblige our curiosity, we were already intent on this pilgrimage when Bertelis received the letter from Lord Roche warning him to stay away and that you had been struck dumb.

I as you might imagine have a considerable professional interest in this matter.

Therefore, unpleasant though it may be, I must ask that you share with us what transpired between his lordship writing that letter and your reunion with your son
  
bramblefoot
the party at lambords rest: deanna recounts the tale of the trader coming to bordeleaux  "it was a warm and sunny dauy when the trader came to the fief."  she pauses and continues  "he gave out small trinkets, conducted business, and then left"  she shudders.  "a few days later, people started going mute. after that, the vermilion flue came and carved a swathe through the populace"   "my sons went out looking for help. none returned"  she continues resolutely  "then while i was riding, a red knight with fangs chased me until my horse spooked and i ran until the green knight found me" 

the party at the rathole

jasmine does not spot the two ratlings that rise up outta the gorse bushes 30 yards away with jezzails

glod and gimgroth do

three skavenslaves charge bertelis, shrieking in queekish. the others charge glod and gimgroth
bramblefoot
borked the roller

 (10d100)[ 31 ][ 34 ][ 71 ][ 64 ][ 98 ][ 33 ][ 53 ][ 40 ][ 14 ][ 66 ](504) 
 (1d10+4)[ 10 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 11 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 6 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 9 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 12 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 5 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 14 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 7 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 6 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 8 ] 

initiative for the jezzailers
 (1d10+3)[ 5 ] 

divide these as you wish
LarsWester
 Round 1 Gimgroth Initiative 10 Wounds 19/19 FP 2/2 
The dwarf smiled as four skaven slaves closed on him in the moonlit sky.    Come to die then Raki!  he laughed as he blocked or dodged the clumsy blows of the slaves.   He waited for them to expend their charge before launching his counterattack.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Full Action = Swift Attack
  WSvs77  - (1d100)[ 2 ]    Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 14 ] 
  WSvs77  - (1d100)[ 98 ]    Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 8 ] 
  WSvs77  - (1d100)[ 18 ]    Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 12 ] 
These attacks will be on the same slave until it goes down.
Next Rounds Defensive Rolls these are applied against the first two attacks regardless of damage.
  ParryVS82  - (1d100)[ 76 ]   against first successful attack
  DodgeVs52  - (1d100)[ 50 ]  against second successful attack
 
MrAbdiel
 Bertelis Round 1 Initiative 11 Wounds 15/15 FP 1/3 

Bertelis swipes hard at the attacking skaven with his shield and follows through with the dagger, driving back the offense and compromising their attacks.  With that, the candle winks out; and only silver-limmed sihuoettes are lunging at him in the darkness with shivs, and split stones, and rude killing weapons.  Here he was again - fighting for his life in the dark... But this time, he wasn't alone.  He keeps as quiet as he can to orient his place by the dwarven grunting and grumbling, staying loosely near his companions in as much as possible.  He could not win a fight in such circumstances; but he could contribute to a win.  So he lays about with shield bashes and warding blows, never committing to a strike, always striving to make himself harder to hit, to buy the night-eyed operators in his company to work their way through the enemy.

 
 Spoiler: Attack! 
Actually, no attack.  Bertelis spends his turn using full defense.  He'd rather be harder to hit than take a couple of lame swings at enemies he can barely see.  He's learned this lesson.
 
wilphe
  Interesting. Thank you. The whereabouts and origins of this trader are unknown I presume?

On another matter, I request that you share your room with Siobhan tonight.  
 Of course but why? 
  Well apart from to monitor magical aftermath we have already discussed, I will try and put it in lay terms:

You have been plucked from death once by the Green Knight and then again by me a fortnight after.

Under a school of thought called Reddickism you were "meant" to die the first time around and that the universe or destiny or however you want to think about it regards your continued existence as an error and is going to try to keep harming you until it just gets used to you still being here.

We don't need to go full Baldur or Sleeping Beauty and keep you away from anything and everything that might be dangerous, but please be very risk aware

Oh and I would like that pill I gave you back - like to avoid such accidents  
bramblefoot
deanna nods, handing back the pill  "lets hope destiny does not kill me then"  she titters nervously
farothel
 "Of course, mylord,"  Bruno said,  "and thank you for your hospitality." 

Bruno will stay at the castle.  He wants to move quickly, but he understands that gathering the men and supplies will take some time.  And after a forced march, he could use a good night sleep as well, although he's not sure how well he would sleep with the rest of the group facing the skaven.  Even though they had decided themselves to do it, he was still worried.
wilphe
 "lets hope destiny does not kill me then" 
  I hope so too, but ethics require I inform the patient of all possible consquences of their treatments.  

He takes a sip of wine

  Now milady, both Siobhan and myself speak your language and we have learned a bit of culture from Bertelis, pray tell us of the kingdom and more on how to behave and what to expect   
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
That's some IC justification for getting  Common Knowledge: Brettonia  next
 
bramblefoot
Bruno: you have a dream of ratfolk and knives. Tell me what you see and how it ends

Wighard: you have a vision of the man with yellow eyes writing a letter to some confidants in tilea. After he finishes he looks up and grins  “ah hierophant wighard, I look forward to our meeting. Tell the dwarf i have plans for his daughter” 
wilphe
  Was it hard learning to write with your left hand?

Maybe start on learning to grip a quill between your toes for when we next meet  
bramblefoot
 
 Originally Posted by wilphe 
   Was it hard learning to write with your left hand?

Maybe start on learning to grip a quill between your toes for when we next meet   
 

 "my dear hierophant, i think it is you who will be unprepared"  the man with yellow eyes gloats.  "but i digress. let us begin the trial by fire" 

the dream changes to an open field. you and the man with yellow eyes are standing in two circles of runes.  "the rules are simple. you cast until the other person is knocked out of their circle"  the man says, flexing his hand and tentacles

 "ready to begin?"  he grins
wilphe
  I'm not interested in your games   says Wighard, and walks out of the circle
bramblefoot
 "your loss, my friend"  the man with yellow eyes says as a deck of a cards materializes next to you.  "unfortunately for you, that's a draw off the deck"  a card flips up, showing a skeleton dancing a jig.  "the unquiet dead!"  the man with yellow eyes laughs hysterically.  "until next time, hierophant wighard"  the man says and vanishes
Morovir
Glod grunts in grim satisfaction as the skavenslaves charge towards him. Picking his target, he strikes a deadly blow with his axe.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Aim+Standard Attack at the closest skavenslave:  (1d100)[ 36 ]  TN 76 WS 56 +10 Rune +10 Aim
Damage:  (1d10+6)[ 14 ] 
Impact:  (1d10+6)[ 8 ] 
 
dojango
Jasmine hides in the brush behind a fallen tree and watches the deadly fight. She has one of her pistols out, and she aims at one of the ratmen fighting in the dark. But she holds her fire; the boys seem to be in their element and enjoying themselves, and after her poor shooting earlier she isn't willing to risk firing into melee just yet.
bramblefoot
with a thunderous bang, the warplock gunners open fire on bertelis, going for head shots. one nails the knight, the other whizzes by

 (2d100)[ 4 ][ 47 ](51) 
 (1d10+5)[ 12 ] 
 (1d10+5)[ 6 ] 

bertelis can i get a toughness test at -10 or one of your eyes will periodically glow lambent green?
MrAbdiel
 Bertelis Round 2 Initiative 11 Wounds 12/15 FP 1/3 

Bertelis's defensive sweeps keep the slaves at bay as planned; the dark silhuoettes of the capering rats forced back and the sound of the dwarves fighting, and winning nearby, more than a little reassuring.  Then the combat is lit up in a sudden yellow-green thunderclap; two more ratmen in the bushes releasing their deadly volley.  One green spike blitzes just over his shoulder faster than senses can track it.  The other is much more dangerous.

For Bertelis, the feeling is mostly one of confusion and disorientation, with some pain from what feels like a glancing blow.  For the dwarves and the hidden halfling to whisper, it looks much worse than it is.  The warpstone round actually penetrates the left eyehole of his helm, rakes along his temple and above his ear, slitting open coif and skullcap with killing velocity before punching  out  the back of the helm through the steel plate.  From the outside, there is a flash of green, the knight's head snaps back hard, and he topples over backwards; the dagger sailing out of his grip and landing nearby.  The slaves are on top of him at once, stabbing and biting and clawing.  But after a moment of disorientation, he surges back to his feet, mace in hand; laying about again with heavy blows to push his aggressors back... the warpstone residue left inside his helm glowing out the left eyeslit, and the exit hole behind it.

 
 Spoiler: For ze lady! 
Didn't actually fall prone; just fluffing the scene a bit.

Free action:  Drop dagger.
Half action: Draw mace.
Half action:  Swingbattabatta.  I could full defense, but c'mon.  Gotta swing sometimes.

 (1d100)[ 13 ] .  I guess it's vs41, for up to  (1d10+5)[ 7 ]  damage.
 
LarsWester
Gimgroth's battle fury is interupt by the firing of two skaven warplock gunners.  He stares in awe as one shot hits Sir Bertelis's helm amd knocks the knight to the ground.  The dwarf blocking the feeble attacks of the two slaves attacking him counterattacks.  After dispatching those foes he sprints to Bertelis's side.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Full Action = Swift Attacks
  WSvs77  - (1d100)[ 64 ]    Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 14 ] 
  WSvs77  - (1d100)[ 53 ]    Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 8 ] 
  WSvs77  - (1d100)[ 2 ]    Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 13 ] 
Spending a Fortune Point for an extra 1/2 action to move to join Sir Bertelis this would negate the outnumbering.bonus for the slaves.  And get him in position for another swift attack round next round.
 
dojango
Jasmine silently curses as she sees the gunners shooting in the distance.  She knows they're too far out to shoot with her pistol, so she silently crawls a long the ground to try and get them in range of the blunderbuss.  Also so that her friends aren't caught in it's blast.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 42 ]  v. 64 silent move to creep closer to the gunners and also so that the melee isn't caught in the blast.  Since the pistols have extremely short range, switching to the blunderbuss and I figure it will take two turns to get the gunners in range.
 
Morovir
Snarling in satisfaction as the skavenslave's head spirals away from its body, Glod turns to hack his axe into another of the  thaggoraki .

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Aim+Standard Attack:  (1d100)[ 23 ]  TN 76
Damage:  (1d10+6)[ 15 ] 
Impact:  (1d10+6)[ 7 ] 
 
farothel
Bruno found himself in a tunnel.  Some form of pale green rock provided some light, enough to see by.  Cautiously he moved on, going towards some sounds he could hear.  Soon he found himself in a large cavern where a number of ratlings were working in what looked like some sort of laboratory.  Vats of some green bubbling liquid were there, as well as small green stones that glowed.  When he looked closer, he noticed that the skaven working there were all carrying some form of disease.  Bruno wasn't sure what it was, but they didn't look all that good, although it didn't seem to affect their performance.

He was trying to figure out what they were doing, or at least take as many details in his mind as possible to ask Wighard, when a human was brought in.
"I have the items," the human said, putting a number of trinkets on one of the desks.  The skaven quickly took some of the liquid out of the vats and put the trinkets in it to soak.  Then they put the human on a slab and one of the skaven took a knife and started to make small cuts in the human's flesh.  Another one came with another concoction and started rubbing it into the wounds.

"You need to activate the trinkets," the leader of the skaven said to the human, "on their own they won't do anything, but when combined, it will create an interesting disease."
"And how do I do that," the human asked.
"Your blood is now an agent," the skaven said, "you will need to rub it over the trinkets and that will activate the disease that's dormant on them.  It will be a few days after you do so that people will start to get ill, so you should be away by then."
"Don't worry, I know what to do," the human said as he dressed himself again, "and I know just the annoying Bretonian lord who thinks himself better than everybody else and who thinks he doesn't need to pay his debts.  He will make a great first example."
"Good, but hurry," the skaven replied, "we want this disease to start when Morrslieb is full."

The human, now dressed as a Bretonian merchant, was guided out again.  From another location another skaven came in.
"Are you sure this will work," it asked.
"Yes, the human doesn't know much and is a follower of the plague lord, so he's doing this willingly."
"Very well, keep going."

Bruno awoke drenched in sweat, looking around in the room he had been given in the castle.  He definitely would have to talk to Wighard in the morning, which wasn't far off as far as he could tell.
bramblefoot
the party in the skaven battle

jasmine: as you crawl along, there is the sound of a snap, and a bear trap has closed on the front of your blunderbuss. It's gonna need a repair before its operational

glod and gimgroth: the skaven jezzailers fall back and disappear from view

the remaining skaven will doggedluy hold the line

 (4d100)[ 47 ][ 65 ][ 8 ][ 49 ](169) 
 (4d10)[ 7 ][ 2 ][ 7 ][ 2 ](18) 

that is one hit on bertelis for 10 wounds
MrAbdiel
Catching a vicious blow on the very middle of his shield, Bertelis is free to thrash back against the rat shapes in the gloom!

 
 Spoiler: Attack! 
Getting Swifty.

  vs41  - (1d100)[ 58 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 10 ] 

And

  vs41  - (1d100)[ 45 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 14 ] 


Edit: Whiff whiff, in the dark.
 
LarsWester
Gimgroth impressed that the near as blind night managed to catch the Skaven's strikes on his shield but his flailing about was bound to get someone hurt and not necessarily the slaves.   Gimgroth grunted and went about bashing in Skaven with his new warhammer already soaked in the foul creatures blood.  Gimgroth misses a skaven as it ducks under Bertelis's swings.   There's a load *thump* and a *crack* as Gimgroth's warhammer crushes a skaven slave's ribcage.  The dwarf pulls the warhammer back letting the creature hit the ground in a heap.   He swings to Sir Bertelis back where a skaven was rushing catching it on the skull and drive the hammer down splitting the skull in half like a pumpkin being hit by a sledgehammer.   Be thankful you didn't have to see that Sir Bertelis.  the battle crazed dwarf laughed.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Full Action = Swift Attacks
  WSvs77  - (1d100)[ 86 ]    Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 10 ]   Miss
  WSvs77  - (1d100)[ 8 ]    Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 13 ]  Hit and kill to the chest.
  WSvs77  - (1d100)[ 11 ]    Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 16 ]   Dwarven Fury to the head but only 1 extra point.
  Perception  - (1d100)[ 29 ]  to see the warplockers.  Skill is 48
 
dojango
Jasmine takes a moment to pry her blunderbuss loose from the trap and she examines the bent and mangled barrel.  If these Skaven were clever enough to trap the approach to them, they were too clever to let live.  She continued to creep through the woods towards where she had last seen them, hoping to pick up on their trail.
bramblefoot
wighard and bruno: lord du moll awaits in the grand hall.  "have you considered my proposal?"  he says, hands held together

bruno: do you tell wighard about your dream?

wighard: you awaken to a small brand of a skull on your inner arm.
farothel
Right after breakfast, before meeting with the lord of the castle, Bruno told Wighard about his dream.  For now just the short version as they had to discuss things with the lord, but he said he would tell more after.

 "Well mylord,"  Bruno said,  "my answer will have to be the same as last night.  While I'm fully supportive of your goals and as citizen of the Empire, support them, there is the small and very uunfortunate fact that I currently do not have in my possession the objects you seek, nor the means to create such.  I can of course use my extensive network to bring you into contact with people who can support your goals and objectives.  We are however currently on a quest against the foul forces or chaos, but when our quest has been successful, I will have to come back this way to go back home and I can discuss with you how we can further the aims you expressed here." 
wilphe
Wighard will tell the pilgrims to get ready to leave in a hurry...
bramblefoot
 
 Originally Posted by farothel 
 Right after breakfast, before meeting with the lord of the castle, Bruno told Wighard about his dream.  For now just the short version as they had to discuss things with the lord, but he said he would tell more after.

 "Well mylord,"  Bruno said,  "my answer will have to be the same as last night.  While I'm fully supportive of your goals and as citizen of the Empire, support them, there is the small and very uunfortunate fact that I currently do not have in my possession the objects you seek, nor the means to create such.  I can of course use my extensive network to bring you into contact with people who can support your goals and objectives.  We are however currently on a quest against the foul forces or chaos, but when our quest has been successful, I will have to come back this way to go back home and I can discuss with you how we can further the aims you expressed here."  
 

lord du moll sighs.  "put me in touch, and ill send my men back" he says  "sergeant nepveau, kindly get the men moving" 

a weaselly man gulps, salutes and rushes off
bramblefoot
meanwhile, back at the pass:

jasmine: the skaven have faded into the night like ghosts. the gorse covers tracks surprisingly well, and skaven are damn sneaky. you cannot find where they went. all of a sudden, your coshed over the head by a gutter runner and dragged off.

gimme toughness at -10 to stay at least semi-conscious. failure means your out like a log

 (1d100)[ 45 ] 

glod and gimgroth: the last of the slaves go down. the two jezzailers have disappeared out of night vision range. What's the plan

bertelis: what are you thinking, now that there are no skaven who speak reikspiel to interrogate?
MrAbdiel
Somewhere nearby, he can hear Glod hacking down another of the creatures.  But near to him, the skavenslave is so appalled at what Gimgroth has done to its friends that it startles and bolts.  This time, the wide swing of the mace catches it perfectly, caving in half its chest and leaving it wheezing on the ground - there to receive the stomping heel of mercy.  He wheels about for a few moments after; but once the dwarves have confirmed the gunners are nowhere to be found, he sinks to his knees, drops shield and mace, and pulls off his helmet with something approaching desperation ... taking a moment to trace a thumb across the gouged rim of the eyehole, and the exit hole at the back of it.

 "I need... just a moment.  Help me wash it-"   He begins, coughs, and spits blood.  With the helm removed and coif and skullcap withdrawn, the extend of the damage is clear; a half inch from death, a half inch from total escape.  The round has left a channel gouged against the side of his head that infact penetrates beneath the skin and out the back of his hair, running along the outside of the skull. But some part of the internal trauma must have nicked the channel between ear, and nose, and mouth.  Taking out a waterskin, he washes his mouth and spits; and offers it up to his allies to pour for a rough attempt and cleaning the wound.  With the washing comes barely perceptible particles of green dust; residue of the projectile now embedded in a tree far behind them, lost in the dark.   "I just need a moment.  I... cannot tell if this tunnel is like the other; too steep to plan escape.  If it is sloped, we might well try it."   Another coughing fit, a spit of water.   "That way it will be... harder for those gunners to stalk us.  If it is a straight drop, we are forced to search on.  Dawn approaches - when the others return with men, we need to know where we are going." 

He slouches on his knees a moment.  Not to put too fine of a point on it, he looks like crap.  He has split some stitches from the spear wounds to his body, and is bleeding through his chainmail.  Nearly headshot and rapidly wearying, for all his follies, the knight cannot be called uncommitted.

Then he hangs up his mace again, finds his dagger, strikes a new match, and lights up the candle once more.   "Alright.  I'm alright.  I am to the fore again.  No way to go, but forward." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC! 
Happy to give Gimgroth and Glod a chance to respect Bertelis's tenacity/pity his condition/quietly plan to kill him if the warpstone ends up poisoning him (though it'll turn out just to give him the bale-eye every now and then).  As far as going forward after this spot of RP, Bert is going to recommend going underground if the tunnel is accessible enough; but if it's a dead drop like the last one, they ought to keep searching for prisoners, or a better entrance.
 
wilphe
  Thank you milord  

Wighard leaves out of the room before he changes his mind and calls a quick meeting with Bruno and Siobhan before departure. Deanna is welcome to participate even if the concept might be a bit novel to her.

  If I have it right the next inn is Ludwig's Toes and after that Ludwig's Nose, unfortunately between them is what is known as Ludwig's run - often too great a distance to cover in one day except for a good mount or a fast walker.

We don't really have any of those, I suggest therefore that we set out before dawn tomorrow and see if we can hire a few extra guards  
LarsWester
Gimgroth silently pours the water from Bertelis skin flushing the eye and wound from the warpshot.  He has seen worse much worse during his fighting against the Skaven in the mercenary ranks of Tilea.   Bertelis was blessed by the Lady's own luck that the shot didn't do more damage than it did.  Still even a trace of the warpstone could cause mutations to sprout over time.  Gimgroth knew that diligence was needed to ensure that the knight remained in his right mind more than ever.   Can you still see out of the eye?  I'd like to mark each of these holes in some manner even if we don't go down the hole ourselves. 
Gimgroth takes off a glove, using a finger he wipes at the blood on Bertelis cheek and then writes  RATS  on a nearby rock with an arrow pointing in the direction of the hole.   Pardon Bertelis but let me take a look and see if there's anything I can do for you now.  After inspecting the wound Gimgroth grunts.   Wish Wighard was here.  Afraid there's not much I can do.  I'd advise wearing a clean piece of cloth over it lest it get even more infected.   After seeing to Bertelis Gimgroth gives a cursory glance at the hole nearby.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

  Heal  - (1d100)[ 33 ]  low chance heal check   Wounds  - (1d10)[ 10 ]   Dang that was close needed to beat 28.
  PerceptionOrSearch  - (1d100)[ 63 ]  to determine what the nearby hole looks like and if it is trapped.  That wasn't needed to beat a 48.
 
bramblefoot
bertelis, glod and gimgroth: the tunnel looks like it will hold. there doesn't look to be traps, but skaven are a sneaky bunch

jasmine: you are bopped over the head by a gutter runner and fall unconscious.

wighard and bruno: will someone gimme a flat gossip and a haggle roll to see if you can scrounge up guards

 (1d100)[ 66 ] 
farothel
 "Good idea,"  Bruno said,  "I'll have a look around for some people.  And we best tell the pilgrims that we want to get moving at first light.  That way we have the most time to make it through." 
He would look around for some people to help guard the pilgrims.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

gossip:  (1d100)[ 15 ]  vs 77 (mastery +20%)
haggle:  (1d100)[ 98 ]  vs 28 (I don't have the skill, so half Fel I guess) (85 in OOC for FP)
 
LarsWester
 The tunnel looks like we can get in and out as opposed to that first hole.   Bertelis it might be best if you stayed between us Dwarfs.   We can see in this light in the event your candle goes out.  
Having said so Gimgroth will lead going into the tunnel he will go about 10 yards and then wait for the others to catch up.  He has his shield and hammer out and at the ready.
MrAbdiel
He concedes to the suggestion, becoming the middle traveller of the group in preference to simply having his head pulled off if they encounter an enemy or trap.  Still... Bertelis loathes the tunnel experience.  The dwarves have to stoop, but he is forced onto all fours; his shield on his back bumping off the roof of the tunnel whenever he dares to try to stretch, his slingbag with a handful of adventuring supplies - rope, waterskin, matches, bow, and so on - dangling under his stomach; his candle trading sadly back and forth between one fist and the other - the barest comfort in this wretched place.  But the slaves had come from somewhere - they didn't pipe up from the core of the earth, and they weren't waiting in a shallow hole indefinitely.  This tunnel  had  to lead to some kind of staging chamber, whether it be dwarven in origin, or natural, or rat-dug.  It had to.

It  had  to.
bramblefoot
 
 Originally Posted by farothel 
  "Good idea,"  Bruno said,  "I'll have a look around for some people.  And we best tell the pilgrims that we want to get moving at first light.  That way we have the most time to make it through." 
He would look around for some people to help guard the pilgrims.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

gossip: [roll0] vs 77 (mastery +20%)
haggle: [roll1] vs 28 (I don't have the skill, so half Fel I guess) (85 in OOC for FP)
 
 
 

bruno, you find people for guard duty, the only problem is their rates. can either afford two of the good ones, or four of the less savory characters who may do a little  creative acquisition 
dojango
Jasmine goes out into the darkness, searching diligently for signs of the jezzails, while also making sure that she doesn't stumble over any more of the bear traps.  She's moving slowly, and she spots a suspicious-looking pile of leaves.  She carefully sneaks over and starts brushing off the leaves with a stick to expose the trap underneath... but after a few moments she realizes it's just a pile of leaves.  She sighs and thinks to herself, 'Well, that was a waste of time.  Reckon I should make sure the others don't get into trouble without me watchin' over them...'  The next thing she knows there's a flash of stars in her vision and she's face down in the mud.
farothel
Bruno will hold of for now and first discuss things with Wighard, as he doesn't want to take such a decision all on his own.
wilphe
  I would rather have two reliable people than 4 I cannot trust  
Morovir
Saying nothing, Glod moves up behind Gimgroth, his axe and shield at the ready.
bramblefoot
the dwarves and berty: the tunnel leads out to a small room with no one in it. broken chests and other things lie strewn across the floor, and an old slave lies against the wall. his mouth moves, but no sound comes out. four tunnels lie in the cardinal directions. the ceiling is low and rocky, with many stone outcroppings

everyone gimme perception or search to find something interesting in the mess of the room

jasmine: you wake up strapped down and with a gag in your mouth. a skaven with several skavenslaves moves to an area, muttering to itself  "yes-yes, begin the transfusion"  the skavenslaves pass the  skaven tools to work, including a length of tubing

bruno and wighard: the guards are paid for, costing 40 gc total. now its time to traverse ludwigs run

gimme a d100 roll
MrAbdiel
With a candle and a squint to aid him, Bertelis gives a cursory scan of the area.  But he takes heart in two things - one, the discarded items here prove to him, as far as he is concerned, that this is indeed a semi permanent base and staging area, not a straight shot to hell or wherever they come from… and that it is so semi permanent that they have slaves here they did not capture moments ago.  He hustled to the side of the old man, taking his water skin and offering the poor wretch a sip.

“Here now, old timer.  If the gods are good, you may yet see the sun again.  Which way do the rats most often come and go?  Do you know?”

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
  Vs31Perception  - (1d100)[ 35 ] , with -20 dark penalty applied.
 
bramblefoot
the old-timer points down the front-most tunnel. you would notice a patchwork of scars across his throat in the dim light of the candle. seems like he's a mute

everyone gimme silent move, and perception
LarsWester
Gimgroth nods at the older slave as he points in a direction.  The dwarf tossing the older man his waterskin offering a sip of water in exchange for the information.   As the man takes a drink the scars along the slave's throat are more apparent.  The poor wretch was tortured by his captors.  Gimgroth takes back his waterskin and looks down the pointed out path looking for any obvious signs of traps before moving as quietly as three heavily armored men can.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

  PerceptionVs48  - (1d100)[ 100 ] 
  SilentMoveVs16  - (1d100)[ 80 ] 
 
bramblefoot
the party in the rat-tunnels: there are no traps you can spot, but you do spot a blunderbuss with a twisted barrel halfway down the corridor. nothing else of note stands out here

gimgroth: wasnt that jasmine's blunderbuss? what is it doing down here?

bertelis: your our shot-caller. advance, retreat, go another way?

jasmine: the skavenslaves hook up the tubing to a drum of something, and the skaven comes over, giggling and jams a needle in your arm  "yes-yes, let the experiment commence"  he cackles.

glod. with your dwarven instincts, there may be secret doors here


the party approaching ludwigs run: why dont you all gimme perception at +10
wilphe
Wighard is at his usual position at the rear, but his wagon has more than the usual number of passengers as he cycles through giving the pilgrims a break



 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 (1D100)[ 67 ]  Perception 81 / 91 if visual
 
Morovir
Glod grimaces at the horror that has been wreaked upon the old man

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Perception in room:  (1d100)[ 54 ]  TN 54
Silent Move:  (1d100)[ 78 ]  TN 30?
Second Perception:  (1d100)[ 89 ]  TN 54
 
farothel
Bruno rides with a loaded pistol and in full armour, just to be ready for anything.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

perception:  (1d100)[ 43 ]  vs 79 (59 int, +10 mastery, +10 GM)
 
bramblefoot
glod: you find a battered sea compass. do you open it?

wighard and bruno: you see skaven watchers on the hills, well out of pistol range. they seem happy to watch and wait
wilphe
Wighard checks that Bruno has also seen them, then waves at them

He briefs the two mercs, Siobhan and Deanna - the latter have been instructed to stay between the two wagons - one driven by Siobhan with an unhappy looking Berthold on it - the other by him

  We must be quite the attraction. I think they must be bold or desperate to be out in daylight.

If they are going to do anything they will probably wait until later, when they will hope the column splits up as the fit race ahead and the slow fall behind

We of course want to make sure that does not happen, so we continue to pick up those who drop out or lag behind.  
farothel
 "Or they await reinforcements,"  Bruno said, looking at the skaven,  "hopefully not though.  Well, at the moment there is little we can do about it but move along.  At least we can use it to motivate the pilgrims to keep moving." 

He would make sure that they kept moving, insisting that they eat while moving to make sure they would make it before the end of the day.
wilphe
  Provided they don't end up too "motivated" and end up panicking  
LarsWester
Gimgroth notices the blunderbuss at the end of the hallway.   Odd thing isn't that.
  pointing to the firearm.  The Skaven use Warplock weapons not such a firearm as this. 
bramblefoot
wighard and bruno: it doesn't look like you'll make it all the way across ludwigs run. the sun is beginning to set, and the caravan is still a ways out from the next inn. whats the call here?

there is no sign of the ratfolk
MrAbdiel
Bertelis has no strong knowledge of firearms.  He might have passed it by assuming it to be more Skaven junk.  But when Gimgroth points it out, and he beholds it in the candlelight, he cannot help but frown as his blood freezes.  It's a weapon he has seen before.  Wighard had one; but that one had a trigger scaled for a modest human hand, not the smaller digit array of a halfling.

 "...Is this.. Jasmine's weapon?  It does not look fired - just damaged.  Has she come back to... find us?  Save us?  But she would not have forsaken a chance to fire her weapon..."
 
He gives a heartbroken look to the dwarves.  It wasn't that long ago she was almost lost to them by the opportunistic kidnapping by the heretics in Altdorf.  Here, he did not need to vocalise, it looked like a likely case was that the same had befallen her.  If they had found the weapon outside, he would have hoped she fled.  But down here, unfired?  She had either dropped it in her flight through the tunnels, or her captors dropped it while moving her.  Or else -...

No, the other possibilities were too terrible.

The alarm and upset crosses visibly over the knight's features, and he reaches to rest a hand loosely on his aching head, over the bandage Gimgroth so carefully applied.  To Bertelis, the idea that Jasmine was here made the situation that much worse.  The pilgrims were innocents, but they were not individually known to him.   He knew Jasmine, now.  She was rugged, and the little fold are not the most elegant; but she was in all regards that mattered still a  woman .  And the sacred covenant by which he lived his life compelled him, and demanded of him, to be prepared to offer life and limb in defence of women especially.  So long as he had reason to suspect she was here, any possibility to rationalize retreat vanished completely.  And the need to act quickly, even perhaps recklessly, lest she suffer by their delay was wildly increased.

 "...It would not be unlike her to follow us, and not tell us so.  Perhaps she drew off some other enemy that might have joined the fight outside; perhaps she found this hole before we did, and snuck in seeking us.  But if there is a chance she is here... we cannot know whether this weapon was dropped coming, or going this way.  She might be at the end of this hall - but she might also be back in either of the rooms we did not check, and we might leave her behind if we do not check them... and we might be too late, if she is this way." 

Untenable.  Their little force could slowly map the whole tunnel network room by room, but what would befall their friend taking such time?  And beyond that, sneaking and trying to ambush... was a game at which the rats were superior.  He closed his eyes, and wracked his brain.  What can be done, in such a moment?  What can be done, to best make good their chance of success?


 
 Originally Posted by Prince Hazem Al'Hadim, Arabyan General 
  "...And so, having too little force to launch attack such a foe successfully, I divided my men into three parties and attacked from different ways, instead."  
 

 "...We came to this place willing to die, yes?  Not planning, but willing?  Then here, let us die with as much cunning as we can." 
 "We will never out-sneak these rats.  We make too much noise in our armor; and we are not light and scurrying things.  We will not catch them but surprise.  And the sound of any battle we gain in here will alert others.  And, if we are most fortunate and our friends have secured reinforcements, they may be beginning their march to us  now , and still be five or six hours away.  These are our weaknesses."
 
 "But in strength, we are superior to them.    Our small band may fight two or four times as many of the rats.  And our courage is greater than theirs; this is also true.  Their long guns and long spears are all poor weapons for fighting in these tunnels.  So no matter what happens, this conflict will culminate in this way - the rats will find us, the sound of our meeting will draw all the guards left in these tunnels.  If I am right, they have mobilized most of their force to seek to attack the pilgrims again; we must trust Bruno and Wighard with that now.  But they may have enough here still to fight us, and perhaps encircle us, and kill us.  So here, let me propose this plan." 
 "Let me go on down this tunnel alone, while you both go back to the other chamber and split to search the other two ways.  This way we might find Jasmine and the other prisoners most quickly.  Whoever first encounters enemy force, we make a great racket of howling and shouting, as if put to flight.  And all of us, hearing this through the ring of the tunnels, will flee back to the main chamber where the old slave lay.  There, we will fight together what comes, falling back to the entrance tunnel as we need to so there is no enemy at our back.  This way, we will fight them together with all our might; and when it is over, whether we lie dead or stand victorious, none of us will need to confess to our gods that our friends, or those under our aegis, died because we too timidly hunted our enemy." 

He opens the sling bag, and takes the pouch of the smoke-spheres from within; offering one to each of the dwarves to help if they are the ones who encounters the enemy first.  He tucks one into his own palm, on his shield hand; then looks meaningfully to Glod and Gimgroth for their blessing on this risky plan.
farothel
Bruno went to Wighard.
 "What now,"  he asked softly,  "we're not going to make it before sundown.  I would prefer to move on.  Lots of torches or if you have a better way to light everything up, that.  But you know the pilgrims better than I do.  If there is a good defensive position, we might survive the night.  There's currently no skaven, but that doesn't mean they're not around.  Which reminds me, as far as I know, these skaven operate hidden.  Why do they now boldly show their faces?  All the pilgrims have seen them.  Something to think about as soon as we're out of this damn pass." 
wilphe
Wighard looks at the two mercenaries   How much further do you think?  I understand the inns at either end will open their gates to arrivals after dark. I would like to keep pushing on.  
bramblefoot
the party in the rat tunnels: gimme agility at -10 to avoid stepping in one of the myriad skaven traps set up for this eventuality

wighard and bruno: the mercs say  "maybe another half-mile to the next inn, but only if we push hard, and risk leaving the less able behind" 
farothel
Bruno dismounted from his horse.
 "We won't leave them behind,"  he said,  "but we can put the less able on the horses and in the cart and move on quickly." 
He pointed at one of the mercs.
 "You take point, me and your colleague will take the rear, Wighard and Siobhan stay in the middle.  Let's get moving." 

He looks at the pilgrims.
 "Half a mile and we're at an inn where we are safe.  A bit longer and we can rest in peace." 

He would leave it to Wighard to decide who are the less able.
wilphe
  Alright, let's try this.   Wighard hands a few glowing rocks out to the pilgrims, two for at the front and one in the middle and gives a quick triage to see who most urgently needs to be carried

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 54 ]  Command 56

 (1d100)[ 52 ]  Heal 81

 (2d10)[ 6 ][ 9 ](15)  -2+1 TN3 Glowing Light


 (2d10)[ 2 ][ 7 ](9)  -2+1 TN3 Glowing Light


 (2d10)[ 7 ][ 6 ](13)  -2+1 TN3 Glowing Light
 
Morovir
Pocketing the battered sea compass, Glod follows the others out of the chamber. However, as his pace quickens following the discovery of Jasmine's blunderbuss, he fails to spot a trap laid by the skaven directly in his path.
bramblefoot
glod: you step in a cleverly concealed bear trap. take 1d3 wounds unreducible and reduce your movement by one. you also spot a cleverly concealed switch in the wall

can i get a flat wp test to avoid screaming to wake the dead?

bertelis: you see glod step in the bear trap. what are you doing?

gimgroth: you narrowly avoid a snare trap. it appears that the skaven are canny enough to trap their warrens. tell me, have you ever encountered such things before, and if so where?

bruno and wighard: the wagons roll on, and the lighted stones glow bright. suddenly, there is a scream from the rear, followed by some queekish

wdyd?
wilphe
From the rear of the column or from behind the rear of the column?
bramblefoot
Behind the rear of the column
LarsWester
Gimgroth grunts in agreement with Bertelis's bold decision to split the three companions in three different directions.  He calls over his shoulder as he turns to leave  May you find glory and peace with the gods of your fathers   after three more steps he adds  if we don't make it out alive to toast our victory together.   the others may still cling to some hope that this was not the end of the story of their deeds but Gimgroth knew alone in a Skaven warren there chances were near to nothing.
As the he turned down his own passageway Gimgroth's nose crinkled.   The stench was unmistakable.   The mixture of filth with salt and iron was distinctive and memorable.   Gimgroth's mind returned to his campaigns against the Skaven in the companies of Tilea.     Specifically when he and some of the taller folk were hired to clear out a recently developed Skaven warren that pushed into some minor Lord's lands.  The peasantry were being kidnapped and its hard to tax those who have been warped by the Skaven or sell the fruits of their labor so reluctantly the lord put out a bounty on Skaven paying 10 silver per Skaven tail.   Gimgroth was able to purchase the fine axe now in Wighard's possession with the trophies from that company alone.   The dwarf laughed as he considered that no matter how efficiently his current hammer caved in Skaven chests and skulls it would be useless at collecting tails.   He remember with a chuckle the similar complaints of Esteban who had a mace on that Skaven slaughtering tour.   Poor Esteban complained of having to stoop and cut the tails off with dagger right up to the point that he stepped in a Skaven snare and broke his ankle.   He used his mace as a crutch to escape that warren with his life.  Gimgroth's mind returned to his current state just in time to stop his own foot from landing in a similar snare a few steps ahead.  Gimgroth whispered a quiet thanks to Esteban for his lesson as he continued down his pathway looking for signs of Skaven or Jasmine and keeping an ear out for the cries of one of his companions.
farothel
 "What now,"  Bruno said more to himself than anybody else, checking if all pilgrims are still there and then trying to see what's happening behind the group, pistol ready.
 "Move on,"  he told the pilgrims,  "try to get to the inn quickly, but stay together." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

perception:  (1d100)[ 62 ]  vs 69
 
wilphe
Wighard sighs, mostly to himself,  So many spells that could be useful that I have not yet mastered 

Then louder

  Keep moving  

He checks to either side to see if they are not being overtaken or flanked

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 53 ]  Perception 71 / 81 visual
 
bramblefoot
bruno and wighard: you see many small beady eyes staring out of the darkness. it looks like you're surrounded.

a voice comes out of the shadows  "we have you surrounded, yes-yes!"  the voice continues with a  "surrender, and die quickly" 

wdyd?

 (1d10+4)[ 12 ] 
wilphe
  Leave now. Or die die you will.  

He strips open his armour and begins grasping at the Hysh around him

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 56 ]  Channelling 77
 
bramblefoot
 "no-no, you surrender and die quickly"  the skaven lets out a piercing whistle, and two ratling gunners open up on the front wagon

 (2d100)[ 24 ][ 55 ](79)  both hit

 (1d10+5)[ 8 ] 
 (1d10+5)[ 9 ] 
Morovir
Cursing under his breath, Glod begins to rise to his feet, stopping as he spies something on the wall in front of him.

 "Look! A switch on the wall. Could this be what we are looking for - a way into the skavens' lair?" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Damage:  (1d3)[ 3 ] 
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (3d10)[ 8 ][ 5 ][ 9 ](22)  TN25

Let us see what happens
 
bramblefoot
the spell goes off and the skaven scatter, but siobhan clutches her head and collapses. berthold catches her, and lays her in the back of the wagon. "lets go, before they decide to come back"  he barks
wilphe
Wighard feels it all.


The fear coming off the pilgrims as they face death or capture for a second time

The grim resolve of Bruno and the others as they prepare to sell their lives dearly

The anticipation of the Skaven for more death and slaughter

The winds gather around him, powering him to a last desperate move to prevent their annihilation.

The crack of gunfire and the screams from Siobhan as they hit home

The winds just falling from his flailing grasp

The sure and certain knowledge that the best outcome now is for them to all die rather than face torture, slavery and experimentation


Then the stranger spurt of magic from Siobhan to empower his

Then the screams as the skaven leader - formerly so cocky and confident - is hit by the storm of Hysh and glows like the wick of a lantern

Then a brilliant flash, brighter than any sun and longer than any lightning as his body tears itself apart


After that he cannot see anything anymore.


He knows the skaven scatter as still glowing globs of their leader land all around

He knows a few of them, not yet dead but also blinded by the blast, run around randomly or lie twitching amongst the rocks

He knows even some of the pilgrims have lost their sight from the brilliant flash

He feels the wagon jerk forward as the panicked draft horse wants to go anywhere but stay here

He falls from the wagon to the trail, still glowing with Hysh and every hair on his body stiff and upright
MrAbdiel
Bertelis calls a hasty pause to their three-prong plan as Glod grunts in pain and signals to them. Between he and Gimgroth, they pry the trap off Glod's leg (full recovery, alas, will have to wait); but he stays by a moment longer as Glod throws the mysterious switch.  If it reveals a weapons cache or some scerric of information, it may prove useful or worth sabotage.  But if it's a way into the den that atleast  he  is convinced must exist, some kind of prison area where the pilgrims (and perhaps poor Jasmine) are held, then they might yet have a chance to put one over on the rats after all.
bramblefoot
the party in the rat-tunnels. the switch reveals a passage two abreast leading down. the sound of skaven voices are heard, and then cut off abruptly. looks like this is the way in.

jasmine, the concoction is started, and then you see the skaven all shut up and go for their weapons

wighard: you are picked up, and put in the back of the wagon. the wagons start rolling again. you hear siobhan say to you  "did you get them wighard?" 
 (2d10)[ 5 ][ 9 ](14) 

bruno: the skaven scatter, and the party continues along, making it to the inn in short order. what are you gonna do, and do you check on wighard and siobhan after your all settled?
LarsWester
As the secret door opens revealing a passageway and the sounds of Skaven chittering reaches Gimgroth's ears.  He turns giving a faint smile to Bertelis as he grips his hammer and shield.  Gimgroth starts rushing down the passageway keeping an eye out for traps as he pushes towards the sound of Skaven.   Surely a glorious death awaits below.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

  Initiative  - (1d10+3)[ 13 ]  figure you'll need this soon enough.
  Perception  - (1d100)[ 45 ]  vS 48 so a success barely
Gimgroth is leading the charge toward the Skaven.  Perception check is for any traps or clues about enemies ahead.
 
farothel
Bruno is ready to start shooting when suddenly the whole scene lights up as Wighard's spell goes off.  The skaven run off as Wighard drops off the wagon.
 "Take care of Siobhan,"  Bruno shouts to his valet, while he runs to Wighard.  He's not sure what to do, as he's not trained to give medical assistance.  That is the job of Siobhan and Wighard actually.

So he will just pick him up and bring him to one of the wagons, before getting everybody to move.  As they reach the inn, Bruno will make sure the pilgrims are settled in the common room and get food.  He will get a private room for Wighard and Siobhan so they could recover easier.  He will check up on them as soon as the pilgrims are settled.

 "How are you doing,"  he asks, as he's not sure what happened.  Well, magic happened, but like most people in the empire, Bruno's knowledge of such things is very limited.
wilphe
Wighard is a bit bruised after his fall but nothing serious.

 "did you get them wighard?" 
  Yes, yes, we got them  

His otherwise acute senses somewhat compensating for his lack of vision he is just about able to instruct Deanna to dress and bind Siobhan's arm.

Fortunately both balls hit her left, equally fortunately neither hit bone, one passing close to her armpit and the other halfway between elbow and wrist - both have ended up lodged in the cart rather than her.

  "How are doing,"  
  Considering everything that could have happened, not so bad.

Everyone is safe?

Did you find out what that scream was behind us? It did not sound like one of the ratfolk  
MrAbdiel
He gives a smile - sorrowful, valiant - back in exchange for Gimgroth's own, before he and Glod start off hoofing it down the ramp after Gimgroth.  He confides lowly to the Runemaster, as the partly hobbled dwarf and the barely sighted Bretonnian make their way in the wake of their hale and deadly friend.

 "I can see so little; and when the fight begins, I may be blind shortly after.  Leave me in the threshold to this tunnel, if it seems necessary; I will hold it against those who flee, and for us if we need to make a stand." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Once more into the breach.   (1d10+3)[ 10 ]  Initiative, and down we go!  For the record, I think Bertelis has the mangled blunderbus in his slingbag.
 
farothel
 "All the pilgrims are safe,"  Bruno explained,  "a few soiled pants and probably a nightmare or two I expect, but nothing more than that.  And no, I haven't checked what the scream was.  I assumed it was a ruse by the skaven.  I was more concerned with getting the pilgrims and ourselves to safety.  I could go and have a look tomorrow with the mercs while you guys take a day off to recover, as you gave us all a scare.  Does that always happens when you do flashy magic?" 
wilphe
Wighard stares in the general direction of the fireplace

   I need to think very carefully, because the whole ethos of my order is about restraint and not casting spells unless you have to and I have been casting a lot since we entered the pass.  

He swallows, and reaches for the goblet of watered wine on the table to drink deeply.

  On the other hand, its not like those problems could have been solved without magic.

This has been one long gauntlet.

I hope this is the end of it, I understand the route gets easier and safer once you get inside Bretonnia.

Ok, so maybe not the end of it but past the worst  

He seems to remember he was asked a question and drinks again before replying

  I could say mysterious obfuscating wizard sloblock like "magic is an art not a science" and "you can expect variable outcomes and that was within acceptable parameters".

But I have always been honest with you all when discussing such matters so I will not hide behind that.

I tried to grasp magic for a powerful spell, but it was not intended to be that powerful and in any case I failed to get a firm grip on enough magic.

Somehow Siobhan was able to supply the extra - that normally doesn't happen outside prepared rituals - and it ended up not entirely under my control and extremely powerful. Fortunately the overall effect was positive, but it could gone very wrong and was very scary.

Like, say, if someone has put an extra load of powder in your pistol without you knowing.

Remember when we were attacked on the river and I used the device from the mine and the Maga Ollyn showed up to ask WTF?

Well that spell, even if cast normally, has a similar resonance, so any caster nearby is going to notice. The default is 5 miles, I expect that will have been wider.

Don't be surprised if someone shows up asking questions.  

He goes to rub his eyes and then stops himself

  I don't know when or if my eyesight will come back, but I am glad to hear no one else has lasting effects

I need two things please, secondly I need a clean bandage for my eyes, please Deanna

Firstly I need you to go my bag please Bruno, in there you will find a bottle labelled   Belladonna.  

This will not mean anything to any of you unless you speak Tilean, but it means "beautiful lady".

Tileans use it to relax the pupils of the eye and make them look bigger, of course neither of you are worried about such things because you are entirely respectable and have no need of cosmetics.

Treat it with respect, it is extremely toxic.

I need you to deliver one drop only into each of my eyes and then apply the bandage

Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards because ingesting it by mouth is very dangerous.

In any case this will relax my eyes and enable them to heal.

Also it is hallucinogenic so don't be surprised or alarmed if I trip balls for the rest of the night   
bramblefoot
gimgroth: as you walk down into the belly of the beast, four clanrats boil up ahead and brandish shortspears and shields  "not a step further"  the lead clanrat barks, fingers calm on the spear haft

glod: there's gotta be some reason why the clanrat is so calm. normally four on three is a fair fight, and skaven prefer unfair fights

bertelis: the candle starts to flicker. you dont have much longer on this candle before its out of wax
MrAbdiel
Bertelis and Glod catch up to Gimgroth in the staredown with the rats, and the knight waits for Gimgroth's go ahead.  Then his candle starts to gutter, and he frowns at the stub of it, and the trail of wax congealing on the back of his glove.  He had a second candle - but it wouldn't be long now until he would be fighting blind.  Not even with moonlight, here in the deep caves - just with whatever flickering baselight the Skaven would have, if any, in the main chambers where seeing in color and for more than a few yards ahead was desirable.

 Please, Lady,  the Knight thought in silent petition,  let me be more boon than burden. 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Can't afford to stop to change candles with the enemy upon us, so I guess we're going dark in a round or two!  Let me know, Bramble.  Incidentally, night vision in WFRP2e requires a baseline of 'starlight' to work at all, and with that minor trickle of light allows you to see 30 yards.  I assume in these skaven tunnels there are... like, crappy warpdust lamps that provide next to no light, in which Skaven (and dwarves) can operate well enough.. .and in important rooms there might even be proper lanterns because.. well, having night vision doesn't mean you see  better  at night; just that it's possible.  Let us know if we go into somewhere that is totally dark (in which everyone, rats and all, will be blind) or properly illuminated (in which Bertelis and other humans will be free to operate)!
 
farothel
 "Well, I don't know much about magic, so I'll take your word for it,"  Bruno said, getting the analogy about the pistol,  "and don't worry, I'll try do stall people who show up until you're better.  And we have to stay here for a day.  It gives you a chance to get better and it gives the others a chance to catch up.  Now, wouldn't it be better if Siobhan do that stuff with the ... Belladonna.  I'm not really qualified for this." 
wilphe
Wighard nods slowly

  Yes the pilgrims need at least a day to recover - we pushed them hard and you did a good job keeping them together.

I asked you to treat me because there is an element of risk on both sides; I would not be comfortable asking either lady to take such responsibility - especially with Siobhan in the condition she is in  
Morovir
Glod does his best to stifle a laugh at the skaven's words.

 "You think you can stop us,  thaggoraki  scum?" 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis hisses to Glod, in the standoff.  “Why are they waiting?  Is there another trap?”
bramblefoot
the party in the rat-tunnels:  "we dont need to stop you, only delay you"  the lead rat hisses  "as of now, your dearest halfling is being tested upon, so it's your move"  the rat grins, showing rotted teeth

jasmine: you get an arm free. the skaven haven't noticed yet, but any time you delay, it's likely they will. What's the plan? you dont have your kit, as the skaven have been thorough to take your weapons and other kit

wighard: you get a vision and an offer of prophecy from the raven god in exchange for one of your eyes. do you accept it?

bruno: the peasants are glad to be alive. the two mercs, whose names are diaz and markofsen, greet  bruno warmly and ask you to join them for a drink

wdyd?
dojango
With one arm free, Jasmine quickly pulls the needle out of her other arm and then tries to jab it in the back of the Skaven 'doctor' while he's distracted and looking away at the commotion outside the room.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 17 ]  v. 36 WS + 10 (aim) + 30 (unaware) remove any of these bonuses as appropriate.  FP this one if needed  (1d100)[ 40 ] 
 
wilphe
 Gimgroth  Init 13 19/19 1/2  

Gimgroth gives a low growl, the sort you might expect to hear from a cat the size of a dragon.

Rage and Fury work on greenskins; but Skaven are too cunning and he has seen too many would be would-be Shieldbreakers charge rashly into a trap.

He marks out the distance between him and the Skaven, thinking how many steps he will need to take to be on them and slowly and deliberately shuffles forward keeping a good footing and wary of any traps between him and them

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d10)[ 4 ] +3 Init

 (1d100)[ 19 ]  Perception 48
 
farothel
 "Okay, I understand,"  Bruno said to Wighard.  He would search for the product and put one drop in each eye as per the doctor's instructions and put the bandage on.  Then he washed his hands and went back to the common room.  There he first told the pilgrims about the day of rest and then he went to sit with the mercenaries.  He asked them about the prevalence of skaven in the pass and then about the scream, asking their opinion about what it could have been.
Morovir
Looking past the skaven's smug face, Glod saw a faint trickle of dust from the tunnel ceiling above. Unlikely to be noticed by one who had not grown up underground, but he knew instinctively that something large was heading their way. And knowing skaven, that could only mean one thing.

 " Krut ,"  he cursed, raising his shield.  "Rat ogre!" 
bramblefoot
jasmine: the skaven doctor yelps, then begins to mutate into something large and uncontrolled. the skavenslaves as one rabbit out the tunnel like the hordes of hell are at their heels. might i suggest you unstrap yourself and follow their lead?

the party in the rat-tunnels: you hear a loud roar, followed by some sounds in queekish. you cannot tell where it is coming from, but the lead rat grins, like he's enjoying himself

bruno: the mercs are of the opinion that it was a skaven trick, but what is your opinion?
MrAbdiel
“Hell!  Get them now; before they are bolstered!”

Bertelis lurches forward and makes one wild stab with his dagger.  The blow extinguished is candle in the motion - but it’s the chance he has to do some damage, before he is plunged into the dark again.

 
 Spoiler 
Charge!   (1d100)[ 31 ]  vs 76 on the charge, for  (1d10)[ 3 ]  + 2 damage on hit.
 
dojango
Jasmine is not surprised by the speed of the transformation, having no basis with which to compare it to, but she does feel that she has dodged a bullet, despite that being considered impossible.  Even as this races through her mind, she quickly wriggles out of the remaining straps and follows the skavenslaves out the lab...

 
 Spoiler 
If possible she's going to charge and elbow-check one of the skavenslaves so it falls down, after all, you don't need to be the fastest, just as long as you're not the slowest...  WS test  (1d100)[ 55 ]  v. 46
 
wilphe
Wighard collapses into the bed, his body fatigued and his mind racing.

++++++++++

He returns to the body pit at Westvein. Stinking bloated faces look up at him.

  They are all safe  

A dark figure stands beside him

  Inside the garden?   Wighard continues to look at the pit

  Yes, no one can harm them now  

There is a long silence

  You agreed with Bertelis and Gimgroth to keep Siobhan in ignorance of The Lady's revelation of her importance  "because that sort of knowledge is not a gift". 

You also told her:

 "Knowing the truth, or even a truth, about yourself is a heavy burden" 
  

Wighard says nothing

  Still of that opinion?  
  There is some knowledge you may not want; some truths you might be better off without.

There are hundreds, maybe thousands like her across the Empire whose circumstances are such that they never discover their magical talent.

They live in ignorance, and if that is not bliss they at least have the potential to lead a normal mundane live  

One of the corpses morphs into the bloody and beaten face of  Isven 
  And if you had not fought Isven? Would you have lived a sedentary life and be happy?

If you had not met Master Maher and remained a healer? Without any of the stress and responsibility of being a Wizard?  
  If I had not fought Isven I would have to live with the knowledge that I could have tried to stop him and done nothing - I do not regret it  

He kicks dirt into the pit, covering the face

  As for Master Maher - I can do more good as I am. I do not regret it.  

Another figure comes into view on the other side of the pit, it is a slightly older Wighard with an eyepatch and Kwolf perched on his shoulder

  You have the responsibility to dispense truth; that gift is yours if you wish it.  

Wighard shakes his head

  Again, I can do more good as I am. Maybe in a decade or three  
  As you wish  

The figure and elder Wighard disperse and he feels a new presence, the Skaven leader he killed
wilphe
  Why have you imprisoned me here Manthing?  
  Not my intention, I merely wished to scare you all off or at most kill you  
  Funny Funny you are. Weak too. The strong should not apologise to the defeated  
  If I am weak then what are you?

I annihilated you and your followers will forget your name as soon as they have blamed you for their rout to their superiors   
  My name is Xueek Grimfinger  
  I may bother to remember that, I may not. Understand? For the moment be grateful that you still have some existence and may yet be able to pass through Morr's gates to find eternal rest

Now, tell me of yourself and tell me of your people  
farothel
 "I'm not sure,"  Bruno said as he called for another round of drinks,  "it sounded quite real, but I don't know the skaven as you do.  We don't have them running around in the Empire as open as they seem to do here.  I'm sure there are some, you find rats everywhere, but they keep a lower profile as far as I know.  Maybe we can take the horses and have a look tomorrow, when it's light.  It's not that far from the inn, so with horses we should be able to get there and back again quickly.  If only to give a good account of what happened at the next castle." 
bramblefoot
bertelis: the skaven takes a minor scratch, but brings his shortspear towards bertelis' gut

 (1d100)[ 100 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 4 ] 

glod and gimgroth: the three remaining skaven square off with the dwarves, taking the time to form a half-circle, spears and shields forming a murderous defensive wall

jasmine: the skaven blocks the trip attack and runs like the hordes of hell are after him, which they are. the ratstrosity turns laboriously, spots you and gives pursuit on all fours.

wighard: you gain common knowledge (skaven) from the xueek's unhappy tutelage. also, kwolf reports that sergeant nepveau and his men are reaching the place where bertelis and company entered

bruno:  "your prolly right"  the mercs say
Morovir
Throwing himself into combat, Glod hurled himself at the nearest clanrat.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Initiative:  (1d10+3)[ 5 ] 
Charge (Full Action):  (1d100)[ 41 ]  TN 76
Damage:  (1d10+6)[ 15 ] 
Impact:  (1d10+6)[ 14 ] 
 
LarsWester
Gimgroth laughs at the thought of three Skaven challenging two dwarven veterans of the axe and hammer.   His confidence is soon rewarded when Glod's axe carves a Skaven in half.    Time to get to work eh?  Time to die!   Gimgroth becomes an instrument of death as he sets about with his rune carved hammer.   Sweeping the skaven's left leg he brings the creature to the ground before crushing it's shield arm to pulp.
 
 Spoiler: Rolls 

Full Action - Swift Attacks
  WSvs77  - (1d100)[ 59 ]  for   Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 9 ] 
  WSvs77  - (1d100)[ 79 ]  for   Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 13 ] 
  WSvs77  - (1d100)[ 73 ]  for   Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 12 ] 
 
dojango
Jasmine tries to bring the fleeing rat down, but it evades and keeps running.  Jasmine keeps following after the fleeing rats, trying to stay ahead of the chasing monster.
farothel
Bruno asks the innkeeper about guards during the night, as he'd rather not be surprised by any rats in his room if he can help it.  He's quite sure the innkeeper already knows about the attack further in the pass from the pilgrims and/or the mercenaries.  And before going to bed, he will check up on Wighard and Siobhan to make sure they were doing okay.
bramblefoot
gimgroth: as you cut down the clanrat, you hear stomping emanating from behind the clanrats

glod: the skaven parries your attack narrowly, and reciprocates with a stab

 (1d100)[ 13 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 5 ] 

jasmine. you see the skavenslaves disappear around a bend in the tunnel. the ratstrosity is hard on your heels and you can feel its hot breath on your neck.

bruno: the innkeep has several burly lads for 5 gc a night that he's willing to station outside your door
MrAbdiel
For Glod and Gimgroth, the brawl is a glorious reiteration of dwarven power in the deep places; a song of hammer and axe and bone that reduces two of the clanrats to pulp and leaves them crowding on one.

For Bertelis, it's a nervewracking blindfight; man against shadow as he squints against his barely visible opponent and hides behind his shield.  It takes much of his will not to shout in frustration or self-encouragement, trying to track the rat's shuffles and snivelling with his ears; but he manages to catch the speartip hard on his shield to the point where the weapon sticks.  Exhilarated by the possibility of having his enemy where he needs him, he lashes wildly with his dagger trying to make the moment count.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
The skaven's handweapon lodging in the shield is just my spin on what his 100 to hit meant.  Do with it what you will, Bramble!

Swift attack!

  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 73 ] , for  (1d10+2)[ 8 ]  damage. (-20 to hit because of darkness.  Big miss.)

And again   Vs61  - (1d100)[ 36 ] , for  (1d10+2)[ 3 ]  damage. (-20 to hit because of darkness. Hit, very little damage, but might still cost him a defence.)

Rat defences apply as normal, unless his 100 to hit early stuff him.
 
wilphe
 
 Originally Posted by farothel 
  And before going to bed, he will check up on Wighard and Siobhan to make sure they were doing okay. 
 

Wighard is out cold but giving the occasional twitch that indicates he is dreaming.

Siobhan is pale but otherwise ok and sleeping soundly

Deanna is sitting up for the moment and keeping an eye on them,  I was told you were born a peasant and became a noble. How does that work? 
bramblefoot
berty: the clanrat goes for your wrist, it's free paw scrabbling for the dagger in your grip.

 (1d100)[ 18 ]  success

if successful, the clanrat will attempt to disarm you
dojango
With the thing bearing down on her, Jasmine tries her best to speed up and keeps running for safety; or at least somewhere that isn't here.  The skavenslaves probably have some bolt-hole they're heading for, so she follows them.
LarsWester
 Glod help the blind metal-man.  I've got this one.   Gimgroth grunts as he unleashes decades of grudges against the Skaven on a single clanrat.  Gimgroth's blows caught the clanrat in chest caving in his left lung.  The next blow cracked the things left femur and the final blow flattened the ribcage of the poor beast.   Took out these weakling just in time.  Something bigger is coming!   Gimgroth steadied himself to meet the challenge of whatever was responsible for those echoing stomps he heard.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Full Action = Swift Attacks
  WSvs87  - (1d100)[ 87 ]  for   Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 13 ] 
  WSvs87  - (1d100)[ 39 ]  for   Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 14 ] 
  WSvs87  - (1d100)[ 65 ]  for   Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 15 ] 
  ParryVs82  - (1d100)[ 73 ]  against first successful attack.
  Dodgevs52  - (1d100)[ 7 ]  against second successful attack.
 
farothel
 
 Originally Posted by wilphe 
 Deanna is sitting up for the moment and keeping an eye on them,  I was told you were born a peasant and became a noble. How does that work?  
 

 "I was adopted in the family because of services rendered,"  Bruno said softly, not wanting to wake the others,  "and that made me the heir when my adopted father died.  But the title isn't all that impressive I must confess.  It's one of the lowest in the empire actually.  Don't you have something like that in Bretonnia?  If for instance a soldier does something very heroic on the battlefield, can't the king give him a title?  Or your ... Lady of the Lake, wasn't it?" 
wilphe
 Only a few peasants have ever been so blessed.

Though the Lady or the King can elevate whoever they want - but they do not.

But to be a noble you must be descended from the nobility for 5 generations on both sides.

So the children of such former-peasants will be born peasants and the line will die out. 

She talks softly

 If nobles wish to adopt, they adopt from another noble family.

That might be almost as rare.

It disrupts the plans of their other relatives who would otherwise inherit.

The epic of Ymbert de Bar tells the story of a younger son adopted into another family, and the attempts of his relatives to do away with him, and after shifts in alliances he must defend his new family against his birth brothers. 
bramblefoot
gimgroth: you drop the clanrat with a crunch of ribs. he goes down, howling in queekish

bertelis: the skaven will take a disengage action and flee for his life

all of you see a rat-ogre stomping down the corridor. you hear the crack of the whip from behind the rat-ogre, and a barked order in queekish. the rat-ogre growls, and charges bertelis

 (1d100)[ 92 ]  miss

 (1d10+6)[ 10 ] 
 (1d10+6)[ 16 ] 

fyi: parries against the rat-ogre take a -30
MrAbdiel
Bertelis wrestles with his enemy, only to have the dagger wrenched from his hands - and for a terrible moment he fears he will be killed by his own blade in the dark.  But then a dwarven shape is there, it's axe glimmering with runes as they carve through the last clanrat, sending the dagger clattering to the ground.

 "Many thanks, Master Smith.  Do you see where my steel went?" 

Then came the bestial roar, and the earth shaking thump of steps.  Glod's response, naturally, was not about the dropped dagger.

 "Down!" 

Bertelis ducks low, instinctively; but it's not a new blade that whistles over his head, but the battering ram force of a rat ogre's fist.  He staggers back, battered by its matted furry chest as the titanic, slavering beast comes at him in the gloom.

 Oh Lady, to fight such a thing on the surface; with the sun on my back, and a lance in my hand, and a horse beneath me; oh, I would give you such valor there.  Oh, I would be the knight you desire me to be, at such a time - and not such a blinded, frightened wretch as this! 

He is at the mercy of his friends, now.  He cannot see the slave driver beyond; he can barely make out the monster before him.  All the currency he has is blood and bone; and he wrestles desperately with his straining heart to prepare to offer them up.  He fumbles for the mace at his hip, plucks it free from its hook, and swings at the dark.

 
 Spoiler: Bertelis Swings in the dark, Round 3: 
  Vs41  - (1d100)[ 3 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 10 ] .  Including -20 for darkness.
 


Glod, commited now to this dive into the dark and well into the forge rhythm of his blows, bellows back at the rat-ogre, and strikes!

 
 Spoiler: Kneel before Glod! Round 3: 
  Vs71  - (1d100)[ 2 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 14 ]  or  (1d10+5)[ 15 ] .  (Including +5 from masterwork, +10 from outnumbering 2:1).
 
bramblefoot
the rat-ogre roars in annoyance and will attempt to swat both glod and bertelis into the walls like flies

 (2d100)[ 83 ][ 24 ](107) 
 (1d10+6)[ 10 ] 
 (1d10+6)[ 10 ] 
 (1d10+6)[ 16 ] 
 (1d10+6)[ 11 ] 

jasmine: you come to a crossroads in the tunnels: one leads up, the other three have no changes that you can reckon

what'll it be?
dojango
Without even thinking about it, Jasmine instinctively heads towards the tunnel leading up towards fresh air, freedom, and the open skies.
farothel
 
 Originally Posted by wilphe 
  
The epic of Ymbert de Bar tells the story of a younger son adopted into another family, and the attempts of his relatives to do away with him, and after shifts in alliances he must defend his new family against his birth brothers.  
 

 "Well, it had to be approved by the local elector count,"  Bruno said, not saying that these things were mostly routine and not done by the elector him- or herself but by underlings who could be brib... persuaded,  "and this is only done on the lower levels of the nobility.  I've not heard of it being done above the rank of baron actually." 
LarsWester
With his lesser foes slain before his wrath Gimgroth smiles as a true foe emerges and crashes into the three adventurers.  Finally a worthy opponent a Rat Ogre.  A death worth singing about for sure.  His ancestors were looking up at him from the roots of the mountains.  Gimgroth a surface dwarf fighting the enemy below the earth as all honorable dwarfs must find themselves doing again and again.   Gimgroth launches a series of hammer blows at the giant monstrosity.   There was a hope for the three of them if they could bring the creature down quickly.   Knowing that time was of the essence Gimgroth called upon the power of his temporary rune of might.   His hammer glowed with the power of the grudges of the Dawi.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

These attacks occur on Initiative 13 so before the Rat Ogre's smashing of Sir Bertelis.
Full Action= Swift Attacks  Temp Rune of Might activated for double SB to damage for 1 minute.
  WSvs77  - (1d100)[ 49 ]    Damage  - (1d10+12)[ 19 ] 
  WSvs77  - (1d100)[ 44 ]    Damage  - (1d10+12)[ 17 ] 
  WSvs77  - (1d100)[ 43 ]    Damage  - (1d10+12)[ 14 ] 
 
MrAbdiel
As Gimgroth and Glod tear into the monster, Bertelis keeps low with his shield up.  He can barely see the action - but he knows the sound of dwarves having grim  fun  now; and he dares to hope the battle is turning in their favor.  But when Gimgroth delivers his mortal series of blows upon the beast, Bertelis is loathe to not contribute, and swings in with his mace as well - only for the Rat ogre's smasming fist to slam into his opened guard.

The sound of ribs cracking is like a heelstomp on dry tinder.  He stumbles back to the wall nearest him, vomiting an involuntary gout of blood, the stitches on his front ripped open again.  Then he just leans there; exhausted, near to helpless, wheezing thin breathes in and out through compacted lungs.

Inside his head, it is all he can do to restrain the monstrous terror that is clawing its way up his throat. He wants to scream and run.  He does not want to die here, like this.

But he stands, and he bleeds quietly; and later he will reflect in his quiet moments that it might have been the bravest he has ever been.

 
 Spoiler: Oof! 
Bertelis is clonked for 10 wounds, taking him to 2/15.  But he passed his fear check for Fear of Death!  So that's good!  He's going to take a breather, and not run off after the slavedriver though.
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: the ratstrosity pounds after you as you run up the tunnel. can i get a toughness test to not gain a level of fatigue?

you come out into the early morning dawn to see a small contingent of brettonian soldiers. they dont look like the best or brghtest, and they shrink at the ratstrosity coming up the corridor after you

the party in the rat-tunnels: the rat ogre sways, but manages to stay upright for a final blow, swatting bertelis into the wall, and then falling down towards the two dwarves. gimme flat agility tests to not be buried under it

berty: through swimming vision, you see a shadow moving towards you, holding a dagger

wdyd?

bruno: are you gonna ride out to the site of the ambush and see what you can glean?

wighard: as you rise, you can see light through the bandages. it looks like your vision is returning
MrAbdiel
Bertelis can barely breath as the shadow closes, dagger in hand.  But all the piss and vinegar has been knocked out of him, at this point.  With a monumental effort, he brings up his shield, and braces to defend himself once again.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
That's a full defence.  -20%WS to attacks against me this turn!
 
LarsWester
Gimgroth distracted by the deadly blow the rat ogre lands on Bertelis before it realizes it is dead fails to move fast enough to avoid being pinned by the ugly thing's corpse.
Gimgroth struggles underneath the dead weight.
MrAbdiel
Glod launches himself into an instinctive shoulder-roll away from the collapsing beast, skidding back to his feet.  He winces to see Gimgroth, after such a mighty performance, pinned by the verminous bulk of his prey (something the poor mercenary had suffered twice before already), but he cannot stop to help him escape while another 'Raki lurks, waiting for his inattention!

 "Oi!  Get out here, wazzok!" 

Glod charges down the corridor where the whip cracked, for about ten yards; but if the slave driver doesn't seem to have stuck around, he cannot much pursue.  His leg bleeds still from the trap; and on the best of days, dwarves are not pursuit predators.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Glod's going to move towards where the rat ogre came from, and where he expects the slave driver to be; but he won't follow much, because he's at move rating 2 right now!

Back around to.. either Gimgroth, or alternatively the knife-shadow.
 
wilphe
Wighard doesn't stir until about noon, he is back to being able to sort of see but his vision is still blurry and where he can he retains the bandage to avoid over-stressing his recovering eyes.

Deanna and Siobhan are both up before him, though Siobhan is mostly sitting quietly with her left arm in a sling

He will seek out Bruno and check on the pilgrims as he goes
dojango
Jasmine spots the soldiers and waves and shouts, "Shoot it!  Shoot it!  With guns!  Until it stops moving!"  It's been a long day and night and she's almost ready to throw up, with a stitch in her side, but she pushes onward as best she can.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 81 ]  v. 32
 
bramblefoot
berty: the shadow will go for a stab downward, holding nothing back

all out attack on berty: miss ☹️
 (1d100)[ 64 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 13 ] 

jasmine, the brettonian soldiers carry pikes, not arquebuses. nevertheless, they form square and prepare to kill the ratstrosity or die trying. the ratstrosity decides discretion is the better part of valor and goes back into the tunnel

gimgroth: after about thirty seconds of cursing and groaning, you push out from under the rat-ogre. your arms and head are free, but you see a ratfolk bringing a dagger down on bertelis

glod: the whipmaster is long gone. by your darkvision, there should be another hidden switch around these parts. gonna look for it?
dojango
Jasmine is almost to the soldiers by the time she realizes the beast hasn't followed to throw itself on the pikes, so she slows to a stop and starts gasping for breath. " Whoosh. Glad ya guys got here. Didja leave the musketeers behind? Pike and shot, pike and shot. Like leavin' home with a floppy hat but no pantaloons. Ah, it's great to see you guys anyways. Grab yer daggers, we got some tunnel-work ahead of us. C'mon, let's go. Hey, anyone got a sword I can borrow? Dropped mine somewhere back there..." 
 
 Spoiler 
 Hopefully they speak Reikspiel, otherwise I will have to talk louder and slower.
 
farothel
At dawn, Bruno will go and have a look at the site of the ambush together with the mercenaries.  He will take a horse (and the mercs as well) and be very careful and move slowly (if they stay in the inn that day, they have the time).  Carefully he will try to find out what happened last night.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

perception:  (1d100)[ 7 ]  vs 69
 
bramblefoot
bruno: when you come to the battle site, you find nothing  for a pouch containing a ceramic pair of horse figurines, one pure white and the other dark as night. there are a few greasy stains on the path, but other than that, it looks swept bare

wighard: a woman with uncovered hair enters the inn and walks over to you.  "i am damsel elisia"  she says, sitting down and looking you over.  "we detected a burst of magic, and i was sent to investigate."  she locks eyes with you  "care to explain?" 

bertelis: the shadows dagger scrapes off the shield, and it lets out a screech in queekish.

jasmine: the leader, a man with a slightly more impressive hat nods.  "where is the rest of the party?"  he asks in accented reikspiel. he barks a command in breton, and the men sling pikes and pull daggers. the man, who introduces himself as sergeant gavarron, passes you a short blade from his boot  "we'll lead, just stay with us, and we'll get home safe" 

gimgroth: try as you might you cannot get the crossbow free. thankfully the rat's dagger scrapes off the shield
MrAbdiel
Bertelis, groggy with pain and injury, pushes back with his shield but braces it again!

 
 Spoiler: OOC Actions! 
Bertelis is taking the Defensive Stance again - -20% to Lurky McStabStab's WS to put the knife in!
 


Glod, unable to see the whip-rat, considers there is likely to be another secret door here - but the Queekish chittering behind makes him pivot and, puffing, charge back the other way, at this last remaining, revealed foe!

 
 Spoiler: OOC Actions! 
Well, Glod spend last turn loping off woundedly a few yards down the corridor.  Now, with a rat attacking his two compromised comrades, he can hardly stand by - he charges Lurky!

[ROLL=vs71]1d100[ROLL] for  (1d10+5)[ 6 ] or  (1d10+5)[ 9 ] !  If he wastes the Rat, he'll help Gimgroth free himself after, since that'll be the end of the brawl in the tunnel for the mo'.
 
wilphe
Wighard is checking over one of the pilgrims as she approaches, even if he had the blindfold on and his ears plugged he would know she was approaching from the aura of awe and fear she inspires.

He deliberately finishes with his examination because he is a good doctor but doesn't prolong it so as to be deliberately impolite.   I will be with you shortly milady  

He then stands, and addresses one of the passing inn staff,   Whatever her ladyship wants   before washing his hands and drying them thoroughly.

 she locks eyes with you "care to explain?" 

Not interested in a staring match he clicks heels and bows, kissing her hand if he can get at it. He will prefer to talk in Classical if they can, Magick if not, Bretonnian if he must - mostly to keep their business opaque to prying ears, partially because he has never met a Grail Damsel before and wants to test out what she knows and also because he is conscious that his Bretonnian is not that fluent or properly accented and they have a reputation for being snooty about that sort of thing

  Salve domina, sum Wighard Rauschenberg.

Medicus et chirurgus of his Imperial Majesty's army

Our pilgrimage was surrounded by skevbestias, my only option was to scare them off with powerful magic.

That magic turned out to be rather more powerful than I intended,   he taps his bandage, still wrapped around his forehead   And I am still recovering, however we are all alive  

He looks at her

  You have many such bestias in the pass?  
farothel
Bruno picked up the pouch to have a look at it later (and have Wighard check it for magic).  With a last look around, he and the mercenaries headed back to the inn.  With the help of his valet he got out of his plate armour and he would only wear his leathers and mail shirt while inside the inn.  He would wander around, checking things out until Wighard would come down.  He would let Wighard and the damsel talk, keeping an eye out but not interfering with their conversation.  Most likely he wouldn't understand much of it anyway.
dojango
Jasmine takes the blade and sticks it in her belt and gestures down towards the hole she had just emerged from.  " Down there, keep headin' down.  Wish I'd thought to mark the passage as I was runnin' from the beast, but I reckon we can follow its trail pretty quick-like.  Just watch out for the traps, filthy rat-bastards seem to love droppin' them all over without regard to worker safety.  But let's head on down. "  She keeps breathing heavily.  "Anyone brought some food along?  I'm gettin' kind of hungry, just have a little snack as we walk."
bramblefoot
wighard: the damsel accepts your story. she engages in small talk for a while, then shifts the topic to sir bertelis.  "have you seen him lately? i heard you and he traveled together" 

bertelis and glod: the rat goes down with the axe in his back. its deathly quiet, almost too quiet

gimgroth: you get out from under the rat-ogre. nothing moves in the tunnel. What's the plan?

bruno: gimme perception at -10 pls

jasmine: sergeant gavarron passes you some rations and water while the guard walk into the tunnels. The ratstrosities tracks are easy to follow, but the tracks lead down and down and down, and the air gets warmer and warmer.

wdyd?
LarsWester
Crawling out from underneath the rat ogre Gimgroth looks around him.   Seeing no immediate threats he rejoins Glod and Bertelis.   Do we push further we have uncovered no signs of Jasmine?   Gimgroth's hammer stops glowing as the temporary rune of might runs its course.   Might not have been the right time to use that rune but that thing was big and ugly.   Gimgroth looks at Glod almost apologetically.
wilphe
  "have you seen him lately? I heard you and he travelled together" 
  You might have done yes   replies Wighard wryly

  How has such a humble Knight Errant come your attention?  
  In any case the Company of the Burning Slug is temporarily split up, we were attacked by Skaven soon after entering the pass and they were able to carry off some of the pilgrims.

Sir Bertelis and our demi-human companions split off to attempt rescue, the Baronet Richter and myself remained to guard the pilgrims  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 89 ]  Sixth Sense 77

If Bruno is rolling perception, might be worthwhile checking how the hairs on the back of Wighard's neck feel
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis comes into lit view as he strikes a match, and lights his second and final candle.  The front of his mail, with the smart tabard featuring the logo of the company, is drenched in spat-up blood.  Pitiably, he awaits Gimgroth's amateur but appreciated medical attention.   "We cannot go back.  The pilgrims are down here, still; and you have so handily dispatched their best guardian, noble dwarves.  There will be no opportunity besides this, to save them.  Jasmine must be among them, now.  But there is so much ground to cover..." 
 "Per'aps.  Per'aps not.  They use these tunnels to confuse; but they use secrets to hide the way to their hidden places..."   Glod begins checking for the secret door he  knows  must be there, to proceed further; through which the rat with the whip must have fled!

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Bertelis lights his last candle.  Still has a few matches.  Retreives dagger; begs Gimgroth for a fortuitous heal roll, supplying the poultice required to do so while he's heavilly wounded.  1 good quality poultice remaining.

Glod is gonna find that secret door!  He found the last one, so perhaps he'll have some kind of bonus.  But untrained in search, he's looking for a lowly 25, so it might take a bit.   (1d100)[ 8 ]  for turn 1 looking , and here's another couple of turns of sustained effort:    (1d100)[ 39 ]  ,   (1d100)[ 15 ]  ,   (1d100)[ 52 ]   .

Hot damn, Glod coming in clutch.
 
dojango
Jasmine stops the search party for a moment and thinks.  " Those bastards know we're down here so there ain't any point to keepin' quiet.  OY!  BERTELIS!  GLOD!  GIMGROTH!  IF YER ALIVE OUT THERE COME FIND US " she shouts out as loud as she can, hoping that the echoing tunnels will carry the sound to where they are lurking, if they are in fact still out there.
bramblefoot
glod: you find a hidden passage leading down into the depths of the warren. lambent green bulbs of warpstone are studded in the ceiling, providing enough illumination to see by for those without darkvision

berty: you hear jasmine call out from somewhere down the tunnel

wighard: the damsel smiles.  "the lady of the lake let me know about a pact made between the green knight and your knight errant."  at the mention of skaven, the damsel seems to frown.  "how big of a party of skaven are we talking here?"  she murmurs.

bruno: the damsel is the real deal to your eyes, and a powerful one at that. however you do see a small puff of smoke come from the rafters in the top left corner of the inn. probably some sort of magical scout
wilphe
 "the lady of the lake let me know about a pact made between the green knight and your knight errant." 
  Such pacts are common?

And how goes the Vermillion Flue? I am here to assist in anyway I can.  
 "how big of a party of skaven are we talking here?" 
  In the first fight we seemed to face a half-dozen disciplined and equipped enemy and several score sword-fodder slaves and lowly clanrats who could only hope to swarm us

In the second, we only got a look at the leader when I made him glow and explode, and faced at least a pair of gunners. Didn't get a look at the rest of them before they scarpered, to see quality but they were enough to have us well surrounded. So maybe several dozen?  
farothel
Bruno looked at the smoking thing and then moved to Wilghard and the damsel.
 "Sorry to interupt,"  he asked,  "but do any of you did that?  And if not, do any of you what it is?" 
He pointed at the smoke he was seeing.
wilphe
  Not mine

Yours milady?  
LarsWester
Gimgroth lets out a sigh of concern when the lit candle revealed the full extents of Bertelis wounds.   Sir it looks like you've become the Hedgehog Knight again.   The dwarf leaned in to inspect the knights wounds and apply the poultice he provided.   I'm not anywhere near the physician as Wighard but I'll bind that up. 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

  Heal  - (1d100)[ 50 ] 
  Perception  - (1d100)[ 26 ]  shame those weren't reversed.   But Gimgroth should have heard Jasmine as well.
 
MrAbdiel
After a few moments sitting quietly and gratefully as Gimgroth tends his wounds, Bertelis shakes his head a little.  “We must be closer now than we were before, surely.  They cannot have a nation under this pass; the pilgrims and perhaps our poor Jasmine are-“

And then, and the echo of the halfling’s familiar bawl, he brightens a shade.  She was alive!  And somewhere within the tunnels, no doubt.  He tries to make a response but coughs; and Glod fills in for him.

“Hang on, lass!  We’re coming for ye, and the others!”

Before flagging Gimgroth and Bertelis toward the now uncovered tunnel - no doubt secret to hide something precious, like captured slaves!
LarsWester
 Glod hold up.  It may be best to explore that option with Jasmine in our company.
Let's reunite with the brave halfling.  She was calling us out and up to the surface.   Perhaps she has somehow escaped or perhaps it's a trap.  I say we follow her voice until we meet again either in this life or the next. 
The dwarf indicates his willingness to charge headlong into the most likely Skaven trap for the chance to reunite with Jasmine.
MrAbdiel
Bertelis halts at Gimgroth's suggestion; pivoting on the spot with the candle in hand, shield arm held close to his body, cradling his injured self.  So beaten, he is more follower than leader; his breath hitching and visible convulsions of his muscles shaking his body from time to time; despite being so typically unwilling to withdraw.  He will follow Gimgroth's instinct - a dwarf's tunnel-instinct must surely be better than his.
bramblefoot
rat tunnel dwarves and berty: the tunnel slopes down at a steep angle. the warpstone nodules get bigger, and the area gets warmer by the minute. soon enough you're all sweating profusely. can i get toughness tests at -20 or take a level of fatigue?

jasmine: the passage seems to get darker, and the smell of wet rat fur gets stronger. can i get a wp test at -10 or take an IP?

bruno: the smoke begins to come down from the rafters in a large coherent cloud. it appears to be headed for you with speed. it starts diving into your lungs. can i get a toughness test or begin to choke?

 (1d100)[ 82 ] 


wighard: you detect a concentration of dhar inside the cloud. so does the damsel
wilphe
Wighard isn't sure how to fight this, or even if it is fightable, but a magic missile is at least an opener

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 85 ]  Channeling 77  +3 to casting if succeed
 (2d10)[ 10 ][ 2 ](12)  -2  TN6
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: Damage 

 (1d10)[ 9 ] +3

Channelling failed but casting succeeded
 
dojango
Jasmine listens to the echoing voice of Bertelis and points in the direction she thinks it's coming from.  " Let's go, they might need rescuin'.  Ugh, don't these rats ever take a bath?  Smells worse than Rumster's kitchen. "

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 1 ]  v. 36
 
farothel
 "What the...,"  Bruno said as he saw the cloud come towards him.  He reflexively drew his sword and tried to swing at it, even though it probably wouldn't do much.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

toughness test:  (1d100)[ 96 ]  vs 40
FP in OOC topic:  26 

if it actually works: attack  (1d100)[ 95 ]  vs 46 and damage  (1d10+4)[ 5 ] 
 
bramblefoot
wighard: the missile connects, but merely shears through the shadow rather than impacting and detonating. it lets out a hiss, and dives into Bruno's mouth

bruno: you're still in control, but you feel the shadow attempting to bypass that control. im gonna need a flat wp roll every round to mantain control, or the shadow will go on a killing frenzy in your body

berty and the dwarves: you cannot find jasmine based on her voice. it seems like the tunnels just conform back to this tunnel with the warpstone nodules

jasmine: same dealyboppy, except yours goes down darker and deeper.

whats the plan folks
wilphe
Wighard tries to work out what the hell this might be and how to get it out of Bruno

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 47 ]  A/K Magic and/or Necromancy 61
 
farothel
Bruno tries to keep breathing and at the same time he pushes with his mind against whatever is trying to take over.  He does hope that Wighard or the damsel actually knows what to do, but until they intervene, he tries to push the thing back out.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

willpower:  (1d100)[ 7 ]  vs 51

FP if needed: willpower:  (1d100)[ 70 ]  vs 51 (apparently not needed)
 
MrAbdiel
Glod is the first to admit it.

 "The tunnels are carrying her voice in circles.  You can't track sound in tunnels you don't know as your own home.  We can't chase the sound - we just have to go deeper, to find the others; and hope she's done the same." 

With nowhere else to go, they plunge into the exhausting heat of the deeper tunnel; hunting the prisoner pilgrim's salvation.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Only option left!  Both Glod and Bertelis have are le fatigue'd.
 Down the hot tunnel.  Bloody pilgrims!  BE PRESENT!
 
dojango
" Bloody tunnels, " mutters Jasmine.  " Stick together lads, don't let anyone fall behind, and keep yer eyes peeled for rat-holes and traps.  But you know yer job, just sayin, " as they keep pushing forward.
bramblefoot
wighard: this is some sort of shadow daemon. if it can resist a magic missile, the only option here is exorcism. i assume you know the proper way to exorcise a daemon?

bruno: the pressure begins to mount in your skull, the sibilant voices as one chanting  let me in  as visions of chaos flash in your head. can i get a wp roll at -10 or take 1d3 IP

the dwarves and berty: you come out onto a moria-esque mining operation. human and skaven toil hauling warpstone out of the depths, while whips crack and shouts of pain are heard. rickety rope ladders span the cavernous depths, and skaven with long rifles sit in baskets overlooking the whole shebang

berty: you see a sleeping skaven in grabbing distance, however to do so would leave you honorless. What's the plan?

jasmine. you and the brettonian boys come out on the opposite side of the mining operation. you dont see berty or the dwarves but you can sense them

wdyd?
MrAbdiel
Bertelis, using all his might to suppress his mortal fears and pains, stands dumbfounded in the opening that leads to this grand place.  Rats and fettered men toil in firelit cavities off a long, smoothed stone road that terminates in a cave-in at the end Bertelis can see from where he stands; betting it's similarly sealed at the other end too.  He was right!  An old dwarven road - abandoned, for some reason. But the reason, or a good enough reason, was obvious to see - the glowing green stones being pulled from the earth.  The old dwarf construction might have hit a deposit of the toxic wyrdstone the skaven prized so highly; and judiciously chose to seal off that tunnel and build around it, if at all. But the rats must have come from above, or beneath, and found this discovery after centuries of delay; and were making up for lost time with their efforts.  Wighard had thought this a foolish assumption, but...  Well.  The Bretonnian knew at once he had no source to gloat.  To reflect, he had not expected to be correct - he had indeed been clutching at a hope and opportunity.  The fact that it had been an operation so close to the surface, and not infact a tunnels straight down into the guts of hell, was a matter of fortune, not wisdom.  He had only a whisper of relief, in his chest; but also a plunging feeling that the task was becoming too great for them.  The rat slaves might fight; the slave drivers might, too.  The driver that fled must have fled to some other tunnel, but he could not be far off from bursting into this hall and warning the rats here about their coming.  And there were more slaves!  More humans, like the old man, who had been here for some time, and needed rescue.  Is it possible they might leave the tunnel not only having rescued those they came so save, but also many whom had been thought lost to their loved ones in previous weeks and months?

Possible.  But not probably.  Not for him, certainly.  When he stopped to think, the pain in his head where the bullet had struck throbbed and stung; the torn stitches from the spear blows to the torso  wept and ached; and every draw and blow of his lungs shot fire through the cracks in his ribcage.  The likelyhood he would die here was -

In his self suffering reverie, he had stumbled forward, and nudged something with the tip of his foot - a sleeping skaven, shirking his duties guarding the prisoners!  It would be so easy to kill it, in that moment; even as it stirred, certainly to warn its fellows, certainly to fight them, certainly to stab up at him; and how richly such beasts deserved death.  Quickly, he stomped one boot onto the rat's discarded spear beside him, and  pressed his other boot down on the rat's throat, shocking him awake with the intrustive pressure.  A little more pressure...

...Such a creature did not deserve honor.  But honor was more about the seeker than the beneficiary; and if he crushed the skaven's skull before it could chirp a warning, he would be striking also his own soul - and he knew, in his heart of hearts, how fragile that spirit was right now.

 "Scream and you perish, monster..."  He hissed, hoping this rat was like several others they had encountered who had a grasp of Reikspiel to deal with their Imperial slaves.   "Tell, and you may yet live.  Where are the prisoners - the ones most recently captured?  Where are they sent, to be penned before you force them to do your digging?  Speak now!" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Well, I can't just do  dishonorable  things; not even to rats.  Bertelis is going to try to intimidate.  It's not a physical task, so I haven't included the exhaustion penalty; but if you think it applies, you can -10 from it, Bramble.    IntimidateVs24  - (1d100)[ 43 ] .  It's a forlorn hope; but it springs eternal, they say.

Edit:  Actually was looking for a 23, so missed it by a square 20. Not great.  You can take that as a fail Bramble, or perhaps roll the rat's WP against it with whatever modifiers you deem appropriate, or handle it how you like.  Bertelis still has mace and shield in hand; if they have human slaves working in the cavern, I assume it has enough light finally for humans to operate by!
 
farothel
 "You... shall not... pass,"  Bruno managed to say between fits of coughing as he tried to get the smoke out, while looking at the damsel and Wighard to actually do something,  "get... it... out." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

willpower at -10:  (1d100)[ 27 ]  vs 41

ignore anything below here.
FP if needed:  (1d100)[ 14 ]  vs 41
if all else fails: IP:  (1d3)[ 1 ] 
 
wilphe
  Drop your weapons, you'll be less dangerous if it does take you over.

Just fight it not us, everyone on him now, pin his limbs, leave his chest free  

Wighard has a couple of pilgrims and inn staff dogpile Bruno and begins work on channelling Hysh to wrest the Dhar out of him as he cannot touch the dark energy directly but can try and lock wills with the daemon

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 69 ]  Command 56

 (1d100)[ 48 ]  Channelling 61

 (1d100)[ 40 ]  WP 77
 
bramblefoot
wighard: the best you can do right now with the damsels help is to bind the daemon into bruno and seal it with wards and charms for later removal.

gimme three flat wp rolls to determine the strength of the binding

bruno: the daemon will whisper foul things at you as it squirms against your breastbone. gimme another wp test to retain control

bertelis: the ratfolk hisses in broken reikspiel  "i tell nothing!"  and goes for a rock

 (1d100)[ 50 ] 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: gimme three flat wp rolls to determine the strength of the binding 

 (3d100)[ 86 ][ 5 ][ 56 ](147)  WP 77
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: FP the first one 

 (1d100)[ 53 ]  WP77
 
LarsWester
Gimgroth's mouth is dry at the expanse and extent of skaven workings that the three had entered.   He was still dealing with the shock as Bertelis threatened the sleeping Skaven.  But when the Skaven made a move for a rock Gimgroth's hammer came down with a heavy thud.  He then set about attacking any Skaven around him whether they be slave or slave driver.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

-10 from Fatigue so Hammer attacks are 67
  WS  - (1d100)[ 63 ]    Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 14 ] 
  WS  - (1d100)[ 100 ]    Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 15 ]  rerolled in OOC to hit with a 39
  WS  - (1d100)[ 50 ]    Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 16 ]  confirmed with a 6 for 7 points of additional damage.
 
bramblefoot
berty, glod and gimgroth: the silence is split by a whistle blast, and barked orders in queekish from the overseers on top. clanrats scramble up the pits walls, moving with nets and disabling weapons towards you. this is your chance to cut and run, otherwise youll be surrounded. the gun rats hold fire, waiting for others to appear

the skaven with nets heave them at the glod and gimgroth, while two of those with cudgels go for berty, and the rest decide to whale on glod and gimgroth if they are snared

net attacks:

 (2d100)[ 91 ][ 45 ](136) 

cudgel attacks on the dwarves

 (4d100)[ 33 ][ 88 ][ 52 ][ 57 ](230) 

cudgel attacks on berty

 (2d100)[ 122 ] 

jasmine: whats your play? the skaven have mostly moved to engage the other side where bertelis and the others must be. gonna play avenging angel, or free the slaves?

wighard and bruno: the daemon is secure, for now. it may have other cards to play, but all in good time.
farothel
Still coughing, Bruno looked at Wighard and the damsel.
 "Okay, I can still feel something inside me,"  he said,  "so I would like to have some answers please.  What the frack is this and when are you guys going to take it out?" 
bramblefoot
the damsel looks at wighard, then speaks:  "we were unable to remove it, but as of now it is safely confined to your left eye. you prolly should get the shallyans to remove it professionally" 
farothel
 "Okay, thanks,"  Bruno said, getting some wine (they were in Bretonnia after all) to get the last bits of smoke out of his throat,  "since we're heading that way with the pilgrims, I will certainly ask.  Can I give you as a reference should they ask how it got there, mylady." 

Now that the imminent danger was past, Bruno remembered his manners again.
wilphe
 Heck of an introduction. 

He clears his throat, and switches to Riekspeil

  Milady may I present Baronet Bruno Richter

Sir Bruno, the Damsel Elisia  
 you prolly should get the shallyans to remove it professionally" 
  Fortunately I think we are a days travel before the gate at Montfort, but that is expensive to pass and that would cut us from the others.  
farothel
 "If it's confined and it can't get away,"  Bruno said,  "I'll chance it for a few days.  The others can keep an eye on me and as long as it's in there, it can't bother other people, right?  People who might have less luck in resisting." 
It wasn't his choice, but at least this way it was contained for now and that was the most important bit.
 "We will need to set up a way for me to sleep,"  he said to Wighard,  "as from what little I know about these things, when I'm sleeping my resistance is reduced and it might be easier for the demon to take over.  I'm not saying it can happen, but stories always seem to go that way and we better think it over before it happens." 
bramblefoot
the party in the rat tunnels: the bretonnians advance and do their duty, but get bottlenecked by a swarm of skavenslaves on the rope bridge, keeping them at bay from the rest of the party

berty: the skaven with clubs will attempt once more to drop and drag you away

 (2d100)[ 78 ][ 52 ](130)  misses all

 (1d10+3)[ 5 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 12 ] 

of the skaven long gunners, two will fire at gimgroth, going for called shots to the leg and the other two will fire at jasmine

gimgroths shots
 (2d100)[ 15 ][ 61 ](76)  both hit, cause of their full aim the previous turn

 (1d10+5)[ 7 ] 
 (1d10+5)[ 15 ] 

jasmine
 (2d100)[ 42 ][ 13 ](55)  hit and hit

 (1d10+5)[ 6 ] 
 (1d10+5)[ 13 ] 

after the shots, three clanrats will move to engage glod, while the rest start dragging the net containing gimgroth away

 (3d100)[ 2 ][ 18 ][ 77 ](97)  two hits one miss

 (1d10+4)[ 10 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 12 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 7 ] 
MrAbdiel
Set upon by the vile rat men, Bertelis, clinging to life, roars desperately and swings at his aggressors!  Atleast now, he can see them!

 
 Spoiler: Attacks for the first round, if deemed acceptable. 
  vs51  - (1d100)[ 23 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 11 ] .

Then   vs51  - (1d100)[ 90 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 12 ] .
 

 
 Spoiler: Attacks for the this round, either way. 
  vs51  - (1d100)[ 29 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 10 ] .

Then   vs51  - (1d100)[ 93 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 9 ] 
 On the outrageous chance that the first two attacks slay the rats in melee with him, he will charge the rats dragging Gimgroth away and do only the first attack in this spoiler, at a +10 for charging. 

Looks like, if that refunded turn of attacks is approved, Bertelis hits one rat twice over two turns, for 11 then 10 damage.
 
wilphe
  Maybe wear an eyepatch over it for the moment? Prevents any "evil eye" accusations and if it does start acting up no-one will notice.

As for sleeping, I have no ideas beyond normal wards.

You could sleep bound and disarmed but that's dangerous in itself

  
MrAbdiel
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
I think the damage of two hits Bert scored kills one of the clanrats before he goes down, correct me if I'm wrong and I'll chance it.
 


The son of Bordeleaux keeps his shield in the face of one of the clan rats and thumps his mace down twice on the skull of the other.   "Gimgroth!"   He calls, reflexively; a cry that seems intended as a gut-born call of outrage for the net-bound position of the dwarf, but only serves to draw attention to himself as fate turns darkly against the Bretonnian.

With a gasping shove, he pushes the clanrat off him and start surge toward Gimgroth and his net-draggers, mace arm  cranking back for another desperate blow to try to ward the skaven filth away.  But then a rapidfire  crack-crack-crack-crack  of four long guns going off rings out.  Two of the rounds two skip off the stone nearby.  One comes for Gimgroth himself; a legshot intended to prevent him running, presumably, if he escapes.  But one comes for Bertelis, the second of its kind today; and this one does what the first tried to do.  It drills through the steel facade of Company emblazoned shield, through the forearm beneath, into the upper chest beside the wound where one of the longspears strike him earlier that day, and out the back of him, tossing a few broken links of chainmail away as the overpenetrating round plinks down the corridor behind them.  Blood rushes out of the wound, and it's finally too much.  Faith can only carry a man so far, before miracles are required.

There are no miracles forthcoming; not right now, anyway.  Bertelis lets out a gasp, and a sigh, like he'd been holding his breath since they first followed the commands of honor to go underground.  Then he falls, tipping over backwards with a bang as his helm strikes the stone, mace skittling away from his slack grasp; dead, for all the eyes of rats and dwarves can tell in the heat of battle.
farothel
 "The wards certainly,"  Bruno said, thinking about things,  "and you're right, sleeping bound won't be easy anyway.  But I'll put my sword a bit away and maybe add some sort of alarm system around my bed that will warn people should I start walking around at night.  I'm sure we can rig up something.  I used to put a similar system around my camp when I was a roadwarden to warn me if an animal ... or worse, came looking around." 
He would head to the innkeeper to see if he had some rope for that and maybe a few scraps of cloth he could use for an eye patch.
wilphe
  Did you find anything when you went out. I would like to take a look also?  
farothel
 "Right, I almost forgot with all this demon stuff,"  Bruno said, taking out the pouch with the pair of horse figurines, one pure white and the other dark as night.  He showed it to Wighard.
dojango
Jasmine curses as the bullet grazes her, drawing blood. The snipers have to be dealt with while they're reloading. She spots one of the ropes leading up to the basket and says to the men at arms, " Pull the damn thing down ," and she tanks on it with all her might.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 25 ]  v. 45 str to try and pull one of the baskets down using the climbing rope. Hopefully some of the men at arms can assist.
 
wilphe
Wighard will look them over cautiously, offering them to the Damsel for her input

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 58 ]  AK/Magic 61

 (1d100)[ 27 ]  Magic Sense 87
 
LarsWester
 Round 2-Gimgroth Initiative 4 Wounds 19/19 Fortune 0/2 
Gimgroth found himself trapped like a fish in a net and being pulled by several skaven off to where the gods know.   He heard Bertelis cry his name before seeing the knight fall to firing of skaven bullets.  Trapped as he is there's very little he can do and he's quite susceptible to enemy attacks.   Seeing his companion fall causes the fury of Gimgroth's ancestors to rise within the dwarf.   Straining against the knots of the net they begin to fray.   The dwarf lets out a guttural cry of denial of his situation as the sound of rope snapping echoes in the underground chamber.    With a shrug Gimgroth steps through the hole he created.   He looks around at the Skaven holding the remains of the net that just held him captive.  Shakes his shield, twists his hammer, and emits what could best be described as a growl.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Full Action - Strength check to escape.
  Strength  - (1d100)[ 9 ] 
 
Morovir
Evading the skavens' attacks, Glod strikes back at the closest adversary:

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Standard Attack+Aim:  (1d100)[ 71 ]  TN 76
Damage:  (1d10+6)[ 9 ] 
Impact:  (1d10+6)[ 12 ] 
 
bramblefoot
gimgroth: the skaven will back away, and one skaven with a welding mask and a backpack-mounted tank thing with a sprayer unleashes a gout of flame at you, incinerating several ratfolk in the process

 (1d100)[ 64 ]  hit and fury

 (1d10+5)[ 15 ] 

bertelis: your having a conversation with the green knight. he sighs, saying  "sir bertelis, you really should have taken the horn i offered"  he steeples his fingers and waits for your answer

glod: the skaven will throw more rats at you, hoping to bog you down with sheer weight of numbers

 (4d100)[ 28 ][ 49 ][ 53 ][ 15 ](145)  the first and last are hits, for 6 and 11 wounds

 (4d10)[ 2 ][ 9 ][ 9 ][ 7 ](27)  +4

jasmine: the basket begins to give. another pull and it'll come down

the lead skaven will aim and fire at one of the ties connecting the rope bridge

 (1d100)[ 59 ]  miss

wighard: these are magical. what they do you cant be sure tho
MrAbdiel
Bertelis sits, outside of his body; leaning against a translucent wall and watching the scene where he died play out like figures in smoke.

 "Perhaps so, noble Sir.  But each of us makes the decisions he best can.  You asked an oath; that is the one that leapt from my mouth.  Who can say Sir Bertelis died a coward?  No man can." 

He is... relieved.  The fear burning in his chest, the fear of dying in this place of his wounds, was gone now.  He HAD died in this place.  But he had not fled in fear, which would have been worse than death.  It didn't hurt anymore.

It was alright.

 "All men must die, I suppose.  This... Well.  Perhaps, if you still honor your side of the oath, my people will be spared the plague's worst efforts, and Deanna will find her way home.  That's alright.  I can rest, with that." 
dojango
Years of plying an oar and hauling sheets has given Jasmine a stout arm and how to apply leverage on a rope. She grins as she feels the basket shift and as the shot pings off something harmlessly she knows their aim is spoilt. Bracing herself, she gives another heave on the rope.

 
 Spoiler 
  (1d100)[ 61 ]  v. 45  success rolled in OOC thread
 
LarsWester
 Round 3 Initiative 4 Gimgroth Wounds 12/19 Fortune 0 
As the gout of flame fades away the smell of brunt flesh and hair permeates the underground chasm.   Several clanrat's charred corpses lie on the ground between Gimgroth and the skaven engineer with the devastating weapon.  Gimgroth stands axe and shield in hand both scorched black from the flames that so recently engulfed the dwarf.   Wisps of smoke still rising from the remnants of his beard as individual hairs are still curling up into white curls of ash.   A shake of the shoulders causes a snowfall of ash from the dwarf's face.   A face also smeared black where there was no beard previously.   A face that is now set in a grimace of pain, shock, and white hot rage.   There is no words to scream that can express the outrage so Gimgroth doesn't open his mouth.   Instead his teeth grind as he steps towards the engineer slowly at first but gaining momentum until he crashes into the skaven with shield bash and hammer swing.   But as the dwarf takes his swing some of the ash falls in his eyes temporarily blinding him and causing his blows to go wide.   Stunned that his aim failed him Gimgroth swipes a healing draught from his belt with his shield hand, biting the cork and draining its contents.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Full action - charge engineer.
  WSvs86  - (1d100)[ 88 ]  target should be 87 but still miss by 1.  Dice gods hate Gimgroth right now.  Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 13 ] 
Free action - Quick Draw and Drink Healing Draught healing 4 wounds.
 
bramblefoot
bertelis: the green knight pulls a set of knucklebones from a desk drawer, and sets them in front of you.  "im willing to make a deal for your return to the land of the living"  he says.  "roll the dice and call a number. close enough, and you shall be returned safely. roll poorly, and be damned" 

he awaits your answer

gimgroth: the warplock engineer will disengage and slide down the rocky escarpment to make an escape. the whipmaster and his entourage will also fall back down the escarpment after lobbing a series of small smoke bombs to cover their retreat

jasmine: the gunner falls to his death, skull splattering against the rocks below, the other three will slide down the ropes and run, leaving you all breathless but alive

glod: the skaven will attack like cornered animals

all out attacks

 (3d100)[ 62 ][ 26 ][ 32 ](120)  one hit for 6 and 12 wounds

 (3d10)[ 2 ][ 2 ][ 8 ](12)  +4
Morovir
Although being worn down by the relentless Skaven assault, Glod continues to fight back against the ratmen, though more cautiously than before:

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Guarded Attack:  (1d100)[ 35 ]  TN 56
Parry the 12 Damage attack:  (1d100)[ 98 ]  TN 81
Dodge the 6 Damage attack:  (1d100)[ 97 ]  TN 40
 
wilphe
  Well they are magical, beyond that I cannot say.

Sorry

Hands-on medical training never left much time for theory.

I would like to look at the battle site however if I may?  

He also doesn't find anything visual, but that isn't what he is looking for anyway

 
 Spoiler: Interior Monologue 
  This is it?

Well 
 Yes  replies Xueek sullenly

 I think you do not fear me enough.

Would you speak to a Clan Lord in such a manner? 
 You are no Clan Lord man-thing 
 YOU ARE IN MY HEAD AND HERE I AM LORD, CLEAR-CLEAR?

Do not confuse mercy with weakness 
 
 


Wighard takes some grass and leaves from a few spots around and about and seals them in tubes
MrAbdiel
Bertelis, his spirit standing apart from his body in this smoky half-realm, turn his eyes to the dice - and then up to the knight holding them, as they are dropped into his hands.  Knights made vows, not wager.  But the Green Knight was famous for his test.  He  made  the knight the Lady needed. Was this such a moment?  Had it come now, when he was... so, so close to rest?  The echo of his wounds was barely audible to his senses, now; the gauzy light of something beyond bright, and consuming.

 "...But... A game of chance, for such a thing?  And the pain...  Perhaps..." 
   "So then - you would retreat, Sir Bertelis Roche, fallen son of Bordeleaux?  And before you have fulfilled your oath?"   

The escalation in the knight's voice startles him, and snaps the situation into new light at once.  Slowly, his sense of chivalry breaks the crust of its pure literalism and  reaches out into abstraction.  The low chance of success had not bothered him when he plunged into the nest of the rats with his friends; and if he is not fighting like a hippogriff for every last breath, he is running away in the face of the enemy.

He lets loose a long, trembling sigh; and musters the scraps of his obliterated courage into something resembling its whole form; and lets the dice fall from his hand.

 * * * * * 
Pain.

Pain abundant; pain of many colors.  It is the gateway to the living, just as it had been toward the dead; the arch to Morr's garden is overgrown with  brambles .  All his wounds hurt again; his ability to ignore the pain has fled during his 'death'.  At once, he wishes he was dead again; then grinds that thought to gravel in his mind, even visualising the smashing of it.  His right arm is barely responding to him; he cannot pick up his mace, or use it to crawl.  He cannot detach the shield from the loops of his left arm, without that hand.  But he sees Glod dueling the skaven, near to him; and the roar of chittering squeaks and pattering feets beyond.  So he squirms on the floor, pushing himself along by his heels on a slick of his own blood, across a few feet of stone.  It's ostensibly an effort to rejoin the combat; though when he gets there, the skaven have broken and fled everywhere.  This seems to escape him, in his bloodlost delerium; and in a gesture of protection so small and petty it verges into the realm of silly, he reaches out his arm, and lets the upper rim of the shield cover the left toe-cap of Glod's boot - the very most protection, in his state, that Bertelis is able to offer.

Not dead, then.  Not quite.  Not yet.
dojango
Jasmine laughs as the sniper plummets to his death.  " Aw, shucks, the other rats run off.  Finish off the wounded an' go check on the knight and the dwarves, wouldja? " she tells the soldiers.  As they hustle over to where Glod is finishing off the last few skavenslaves she runs over to where the sniper fell and snags his jezzail, as well as any powder and shot she can find.  Then she hustles over to the others as well.  " Whew, good thing I came to rescue you guys.  Bertelis, you gonna be OK?  Kin anyone patch him up till we get him to the Shallyans?  Come on, let's free the slaves and get movin' to the surface.  My gear's stashed in a cubby, we kin grab it on the way out. "
bramblefoot
the party in the rat-tunnels: the slaves are gathered, and the tunnels are searched. will everyone roll me a d100 for loot gathering? as always lower is better. after this, we will cut to the party arriving in montfort

wighard and bruno: the door opens and a bloodies and battered bertelis staggers in, supported by glod and gimgroth. im gonna need a heal test at -20 to stabilize, and another one at -20 to save the limb
wilphe
  A few days earlier: On Wighard's timeline anyway
  
  Someone is coming out.

It's them.

They all look like they've been through hell.

Bertelis is in a bad way  
  Well of course, no respect for my handiwork that one.

Anything else?  
  The men at arms are out and they also appear to have rescued more captives than we lost.  
  Well then, get down there and let me know how Bertelis is  
wilphe
Kwolf swoops down from the shadows as yet unlit by the morning sun and lands gently next to the party

  Little boss asks what happened to him and wants to stop him meeting the Big Boss if he can  
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is not particularly conversational.

He keeps upright until they see the sun again; but then the fatigue, the pain, and the blood loss catches up, and he drops in a heap again, pale and wrecked.  After Gimgroth had given his injuries a rudimentary field binding to prevent infection, the pilgrims knock together a makeshift stretcher.  Now he’s just one more sufferer being carried on the way to the temple of Shallya; delirious, when he is awake.

At Kwolf’s assessment, and with the input of some of the others to confirm, what happened to him was as follows:

His stitches burst open in desperate combat, opening the vicious spear wounds to bleed again.

Fighting by candlelight and then in the dark entirely, he was shot once in the head by a skaven wyrdstone rifle.  The round, blessedly, did not travel through his skull, but grooved along side it; and that eye, and much of his head, are now bandaged.

In the depths of the pit, heatstroke making the situation worse, he was shot a second time; through the shield, the forearm beneath the shield, through the right side of the chest and out the back again.  The bleeding from these wounds, which surely transfixed the lung, have managed almost miraculously to stop bleeding - an unlikely, but not unheard of result.

He seems stable; just more hedgehog than ever.
dojango
Jasmine tries to shoo away the raven.  " You kin take him to Morr when he's old an' grey, and not a moment before, " she tells it.  The rest of the journey she tries to keep up Bertelis's spirits as he's carried in the litter by telling him all about the horrible rat-monster she'd chased away " With a little help from the lads, the fine men o' Bretonnia " and about the sniper she'd killed, " You shoulda seen his head pop like a melon at a carnival show!  I think it was the one what shot you earlier, taught him a lesson I reckon. "
farothel
Bruno immediately goes to help glod and gimgroth with Bertelis.  He will follow Wighard's orders, as he has the best knowledge on healing.
LarsWester
Gimgroth tries his best to tend to Bertelis's grievous wounds.   The dwarf was suffering his own psychological wounds as his beard was burnt to the roots.   His chin was bare as a dwarfling's feeling the chill of the wind.   Many times on the journey to catch up with Wighard and Bruno, Gimgroth found himself reaching to stroke a beard that was no longer there.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

  Heal  - (1d100)[ 17 ]  if successful  (1d10)[ 3 ]  wounds if there's still a poultice somewhere.
 
wilphe
 
 Originally Posted by dojango 
 Jasmine tries to shoo away the raven.  " You kin take him to Morr when he's old an' grey, and not a moment before,  
 

Kwolf flies out of reach to a nearby shrub,   I am in contact with Wighard through super-magic stuff.   he preens himself indignantly.

  He wanted an update, and to assist if possible  
MrAbdiel
Gimgroth's medical attention is well received; with Bertelis' last dose of good quality poultice (barely pungent at all), the knight's wounds do not fester, which is a blessing indeed.  Kwolf may assess accurately that the dwarf has learned much by receiving and watching Wighard's practise, in addition to any tricks he picked up in his own travels.  The knight will hold together, until he gets to Montfort; what he needs, most of all, is rest.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Healing by Gimgroth!  Burning a fate point just sort of removes you from the game for a while and returns you at a convenient point, but it's fair to say that Bertelis is pretty banged up and I want to honor Gimgroth's long-earned success on a heal roll here.  I'm going to suggest we start Bertelis at 0 wounds, so that poultice heal brings him to 3 wounds; which is all he'll get until he'll get to Montfort, since he can't recover from heavily wounded without resting, and they're on the road the whole way!
 


For the first day of travel, he can do nothing but recline as he is carried by pilgrims, his mind swimming to coherence from time to time.  Eventually, at no provocation at all, he snaps from his melancholy with a laugh that is so real and deep it is clearly causing him great pain.  When attended, he waves away concerns and  slowly  gets to his feet, struggling to explain to the pilgrims first in Reikspiel, then to the soldiers in Breton:  "I was just thinking... how favored I am, to be carried aloft by pilgrims across the land.  Most knights need to taste the grail, and let their soul fly to Morr before they are so cradled; I only needed to meet the green knight conversationally, and pass by the Garden's gate!"  It's more funny to him, than to anyone; as a child, he had seen several Grail Reliquae spectacles where the bones of a Grail knight (mostly his bones - in practice, many get looted for personal relics and are replaced as needed by others) are dressed in his livery, mounted on the effigy or a horse or throne, and carried on a litter by grail pilgrims: peasants who have turned from their humble lot to chase the glorious afterwash of such a warrior, living or dead.  But these they travelled with were not those.  These were Imperial pilgrims, for the most part; such a morbid practice of mummifying and carrying a dead hero would be -... Well.  It would seem like a lot of effort, when one could just have a knuckle in a box, or something.  And the men-at-arms, lowborn themselves, would have only reverence for such activities.  Only Bertelis was conversant with the practise, and above it by virtue of class, sufficient to find it so funny in that strange moment; but his laughter had a contagious quality, and from that point on he would walk for a stretch at a time, chatty and amiable, before those keeping an eye on him would spot his flagging strength and chase him back into the stretcher to sleep.

When Jasmine recounts her thwarting of the sniper, Bertelis reaches to tousle her hair - a gesture that really should be for a precocious child, not a grown halfling woman; but something about her height triggers the muscle memory.   "Thus always to such monsters.  To think I had thought we were rescuing you.  I did collect your broken firearm - dislike it though I do.  I expect Glod could be persuaded to restore it to order, skilled as he is." 

Later, with Glod as the pilgrims prepare for camp, he extends his appreciate to the runesmith.  "I was low on blood for much of this delve - but I hope you remember it well, and that you might report it to your kin.  Not just to respond to the defilement of that old dwarven road.  I mean to say that your cunning with the stone, showing those passages, might have made the difference between the pilgrims living and dying.  And neither of you -"  including Gimgroth in the discussion, as he crouches with the dwarves,  "hesitated in the face of the ratmen, nor did you let me suffer unduly in the dark, blind though I was.  If I had not already sworn to our Company, our brotherhood, I would be twice persuaded now.  I regret only that I could not have done more, in that last clash; but Myrmidia's favor to those Men-At-Arms, and Jasmine for coming when they did - and to Bruno and Wighard, who must certainly have sent them."
 
He pesters Glod for some nautical songs as they travel, while he has the energy; learning them and crooning along, passing the time in soulful celebration and solitary gloom by extremes.  He personally thanks all of the Men-At-Arms, when they drop them off with their Lord; and the Lord himself.  He owes them much; and all of risen greatly in his esteem.  The bargain he has hacked out for this act, the gun-deal, is not passed on to Bertelis; an omission that prevents a stain and the germination of a political incident, since a Bretonnian Lord seeking to equip his men with firearms is either an act of naivete, or more likely, an act of subtle defection to the Empire.

When they do finally arrive at Montfort, they are finally, indisputedly, on Bretonnian soil.  The young knight kneels to touch it with his hands; but needs help to stand up.  When they came up on the toll takers at the end of Axebite Pass, Bertelis had taken to his feet and insisted on being the one to negotiate with them.  He was the Bretonnian, he spoke the tongue, he knew the customs, and could make the most convincing arguement that these were the tail-end of the pilgrimmage, and therefore exempt from the toll.  But now, as they approach the tall Ducal castle of the capital with its parapets sprouting from a mountain cliffside and its walls sweeping out to encompass the interior town and to provide a redoubt for the exterior farms, he confesses his ulterior motive.

 "I regret that your first exposure to my people must be Montfort.  I beg your toleration.  It might not be so bad in the city - they are more used to outsiders.  But we will travel north, and that means passing through many villages on the road against the mountain.  Most of Montfort  is  mountain; and the mountain people know only two kinds, in the world: men, and orcs.  Very few of them have ever seen a halfling or a dwarf in their lives; and those who do are so isolated they might well think it to be some kind of orcish trick.  They are not so well travelled as you, and I; they live simple lives cutting iron from the mountain to trade for food from the plains below.  When the orcs come, they run to the forts; and the knights sally forth to drive the enemy away again.  On such people, the world stands - but you must forgive them for being parochial.  I can only hope that Wighard has managed to conceal his... talents; and Siobhan's.  Oh - that reminds me." 

He has, at this point, given the female pilgrims a warning on the need to cover their hair, in Bretonnian.  Socially, a woman who bears her hair outside of her family home is signalling disregard for that longstanding tradition of modesty.  Two kinds of women can defy it - those so low on the social order that even peasants look down on them, and the handful of Maidens of the Lady who are so high above that order that it could not touch the soles of their feet, if they tried.  He does not fancy his chances of convincing Jasmine specifically this is a tradition worth her honoring, for her duration in the country - but he tries.

When they do arrive, rejoining the pilgrim encampment in the shadows of Montfort's walls, there is some rejoicing among the reunited pilgrims; and a more muted, exhausted appreciation from Bertelis; who is unable to shake Bruno's hand.  His right arm being shot through and recovering, he instead claps the baronet's shoulder with his left.   "Baronet Richter.  I see you have-" 

He may have planned to say something clever there, but his eye chooses that moment to flare up with pain; and he covers the eye socket with the heel of one palm, as if trying to physical grind the pain, and the barely perceptible green glow, back into it.  With that, he is easilly led by Bruno to wherever Wighard designates - likely having prepared a place before hand, knowing what was coming!
bramblefoot
wighard: gonna tell gimgroth about your little encounter with the man with yellow eyes?

bertelis: the damsel will patch you up to the best of her not-inconsiderable ability and warn you of an unusually successful peasant uprising in bordelaux. the nobles are squabbling, and a demagogue has taken it upon himself to successfully liberate bretonnia from the nobles. the man, who calls himself jacques, has taken two keeps in bordelaux, with the nobles put to the sword and the peasants set free. it is rumored he is headed next to your fathers keep

jasmine: are you gonna keep your hair covered or not?

glod: a masked dwarf on a cart catches your eye leaving montfort for bretonnia as you come in. his clothes are gaudy, and he looks to be carrying a good dwarf-blade on his hip. tell me how rare dwarf swords are

bruno: the demon is definitely testing the bindings out. it shows you terrible things while you sleep, and torments your waking hours with creepy chuckles

gimgroth: siobhan walks over with a book, and will teach you how to read  "since you taught me axe work, it's only fair i teach you your letters"  she says. do you accept?
wilphe
With Bertelis in Gimgroth's care and under Kwolf's oversight Wighard and co decide not to backtrack but press onto Montfort.

The multi-layered fortification is impressive and fortunately the Temple in Inner Montfort is large and well endowed, with ample room and up to half a dozen meals for every pilgrim. It is therefore a safe place to rest up and wait, and for pilgrims to change from white to yellow, before negotiating the tolls as a group

Wighard consults with the local High Priestess and Damsel Elisia on what interventions would be appropriate for Bruno and Bertelis.

He will also take the opportunity to begin fulfilling his obligation to Shallya by adding Light of Purity within both the Inner and Outer Temples

  The magic will work with any light lit from the first, you will know far better than me how to keep that going. It will not cure anything by itself, but it will stop it getting worse.  

As he is on a mission from the goddess herself hopefully they won't all snuff the things the minute his back is turned.

He is in fact genuinely glad and relieved to see the rest of the party, but concerned about Bertelis' state, he also gives Gimgroth a look that says "we will talk later"

 
 Spoiler: Gimgroth 
 Gimgroth: 
  Well I see that you don't respect my handiwork anymore than Bertelis does, but you can probably guess right that that is beyond my ability to fix unfortunately.

I am sorry, it is either magic, artificial replacement or live with it as an honour scar.

And while I do not wish to upset you further, our yellow eyed friend is apparently interested in your late friend's daughter Beatrix.

I don't know if he has the power to cause ill to befall her; but he certainly has the power to make us worried about the possiblity.

Perhaps we should travel there after we done in Brettonnia?

  
 



++++++++++

Once they are all reacquainted he will brief the group on the next steps, but out of ear of the pilgrims

  The leg inside Brettonnia is supposed to be the easy bit, which is partially because there patrols including at least one Grail Knight and there are hostels at every stop.

It might also well be because traditionally the weakest have already died by this point whilst here they are still mostly with us.  
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: Casting 

 (3d10)[ 2 ][ 10 ][ 7 ](19)  +2 TN 12

 (3d10)[ 2 ][ 7 ][ 9 ](18)  +2 TN 12

These are separate days (Inner and Outer so cloak can apply to both)
 
dojango
Taking Bertelis's advice to heart, Jasmine finds a milliner in a nicer part of town and examines their wares.  Their boring, boring wares.  Dissatisfied with the wimples and bonnets on offer, she finds a small pawn-shop tucked away in an alley and stumbles on a truly outrageous, magnificent hat.  A little too big for her at first, but a few moments with a needle and thread fix that, and she leaves with a magnificent example of the hat-maker's art; it is broad to keep out the sun, girded with lace and gilt and capped with several gaudily dyed feathers.  It easily covers her short-cropped hair and then some.  Once she is suitably hatted, she spends their time in Montfort seeking out the criminal element of the town.  She recalls back in Altdorf how that puffed-up fool was selling information about their journeys to an unknown party, with the troubles and ambushes that plagued the party she is discretely trying to figure out if anyone here is buying or selling that information as well.  If anyone is, they're sure to spot her in her new hat that she wears the entire time she's there; after all Bertelis would be extremely disappointed if she went to the gambling dens and cockfights of Montfort with her hair uncovered.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 73 ]  v. 71 gossip check to see if anyone's looking for us in Montfort &amp; spending 10 gc on a best-quality outrageous hat.
 
MrAbdiel
Wighard and the Damsel examine Bertelis' bullet wounds, and find - as they likely suspect - that there is no trace of wyrdstone within them.  Gimgroth has done a fine job flushing the wounds.  This is good; without that care, infection might have been the least of his worries.  During the procedure, Bertelis can barely stand to  look  at the Damsel directly.  Such figures slip in and out of the political and heroic landscape of Bretonnia with the liquid grace of dreams.  In the Empire, folk with magical talent might end up falling in with strange companions and running afoul of the Order of the Silver Hammer; they might take up the simple but not imperilous life of the Hedgewise; or they might gain scholarship at once of the colleges of magic and become a magister over time.  In any of these cases, there is a continuity of sense of the individual from cradle to magical talent to ultimate fate.  In Bretonnia, things were not so; sometimes, infant and very young children simply disappeared - the work of the fey, snatching away those born with magical gifts.  The boys are never seen again - theories abound as to where they end up.  But the women are assumed to become the Damsels, who emerge from the fey mysteries to guide, and aid, and cajole, and steer - and sometimes, to revel.  The fact that they  probably once were  those stolen children is so far removed from them, by that point; they enter the world from outside of it, like angels might; and Bretonnians can't help but regard them as such.

The Damsel Elise is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful women he has ever seen; all Damsels land in that category.  To have such a creature attending him medically is almost unbearable.  He cannot look her in the eye.  Part of it is youthful nerves in the face of beauty.  Part of it is religious awe.

And part of it is shame.  Bertelis has always been able to consider himself a handsome young man.  Young ladies he has met in his travels have afforded him a certain reinforcement of this belief.  Even the scars on his body - the arrow and bullet holes and spear wounds from the enemies over this past stretch of adventure - only serve to enhance that  aspect.  But the bullet that didn't quite miss his head is the first facial injury he seems really to have taken; or the first that is doomed to scar badly.  Even now early in the healing process, Wighard can see what the scar will become - a lingering groove of discolored, dark red from the corner of his eye, back behind his ear.  The necessary stitching, and later healing, will pull his left top eyelid slightly towards its corner, subtly cracking the symmetry of his features even if the scar hadn't.  And this penetration of his youthful façade seems to suddenly show twenty phantom years heaped onto his features.  He is tired, physically and mentally eroded by the road, and their adventures; and if he is every to command his charm over the young ladies of the courts of Bordeleaux again, it will require the magnification of inner virtues that turns such imperfections into  verification  of a man's virtues, instead of indictment of his deformity.

None of this is said out loud, of course; Bertelis will not understand it this way until he has reflected, and he has come to understand Gimgroth's beard loss to be a much more grievous example of a similar feeling.  How much less manly still, to complain aloud about such a thing?

 "Thank you, my Lady; and thank you, Wighard.  I feel... Much better, already." 

Bertelis bows to the Damsel, as he pulls his gambeson back on; and offers his unsligned, left hand to Wighard to shake.  He gives the doktor a look; one of the communicative  looks  he likes to give, trusting the intuitive to receive them.  It's a look that recognizes that when they last parted company, the terms of that parting had not been comfortable.  To Bertelis's mind, he felt Wighard was being defeatist and overly pragmatic, with his suicide pills and grim calculus about the odds of pilgrim survival.  And the young knight had not forgotten the dismissiveness with which he felt he had been treated, with his desperate speculations about their chances of success if they moved quickly, about this surely being a small skaven operation, about this being likely in a dwarven causeway.  But neither was it lost on him that Wighard had been atleast as correct as he had; it was a very significant operation; he had very nearly died; and the fact that they had succeeded in rescuing the pilgrims was a combination of fortunate timing and the conspicuous bravery of Jasmine, who had escaped her own captivity and led the Men-At-Arms down to the combat where they must definitely have caused the skaven rout.  The pilgrims were alive, because they stopped to rescue them; but it was exactly the kind of miracle that Wighard had prognosticated they would need.

So the look to Wighard seems to say something like  I suspect we will continue to disagree about this, so we might as well leave it behind us.   Wighard was his friend; that was not in doubt.  His strange addiction to the advice born of the  mind , when following the impulse of the  spirit  was clearly the right option, was just a part of him he would have to accept.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Healing 
We're staying a couple of days in Montford, yes?  Should we do rolls for healing, or should I reset to full?
 


In Montfort, Bertelis spends a little time walking the modest market and buying some easily found items. He converses at length in his native tongue with natural speakers for the first time in a long time, and is disturbed to find it takes him a day to get back into the habit; his brain having changed gear to think in a mash of Reikspiel and Breton previously, to a purer language now.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Purchases! 
75p - 5*Good Quality Healing Poultice, so Bertelis doesn't have to smell like crap when he's healing!

Also, I'm out of candles.  Bert is going to buy 3 Best Quality Wax Candles.  The hope is that the quality will permit them to have rugged enough wicks they can move around in combat, and sticky enough wax that he can stick them on top of his helmet if he needs his hands free in combat..  I had thought some kind of lantern-rig for the helm was an idea, but the thought of having a flammable reservoir of oil above Bert's head for a skaven gunner to shoot just felt like tempting Bramble's restraint.

A wax candle is 6s.  A best one is 60s=3gc so three is 9GC!
 


He almost buys himself a very fine meal; but now he is almost a pilgrim, for the purpose of the journey; and such extravagance seems countervailing.  He talks about how he might go hunting, after he gets permission from the Duke's Master of the Hunt; but in practise, he hovers around Glod, Gimgroth and Jasmine, fearing they will be treated poorly and hoping to run interference.  But he does keep swinging between melancholic and delightful; by this time, he has taught the younger members of the pilgrimage a few songs in Bretonnian, which they can sing and clap along to while he plays the flute.

Not least of all, he is reunited with his best friends - Adélard and Rainier.  He embraces the horses around they necks; talks to them at length; takes them riding down the wide streets, where there is no chance for collision with people going about their lives.  Adélard's limp, from his injury, seems to persist; and the knight knows what that will mean, ultimately.  But not yet.

When the Company is all together, he confides in them about what he has heard.
 
"Peasant uprisings in one form or another are not terribly uncommon.  Often enough, I can see that the Lord has neglected their concerns; and a skilled mediator can resolve such things.  But this is very bad, for my poor people in Bordeleaux.  My father's province is inland; too far from the sea to fear Norscans, too far from the mountains to fear Orcs; too far from the river to fear the Dead.  The peasants do not understand that the knights and men at arms who ride out to such threads do so in such a way to that they can live in peace, and the dignity of toil.  But with the plague ripping through the province, too.."   He shakes his head.   "Whatever the justification for such a revolt, it is going to end very badly indeed.  The nobility are the agents of the King.  You cannot simply cut their throats and then, later, have someone come resolve it all with a negotiation.  A handful of men have done the rabble rousing, and let it go too far; now those men, and a great many more who would otherwise have endured a difficult season and lived to be grandfathers, will hang because of this.  And now they come close to my father's estate..."   He shakes his head again, lips tight.  The desire to race across land to home is strong; but the calculus is the same now as it was before, when he wanted to go and find a remedy for the plague.  The fastest, most assured, and most virtuous way to get home was to get the Pilgrims to Couronne, and sail around the coast to Bordeleaux then push hard inland.  There was no other way to help his father, and his brothers, and his half-sister.

If his father was not dead of the malady, already.  If his brothers had not each met grim, untold fates in their own quests seeing aid.  If Celeste had not fallen prey to some terrible thing.

EDIT: Bertelis will also spend time with the handful of older slaves they freed from the Skaven, including the old man who helped them in the tunnels.  He will commend him to Wighard, hoping to get the poor fellow and those like him nourished with enough strength to carry on to Couronne.  He talks to the freed slaves, those who might be in desperate need of somewhere to go, and tells them that once things have settled in Bordeleaux, he will vouch for them to join the peasantry on his father's land, where he promises them fair treatment and work - which isn't hard to pitch, considering their last employers were mutant rat men.

EDIT EDIT: ...But if any of the freed slaves has particularly useful skills, if they were ex professionals of one type or another, he might consider commending them to the Company to take on as staff.
wilphe
 
 Originally Posted by MrAbdiel 
  
 Spoiler: OOC: Healing 
We're staying a couple of days in Montford, yes?  Should we do rolls for healing, or should I reset to full?
 
 
 

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Well doesn't Bretelis oath mean that he cannot stay more than one night under the same roof?

Also I feel you've invented a way to get hot wax in your eyes and hair
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: you find a proprietor of information in a small dingy storefront. the man, who identifies himself as henree, has information to sell.

bertelis: you find a horse trader on the outskirts of montfort with a half-dozen horses of varying calibers. two young riding horses, both of decent temperment, a brown warhorse in his prime, but prone to anger, and three unbroken horses. he looks you over with the practiced eye of a trader.  "good sir knight, going to buy one of these fine horses?" 
farothel
If Bruno had known what he knew now, he might not have agreed to put that demon inside of him.  The images he had seen in the past nights had not been a lot of fun and didn't bear repeating.  He dreaded going to sleep, but he knew he had to.  Now they were in Montfort, he could at least play his trade again and try to figure out what was going on on the road ahead.  So he would first ask the local lord about the road conditions ahead, but also check if there was a local version of the roadwardens he could ask about any issues on the way to the Shallyans.  Maybe even check if there was a local temple of Shallya who might know what was going on.  He was quite sure they probably wouldn't be able to get the demon out, but at least they might know what was going on between here and their main temple.

He also used the days Bertelis, Jasmine and the dwarves needed to catch up to learn as much as he could about Bretonnia, just so he wouldn't make too big faux-pass.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

gossip:  (1d100)[ 87 ]  vs 87 (+10% with nobles due to Etiquette talent).
 
dojango
" It's always difficult to buy an' sell information, since ya can't physically inspect the goods, like ya can with a horse or, I dunno, thirty pallets of salted fish, but whaddya got for me, Henree? If ya got sources you know I'm a straight shooter ," Jasmine says as she barges inside the store.
wilphe
 
 Originally Posted by MrAbdiel 
 So the look to Wighard seems to say something like  I suspect we will continue to disagree about this, so we might as well leave it behind us.   Wighard was his friend; that was not in doubt.  His strange addiction to the advice born of the  mind , when following the impulse of the  spirit  was clearly the right option, was just a part of him he would have to accept. 
 

Wighard is genuinely glad to see Bertelis again, but open to the possibility that their hitherto close relationship - already temporarily split - might sunder further as the Brettonian is now not just back on home turf but also close to his blood-family and his found family will probably come off second.

He doesn't want to have to force Bertelis to chose between them, but he will keep his position as self-appointed voice of reason within a group largely ruled by honour (Bertelis and the Dwarves, sometimes Bruno) and occasionally by whatever thought processes govern Jasmine's impulses
MrAbdiel
Bertelis can't help but stop to appreciate the horses as he passes; and cannot blame the merchant for trying him.   "I had not so intended, goodman; I have my own.  But I do find it hard to walk by without speculating." 

He leans on the rail of the fence around the small enclosure, watching the horses interact, picking their personalities as he does.  That warhorse is obstreperous; the kind that hussars and light assault cavalry like.  But no; once he had retired Adelhard to a breeder near his home, he would have to think about acquiring a destrier; one of the mighty breeds his people were famed for commanding, whom he had ridden before but never owned, and bonded with.  That would be some time coming; and would require more gold won in adventure, to boot.  The two riding horses seemed fine indeed; but his eyes tracked to the unbroken beasts.  They would take a lead, but not a saddle, until they had learned their place in the partnership of rider and steed.  And it had been long time, since he had broken a horse in.  And he'd never done so, without help.  Bruno's horse fell to the Dragon Ogre, back on the road.  It was worth a thought.

He looked over the three unbroken beasts, particularly; picking which were courser breeds for combat, and which were palfreys for riding.

"Tell me, goodman; if another man were to come along, and  he  were looking to buy horses, what would you say, for these?"  He gestures to the unbroken ones first.   "If any of these are threaded stock for yeomen cavalry.  And what of this fitful mustang?  He seems barely able to contain himself.  He might be on the path to gelding." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Bertelis is interested to see if any of the unbroken ones are  Light Warhorse  breeds.  It seems unlikely this fellow would have Bretonnian Destriers, since that's sort of a protected special industry!  But if the prone-to-anger warhorse comes with a discount, that might be interesting to know.  Likewise, if any of the unbroken ones are Light Warhorses (as opposed to draught or riding horses) Bertelis would be looking for a speculative price, as now he has the skills to actually break a horse and make it ready for war.
 Even if he's only going to break that horse on the road and then sell it off when he gets to Couronne for some extra money!

The normal prices for horses, as a reminder:

Draught Horse: 25GC
Riding Horse: 80GC
Light Warhorse: 300GC
Destrier: 500GC
Bretonnian Destrier: 750GC

Eventually I'll need a Bretonnian Destrier to go into Knight of the Realm, but I'm not there yet and I don't have the money to buy one.
 I figure we'll have to do one or two of our treasure hunting things before that's possible, but it's alright; I have a whole career path planned anyway.

But I'm mostly interested in these unbroken horses (and the angry horse), and what prices the trader might offer them when they will need some work.
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: henree looks at you with a practiced eye.  "madame, information brokers do not just reveal things. i have to know what you are looking for before i can tailor my selection to you" 

bertelis: two are for riding and one is for combat. the trader says  "the roan is good stock"  indicating the unbroken one in the corner who whinnies defiantly at your gaze. the roan looks good, but it'll take work to break his spirit.  "tell ya what, ill let the roan go for 180 GC"  as for the warhorse he shrugs  "im working on molding him to be better, but he's resistant"  he leans in and says  "i think someone wasnt too kind to him when he was young" 
MrAbdiel
He considers the unbroken roan; a would-be warhorse, if it was broken well, and patiently.  He asked for a chance to inspect; he looked over hooves, and teeth.  A quality, threaded mare with strong shoulders, he thought.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Looking a gift horse in the mouth 
Inspecting a horse for defect is the kind of normal thing you can do with a basic skill, which usually only requires a roll if there's something unusual or difficult like strange conditions to work under or something devious afoot.  So here's a roll, if this guy is stitching me up somehow!    vs51  - (1d100)[ 18 ] ,  Fate reroll if failure,   vs51Fate  - (1d100)[ 60 ]  .
 

 "Is she far enough trained that she'll take at least a lead rope?  It'd be hard for you to herd her here otherwise, I imagine.  Hmm.
 And what about the unbroken palfreys, there?  Smooth riding gaits on those Parravon palfreys, I know.  I'm sure you're looking for eighty  Loius  for them when they're all ready; but how much if I were to take one off your hands presently?" 
bramblefoot
 "call it fifty"  the horse merchant says.  "as to the lead rope, she doesnt like it, but once its on she mellows" 
MrAbdiel
He hems; he haws.

Somewhere nearby, a donkey hee-haws; protective of his niche.

 "Alright.  I'll take the warrior roan.  If I were living more peacefully I would take the palfreys too, but I am on the road, and will be for some time.  One such responsibility will be enough." 

He takes a look at the roan courser's breeding books; and finding nothing objectionable, makes his mark, and the agreed price of 180 gold  loius .  He takes a roll of rope, rigs up a hempen harness as he had learned to do as a squire, and gingerly, soothingly, applies it to the mare while offering calming sounds.  Before long, she is tethered to the guide rope; not incredibly happy about it, but managable.   "Ah, ma'amselle; there is such a destiny ahead of you." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
I have acquired 1* Partially broken roan warhorse, for 180 GC!

Bertelis will also look for a henchman later on, to mind this particular horse while they're off being active and to sooth it to help with its breaking.  He'll first see if any of the slaves they freed from the skaven, poor buggers recovering from their traumas, has the disposition and the history as a peasant/serf to handle horses.  If not, he'll check amongst the pilgrims; and failing that, he'll have to see if he can snaffle up someone from Montfort as they pass through.
 
dojango
Jasmine sniffs at the broker's presumption at asking for information for free, but she says, " The great an' noble knight Sir Bertelis has returned to Bretonnia, along with his dwarven side-kicks, his squire and his barber.  The Reikmarshal himself was sad to see him leave Altdorf, but a bunch of nasty types were spyin' on him as he left.  I just wanna know if anyone's payin' to have him watched here in town, and if they are, who the paymasters are and where they sleep. "
bramblefoot
jasmine: henree gives the ever-so little eyebrow raise.  "madam, i can assure you that information is thoroughly out of your price range."  he elaborates no further.

bertelis: can i get a perception test?
dojango
" Hey.  Hey.  You see this flippin' hat?  It says I gots a price range that's surprisingly high.  Unless you're just gonna jerk me around by quoting a price that's, like, physically impossible, like a billion  ecus  or summat, why doncha tell me the number you think is outside my price range and we'll see what I can do? "
bramblefoot
jasmine: henree laughs.  "let me put it bluntly. i am an information broker, but im not required to sell to blowhards who overstate their value. in fact madam, i tire of your talk"  he sits down, and says not a word to you again

bertelis: when you enter the tavern, you find a letter in your pocket. it reads  if you come for bordelaux, all that will be there is fire and death. 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is alarmed to discover something on his person he did not put there - he wheels about, eying the randoms around him with accusation; but can see no one implicated immediately and pauses to examine the note.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Hmm.  Is it written in Breton?  How good is the handwriting - crappy, peasant learned to write as an adult writing, or perfect little noble woman learned as a child writing, or something else?  Neither will help Bertelis identify the author right now.

Also, will I be able to hire a henchman from among the freed slaves/refugees?  I have a neat Warhammer bot in Discord I can use to quickly random up NPC's, so it's trivial for me to generate, for example, a random farmer within some parameters.  And there's an extra table for hireling personality traits in the old world armory, too.  Let me know!

Now that I think about it, if I can't get a hireling from one of the ex slaves or the imperial pilgrims, I don't think I'll be able to get one.  THis isn't the empire; if I scoop up someone's peasant, their lord is going to come looking for me and ask why I'm poaching their people!
 
bramblefoot
 
 Spoiler: bertelis 
the writing is perfect breton, like a noble would write. you get a sense that this is far deeper than some peasant uprising

roll up a hireling, but subtract 5 from toughness
 
dojango
Jasmine rolls her eyes and replies, "If you say so, chummmmm...  p."  She flounces out of the shop, fancy hat in tow.  After she heads back to where the party is staying, she ditches the jezzail and the fancy hat, replacing it with a drab traveler's cloak and heads back out to lurk in the alleys near the information broker's house; if he isn't going to sell her anything, perhaps she can listen in to just who he's dealing with...

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 23 ]  v. 37 concealment,  (1d100)[ 65 ]  v 66 perception to spy &amp; eavesdrop on the jerk.
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: you see hooded individuals come and go, but suprisingly, no sound escapes from the storefront save for indistinct whispers. it looks like this shop has some spooky shtuff against eavesdroppers
wilphe
With some time to himself Wighard updates his correspondence to the Maga Oylln &amp; Magus Trakore - but without explicitly mentioning skaven.

He will also write up what Xueek Grimfinger has been telling him - but that he keeps to himself
dojango
With the hairs on the back of her neck tingling and an unnatural silence, Jasmine heads back to their base and goes to talk to the only unnatural specialist she knows for advice.  She bangs on Wighard's door and says, " Hey, can you sniff out magic or other weird stuff?  I think this guy is in league with bad guys but his house is dead silent.  Unnaturally silent, if'n you ask me, which you didn't cause I'm telling you right now, you busy?  You wanna go take a look?  I'll bring my guns so you'll be safe. "
wilphe
Wighard is interested, but cautious, and also looks forward to hanging out with Jasmine again.

He finishes one of the letters, signs and seals it then turns his attention to the halfling.

  I can come check it out, what makes you think he is in league with bad guys?  
dojango
" One, he's a jerk.  Two, he looks and acts suspicious.  Three, he seems to be dealin' with weird people.  Even if he's not our bad guy, he seems like he might be a bad guy?  Dunno.  Wanted to eavesdrop on him to check it out, but it's like, unnaturally silent there, so maybe you can see if he's dabblin' in the strange and unknown?  If he is, that's super weird and oughter be checked out. "
wilphe
  You mean:

1 He didn't talk to you

2 He didn't talk to you

And  

He looks at her hat

  3 But he  still  didn't deal with you.

As for checking him out - fine, but we let the others know where we are going and I am not going to poke the wasps nest of someone who is quietly minding their own business.

If he does have such capability - that means he is worth taking seriously  
bramblefoot
bruno: the roads are suprisingly bad for this season. It's likely you're gonna be slowed down severely by fallen logs and such from torrential rains. the peasants and grail knights are also seen in fewer numbers than before

jasmine: it's obvious that henree has beefed up his security. two burly louts with cudgels stand in front of the door, watching passers by with a keen eye

 (1d100)[ 39 ] 

wighard: there is magic on the shop. very powerful anti-scrying magic indeed, and at your current level of training, nigh-impossible to disrupt permanently
MrAbdiel
With the new horse gently in tow, and the nervous, recently emancipated Odmar following in his wake, Bertelis returns to the Company's camp.

 "Come now,  Odmar.  I will have you meet the other Companions.  Bruno is especially worthy of note, for he is the other horseman and son of birth; but the other four are also grand, and not encumbered by their blood.  Indeed, two are dwarves, and one a mischievous mootlette whose donkey you may also be called to mind." 

Odmar already knows the dwarves, and the halfling - they brawled their way into the pitiful dungeon when the rats had him mine their awful stone.  Being led to the surface by these shortkin in a train of other free sufferers is an event whose details he will never forget.  But he's so overwhelmed by the opportunity to work - make a few coins and then perhaps even make his way home and see Wendorf again in sweet Ostland.  Oh, sweet, sweet Ostland!  Once he cursed her plainness, and the way other folk talked about her, and was ashamed of being her son. But now!  Now, yearned so badly for Ostland from within the dark halls of the Skaven for what might have been a year, he would never curse Ostland again.  He would kiss the earth when he returned.  He would go up to his brothers' farm, and tell them he was a fool and forgave all and that all was forgiven of them, and he would milk cows and tend the cheese cave contently until the day of his death.

But for now, he would work.  He owed this Company with its strange banner and its motley people his life, and he would take this opportunity with both hands to work for these good, furless folks as long as they required him.  When Sir Bertelis had made him the offer, he had agreed at once, then borrowed a set of shears from one of the pilgrims to trim his scragly beard and hair to a ... well.  To short; the first haircut he had had since his captivity.  And now he was going to meet a nobleman of the empire, at his least presentable, but most fortunate day.  If Rhya was kind, he wouldn't make a fool of himself.

Bertelis, taking his short, pained steps, pokes about the camp for Bruno, and anyone else still there.
farothel
After getting some information about the roads ahead, Bruno headed back to the inn they were staying at to inform the others.  He would also spend some time with his valet to teach him the more common ways of Bretonnia, to make sure that he didn't give offense, even if by accident.

When Bertelis came around, he looked up.
 "We'll continue this in the morning,"  he said to his valet and then turned to his fellow knight.
 "It's good to see you're looking better than hell warmed over.  I was just teaching my valet about Bretonnian customs, at least the more common ones.  And I've been checking up on road conditions ahead.  From what I heard they are not good, so we best make provisions for it." 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis gave a faint smile, and the shadow of a bow.  Half his face was still bandaged, his arm slinged, his chest stitched beneath his tunic; but he had some color back in his skin, atleast.  Perhaps, hell heated to its optimal serving temperature.

 "Ah, very good.  I expect a great deal of slack to be given to pilgrims, since the peasants here are like those in the Empire - pious enough to not desire to offend any god who might favour them.  And with this pilgrimage being common enough, a passage of imperials through here, most of whom do not know the language or ways, must be expected by now.  Still, travel to your nation has enriched me; I hope your time here has a similar effect, and likewise for your footman."   With that, he thumbs towards Odmar; as scruffy as a recently emancipated slave given a new job opportunity might be expected to look, his clothing simple but new, his features dirty but sincere.  If he has seen twenty summers, it's not by much.   "This is Odmar, whom I have hired on to help with the horses.  Especially this fair lady."   He reaches with his good hand to pat the roan warhorse's neck; she gives an untrusting snort, but no more protest than that.   "I came upon a trader with a number of horses he had not completely broken; and recalling the sacrifice of your own valiant companion, took it upon myself to make the purchase.  More than a hundred crowns less than a battle-ready horse, but she has all the makings, and just needs some devoted time getting her used to the tack, and the direction.  I thought you and I could work on her some during the pilgrimmage, and Odmar take her when we are otherwise occupied - his family are Ostland cattle folk, so he knows the array.  And when she is ready for combat, you might take her on as your own.  I checked her breeding books to be sure, but she's not a breed prohibited for export; mostly al'Asubran.  Her ancestors probably taken when we threw the Arabyans out of Estalia."
 
He produces an ugly apple from his pocket, one  sold from the bottom of the barrel, but perfect for horses, and cautiously feeds it to the mare - who snaps it in half requiring Bertelis to pull back his fingers swiftly, and bobble the bottom half of the fruit dropped away.   "...Though, yes, she will require work.  Since your horse was lost in service of the Company's tasks, I'd be surprised if there were much objection to covering her price from the Company expenses.  But if you determine ultimately you would prefer another breed, or an imperial bred stallion or the like, I will take no offense." 

It's only after this introduction to horse and horsehandler, which he was apparently excited to offer, that his mind catches up to Bruno's own announcement about the roads.   "Ah, yes.  Well, this may be as far as we can take the carts.  We may need to distribute the carried goods to the pilgrims, from here.  But I remain.. anxious for us to get to Couronne, in as good order as we can."   
wilphe
Wighard looks at Jasmine,

  Yes, empowered by some ritual no doubt. He must have powerful allies to have that - and perhaps also to have it without drawing the interest of the Maidens. I shall mention it to the Damsel Elisia if she is still around.  

++++

Back at the camp:

  I was thinking whether to sell one of the wagons here as we'd get a better return from giving it up before we had too.

But it looks like we have to now.

You seem to have found a decent horse-trader, perhaps we could trade for some packhorses or mules?  
  Hail Odmar   he will give the Ostlander a medical examination - and a proper haircut - and, if he is in good health, take the opportunity to take the traditional two locks of hair
dojango
Jasmine shrugs when Wighard mentions the damsels, after all, she hasn't really dealt with them.  " Mebbe some good ol' fashioned mob justice might work, too.  Spread the rumors he's behind he attacks on the caravans and let things work out naturally.  I reckon whatever he's doin' ain't legal nor in anyone's best interest. "
wilphe
Wighard fixes Jasmine with a stare and his drops voice very low, and as cold as a glacier on the north slopes of Norsca,

  Understand me please.

If you feel that you best course of action in response to something you don't understand is to whip up a hate-mob on the grounds that what they are doing is probably bad - for which you have presented zero evidence  

He inhales deeply

  Maybe you should not idly talk about that to the wizard in the group.  
dojango
" Evidence?  You just said you saw magic.  Practicin' magic without permission is one of the worse crimes out there.  If you don't want to help our Bretonnian friends put a stop to it, I guess that's one way to deal with what ya saw, but it don't seem right.  We should try an' leave this place better than when we found it. "
bramblefoot
wighard and jasmine: as you are talking in low voices, you hear a breathy chuckle come from the wall.  "thats the trouble with you mouthy halflings. always listening in on stuff you shouldn't" 

a large black shadow detaches itself from the wall and oozes over to look at you.  "i hate to do this, but y'know, you kinda got what's coming to you"  it will quickly scoop the both of you up, and ooze away

 (1d100)[ 71 ] 
 (1d100)[ 35 ] 

that 71 aint scooping jasmine, but the 35 snares wighard

also can i get fear tests at flat?
dojango
Jasmine yelps loudly and quakes in fear for a moment.  Such terrible things, out of stories, were far beyond her ken; if Wighard was helpless in its grasp, what could she do against such ancient evil?
wilphe
Wighard gets that tingling he sometimes gets that tells him something is about to go down and wheels out of the shadow's grasp before it even moves to strike

  Yes, by all means attack the guy who advocated minding his own damn business to teach him a lesson about minding his own damn business  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Any taint of Dhar coming off this thing? Or just Ulgu? Or something else
 
bramblefoot
wighard: the slime stops for a second, and thinks  "wighard rauchesburg"  it says, rolling the words around in its mouth, like a particularly tasty morsel.  "careful where you step, eyes are everywhere"  it says, and vanishes back into the wall.

 
 Spoiler: wighard 
its ulgu mostly. there is something else you cannot identify
 


jasmine: gimme perception

everyone else not in the scene, gimme a montage of what you all did
wilphe
  I do try to avoid treading on peoples' eyes yes.

Have a nice day  

He looks at Jasmine

  I'm done with this, I have enough real problems to deal with without creating new ones  

He then stalks off
MrAbdiel
Bertelis spends the rest of the day getting acquainted with the horse.  He's too sore to really contend with it, so he doesn't push it; but he tries his luck with the bridle using the early stages of letting it lay unbuckled over the horse's face for short periods to acclimate her.  He leaves the naming of the majestic mare to Bruno, whom he hopes will accept it as his steed.
farothel
Bruno didn't really know what to say.  The horse was beautiful, although it would take some time to get it trained fully.  Best try not to ride into too many combats with it for now.  And being Bretonnian, it was probably also not trained for gunpowder weapons.  Then he realised that Bertelis was still waiting for an answer.
 "I accept gladly,"  he said,  "she's a great gift. 
dojango
Jasmine tracks down a few of the freed slaves and invites them to the inn's common room.  Some of the younger ones, who have recovered from their ordeal better.  They are grateful, both for the drinks and her help in liberating them, but she says, " I ain't sure yer out of the caves just yet... I saw some suspicious guys wearin' cloaks and walkin' funny, like they weren't used ta walking upright.  They snuck into a shop... " she describes the information broker's location... " and when I went ta eavesdrop the guy who runs the shop summoned some weird shadow thing that tried to drag me away... I legged it an' came for reinforcements, but we gotta keep on movin' with the pilgrims.  Someone stayin' here oughter take care of the problem, lest more travelers come ta ruin.  A few dozen men with torches and pitchforks oughter be enough, see what you can do, eh? "  She slides across a sack of silver and the axe that Bertelis had given her.  " This might help, yeah? "
bramblefoot
we cut to couronne, the capital of bretonnia. as the party enters the main gate, the lead gate guard stops you all.  "due to a rash of pistol shootings in the capital, all firearms must be left at the gatehouse. you may collect them when you leave"  he offers no further explanation, unless you wish to press him

jasmine: you spot a crude drawing of your face with the words  orc infiltrator  over the top. the bounty is around 25 gc, enough to tempt people into trying to take you.

bertelis: how do you feel about this turn of events?

bruno: gimme perception at -10 pls

glod: the runeblade flares hot, and tugs you forward a few paces, like its anxious or summat. wdyd?

gimgroth: how are you dealing with your beardlessness, and did you let siobhan tutor you in your letters?

wighard: can i get a magical sense roll at +10?
farothel
Sir Bruno had taken as much time as possible during the move towards Couronne to train his new horse.  Bertelis had a very good eye for horses and Bruno could see the mare's potential, but she still needed training.  Arriving at Couronne, Bruno looked around, taking in the new sights but also keeping a wary eye out for any danger.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

perception at -10:  (1d100)[ 86 ]  vs 59 (+10 mastery, -10 GM)
 24  reroll FP in OOC topic
 
dojango
Jasmine takes a bit of charcoal out of a pocket and when not too many people are watching, adds a handle-bar mustache, a goatee and an eye patch to the poster, making it look particularly evil-looking. Then she adds a pair of horns for good measure. She also takes note of just who is offering the bounty and the instructions for claiming the reward and files the information away; after all a bounty is no good if there's no way to collect on it...
wilphe
Wighard nods,   Understood, you might need to wait a while while I draw shot   he steps off to one side to unload the blunderbuss   May I have a receipt please?   
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 

 (1d100)[ 67 ]  Magical Sense 56 +10 Kwolf +10 Aethyric Attunement +10 Task = 86
 


There is a young boy of no more than 14 summers watching from the side of the gate clad in the livery of The Grand Veneur, he approaches Bertelis,   Sir Bertelis de Roche? I have a message for you  , and hands Bertelis a sealed letter.

 
 Spoiler: Letter 

Sir Bertelis de Roche

You are requested to attend upon his Majesty Louen Leoncoeur at your earliest convenience.

The messenger will inform you of our current location

Baron Cyrasse
 

  His Lordship is currently at the Pavillion de Podoye. What answer should I bring sir?  
 
 Spoiler: Grand Veneur 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Huntsman_of_France
 
MrAbdiel
He has seen Couronne before; but not for quite some time.  The sight of her parapets and spires, the distant rising dome of the king's racefields and the peaking temples and estates amidst the old stone castellan architecture in contradistinction to the empire's wood and plaster fixations...  He draws in a breath, and releases it slowly; and some of the stress comes away from his hard brow.  The trip here has been good for his recovery, and he is mostly mobile and wearing his chailmail armor again.  His time on the road has been spent helping in the training of Bruno's new mare; but mostly his interactions have been with the pilgrims and slaves leading travelling songs, playing his flute, standing in Adelhard's saddle while speaking with comical casual ease to the handful of children in their train; drowning his internal fears and miseries in the efforts of entertaining others.

He watches the handing over of the guns with... less feeling than he expected.  It should be a small victory, with a hope that his companions will learn a little more about life in a country less degraded by the addictive visitation of the 'advance' which Bretonnian children often saw satirized in puppet shows as the ghoulish 'Salt Pieter' and his diabolical sulphuric devil minion.  But the young knight can't deny his revulsion has softened, having spent such time in Sigmar's Realm.

These are the thoughts going through his head when a liveried boy with a royal summons comes to him.  It takes him a clear thirty seconds to gather his thoughts, to the limits of the boy's frustrations.

 "Ah... Tell my king that I am bound to see these Pilgrims to the Temple of the Shallya, but I shall be delayed in attending his call only so long as that Goddess minimally requires me.  My companions and I will make haste." 
wilphe
  The summons is for you alone Sir Bertelis.

His Lordship has retired to Podoye for a few days hunting - accommodation is limited

Shall I tell His Lordship you will attend tomorrow?  
MrAbdiel
Bertelis nods.   "If it pleases my king, then yes." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: "Plans" huh? 
 
 
wilphe
  As you command My Lord  

He departs
MrAbdiel
Almost dazed by the royal summons, Bertelis takes a moment to collect himself.  He glances around at the throne of pilgrims with them, having just come through the gate into the city.  They have come so far, through so much to get here; now the Temple was in grasping distance, perhaps to provide some comfort to their woes.  Back at the assembly of his companions.

 "I must admit, I did not expect it; but I have been summoned to attend the King, tomorrow.  I ...did not expect even to be expected; but I must conclude the Damsel Elisa has forecast my coming.  I can't imagine his purposes for me - but I a sure I will soon have a... a new quest, to put with the others; to beg your indulgence."   Bertelis gives the most frail smile some might have ever seen on a man; the fabricated confidence of a traveller inching their way across a barely frozen lake.   "But we have time to complete our peripheral business here.  We have a package that has long needed delivery, which I will attend right away for I gave my word to see it given, and also to get these pilgrims to their ultimate destination.  It may be too late in the day to chart a ship around the coast, right now; we may have to manage that tomorrow.  But I will deliver this package, and meet you at the Temple of Shallya inside of two hours." 
dojango
 "Cor, a meetin' with the king?  Tell him I said 'Hi!'.  If he wants ya to do summat for him, try an' get paid in advance, that'll make findin' a ship easier.  Don't worry about that, I'll head over to the docks to start findin' a sea-worthy tub for us.  And I'll ask around, I suspect the sailors and dockworkers might have a better idea of what those revoltin' Jacks are up to then the nobs will. "
MrAbdiel
Bertelis squints a little - unsure what the 'Jacks' are, but trusting the idiosyncratic halfling well enough.   "As you say, then. You will get along with the folk there well enough, I expect; they are but river docks, after all.  We shall likely need to chart a riverboat around the curl of the  Sannez  to the, heh..."  A smug little grin,  "...'Great' port of L'Anguille." 

The boy from Bordeleaux's eyes track around his companion's faces; but without any of them marinating in cross-ducal mockeries, his  l'zinger  goes unzung.

 "...But, ah, once there, we can find a sailing ship that can wrap around the coast." 
bramblefoot
wighard: you sense a turn in the winds of magic. it seems couronne has less access to the winds then normal. take a -1 to all casting rolls until the winds change. the guard gives you a reciept for the blunderbuss, and waves you through the gate

jasmine: im assuming your handing over your guns, or you wont be allowed in. if not, how are you planning to enter? the city really doesnt like black powder, and that rifle is mighty suspicious

bertelis: the delivery goes smoothly to the temple of shallya. im assuming you're headed to the lodge at podoye. gimme a 1d100 for the travel journey, and we'll see what happens

bruno: the daemon in your eye swivels to focus on a hooded man with a pigeon in a cage on his shoulder. the man has entered, and is moving through the crowd. he'll be gone in a few seconds
dojango
Jasmine unslings her jezzail and hands it over.  Then she hands over one pistol, then the other.  Finally she passes over the damaged blunderbus.  While doing so, and while watching the guard write up and turn over the receipt, she chatters away at him.  " Shootin', eh?  We don't get that as a rule back home.  Nasty stuff.  Who done got shot, was it a quarrel or lover's brawl or summat?  Where'd it happen?  Any suspects?  Don't reckon anyone carries around pistols here, prolly for the best.  Ya know who sells powder an' shot?  Seems like they might know something, eh, whadya think? "  She tries to get as much information from the guards about the shootings under the guise of idle gossip.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 79 ]  v. 61 gossip to get info.  Once again, she doesn't speak the language so if anyone can't understand her, she'll repeat herself louder and with
more exaggerated hand gestures.  That should work.
 
LarsWester
 
 Spoiler: Gimgroth's departure 


 
 Originally Posted by bramblefoot 
 gimgroth: siobhan walks over with a book, and will teach you how to read  "since you taught me axe work, it's only fair i teach you your letters"  she says. do you accept? 
 

Gimgroth shrugs his shoulders at the offer.   "I've never really saw the point of that reading and writing trades. But perhaps it would allow me to write to Beatrix directly instead of through someone else.  If there was someone who could read the letters on the other end." 

As Gimgroth mentions Beatrix Wighard overhears, providing a we need to talk look. Later the wizard pulls the dwarf aside for a private discussion.


 
 Originally Posted by wilphe 
   Well I see that you don't respect my handiwork anymore than Bertelis does, but you can probably guess right that that is beyond my ability to fix unfortunately.

I am sorry, it is either magic, artificial replacement or live with it as an honour scar.

And while I do not wish to upset you further, our yellow eyed friend is apparently interested in your late friend's daughter Beatrix.

I don't know if he has the power to cause ill to befall her; but he certainly has the power to make us worried about the possiblity.

Perhaps we should travel there after we done in Brettonnia?

   
 

 Aye it is as you say.   You did a fine job preserving what diginity I had remaining from the acid of the slug but this.  Waving a hand over his 2 day growth over his chin and cheeks.  It appears I am to be numbered among the beardlings once again. There is little enough to be done about it.  Let my shame be shown to the world.   We'll speak no more of wizard tricks or beard donors such matters would fill me with more shame than the barest chin.   I know what our adventures have caused us to face and quite literally took it on the face.  I fear that the more troubling news is that this yellow-eyed  monster has turned his gaze towards Beatrix.  That is something I can not tolerate.   I fear that this must be where I part with the pilgrimage and the company.   I must at once and at great haste head out to watch over my dear Beatrix.  Oh how I wish her existence remained hidden from our strange and powerful foes.  I know not how this yellow-eye instrument of chaos discovered her existence but her safety is more important than anything to me.  I will leave at once.   Perhaps once I am reunited with her I can take her under my protection and rejoin the company.   It would be nice to have her along as company for Siobhan.  Perhaps that might be best.   I know we plan to tread dangerous pathways but I fear that it may be more dangerous to leave those we love away from our protection.  I hope you can explain my departure to the others Wighard.   I trust you to put the best gleam on it. 
Gimgroth retrieves his possessions from Wighard and departs from the company heading South through Brettonia toward Tilea.
 
MrAbdiel
 
 Spoiler: OOC: Cash on Delivery! 
Awesome.  If the package was delivered successfully (and if there is no further dramas involved therein, Bramble, let us know if otherwise!) then that's 50gc for the group fund, which will go some way to replenishing it after we ransacked it for 180gc for the horse recently.
 


Bertelis looks mournfully up at the work of art that is the grand temple of Shallya; the head of that gentle goddess's religion in the old world. The pilgrims - those they brought from the Empire, those they picked up on the way - file in, received by the whiteclad workers of that sacred place; and how he wished to be among them.  His heart ached - and part of the initial bargain struck when they chose to take this pilgrimmage was that they would spend some time at the temple themselves, soothing their wearied bodies and minds as a kind of 'payment' for their protection.  But that would have to wait; in fair Bordeleaux, dark things stirred.  His father was sick, even dying.  His three brothers, each and all missing.  His young half-sister, at best, distraught at the absense of her mother for so long.  His countrymen ailing; and the peasantry to whom he was oblidged to be a shield were in such a grip of desperation or madness they had taken up arms  in a doomed quest, fighting for the right to be hanged when someone mustered the force for it.  But the king had called him; and this comes first.

First, the King.
Then, Bordeleaux.
Then, Mousillon, and the black blade within.
Then, when all these pledged and obligations were done, back to Couronne, to rest, before they could finally strike out to seek the treasure hinted at all those months ago, now.  Perhaps, as close as Lyonesse...

 
 Spoiler: The road to Podeye 
I assume the lodge ain't so far away it's a massive diversion.  Bertelis and his horses, striking out together again.

  RandomHappeningsOrNah  - (1d100)[ 8 ] 
 
farothel
 "Good luck, master dwarf,"  Bruno said to Gimgroth as he announced his decision to go off on his own.  They would have to be more careful in battle with a main fighter less, but they would manage.  They would have to.  He also handed in his pistol and collected the receipt.  When he noticed the man, he wasn't sure why the demon focused on him, but he wanted to make sure, so with a nod at his companions, who were also heading out for their own things, he moved into the crowd to follow the man.
wilphe
 
 Originally Posted by MrAbdiel 
  
 Spoiler: The road to Podeye 
I assume the lodge ain't so far away it's a massive diversion.  Bertelis and his horses, striking out together again.
 
 
 

 
 Spoiler: Podeye 

It bears much the same relationship to Courronne that Versailles originally did to Paris - far enough to away to get some privacy and good hunting but easy enough to commute whilst remaining small enough that you can be selective about who you invite there
 
wilphe
Wighard embraces Gimgroth with tears in his eyes and bids him farewell

++++++++

He conducts the remaining pilgrims to the end of their route - a larger than average party that causes some amazement when final count reveals that slightly less than two thirds of those who set out have made it, when the usual expectation is about one in ten.

As usual The Most Holy Matriarch Lisegund appears in person to pray for those who complete the journey, Wighard spends most of the rest of day in prayer
bramblefoot
bruno: gimme perception to track the man through the crowds of couronne

jasmine: the guards look at you, shrug, hand you a receipt, and usher you through the gate

wighard: morr reaches out to you while you pray. you see a great bird crash-landing on the isle of lyonesse. tendrils of inky shadow attempt to pull it into a cave, and it resists mightily for a time, before being pulled in

bertelis: you arrive at podoye without too much fuss.as you are led into the kings chambers. i pass to wighard. take it away!
wilphe
Podoye, it turns out, is a lightly fortified and mostly modern hunting lodge built off and around a small, old, keep. Usually there are only enough people present to keep any passing brigands or beastmen out.

Right now however it is fully furnished, fully staffed and fully garrisoned. Even so that is less than 3 score people rather than the couple thousand that attend and service the court normally - so perfect for his majesty to get together with a few intimates and relax - or conduct discreet business.

Bertelis is kept waiting for maybe twenty minutes in an ante-chamber before a Baron of the Chamber ushers him through the Privy chamber, through the bedroom and into the closet. The rules and etiquette of the main hall are well established, the rules of the privy chamber and suite rather less so, however as a general rule whether the host comes out to meet you, and how far they come is a measure of relative status. How far you get allowed to penetrate inside the private apartments is a matter of trust, intimacy and friendship.

For example, if it was Karl Franz visiting the King would come out to the door to meet him (because they are equals) and take him deep inside (because they are friends). If it was Carlos IX of Magritta - they would meet at the door and then in the Privy chamber but no deeper.

There is no way the King would leave to meet Bertelis, but that he is allowed in this far is notable.


King Louen Leoncoeur himself sits at a table, clad in the brown leathers of a huntsman but with a rich blue robe wrapped on top.

The only other person in the room stands in the opposite corner of the room to the King, of medium height but stern countenance and not as dressed down as his monarch. He bears the heraldry of Gisoreux - so this is almost certainly Duke Hagen himself.

  Sir Betelis de Roche your majesty  
  Thank you Conratt.  

The Baron takes his leave and shuts the door

His majesty puts down the paper he is reading and looks Bertelis up and down



 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Let's have a perception check please
 
farothel
Bruno kept following the man in the crowded streets of Couronne, keeping a bit of a distance, but close enough that he can keep him in sight.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

perception:  (1d100)[ 64 ]  vs 69
 
dojango
 "Can't believe we found the only guards who don't like to gossip, eh Bruno?  Bruno? "  Spotting him moving with purpose through the crowd, she thinks to herself that the last time someone when out on his ownsome he almost got grabbed up by a weird shadow thing.  She'd better make sure he doesn't get into trouble haring off on his own.  If he's just headed for a brothel or whatever she'll give him some privacy though.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 30 ]  v. 64 to shadow Bruno so she can make sure he doesn't get in trouble.
 
MrAbdiel
Almost overwhelmed by the manifold outcomes such a meeting offers, Bertelis nonetheless manages to keep his head.  It's also his best chance to wear the noble garb they had commissioned - the pageantry of the Company of the Burning Slug, in the court of the King!

He takes a knee at the threshold, his eyes pointed to the floor until he is invited to rise.

 "You grace. Your majesty.  This son of Bordeleaux attends, at your request." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: Test! 
Perception!

  Vs51  - (1d100)[ 5 ] ,  or, if it fails,   Vs51FP  - (1d100)[ 94 ]  .
 
wilphe
The room has two other doors than the one Bertelis came in - one to the side he thinks links to the Grail Chapel and one in the opposite room that probably leads to the even more private  cabinet  . Its not particularly big, but could probably accumulate half a dozen comfortably around the table or more at a pinch.

His majesty - so far as you can tell - is not armed (knives don't count) - Duke Hagen certainly is, his longsword hanging by his side and in the case of trouble more guards would arrive quickly, possibly even more quickly than that.

The main furnishing is the table at which the King sits, it is mostly clear save for some pewter goblets, a few wine bottles, a water jug, a neat stack of papers and something bust sized under a cloth. A few chairs and stools surround it and there are a few shelves on the walls. All of this is clearly of high quality, but not heavily built or ornate and from the open gaps and joins its clear that this is made to be broken down and moved from place to place.

There is a small fire in the fireplace - more so that it can be gotten going properly if need be than for any warmth it really provides right now.

The walls are largely covered in art - almost entirely portraits, pride of place goes to one of Karl-Franz, you also recognise all the Dukes of Brettonia (mostly from their heraldry), the only two women are the Tasarina   Katarin and Juana of Bilbali, a bunch of other nobles foreign and domestic and a portrait of Landuin of Mousillon.

The shelves contain a number of works you recognise, including Sir Gilles du Lancre's " Chant d'Acier ", several well known books of war and strategy, some titles you don't recognise that appear to be technical/scientific or historical/geographic in nature and a copy of Imaschiavelli Venedetto's “ The Border Prince ”
wilphe
Having finished looking Bertelis over with apparent satisfaction the King returns to what he was reading, which Bertelis can just about make out as one the Altdorf newsrags.

  A handsome knight of unflinching courage whose virtue is beyond reproach and whose sense of duty is ironclad, Sir Bertelis de Roche is a stinging rebuke to the many useless fops and partygoers who clutter up our own nobility and fulfil no obvious function.

Do they not feel shame at our great city being saved by a Bretonnian?  

He pauses

  You have been making quite a name for yourself in the Empire.

Even if that name is often in the mouths of their agitators as a stick to beat their own nobility.

Glad you left when you did, it would end in either a lot of challenges or a diplomatic incident

Congratulations also on the safe arrival of that pilgrimage.

Now, We are always interested to hear tales of valour and accounts of foreign doings, so Rise, Advance, Be Seated and tell us all about it  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
You don't have to repost everything - but I do need what spin you put on things and any significant omissions, otherwise I will assume you tell him everything of note
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis's confusion for his arrival does not abate, as he rises, advances, and takes his seat with the King.  And not just king - legitimate war hero.  Not that long ago, King Louen had declared an Errantry war to join the alliance of men, elves and dwarves against the invaders of Chaos, riding to the aid of Middenheim to break the seige that the monsterous Kurgan had set there.  When daemons took to the field, Louen had traded blows with the horrific prince of chaos Be'lakor, and even snatched the head priest of Sigmar from the daemon's clutches in the height of the battle - possibly the greatest act of fellowship that Bretonnia had ever performed for the Sigmarites of the east.  If Bertelis had been born a few years earlier, he and his brothers would have been swept up in that errantry war; called, perhaps, to die at Louen's side against Archaon's terrible warriors.  As fate happened to show itself, he had been just too young.   He had been forced to seek out his own peril - and these were perils whose memories bounced around inside him, desperate to be spoken.  And Duke Hagen was no lack of legend himself - the stories of his exploits in the Battle of Arden Forest against the vampire cult of Mousillon are the stuff of dreams, and nightmares.

At first, recounting his exploits to the king and the duke is awkward, and odd; but as they give him space and encourage it, the accounts rush out like water from a pierced skin, the flow extending the rip as it goes.  He has not spoken about most of these in his mother tongue; only written to his brothers and father.  The immensity of all he has been through till this point towers over him, made real somehow as it rises in the air in the Breton tongue.

He talks about his brothers, and the comparatively small, anodyne acts of daring they got up to before three of them went home and he turned north to attend the funeral of a family friend.  He talks about getting shot for the first time, by musketeers on the road to Trundheim; riding them down, and how funny the arguement seemed to him now, which he had with Emil about whether to hang the bodies.  He talks about the mine in Trundheim; the first battle he commanded, there; the beastman he killed with the broken remnant of his father's sword, and that sword now being reforged by Morovir.  He talks about the disastrously embattled village of Westvein, with its monsterous Lord Armata and the coloured chaos beast in its hills and the dire wolves they slew, taking their pups to raise, and the river pirates with their ghastly rituals and gaudy golden throne.  The Lord of the Foxwoods, Yellow Eyes, The Trundheim Slug, the Skaven of Axebite Pass; as much of this as the King and Duke tolerate him rambling about, he rambles.  He explains with something like pride that his companions sometimes call him the Hedgehog knight; this to explain the bandage over his eye, further illuminated by the helmet at his side which still features the bullet hole exit on its back where the wyrdstone round very nearly emptied his braincase.

He does not hide parts of the story; but his telling is somewhat uneven.  Men as keen as those listening to him can tell that his account of the Dancer in the Dark, who slit him up and down and left him bleeding in the horror house in Altdorf, is something deeply unresolved in him; something that has undermined his image of himself as knight, driving him to alternate follies of reckless, even self destructive risks like chasing the Skaven into their lair and trying to fight them with a candle and dagger... and negligent avoidance of some of his discipline, pouring himself into the care and entertainment and morale uplift of the embattled pilgrims which, while perhaps admirable, is not his knightly place (though Matrud of Montfort, patron of the Virtue of Empathy, might contend to split hairs about the subject).

He casts his allies in a glowing light - even Wighard, who himself casts a glowing light.  But Wighard is a man of skill and courage, whose capacity to master the forces of the unseen world is a distant second to his true quality, which shows in how swiftly and heartily him hade himself a father to Siobhan.  Gimgroth is a warrior of such talent and conviction that Bertelis worries for the Company in his absense; with that dwarf around, who had pulled himself up from the mires of ignoble mercenary origins, their party could afford to be cavalier (hah) about the foes they engaged because his champion-capacity for rising to challenges was so grand.  Without him, they will need to be more judicious where they can afford to; but had also a parallel, if uneven sense of understanding with the dwarf, and his wounded sense of honor.  He will miss that very much.  Morovir is a dwarf of a different kind: one who seems to Bertelis to have doubted himself for a long time by the standards dwarves hold for themselves, but is proving both stalwart in combat and supreme in crafting such that he ought not to have worried at all, and his clan, wherever they be, would to well to beg him back.  Bruno, being a peasant elevated to nobility by an act of valor, is almost honorably Bretonnian in himself, for such stories (as rare as they are in Bretonnian) are great fodder for bards.  But particularly the strength he has shown with the revelation of darkness in the family adjacent to his cousin, the awfulness of that fight, has convinced Bertelis that Bruno has the right stuff within him; and he has not doubted his choice to give over the imperial armor to the Baronet, even when he could have badly used it himself.  Jasmine may be the most surprising of all - Bertelis remains puzzled by the frankly alien mentality of Halflings and their approach to danger and battle, but cannot help but admire that she is so willing to put herself in harms way even when she walks among men as men would walk among giants.  The fact that she is a  woman  seems to barely detriment her at all; though he will continue to fuss over her safety.  He emphasizes the fact that this halfling woman led a unit of Bretonnian men at arms into the depths of the Skaven den to deliver them, and the peasants; an act he would not have expected of most men, or humans, or peasants; let alone a peasant halfling woman.

His stories run aground on awkwardness when it comes to the Green Knight, too.  The presense of that mythic warrior in his journey while still an errant, and an errant who has strayed somewhat from his path, is deeply indicting to him; and that is discernable, in his voice.

 "...And so he bade me to take the horn from his hands that would summon him to aid me, and asked for an oath in price; and a second oath, if he were to make war on the plague running through Bordeleaux on my behalf.  And I - perhaps impetuously - oathed that I would see slain a champion of each of the four dark gods before I slept twice under the same roof; and further oathed that I would do so without calling on his aid.  And I gave him back the horn; something I would question, when the rats shot me down under the earth and I thought I was dead.  But it was not to be; and my friends and the pilgrims carried me from there, and along the way until I had strength to walk and ride again.  That is the last of the deeds the company did, before we arrived to deliver the pilgrims, and I caught young summons.  Next, we are to sail around to Bordeleaux; to see if... my father's house still stands, and what can be done about the peasant revolts in the area; and then into Mousillon, to seek the cursed blade as we promised the Templar of Sigmar.  And then..."   He paused, and laughed a little.   "...Maybe a ... short interval of peace before something else."   He blushes then; the laugh feeling overly familiar and inappropriate, when he remembers his august company.
wilphe
Both listen intently and even Duke Hagen starts to visibly relax, albeit tensing up slightly at the mention of Bruno and Jasmine, the King is if anything curious about them - asking about the process of Bruno's elevation and gently probing at Bertelis' feelings about them.


Overall though it seems like both are happy to experience vicariously through Bertelis what it was like to be young, unburdened with responsibilities and able to seek adventure at will.


His Majesty is also especially interested in accounts of the Skaven menace.

  We cannot allow Skaven to base in the pass - that route is too important. Our Imperial friends are too obtuse to acknowledge the threat even exists, and our own knights ill-suited to such combat, we may have to source some Tileans.  

Duke Hagen looks uncomfortable

  We sometimes wish more of our knights had the pragmatic attitude of Duke Huebald of Carcassone - orcs do not know honour, so do not deserve to be fought with chivalry  

Duke Hagen interjects

  With respect my Lord, you talk as if chivalry is a handicap  

Louen smiles and looks at Bertelis

  The Duke is our conscience, whenever we get too willing to compromise in the name of statecraft.

The skaven are numerous, cunning and by what few accounts we have without honour even amongst their own kind. They are vermin, intelligent vermin, but vermin.  



There is a small silence as he waits for a response from Bertelis.


  But the skaven menace is not what we are here to discuss - though we thank you for your first hand account.
   he nods at the Duke, who removes the cloth with a grimace of disgust at what lies underneath.

What it concealed is a once fine breastplate - beautifully engraved and clearly a master-work of the armourers craft - now pitted and shattered by several shots from a firearm
MrAbdiel
 "I, ah... quite agree about the Pass.  Considering there are dwarven tunnels down there, perhaps the mountain folk can be persuaded to take on the task; they would surely draw less concern from our neighbours than an army of mercenaries." 

Bertelis offers this almost spontaneously, only a second too late comprehending that he is trying to advise the King of Bretonnia on matters of war and statecraft.  Rarely does anyone have the opportunity to teach anyone's grandmother how to suck such quantities of eggs.

 "Or, ah... I had been thinking that, as I journeyed, I mean." 

He is glad for the conversation to move on; but looks at the ruined cuirass in dismay.  Bretonnians did not possess, widely in their craftsmen, the skill to forge plate armor with much in the way of contour and articulation.  Such was a dwarf art passed to Imperial men; Bretonnians mostly made doo with their bucket-helms and simple, classical partial plate filled out with layered chain, and hardened leather.  A breastplate like this might well have been a special commission from a foreign craftsman; or given its present location, perhaps a diplomatic gift.  Whatever its origin, it was a fair and fine work; or it had been.

 "Awful to see, your majesty."   His hand is drawn, subconciously, to his side where the ache of the skaven warpshot round that nearly killed him for the second time on that delve still throbbed.   "...The guards at the gate spoke of a rash of pistol shootings, here in the city.  Is this the product of that base thuggery..?" 
wilphe
  No  

He pauses

  An Imperial master armourer took a pilgrimage to Couronne. When I heard of this, at great expense I engaged him to work with the finest armourers in my service to make the best armour they could. When they were done I had one of my veteran men-at-arms take a dozen shots at it with an arquebus.

3 times he missed, 3 times it resisted, 4 times it went through, on the 11th the gun exploded.

Fortunately he only lost an eye  


Although he talks about this in the same tone one might use to describe the lameness of not particularly  favoured steed.


  And more and more of these things come in and what is perhaps worse is that they are not under noble control.  


He holds his hand up to forestall the Duke


  I know, we have had this discussion.

Peasants use bows.

Knights do not

But it is not dishonourable for a knight to command peasants who do.

Therefore there is plenty of precedent for peasants to wield weapons that knights do not.  


He bangs the table


  But they have to be under the command of nobles.

We are supposed to be the military elite and protectors of the realm, and if it comes to it that we cannot do that with a horse and lance then we need to do it another way.

That is the essence of chivalry.

We fight for those who cannot.

How we do that matters a lot less  


He is definitely more agitated, and this is clearly a subject that he has been dwelling on for a long time, very rarely gets to talk about and it seems he hasn't worked out any answers for.


He has dropped talking about himself in the Royal We and is probably on the cusp of dropping to  tutoyer  the pair of you


The Duke is also a bit more animated, and it is clear they have this conversation - or versions of it, before,   And I remind your lordship that the solution is strict prohibition and enforcement  
  Even if we could do that, the armourers and castle-builders art has not advanced much since the days of Gilles the Unifier of blessed memory. Powder and cannon have gotten much better and more common.


If we persist in foreswearing them we will end up prey for those who have not.


Not in your lifetime, not mine, but eventually.  


He stands and gestures


  I want Brettonia to shine as brightly a thousand years from now as it does now and you know as I do that even the Prophetesses say it won't  


Then he slumps back into his chair, breathing deeply, and looks at Bertelis sadly


  That part is true. I had them run a series of long-term divinations on the future of the Kingdom - because sometimes just being really good at killing monsters isn't enough for future generations.


The auspices were not good.  
bramblefoot
bruno and jasmine: the man turns into a skeezy tavern called the one-eyed cat. It's a smoky bar of ill repute, with a barkeep who looks like he means business and tavern goers who look at you with barely repressed hatred when you enter. it looks like this place isnt too fond of outsiders
MrAbdiel
Bertelis lips move.  He has opinions; oven the last year, he has read and understood more about military motion and the rise and fall or nations than most of his peers would before their greying years at least.  But he has not been asked to advise; indeed, he has not been asked much at all.  Fingers curling into his palms as of physically restraining his penchant for palaver he asks.

“…Forgive me, my King.  How… can I serve you in this matter?”
wilphe
His majesty looks at Bertelis, takes a swig of watered wine and swirls it around his mouth several times in a combination of appreciation and contemplation before replying. It possibly also gives him a chance to calm down a bit.


It seems apparent that while King and Duke do not see eye to eye here it does not compromise their friendship - indeed they might only be capable of having such a frank discussion because they are good friends, and that his Majesty expects something from his counsellors other than blind obedience. Bertelis might take note of that parallel to his own experience.


  There is a position for which you are uniquely suited - which I shall tell you about in a few moments, and there a number of services for which you are well qualified - which I shall also tell you about.


But I have to begin by telling you how we got here.


Firstly, yes, I fear for Brettonnia, whilst we remain without peer in valour and gallantry we are falling behind in our technology, our economy and our understanding of the wider world.


Some might say  


he looks at the Duke


  That we have fared perfectly well without such things in the past and have no need of them now.


However I worry that unless the nobility take notice we risk change happening without our control or even knowledge and we wake up one day to find ourselves irrelevant.


This might already have happened in  L'Anguille  where the city may pay lip service and taxes to the Duke but could go the way of Marienberg any day now and there is little we could do about it.


A dozen of us gamed out on the sandtable for nearly a week last winter and concluded that we could not take it by assault, a siege could be established from the land but we have no way of maintaining a blockade by sea and that the whole process would impoverish at least three duchies.


So a reminder, before I forget, when you go through there I need a report please


Where was I? Yes.


Secondarily, we cannot easily over-come this isolation or even work out how to fix our problems because of our insularity, some would call it righteous self-confidence


I like and support the Pilgrimage not just on its on divine merits, but also because it is one of the few ways new people come here and some of them have skills we lack. Unfortunately few are prepared to stay because they find the status of a peasant unattractive compared to what they are used to.


Again before I forget, anyone in your recent charge you feel I should make an especial effort to retain?


Scholarship is not highly regarded here, we have no university and the vast bulk of the nobility only study two things - their own ancestry back as far as The Uniter and how related they are to everyone else; and the art of war.


That is except here in Couronne where they also study their horses' pedigrees to an even more intensive degree.  


That might be a royal joke, at least he smiles when he says it


  And also our own studbook is closed  


That's definitely a joke


  You know how nobility works here, but you might not have considered how it handicaps us in diplomacy.


The daughters of Brettonia can freely marry abroad without problem, save having to live somewhere where they are less cherished and protected. Nevertheless they adorn the courts of our neighbours and serve as ornaments to our magnificence.


Our sons generally do not chose brides from abroad, because however exalted they may be in their home country here they would be considered non-noble and their children not eligible to inherit.


We can therefore only offer low-status matches with our sons as few of them are willing to marry a foreigner, as such we end up cut off from the wider world.


Though again plenty see that as a boon not a handicap  


He stands


  For the final part of the puzzle, well, come with me  


He opens the door to the cabinet and steps inside, the Duke gives you a weary and knowing look and beckons you follow his majesty
farothel
Bruno had quickly explained to Jasmine who he was following and why.

When they entered the tavern he immediately saw that this was not a tavern he wanted to stay in, and he assumed that Jasmine would feel the same way.
 "I'm sorry for the intrusion,"  he said,  "but I think I'm a bit lost.  I'm looking for the tanners.  Would you mind pointing me in the right way." 
While he said that he was looking around as much as possible without being obvious about it, mostly to see where the guy he had been following had gone to.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

charm I guess:  (1d100)[ 47 ]  vs 77 (if schemer applies, vs 87)
 
dojango
While Bruno is distracting the tavern's patrons, Jasmine takes a moment to look to see if the bar has any exits to the kitchens or a back alleyway that their quarry might have used to disappear.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 15 ]  v. 66 perception
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis smiles at the King's jokes; but the weight of the conversation, the high and intricate matters of international relations and the long shadows they cast over generations to come being naturally intimidating for the young knight errant.  Strangely, it was for opposite reasons than he might have once imagined.  Being more worldly than his brothers, having befriended many kinds of folk from the Empire who did not fit the Bretonnian mould; and when the conversation began, telling of his adventures, he had thought he might need to give delicate and diplomatic allowances for such folks before the paragon of Couronne.  But the king's mood tended towards an unforeseen pragmatism, fortunately tempered by his companion the Duke; and Bertelis found himself mostly harbouring unspoken objections and apologetics against the King's concerns than he did defenses of his own taken liberties.

When the king asks about individuals to retain, Bertelis considers genuinely.   "Of the pilgrims, I do not think so.  Most were desperately poor when they began, and will return home desperately poor - though I would hope some of Couronne's knights errant would be willing to accompany them back given the danger they faced on the way in.  But... There is a dwarf in the Company - Glod, whom I mentioned.  He is skilled in the dwarven runecrafts, but also in the weapon-working of the dwarves.  He has been striving to reforge my family sword; but it has been hard for him to do much work on it, on the road as we constantly are.  I think he does not mean to burden us to ask, but an opportunity to set down roots for a while and teach the anvil-ways, while working himself on his rune magic in relative stillness and peace, may do him good.  And the dwarves taught Sigmar's sons the riddles of steel; perhaps they can do so for the blood of Gilles.  Now, with the War over and our favor in the dawi halls greater than it has ever been by dual reasoning of your warhost's action saving Middenheim and deflecting the Archenemy, and the ongoing efforts of our young knights in the mountains slaying the greenskins, it may be time to foster relations through them directly.  I would radically even suggest-" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC:  
No reply to the message I sent Morovir, so I thought I might as well set up a possible exit (and one he can return from if he shows back up in a few weeks easily enough.)
 


He catches himself again.  No, he is not here for radical suggestions; he is here to serve, and he needs to listen more than he speaks.  He follows the king, and the duke, to the next revelation.
wilphe
  Radical suggestions are good, you may speak freely.  

The cabinet itself is not much smaller than the privychamber you were in, but furnished with only a few simple chairs and small tables.

The most comfortable looking chair sits in the corner facing a large map of Bretonnia and a larger one of Mousillon on the opposite wall that you entered through.

Painted around the wall are the blazons of various knights - most of which you do not recognise, but a few you recognise as former companions of the King.

Almost the entire wall facing the entrance is taken up with a fresco depicting when the Lady of the Lake appeared to the first three Grail Knights, Gilles, Landuin and Thierulf and bade them drink from the Grail.


  Mousillon is in my thoughts always.   his Majesty says grimly, a touch of melancholy entering his voice.


  But at least there you know where you stand.


What do I see elsewhere?


Lords who neglect their duties, worse there are some peasants who so distrust their Lord's indifferent justice that they would rather handle matters between themselves than draw his attention


I have too many  chevaliers fainéants  who seemingly exist only to enjoy only their wealth and status but would be better suited to the distaff than the lance.


I thought I could encourage martial prowess with tournaments and I have, people praise my name for it, but while I may get a score of knights to joust in front of pretty maidens in the sunlight only a couple of them will be seen when the time comes to face beastmen in the Forest when there is no one to watch.


Merchants act like they are beyond the law - because few nobles understand their business enough to effectively govern them and they've successfully convinced the rest that it would be dishonourable to try to.  


He sighs,


  I have a realm were the fundamental rules are considered so self-evident as to be beyond question - but at the same time something to be gotten around.  
  Fortunately truth is not considered amongst the virtues of chivalry, nor is hypocrisy any bar to knighthood  
  Oh come on, not even you can say that like you believe it


Apart from the question that if the rules are so great why do so few of us follow them, it leaves the door open to, what do the Imperials call it again? The Enemy Within.


Dissembling and lies are a way for chaos to enter.  


He looks at Bertelis,


  Every single one of those blazons belonged to a Knight who died at my side, there are even more in the Grail chapel next door. There you will find your Great Uncle's, I fought with him and with your grandfather  


His eyes in a moment have become those of the man in his nineties he really is, no matter how the magic of the Grail has kept him in vigorous middle age, sorrowful with the loss of generations of friends, and, tearful?


His voice may be cracking a bit however he continues


  The insurrection that threatens your father's lands and kin will have to be bloodily put down - if your lord has made your life intolerable, or is a traitor or a chaos worshipper perhaps that can be excused. Though I would prefer for the neighbouring lords to deal with it.

But once you declare war on the nobility as a whole there can be no such accommodation  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

That's main plot not sideplot so for Bramble to dump whatever information he feels like giving
 
wilphe
  However, one cannot rule with the stick alone, sometimes one needs the carrot.


There is a domain called Saulx in Mousilion.


Not totally ill-favoured, it appears that the most common malady there is the uncanny resemblance of so many of their peasants to their Lord.


Look, peasants exist to serve and if the way some peasant lass can best serve you is as a warm place to dip your wick then fine. I have no issue with that, nor even if one prefers boys. How you treat your peasants is not my business unless it gets out hand.


But when I pass through a place and see too many children of the manor I always get worried, its disruptive and it makes trouble. Noble bastards1 are bad enough.  


He does still talk about this in the same way that someone might discuss someone who beats their dog and drowns her unwanted puppies, when its mostly about the lack of character and cruelty displayed reflecting badly on the perpetrator rather than compassion for the victims.


  Anyway, the Lord pushed too far, may even have been a Slaaneshi in some accounts and died at the hands of his tenants.


The neighbouring lords were too busy bickering amongst themselves to take the place back promptly, when they did organise an attempt it failed ignominiously against prepared defences. In any case I don't have much time for any of them either - they seem no less corrupt and pay me less than lipservice.


I have therefore reverted the fief to the crown - I would rather have a domain of self-administering peasants who acknowledge my over-lordship of Mousilion than see it fall into the hands of a corrupt noble who doesn't.


However no land can exist without a Lord, but a Lord who is obliged to be an absentee will work.


Hence I wish to bestow this fief on you, you would my direct royal vassal but it is too small to be a barony, therefore I propose to revive the title of Knight Banneret which has been dormant a few generations.  
 
 Spoiler: 1 
It seems that noble status is derived from both your parents being nobles - it says nothing about them being married, that only seems to affect inheritance rights.

In theory that doesn't make them worse off than any younger son, but that's another potential disaffected social group to worry about, and maybe more dangerous because they are nobles
 
bramblefoot
bruno: the barkeep says  "two streets over and under a sign of a cow"  im assuming you head that way, or at least leave the doorway

jasmine: the hooded man has ducked into the privy, probably to wait out you and bruno.

wighard: an acolyte of shallya takes you to the high priestess who is waiting for you behind a large desk.  "hierophant wighard, we thank you for bringing pilgrims safely to couronne"  she says, inclining her head ever so slightly. after dismissing the acolyte, she gets down to business  "there is a certain blasphemer that is roaming the countryside of brettonia. we need him taken out swiftly and without fuss"  she hands you a picture of the blasphemers face.

please describe him, give him a name, and an identifying trait

bertelis: how are you feeling now that the king has rocked your worldview?
MrAbdiel
Bertelis rubs the back of his neck, runs over his thoughts a few times in his head, then lays them out at the King's invitation.

 "Axe Bite Pass.  For now it is a demilitarized zone, but everyone knows it has served as a fruitless jousting run for the Reiksguard and the  chevaliers du Parravon  for much longer.  The addition of Skaven as a problem only complicates matters further - and as Your Majesty has said, the route is both too important to give over to enemy occupants, and now threatened by an enemy our knights are ill equipped to fight.  Right now, because of your personal friendship with Karl Franz, it is not a contentious zone. But a hundred years from now, Imperial historians are likely to be sketching out the life of three or four less impressive successor to him, with names like 'Ernst the Unwholesome' and 'Gregoria the Rotund'.  We are gods-blessed to have had a coalition of monarchs so competent to stand against the darkest moment since in the world since Asaval Kul rode down from the black north; but we cannot count on it for long." 
 "And inevitably, whatever lesser successor Emperor sits on the throne many years from now with glance over at Axe Bite Pass with its blurry interchange of Reikspiel and Breton customs and lords and ask..." 

Bertelis drops into fine Reikspiel, dented with an Averland drawl.

 " 'Why are we letting those wine-swilling frog chompers have that land anyway?  Let's run a few Steamtanks through and drive them back so Reikland has a new county to tax directly, ho ho ho.'   And given Your Majesty's less than sanguine assessments of our military future, there may be little to be done about it at the time.  And they may take the pass and a dollop of Montfort and Parravon for good measure, seasoned with our pride.  What to do, then?"

"Here is my suggestion, radical as it is: give the pass to the dwarves.  They are a difficult and contentious bunch, but what they crave is restoration of their old places and a chance to breathe in the vapors of their ancient glory.  My eyes have seen the crumbled dwarven way under Axe Bite Pass, defiled now by - relatively - a small occupation of ratmen.  And there is no force in the world better at containing such monsters than the dwarves.  Imagine if, instead of the dread scenario I posed a moment ago, a hundred years from now, there is a small but hardy dwarven buffer state in that gap.  The Bretonnian and Imperial families in the area are so mercenary souled they will submit to a crown that taxes them no more fiercely than the last, and with more assurance against local threats and desolation by armies crusading one way or the other.  And the dwarves who come to found a new colony, at the crossroads of trade between Bretonnia, the Empire and the dwarf holds north and south of the gap, are likely to be mostly young Imperial dwarves drawn in by the promise of a new frontier and the chance to make a name in a new place."

"They will haggle harder than Imperial neighbours, but they will also provide you with a source of dwarven artisanship immediately adjacent, which may source some of your concerns about where to best acquire such skills.  Perhaps, if Your Majesty can imagine it in a more technically thought out fashion than his servant can, there may be room for some kind of... labor rotation where peasants are permitted to go and work in crews for the dwarves constructing their domain, absorbing some of the skills by adjacency, returning after a tenyear to Bretonnian with a practical education and a small, elevating honorfic title for peasants like 'Dwarf-Friend' or some such. But most importantly to my mind, such a state would give pause to Ernst the Unwholesome who will be unable to attack a dwarven neighbour without the revolt of his cabinet, and therefore unable to seize any ducal lands from future Bretonnian generations.  He will instead have to do what so many before him have done and take a bite at Marienburg, inviting the elves to come whip them again." 

It is the most sustained technical thought about Statecraft that Bertelis has ever pronounced.  But having done so at invitation, his fear is much relieved; even if he is rebuked for every part of it, he will walk away wiser.

But when the conversation moves on indolent lords and their uproarious peasants, Bertelis becomes the listener again; words of his grandfather and great uncle fighting in the king's presence humbling him, for all his small worries about his personal expressions of courage or cunning.

He grimaces at the mention of the insurrection.  He knows the King is right - there can be no gentle reset of past norms now that the revolt has rolled over and slain two lordships.   It cannot enter the mind of the peasantry at large that there is success to be gained by revolution.  All they could achieve is the decapitation of the ancient system of ways that has, mostly, kept them safe of hundreds of years and likely a collapse into nationwide anarchy to be plundered by Orcs, Skaven, Imperials, Aeslings, Dark Elves and, perhaps worse of all, Bilbalians.  The only question now was how to wisely discern the minimally brutal response to permit the healing of relations to begin.

...And which young lords would be given those now vacated and sorrow laden lands to attempt to rebuild.  Bertelis grimaces as he thinks of his brothers - what a curse for them, to either be dead in a ditch somewhere, or else to be in the running for such an awful duty as to be the first brick in a new, likely doomed dynasty.

Then comes the discussion of Saulx.

He tries to suppress a grimace at the casual description of peasants and their purposes.  It offends a part of Bertelis that is young and raw and well acquainted with many peasant.  And, for that matter, one who has a perfectly developed platonic affection for peasant lasses and who has much preferred to leave them with virtue intact and lilting tales of his restraint and gallantry on their lips.  But compassion is not a virtue one can express willy nilly at the highest levels of statecraft; and the rational part of Bertelis knows this, too.

He waits for the hammer to drop.  He knows, in the depth of his gut, this will be a new obligation.  A new monster to slay; a new artefact to break or daemon to dispel, and this will be the task that finally burns him to ash before he can fulfil his vows and bring Deanna home and secure his family's future.  The king will ask for his life, and he strains against the coward-poison left in his soul by the Dancer in the Dark to muster the strength to respond in the affirmative.

But the hammer does not fall; and Bertelis is stunned.  Under his present vows, he cannot be anything more than an itinerant lord anyway; and if one day he were to return from his quests with valor and perhaps treasure to secure Saulx more completely, he might be prepared for annexure of similarly corrupt neighbouring domains and the birth of a full Barony.  Mousillon was cursed, awful land; but Lyonesse's seizure of so much of that territory had reverted much of the land to arable, uncursed usefulness.  It seems the fate of the land is tied much more to the quality of those who rule and live there, and not so much the other way around.

 "I... accept most certainly, Your Majesty.  At your command, I will see to its immediate welfare when we pass through on our present quest to Mousillon proper, and again on our way back to Lyonesse.  And, perhaps once the many fretting matters settle around me, I might be able to settle there and administer its safety and prosperity more directly.  Knight-Banneret...  Thank you, my liege.  I would... I would..." 

He trails off, eyes glossy with the considerations of this honoured, but not imperilous charge.
wilphe
  If we could get enough Dwarves - another potential pitfall we face is getting enough experts from the Empire without upsetting the Empire - but not an idea without merit


We have little experience of the Stout Folk here - but what little we have is very favourable. They are as protective of their womenfolk as they are of their honour.


Or if we are to have it as a buffer between us and Imperials - perhaps we share over-lordship with the Emperor?  


+++++++++++++++++


Upon Bertelis acceptance His Majesty smiles,


  Good, I will have them draw up the paperwork and we can do investiture tomorrow morning.  


He sighs, as if he is about to cover something both deeply troubling and dear to his heart


  I was going to tell about the knights commemorated here, and why they are here rather than in the grail chapel  


He looks at the one to the right of the door, runs his hand over the blazon


  Tancred of Porret - companion of my youth. The first to fall by my side at the hands of a brayherd on our first week of errantry.


Huet le beau - cleaved in twain by a greenskin warchief but swiftly avenged


Audenin Oger - struck down by a bandit's bolt


A half-dozen lost in the Errantry against chaos: Gauchier, Oudin, Louis, Talebat, Poton, Mahieu


Several dozen commemorated here - from Knights Errant to Barons.  


His voice is beginning to crack


  All of them my friends


All of them a great loss to Bretonnia.


All of them Chevaliers sans peur et sans reproche  


He looks at you again with tears in his eyes


  All of them women  
wilphe
Wighard is not exactly sure what type of bird it is that crashes into Lyonesse in his vision - he does know that it is not any of the 5 from the Holy Family that he has ended up retainer to. Perhaps it relates to the current issues in Bretonnia, perhaps it relates to Eonath Bleakscythe.

But as he is not an expert on either ornithology or heralrdy or dark-elf symbolism that will have to wait.


++++++++++++


Wighard ***** an eye at the Most Holy Matriarch's request, he's not an assassin nor a bounty-hunter but on the other hand he wouldn't expect the hierarchy of Shallya to be experts in hiring such people.


He looks at the drawing, a fair-haired young woman missing her right ear


  "Forgive me your beatitude, but I have some questions.


Firstly, that by "taken out" you mean what? Killed, brought back and handed over for sentencing, what?


Secondly, by what authority are they condemned?


Thirdly, what is the offence of this Cecilia d'Orgremont that even the church of Shallya considers them beyond redemption?

Normally such fates are reserved for those who embrace the Fly Lord, or here in Bretonnia the heresy that the Lady of the Lake is Shallya's servant - and even that is normally handled by the Damsels and the Knights


Fourthly, I should tell you that I am no wizardly assassin, I am a healer; and that while my colleagues are certainly talented in matter of solving problems by killing people they have habitually struggled with the "without fuss" part of your request


Finally, if this task is to be undertaken for no more than you Holiness' gratitude?  
bramblefoot
wighard: the high priestess smiles. its not a pretty sight.  "we have reason to believe she is a silent carrier of neiglish rot. kill and burn her corpse, so she cannot spread the disease any farther"  she pulls a hefty bag of coin from a drawer.  "this should cover your expenses"  inside sits 70 GC.

 "there have been many small outbreaks of neiglish rot across couronne, and we traced it to her. she did a runner, and we need this silenced, lest a panic ensue" 
 "the order comes from the damsels themselves, having had to treat many cases of the rot" 
farothel
 "Thank you for your assistance,"  Bruno said, moving back outside and moving a bit further away.
 "I'm not sure who that man is and why my attention was drawn to him,"  he said to Jasmine,  "but seeing that inn there is something not entirely correct.  Looks a bit like a thief's den, don't you think?  I'm not sure if I best stay here and see if he comes back out or head back to the temple and try to figure out later who he was." 
dojango
" I dunno what you want him for, but he slipped into the jakes.  We could nip around real quick and kick the sides in and grab him while he's ****tin', if ya don't mind a little fuss.  Might start a riot tho.  Or we could hide and tail him when he leaves, next time try not to let him spot ya. "
wilphe
Wighard is not entirely sure this is above board, but keeps that thought to himself and leaves the money on the table for now. He considers trying spending some time chatting with her to see if she lets anything slip - but as she is probably better at that then him drops the subject.

Instead they talk about medical practices for a bit and he then takes the money and his leave. He does take the advantage of any lulls in the conversation to check her aura over however


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 8 ]  Magical Sense 77
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis gazes at his tearful, tired king.

There is no protocol for what is happening.  There is no well rendered tradition of how a Knight Errant - or rather, Knight Banneret - ought to respond when his King becomes emotional while confessing a deep and shocking secret that may be regarded in the hearts of some countrymen as blasphemy.  The young man's eyes hunt across the wall of honor tokens of slain  chevalières ; then to the duke with something like desperation; and then back to the king, when the duke gives him no escape from the conversation.

Bertelis is surprised to find he is less surprised than he thinks he should be - a complicated state of mind.  But he has travelled enough to have met warriors of many kinds; peasant, and noble; man, and halfling, and dwarf; male and female.  He wonders how frequently that circumstances align that permit such an event as a  chevalière : a young woman grown strong enough to fight in armor and with lance; with a complicit mentor to teach her that way; with the subtlety to act the part of a man in so many encounters; with allies willing to support the gallant fiction; and with the peculiarity of spirit that permits a knight to life of virtue supported on a single, inextricable and elemental lie.  He imagines a less battered and world-weary Bertelis might disdain such women for that subterfuge, and the manner in which it undermines the brotherhood of knights and their ancient legacy.  But then, this had likely been going on for many years.  It can't have undermined it  that much.   If for every hundred young men ride out in the mould of  Gilles le Breton  to die for their king and country, cound he really begrudge that there might be, secretly, one young woman riding out likewise, in the mould of  Repanse du Lyonesse , to die likewise?

 Can it be virtuous to disdain virtue? 

No; he supposes not.  He believes in the codes, and the traditions.  He believes men are the shield of women, and knights are the shield of the peasantry.  He believes in a world of laws, and rules, and codes that are real, and necessary, and fundamentally good.  But he also understands the world is messy and fundamentally chaotic; the imposition of hard forms and ways on it was not perfect, and in the messy underfray of that contact of law and lawlessness was a space where exceptions had to be made for the good of the entire apparatus.  So what if there were  chevalières  out there?  If they struck out into the world to do the good demanded of knights, who can condemn them?  Only the Green Knight, and the Lady herself; not this scarred and cowardly son of Bordeleaux.

The king, a man of great wisdom and insight, must surely see some flash of this playing out on Bertelis' face; the fundamental understanding of this truth, and the tragic necessity of honouring these women this way, rather than elsewhere.

At the bottom of his soul, Bertelis finds something to say.

 "...Glory and renown beyond death are the but the gilded lure of knighthood; the virtues themselves are the great reward.  I expect all your friends knew that.  May all knights come to know it, before they are called to give all." 

Then he turns his eyes back to the blazons, taking a small step forward to remove the king entirely from his eyeline, so he might compose himself without witness.
bramblefoot
wighard: the high priestesses' aura is animated like a roaring bonfire. she truly believes that this woman must die with all of her heart and soul. what now?

bertelis: the meeting is adjourned, and you're given free reign of the lodge. as you wander into the courtyard, you see two teenage boys and a 16 year old girl fencing with wooden swords. they stop what they are doing to look at you, and the girl looks somewhat sheepish, like she's been caught doing something she shouldn't. wdyd?

bruno and jasmine: can i get perception checks?
MrAbdiel
He allows the teens to bask in their anxiety for a moment.  Then he approaches, looks them over, looks over their swords... and takes a minute aside to drag his heel to draw two large circle, each a couple of yards across.  He takes one of the lads by the shoulder, and leads him into the first circle.

 "Do you know your Tobaran circles?  You try to stay inside the circle without leaving it, or stepping on the line.  And you-"  He gestures to the other boy, inviting him to the antagonist role in the outplay of the lesson,  "may attack as you like from any direction, crossing and crossing back over the circle as you like.  Your goal is to score touches, but also to drive him out of the circle.  You do this every day for a few years, you use smaller circles, you come to know where your feet are when you're fighting, and it becomes much harder for your enemy to dictate where you will be." 

Then the takes up a crooked, decent stick shed from a poplar tree in the courtyard, tests it for weight, and steps into the other circle, beckoning the girl to come on and try her luck.

He spends an hour or so in what is partly tutelage but is just as much play, feeling aeons older than these youths, showing them some of the elements of fencing they are trying to discover by trial and error.

At some point, he ought to take on one (or more) such as a squire long term - but he will need a destrier  before he feels he has the credibility as a knight of the realm to really pass on knowledge; not to mention, ideally, to be free of his oath and fears about home.  Nothing would stop him passing this much to those young people, though.  Perhaps, in their own adventures, it would be the difference between failure and hard fought success.
bramblefoot
bertelis: the girl, whose name is aletta, proves suprisingly competent at swordplay, nearly disarming you on three occasions. when the hour is up, you hear clapping coming from the entrance to the courtyard  "well done, well done"  duke hagen says.  "i see you are training my niece well"  he walks over to you, and whispers,  "she gets bored and has a tendency to sneak out of podoye in the name of adventure. i would feel honored to have her in your care on your quests" 
farothel
 "I'm going to head to the temple to get this thing out of my eye,"  Bruno said,  "and then we can ask around about that guy so we know more and maybe also know why 'the thing' drew my attention to him." 

Unless Jasmine protested much, he would head to the temple of Shallya, looking around to make sure he wasn't followed.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

perception:  (1d100)[ 6 ]  vs 69
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis looks to Aletta as she duels with the boys, and he confers with Duke Hagen to one side.  With the venerable grail knight all but requesting he take her on as a 'squire', he can hardly refuse.  Bertelis can read between the lines - he wants her trained, and that can only be done so much within Bretonnia's open sight.

 "...Well.  Our quests are dangerous, but we are beginning to acquire a small train of followers and expect more.  If she can be ready to go with me after the signing tomorrow morning, I would be honored to have her under my aegis." 

Even as he says so, he is parsing through the quests they have slated, in his mind.  He cannot take her into the heart of Mousillon when they seek the plaguesword; but perhaps she and the other followers can remain behind in...

...In his fief.  In Saulx.  Until they return.  Thinking of  his fief  as anything but his father's house in Bordeleaux was a way of thinking he would not be used to for a long time.
dojango
" Oh yah, you and Bertelis both got those mad eyes.  A matched pair, you are.  Sure, let's visit the temple.  Besides, I reckon I know why you mistook this tavern for a tannery; the beer smells like piss and the patrons smell like dead mules.  That been out in the sun a week. "
bramblefoot
bruno and jasmine: you both spot a strange glyph marked on the wall in chalk. the glyph is that of a serpent devouring a rat.

wighard: siobhan wanders up to you and passes you a note.  "found this in my pocket"  she says. the letter reads as follows.  come alone to the place where the crooked tree bends double. wishes have been made here, and danger will ensue if you do not come 

bertelis: duke hagen nods.  "ill get her packed and ready"  he walks off, whistling
wilphe
  Congratulations on your having your first cryptic and ominous letter show up on your person; its a rite of passage for a wizard as fundamental as menarche is.


And like menstruation is only in the abstract a reminder of your unique power and place in the world; in practice it is usually inconvenient, annoying, messy and sometimes painful.


But also in bear in mind - this is how we ended up in Trundheim in the first place  


He reviews the writing, seeing if it is the same as any other note he's seen before or recognises it


  Any idea where this place is?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
It has never come up yet, but:

  Realms of Sorcery:  
 Once accepted into an Order and having sworn his binding
oaths of loyalty and allegiance, an Apprentice is bound legally
and spiritually to his mentor. Though a Magister may not
be able to know what his Apprentice is feeling or doing, an
Imperial Magister will always know where his Apprentice is
within a certain radius. For some Magisters this radius is only
a few hundred meters, but for the oldest and most powerful
Magisters, this range can be a few miles. This means that it
is nearly impossible for an Apprentice to leave a reasonable
proximity of his mentor without his mentor knowing what
direction he heads. 


So, with that and Kwolf and her wolf overwatch might be possible
 
dojango
Jasmine makes a note of the weird symbol and as they walk back to the temple she looks for more of them along the seedier bars or taverns along the back streets.  She also chatters away to Bruno about it.  " Weird symbol, yeah you saw it?  Somethin' killin rats is probably good, unless the rats are one of them 'mettyfors' the professor was always going on about.  Semiotics this, allegory that.  He was a talker, I bet he's talkin' old Morr's ear off now.  Or he would if he had ears.  Anyway, what do you reckon it is?  Cult?  Secret society?  Organized crime?  I doubt them prissy Shallyans would have an idea about it an' I don't wanna ask the wrong people ya know.  I wish they had honest witch hunters we could talk to here instead of those weird magic girls although I bet you an' Wighard like that better.  When we get back to the Empire, I can't wait to tell the Hammer about all the monsters and stuff we killed.  Although you probably oughter get that eye fixed up before we meet him again.  After all, as the preachers say, 'if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out'. "
farothel
 "I noticed it,"  Bruno said as they walked back to the temple,  "and I don't know what it means.  Maybe a local thief sign.  I know they have symbols like this in the Empire, although I don't know any myself.  This can be the local variant.  But that's pure speculation on my part.  I do hope the Shallyans can do something about my eye." 

When they were back in the temple, Bruno would try to get one of the lead priestesses to explain the problem, explaining that the demon was bound in his eye to get it out of the way, but that it needed to be send back from whence it came and that he was hoping they would be able to help with that.
bramblefoot
bruno: the shallyans will get to work removing the daemon from your eye. It's a long and grueling process. can i get two flat toughness tests and a willpower test at -10 to see if there are any lingering side effects?

jasmine: you see two more symbols of the serpent eating the rat in this quarter, but none anywhere else. you have some time to kill while bruno gets the daemon removed. whatcha doing?

wighard: siobhan thinks.  "there was one of those trees a half-mile outside of town"  she says after a few minutes of thinking.  "could be that one" 

bertelis: aletta is packed and ready to go for tomorrow. is there anything else you wanna do at podoye?
MrAbdiel
 Since he's there for the evening, with the permission of the master of the hunt, Bertelis will take up his bow and see if he can't knock down a pheasant to bring back to the kitchens...

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Hunting! 
Outdoor Survival to Hunt, just for fun:  (1d100)[ 50 ] 

Success!
 


...And so he does; stalking about in his leathers and spotting a small grouping of the plump birds.  He has been taught it is bad form - unchivalrous almost - to shoot a bird unaware; a sort of staged down equivalent of stabbing a man in the back.  So he tosses a rock into their midst, knocks an arrow, and when they scatter from the impact, puts a shaft through the neck of one of the smaller birds; closing on it to end its suffering and take it home.  It feels good to hunt his own food, for a little; there has been a lot of rations, and a lot of tavern fodder, but not so much gleaned with his own hands.  He keeps the wishbone of the bird after it has been cooked for him, cleaning it and pocketing it as a token of this strange and fateful invitation.  The next day, he is ready to go; and he finds Aletta waiting.

Her horse, a gelded brown rouncey with a white diamond between its eyes, is laden down with saddlebags; and Bertelis eyes the burdened horse and the girl perched side-saddle upon it with restrained judgement.  Protracted travel would convince her to shed some of that load; and once they were out of Couronne, she might change into the armor he sees weighing down one side of the saddle.  Brown hair and eyes like her uncle; but a spark of mischeif in her, unlike the revered Hagen.  He talks to her, allowing her to ask questions and asking a few in turn as they return to Couronne.

Her horse's name is Maurice.  She was born under the sign of Mummit the Fool, whom she is quick to say signifies not foolishness but instinct and insight.  Her mother Agathe is Hagen's sister, of Gisoreux; her father Paul is a well positioned Lord in Couronne, whose walled retreat is called Foixôme.  She has as many sisters as Bertelis has brothers; she speaks Reikspiel and Breton and knows her coats of arms and liveries.  In short, she is an idea squire except for certain obvious elemental deviations from the typical profile.  For now, she would have to remain merely an ideal travelling companion and, perhaps, a friend for Siobhan. 
wilphe
siobhan thinks.  "there was one of those trees a half-mile outside of town"  she says after a few minutes of thinking.  "could be that one" 
  Do you want to do this?

Its not obligatory, and also no one ever expects you to show up alone, so Kwolf and I can cover you as close as you want  
farothel
Bruno was escorted to a small side room where a permanent circle was laid into the ground, lined with silver.  It was quite a nice thing and it would have costed quite a bit.  Four priestesses arrived as well, putting him in the middle of the circle and the priestesses stood at the cardinal directions around the circle.  The head priestess explained in short the ritual and also said that there might be permanent side effects.  As he'd rather not have a demon in his head all the time, Bruno told her that was okay.  He would deal with them if and when it occurred.  Then she told Bruno to sit down in the middle and then they started chanting.  At first not much happened but then all of a sudden the demon felt what was happening and started to trash around.  He didn't know what to do, so he just tried to keep still and ignore the headache that was starting to come up.

When after a few hours, the demon was suddenly torn out, he screamed out and then fell unconscious.  A few minutes later he came around with one of the priestesses standing over him while the others were putting the instruments of the ritual away.
 "Are you okay, sir,"  the priestess asked.
 "I think so,"  Bruno said,  "a headache though.  It felt as if my eye was ripped out." 
 "That's unfortunately part of the ritual,"  the priestess said,  "but not to worry, the pain will go away.  But you will need to rest and then we'll see tomorrow if everything is okay." 
 "Very well,"  Bruno said,  "sounds like a good plan anyway.  And thank you for the assistance." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

toughness1:  (1d100)[ 74 ]  vs 30 (40 -10)
FP toughness1 if needed:  (1d100)[ 59 ]  vs 30 (40 -10)

toughness2:  (1d100)[ 99 ]  vs 30 (40 -10)
FP toughness2 if needed:  (1d100)[ 67 ]  vs 30 (40 -10)

EDIT: 2 failures, but at least not a critical failure.
 
dojango
Jasmine spends the rest of the afternoon down at the riverside quays arranging passage for the group and their mounts by river boat to L'Anguille. While there, she also spends time in the dockside taverns, gossipping with sailors and stevedores about rumors from within the city and without. After all, the sailors are a widely travelled bunch and they may know about what's been happening in Bordelaux before official news is available...

 
 Spoiler 
 Gathering information, what's the latest news about the peasant revolt? Also seeing if the locals know anything about the pistol shootings.  (1d100)[ 97 ]  v. 61 for gossip.
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: you find out from a pair of wreckers that your wanted poster has been placed by someone high up on the criminal food chain. unfortunately, they then recognize you. can i get an initiative roll?

 (1d10+2)[ 11 ] 

wighard: siobhan nods.  "im willing"  she says, eyes bright and eager.

are you gonna do anything else, or just go to the crooked tree?

bertelis: you and aletta ride in silence for a few hours. can i get a perception roll from you?

bruno: the lasting side effects are a headache that comes and goes with variable intensity. i may require wp or toughness rolls to avoid dropping to one knee and holding your head or sudden blindness in that eye
wilphe
If Bruno is available Wighard will tell him where they are going, and he will take the Misericorde of Poisonous Malice from his boot and give it to Siobhan   If it does come to it that we need weapons there will probably not be time for messing around, and please give your crossbow back  

He will ask Kwolf to check the area out in advance, take Adelard, drop Siobhan off and retire a little way back down the road - hopefully in some concealment
MrAbdiel
Bertelis' senses are keener than even - more to than they were riding by himself, now with such a precious charge as this to keep safe.  Surely, though, the King's guard would have kept the roads so near to him clear...

...Right?

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
  vs61  - (1d100)[ 51 ] ,  or fate reroll   vs61  - (1d100)[ 4 ]  .

And, in case it's warranted in a moment,   Initiative  - (1d10+4)[ 10 ] 
 
dojango
Jasmine can see the shifty look on the wrecker's faces, and when they grin and say who's been making the offer she sees them start reaching for their clubs.  She doesn't even wait, within seconds she's accelerating away as fast as her legs will take her, running back towards the main streets of the city, towards the safety of crowds.  She shouts back over her shoulder, " Tell yer boss I'll stop by with a dozen knights mebbe tomorrow! "
farothel
 "Very well,"  Bruno said, still nursing a headache after the procedure,  "do you need me to come with you?  If you're going outside the city, I can probably get my pistol back." 
wilphe
  If you are up to it it would be appreciated. And good idea I can see if I can get mine back   
farothel
 "Sure,"  Bruno said,  "just give me a moment to put my armour back on, just to be sure." 

He asked his valet to get his horse ready and after putting his armour back on he headed back to Wighard.
 What are you going to do there?" 
wilphe
  Keep an eye on her from cover, have Kwolf stand over-watch and expect her to be attacked and/or kidnapped.

Or for it to be a legit meeting with some creepy weirdo who then will complain that the prophecy is invalid because she didn't come alone despite only really stupid and credulous people ever doing that.  
bramblefoot
wighard and bruno: your firearms are returned. kwolf spots nothing from the air. can i get concealment tests from both of you at -10, and a magical sense roll from wighard at +20?

bertelis: you see mocking shadows dance in the forest. they seem to taunt you, beckoning you to come and play. can i get a wp test at -10 or take an IP?

jasmine: the wreckers laugh at your back.  "good luck"  they call

wdyd?
wilphe
Wighard instructs Kwolf to take station in the tree and completely fails to hide himself and Adelard


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 84 ]  Concealment 27
 (1d100)[ 96 ]  Magical Sense 107
 
dojango
Jasmine returns to the Shallayan temple to complain to Bruno, but finds that he didn't wait around to rest.  She heads out to the inn where they had left Siobhan and Wighard, and finds that they've wander off as well.  She complains to Odmar and Berthold who are enjoying a quiet meal and drink, " Don't they know it's dangerous to wander around alone without me lookin' after them?  Well, we'll mebbe go rescue them in the morning.  Deal out them cards, let's get a hand or three in... " and spends the rest of the night playing cards in the common room of the inn.
MrAbdiel
Bertelis sees the shadows.  He has seen them before; and grimly, he expects to see them again.  It's the Dancer, again; mocking his failure back in Altdorf.  But Bertelis isn't  crazy .  He knows what the daemon wants is attention - so he focuses his eyes forward down the road, takes his flute to his lips, and drowns out the whispers with music as he goes by; thus tacitly imbibing within him the lie that he was hearing those whispers, really, at all.
farothel
Buno would follow Wighard's lead, taking up position as best as he could in his armour and without formal training.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

concealment:  (1d100)[ 16 ]  vs 15 (-20 for armour and test, untrained)
quite close
 
bramblefoot
wighard and bruno: thick grey fog starts to close in on the tree. siobhan begins to twitch and mutter, almost spinning in circles as the fog coalesces around her.  "join us"  the fog whispers

can i get wp tests from both of you?

wighard: you get a sense that this is some strange uncategorized magical phenomenon. the magic is definitely strange, possibly albionese

bertelis: can i get a d100 roll for your trip back to couronne?

jasmine: gimme a gamble roll to see how well you do
dojango
Perhaps its nervousness from her escapes earlier in the day, or perhaps its the terrible Bretonnian beer she has to drink to get the taste of the last one out of her mouth, or maybe she's just not very good at the local variant of Hoc Mazairn.  At any rate, after a couple hours go by she notices that her purse is a little light, and the grinning Bretonnian across from her has a fairly large pile of coins in front of him.  " One more... one more for good luck... " she says, and promptly gets dealt the worst hand possible.
wilphe
Wighard feels himself begin to shiver then clamps it firmly down, ties Adelard off and resolutely steps towards the mist, wand at the ready


  Well that's an interesting pitch and all, and whilst I'm not going to stand in the way of her career development she is under indenture to me  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 95 ]  WP 77  FPed in OOC
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis and his new ward catch up to a pair of travellers; a merchant, and his ten year old son, having pulled to the side of the road for a luncheon that Bertelis and Aletta ate in the saddle.  He is glad for more travelling companions; when there is too little chatter, he sees those shadows...

After a brief introduction, Sir Bertelis and the Lady Aletta make acquaintence of Rogere and his son Philipe.  Philipe is polite, but focuses mostly on riding the rouncey beneath him.  Rogere is polite, too - but not overwhelmingly deferent and socially repelled by his distance from Bertelis' station, like many peasants are.  He appears to have dealt with knights a great deal, to have the kind of intuition about which such men require the full grovel; and which can do without it almost entirely.  Judging by the huge black destrier he rides, Bertelis is able to guess why.

 "A horse breeder, ah?"   He says, Rainier feeling like a pony alongside the magnificent warhorse.

 "You have the right of it, m'lord.  I take this beast to Sir Martin du Corrigan of the court of Couronne, who intends it for his son who is soon to come of age." 

Bertelis wracks his brain.  He does not know the name - but no one can know every knight, and he has no reason to doubt the man.  "He is a very fine specimen.  Sable from hoof to hair; parade worthy.  I may, myself, be in the market for an animal so fine soon.  Pray tell, good man, how much has Sir Martin purchased this one for, that I might consider one similar?"

Even Bertelis, accustomed to wealth and privilege, must blanch at the answer.   "This one, for his fine coloration, comes at eight hundred gold  ecu , m'lord.  With the ghastly cost of horseflesh exacted in the war, you are unlikely to find a steed even with a less pleasant patterning for a great deal less than that." 

Bertelis is almost floored.  His estimation had been around six hundred, which was a princely sum still.  This peasant casually traded sums for these fine horses that Bertelis had not ever held in his hand.  For many knights, it would be offensive. To Bertelis... it was a little offensive; but after some self chastisement, it was merely humbling.

 "A strong purse, Rogere.  Your lord must greatly appreciate your expertise!" 
 "Aye, Lord Alvine of Casu is a good man; and he is good to his people, 'tis true." 

That name Bertelis did know - Alvine of Casu, a Lord who held massive tracts of pasture in his domain in Couronne and whose peasantry included many horse breeders, trainers and merchants responsible for outfitting a non-trivial portion of Couronne's chevaliers.

 "Well, Rogere; I fear it may not be for some time.. but perhaps we shall see you again when I have a spare two thousand  ecu  rattling around in my pocket to buy such a steed and have it barded.  Hopefully, before Philipe here is running your trade for you as a grown man himself!" 

Rogere laughed, and not just because a nobleman made a joke and he was obligated, too.   "I shall look forward to it.  I know many young knights who have won their first destriers in tourneys, if that suits you better.  I supply a fair number to such events around Couronne, and the errantry are always eager to beat each other senseless with wooden swords and to joust each other off their coursers hoping to win." 

Bertelis smiled, faintly; he might like to be in such an event, at some point.  But not now; not for a while.  Duty first; play... much, much later.
farothel
Bruno had been following Wighard, but when he saw the fog come up and especially when he heard the voices in the fog.  Like every man in the Empire, he was not all that keen on magic.  He knew it existed and he supported the colleges of magic, but it still gave him the willies.  While he had come to know and trust Wighard, that didn't mean he was happy with it.  So he stood closer to Wighard and kept his hand close to his weapon, looking around to see where the voices came from.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

willpower:  (1d100)[ 75 ]  vs 56 ( 48  FP reroll in OOC)
perception:  (1d100)[ 22 ]  vs 69
 
bramblefoot
wighard and bruno: the fog is coming in hard, and siobhan is wandering off deeper into the fog. you hear a high titter from your 11 o'clock, and the rhythmic snapping of a claw.

 (1d10+5)[ 9 ] 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 
round two anyone?
 


bertelis: as you come into sight of couronne, a heavy fog starts to blanket the ground. the fog appears to be silent at first, but then it nips and bites at the horses. can i get an riding roll for you and aletta?

jasmine: you lose a lot of money to this brettonian gentleman. the only question is, what do you do now?
wilphe
Wighard hurries after Siobhan and brings his blunderbuss out

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d10)[ 8 ]  Init +5
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis and Aletta spur their horses forward, trying to outrun the suddenly dangerous fog... the knight trying not to think too much about the similar mist they encountered once before....

 
 Spoiler: Rolls! 
Aletta's Agi is 38.  Since she's not dressed in mail (yet), she'll roll with it undiminished.  (1d100)[ 72 ] ; hopefully there's a bonus to the roll...

Bertelis on the other hand is looking for a 42.   (1d100)[ 67 ] .  He'll FP, if necessary.   (1d100)[ 22 ] .
 


While Aletta's steed starts to panic and she struggles to keep control of it, Bertelis slows Rainier's dash to pull alongside her, seizing the reins of her rouncey to help steady it rather than the uncountenanceable shame of riding off and abandoning them!
farothel
 "What is going on here,"  Bruno asks Wighard as he hurries after, his pistol and shield ready, moving as quickly as his armour allows.
wilphe
  Probably nothing good   replies Wighard
farothel
 "Is it ever,"  Bruno shrugged as he kept looking around for anything weird and/or dangerous.
dojango
Jasmine fixes the card sharp with a beady glare and says " Reckon I know when to fold em, reckon I know when to walk away... "

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 34 ]  v. 66 perception to see if he's got marked cards or something I guess.
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: you just can't tell if he cheated. maybe if you got a look at his cards, or had time to examine him further while he plays, but right now, he's not super sus

bertelis: the fog is catching up as you have helped aletta wrangle her horse. you gotta do an agility test to stay in the saddle as the straps come loose on the left side due to a long tendril of fog

bruno: gimme perception at -10 due to all the fog

wighard: can i get a sixth sense at +10, magical sense at flat, and perception at -10 pls?
farothel
Bruno kept looking around, trying to pierce the fog, to see what was out there.
 "I have a bad feeling about this." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

perception:  (1d100)[ 8 ]  vs 59 (-10 GM +10 mastery)
 
wilphe
  I'm glad you are here  

Wighard remains uncertain of what they are up against

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 91 ]  Sixth Sense 87
 (1d100)[ 89 ]  Magical Sense 76
 (1d100)[ 67 ]  Perception 86 (96 if visual)
 
dojango
Jasmine laughs a bit and then suggests, "Hey, big winner, whydoncha buy us a round of drinks?  Mebbe a double?"  She doesn't really drink any of it herself, but tries to encourage him to drink up.

 
 Spoiler 
Going to try and charm him into getting drunk I guess  (1d100)[ 44 ]  v. 51
 
MrAbdiel
With the straps to his saddle cut, Bertelis is forced to ride by weight distribution alone; keeping his heels down and standing in the stirrups as he and Aletta race through the closing fog.

  "It's alright.  Steel your heart, Aletta; fear is their weapon, faith your armor."  
bramblefoot
berty: you make it inside the city of couronne. the fog stops at the entrance, and makes an  i see you  motion, before writhing off away somewhere else

wighard: you sense something behind you.

bruno: out of the corner of your eye, you see four skeletons moving toward wighard. they are armed with rusted iron daggers, and precious little else. however, there may be more skellybobs out there that could be alerted by a pistol shot. What's the play?

init roll
 (1d10+2)[ 11 ] 

jasmine: the gambler will sit and drink for about thirty minutes. how do you plan to wheedle info out of him?
wilphe
Wighard    Init 13  W13/13  FP 2/3


Wighard is still focused on following Siobhan's bearing, but risks a glance behind him


  Can you see anything?  
  Big ball of fog from up here  
farothel
 "Skellies,"  Bruno said to Wighard, turning towards them and after quickly swapping weapons, charging against the nearest skelleton.

 
 Spoiler: OOC round 1 

free action: swap weapons to sword and shield instead of gun and shield
full action: charge:  (1d100)[ 58 ]  vs 56 (46 +10 charge) for damage:   (1d10+5)[ 13 ] 

free parry (first attack to hit):  (1d100)[ 69 ]  vs 56 (46 + 10 shield)
dodge blow (second attack to hit):  (1d100)[ 92 ]  vs 41
 
wilphe
Wighard takes the opportunity to empty his blunderbuss at the group before Bruno charges


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d10)[ 8 ] +3
 (1d10)[ 10 ] +3
 (1d10)[ 3 ] +3
 (1d10)[ 3 ] +3
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: Myrmidia's disapproval 

 (1d10)[ 7 ]   on Skellie 2
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis watches the apparently intelligent and resentful fog make its threatening gesture.  What is there to do but touch the brow of his helm, salute it back with good humor that refuses to be diminished, and thank the Lady for their safety?

 "Well.  It seems our adversaries pursue us with mystic malice even here - or else there are new ones.  Here - the strap is sliced through, and we'll need to get to a saddlier to have it replaced, but let me show you the field solution for such a bother..." 

He leads his squire to a quiet hitching post just inside the gate - glances about to make sure this display of tutelage is not witnesses closely, as for now the girl remains ostensibly a mere maiden and no squire - and produces a length of tough, narrow hemp rope suitible for threading through the extraneous belt holes on the snippled saddle strap to reunite them.

Aletta watches - but not without comment.   "I was raised in Couronne, Sir Bertelis.  With respect, I expect I know more about saddles and their repair than you." 

Bertelis pauses in his repair, and blows a tight breath out.

 So it's going to be like this, for a while. 

Couronnians were aware they were the crown province of Bretonnia; and while the gulf of Couronnian noble was nothing like that between noble and peasant, it was not insignificant.  And Aletta came from a fascinating confluence of privileges - a young woman of high nobility, with all the protections and deference and implied supreme value that came with it... but now secretly bound to learn the virtues and practices of knighthood, thus eliminating all the restriction and vulnerability and at least partially  learned  helplessness that came with that role (or at least exchanging it for a potentially calamitous reveal of this mischief).

But then, why wouldn't she?  At her home, she would be the cherished and adored gem of her family, and her father's fief; and the favourite of her uncle who was one of the most powerful men in the nation - indeed, in the world.  In secret, she was swatting around her male cousins in fencing classes and growing bolder and more cunning.  But what she had  not  had was an errantry - she had not wandered the world hunting for her meals and staying in roadside inns, chasing down goblin child-snatchers in the Drakwald and laughing at her own embarassment trying to dance with the Kossaks in Erengrad.  She had not had her life saved by peasants, and dwarves, and wizards, and Imperials, and halflings.  She had not had the opportunity to fail at things and doubt herself and receive wisdom from an unusual place.  She had not had her own Professor Lorrimer; she would have to find her way to those lessons on the road, too.

 "You may be correct, dear lady.  I should hope you are correct; for once we are on the way to L'Anguille, I do not intend to touch another saddle strap until you spin off to your own errantry in a few years.  I should hope you also know more about polishing boots and washing breeches and scrubbing pots, also.  This was  your  wish - and it's not all going to be fencing lessons and horsebrushing for the duration, ma'amselle." 

She sours a little, with that rebuke; retreating to the quiet redoubt of teenagers everywhere - the constructed fantasy in which the elder is revealed to be a fool and they, the younger, is proven correct and worthy of admiration.  Perhaps she would have such moments, in time to come. But if her path was anything like Bertelis's, it would not require a great wealth of years to adjust her perspective considerably.
bramblefoot
wighard: skelly #2 is blown to pieces, the remainder are hurt, some more badly than others. you hear another titter, and then a scream. it sounds close, but to check it out would mean abandoning bruno

bruno: the remaining skellies will all dive on bruno, and attempt to stab him through the plate

 (3d100)[ 82 ][ 5 ][ 11 ](98) 
 (3d10)[ 6 ][ 2 ][ 1 ](9) 

bertelis: where to now, after escaping the malicious fog?

meloth: kindly introduce your character in one of these scenes
MrAbdiel
 Bertelis will take Aletta to the inn where the rest of the Company was staying; like Jasmine, discovering that much of the party has taken off on their own errands (and Glod is off using a local forge, living his best life).   He knows to look up and around for a sassy raven to make sure Wighard isn't in immediate peril; but lacking that discovery, he'll go see to that saddle repair.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Repair! 
Bertelis will get that strap repaired.  A belt cost 3s, which seems about equivalent for a saddle strap, so I'll mark that off.

Otherwise, I'm cool to let Bertelis chill in the background for a bit while the action scene resolves and Meloth finds his way to the party.
 
 
wilphe
Wighard heads off in the direction of the scream (if it is the same direction as he senses Siobhan) and holsters the blunderbuss. Bruno should be able to handle 3 damaged skeletons with daggers.
dojango
 "You seem like a sharp feller ," Jasmine says, " I ain't been here before and I wanna get the lay of the land before I step on any toes... Ya know of some of the more well connected men about town? Who ain't afraid o' the crazy laws and stuff that those nobs are so obsessed with ?"

 
 Spoiler 
 Going to subtly inquire about the local crime bosses to see where about their lairs are, trying to figure out more about the one that was putting up those flattering posters.
 
farothel
Bruno felt the blunderbuss shrapnel shoot past him before he arrived in combat.  This was just what he had tried to avoid and he made a mental note to have a discussion with Wighard and the others to hammer out some battlefield communication signals.  In his charge, he missed the skeletons and while some of them managed to hit him, their daggers scraped on his plate armour but didn't penetrate.  He then tried to take down the skeletons as quickly as possible so he could go after Wighard and Siobhan.

 
 Spoiler: OOC round 2 

full attack on one of the skellies.  If I kill it with my first attack, the second attack goes to the next one.  If not, then the second attack goes to the same one again.
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 87 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 14 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 93 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 14 ] 

free parry on first attack to hit me:  (1d100)[ 70 ]  vs 56
free dodge blow on second attack to hit me:  (1d100)[ 84 ]  vs 41

HP: 15/15
Touchness+armour: 9 on all locations
 
Volthawk
The scene Meloth had come across wasn't what he was expecting - he wasn't sure  what  to expect when he noticed unnatural localised fog, and upon approaching the sound of a blunderbuss, but the undead attacking what looked like a knight weren't it. At least it was pretty obvious how he should act, the elf firing an arrow at one of the skeletons.

 
 Spoiler 

Half Action: Aim
Half Action: Attack

Shooting one of the skeletons.
Attack, TN 64 (BS 74 + 10 aim - 20 shooting into melee):  (1d100)[ 33 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 8 ]  w/ Armour Piercing
 
bramblefoot
wighard: the fog clears for a second, and you see the dancer in the dark holding siobhan with its claw, it turns to regard you as a human would regard a bug.  "we appear to be at an impasse"  it hisses.

bruno: another skeleton goes down with an arrow in its skull. the other two will all-out attack

 (2d100)[ 43 ][ 1 ](44) 
 (1d10)[ 10 ] 
 (1d10)[ 6 ] 

jasmine: gimme charm at +10 to see what you can weasel outta him

bertelis: the saddle repair goes well. can i get a perception roll?

meloth: your keen elven senses detect movement inbound. whats the play?
wilphe
  That is true, I'm from an order specialised in fighting daemons, but I'd score collateral damage on Siobhan and Bertelis would never forgive me for the kill-steal.

This seems like we should adjourn for another time, because Bertelis isn't here, can I take him a message?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 24 ]  Charm 56
 
bramblefoot
 "that is acceptable"  the dancer hisses.  "tell him i will see him at his family estate, wreathed in the blood of the innocent"  she drops siobhan and disappears
wilphe
Wighard moves over to check on Siobhan

  Well, I didn't really expect that to work  
farothel
The skellies seem to attack more ferocious as one of them gets shot down and one manages to get through Bruno's armour, although only just.  Gathering his wits, Bruno tries to keep his cool and keeps trying to take down the skellies.  He didn't know who had shot the skellie, but at the moment he didn't have the time to look, concentrating on the enemies right in front of him.

 
 Spoiler: OOC round 3 

full attack on one of the skellies.  If I kill it with my first attack, the second attack goes to the next one.  If not, then the second attack goes to the same one again.
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 57 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 15 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 67 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 9 ] 

free parry on first attack to hit me:  (1d100)[ 76 ]  vs 56
free dodge blow on second attack to hit me:  (1d100)[ 39 ]  vs 41

HP: 14/15
Touchness+armour: 9 on all locations
 
dojango
The fact that he was currently in possession of a fair amount of Jasmine's money, and the drinks he kept buying put the card sharp at ease, and soon he and Jasmine were chatting like old friends.  She in her Reikspeil and the smattering of Bretonnian she'd picked up, and him in horrendously and stereotypically accented Reikspeil.
MrAbdiel
Bertelis flinches, as if someone had just walked over his grave; and glances about...

 
 Spoiler: Perception... 
  vs61  - (1d100)[ 73 ] 
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: the man spills that the crime boss is out of town for some big head honcho convention. he doesnt know what time he'll be back, or where, only that he chartered a riverboat headed out of town

wighard: siobhans pulse is weak, but there. its likely the daemon choked her out

berty: a shadowed figure moves across the rooftops. tell me, what place would a thief steal from?
Volthawk
The movement was potentially a problem, but it was pretty clear to Meloth that the man in front of him still needed help. Aiming another arrow at one of the skeletons, Meloth just had to hope that if the movement was from a new enemy, he could react in time.

 
 Spoiler 

Keeping on aiming and shooting for now.

Attack, TN 64 (BS 74 + 10 aim - 20 shooting into melee):  (1d100)[ 66 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 6 ]  w/ Armour Piercing
 
wilphe
With Siobhan still alive and the Dancer gone hopefully the fog would start to lift.

In the meantime there is still the clash of metal and bone as Bruno is still fighting and the twang of a bow - and whoever that is, it is not a member of the Company.

Wighard tosses a light down by Siobhan


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (3d10)[ 9 ][ 5 ][ 4 ](18)  +6 TN3
 
dojango
" When the cat's away, the mice are gonna start causin' trouble, eh? Wonder how much of this is goin' on behind his back. Anyway..."  Spotting Bertelis arriving, she waves him over and says, " Hey, this lad here was jes' telling us about the local crime lords! And he won a bunch of money offa me. Speaking of big lords, how's the king doing? "
MrAbdiel
A thief in Couronne would have to be exceptional, or exceptionally mad, to steal horses.  Fencing them would be very difficult given how strictly traded and branded they are, even though the best money is tied up in them.  But it was also the crown city of the Bretonnian nation; and it had the best trade in luxury goods, furs, finery, high quality crafted goods for envoys to purchase to offer later as gifts.  And a very good thief might steal from such a place - for example, from a merchant jeweller who had a hard-traded bounty from the mountains of Araby in his store.  Such a thief and his colleagues might leap silently from rooftop to rooftop, pry tiles from the top of such a store which is trafficked so infrequently that it is not unusual to be devoid of customers and occupied only by the jeweller and his apprentice with the guards just outside.  They might create a small distraction - say, having one of their number feign drunkenness and stumble into the guards, getting punched and kicked away for his trouble.  And during such a distraction, a sufficiently skilled burglar might drop into the workshop, grab a literal handful of cut gems to total value of which is sufficient to buy a small ship, and escape the way he came, being several minutes gone before anyone realized anything was wrong.

And all of this might take place nearby to Bertelis and Aletta, without either having any idea until the alarm is raised and the thieves are on their way; because his instinct of protection is on his new charge, and not the city around him.
bramblefoot
meloth: the arrow misses by inches as the skelly clacks its teeth in rage. you see a trio of skeletons closing on your position. they'll be in charge range next round

bruno: the two skeletons will make all-out attacks again

 (2d100)[ 10 ][ 5 ](15) 
 (2d10)[ 9 ][ 8 ](17) 

wighard: the fog is clearing, but slower than expected. can i get a perception roll pls?

bertelis: there is clearly nothing to worry about. gonna go to the inn?

jasmine: the card sharp stands, a little tipsy and will wobble outside to go home


wdyd?
MrAbdiel
Bertelis indeed will head to the inn, seeking to track down his companions.  It will take some discussion to make them understand his duty regarding Aletta; but he trusts them, and they him.
wilphe
Wighard hears the sounds of battle so knows Bruno is still up and fighting, along with the bowstring of whoever else is there, but what side they are on he doesn't know

He gets out his bow and heads back towards the fighting


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 75 ]  Perception 96 (106 if visual)
 
dojango
Watching the man drunkenly weave his way out the door, Jasmine decides to tail him. For his own safety, after all, he is quite drunk and carrying a fair bit of coin. It wouldn't do to have him be knocked out by a footpad, would it? But as she slips out the door after him, she spots Bertelis arriving at the inn and changes her mind. " Oy, Bertelis !" She shouts loudly across the darkened street. " How'd yer meetin' with the king go? "
farothel
It didn't seem to work to take down the skellies.  However, while they did manage to hit him, their daggers lacked the punch to get through to his armour.  Not giving up, he tried again to take them down, before the others could attack him and whoever was trying to help.

 
 Spoiler: OOC round 4 

full attack on one of the skellies.  If I kill it with my first attack, the second attack goes to the next one.  If not, then the second attack goes to the same one again.
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 73 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 12 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 66 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 9 ] 

free parry on first attack to hit me:  (1d100)[ 87 ]  vs 56
free dodge blow on second attack to hit me:  (1d100)[ 44 ]  vs 41

HP: 14/15
Touchness+armour: 9 on all locations
 
MrAbdiel
 "As a matter of fact, it went quite well; for you are looking at a Knight-Banneret, and the lord of what happens to be..."   He affects a false smirk, tugging at the edges of his collar in the manner of a self-involved knave preparing a particularly big brag,  "...Some of the  least  cursed land in all of Mousillon.  I shall tell you and the others all about it - Aletta, this is Jasmine; Jasmine, Aletta - but some privacy and good food will serve us all well.  Where are Bruno, and Wighard, and Siobhan?" 
Volthawk
Meloth frowns as he sees the newcomers. He was all for helping those in trouble, people had done the same for him before on the road, but this was getting out of hand. At least he had one advantage - they were the skeletons of humans, and he was an elf. If he was smart, there's no way they'd catch him.

 
 Spoiler 

Half action: Ranged attack at one of the new skeletons
Attack, TN 74:  (1d100)[ 75 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 11 ]  w/ Armour Piercing

Half action: Move away from the new skeletons, Movement 6 = 12 yard move
 
bramblefoot
wighard: three skeletons with curved scimitars come out of the fog, headed for you

 (3d100)[ 30 ][ 16 ][ 15 ](61) 
 (1d10+2)[ 12 ] 
 (1d10+2)[ 5 ] 
 (1d10+2)[ 5 ] 

meloth: the skeletons will peel off and head further into the mist

bruno: the skeletons will give up the fruitless assault and instead attempt to grapple
wilphe
Wighard Init 13 W0/13 FP 2/3

 Wighard takes a deep cut to the skull and collapses senseless

Kwolf dives down and distracts the skeletons from making any further effort - possibly whilst glowing purple 
farothel
Bruno was fighting when the skeletons changed tactics and try to grab him.  He managed to avoid one of them, but the other did manage to get a hold.  Bruno didn't wait and immediately tried to get out before the skeleton could get him down or something.

 
 Spoiler: OOC round 5 

full round action: get out of grapple:  (1d100)[ 43 ]  vs 43 (strength) in opposed strength check with skellie.
 
Volthawk
Well then. Those three were still a problem, but a problem he doesn't have to deal with immediately and that was good enough for him. Now then, to pick off the ones that he could see...he figured the man could deal with the one on top of him. Probably. Easier for Meloth to shoot the one that isn't entirely entangled with the guy he was trying to protect, anyway.

 
 Spoiler 

Aim into attack.

Attack, TN 64 (BS 74 + 10 aim - 20 shooting into melee):  (1d100)[ 12 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 12 ]  w/ Armour Piercing
 
wilphe
Wighard Init 13 W13/13 FP 2/3

Wighard lets loose one arrow as they close and then swaps for his shield and somehow miraculously evades the downward swing of the scimitar

 I might need your assistance 
 On my way 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 82 ]  BS34

 (1d10)[ 1 ]  +3

 (1d100)[ 43 ]  Shield parry 54
 
dojango
Jasmine says to Bertelis and Alette, " I dunno where they wandered off to.  I'm always tellin' em not to wander off alone without me but you know how they don't listen.  I think Bruno went get, ah, you know, that 'thing' taken care of by those nice ladies at you-know-where, " Jasmine tries to be circumspect about it to avoid mentioning a thing like demonic possession in front of a stranger, " but when he was done and paid up I think he wandered off.  I just been here playin' cards with a nice feller, I dunno about Wighard and Siobhan.  Probably out readin' books or something smart like that, but why dontcha pull up a chair and grab a drink and tell me about yer new position?  It's like... " she mentally tries to figure out where in the byzantine Imperial hierarchy that would fall, " So yer like an Imperial Free Knight but with a fief instead of a feather? "
bramblefoot
wighard: the skeletons will attempt the same trick as before

 (3d100)[ 81 ][ 63 ][ 11 ](155) 
 (1d10+2)[ 11 ]  miss
 (1d10+2)[ 8 ]  miss
 (1d10+2)[ 7 ]  hit

meloth and bruno: the skeletons go down. what now?

bertelis: what are you gonna discuss with the rest of the party when it comes to your knight banneret title?

jasmine: gimme perception
wilphe
Wighard Init 13 W13/13 FP 2/3

Wighard tries to gather the somewhat feeble winds of magic around him, whilst also keeping his guard up with the shield

A skull sized ball of light forms around his head, his head now slightly bigger as his hair stands on end


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (4d10)[ 6 ][ 9 ][ 10 ][ 9 ](34)   -8  TN14

Radiant Sentinel
Casting Number: 14
Casting Time: Full action
Ingredient: A buckler (+2)
Description: You create a ball of glowing light the size of a Human head that floats around your body, moving slowly or quickly as the situation demands. The ball deflects blows aimed against you, protecting you from harm. Once per round the radiant sentinel can parry a melee attack made against you, using your Will Power in place of Weapon Skill. This does not count towards your limit of one parry per round. The ball dissipates after a number of minutes equal to your Magic Characteristic ROS

[roll]1d100/roll] 54 parry
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Roll that parry properly  (1d100)[ 24 ]  54

And see what happens:

 (1d100)[ 22 ] 

21–24 Horripilation: Your hair stands on end for 1d10 rounds.
 
MrAbdiel
 Bertelis does indeed pull up a chair - after pulling one out for Aletta, whose hair-covering wimple only draws attention to Jasmine's scandelous, scandelous hatlessness.
 
"Somewhat.  Though Imperial knights are so through orders - even if that order begins with one farmer's son declaring himself a knight and acting like it.  All sons of Bretonnia are expected to become knights, with only very limited exceptions.  So I am like a... Noble's son who joined a Free Company of knights, and was then recognized by the Emperor and given land and title.  In this case, a title that carries implications of gentle, often distant stewardship rather than meticulous local rule.  But most importantly, it means I am no longer a Knight Errant - instead, I am a Knight of the Realm; a proven knight... Though I fear I will not be taken seriously until I can muster the wealth to adopt the appropriate accoutrements.  A trueblooded Bretonnian warhorse; armor worthy of a Knight of the Realm; and so forth.  As for Aletta here - well, she will travel with us to L'Anguille, and then perhaps no further.  That's a matter we'll discuss in detail when we are together again.  We gain some travelling companions, but lose others.  I miss Gimgroth already - and I think Glod is enjoying the attention of being a skilled dwarven armorer in a nation where those are even more rare than the Empire.  I fear he might have exhausted his heroism fighting the skaven, for a while." 

Ultimately, Bertelis is quite forthcoming about his fief, to his friends - no good can come of lying to them.  And he will certainly lean on them for help, dealing with the problems they will likely find there. 
farothel
Bruno is surprised when the skeletons all turn to dust, but there's still Wighard to think about.  He's still in the mist somewhere.
 "My companion and his apprentice are still in there somewhere,"  he said to the new arrival,  "WIGHARD." 
The last was shouted to see if he could locate the wizard.
wilphe
Bruno can hear the sound of a spell going off, Wighard is a bit busy

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Full Round Casting

All casting needs a verbal component

Maybe Wighard will develop metamagic feats at some point

Other pre-emptive parry

[roll]1d100/roll] 77
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: Try again 
Other pre-emptive parry

 (1d100)[ 16 ]  77
 
bramblefoot
wighard: the skeletons will keep attacking, trying to make their way through your defenses

 (3d100)[ 31 ][ 80 ][ 53 ](164) 
 (1d10+2)[ 11 ] 
 (1d10+2)[ 4 ] 
 (1d10+2)[ 12 ] 

bruno and meloth: you hear the sounds of battle, and can easily pinpoint where its coming from. fyi its a full move and a charge to get there.

bertelis: aletta is looking past you, out a window.  "did you see that?"  she asks.

jasmine: the barkeep looks at you and squints.  "you look familiar"  he says, obviously racking his brains
farothel
 "That way,"  Bruno said as he ran off towards the combat, sword and shield ready.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

I'll run.  I think that's the fastest to get somewhere.  With my move 3 (from my full plate armour) that's 18 yards per round.  Charge is 12 and move is 6
 
wilphe
Wighard Init 13 W13/13 FP 2/3

  Here  

One blow is stopped by the radiant ball the other sparks off his shield

Wighard yells a reply and strikes back at the enemy but does not connect

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Half Action - Ready axe
Half Action - Strike

 (1d100)[ 61 ]  54
 (2d10b1)[ 10 ]  +3


 (1d100)[ 49 ]  Radiant Parry 77

 (1d100)[ 41 ]  Shield Parry 54
 
Volthawk
Well then, that answered where those other skeletons went. Meloth had already gotten himself involved in this, so he better make sure it was over. He joins Bruno in moving towards the noise, although the elf is a little more cautious in how he approaches the situation.

 
 Spoiler 

Meanwhile Meloth has Movement 6, so he has a 36 yard run, 24 yard charge and 12 yard half move - for a normal human with M4, a full move + charge is 32 yards, so just making move actions (not opening himself up to the melee attack vulnerability that Run causes) he'll get 3/4 of the way there this round, and in the following can either make up the rest of the distance with a half move or shoot from ~8 yards away, depending on what conditions and terrain allows.
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is about to ask Jasmine if she knows the tavern keeper - it seems unlikely, but he clearly recognizes her - when Aletta spots something out the window.  He is not so incurious as to not check; so he rises and moves to the window, while asking the obvious clarifier...

 "Did I see what?" 
dojango
Jasmine shrugs and says,  "I always come here when I'm in town. Gimme the usual, garcon." 
bramblefoot
berty: you see nothing, but aletta says  "i saw a hooded figure pass that window. he had a hanging sleeve" 

jasmine: the bartender scrutinizes you again, and sighs.  "my mind is playing tricks on me. can i get you anything" 

the skelly fighters will attack wighard again

 (3d100)[ 93 ][ 61 ][ 25 ](179) 
 (1d10+2)[ 4 ] 
 (1d10+2)[ 10 ] 
 (1d10+2)[ 4 ]  hit
MrAbdiel
Bertelis' eyes flash.  He knows better than to question a woman's intuition about such matters of instinct - and the possibility that this might be a certain one-armed individual snooping about them is too terrible to ignore.

 "Aletta, wait here - Jasmine!  I need your eyes!" 

Wasting no time, he rushes to the door looking for the figure described - not willing to be caught off guard by that fiend again.
wilphe
Wighard Init 13 W13/13 FP 2/3

The skeletons are not able to get through Wighard's defence, and with his defences up and help near at hand Wighard drops into a more passive stance to allow Bruno and the mysterious rider time to come up and even the odds



 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Guarded attack

 (1d100)[ 84 ]  WS44
 (2d10b1)[ 6 ]  +3

 (1d100)[ 5 ]  87 Radiant parry
 (1d100)[ 22 ]  64 Shield parry
 
farothel
 "Oh frack,"  Bruno said, seeing Wighard with the skeletons.  He charges in, taking a swing at the nearest skellie.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

charge attack:  (1d100)[ 60 ]  vs 56 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 15 ] 

parry first attack to hit:  (1d100)[ 28 ]  vs 46
dodge second attack to hit:  (1d100)[ 45 ]  vs 41
 
dojango
 "I kinda need them to stay in my head ," she says, but she hops over to the door and peers out down the street in all directions, since Bertelis seems so alarmed, and isn't usually one to jump at shadows

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 34 ]  v. 66 perception
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: you spot a hooded figure moving quickly down a side street. you could follow, but you dont really know who or what is out there. if only you had your pistols eh? 😁

bertelis: jasmine has spotted the intruder. whats the play? you know he's a sneaky bastard, and is unlikely to play fair

wighard, meloth and bruno: the skeletons will pull a new trick and self-destruct, sending bone fragments in all directions. can i get agility rolls or take 1d5+1 wounds unreducible?

after that you are out of the fight, gain 50 xp
dojango
Jasmine shouts down the street, " Hey!  You sneaky snook!  You peeping tom!  Come here and show yerself!  Yeah, you keep walking!  You gotta lot o' nerve tryin' to look in on bedrooms and suchlike!  I don't wanna see yer face around here or we'll set the dogs on you! "  And then more quietly, to Bertelis, " Hopefully the landlord's got some dogs we can set on him, cause I bet he'll be back. "
Volthawk
Having just arrived on the scene, Meloth has an easier time dodging away from the fragments, putting a tree between himself and the fragments, listening to them thud against the bark. After a few moments, he's pretty sure it's over and he can't hear any more coming, so he leaves his cover to see what state the other two are in. Maybe now he'd be able to get an explanation about what's going on here.

 
 Spoiler 

Agility test, TN 57:  (1d100)[ 43 ] 
Wounds:  (1d3)[ 3 ] 
 
wilphe
W9/13

Wighard dives down - more to put himself between Siobhan and the fragments than to protect himself. The former effort is successful, the latter less so as he takes a shower of bone fragments


Meloth will see he is of middling height and unremarkable appearance with usually neat brown hair that right now is standing straight out from his head

He is clad in near black leathers that have seen a lot of use - and no doubt much staining but his choice of colour means that doesn't show up so well.

He carries a well crafted battleaxe that you might recognise as dwarfcraft and wears holy symbols of both Shallya and Morr - as well a broach bearing the image of a burning slug and a fine shield with a more ornate heraldry you may not recognise

He also has the pouches and pockets of seemingly random stuff that one associates with a spellcaster or kleptomaniac hoarder.

As outerwear he has a light slate grey uniform coat of an Imperial officer but without rank insignia and whilst the coat itself is plain and unadorned except for the lining and asklepian embraided in dark blue Waffenfarbe by the shoulders it is made of excellent cloth and with exquisite workmanship and should serve him equally well in the deserts of Araby and the cold of Norsca


There is young woman close by lying on the ground - asleep or unconscious, wearing a dress over leathers


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 61 ]  Ag 54
 (1d5)[ 3 ] +1

 (1d10)[ 10 ]  Hair
 
wilphe
Wighard picks himself up and pulls a bone fragment out of his cheek

  Nasty, but its better than acid.

Are you ok?

And

Hail friend who is the rider whose arrival was so timely and assistance so valuable?  
MrAbdiel
Bertelis grimaces, and then he's in motion, flagging Jasmine to join him in the chase.   "He's either a one-armed peeper, or else our Yellow Eyed friend - and we can't let him get away if he's the latter!  But we stay together, at all costs - no more getting clobbered for either of us, ma'amselle!" 

With that, presuming Jasmine is amenable to a good old foot chase (trusting her cunning to make up for her short legs), Bertelis gives pursuit - he'd rather apologized to some poor battle-wounded yeoman if that turns out to be the case, than to let that magical bastard tormenting them on and on get away unchallenged!
farothel
Bruno tried to dodge the fragments of exploding skeleton, also trusting on his full plate to save him.  He manage to get out of most of it, the few fragments that hit him shattering on his armour.

When the explosion was done, he had a good look at the new arrival.
 "Thank you for your assistance,"  he said,  "I'm Sir Bruno, Baronet Richter." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC Rolls 

agility:  (1d100)[ 15 ]  vs 41
wounds if fail:  (1d5+1)[ 3 ] 
 
bramblefoot
berty and jasmine: gimme three agility rolls each as the man spots you and will do a runner. he's surprisingly agile for a one-armed bastard. if  both of you together score more failures than successes he's gone, on anything else, its combat time

wighard, bruno and meloth: what now? no loot on the skellies, and the fog has dissipated
Volthawk
Meloth doesn't respond immediately, taking a moment to look around through the rapidly dispersing fog and making sure that there aren't any more skeletons about before getting into a conversation. He looks at Bruno thoughtfully for a moment - baronet, huh, that explained all that armour - before looking at the other two, taking them in. He then nods, and starts speaking - if anyone has had any dealings with the elves that live in the forests, there's a hint of their accent there, but his accent is mainly influenced by the Empire, the kind you'd expect someone who's travelled around a lot. That assertion is supported by his clothing - leather armour that's definitely seen some use, utilitarian common clothing underneath, a cloak that's seen better days, and a slingbag on his back. On his belt is a dagger and a bola, along with a single pouch. The man himself is...well, it's hard to judge age when it came to elves, but his brown hair was on the longer side and his silver eyes watches the group carefully as he speaks.

 "Meloth. I'm...I do various jobs these days. A lot of the time, it's out here. Scouting, wilderness work, that sort of thing. These days, I've taken to bounty hunting. I wasn't working when I came here though - I was just travelling nearby when I saw the fog and heard the shooting. So..."  He pauses, considering a better way to put it before not finding one.  "What's going on? Why are you the prey of the undead? Should I exxpect myself to be a target now?" 
dojango
Jasmine is surprised as Bertelis takes off running and mutters " There he goes again, charging inta danger without checking his flanks. Good to see him back in fine knightly form. Suppose I'd better watch his back. You stay here where... " She pauses.  " You stay here and keep yer back to the wall and mind yer purse,"  she says to Aletta and then follows after Bertelis. But that hesitation in following does her no good in the chase.
wilphe
Wighard sticks one hand behind his back and bows curtly, the light from the stone lying on the ground casting shadows across his face

 Too overt this, no point trying to go hatless 
  Wighard Rauschenberg, Surgeon and Spellcaster in his Imperial Majesty's Service - at your service.

May I present my apprentice, Siobhan Padholder, who will hopefully be regaining consciousness shortly

We were responding to the traditional letter in the pocket asking you to a midnight rendezvous that is obviously a trap  

He looks at Bruno

  Not just undead, remember Altdorf?  

He looks at Meloth

  Yeah, we were first responders there when the whole city was put to sleep. That's how we got these.  

He brandishes the shield

  Well, remember how Bertelis decided it was a good idea to go back and try and solo a daemonette in a pitch black room because he thought honour was on the line?

Well, that was her, she said hi and left when I told her he wasn't here. Said she will see him again at his family estate, wreathed in the blood of the innocent.

I don't know how you wreath blood.

I guess she meant wearing strings of black puddings  
farothel
 "Thanks again for helping us,"  Bruno said to Meloth, before turning to Wighard,  "I have no idea either, but I think we best inform Bertelis and his stepmother about this.
 This is coming on top of everything else going on.  Anyway, let's head back to the city, shall we.  You're welcome to join us." 
The last was at Meloth again.
MrAbdiel
Bertelis storms after the one armed man; but the escapee is too quick.  Even if he hadn't been wearing his chainmail, he would be unlikely to have run him down.  After a few lanes he and Jasmine look around and see no quarry, and he hisses in disappointment, leaning on his knees.  In truth, he hasn't recovered fully from great injury; his left lung aches wildly, where the bullet passed through it; and he shakes his head.

 "Damn.  Damn, damn.  Slippery bastard.  But he would have outpaced any of us, I think.  If we're going to run that maggot to ground some day, we'll need a sprinter who doesn't mind mixing it up.  Hmm." 

With thoughts drifting to hiring someone fast and grabby - maybe an Imperial snotball talent? -  he looks to Jasmine with good humored defeat.  But then it's back to the inn - no need to leave their less martial companions alone for long, if the one armed maniac was out there somewhere.  Best to get back before he could possibly loop around and precede them, just in case.
dojango
" Ah, he were probably luring us into an ambush anyhow.  I'd feel a lot better if I had my guns when we get ambushed.  Bloody guards.  Say, did ya hear anything about the rash a shootin' around here?  Nobody's talkin about it which is right odd.  Usually in the Empire when there's crimes a foot the newsheet vendors are crawlin' all over it for their little 'true crime stories' and such. "
bramblefoot
the party reconvenes at the tavern. please introduce yourselves to the the knife-ears and get to know each other
MrAbdiel
 "The shootings, yes, so I heard.  Imperial tourists, no doubt; getting into trouble and trying to solve it with their guns, as always.  Bang bang, yippee-whippy.  But I think you will find it is a good thing we do not have a such lacivious news sheets, here.  The proliferation of such crime stories creates more crime; and our noble nation eschews the purchase of a printing press to avoid it.  As a result, with the exception of the aforementioned tourists, you will find no hawkers tossing around tales of dark deeds - and thus,  there is no crime in Bretonnia. " 

With this transparently false defence raised and defended all the way, they return to the inn.

When Bruno, Wighard, Siobhan and their new friend arrive, Bertelis, Jasmine, Aletta, Odmar and Berthold (and I suppose Deanna!) are sat about the 'nice', and therefore pricier end of the inn's common room, near to the fireplace.  Bertelis raises a hand to them; but his eyes naturally track over the elf with some suspicion.  With a stranger in their midst, he dare not explain the fullness of Aletta's purpose here - but for what reason had these companions brought an elf with them?  Still, they have also brought Siobhan.  Bertelis, Deanna and Aletta rise; and after a heartbeat of remembering the Bretonnian need for the whole bloody company to stand when a woman arrives standing, Odmar and Berthold lightly follow suit.

 "Friends - we had begun to wonder where you had gone.  Though you seem to have been caught in an exchange... "  He glances, particularly, to Wighard, and his bone-shard perforated regalia.  But he frontloads his own needed introduction -  "This is the Lady Aletta; I've been charged to escort her most of the way to L'Anguille." 

This may be the most diverse company in which Aletta has ever found herself, but she holds her nerve; she gets away with a little nod and a mysterious smile; and the elegant minimum of a curtsey.  But Bertelis' eyes are naturally on Meloth; the kind of focused attention the elf us certainly used to from suspicious humans, though not even approaching the catagory of most hostile.
wilphe
Wighard cleans his blunderbuss and hands it back to the guards on the way in - providing an explanation for the shot should one be asked for. Siobhan appears to have woken up without lasting damage.

As the rendezvous was at midnight it is getting on for two in the morning by the time they get back so he is slightly surprised to see everyone up and still being served. He takes some white wine and works on getting bone fragments out of his clothes, skin and armour.



  As a matter of fact, it went quite well; for you are looking at a Knight-Banneret,  
  So is this an actual promotion we should be happy about or is it like mine where you suspect you are being set up?

If the former congratulations; and Jasmine you need to start sucking up to the Elector Countess Hisme, you are being left behind  

+++++


  Though I fear I will not be taken seriously until I can muster the wealth to adopt the appropriate accoutrements.  

Wighard exchanges incredulous glances with Bruno and Deanna and sighs

  I think my friend you have spent too long fighting strange and unpleasantly scented monsters in the company of even stranger and less pleasantly scented foreigners

You need to find this boy an intelligent and sagacious wife before he spends any time at court - because as it stands he'll be eaten alive without even knowing it

So what if your horse and armour are not up to scratch - you have something far more important than that, something beyond price.

You have the

FAVOUR.

OF.

A.

KING.

Yesterday you were a no-name knight

Today the king saw fit to elevate you - to the bottom of the nobility to be sure but above every other knight in the realm

Tomorrow your name will be on everyone's lips and those nobles who would not offer us accommodation yesterday will fall over themselves to do so. They will want to see you for themselves, see what the kings sees in you, see if you are worth cultivating  


+++++

He is not sure what Bertelis will share about Aletta so will keep quiet about that

+++++

He is frank about the events of the night - if Aletta is going to be travelling with them she'd better get used to this kind of thing

  Twas your friend from Altdorf that you so rashly challenged, who then toyed with you and left you to bleed out

She appeared to be disappointed you were not there, and I pointed out I was the best equipped person to fight her, so she left. Which is good because even if that was not a lie I would not have fancied my chances. I want to have some different magic next time we see her.

She said she would next see you at your family estate, wreathed in the blood of the innocent.

I'd say that was a cliched fashion choice, but I also don't know how you wreath blood, unless she is going to wear a crown of black puddings.  
farothel
After congratulating Bertelis on his new rank, Bruno introduced the elf.
 "This is Meloth.  We encountered him outside when fighting a bunch of skellies.  He helped us, so I invited him to stay with us for at least the night.  And with the two dwarves gone, we might use an extra hand, right.  But it's getting late, so maybe we can best continue this conversation after breakfast." 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis goes back and forth between grimacing and smiling at Wighard dresses him down for being self-effacing to the point of ignorance.  Deanna and Aletta laughing lightly at him, however good natured, brings color to his cheeks, if not quite choler to his chest.

He rubs the back of his head, and then the corner of his eye; the scar left by the wyrdstone bullet having damaged the lid just a little that he must forever be a little attentive of it lest someone mistake him for weeping.   "Well.  I suppose that's true.  It's just a sudden shift.  I forestalled the end of my errantry for a few years.  I have... become accustomed to being a no-name knight.  For years I've been writing letters back home about my own exploits, and then about our exploits as the Company, hoping to receive news one day that I was called to be a knight in someone's court.  I did not have a space in my mind set aside for thinking about what would happen if I was called to require a court of my own.  And I suppose I am... not letting myself think too hard past our current crop of extreme obligations.  We have... many immediate and difficult challenges to come." 

When Bruno introduces the mysterious elf, Bertelis gives him a renewed lookover - one that has dismissed many of its implicit suspicion on the base of the story of his help aiding the other Companions.   "Well, Meloth.  Let me add my thanks to those of the others for your intervention.  Our little company has many great powers and skills at its disposal - but one thing we have been classically bad at is creating a comfortable margin of victory, and so I pray your gods pour favor upon you for your decision to give aid instead of avoid the matter, as one might be forgiven for considering.  You are not arrayed like one of the merchant elves who lay their wares at L'Anguille on the way to Marienburg.  Where are you from, Meloth; and how did you come to wander to the greatest city in the Old World?" 
Volthawk
Out in the field, Meloth listens to Wighard's story with mild interest that picks up when the man mentions Altdorf and the incident that happened there. From what he'd heard, that'd mean...now he knew that, and had an inkling about what else this group was involved in, they were definitely worth knowing. If nothing else, heading into the city sounded good to him, so he gets his horse and sorts out his kit before joining them.

Meloth doesn't have to surrender anything at the front gate to the guards - he may have spent a lot of time around humans in general and the Empire in particular, but he'd never quite picked up their love of firearms. His longbow served him well enough.

Once inside, he listens rather than talks for a little while, hearing what the other members of this strange little group have to say, figuring them out. Strange lot, but very interesting. Bertelis' initial reaction was...to be expected, but it's welcome to see that first impression be set aside from the facts, and so he breaks his quietness when Bertelis starts asking questions.  "I don't look like a merchant because I'm a traveller, not a trader. Besides, most of the elven merchants you see are from the high elves out west. I come from here - well, not here exactly, but the forests further east around the Empire. We're...different. As for how I got here..."  He shrugs. He's not going into all of that with them quite now. Too early.  "Long story. Put short, I've been wandering for a few decades now, but this is the first time it's brought me this far west. These days, I've been doing more in the way of bounty hunting, and that's brought me back into dealing with cities more, so I've ended up here."  He shrugs again, a little unsure about what to say.  "I have...reason to investigate strange things like what happened to your friends there, so naturally I intervened. It sounds like this isn't the first time you've run into the darker side of the world, though. Your man there said you were in Altdorf when it was under attack by that...curse?" 
wilphe
Wighard lightly scolds Aletta,   Be careful milady lest you may one day end up with that responsibility  , mostly seeing what her reaction will be. Bertelis hasn't yet explained what her deal is, but if she is going to be travelling with them she is going to have to get used to worse than that so he needs to establish a baseline.


He is feeling slightly more relaxed around Meloth   So what sort of bounties do you hunt? Not so many in Bretonnia I understand. You do it for the money or you have personal reasons?

And if you are here for Jasmine - well she's not an orc, so please don't.  

He is not unpleasant but doing the "I share information, you share information" exchange


  Altdorf - well that's a long story and you need the lore. We all really became acquainted at the funeral of a mutual friend and mentor, Bertelis myself and two others Gimgroth and Emil ended up in Trundheim and led the town militia clear out a chaos infestation in a nearby mine.

There we made the acquaintance of a yellow eyed spellcaster and took one of his arms off before he escaped.

Travelled down the Reik, killed a strigoi and a chaos snake on the way

Ended up in Altdorf when we were some of the very few not incapacitated; ran into the yellow eyed fellow again because he was involved if not behind it, except that now he has tentacles instead of an arm.

He got away again unfortunately  
bramblefoot
the party boards the crown royal, a riverboat headed for bordeleaux. its captain is an older gentleman with salt and pepper hair. he greets the ladies with the proper respect owed to them, and will bow to bertelis.  "ah, knight banneret!"  he calls, doffing his hat.  "this ship is ready to sail, should you be ready?" 

anything else, before you leave couronne?
dojango
" Bounty hunting? " Jasmine asks as the stranger talks. " What sort of bounties are ya after? A fine lad like yerself wouldn't bother with... Trivial bounties, I reckon.. ."
MrAbdiel
Wighard has judged Aletta to be playful enough that he can joke with her like that.  She snorts, somewhat unfemininely, at the implication he lays out.

 "Oh, I shan't imagine so.  Marriage is for women insufficiently interested in their own dignity." 
Deanna offers a mild rejoinder, murmured over the lip of her cup of wine.   "Ah; the laborious indignity of it; to have the strong lay down their coats to protect you from puddles, and their lives to protect you from sword and suffering..." 

Aletta is headstrong, but not too headstrong to realise she might have been unwittingly insulting to the married woman sitting to her immediate left.  She blushes a little at this very gentle rebuke; unswayed by the argument but unwilling to escalate it.  Both are glad enough when the conversation moves on to the Company's exploits.

Bertelis makes a furtive gesture of the hand when Wighard mentions Yellow-Eyes.   "We might have seen him again; though we cannot say for sure.  Aletta spotted a one-armed man past the window there, and Jasmine and I gave chase, but lost him.  He might not have been our man - a fellow does not need much reason to run beyond discovering he is being chased - but he is gone, now.  Or... gone for the moment.  But I wonder, if he is following us, if there is a reason to it - do we possess something he really wanted, when he seized that mine?" 

He exchanges a look with Wighard.  As the two founding members of the Company still present, only the two of them were there at the time; and their imaginations are the collective realm to game out what their adversary might want from them, if not just to torment them.  For there were certainly easier, less deadly foes to torment; ones who had not proven so dismembering capable already.  Since his threats had peeled Gimgroth from the group, Bertelis had worried the damn sorcerer would pursue the dwarf all the way to Tilea and menace his ward there - but if he is here, following the rest of the Company, it must be something they have.

Is it the map, containing the mystically hidden locations of possible treasure beyond imagining?

...Is it Siobhan?

For the moment, it cannot be known.

To Meloth's elaboration, he nods.   "Well... The elves of Laurelorn, I am told, are not the same as those Asrai in Athel'Loren.  By all rumor, they are a much more reasonable people - and you strike me reasonable indeed.  But it is true, we are light on active members of our party.  We have our esteemed staff..."   He gestures to Odmar and Bertholt, "and our honored guests," then to Deanna and Aletta,  "as well as our... Well.  Junior member."   He nods to Siobhan.   "But when it comes to seek out active hazards, it is Jasmine, Bruno, Wighard and I.  If you are interested in risking your life for reward meted out in uncertain proportions of glory, gold, and good deeds accomplished... I think we would welcome you, as long as you are happy to continue wandering. We have a great deal of hazardous business in Bretonnia still; but once we are free from immediate threats, we have ambitions that involve seeking certain treasure near and far.  If you aid in that endevour, you would be entitled to a cut; though we have taken this path knowing it may be at the end an unrewarded task." 
wilphe
Wighard didn't expect to get that reaction out of Aletta, but lets the conversation move on to the matter of yellow eyes

  He is a servant of chaos and we thwarted his plans - twice.

They tend to take such matters very personally, so no further explanation is necessary, not that that rules out one existing of course.

But please don't jump at every man missing an arm - I have cut off plenty in my time and life is hard enough for such men as it is  
Volthawk
Meloth raises a hand when Wighard starts describing Yellow Eyes.  "You don't need to explain. We've crossed paths before, him and I. That's why I took an interest to your involvement in what happened in Altdorf, because I'd heard he was there. If you keep running into him...yes, I'll join you. I owe him some payback, you see."  He grins.  "The money won't hurt either. In recent years, I've rekindled an attachment to the forest, yes, but that doesn't mean the comforts of mankind's cities aren't welcome any more, and more coin is always appreciated. As for my current bounties...I must confess you're not wrong about Brettonia. No doubt there are those who need hunting out there, but compared to the Empire the people here are less willing to hand out bounties to strange elves with bows."  He chuckles at his last statement - there's little doubt something along those lines has been said to him before, likely in harsher language, but he doesn't seem to let it get to him.  "So no, I'm not hunting your friend here, and my time is yours if you need it. My horse has everything I own on it, so I can leave whenever you're ready." 
farothel
Bruno would wear his chainmail, but not his full plate on the ship.  It is possible to get out of a chainmail on the bottom of the river, but not a full plate.  So the full plate will stay in the cabin until they get off the ship, wherever that will be.  He also made sure he got his pistol back before boarding.  And then he would follow Bertelis, who knows these regions better than he did.
bramblefoot
berty: before you leave, glod will hand you the reforged blade, complete with three permanent runes. he explains what they do, and bids you farewell. later that night, when you bed down, you have a dream of one of your brothers and the blood knight talking in the catacombs of mousillon. your brother is in bad shape

wighard: you have a dream of a summoning circle in the basement of a shop. hooded figures summon a small imp, and send it off into the sky to spy on the company of ze burning slug

meloth: you have a dream of the forests of athel-loren burning. screams and cackles are heard as the trees smoke and burn, and elves run in terror as the wind picks up, fanning the flames toward the elven settlements

bruno: we cut to your father in the dungeons of the witch hunters. he's beaten and battered, and the hammer is working him over with a whip  "confess!"  he grunts, lashing his back again and again with his muscular arms

jasmine: describe to me your worst fear as it comes to life at you in a dream

 
 Spoiler: ooc 
this is a chance for you all to go wild and introduce story hooks
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis looks at the weapon with amazement.  Its basic form is the Bretonnian arming sword; the same that broke in the battle with the beastman champion in Trundheim.  But Glod has remade it; the several shards it once laid in are held together by hair-thin lines of golden gromril.  On its length are the three runes cut into the steel by the dwarven ancient techniques; on the other side a gilged inscription in Classical.

 Per Ignem Facti Sumus Integri  - By fire, we are made whole.  Applicable both to a company of companions in the fires of battle and broken steel made complete by forge and skill, Bertelis is taken aback by this streak of poetic artistry in Glod.  He stoops to give the dwarf a loose but not unmeaningful embrace, as he takes custody of the  Company Blade.   "Thank you, Glod.  We have no shortage of foes who require such quality steel; fortunate are we, who have such quality companions also." 
 * * * * * 
Bertelis awakes from another dread dream; this one to see a new enemy... though perhaps, not completely new.  But what is certainly new is this vision of Dermand, his youngest brother.  The young knight, barely sixteen suffers in a catacomb he instinctively knows is beneath Mousillon... and the last dream he had proved prophetic about Deanna's distress, against the same tormentor.  If he needed confirmation, that was it - Mousillon first.  If he could save Dermand... Then he will be on his way to rebuilding his family, piece by piece, on the way home.  But he certainly cannot leave Dermand to such a monster.

He saves the report of this dream for the moment.  He will warn the Companions when they are set to go into the cursed city - but he cannot bear to settle this fear upon the heart of Deanna.  He does have something else to tell the full group, however; and in a closed session including all party members, new and old, and all hangers on without any of the sailors present, Bertelis explains Aletta's true role.

 "...I call upon each of you, as men and women of integrity and of Companions in our endevours, to bind yourselves to secrecy on a matter.  What I ask is your discretion on this matter; what I offer is truthfulness, between us.  This is Aletta - but Aletta is not departing out company in L'Anguille; not truly.  Her uncle, Duke Hagen, has charged me to take her on as my squire.  Under the word of Bretonnian tradition, this is not possible for a woman of my country.  This does not mean it is not done, from time to time - but outside of outrageous, miraculous divine events, it is a matter that involves a regrettable amount of deception.  I would place that deception only on those who must bear it; not on any of you.  Once we arrive in L'Angulle, Aletta will depart our company - and my squire, Maxime, will join us.  From that point on, Maxime will be my responsibility and charge, until such a point that  he  is prepared for his errantry trial, and thus to become a knight in  his  own right.  It remains a great honor of my life to have companions in whom I can so comfortably place this kind of sacred trust." 
wilphe
Wighard will also bid farewell to Glod,   Perhaps in your copious free-time when you are not showing them how to smith you could try to teach them how to brew halfway passable beer  

++++++

Wighard notes the details from the dream - but it's a cellar, probably that of a fairly successful merchant from what is on display - and he doesn't recognise any of the people, though they appear to be Bretonnian

He is pretty certain from the robes and paraphernalia that these guys are Khaine worshippers, though they do not say why they are interested in the Company

As he wakes the rabbit skin is warm and sticky with blood again

He talks softly to Kwolf

  Keep an eye out, we are going to have company  

++++++

  I will be happy to assist you in her education  


As he makes the arrangements for the trip, cabin assignments for the first leg are as follows:

Bertelis and Odmar

Bruno and Berthhold

Wighard with Schlapp and his sister

Jasmine and Meloth

Largest available for Deanna, Aletta and Siobhan

He takes Siobhan aside,   I'm giving her the opportunity to treat you as an inferior or even a servant. Let me know if she takes it.   he smiles,   I don't know if Bertelis is ready to treat her as a squire and not a highborn lady, I am  
dojango
The party is travelling through labryrinthine tunnels, carved by strange and twisted craft.  Enemies flit out of sight hither and yon, and dread creeps through the tunnels.  The party travels deeper and deeper until at last they reach a door set firmly in the ancient stone.  Her door.  Her front door to her home in the little village.  She opens it up, and she sees her husband and her sister waiting in the open room.  Her nieces and nephews, and her ancient mother in law in a rocking chair in the corner.  They all turn to her and grin.  "Twenty five crowns," says her husband.  They all get up, arms reaching for her.  She turns and runs... and is suddenly held back.  She sees the cruel grin of the elf bounty hunter.  "Twenty five crowns," he says.  She sees Wighard with pen in hand.  "We'll divide it among the party," he says.  "I shall give my share to charity," says Bertelis, piously.  "I shall give mine to the roadwardens" says Bruno.  The walls close in.  She wakes up gasping.  Betrayal.  But no, she's on the deck of the riverboat, curled up in a corner.  She'd wanted to sleep in the open air, under the stars and the rigging.  Looking around at the familiar sights of a boat at anchor for the night settles her mine a little.  Her companions wouldn't betray her.  Would they?

Later, though, after Bertelis reveals his plans, Jasmine merely laughs and says, " Stick by me kid, I'll teach ya what ya need to know, like how ta crap over the side of the boat without the sailors bein' able to take a look at yer fanny. "
farothel
Bruno awakes in the middle of the night, bathing in sweat.  That dream had been all too real, but at the moment there is little he can do about it.  He tries to get back to sleep, but it is difficult to get back to sleep and he awakes with a headache.  Before first light, he gives up and heads up on the deck of the ship, looking around as they move ahead.
Volthawk
Meloth wakes from his dream with a frown on his face. That was...strange. It'd been a long time since elven forests have featured so prominently in his dreams - other forests, yes, but not home. He'd almost forgotten how they looked...but then they'd never looked like that. Memories...the wood elves had always been a vigilant people, since much like humanity they were in the path of the evil that stalked the continent, and he'd always assumed that they'd be able to fend off any attacker that came into their lands. To see them in flames...he'd never quite believed the idea that dreams were prophetic, a sign of things to come or that which has already occured, but that just meant this idea had to come from him. But why...the forest in flames meant his people under attack. "His people" may be represented by the elves he grew up with, but these days...who were his people? Travelers? Perhaps. And the attack itself...beastmen. Yellow Eyes. Chaos. The people he was travelling with, they'd had run-ins with more evil than just the target he had in mind. Things that could do the exact same thing Yellow Eyes did to the people he was traveling with without a second thought. Maybe...maybe this dream was a part of him trying to make him see that he should do more to protect people, do more than just avenge his personal loss. Perhaps. Or maybe it was just a meaningless dream. He wasn't sure, but it gave him food for thought. In any case, he couldn't rest now, with this on his mind, so he quietly leaves his room and gets onto the deck, breathing the night air and enjoying the breeze in the air, centering himself a little. If he sees one of the others, he gives them a nod of acknowledgement but leaves them to their own thoughts. If they were awake at this time, they clearly also had something they needed to think through.

---

Bertelis' announcement just gets a shrug from Meloth. He'd always found some of the ways of the Brettonians a little odd, but if they needed to play along so be it.  "Very well. If, when your squire joins us,"  Might as well start embracing the ruse now - it felt a little nostalgic being part of a con like this - if they were going to have to stick with it for a while.  "He wants to learn skills other than charging in and hitting things with a sword, I'll likely have time here and there to show him a few tricks." 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is happy, though not surprised, when his party consents to be part of this deception.  They are good people; and the Lady has blessed him to be furnished with such companions.  Though he wonders, as the offers come in to assist in Aletta's tenure of learning, exactly how much he wants learning from them.  Fond of his companions as he is, none of them are knights - Bruno is closest, but not the same.  He may have a gentle comment queued up for asking Wighard what he might intend to teach 'Maxime', or to suggest to Jasmine that it is not fitting for a noble, female or male, to defecate directly over a ships rail anyway; but when Meloth offers his own tutelage, Bertelis' attention goes that way.  His eyes go to the elf's bow, first.  This was something he needs to nip in the bud.  Elves were legendary archers, for but Bretonnians, the bow as hunting tool for the nobles, and a weapon only for peasants.  It was more than possible the elf could teach Aletta to shoot, with his elven mysteries, more effectively than Bertelis could teach her to fight with steel.  If she were seduced by the safety and simplicity of the bow, she would be tempted to draw it in battle - and in do so, break the oaths she would be required to take when she became a knight errant.

 "We might all benefit from learning some of your skills, Master Meloth; though I fear a great weight of Maxime's curriculum will indeed be charging, and hitting.  If the peripheral lessons from our great company do not interfere with those staple exercises, think he will be well served." 

He glances back at Aletta.  She is enjoying being talked about, and people expressing an interest in looking out for her and imparting wisdom upon her... but the priveledge, the conceipt, was still in her eyes.  A term as a squire would shave that down, some; her errantry would be what broke it entirely.  If she was lucky, she would meet someone like professor Lorrimer, who would challenge her ideas about people and nations and what they owed to each other.  Perhaps Emil could serve that function, for her.

...Actually, perhaps it was best not to direct her towards Emil.  He was a man of some virtues, but very perceptive, and a cad.  The last thing Bertelis needed was for Duke Hagen to compel the king to call an Errantry War against Westvein.
bramblefoot
the party is shaken awake in the night by a loud grinding crunching noise. can i get initiative from everybody, along with a fear test at -30 or take 2d4b1 IP as you open your cabin doors to see a giant dracholeech, at least 40 feet long and 10 feet wide curling around the spine of the riverboat!

 
 Spoiler: ooc 
if anyone has seen the prince caspian movie where the serpent coils around the ship, this is the same scene
 


wighard: the red rage stirs inside you. can i get a wp test at -20 to suppress it and not charge the dracholeech like a madman

bertelis: you have heard legends of old one-eye, the legendary dracoleech coiling the ship. can i get a wp test at -10 to not flee, as your fear of death suddenly kicks in?

the rest of you are free to act
MrAbdiel
Bertelis emerges from belowdecks where the horses were stowed, where he had been tending his beasts and talking to Odmar in the night. But when the cracking of the wood begins and he rushes upstairs with a hand on the hilt of his sword, his eyes go wide.

 One-Eye...  have you drifted this far?  Are you... here for me? 

Whitefaced with shock, he stumbles back down the stairs and scrabbles backwards on his palms and backside, struggling to seize control of the white bolts of terror ripping through his chest.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Bertelis spends this turn fleeing. I figure jumping into the water feels like getting CLOSER to the thing now; so struggling back into the lower deck and crumpling into denial is the closest he can accomplish.
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d10)[ 7 ]  Init +5

 (1d100)[ 78 ]  Fear 57

 (1d100)[ 84 ]  Ragh! 57
 
wilphe
Wighard Init 12 W13/13  FP 2/3

Wighard stirs at the jolt and staggers to the deck, for once struck dumb by the vile beast with only one thought in his mind

 Kill it! Kill it Fast! 

He gives a bellow worthy of an orc chieftain and charges the beast

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 87 ]  WS 64
 (2d10)[ 7 ][ 2 ](9)  +3

 (1d100)[ 46 ]  54 Parry
 
farothel
When Bruno is awoken (or already awake, see OOC) and noticed the critter, he quickly fired off a shot with his pistol before switching to sword and shield.

 
 Spoiler: OOC round 1 

shoot at the critter (I assume I'm in short range on a river boat):  (1d100)[ 2 ]  vs 48 for damage:  (1d10+4)[ 11 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 12 ]  (impact)

parry on first attack to hit me:  (1d100)[ 55 ]  vs 46
dodge blow on second attack to hit me:  (1d100)[ 4 ]  vs 51 (if no armour) or 41 (if chainmail or higher)
 
bramblefoot
old one eye will jump up and land on the boat with a thump. whatever it tried, it didnt really accomplish much

 (1d100)[ 78 ] 
dojango
Jasmine is surprised by the sight of the monster as it barrels out from the depths.  She freezes in its gaze, thinking, 'Is this how it all ends?'  Her arms shake and refuse to obey her commands, her every instinct to scuttle for cover and safety.
Volthawk
When Meloth reaches his cabin door, bow in hand, and looks outside...for a moment, he freezes. Was this what he'd signed up for? He knew the company fought strange things, but this...could they even kill it? They were...

The sound of gunfire helps to snap him out of it, as he looks around and sees Bruno taking the beast on. Right. They weren't dead yet. He just had to trust that everyone else would get themselves together too, and that this thing could die. No way to put that to the test than to start putting some arrows into it, so he starts shooting.

 
 Spoiler 

Half action Aim into half action attack.

Attack, TN 84* (BS 74 + 10 Aim):  (1d100)[ 22 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 7 ]  w/ Armour-Piercing

*Are to-hit bonuses against big creatures a thing in this system?
 
MrAbdiel
He was going to die, here; on this river, a day after the greatest honor of his life.  He was going to die, and fail his step-mother, and step-sister, and his father and all his brothers; all who depended on his valor, and success.  The Dancer would go to Bordeleaux, and he would not be there to stop her, and she would kill his kin and countrymen because months ago, in Altdorf, he had made a rash vow to challenge the Daemon.. and she had cut the courage from his heart, and left him bleeding and broken.  This was her victory.  His body had stopped bleeding, but his soul, his honor, had not; and here on the river Sannez, they would bleed out.  This monster did not belong in these waters.  It dwelled in the Grismerie, between Bordeleaux and Mousillon; between his birth home, and his king-granted fief.  It was here  for him , and his limbs had locked up, and he scuffed the heels of his fine riding boots on the lower deck of the riverboat as he instinctively tried to burrow back into the wall, pushing himself into a bed of hay and horse droppings to complete his shame.  Yes; he would die, and his vows would be broken and lost; but then perhaps his poor heart could rest.  He remembered the Green Knight; the agony of choosing life instead of death, if that had happened at all and was not a dream of his fevered mind.  Oh, how he feared to die!  But oh, how wretched that fear made living!  Oh, the damnation gulped down by the gluttonous appetite of a young and impetuous knight of Bordeleaux that day, in the dark with the Daemon!

But while his heart nearly exploded in his chest, and his mind reeled and squirmed and tried to turn his fevered thoughts into poetry or sense, his eyes turned sidelong to the stairs that led further below; and saw crouched there, gazing at him, the eyes of Siobhan.  And her face was the face of all women, for a moment; her expression of alarm the moment before it would resolve into disappointment for his conduct.  The face of the girl whom these companions had fished from the rough woods around the mine of Trundheim, whose father had died fighting monsters so that she could flee and end up in the care of Wighard and the companions.

...And also the face of noble woman of Bretonnia who had fled terrible peril, and had now trusted in him to deliver her home and make that home safe again.

...And also the face of a little girl whom he had expected to disdain when she came into the world, but who looked up to him like he was as tall as the heavens and would ride on his shoulders and feel as though she could reach them.

...And also the face of the woman who had brought  him  into the world, whose memory was foggy and almost lost to him but whose absence he felt keenly and had, each day of his life, sought to balm by giving her reasons to be proud of him, if Morr were kind enough to permit her witness of his life without her.

...And also the face of a young and rambunctious daughter of privilege and passion who had come into his care to learn at his side the virtues of courage, and martial honor, and fidelity, and self-sacrifice.

...And also the face of a little woman, whom despite being born as a member of the humblest and weakest of the peoples upon the face of the Old World, nonetheless found in herself the inconceivable bravery to follow a foolish knight and two intractable dwarves into a den of rats and madness, and there prove to have contributed the difference to save them all.

...And also the face of a goddess, whom he had only ever seen in iconography and art and imagined with the promise that, if he were a knight sufficiently virtuous, she would one day meet with him and offer him a draught from the sacred grail and in it the consummation of all his seeking; whose expectations and demands for the men of his country were the foundation for all greatness they had ever achieved and all deeds worthy of memory.

Bertelis let out a painful groan as the lessons of his life, the drilled-in theology of the Lady, the importance of adhesion to virtue, and the triumph of the martyr over death.  It hurt, in a deep physical way, to push past this unnatural, daemon-born fear in him; it felt like the breaking of a bone in his heart.  But his legs found their way under him, and one found its way in front of the other, and then he was running up the steps and out towards the rugose, constricting monster of death and nightmare attacking their vessel.  A cry ripped from his throat; the strangled howl of heroism choking, and being choked in kind, by cravenness and just barely gaining an upper hand.  His hands flew to his scabbard, and with a deftness of motion he had learned in quiet practise with Bruno who had mastered the technique, drew the Company Blade in the same concerted movement with which he struck.  The runes on the blade hummed to life in battle for the first time; and a wild corona of white flame raced up the four feet of gleaming steel, trailing behind the arc of the blow and chasing it like a cracking whip...

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Raaah! 
Passed both fear tests!  Hooray!  Chivalry lives!

Quickdraw the Company Blade. Charge the Dracoleech. Freely designate it as the target of the weapon's grudge, and also activate the flames.

  Vs76  - (1d100)[ 11 ] .  If it misses, reroll for free on account of the Rune of Grudges.    Vs76  - (1d100)[ 36 ] . 

On a hit,  (1d10+7)[ 9 ]  damage.  If it has 50 or more toughness, then Bertelis gets his Strength bonus again - which would add another 5.

So a blow to the head, for either 9 or 14, depending on its toughness.
 
bramblefoot
berty: old one eye will recoil from the blade, and attempt to swallow you whole

 (1d100)[ 94 ] 
 (1d10+8)[ 16 ] 
farothel
As the critter tried to swallow Bertelis, Sir Bruno moved in yelling to distract the creature and also try to stab it to make it go away, or maybe kill it if they would be so lucky.

 
 Spoiler: OOC round 2 

move in towards the critter if needed
attack:  (1d100)[ 47 ]  vs 46 (or 56 if Bertelis and myself count as outnumbering) for damage:  (1d20+5)[ 21 ]  (damage in OOC:  12 
 
wilphe
R2 Wighard Init 12 W13/13 FP 2/3

Wighard doesn't really notice Bertelis and Bruno joining him, he just wildly hacks at the thing, trying to bring it down as fast as possible but it seems to barely affect the creature


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

All out Attack

 (1d100)[ 68 ]  94 (54+20 for 3:1 +20 for all out attack)

 (2d10)[ 3 ][ 1 ](4)  +3
 
bramblefoot
old one eye will attempt to swallow wighard, as he hasnt parried or dodged

 (1d100)[ 30 ] 

[roll]1d1)+8[/roll]
dojango
The smell of powder smoke helped Jasmine snap out of. No matter how big the foe, gunpowder would be the great equalizer. She scrabbled for her pistol amongst her belongings and snapped it upon the direction of the huge beast. The pistol went off and glanced of the beast's scaly hide, but she knew it could be beaten now.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 52 ]  v. 72,  (1d10+4)[ 7 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 9 ] 
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is only in his loose leathers for sleeping on the vessel, even his shield is back where he lay sleeping before.  But the agility benefits him; he moves swiftly enough that the plunging maw of the monster crashes into the deck where he was, before rising again and swinging to batter Wighard - though the Old World's least ostentatious heirophant seemed remarkably unbothered by this all.  It wasn't the first time Bertelis had seen him like this; and the recklessness with which he attacked the beast left no instinct for defense.  No careful strategy, here; no way out but through.  With Bruno and Wighard leading the way, Bertelis follows suit with a pair of savage strikes up along the monsterous leech's central cartilaginous rings, each sweep of the reforged sword trailing flashes of white flame burning from dwarven runecraft!

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Hasan chop! 
Swift attack!

1.    vs86  - (1d100)[ 33 ]  or   RuneOfGrudgesReroll  - (1d100)[ 64 ] , for  (1d10+7)[ 14 ] , plus another 5 if the creature has a toughness bonus of 50 or more.

2.    vs86  - (1d100)[ 32 ]  or   RuneOfGrudgesReroll  - (1d100)[ 88 ] , for  (1d10+7)[ 15 ] , plus another 5 if the creature has a toughness bonus of 50 or more.
 
wilphe
R3 Wighard Init 12 W10/13 FP 2/3

Wighard takes a slight bump to the head, he has smelt leeches before of course, but this one is a lot bigger.

It doesn't particularly slow his assault down however

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

[roll]1d100[/100] 94 (54+20 for 3:1 +20 for all out attack)

 (2d10)[ 7 ][ 2 ](9)  +3
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Try that attack roll again

 (1d100)[ 55 ] 94
 
Volthawk
Meloth...wasn't really sure if anything they were doing was even having an effect, but it was hardly like they had a choice other than trying at this point. Jumping into the river would just be putting them in its element and out of theirs, and they had nowhere else to go, so...he just keeps firing, hoping that his arrows are having an effect on the thing.

 
 Spoiler 

Aiming and shooting on rounds 3 and 4:

Attack, TN 84 (BS 74 + 10 Aim):  (1d100)[ 5 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 8 ]  w/ Armour-Piercing

Attack, TN 84 (BS 74 + 10 Aim):  (1d100)[ 24 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 7 ]  w/ Armour-Piercing
 
farothel
Bruno keeps hacking away at the critter, trying to hit the wounds already made to make them bigger, something not easy with the moving around the critter does.

 
 Spoiler: OOC round 3 

full attack:
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 42 ]  vs 66 (46WS +20 outnumber) for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 14 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 72 ]  vs 66 (46WS +20 outnumber) for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 10 ] 
 
dojango
Jasmine tucks away her pistol and pulls out her spare and takes careful aim at the beast again.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 40 ]  v. 72,  (1d10+4)[ 12 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 8 ] 
 
bramblefoot
old one eye will attempt to bop berty off the boat and then slither off to enjoy a bretonnian snack.

 (1d100)[ 94 ] 

jesus christ, guess i used all my luck on jorunn today
MrAbdiel
Bertelis steps easily aside this last attempt to strike him, swinging at the creature’s rubbery hide as it withdraws; then puts away the blazing sword once the beast is fully withdrawn.  After a brief accounting that the boat has not taking significant damage or lost any crew or passengers, he is able to relax somewhat.

 “Is there no end to what our enemies will seek to toss at us?  This is Yellow-Eye’s doing, I have no doubt.  Only a witch of that calibre has the power to drive such a creature so far from its place.  That was a Dracoleech - infact, a large and storied Dracoleech called One Eye.  They dwell only in the river Grismerie, and only near to Mousillon; the cursed water gives them life.  See how clumsy and disoriented the monster was, compelled out to clean waters as an assassin?  In its bleak home, they are much more dangerous.” 
wilphe
Wighard feels the bloodrage drain from him as the beast flees, though the rabbit pelt is warm and slick with blood.

He calms and begins barking orders, noting that the immediate "are we sinking" issue has been dealt with by Bertelis

  Odmar, Berthold, check the horses

Siobhan, what is happening back there?

Is anyone hurt besides me?  

The crew remain a bit shaken and he talks to them softly

  We drove the beast off, you are safe now  

He returns to Bertelis

  Pity we did not get to finish him off, twould have made a fine trophy at the bow to announce your arrival in Anguille  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 18 ]  86
 (1d10)[ 6 ]  Heal
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis smiles a little at the suggestion, gesturing to the Burning Slug brooch on Wighard's cloak.   "And very much on brand for our particular company, I think.  Compliments to Glod - he has been working on this blade ever since we surrendered the  Trundheim Flambard .  But it is proven, now." 

Once everything has settled down, normal watches resumed, and Wighard's injury addressed with Siobhan's assistance, Bertelis seeks a moment for a modicum of approximated privacy to speak to the wizard at the prow of the riverboat, out of immediate earshot of the on duty crew and other passengers.

 "Wighard - I fear there is a matter I have been uncertain of, and which I have concealed out of shame ... but now I fear I can no longer contain without risking disaster.  I need your help." 

The knight's eyes track to the starlit flow of the river as the boat works its way merrily down the  Sannez.   He seems to have to work up to the confession.  His left hand has settled over the middle of his chest; the fingers loosely opening and closing against his gambeson as if trying forlornly to scratch an immaterial itch.

 "...You helped Bruno with the dark spirit that took possession of him, yes? You, and the Damsel Elise.  Contained it within his eye, until it could be banished completely at the Temple of Shallya.  I wonder... if you could do the same for me." 

His expression darkens with shame, as he continues.   "For a while, I think, I knew I could rely on Gimgroth's might to carry our group through when I was made weak; but now with our great champion departed to Tilea, I cannot bear the thought that I might cost the life of someone in our party.  When the daemonette cut me down in Altdorf - where you found me... she left some darkness within me.  Some curse, I think; some... mystic pollution.  I see daemons that are not there, sometimes.  When battle looms - not the routine skirmishes with petty foes, but real menace like the rats in their hold in Axebite pass or this monsterous leech - I feel the freezing cold hand of evil squeezing all the blood from my heart.  I hoped I could overcome it with prayer and time; but now that Aletta is my charge to whom I must demonstrate a knight's courage for her emulation..."   He shakes his head a little.   "I am prepared to throw myself on the mercy of the Shallyans when we return to Couronne; or to whatever order I must to resolve the matter completely.  But if you have access to a measure of your magic that can bind this poison, in the interim... I would be beyond grateful." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: Wuh? 
Not a plot hook or anything.  Bertelis isn't possessed or cursed; he's just traumatized.  When Wighard uses his magical senses he will detect no such daemonic doom hanging over Bertelis (maybe the faintest glimmer of trace magic in his eye which occasionally gleams with warplight, but nothing significant).  Being an army medic, Wighard has probably seen enough PTSD to know what's happening; but I'll leave his disgnosis up to you, Wilphe.
 
wilphe
  His majesty has made a wise decision in taking Glod into his service, but he will not truly be gone from the Company so long as we bear his handicraft  

+++++++++

Wighard gives the Bretonnian a gentle scan,   I don't think there is anything wrong with you physically, magically or spiritually except your headwound from the ratling bullet but I shall keep you under review.

 Le monopthalme ancien  might be terrifying, but that appears to be all he brings to a fight - we were mostly resolute against him and he fled in far worse shape than any of us.

Understand, you have a lot to deal with, with your family scattered and under threat. We will resolve these issues one at time

But you must promise me something, brother  

Wighard had wondered what might have happened when they returned to Brettonia and his real family but it was time to give him a reminder

  Do not try and fight the Dancer in the Dark - or any of her kin with honour.

She cares not for it, and its merely a tool to manipulate better men.

She is already in your head, let her go

If I have to cut a tumour from a patient I do not care what the tumour feels; she is a tumour on the mortal world and must be resolutely cut out.

The Red Duke and his followers - different matter, martial combat is their whole thing  

Promise or not however, Wighard has no intention of letting Bertelis fight them on even terms


 He may have a gentle comment queued up for asking Wighard what he might intend to teach 'Maxime',  
  As for you being concerned about what I might teach Maxine. I have no intention of stealing your apprentice, the Fey would already have done that had she talent.

The same general knowledge and languages I share with Siobhan - more efficient to teach two.

And everything that I wished every noble fop had learnt before taking command - you can teach her how to fight, I will teach her how to show up for a battle that she has already won.

Also  

and he looks at Bertelis sideways

  I feel that you will hold back from fully treating her as a squire because you will always think of her as a lady and have her family at the back of your mind

I will not - especially if she still expects to be treated as one

I think if Duke Hagen didn't expect that to happen there are other knights he could have asked - especially ones who could have got married but have not and could have gone on their Grail Quest but have not.

That is where I would start looking if I wanted to find the ones who are actually women  
MrAbdiel
Bertelis looks relieved, then further crestfallen, when Wighard detects no evil menacing his mind or soul.  This confirms only what he had feared more - that he was not cursed, meaning the weakness in him was his own.

Wighard's decision to call him  brother  is not lost on him; he feels the weight of it and his expression opens up with new attentiveness at what follows.  But the thing he asks clearly burdens him... so much that he shakes his head with a measure of regret, answering:

 "...You might ask almost anything else of me, but that.  I am sorry.  It is a folly of mine that I challenged her in that way.  I dream often of how it felt to be... dismantled so thoroughly, unable to land a blow; to lie in the dark feeling the blood leak out and wondering what a mess you would all find when you came to find me.  How Bruno might have felt a burden of guilt, having respected my wishes, if it had turned out I had died.  I made a rash vow of challenge, and suffered for it.  I will not be so rash with my challenges again; and if... perhaps when we are required to fight the dark servants of the Enemy again, I will not issue such challenges; and only answer them if the duress of the situation requires.  But the Dancer... I cannot let her go, Wighard.  She has done a harm to me that has... broken something that has not ever healed.  I do not think if will ever heal, unless I am afforded an opportunity to fight her again, and to triumph.  I am a better opponent, now - stronger, more skilled, more cunning.  But I do not think I will ever be able to let go of the memory of being destroyed by her, without the security of having, myself, destroyed her.  Her mockery will always have power over me until that day.  And if we sneak up on her as a group of five and thump her into daemon dust, it will be a pragmatic victory, but not the thing my honor demands.  If I confess with my action that I can only overcome her by abandoning my honor, then she has killed me more comprehensively than blades might do.  Forgive me, I cannot give you my promise - for others, yes.  For her... No.  No, I must face her again.  But I will not fail, a second time." 

His fingertips lightly touch the comforting hilt of the  Company Blade  at his side.

He listens thoughtfully as Wighard speaks frankly about his concerns for the coming squireship.  He nods a little.   "I confess it is not the circumstance under which I thought I would take a squire.  It is... unusual.  But I am dedicated to honoring the Duke's request.  The deception is the most important part; and the more convincing the ongoing ruse, the less often I will be required to lie, or make some excuse.  I cannot soft handle Maxime; it will produce a soft knight.  But I would be cautious - even though the Lady Aletta will not be with us much longer, my Squire Maxime is still a young man of noble birth.  He will be required to humbly absorb his  mesure de la merde  from his social betters - Bruno, and especially myself.  And I will chasten him for failing to treat with respect the rest of our companions.  But if you make it a pedagogical imperative to humble the 'lady' out of him, it is possible to go too far and induce the kind of matter of honor that a young man of noble standing, squire or Knight, might have with being treated poorly by-"   He pauses for a distinct moment, obviously searching for a less pompous way to say 'commoners'.

 "...By those whose stations he is already required to treat with  noblesse oblige .  This, my friend, is really all I have feared might cause a stumble in anything you intended to teach.  I know the distinctions between peasant and noble are different for those born in the Empire.  Professor Lorrimer was what I needed to reform my attitudes, at the time I knew him.  He was well liked and wealthy, but not noble; but he had a way of making it obvious to me when my presumptions about the qualities of common men, or wizards, or women, or dwarves, or knights, or what have you, were in error; and he did so artfully enough that I never felt he had beaten anything into me, and never had grounds to take offense and start disregarding his wisdom.  You are an artful man, Wighard; if you can be like Petrus Lorrimer to Maxime, then he will be well served indeed."
 

After this, and after a pause, Bertelis shifts to another topic - away from himself, to his friend directly.  He gives him the same sideways look he had received a moment ago; a telling of a mild hesitation, but undeniable goodwill toward the wizard.

 "... You went carelessly into battle with the Dracoleech, Wighard.  It is not the first time I have seen you like that.  Gimgroth saw it too.  Do you... know, that you do it?" 

He leaves the comment hanging; giving the medic room to reveal either awareness of his condition, or obliviousness to it.
bramblefoot
the riverboat pulls up to the docks of l'anguille, and the party offloads its goods and such

wighard: you find siobhan sniffling in a corner with a red handprint on her cheek. her adolescent wolf pup has its hackles up, and it sorta relaxes when you arrive, tho its still on edge

bertelis: maxime comes to you with a confession. she and siobhan had a little bit of a fight, and she slapped her

jasmine: a shady looking man approaches you with a deal to unload some black powder and shot he has

the rest of you gimme a montage of what you do the first day in l'anguille
wilphe
   If I confess with my action that I can only overcome her by abandoning my honor, then she has killed me more comprehensively than blades might do. Forgive me, I cannot give you my promise - for others, yes. For her... No. No, I must face her again. But I will not fail, a second time."  
  I understand   Wighard nods sagely

++++

  But if you make it a pedagogical imperative to humble the 'lady' out of him, it is possible to go too far and induce the kind of matter of honor that a young man of noble standing, squire or Knight, might have with being treated poorly by-" He pauses for a distinct moment, obviously searching for a less pompous way to say 'commoners'.  
  Is a Grail Damsel's family to be held against her? No she is honoured and respected regardless and to even pretend otherwise is laughable.

I am a Magister of the Imperial Colleges of Magic and an Officer in his Imperial Majesty's Army, I shall expect your squire to obey orders lest he endanger us all regardless of what he thinks of my station.

We are intending to travel far through many foreign lands, we will face great peril and strange customs yet Aletta spoke carelessly and insultingly in front of your step-mother

They say they want to be a knight errant, and you know that that is far from glamorous. They have yet to learn that. Hhe may have to learn fast.

It will take us a few days to reach our destination via ship - that would seem an ideal opportunity to see if Maxime is really up to it, and if he isn't, Aletta can appear in Bordereaux with Deanna  


++++++++++++

  "... You went carelessly into battle with the Dracoleech, Wighard. It is not the first time I have seen you like that. Gimgroth saw it too. Do you... know, that you do it?"  
  That's right, I told Gimgroth and Siobhan when we were at the College of Light for the first time, but never you  

he speaks calmly, as if unburdening himself

  When I was 15 I gave into rage and beat a man near to death.

His name was Isven, few years older than me, he had been a soldier briefly and he was bothering some of the local girls

But I was so scared of what I had done that I left and became a healer, fell in with my master who recognised my talent

So when I lost control at the mine, I think maybe that has always been there, a beast I need to but cannot always control  
dojango
" Yellow Eyes, eh?  So he is the web master behind these machinations?  The shadowy figure that strews thorns across our path, and yet walks through them unhindered? " Jasmine says, thoughtfully.  " Next time we see him I won't hesitate to shoot first and ask questions later. "

Jasmine spends the remainder of the voyage helping the crew repair the (mostly superficial, thankfully) damage to the ship.  As she does so, she finds that she is able to pick up the sailor's language more easily than before.  Perhaps it's the fact that they're dealing with mostly nautical subjects, or the fact that she's been thoroughly immersed in Bretonnian for the past few weeks, but when she steps onto the river docks of L'Anguille, she finds that she's much more confident in her ability to communicate.  The fact that her Bretonnian vernacular is thoroughly interspersed with nautical lingo and extremely foul curses doesn't bother her in the slightest.

When she is approached by the shady dealer on the waterfront, she nervously adjusts her belt with the pistols hanging from it, and shifts the weight of the jezzail strapped to her back to a more comfortable position.  " What makes ye think I'd need such stuff? " she asks, as she prepares to haggle with him...

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 75 ]  v. 51 haggle
 
farothel
As soon as the critter is gone, Bruno looks around for any other critters.  He won't go back to sleep and he will patrol around the boat, but he will leave Bertelis and Wighard their privacy.

When they arrive in L'Anguille, he's glad to be back on solid ground.  Leading his own horse down the plank and letting the servants do the other horses, he looks around in the harbour.
 "Where to now,"  he asks, mostly to Bertelis who probably knows the area best.
wilphe
  Upon arrival:  

Wighard looks at Siobhan, he half expected something like this to happen, but also feels guilty that he deliberately engineered this situation

  What happened Siobhan?   he says softly, letting Cathwulf calm down

 I helped Aletta and Deanna dress

Aletta would not help me, and when Deanna went to help she stopped her and said it was demeaning for a noble to dress a peasant - especially a foreign one.

That she had clearly been with foreigners too long and was not acting like a lady

I

Got angry

More for Deanna's sake than my own

Then she slapped me for being insolent 
  Then she is both arrogant and foolish   he hugs Siobhan, but sees Aletta talking to Bertelis




 
 Spoiler: OOC 

That women - especially high status ones - don't dress themselves and are assisted by their maids is one reason why female blouses traditionally have their buttons reversed compared to shirts
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis listens to Wighard's description of his burden.   "...Perhaps we have been operating with a knife at our back, with such urgency for so long, that the darkness in out natures is finding more freedom that we would like.  Once... things are a little better, before we strike out to seek treasure... Our company deserves a little time to recover.  Maybe it will help both of us." 
 
   Castle L'Anguille   

Bertelis stands on the bow of the ship as they approach the grand city of L'Anguille.. and grand it is.  Huge, white stone walls circle the city and extend into the sea and out again.  They capture the streets and structures to the city on the east and west sides, as well as an island in the middle of the rivermouth upon which Castle L'Anguille sits, commanding the city with its walls bristling with mangonels and trebuchets. These walls are sixty feet tall, broad and powerful - and to the careful eye that knows what to look for, plainly a work of ancient elven masonry only repaired and maintained by their Bretonnian occupants. Nowhere is this more obvious than with the lighthouse; beautiful, hexagonal spike punching three hundred feet into the air and constructed of such smooth and fine stonework it seems to be almost carved from a single white rock.  At its top, the watchfire burns low during the day; at night, it is very bright indeed.

 "Ah!  The lighthouse, ah?  Very beautiful; built right into the wall.  They say many elves that come to the city climb to the top of it, and that the keepers  of the lighthouse do not stop them as they stop the men who try so.  Perhaps some interest to you, Meloth...?" 

He glances back to the elf, and gestures up to the lighthouse with the warm enthusiasm of a tourguide.  As they pass into the harbour, through the rivergate and looking for anchor, Bertelis hears Bruno's question, and looks to the Baronet.   "Well, I have been tasked to make a report on L'Anguille's military readiness.  The Duke does not dwell here, but rather at a castle inland.  I expect it will be wise to speak to the castellan - his name I do not yet know -, about the physical defenses; and perhaps the steward, Godemar Fitzgodric, about the disposition of forces.  But then, considering it is the Kings concern that the city may have less than perfect loyalty, perhaps this will begin with a simple walking tour of the walls.  One we have secured accomodation, of course.  The west bank has the finer places; the most remnant elven structures, and so forth." 

Bertelis's expression darkens somewhat as he notices what is obvious, but is unbeleivable to him.  Their dock is in the shadow of one of four stone forts, plainly recent constructions, that rise above the city near to the riverside so that the island castle is flanked by two pairs of new fortifications. And these fortifications, noticably, are armed with cannons.  Wooden scaffolding dots the wall, where gunnery platforms are being constructed in places around the city perimeter as well.  Disappointment bordering on disbelief is in the darkness, on the knight's face.

 "...Quite defensible indeed." 
 * * * * * 
Once they have offloaded horses and belongings, Bertelis listens to this confession from Aletta.  He is already in a bad mood, seeing the blackpowder monstrosities build into the beautiful city; but Aletta's open disrespect and harm to his stepmother and to Siobhan is deeply galling.  He gives her a hard look... then turns to the handful of riverboat sailors minding the now moored vessel.

 "Here now, fellows; take this coin, and get yourselves a cup of wine.  My companions and I will watch the ship, for an hour; kings' fortune to you, for your courage on the river." 

And once they go, Bertelis takes Aletta's bags goes into the hold of the boat, Aletta hesitantly behind him.  Once alone, he is able to be frank with her.

 "Do you understand..."   He begins, pulling open her bags of belongings and dumping out on the floor the heaps of her clothes; and also the regalia of the squire she intends to be.   "...That you have just elected to spend your last honest moments as a woman in the world as an arrogant, entitled brat?" 

Aletta is alarmed somewhat by Bertelis' escalation in intensity.  She offers the natural mollifier:   "...Perhaps I was rash.  I will apologize to your peasant girl, then.  I understand she is... important to you." 
 "She is important to me.  But she is going to become your  best friend .  Do you understand?  The woman Aletta has left the sunlight for the last time, when she came down here with me.  Her parents will say she is travelling with her bodyguards, studying poetry in Kislev or mastering the roses of Talabheim.  But Aletta will never come home.  Do you understand?  You have chosen to embark on a journey that requires you to become a different person.  A man, who is required to show deference and kindness to women at all times.  You will not ride your horse while a woman walks.  You will lay your cloak down over a puddle of mud for women to cross. You will do this because men of honor, men who intend to be knights, must cultivate both ferocity on the field capable of splitting a raging orc neck to nuts; and also gentility such that your lessers feel safe and guarded in your presence.  Women are your lessers in strength.  Peasants are your lessers in station.  Peasant women, therefore, are the least of all, and require the greatest extent of your protection and gentility.  You will honor your superiors, and safeguard your lessers; and your truest contentment from this day forward will be to have peers in whom you can rest with no regard to these rules of station.  Except you have chosen to embark on this quest in defiance of our norms of tradition - may the Lady give you strength, for you do a harder thing that I did.  I had my brothers to learn alongside; to go on my errantry with; to embrace as peers as I came to understand the world.  But you - you will have a much lonelier road, because to reveal what you are hiding will shame your family for your defiant of our traditions even as you seen to honor their principles." 

He turns back to her, with a pair of shears in his hand; strops them a few times with a shard of leather for that purpose as he closes on her, indicating a crate on which she may sit.

 "You are going to travel with my companions and I, now.  You will be a junior member of our company, like those hired.  I hope, over time, you earn the respect of us all.  We will be the only people in this world who know who you were, before this day.  And of all of us, Siobhan and Jasmine are the only ladies.  The only two in the world to whom you will be able to turn for advice or aid about those inescapably feminine matters that will follow you even into this ruse.  You have taken the hardest parts about being a man and bring with you the hardest parts of being a woman.  You cannot afford to alienate your allies - especially not tender hearts, like Siobhan's.  But you will have opportunity to do better.  Often, the companions and I will go to a task, and you will be left behind with the support staff and junior members.  In such times, I expect you to understand that it is your duty to protect Siobhan.  She is your Lady to defend.  Aletta's last act was to be judgemental and rude to her - but now, Aletta is gone.  Perhaps Squire Maxime will make a better impression, as his first act..." 
 * * * * * 
About forty five minutes he vanished into the boat, Bertelis emerges.  With him comes a young man the party knows only by reputation: a slender young man, whose black hair is clipped short and close to his skull.  He wears leather leggings and a leather jack, over a gambeson and a mail vest.  His face, which could certainly be described as  pretty , is smudged with charcoal; and his fingers are caked with the same black staining.  He carries a wooden board with parchment held to it by a brass clip; a set of saddlebags over one shoulder.  Bertelis carries two sacks with him - but turns to toss them into the river, where they sink quickly, weighed down by something inside.  Squire Maxime watches them bubble and vanish below; and with them, the Lady Aletta of Couronne.

 "Alright.  First, to a very fine inn.  We are on King's Business, heading to my new appointment; we may as well exploit that for comfortable living.  Once our rooms as secure, I have some matters about the city.  If I can enlist your help, my friends, it will be all the easier.  But for now, we go to... Ah, what was its name..." 

Bertelis strains to remember the recommended luxurious accomodation recommended to him once before, for when he would visit L'Anguille...

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
And the Random Inn Name Generator says...
 

 "The Jolly Pegasus." 
wilphe
Wighard looks suitably impressed with the Elven architecture - he had heard of it, of course, but this is the first time he seen the works of the old folk so large and so closeup.

  It is a pity Gimgroth and Glod are not here to see the works of the Elves that pierce the sky with as much skill and beauty as the stout folk penetrate the Earth. I wish I could go up there as you can Meloth  

++++

With a 45 minute head start Wighard is already ensconced at the nicer end of the Jolly Pegasus' common room when Bertelis and Maxime arrive and very obviously does not get up when they come in.

He looks Maxime up and down over the top of the most recent Altdorf newssheet he can find, which isn't very recent, but it is one written soon after "The Event" and therefore Bertelis' name is prominently mentioned

  So this is the famous Maxime;   he swallows and looks at Bertelis

  I hope whatever favours were called in for you to take this wretch as a squire were dearly bought  

he fixes his attention on Maxime and talks in curt Reikspiel

  I am Wighard Rauschenberg, Stabsarzt of his Imperial Majesty's Army. I am aware that rank probably means nothing to you. That is just one of the gaps in your education that I intend to fill, You will address me as Herr Stabsarzt. Understood?  
 Jawohl Herr Stabsarzt 
  I understand that your Reikspeil is satisfactory, how about your Classical or Tilean?  
 I have neither Herr Stabsarzt 

Wighard's lip twitches, he hands him the newssheet

  We have much work to do.

Read this, understand what an honour it is to be squire to a knight such as the Chevalier de Hérrison   
Volthawk
When the dracoleech swims away, Meloth enjoys the feeling of relief before turning to head back to his room - if he was restless earlier, that bit of excitement was enough to get that energy out of him. He pauses, though, as Jasmine mentions her intentions with Yellow Eyes, saying  "Just make sure you don't miss. I won't. Not this time."  before heading back inside.

-----

Meloth leaves whatever was going on around their new-but-not-really squire for others to deal with. He'd picked up on what Bertelis was getting at in their earlier conversation well enough, and that was fine by him. If his squire wanted to learn how to fight smarter than the average knight, they knew where Meloth was, and otherwise leaving the Bretonians to deal with their own strange rules and traditions sounded fine to him. Instead, he focuses on the environment around them, and the new city they were getting to. Interesting place, it seemed. The lighthouse in particular...these elves were not his elves, and even the architecture was different to what he left behind all those years ago, but it still sounded interesting, so he responds to Bertelis' suggestion with at thoughtful nod, turning into a suppressed smirk when he saw the man's distaste at the cannons. He understood gunpowder not being someone's preference - after all, he himself preferred the elegance and speed of the bow compared to the messiness and slow rate of fire of firearms - but the way many people here turned it into something somewhat ideological...it was kind of funny, really. He meant that in the nicest possible way, of course - his decades among humanity would've been a lot harder if it wasn't for all the quirks and funny little ways of the humans he travelled with and passed on the road.

When Bertelis returns, Meloth is busy rooting around in his horse's saddlebags - if there were spending a substantial amount of time in the city, he wanted to make sure he had everything important closer to hand than carried by his horse. In particular, after pausing and thinking for a few moments, he takes out a carefully wrapped package from the bottom of one of the saddlebags and moves it into his pack, again careful to make sure it's not disturbed too much. That's when he looks around and sees Bertelis and his squire there, giving them a nod of greeting as he listens to the plan.  "I have no particular business here, besides what you suggested about that lighthouse, so I'm at your disposal if you need backup. Particularly if you're intending to do anything subtler than the usual business a knight gets up to." 
bramblefoot
the jolly pegasus is not terribly occupied this time of day, and the barkeep will get you whatever you need at a reduced price

bertelis: how are you going about gathering intel on l'anguilles defenses? note that your noble status may not get you as far as you hoped.

meloth: the guards at the lighthouse allow you all the way up to the brazier. an older elf sits on the edge of the lighthouse, dangling his feet off the precipice.  "meloth!"  he calls, rushing over and clasping you in a tight hug. who is this elf, and how do you know him?

jasmine: you get 5 powder and shot that are common quality, and 15 powder and shot that are poor quality. still better then nothing right?

wighard: maxime will devote himself to firmly learning what you have to teach.

bruno: you get a sudden blinding headache, and a drop of blood dribbles out of your nose

wdyd?
dojango
Jasmine arrives at the Jolly Pegasus.  The sign in front has a happy-looking Pegasus hoisting a beer stein.  Inside, she carefully moves the candle at the center of the table to another table and drops a sack down.  " Hey, Bruno.  Wighard.  Found a guy who knew a guy who had some gunpowder that fell off the back of one o' them cannon towers, I guess.  The sack with the red yarn aroun' it is the finest powder in Bretonnia, so be real cautious about usin' it.  Lemme know if ya need some before the next time we get attacked by weird fish things.  Although, that gives me a great idea!  Hey, Bertelis!  When we get to yer fief, let's try an' build a powdermill.  First one in Bretonnia, wave of the future!  Get yer fief on a sound financial footin'.  Hey, who ya gonna make yer steward?  Or yer marshall?  Or Keeper of the swans? "
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is making some quiet dictation to Maxime, who is scribing down in blocky, academic reikspiel on her parchment board; the charcoal making her hands more and more filthy.  When Jasmine calls his attention, he listens, and gives her a wry look until it seems clear to him that she is being serious.  He puffs, and shakes his head.

 "Ah.  No, I do not think that is... wise.  Best to leave it to the dwarves and the Imperials.  Anyway, most of the suitable remains come from the World's Edge, and the Black Mountains, I am told.  Very few of the creatures lair in the Grey Mountains, historically; and Mousillon is miles away even if there were a cache to find.  We shall have to see what resources Saulx possesses, if any; and try to raise its fortunes from there.  Better not to spend energy chasing  dents du dragon  rather than clearing the river Grismerie of those damn leeches to open shipping."
 
As Bertelis sips from his cup of wine, the silence that follows his remarks is thick.  Odmar looks at Bertholt; Bertholt looks at Odmar, then to Bruno.  How fortunate for Bertelis that his lovely step-mother Deanna is in her accommodation up stairs, resting in quiet away from the common room with the Company.  Otherwise, she would have witnessed just what everyone else has: Bertelis has managed to live his whole life, as an educated man and a traveller to far places, without having dispelled from himself the rural Bretonnian myth that  black powder is made with ground dragon's teeth .  The knight's eyes swivel to Odmar, who is drawing and blowing breaths tightly from his nose and looking about for someone else to crack, so he is not the first to laugh at his employer's incredibly selective naivete.

 "...What?" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Plans for fulfilling the king's request forthcoming after an opportunity for everyone to clown on Bertelis.
 
wilphe
  The sack with the red yarn aroun' it is the finest powder in Bretonnia
  
  If the best local powder is as good as the best local beer I'll pass thank you  

He looks at Bertelis

  Thank you for the complement on Imperial might, but I feel that if the Empire was capable of harvesting dragons on a regular basis we would not have as many problems as we do

You only need charcoal, brimstone, saltpetre and either overconfidence or experience  
dojango
" Aye, brimstone is the tricky bit.  I'm sure the peasants can figure out how ta make charcoal and saltpeter, and we've got both overconfidence and experience in spades!  But ya don't need to make a decision now, think it over a bit, wouldya? " says Jasmine.
farothel
 "You use your guns a lot more than I do,"  Bruno said to Jasmine,  "so I'll wait for now." 
Just then he felt as if someone stabbed him through the eye.  Grabbing his head with his hands he saw some blood dripping on the table.  He wiped it away and then he saw the others looking at him.
 "Headache,"  he said,  "I'll just turn in and have an early night.  See you tomorrow, okay." 

He moved to his room and went to bed, hoping the problem would be gone by the next day.
wilphe
Wighard says nothing and immediately follows Bruno into the bedroom

  Are you sure about that?

If nothing else a nosebleed can kill when you are asleep  

Edit:

Wighard will try some gauze and something to take the edge of the pain but which isn't a soporific
wilphe
Wighard returns about half an hour later

   Bruno is taking a rest, and expects to be indisposed for a while. I have Siobhan and Deanna keeping an eye on him, when we go out I shall leave Kwolf to keep in touch   

Kwolf is busy gulping down a bowl of sausage and egg

  So what am I a glorified semaphore now?  
  I am afraid we cannot yet assign this task to Shclapp and Cathwulf, perhaps when we finish our voyage we will be sufficiently bonded.  

He scratches Schlapp's head and addresses the company

  Does Jasmine wish to find us a ship whilst Bertelis takes his new squire on a tour of the fortifications?  
MrAbdiel
Bertelis leans forward, elbows on his knees, chin resting on the steeple of his fingertips.

 "...Hmm.  Well, I think our riverboat captain is counting on us taking passage on the seaship he supposedly has the right to captain... but it would be very fine if, Jasmine, you could go to the harbour and secure that passage.  We should be ready to leave tomorrow morning, if our vessel going to Bordeleaux, and willing to stop at the Lighthouse.  Mousillon has a port, but... Well.  Given the circumstances, I would not expose the sailors and travellers to any more plague than they deeply require.  But, while you are there..." 
 " Jasmine , I wonder if you might take the opportunity to have a discrete inspection of the ships in harbor.  There are a great many constructions underway; and Bretonnia cannot source its own cannon and powder, as you have noted.  There must be ships carrying such supplies from Marienburg, but I would care to know the names of such vessels.  I doubt they will be hiding this illegal operation - it is obvious that the Merchants, not the Duke, runs this port.  But as many names of vessels bringing in such contraband as you can get, my savvy friend, would go well in my report.  Perhaps you will find  Meloth  there, if he is done with the Lighthouse.  Mayhap his eyes will double the efficiency of your search." 
 "We will leave Bruno to his rest; but  Wighard , if you might accompany  myself  and  Maxime , we ought to tour the city interior a little - particularly the muster fields by the west gate.  Under normal circumstances, it would be full of young knights and squires in training and competition.  But given that the Duke holds court at Grasgor Castle far south and not here in the capital, I wonder if we will not find quartered there a mercenary force of some kind - perhaps, one that will not be outrages by the ... modernization under way.  We can leave a note for Bruno, if he recovers and feels better, that his time asking questions at the Imperial embassy may be well spent.  Even if our kings are greater friends than ever, the merchants of the Empire would certainly be pleased if L'Anguille would 'pull a Marienburg' and for decades to come eliminate Couronne's appetite for reconquest of the Wasteland.  If there are deals and troops and trade happening secretly for seccession or one in potential, there will be political profiteers there, ready for it.  Perhaps a young Baronet of Talabecland would be more welcome in such places than a son of Bordeleaux." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
That's the plan.  Hopefully Jasmine (and Meloth) can get some info from the docks about the cannons et al being openly smuggled into the port.  Hopefully Bertelis and Wighard can get eyes on whatever foot forces L'Anguille has in place to defend itself, given that it doesn't have the eye of the Duke, to whom all the realm's knights will naturally flock (unless they have... perculiar ambition).  And Bruno, either in offscreen NPC mode or when Farothel comes back, can go schmoozing imperial diplomats to see if he can't learn some secrets.  Let us know if you want to game all these out Bramble, or if you'd rather we free-wheeled it ourselves since this is a theoretically short recon mission.
 
bramblefoot
wighard, maxime, and berty: at the muster fields you find plenty of mercenary companies drilling. they all have the hard-eyed look of career vets who know their stock in trade. arquebuses, pikes, and freshly polished armor all gleam in the sun as men practice. strangely, the heraldry of the companies is not present.

jasmine: can i get a silent move and a perception test at +10 to find interesting things as you look at various ships?
Volthawk
Meloth suppresses a smirk at the blackpowder conversation but doesn't get involved. The discussion of the plan does get him talking again, though. He didn't know much about the politics involved - his recent life had mostly involved moving around below the notice of the kinds of power bases Bertelis was discussing, and his knowledge of Bretonia in particular wasn't that strong - but the premise of their task and the work involved got him thinking, and old neurons firing in his mind.  "The boats, I see. Just the names, or should we investigate further? Perhaps to confirm what vessel is carrying what, that sort of thing."  He thinks it over some more.  "Alternatively, a well-organised port probably has ledgers and records, particularly if they're shipping in a large amount of weapons and powder. We  could  potentially...take a little look at those, if we can find them."  He glances at Jasmine to see her mood on the topic, before shrugging.  "Or we could just play it safe." 

-----
 
 Spoiler 
Given what's been said already, I'm figuring Meloth's lighthouse trip was after the meeting in the tavern but before he runs into Jasmine at the docks as Bertilis intends.
 


The idea of visiting the lighthouse had lingered in Meloth's mind after Bertelis mentioned it, and given he was heading towards the water anyway he might as well take a quick detour. The structure itself was quite impressive, and the view...it was rare that he was this high up. Perhaps once, in the distant past, but he'd spent most of his life far closer to the ground...

His thoughts getting interrupted by a hug wasn't what he was expecting, but it...wasn't unwelcome. Another elf? It takes him a moment for the old memories to slot into place, and he grins when he does.  "Hedrathel. It's been a long time."  He takes a step back to look the older elf over. About what he remembered, the man staying well-dressed and groomed. Like Meloth was, once upon a time, back home. The times the two of them had spent in those days, living off their wits, until...Meloth's face falls a little. Until that day. Hedrathel was there too - he hadn't been exiled like Meloth, of course, even if he'd found his way out here anyway, Meloth taking the blame. He...at this point, he wasn't sure how he felt about it. At the time, and in the years immediately afterwards, his reaction to meeting his old friend would've been far more visceral, but now...Hedrathel seemed to feel that there wasn't a problem any more, hugging and smiling, and maybe...maybe he was right, and what happened was just an acceptable risk of the life they led back then. Or maybe he wasn't. Frankly, Meloth had thought that the situation resolving one way or another was never going to happen. But now that the friend who betrayed him was here...

Meloth sighs.  "Time hasn't healed things. Not for me. But time has made it less important, and made me think about the good times more than the bad. You're not forgiven, but I'll give you this one. Next time...well. Now you know."  With that, he turns and walks away, still not sure whether he should turn and draw his bow or draw a line under it all. For now, he could just focus on the task at hand, his new life, rather than dwelling on the old. Besides, comitting an act of violence in a place like this...it didn't feel right.

-----

When Meloth meets up with Jasmine on the docks, it's fairly clear he's a little rattled, but otherwise seems good to go.  "Sorry for the delay. The lighthouse trip was...a little more eventful than I planned. Old memories, you know how it is. What's the plan?" 
bramblefoot
bruno: can i get gossip at +10?
wilphe
Wighard looks over the troops with a practiced and professional eye - he's no expert on drill, or tactics, or even the less respectable trades of scouting and its even less respectable cousin espionage; his expertise is more the backstage management of logistics and support of which medicine is aspect.

As such he knows what a well turned out unit looks like - and these look good.

  Troops are healthy, clothes are clean, horses well groomed and well fed.

All that should be the case because they are at the start of the season, in their base
  

he looks at Maxime,   But it frequently isn't. You don't put the village fool on a donkey and call him a knight.

These people know their business  

His attention is drawn to a mounted figure in a buff coat who catches sight of them and trots over.

It turns out to be a small but solidly built raven haired woman who isn't even trying to hide her femininity -  nor the prominent scar on her left cheek that runs down from her ear, her assortment of weapons or her  hair 

Its a spectacle that no doubt causes Maxime some internal torment - and probably Bertelis too for that matter

Wighard smiles   May I present Justine of Ludgera - a former recipient of my handiwork. Justine of Ludgera - Bertelis de Roche, Banerez de Saulx.   he does not introduce Maxime.

  So what brings you to fair Bretonnia?  
 The clink of coin Wighard - same as usual. And you? 
  Treasure, adventure, spooky wizard business - same as usual.

Right now we are instructing Banerez Roche's new squire - so checking the preparations and fortifications of Anguille with actual pedagogic purpose rather than professional curiosity  
 The merchants are certainly prepared to pay for quality 
  As we can tell by the fact that you are here  
 It was a condition in our contract that none of the women in the company should be required to play along with the old-f  she stops herself on remembering a local noble is present   traditional  customs of the country.

The merchants were only too happy to oblige - they feel our open presence encourages any passing knights to even greater acts of what you used to call "Toblerone Poisoning" than usual 
  Testosterone Poisoning but yes  
 We were just about to take lunch, would you care to join us in the officers' mess? 
  So you are an officer now?  
 Freshly minted Lieutenant-Captain 
  Sweet, but I am an ex-officio Stabsartz now so I still out rank you  
bramblefoot
jasmine: as you're searching a ship, you fall into a secret compartment, filled with strange fumes and five frothing at the mouth halflings, who will quickly attempt to nosh upon your flesh. can i get initiative, and a toughness test at -10, and a flat fear test for 1 IP?

frothing hafling init
 (1d10+3)[ 12 ] 


meloth: you see jasmine fall into this mess. wdyd? the fumes are quickly rising, and may envelop you in the next several rounds

wighard: justine will take you over to the officers mess. she seems willing to talk. what are you gonna ask her
dojango
The ships that Jasmine is looking for are the ones that haven't been following normal procedures for breaking bulk.  Ones that have posted guards, docked in the outer regions of the harbor, and strictly forbade the use of open flame lighting while unloading.  After all, nobody's quite sure what would happen if a powdership were to have an uncontrolled fire, and nobody wants to find out.  Most of the ships that meet those criteria are fairly straightforward, but there's one that's been docked in the harbor for nearly a week and still doesn't seem to have been unloaded.  Jasmine goes to check it out once the sun's gone down.  As she gets closer to the unguarded gangplank, she sees some strange carvings on the side of the ship.  Looking closely, it's the halfling symbols for 'this man is a known cheat'.  Curious, she decides to investigate further.  Moving across one of the hatchways, suddenly, it gives way!  She yelps out as she falls, and to her surprise, she's surrounded by the mad halflings.  " Help, help, they've gone baggins! " she shouts up, as she grabs her shield and uses it to fend them off.
Volthawk
Meloth had been following a short distance behind Jasmine, letting her take the lead as the more experienced member of the company (and, given her size, the one less likely to be noticed, however much he rated his own skills), and sure enough saw her fall. He acts quickly, getting his rope of out his sling bag and tossing it down the hole, bracing himself to start pulling her up once she grabs hold - hopefully with fewer marks on her than it sounded like she might get downt here. It sounded bad.
farothel
As soon as he feels better, Bruno heads back down.  He noticed the note they had left, so he took his chainmail armour, but leaving the full plate for now (except his helmet).  He went by horse to the imperial embassy, trying not to exert himself too much.  There he introduced himself and said that he was in the vicinity on personal business, but trying to figure out what was going on in this part of Bretonnia as well as where they would be going.  He would also mention the river monster they had fought earlier, just to give something in return for the information he received (and it would be good for merchants to know).  He would also ask about the cannons, knowing the aversion of Bretonnians about such things.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 


 
 Originally Posted by bramblefoot 
 bruno: can i get gossip at +10? 
 

gossip:  (1d100)[ 12 ]  vs 97 (67 fel +20 mastery +10 GM).  If vs nobles: vs 107

EDIT: 8 degrees of success, I think I get to know stuff.
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is discernably disgusted at the presense of such a mercenary defence force.  This was L'Anguille, not Luccini; Bretonnians were defended by knights, and men at arms, who defended their land by their mutual obligation to one another.  Mercenaries represented a fundamental diversion from that principle.  Not that he hadn't known mercenaries - Gimgroth, for one, was a Tilean dwarf with a history of war for coin.  That was where he met the Professor.  And in a small sense, jaunting about killing monsters for glory and gold was only somewhat different from a mercenary action, and this was the Company's bread and butter.  But atleast in his mind, and that of most Bretonnians, there was an axiomatic difference between men who marched to  war  for gold or loyalty.

This was not how things were done, here.  But he is contained enough as a man to not make a show about it.  Indeed, he is pleased not to be invited away as Wighard has been, and takes the opportunity to walk with Maxime around the mustering field, marking the formations and weapons and explaining them to the lad...

... and imparting a judicious amount of disdain for the pike-and-shot troops, to boot.
bramblefoot
bertelis: a crusty old veteran sergeant hears you disparaging the pike and shot regiments, and hacks a wad of chewing tobacco next to your boot . "you take that back!"  he hisses, stomping up to you and maxime.  "pike and shot beat bows and cavalry any day" 

jasmine: grappling hook comes down for you to grab. gonna grab it? best be quick, the halflings may come and grab the rope

meloth: the rope spools down. what now? you havent felt a tug
dojango
Jasmine grabs the rope with one hand and wraps it around her arm.  " Reel me in! " she shouts, while she uses her shield to fend off the deranged halflings.

 
 Spoiler 
Defensive stance,  (1d100)[ 45 ]  v. 64 dodge and  (1d100)[ 34 ]  v. 46 parry if needed, also -20 to hit me
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: the halflings will swarm, performing all-out attacks

 (5d100)[ 33 ][ 25 ][ 74 ][ 88 ][ 27 ](247) 
 (5d10)[ 8 ][ 3 ][ 7 ][ 1 ][ 2 ](21)  three hits, but unlikely to do bo-diddly

meloth: gimme strength at +10 to haul jasmine up

bruno: you find out that most of the marienburg merchant houses are making money hand-over-fist by selling cannon and powder to l'anguille. sure its not the best stuff, but in bretonnia you cant be picky
farothel
Armed with the knowledge who's selling powder, Bruno will have a look around to see if he can buy some better quality stuff than what Jasmine had brought in.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

I'll try to find some common quality powder to replace the poor quality powder Jasmine found.
 
MrAbdiel
 
 Originally Posted by bramblefoot 
 bertelis: a crusty old veteran sergeant hears you disparaging the pike and shot regiments, and hacks a wad of chewing tobacco next to your boot . "you take that back!"  he hisses, stomping up to you and maxime.  "pike and shot beat bows and cavalry any day"  
 

Bertelis is caught off guard.  He hadn't intended to be heard - but as a knight and squire in a muster ground full of mercenaries, he they must stand out... and perhaps he wasn't as discreet as he thought he was.

...This was a pickle.  His contention was not that pike and shot were necessarily ineffective - just that they were  morally inferior  to the traditional ways, more than anything.  But this man - a venerable man, who might have commanded a certain amount of respect if he had deigned to give any - had stormed up, made  demands of him ,  spat , and then attempted to imply, worst of all, that the blessed armies of the Lady were obsolete.  How shall one respond in such a situation?

Was there any other way?

 "You foreign churl.  You have the nerve to come sniffing around for coins, into this kingdom, and then to take fanciful offense?  Do you expect a son of Bretonnia to quail before what passes for  fury , amongst your misbegotten ilk?  And to do so with such open disregard as to deny any gracious manner in which I might withdraw myself, and spare your embarrassment?   Fie , man.  I do not care to strike old men, but you give me no choice.  What else is there to do?  If we duel, you will not joust, and I will not take pistols; but perhaps your fists have some strength, from the time you have spent  gripping your pike! " 

Bertelis begins shedding his weapons and armor; passing the Company Blade and his other effects to Maxime until he is down to his gambeson, and clothes beneath.  Fighting men across the world - and more than just men - respected a duel under equal circumstances.  And battering the codger with his fists would be less likely to result in an outcome where he accidentally killed the old fool and would be jumped by his fellow mercenaries.

Then he squares up, forearms ahead of him in an upright guard, left foot forward, eyes fixed on man before him and not the gathering crowd.

 "Come then, shilling-man.  I give you the first swing.  Make it good - after, I shall feed you your own teeth." 
bramblefoot
the sergeant will crack his knuckles, each pop a gunshot in the stillness surrounding the muster fields.  "will do, you wine swilling frog chomper"  he says, and takes a swing. he hits, but you get a feeling he was testing your guard

 (1d100)[ 21 ] 
 (1d10+1)[ 3 ] 
wilphe
Wighard is sure that Justine's invitation was for the three of them, and not just him, but will not press the point as both Justine and Bertelis seem happy and the two of them walk to the mess tent for some pea and ham soup

 You hang out with the nobility now do you? 
  Technically now I am one if I am on official business; or at least to be treated as one which is not quite the same thing but good enough  
 So you've changed your opinion of nobles 
  No, these are the useful kind. Bruno was ennobled by adoption. Bertelis, well, there are many nobles who don't question the system because they are too dumb to even consider the possibility, and there are others who are happy to embrace their position at the top of the heap and exploit it for all they can.

Bertelis is that rare breed who wholeheartedly believes in honour, chivalry, protecting the innocent,  noblesse oblige  and acts accordingly. He will be a great paladin if he stays alive. Hell he is already but too humble to realise it. And yet at the same time is open-minded about other ways of doing things  
 Is this why he has a girl as squire? 
  I think we are not supposed to notice that part, far as I can tell there are plenty of women here who pretend to be men and everyone else pretends not to notice.  
 They are very stupid and strange 
  Meh, the Empire pretends that Skaven don't exist when all non-idiots know they do. That seems more dangerous  
 Fair enough, but a bad haircut and a change of clothes don't make you a boy. She still carries herself like a girl playing dressup 
  I'll pass that along if you provide some suggestions on how to be better  

+++++++++++

  So what are they preparing for? Its seems like they are ready to repel half of Norsca  
 I can't say, but they pay well 
  Yes well we both know that you don't hire mercenaries unless you intend to use them - too expensive to pay them to stand around and do nothing  
 When we were hired we were told the local duke neglects the sea and only cares about the inland domains - we hear he is very diligent in that, but Anguille must look to its own defences 
  You believe that?  
 It's not obviously a lie 
  They are building a lot of land facing defences  
 Norscans don't have to attack the port directly, they can land elsewhere and march to outflank 
  Not here they can't. Anguille is the only port for leagues in either direction  

Justine seems slightly perturbed by this last observation, but they get interrupted by a corporal

  Ma'am, sergeant Dagobert is getting in a fight with another local  
 Well that's not a problem unless he kills them or loses and he ain't managed to do either yet; let's go watch 
MrAbdiel
“I wish you would try it, you -“

The sergeant’s fist zips neatly past Bertelis guard and pops him in the face.  The mercenaries laugh, and Bertelis looks stunned.  Not from the testing blow - from his own failure to duck it.

He has not practiced his fisticuffs and wrestling in too long, he realizes.  He would need to teach Maxime.

Better start remembering fast!

No more palaver on his lips, he responds with two swift, sharp blows; a jab from the left and a cross from the right, to give the mouthy merc something to think about.

 
 Spoiler 
  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 52 ]  for   Damage  - (1d10+1)[ 2 ] .

  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 89 ]  for   Damage  - (1d10+1)[ 9 ] .
 
bramblefoot
the sergeant will attempt to parry, and make his attacks. he blocks, but he stumbles on the punch and barely keeps form

parry
 (1d100)[ 38 ] 

attack
 (1d100)[ 99 ](99) 
 (1d10+1)[ 6 ] 
MrAbdiel
It’s all coming back now; stick and move, one and two.  He proves again for an opening then tries his luck with a heavy blow meant to end the fight early and embarrass the man back!   
 Spoiler 
   Vs61  - (1d100)[ 18 ]  for   Damage  - (1d10+1)[ 9 ] .

  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 73 ]  for   Damage  - (1d10+1)[ 9 ] .
 
bramblefoot
the sergeant will attempt to parry, taking a heavy clout under one eye, that will leave a shiner. he misses hard

 (1d100)[ 65 ] 

and then attack

 (1d100)[ 71 ] 
 (1d10+1)[ 7 ] 
MrAbdiel
Having gotten one blow through to repay the earlier insult pop, they settle into a rhythm of action.  Bertelis is faster on his feet, the the old brawler is more experienced and happy to take blows on his forearms and shoulders that Bertelis intends to slip…

Another baiting jab slips through without real force where it connects on his enemy, but the follow up is a disaster - the sergeant ducks away and his follow through is reckless, permitting the older fighter to put out an ankle and push him to the ground.  Not exactly boxing, but it’s not exactly an official bout.

 
 Spoiler 
  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 54 ]  for  (1d10+1)[ 3 ]  damage.

  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 100 ]  for  (1d10+1)[ 8 ]  damage.
 
bramblefoot
the sergeant will try a haymaker, hitting you on the bridge of your nose

 (1d100)[ 73 ] 
 (1d10+1)[ 8 ] 

all-out, so he gets no parries
MrAbdiel
Bopped on the schnozz as he totters back, Bertelis ends up on his backside only to get dragged up by the crowd and shoved back into the bout!

Back on his feet, he throws a sharp little cross to capitalise on the veteran’s moment of recovery.
 
 Spoiler 
Oof!  11/15 Wounds.

  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 42 ]  for  (1d10+1)[ 7 ]  damage.

   Vs61  - (1d100)[ 96 ]  for  (1d10+1)[ 9 ]  damage. 

Had to stand up, no swift attack.
 
bramblefoot
the sarge will take the punch on the crown of his forehead.  "ive faced better brawlers than you"  he growls, and makes an attack. his jubilation makes him sloppy, and he misses

 (1d100)[ 70 ] 
 (1d10+1)[ 8 ] 
MrAbdiel
“Then this will be familiar to you, old soldier.”

The knight makes a faint with his head, then swats against the side of the merc’s, guard, opening him up for two hammer blow strikes to the cheek!
 
 Spoiler 
  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 1 ]  for  (1d10+1)[ 9 ]  damage.

  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 3 ]  for  (1d10+1)[ 8 ]  damage.
 
bramblefoot
the old soldier will attempt to parry and dodge those. he takes one of the attacks to the gut, and gets off a weak blow in return

hes tiring, but still in it

parry
 (1d100)[ 99 ] 

dodge
 (1d100)[ 19 ] 

attack

 (1d100)[ 37 ] 
 (1d10+1)[ 6 ] 
MrAbdiel
Tagged in the ribs, Bertelis wheezes and goes into a clinch with the mouthy old churl, straining to feed uppercuts into his stomach as he goes!

 
 Spoiler 
9/15 wounds remaining.

  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 60 ]  for  (1d10+1)[ 6 ]  damage.

  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 99 ]  for  (1d10+1)[ 3 ]  damage.
 
bramblefoot
the old soldier will do the old fashioned headbutt into your solar plexus, and the hit bounces off his ribs

to hit
 (1d100)[ 97 ] 

strength roll
 (1d100)[ 14 ] 

hes going strike to stun, so i will need a toughness at +10 from dearest berty.

nvm
MrAbdiel
Bertelis weaves back and tenses up, robbing the attack of its power.  Now they’re both tiring some - with nothing so fancy to try in a brawl, he continues the fusillade.

 
 Spoiler 
  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 88 ]  for  (1d10+1)[ 2 ]  damage.

  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 60 ]  for  (1d10+1)[ 4 ]  damage.
 
bramblefoot
the old soldier will bring a knee into your unmentionables for his attack. he grins as the attack connects

attack
 (1d100)[ 53 ] 
 (1d10+1)[ 9 ] 

parry
 (1d100)[ 52 ] 

dodge:
 (1d100)[ 82 ] 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis barely gets his palms down to stop the rising knee - and follows with a somewhat ungentlemanly headbutt!

 
 Spoiler 
  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 80 ]  for  (1d10+1)[ 2 ]  damage.

  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 30 ]  for  (1d10+1)[ 11 ]  damage.
 
bramblefoot
sergeant dagobert weaves away from the headbutt, and will throw a punch, again, just barely connecting with force

 (1d100)[ 54 ] 
 (1d10+1)[ 9 ] 

parry and dodge

 (1d100)[ 75 ] 
 (1d100)[ 74 ] 
MrAbdiel
Suddenly it’s not so funny - and it’s Bertelis on the ropes.  He has no choice but to stop holding back - which it is evident he has been doing, with more power in his arms all of a sudden!

 
 Spoiler 
  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 95 ]  for  (1d10+2)[ 5 ]  damage.

  Vs61  - (1d100)[ 51 ]  for  (1d10+2)[ 8 ]  damage.
 
bramblefoot
the sergeant will take a hit, and spit a mouthful of blood to the side. several cries of  "cmon sarge"   are heard, as he shakes his head and attacks, missing wildly


 (1d100)[ 95 ] 
 (1d10+1)[ 8 ] 

parry
 (1d100)[ 7 ] 

dodge
[/roll]1d100[/roll]
MrAbdiel
Anyone’s game, now - but the knight is committed until the mercenary yields!

 
 Spoiler 
  vs61  - (1d100)[ 49 ]  for  (1d10+2)[ 12 ] .

  vs61  - (1d100)[ 67 ]  for  (1d10+2)[ 10 ] .
 
bramblefoot
sergeant dagobert will muster his energy and attack. he misses due to tiredness, but that would have been a whale had he hit

 (1d100)[ 71 ] 
 (1d10+1)[ 11 ] 

parry

 (1d100)[ 88 ] 

dodge
 (1d100)[ 39 ] 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis decides now that if the old man hits the dust, he will offer him a hand up.  His fury has cooled some, now.

But he does have to win, first - and makes a two fisted effort to do it.

 
 Spoiler 
   vs61  - (1d100)[ 30 ]  for  (1d10+2)[ 4 ] ,

  vs61  - (1d100)[ 15 ]  for  (1d10+2)[ 11 ] 
 
bramblefoot
sergeant will hold nothing back, attempting to finish the fight

 (1d100)[ 23 ] 
 (1d10+1)[ 10 ] 
MrAbdiel
It’s a big swing - but with a surge of effort, Bertelis manages to capture the offending arm under his left before the blow lands and drives his fist up toward the man’s chin…

 
 Spoiler 
   vs61  - (1d100)[ 69 ]  for  (1d10+2)[ 11 ] 
  vs61  - (1d100)[ 80 ]  for  (1d10+2)[ 9 ] 

Reroll in OOC
 


… and manages to miss as the man strains backward; but the knight brings his knee up into the now straining gut of the man with lunch-loosening force, dropping him, winded.  He stands over him for a moment, then leans with hands on his knees and puffs.

“I’m not sure we established much about horses or muskets,” he wheezes, but then points at the downed man, “but frogs are delicious and I will not hear otherwise.”

With that, the halfhearted gloat becomes a hand up, and a reparative effort to international relations.
bramblefoot
berty: sergeant dagobert puffs like a bellows, hauling himself to his feet.  "damn your good"  he says, wiping the sweat from his brow. he will apologize for the honor of bretonnia, and ask for a rematch later on, when he has recovered from the pummeling you inflicted on him. several corporals will give you a friendly slap on the back as if to say  your one of us now 

take 100 xp

wighard: now is the time to bring out the medical wagon. you can gimme a healing roll for dagobert and berty, in any order you wish

bruno: what are you doing now? gonna dig deeper into the marienburg merchant dealyboppy, or something else

jasmine: meloth almost overbalances and falls in, but catches himself. two hits for 9 and 6 wounds

 (5d100)[ 33 ][ 98 ][ 7 ][ 57 ][ 70 ](265) 
 (5d10)[ 9 ][ 7 ][ 6 ][ 7 ][ 6 ](35) 

meloth: another strength roll and a perception roll?
wilphe
Wighard is not entirely surprised to see who Dagobert is fighting

  Shilling on the Bretonnian  
 Dagobert ain't been beat yet, make it a crown 
  Done  

Wighard has not ever seen Bertelis fight with his fists, but keeps an eye on both participants - ready to stop it if it gets out of hand

  Pay up  
 Dammit 

Wighard treats Dagobert first, putting an improvised polutice under his eye to reduce the swelling, then Bertelis

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 7 ]  86 Dagobert
 (1d10)[ 3 ] 
 (1d100)[ 5 ]  86 Bertelis
 (1d10)[ 7 ] 
 (1d100)[ 86 ]  86 FP if necessary
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis offers a mild deflection of Dagobert's praise; genuinely intending to salvage goodwill from the situation if possible.

 "Ah, I dare say that win is more Ranald's than mine.  If you had been a little younger, or I a little older... Let's just say I don't doubt you have fought better and run them down." 

Bertelis is glad that headbutt didn't connect, now; the mercenary has rattled his dome some, and the post-adrenal glare of pain now throbs in one temple.  Bertelis is well conditioned to becoming a posable, pliant patient for Wighard by now; accepting whatever herbal chew or minimally invasive lancing Wighard decides is necessary to get ahead of the swelling in his ribs, before heading over to Maxime to reclaim his gear and re-equip.

"You showed him a thing or two."  This is the closest to a compliment Maxime has been able to offer his mentor; and on the heels of the still-smarting dressing-down delivered back at the boat, it suggests she is feeling the isolation he tried to impress upon him, and to build a bridge back to warmer relations.  Bertelis glances to the squire for a moment, and pauses for a thought before taking the edge of the coming correction with a faint smile.

 "I showed him exactly one thing, actually; which was that I would not permit a man to speak to me that way.  I would have shown him the same thing if he had landed another one of those haymakers and it was me peering up from the dust instead of him." 

Maxime doesn't respond.  He knows he is being corrected, and wants to say the right thing; but is still trying to gain the measure of Bertelis' pedagogy.  He lets the lad off the hook, for now.

 "He's right about pike and shot.  In most circumstances, a square of men with pikes and muskets will be hell for a unit of  chevaliers.   I have a little jar in my bag which contains, amoung other things, the two musket balls Wighard pulled out of me on our first adventure.  Bandits on the road.  I got them; but if they had been slightly better shots, I would be dead."
 
"...How do you fight them, then?  Pike and musket formations squares, I mean to say?"

 "Mostly, you have a unit of yeomen engage them from the front, and then have your  chevaliers  flank and destroy them, as you would most infantry." 
 
"Then the yeomen get shot, and stabbed.  Hardly...  being their shield ." 

That gets Bertelis' goat.  He frowns, and Maxime remembers it for later manipulations.

 "Someone is getting shot and stabbed, Maxime.  The Chevaliers pay a share back when it the orcs come rolling in and aren't put off by a few musket balls, and don't mind when their friends are spit on the pikes.  Or when someone is required to ride a lance of knights into the heart of a daemonic host, and the yeomen will not get within two hundred feet of it. Rest assured, Maxime; you will have many opportunities to be killed.  You need not take the most immediate." 

With that, he returns to where the sergeant debriefs with his corporals, and tries to capitalize on their present bruise-born cameraderie.

 "From what port did you sail, fellows, when you came here; and when have you last seen action?" 
bramblefoot
bertelis: the corporals talk about some tilean pirate action they saw, along with rumors of a dark elven raiding ship they caught glimpses of on the way back from tilea. it seems like most of the mercs havent been in country for too long
dojango
The rabid halflings are not co-ordinated in their attacks and keep managing to get in each other's way.  She doesn't want to hurt them, and she shouts back up, " You better not be placin' bets!  Get me outta here! " while twisting to avoid one vicious attack and deflecting another one off her shield.
bramblefoot
jasmine: you are hefted up out of the pit of frothing halflings, just as you smell thick, acrid smoke from belowdecks. if you had to guess, thatd be the powder main. time to go?

also, if the powdership goes up, how much of the docks will be gone do you estimate?

meloth: as you pull jasmine out of the den of frothing halflings, jasmine curses and mutters two words  "powder main"  wdyd?
farothel
Bruno tries to get some good (or at least, not bad) powder and bullets from the merchants.  During the transaction he will casually ask how they managed to overcome Bretonnian reluctance to use black powder weapons.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

haggle:  (1d100)[ 8 ]  vs 34 (half skill)
 FP reroll if needed:  (1d100)[ 1 ]  vs 34 (half skill) 

gossip to get them to talk about their successes on the Bretonnian market:  (1d100)[ 94 ]  vs 97
 
dojango
Jasmine suddenly recognizes the smell of burning powder.  If it's that strong, they only have moments until... gods know what.  How much powder is on the ship?  As Meloth gives her a helping hand, she shouts, " Powder Main!  Into the water! " at him and dives over the edge of the ship and begins swimming as fast as she can away from the ship, away from the docks, and as underwater as much as possible...

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 42 ]  v. 55 swim test to see if she can get away safely...
 FP if needed  (1d100)[ 45 ]  
 
bramblefoot
bruno: you get 20 good quality powder and shot for the cost of common quality powder and shot. as for how the merchants overcame their reluctance, all you get are  "the winds are a-changing"  from a bearded merchant

bertelis: dagobert will pull a flask from his pocket and offer it to you.  "finest schnapps this side of the world"  he says, and pours out two shot glasses.  "to new beginnings"  he offers, and raises the glass

meloth: can i get an agility roll to bail over the side without getting blown to smithereens, and a swim roll to make it to shore?
Volthawk
Meloth didn't know much about gunpowder, but the sight of someone who did running away was a pretty universally understood signal to follow them, so he heads to the side of the ship too.

 
 Spoiler 

I'm out of fate points now, so dice please don't screw me now.

Agility 57:  (1d100)[ 88 ] 
Swin 46:  (1d100)[ 50 ] 
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: you make it out of the blast radius, but as you come up to the surface, you dont see meloth anywhere. also, you hear the sounds of quick-timing feet, and the sound of an alarm bell. peering above the water, you spot guardsmen moving to investigate the wreck, and mercenaries bringing up the rear

 (1d100)[ 86 ] 

meloth: unfortunately, you are not so lucky. you catch a back full of wooden shrapnel, and fall into the water insensate. gimme a d100 to see where you end up, or burn a fate point to be able to swim away and return to the group
wilphe
Wighard is watching Dagobert and Bertelis play nice when he sees the flash of the explosion.

Green troops yell "take cover" and then dive for the ground, Veterans take cover first and then yell, Wighard can multi-task so can dive and yell at the same time - taking Maxime down as he does so.

The shock-wave follows a few heartbeats after - lifting roofs and shattering windows as it does - followed by the sound of the explosion.

It's not as big an explosion as Wighard feared but it has got everyone's attention and scared every farm animal for a few miles.
farothel
After getting the powder, Bruno heads in town to get the general feel of what's going on as well as the local gossip.  While his Bretonnian is still accented and it will be clear he's not from around, the fact that he speaks it will allow him to pick up stuff he otherwise wouldn't.  When he hears the explosion, he heads in that direction to see what's going on.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

Gossip:  (1d100)[ 93 ]  vs 87 (97 with nobles)

getting back to the group.  Also I will give 10 of the good quality shot and powder to Jasmine as soon as we're back together.
 
bramblefoot
bruno: as you arrive, there has been a cordon placed around the dock, and two halberd wielding mercs move to block your path  "sorry, nobody in or out until we find the perps"  the lead merc says apologetically

wighard: maxime looks slightly panicked at the earth-shattering kaboom. she will cower slightly

berty: dagobert will somehow keep the shot glasses from spilling too much as he hits the deck.  "that was a powder main explosion"  he hisses, downing his shot glass, tucking his flask away, and looking thoroughly ready to rumble
wilphe
Wighard keeps a eye out for any passing debris and then gets off the trembling Maxime as if this happens everyday and looks at Dagobert

  Well it wasn't horses.

Well probably not

That only happened once

And I wasn't involved
  

He sniffs to confirm that no magic was involved then looks at Justine

  Might be an attack, in which case you have your own orders. If it isn't its just a disaster, I will head to the docks.

If its not an attack I would appreciate the assistance of your barber-surgeons  
dojango
Once Jasmine finds Meloth in the water, she hisses, " Let's swim somewheres else, yeah?  Looks like the guards are comin' an' I don't like answerin' annoying questions about 'why where you snooping around and whatevers.'  Oh yeah, and thanks for bailin' me out there. " With Meloth in tow, she swims through the dirty, debris-filled water away from the guarded docks, looking for a deserted stretch where she can climb out of the water and slink back to the inn.
MrAbdiel
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Back at 11/15 Wounds, thanks to Herr Doktor.
 


Bertelis has just finished downing the shot of Schnapps and is about to offer concessions about the quality of  certain  Imperial spirits when the boom rips through the city; and after, the clamor of people in motion, and alarm bells.  He crouches low, as a dusting of wood chips scatters even this far into the muster field.  Then he salutes Dagobert with the empty glass, pushes swiftly to his feet with a minimum wince, and looks to Maxime while Wighard confers with his friend.

 "Maxime - bring the horses around.  We will need to make haste." 

And then, rounding to Wighard, he raises a hand and lets it fall with cynical dismay - it seems they can go nowhere, without disaster chasing them.

 "Either the port is under attack - and gods help us if the Kurgan are here with a daemon-gun so big as that - or a terrible accident at the harbor.  Maxime and I will clear the way as best we can.  Perhaps the, ah..."  He gestures to the mercenaries, and digs out a non-disparaging term.   "Support medics can follow on foot, though our truest haste may mean lives."   Maxime, of course, has his own horse; and is responsible for the care and collection of Rainier and Adelhard when they are away from Odmar, also.  Since it seems unlikely that this is a martial matter, Bertelis intends to  find his way into Rainier's familiar saddle; the riding horse his oldest travel companion, and the warhorse Adelhard, having shed blood with Wighard in battle, already having formed a quiet equine affinity for the wizard-surgeon.

But when he turns around, Maxime is where he was when Wighard drew him to the ground - dazed, cowering most unmannishly.

Bertelis roars at him with as much fury and demand as he has ever leveraged in his voice at a target he did not intend shortly after to kill.

  "Maxime!  The horses!  Now!"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Perhaps, a command check?

  vs62  - (1d100)[ 62 ] .  No FP left, so if he fails, he'll just have to haul the 'boy' along by the elbow, embarassing them both, and get the horses himself.

EDIT: Lookithat!  Right on the button.  Thanks, +10 Command from the Cadet Career.
 
bramblefoot
berty: maxime gets up and gets the horses, shaking like a leaf in the wind. you would notice that his hands are completely steady, and you and he ride to the docks. the guardsmen let you pass, and you're greeted with the sight of one of the remains of a powdership rapidly sinking into the water. flames licking the masts. bucket brigades are putting out fires. there appears to be no real chain of command here

jasmine and meloth: gimme silent move at flat to make it out without being spotted

wighard: can i get a perception check at -20 as you pass a busy intersection pls?

wdyd?
wilphe
Wighard follows Bertelis through the chaos of the city, stopping at the guards to ask them to refer any injured and setting up a casualty station just inside where it is slightly less chaotic.

It is mostly wood splinters that he puts to one side as they are not immediately dangerous but time consuming to deal with and instead works on the few who have suffered major injuries


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 58 ]  Perception 76 / 86 if Visual
 
dojango
Jasmine glides through the water like a particularly silent fish and slinks through the darkened alleyways.  After a few nerve-wracking minutes, she lets herself in through a side door at the inn and goes up into her room to change into dry clothes.  She then heads down to the common room of the inn to find out what the locals are saying about the night's events and to have a glass of wine or three.
Volthawk
Meloth follows suit, letting Jasmine take the lead given the pain he was in from the blast - luckily it doesn't affect his ability to keep quiet. Once they're in the inn, though, he doesn't follow Jasmine down - injuries like his ran the risk of attracting attention. Instead, he checks his wounds to make sure they're not too urgent a threat, and then dries off and waits for the others to get back - probably for the best that he gets patched up by one of their own rather than looking for someone who might ask questions.
bramblefoot
wighard: you spot a woman quickly put her hood up and wander off in a seemingly random direction. you smell a faint odor not unlike rotting meat in her general direction

jasmine: you're seeing posters of your face going up with  orc saboteur  written on them. it looks like the price has gone up significantly

meloth: your wounds look bad, but nothing wighard cant treat.
wilphe
Wighard checks what other winds are coming off her and wonders if she is missing an ear, asking Bertelis to tail someone is last resort - fortunately he has better options

 See the lady in the saffron hood? 
 Affirmative 
 Follow her, I think she might be our quarry 
 Any reason you think that? 
 She stinks of rotten meat 
 You call it that - I call it artisanally aged, bit of flyblow adds flavour, leave it long enough to get some juicy maggots in there it is like a carrion terducken 
 Well if she is our quarry and she does smell like that - I am a little less inclined to think she may be innocent.

And if she isn't - well, I guess she can lead you to something tasty 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 24 ]  Magical Sense 76

 (1d100)[ 33 ]  FP if necessary
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis keeps his eyes out for Meloth and Jasmine - hoping that not seeing them means they weren't here, at the time.  It's all he can do to try to organise people by power of personality - directing injuries to the field hospital Wighard determined in placement, commanding gawkers to join the bucket lines; sending Maxime to participate in them, after the horses are tied off.  Alas, it's too chaotic for much salvage to be made of the situation, atleast under Bertelis' command.  The people on the dock have suspiciously little regard for the shouted command of a knight...

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Tempting fate but another command roll:   vs62  - (1d100)[ 93 ] 
 
bramblefoot
berty: the fire is quenched, and then a merchant will stalk up, looking thoroughly petulant.  "what happened here?"  he hisses, stomping his foot

wighard: yup, nurglite. gimme a d100 roll to see how well the guards do in tracking
MrAbdiel
Bertelis will look at the merchant, then at the smoking hulk just poking out of the water, then at the debris field and the stunned and recovering burghers doing their hearty best to contain the situation.  Then back at the merchant.

“I can hardly say.  Like many, I heard the blast and came running, fearing attack.  But judging by all the powder smoke in the air, I fear a cargo ship carrying gunpowder has gone up, or a vessel with powder for its own cannon.  But the people here have rushed to prevent the fire spreading - was it your ship, sir?”
dojango
Jasmine spends some time talking to the bartender, telling him " Boy, I was upstairs in my room, fast asleep when I heard that boom.  Wonder what caused it?  Woke me up from a sound sleep, it did.  Dunno if I can go back ta sleep now.  Suppose I should go see what's what for meself, cuz I ain't seen it yet. "  Alibi established, as best she can, she heads out into the night and heads down to the docks.  Spotting Wighard in the casualty station, she sidles up to him as he's treating a patient and then whispers to him, " Hey, whadya know about treatin' elves?  I know they got weird bodies and stuff but do ya know how to patch one up?  Might be one who needs a little patchin' up back at the inn, I reckon.  He's walkin and talkin' but he don't look so good. "
farothel
Bruno isn't going to argue with the merc, so starts looking around to see if he can spot any of the others.  If not, he will head back to the inn.  When he sees a poster of Jasmine, he will check with a passing city guard why someone who in the drawing actually looks more like a halfling is considered an Orc.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

perception:  (1d100)[ 6 ]  vs 69
gossip:  (1d100)[ 53 ]  vs 87
 
bramblefoot
bruno: the guard looks at you blankly.  "What's a halfling?"  he says, scratching his chin.  "anything not a human or elf is an orc!"  he says, and stalks off

jasmine: you reach wighard. the only problem is the area is absolutely lousy with guards. gonna need a concealement check at -10 to make it to him without being spotted

 (1d100)[ 98 ] 

berty: the merchant sighs.  "its not mine, but it will be looked into"  he stomps off to go talk to some people
MrAbdiel
“Looked into by whom?” He calls after the huffy merchant, receiving no answer.  He has failed utterly to assert authority here on the docks, where coin ruled.  What’s more, the lack of realm knights in the city generally made him feel… extraneous.  The city had found a certain way to operate without them.  He scowled to himself, grit his teeth, and turned away back to find Wighard after his own long, fruitless efforts to help on the scene.  Whatever this matter was… he would write his report tonight, send it by royal courier - that is to say, by a gang of knights Errant he would certainly find lounging in the city’s wine houses and wencheries - and then they would leave tomorrow.  He could not afford to get entangled in another local affair.  Not with so much on the line in Mousillon, and Bordeleaux…
farothel
Bruno looks at the guard.
 "In the empire we also have dwarves and halflings,"  he said,  "shorter than humans, dwarves are heavier and halflings can, certainly at a distance, look like human children.  And besides orcs I know you also have skaven.  We've fought some at the pass between here and the empire." 
bramblefoot
bruno: the guard scoffs  "your from the empire, and this is bretonnia"  with that, he shoulders by and walks off

wighard: kwolf will track her to a small boarding house in the rougher part of town. tell me, if you were a nurglite, how would you defend your turf?

jasmine: the guards will sort of look at you, and then confer amongst themselves as you approach wighard. might i suggest you make the convo quick and be prepared to disappear?

bertelis: gimme your montage of the general finding of a messenger
wilphe
  She's gone into some rundown flophouse by the  shambles  
 Let me know if she comes out 
 Been ten minutes and she hasn't yet 
 What's the place like? 
 Do you have any idea how disgusting something has to be for a Bretonnian to not even try to eat it? 
 Garlic covereth a multitude of sins 
 They don't throw anything away, so little to no blood, little offal, just death, dung and animal parts I don't think even you could name and I don't want to eat 
 Any idea what they are doing? 
 If I was going to be cooking up nasty stuff I would do it here.

Wait.

The lady has come out, gone into the cow stall 
 Can you see what she is doing? 
 Let me get closer  

Kwolf changes position and settled on a ledge as if to eye up some choice morsel from the ground

  Those cows do not look healthy 
 Sorry I am not a mammal, is milk supposed to be yellow? 
 Depends what they have eaten, but not that shade of yellow. And it looks like the udders are infected too  

The lady finishes milking the cows and steps back inside, a few minutes later a man with a mangy donkey picks up the full churns

  So contaminating the city milk supply? 
 Looks like. See the dhar coming off that? 
 Ayup 
 Seen any guards? 
 That tripe shop has to be doing really well for that guy to have a pistol in his belt 
 I don't see it 
 Watch the way he moves; and those other two guys there have not moved either. Probably some others I haven't made yet.

Maybe the whole neighbourhood is in it 
 Ok, keep an eye please and let me know if anything changes  
wilphe
Wighard turns his attention to Jasmine   What is going on?  
dojango
 
 Originally Posted by wilphe 
 Wighard turns his attention to Jasmine   What is going on?   
 

Jasmine looks around and says " Looks like a lot, eh? I'm just a lovable street urchin with a message that there's an injured elf back at the inn. Lemme know if ya need any messages delivered, cor blimey, guv'nor. " With that, she scampers back into an alley leading away from the triage center and heads back away from the guards to wait for Wighard.
bramblefoot
we cut back to the jolly pegasus.

jamsine: gimme a silent move at -20 to make it to the jolly pegasus without being pinched by the law

wighard: whats your plan to deal with the nurgle cult?

bertelis: you find a minorly intoxicated knight errant to take your message. please dictate the message in the next post.
wilphe
Wighard finishes up and returns to the inn to treat Meloth upstairs,   You want to tell me how this happened and why Jasmine has a few zeros added to her bounty?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

[roll]1d100[/roll[ Heal 86
 (1d10)[ 5 ] 
 


+++++++++=

Later he will convene the core 6 humanoids (without Jasmine) in one of the upstairs rooms, making appropriate arrangements for Jasmine to make a hasty exit and leaving Deanna, Odmar and Berthhold out of it

  I ran across a suspicious looking lady in a saffron shawl on my way to the docks this afternoon - had the reek of dark magic come off her. I asked Kwolf to follow her into the shambles

I think the Lord of Decay has a franchise setup there

They seem to be spreading infected milk as well as whatever is going on in the flophouse in question. Might give us a lead onto the plague situation

There at least some guards from three guys in a nearby tripe shop - one of whom has a pistol. Probably not the best quality but can still kill you dead. Kwolf is keeping eyes on the place, see if he can find anymore

I don't want to tip off any authorities beforehand - don't know who might be involved.

We are way too clean and well-dressed to have any business in that part of town so I don't intend to be subtle about this.

Walk up, check the cowshed, if what I see closeup confirms my suspicions, enter back entrance, don't be surprised when the guards attack, Siobhan will cover back entrance, whilst we clear and secure the place room by room, preferably covering the front door

Order of march:

Me and one of you at front, Siobhan middle, rest at the back

I will have one of the lads here deliver a message to the Temples  - starting with Shallya, timed for just before we hit the place.

Opinions? Questions? My only concern is that Jasmine might have been taken rather than dropping out of sight  

He gives an encouraging smile at Bertelis,   This is where we start striking back  
[/B]
bramblefoot
jasmine: as you leave the jolly pegasus, you get what could be described as a love tap on the back of your head with a cosh, and your dragged away. you awaken tied to a chair, and the fellow who you sicced a mob on will walk out. he looks very happy to see you, and will begin pulling instruments of torture from a bag . "that jezzail will make a fine investment to my collection"  he says, settling down behind you.  "now what are your friends up to?" 
farothel
When the guard walks away, Bruno heads back to the inn as there was little he could do where he was now.  When Wilghard called a conference, he went of course, wanting to give Jasmine the good powder and shot he had managed to score.

 "Sir Bertelis has the cloud over here,"  Bruno said,  "so it might be best if he goes with Wighard.  I'll cover the backdoor with Siobhan then and the rest can be divided where needed.  Maybe put Meloth a bit further to take out any who manage to escape.  Say, where's Jasmine.  I managed to score some good gunpowder for her?" 
Volthawk
Meloth's grateful to see Wighard, and while the man works on his wounds, he explains what happened.  "Thanks for the help. We went to investigate the ships. For a while, little interesting but then Jasmine falls into a trap. Hole full of rabid halflings. I pulled her out, and then she said...powder main, I think it was? She started running, so I followed, and..."  He shrugs, wincing a little as the movement agitates a few of his wounds.  "Well, I didn't quite get clear in time. Her bounty went up, huh? That fast? That's bad. I wasn't sure whether the halfling pit was a general trap for thieves or something specifically because they were concerned about people snooping around, and if the explosion was directly related or not. With that in mind...my guess is not only was the whole thing someone trying to destroy the evidence and some investigators with it, but the people involved know - or at least strongly suspect - that we're the ones poking around."  He pauses.  "Or just the company, at least - my face hasn't come up on a poster yet and nobody alive saw us there, so I'm guessing they just assumed Jasmine was the one having a look, and me joining was new enough that they didn't predict me coming along." 

---

In the meeting, Meloth nods as Wighard brings up his thought that Jasmine was taken.  "Last I saw her, she was here with me. She must have gone out and then gotten taken by someone. Like I said to you upstairs, this isn't a coincidental thing, someone involved knows we're investigating. We need to be careful." 
dojango
Jasmine rolls her eyes at him and says, " Do I look like a street-corner psychic?  It's the middle of the flippin' night.  They're probably either asleep or shagging their way through the demimonde.  I hear business is... " she laughs.  " Booming. "
bramblefoot
jasmine: mr weasel will belt you in the tummy.  "i do so love the mouthy ones"  he says, pulling a small knife and moving to come around.  "a shooter is useless with no fingers"  he says, moving to dance the knife over your arm, and towards your palm.  "last chance to tell me, or you lose a finger"  he will start playing five finger fillet on your hand, starting slow, and steadily ramping up the speed.

wighard: gimme a sixth sense roll pls

the rest of you, gimme perception
farothel
 "Rabit halflings,"  Bruno asked,  "that's not something you see often.  From what I've heard, halflings are quite sturdy in the face of magic and chaos corruption." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

perception:  (1d100)[ 92 ]  vs 69
 
dojango
"OOF", she grunts, and then "I din't realize you were so interested in the hot gossip.  Bertelis is getting maaarrrieeed.  He's inhereited a bunch o' land down in Mousillion somewhere's but the peasants have been gettin' uppitty so we're goin' there to knock some sense inta them.  We gotta fix up the place ya know, make it a place where he kin raise a family.  He's a big lad, he's gonna make some young lady verry happy if ya knows what I mean?  I'm gonna be a matchmaker.  The Duke gave him permission ta court his niece, but we gotta keep his options open?  Might need ta find someone close to the fief so's we can get some help, and I think the Duke's gonna be real stingy with the dowry.  Maybe there's some young heiress we can find down south, ya know?  One with big tracts o'land as the sayin' goes.  I think he likes that.  But he's gonna haveta knock her up so he can get some kids out real quick-like.  Heir an' a spare, as they say.  And we're gonna fix the fief up.  I heard that the manor house is all beat down and way outta style.  Think we might build it up in the classical style, but Bertelis is all, 'oh, it needs to be defensible, it's gotta have fortifications'.  Like those matter in an age of cannons, it's more important to show some style ta impress the local yokels.  I wanna get a powder-mill started, have ya seen the state of Bretonnian powder?  It's like they want ta get their asses kicked by the orcs.  And those horrible rat-men.  Anyway, for the marriage I think we're gonna haveta do one of the fashionable closed ceremonies.  No bloody peasants.  Deanna, Bruno, we gotta find some other nobles ta come.  Bertelis's brothers o' course, we need to start findin' matches for them, too, I reckon.  And Bruno.  He's gonna inherit a fief back in the empire at some point, so he's gotta get fixed up next as well.  Anyway, so the ship's captain was tellin' us that he's gotta fix the damage to the ship so we gotta find a ship to take us away.  If there's any sailing after, ya know.  Stupid elf nearly got blown ta bits, I thought they was supposed ta be graceful but nope, he was knocked halfway back ta the empire.  He went home ta cry, I don't think he'll be doin' much.  Good riddance to the bloody elves ya know what I mean?  The dwarves also done run oft.  I think Grimgoth hadta go back and deal with some sort o' dwarven family nonsense.  His shoe-leather divorce worked for a bit but summat caught up with him, I reckon.  They write down everything ya know, every thing they said, every little insult so's they remember it all.  I dunno how they live like that, prolly explains why they rarely get married or have kids if they want to remember all that crap.  If I kept track of every little insult from my mother in law an' every little mistake by my husband I'da stabbed her long ago..."

Jasmine will keep talking along those lines, relating details about their families and familial troubles as best she knows, with a lot of baseless speculation thrown in, along with irrelevant details and names thrown in somewhat haphazardly.  She'll be speaking in Reikspiel using a lot of classical halfling slang and idioms if it matters.  Once he appears distracted or starts to write some of the information down, she'll try to get her hands free while he's not paying attention.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 64 ]  v. 64 Agi to get her hands free while he's distracted
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis doesn't have to check very far to find some bored young knights lounging in a wine hall.  Four young men, teenage aspirants with the boar's head crest of Artois on their shields, whom Bertelis finds instinctively remind him of his brothers and himself in their dynamic.  These are only good friends from the same rural courts at the fringes of the forest of Arden, but they are looking for deeds to do, and this is a deed just such.  He impresses firmly upon the leader:

"Listen to me young Sir Elric: I have been tasked to get my message back to the king, but also to continue south.  Therefor I need a group of hardy, sober young knights to take a message to the king's lodge at Podeye, understand?  I will compose it tonight, and seal it with my crest, and you will take it to the king's confidant Duke Hagen, who will receive it and compensate you well for the delivery.  I will leave it to his generosity, but I will suggest in the message that it might not be less than fifty  roi .  Under no circumstances are you to lose the missive, open the missive, damage the missive, or give the missive to anyone except Duke Hagen or the King himself.  And if you do this well, and you seek more deeds and compensation for them, you might find me later at my new holdings in Saulx, in Mousillon.  There will be no shortage of daring there to be done."

He shakes the hands of Sir Elric, Sir Jean-Pierre, Sir Luc and Sir Carlo; bright eyed teens all, and by Bertelis' judgement, capable.  He will hand over the missive to them at the Jolly Pegasus the next morning.

Of course, this is an arrangement he makes before he learns there is more to do, and more disaster to mitigate.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: The Letter 
Presuming Bertelis isn't killed overnight, the letter will detail the defenses of the city as they have seen them - the cannon towers, the lack of knights but the presence of so many mercenaries, the powder stockpiling, and his best assessment of L'Anguille's defenses.  He will cautiously but firmly underline that this has occured only because of the absence of the Duke in the port city, and will suggest that a bold plan - like entering the city under a flag of peace  now , before the city has seceded, perhaps under the pretext of preparing an attack force to strike at Norsca, only to seize the city with the occupying army might be preferable to a terribly long seige.  Alternatively, however much gunpowder they have, a blockade will drain them of food over time; and forcing a surrender that way is preferable to a bloody war.  This, of course, applies only if a diplomatic solution can't be reached.  This may all be avoided simply by the Duke returning with a strong will.

He will note that he has taken on a new Squire, Maxime, and that he is doing well.  He'll mention the massive powder explosion, too - it'd be hard not to.
 

 * * * * * 
Back at the Jolly Pegasus, Bertelis grips his hair with one fist.  This was supposed to be a brief visit in L'Anguille and then off they are to go to Mousillon.  But this cult can't be ignored... and where is Jasmine? Fear for the little halfling, who seems to attract abductors, churns in his stomach.  He gives a tired, sombre nod at Wighard's encouragement.

 "...Alright.  Alright.  I will go first; but I wonder if you have a spare healing draught.  I am... still battered from my spar with sergeant Dagobert, and I do not want to slip up and suffer a wound from such monsterous cultists.  Hmm.. Tainted milk.  Well.. This is Bretonnia, and as North as Bretonnia gets.  No one is going to drink yellow milk offered to them... but a canny cult will be taking tainted milk and making it into cheese, masking the taint behind the natural flavour of the mould - a diabolical plot.  We may have to warn the local merchants to inspect all the cheese caves - but we can trouble with that after we have dealt with the source." 

He glances about, and frowns.   "But we must find Jasmine.  Maxime will stay here with Deanna, Berthold and Odmar, and direct Jasmine on to us if she turns up.  But otherwise... she must be somewhere close to the line that runs between here and the dock, yes?  Where we last saw her..?" 
bramblefoot
jasmine: mr weasel's eyes glaze over for a split second, but he snaps back to awareness as the ropes give on your arms. your leg ropes are still attached tho, and he will call for his bully-boys while he makes the escape out the back, dropping a match into a pile of loose straw as he does. the fire will start to spread as two heavy thugs with clubs rush in. there are plenty of improvised weapons here, but your kit is not among them

 (1d10+2)[ 12 ] 
 (1d10+2)[ 4 ] 

those who passed their perception test: you smell a thick, cloying aroma, followed by the sound of many buzzing wings. might i suggest you batten the hatches and roll initiative?

wighard: you get the hot tangy taste of iron in your mouth, followed by a feeling of something moving. you spit out a small cockroach, who scuttles underneath the bed.

berty: test on your fear of death at -10?

what are all of you doing, as the door begins to shake and buckle?
wilphe
Wighard is fairly repulsed to find something chitinous moving in his mouth

  I think they might be coming to see us  

He moves to the fireplace and begins casting
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d10)[ 1 ]  Init +5

Start casting Light of Purity in the fireplace

Light of Purity
Casting Number: 12
Casting Time: 2 full actions
Ingredient: A wax candle blessed by a priest of Shallya (+2)
Description: In casting this spell, you light a fire of any size from candle to campfire. All those within the area illuminated by that flame (its Maximum Vision; see WFRP, page 117) automatically pass any Toughness Tests necessary to resist any disease for as long as the flame burns. The fire may be increased in size (by adding more fuel to a fire, for example) and even split into multiple fires (such as by lighting a second candle with a first). In the latter case, “child” fires have the same full effects as their “parents,” and the effect lasts for all those illuminated by any of the fires until such time as they go out.
 
dojango
Jasmine reaches behind her and grabs one of the instruments, some sort of flensing knife.  Nice and sharp.  She shouts (in Bretonnian) at the two thugs as she uses it to slice through her foot-bindings, " Run ya idjits!  The powdermain is gonna blow! "

 
 Spoiler 
Initiative  (1d10+6)[ 14 ] 
Gonna try to, I don't know, convince these idiots to run out of the burning building rather than towards the fire?  That doesn't seem like it should be a particularly difficult skill check but maybe intimidate works?   (1d100)[ 89 ]  v. 55 for intimidate.
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is on his feet at once, and hand on the hilt of his sword - but the presence of the buzzing calls to mind the visions of the nurgle daemons they once fought at Bruno's relative's estate.  And with that, with Bertelis' present sortness from his voluntary battering, he is unnable to persuade his mind not to entertain a chilling fiction - the idea that these daemons, servants of the plague god, had come for  him , in some perverse competition with the Dancer.  He stands there, frozen in hesitation.

And another thought strikes him.  In this large upstairs room, there dwells all of the Company's fighters who are present at all.  And in two rooms, one either side of this, dwell their companions - Deanna in one by herself, Berthold and Odmar in the other.  Somewhere outside and beyond, Jasmine may be in danger.  Just beyond these walls are two men who, one must hope, are bracing their own door; and Deanna, as alone and vulnerable as she has ever been in this ordeal.  Perhaps, if he is lucky, whatever is coming is  indeed  coming for him.  The thought of the alternative freezes his blood, and locks up his muscles.
farothel
Bruno hasn't seen, heard or smelled anything yet, but as he notices the others prepare, he quickly overturns a table to have a barrier of some sort to stand behind, and to protect non-combatants.  he moves this table closer to the door, so whoever is trying to get in can only attack with one or two people at the same time.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

initiative:  (1d10+4)[ 9 ] 

half-action: put a table on its side to have a barrier and place it close to the entrance.

wounds: 15/15
armour: 5 on all locations
 
bramblefoot
the door finally gets kicked off its hinges, and a hulking brute with a warhammer will stand back allowing some swarms of large stinging insects to swarm in at bruno. they will go inside his plate shell and begin stinging and biting him. also, several war dog sized cockroaches will scuttle in, snapping at wighard

stinging insect attacks

 (2d100)[ 37 ][ 40 ](77) 
 (1d10+3)[ 5 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 11 ] 

cockroach attacks

 (3d100)[ 35 ][ 85 ][ 20 ](140) 
 (1d10+4)[ 10 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 8 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 14 ] 

jasmine: the brutes will move to club the bejesus outta you

 (2d100)[ 10 ][ 97 ](107) 
 (1d10+2)[ 7 ] 
 (1d10+2)[ 5 ] 
dojango
The brutes try to move to club the bejesus out of Jasmine.  One of them moves aggressively towards her, club lashing out in a vicious strike towards her head.  But he gets in the way of the other one, and Jasmine dances out of the way, laughing.  She keeps the small knife in between her and the two thugs as they try to flank her, and she backs away from them towards the non-burning door.  Once she's through she quickly closes the door and tries to wedge the knife into the door handle to keep it shut.  " Enjoy yer smoke bath, idjits! " she shouts as she runs off.

 
 Spoiler 
Half action disengage, half action close door and try and use the knife to jam it shut so the thugs can breath in the smoke for a few rounds.
 
farothel
The insects sting, but not much more than that.  Most didn't manage to get into the armour or if they did, were stopped by the mail and leather layers underneath the full plate.  Bruno ignored them for now and concentrated on the big guy who battered down the door.  He aimed his pistol and shot at him.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

half-action: aim.
half-action: shoot at hulking brute with a warhammer:  (1d100)[ 53 ]  vs 58 for damage:  (1d10+4)[ 5 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 6 ]  (impact)

free action: switch to sword.
if needed:
dodge blow:  (1d100)[ 55 ]  vs 41
free parry shield:  (1d100)[ 55 ]  vs 46

wounds: 13/15
armour: 5 on all locations
 
MrAbdiel
The manifold threats to those in the room, and those not present, paralyze him; but it's seeing the swarm of oversized roaches assaulting Wighard that snaps him out of it.  This is his friend, who had nearly died at the rear of a coach to the blows of vicious orcs while Bertelis thrashed around against goblins and their spiders on the other side of it.  Seeing one particular roach flitting up and striking a miraculously close attack with a thorny leg that could well have taken the wizard's throat, the fear of tragedy he cannot attend melts away in the fire of duty more immediate.  The Company Blade erupts from its sheathe with a ring of steel and flashes out at the roaches.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Attacks! 

Quickdraw Company Blade for free.
No free action to set it on fire this turn; it would do not good to burn the place down as much as Bramble would love me to give him the excuse!
Free action to declare the Brute who broke the door as the 'grudge' of the blade for this combat.

Swift attack on the roaches attacking Wighard.

  vs66  - (1d100)[ 22 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 15 ]  damage.
  vs66  - (1d100)[ 70 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 12 ]  damage.

Looks like that might splat one.  Presumably Maxine is guarding Siobhan a little further back in the room; otherwise the two of them in melee might grant a +10% outnumbering against these roaches.  But I think we'd rather them back, defensive.

0/3 FP remaining, 11/15 Wounds.
 
Volthawk
Skeletons, the dracoleech, an explosion and now...whatever this was - Meloth was quickly finding out that working with this company was not going to be a boring time and, as he readied his bow and waiting for the enemy to break through, he was surprised to find that he wasn't opposed to the idea. Hm. Something to think about when they weren't in immediate peril, he supposed.

Speaking of peril, that's when the insects break through. He's unsure what his arrows could do to a swarm like that, so he instead focuses on the larger ones, shooting at one of the cockroaches.

 
 Spoiler 

Half action: Aim at one of the roaches
Half action: Attack that roach
 - Attack, TN 84:  (1d100)[ 89 ] 
 - Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 10 ]  w/ Armour Piercing
 
wilphe
R2 Wighard  Init 6 W 0/13 FP 3/3

Ignoring as best he can the blattodids mouthing at him Wighard finds the candle and gets the spell off, a roaring fire erupts in the fireplace giving off a sanitising glow. The attackers recoil slightly but seem unaffected otherwise and redouble their attacks sending him reeling

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (4d10)[ 5 ][ 5 ][ 4 ][ 8 ](22)  -8 TN 12-2

Which should prevent us catching anything nasty from interacting these things
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: the goons will attempt to break down the door, failing. as you run, you stumble headfirst into a pair of guards, who will quickly collar you. can i get a fellowship roll at -20 to not go to the hoosegow?

bertelis: one of the roaches splats. can i get an agility roll at flat or be splattered with bug guts? you hear deanna's scream as two heavies drag her past the mutant brute and away

bruno: the brute shrugs off the pistol ball and will smash the table to give an easier entrance. the insect swarms will move to bertelis, finding him to be tastier

 (2d100)[ 93 ][ 53 ](146) 
 (1d10+3)[ 8 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 9 ] 

wighard: the roaches will move to attack you

[rollv]2d100/[/rollv]

 (1d10+4)[ 14 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 11 ] 
MrAbdiel
  "Deanna!"  

Bertelis roars as the nightmare springs to life - she is being captured again.  But they have not put the sword to her in the room - so they want her for something, and if he is going to run them down he will need to free his friends from this ghastly assault.  Supressing an instinct to launch himself out of the room toward the Brute and his helpers, Bertelis stomps on the edge of his shield where it lay on the ground during the discussion and snatches it out of the air and to the ready; then renews his assault on the roaches, grimacing through the bites of the lesser ones.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Attacks 
Quickdraw shield.    vs66  - (1d100)[ 32 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 14 ] ;
  vs66  - (1d100)[ 11 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 7 ] .

Looks like a second roach-kill and a wounding.  Maybe Maxime can charge in and finish it off.
 
dojango
So far the man was a torturer, a blackmailer, in league with demons and rat-men and had personally been very rude to Jasmine.  But starting a fire in a building in a residential area was by far and away the worst thing Mr. Weasel had done, and Jasmine vowed to make him pay.  But first things first.  As she ran outside she began screaming at the top of her lungs,  "FIRE!  FIRE!  GET THE BUCKETS!  GET THE PUMPS! "... when she saw the guards approaching she shouted out to them, " Thank the gods!  Start gettin' people workin' the buckets!  There's men still inside!  We gotta start evacuatin' the neighbors and stuff cuz the fire could spread in an instant... FIRE!  FIRE!  FIRE! "

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 33 ]  v. 41  FP if needed  (1d100)[ 24 ]  v. 41
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: you are drafted to help with the bucket brigade.  "focus on the fire, no one goes inside the building"  one guard barks. can i get three toughness tests at -10 to help with the fire?

bruno: the mutated brute will swing the warhammer at you

 (1d100)[ 39 ]  hit

 (1d10+5)[ 7 ] 

wighard: the last roach will attempt to drop you

 (1d100)[ 58 ]  hit

 (1d10+4)[ 11 ] 

bertelis: the stinging insects will sting you again

 (2d100)[ 93 ][ 95 ](188) 
 (1d10+3)[ 9 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 11 ] 
Volthawk
Meloth doesn't really see any better plan than to keep firing, so that's what he does.

 
 Spoiler 

Turn 2: Aiming+shooting at the surviving roach.
 - Attack, TN 84:  (1d100)[ 99 ] 
 - Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 13 ]  w/ Armour Piercing

Gonna do turn 3 now too, while I'm around (particularly since I think those attacks just now were their turn 3 attacks, if MrAbdiel's tracker is correct?) so it doesn't get stuck on me immediately again. Targeting the roach if it's still up by that point, or the big lad if the roach dies between Meloth's turns.

Turn 2: Aiming+shooting at the surviving roach.
 - Attack, TN 84:  (1d100)[ 49 ] 
 - Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 9 ]  w/ Armour Piercing
 
farothel
Seeing that Wighard was hard pressed, Bruno attacked one of the roaches pressing on the mage

 
 Spoiler: OOC round 3 

full attack:
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 53 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 8 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 80 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 12 ] 
 
bramblefoot
the party in the suite. the last roach goes down, and the mutant goes on full defense, seeking to buy time
MrAbdiel
Deanna's cry for help is still audible down the stairwell in the tavern.  This thug of chaos remains in the way.  And the swarms of these flies, and beetles,  and gnats, are crawling all over him - hunting the moisture from his eyes, trying to get into his mouth, trying to work under his mail.  They have not succeeded, yet; but as much as Bertelis wants to charge the brute, cut him down, and give chase to the kidnappers, he is aware of his position; he was wounded when the fight began, and if his fly-picked carcass ends up lying halfway down the stairs, he will be no use to Deanna, or the King, or his father, or Saulx, or anyone.

But as he casts his eye to Wighard taking a backstep, bleeding significantly, panicking a little for the wounded healer, he recalls their exchange on the riverboat; and his own assurance that he would not, atleast until it comes to the dancer, fail to call on his allies in all their might.

Only Wighard and Siobhan can help Wighard, now; and the Elven hunter Meloth is more than skilled enough to track and run down the kidnappers, if the brute can be dispatched.  But Bertelis cannot put himself to that task - not while he is being eaten alive.  He has his own opponent - two swirling, angry, carnivorous swarms of bugs in service to the Fly Lord.

 "Bruno!"  he calls, the Talabeclander Baronet strikes down the last of the giant roaches.  Bertelis lets the shield slide from his grip to clatter to the ground, then lobs the company blade upright into the air between them, awaiting his Imperial counterpart's seizure.  The Bretonnian steel, reforged with veins of gromril, winks in the magically-enhanced fireplace's glow; and when it meets Bruno's grip, the former roadwarden would feel, immediately, the ineffable power of the rune magic within it; how badly the steel seemed to  want  to kill the Brute.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Hup! 
Mechanically, this is just Bertelis spending a half action to give the sword to Bruno.  Since Bruno can quickdraw it to the ready, it's not going to cost him an action; but the old sword-throw is more dynamic to describe!

Bruno, it's all yours for this fight - Bertelis has to worry about this swarm.  You'll have to drop your own hand weapon to grab it, but it's the tool for the job.

As a reminder, it's a Best Quality Longsword, So +5% weaponskill, and +10% extra WS when parrying because, like a shield, it has the defensive quality.  As far as I can tell, that's the reason Best Swords are so expensive; so between a Best Shield and a defensive weapon in your other hand, you'll be parrying at +25%.

Rune of Flame: As a Free Action, you can set it on fire for +1 Damage, but Bertelis has thought this inadvisable indoors so far.
Rune of Might: Might be useless, depending on how tough the Brute is.  If it has a TB of 4 or less, no effect. But it's a nurglite bruiser, so if it happens to have a TB of 5 or more, it adds your SB to damage a second time with successful hits.
Rune of Grudges: At the beginning of the combat, the wielder (at the time, Bertelis) selects a single enemy target.  Until the combat is over, the wielder (now Bruno) can rerolled failed attack rolls against that target.
 


Now with his hands free, Bertelis staggers back; away from Bruno, away from Wighard, Maxime and Siobhan; towards one of the beds in the room, and snatches the rumpled blanket from its top; squinting through an accumulating haze of wings, and legs, and wiggling little mandibles.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Going to have to endure another round of being bug-bit.  Fortunately they've been pretty bad at hitting so far.  I don't think it's reasonable to parry or dodge them, since it's a swarm; or even attack them with melee weapons.  I'm hoping the tradeoff from that is they won't get Fury hits and explode me.

Either way, the other half of Bertelis action is to move to one of the beds away from the fight and snatching up a blanket from one of the beds.  I don't think it'd be an half action to pick up a blanket - but if it is, I'll 'quickdraw' it to get it done.  If Bertelis survives another turn under the swarms, he's going to roll himself up with the bugs so that he can stop-drop-and-roll to kill them.
 
wilphe
R3 Wighard Init 6 W 0/13 FP 3/3

Wighard staggers back away from the roaches and tries to get himself back from the brink of death with the aid of a glass bead but is unable to grasp the winds properly

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (4d10)[ 3 ][ 2 ][ 1 ][ 8 ](14)  -8 TN8

Healing of Hysh
Casting Number: 10
Casting Time: Full action
Ingredient: A clear glass bead (+2)
Description: Your touch heals an injured character a number of Wounds equal to your Magic Characteristic. You can also heal yourself. This is a touch spell.
 
farothel
 "Thanks,"  Bruno said as he caught the sword.  He was surprised that Bertelis would let him use it, but he didn't think about it long.  He had an idiot of a brute hammering on his full plate and now was the time to do something about it.  Sword and shield ready, he launched a series of attacks.

 
 Spoiler: OOC round 4 

full attack:
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 55 ]  vs 51 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 10 ]  (+5 extra if TB brute is &gt;=5) (if needed:  (1d100)[ 60 ]  vs 51 reroll from rune of grudges)
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 89 ]  vs 51 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 15 ]  (+5 extra if TB brute is &gt;=5) (if needed:  (1d100)[ 41 ]  vs 51 reroll from rune of grudges)
Ulric's fury confirmed in OOC: 16 damage (21 if TB&gt;=5)

parry first attack:  (1d100)[ 43 ]  vs 71
dodge second attack:  (1d100)[ 30 ]  vs 41
 
bramblefoot
mutant brute parry

 (1d100)[ 20 ] 

successful parry!
bramblefoot
the party in the jolly pegasus: the mutant will hold his defense, buying time for the heavies to get away

jasmine: you find most of your kit, but no intel
farothel
Bruno kept at it, trying to take down the brute as quickly as possible.  He was surprised that the guy didn't attack, but he wasn't going to complain at the moment.  Hopefully the city watch would come soon to help out, because they could do with some assistance.

 
 Spoiler: OOC round 5 

full attack:
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 63 ]  vs 51 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 14 ]  (+5 extra if TB brute is &gt;=5) (if needed:  (1d100)[ 49 ]  vs 51 reroll from rune of grudges)
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 25 ]  vs 51 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 9 ]  (+5 extra if TB brute is &gt;=5) (if needed:  (1d100)[ 64 ]  vs 51 reroll from rune of grudges)

parry first attack:  (1d100)[ 24 ]  vs 71
dodge second attack:  (1d100)[ 58 ]  vs 41
 
wilphe
R4 Wighard Init 6 W 0/13 FP 3/3

Wighard tries to stay calm and get off a self-heal but there is a flash of backfire and he recoils to the floor

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (4d10)[ 5 ][ 1 ][ 2 ][ 2 ](10)  -8 TN8
 
Volthawk
Meloth lets out a quiet swear in Elathrin as he sees Wighard fall - he didn't know much about magic, contrary to the idea some people had about elves, but it was pretty obvious that things were bad there. All the more the reason to finish this as fast as possible.

 
 Spoiler 

Turn 4: Aim, shoot and look forward to when Meloth will eventually get +1 A
 - Attack, TN 64 (BS 74 + 10 aim - 20 shooting into melee):  (1d100)[ 41 ] 
 - Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 7 ]  w/ Armour Piercing

Turn 5: More hot aim+shoot action.
 - Attack, TN 64:  (1d100)[ 50 ] 
 - Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 12 ]  w/ Armour Piercing
 
MrAbdiel
(Tail end of Turn 4, after Bruno's attack)

Glancing back at the melee, and the mutant's defensive effort, and Wighard's aborted spell backfiring; Bertelis gives the last command he can before he is rendered blind by the blanket around him, and the swarm.

 "Siobhan!  Help Wighard, you know what to do!  Maxime!  Be bold!  Support the Baronet!" 

Up until this point, the two tomboys had been keeping back and making as little trouble as possible; but the stakes are getting higher and sharper.  Maxime has been bouncing on his heels at the back of the room, rapier and main gauche at the ready; glacing fretfully between Meloth and Bruno.  How much more elegant it seem to be back a few paces, sinking smoothly shot arrows into the enemy again and again - how frenzied and lethal true combat was, when it was not to three touches in a sparring ring!  But he musters that basic virtue, and charges in - seeking to tease open the mutant's defense a little, to make it easier for Bruno to lay down attacks.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Maxime's gotta get in there mostly to Get Bruno some outnumbering bonus.  Charging for +10, now Outnumbering for +10, so rolling flat to Weapon Skill.

  MaximesFirstAttackEverVs43  - (1d100)[ 69 ] , for  (1d10+2)[ 3 ] .  An embarassing miss for minimum damage; exactly the humbling failure I wanted for Maxime. :D
 
MrAbdiel
 Bertelis - Round 5 - 8/15 Wounds - 0/3 FP 

Now he can see nothing, and can hear nothing through the buzzing. They are biting him now; hard enough for him to feel blood flowing in places, and he lets out a groan of discomfort and pain from it; but there's nothing for it, against such a mutable; unusual enemies require unusual tactics.

Tossing the blanket over himself and the swarm, he shrouds himself in with the mess of mites and, seizing the fabric from inside spins on the spot to coil it around himself to create an awful, writhing pupae of man and swarm.  The dizziness from spinning blind might have knocked him over if he had not been going to ground intentionally, then to roll back and forth using his body's weight to pulverize and mash the swarms against him while Maxime fought alongside Bruno, trying his darndest to perform in reality what he had excelled at so much more easilly with a capped foil.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Bertelis Half Action: Wrap in Blanket, Half Action: Roll on Floor.

I didn't think it was reasonable to try to dodge or parry the swarm; and I've tried to make it less than possible for them to do the same with this burrito of death.  I don't know how many turns worth of thrashing about will be enough to render the swarm squashed enough to be 'dead'; I'll leave that up to you, Bramble.  But that's Berty's plan.

Maxime:   Vs33  - (1d100)[ 38 ]  for  (1d10+2)[ 10 ]  and   Vs33  - (1d100)[ 63 ]  for  (1d10+2)[ 8 ] , not expecting much.
 
bramblefoot
berty: the flies are crushed, but there are enough left to resume the assault

 (1d100)[ 74 ]  im giving them a +20 cause your entangled with them, so thats a hit

 (1d10+3)[ 11 ] 

bruno: the nurgle boy goes down, and maxime moves to dart out the door.

wighard: you feel morr come knocking again. what does he want this time, and what's the asking price?
wilphe
  R5 Wighard Init 6 W 8/13 FP 3/3  

Third time is the charm as Wighard finally manages to complete the spell and Siobhan forces a healing draught down his throat

However the cleansing glow from the fire is now joined by a similar light from his eyes



 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (4d10)[ 9 ][ 3 ][ 8 ][ 1 ](21)  -8 TN8
 
wilphe
Wighard feels himself sucked out of his body and into the sky, floating gently above the city before settling down near the top of the lighthouse in the form of a blackbird

The Raven alights next to him

  The doors to my realm are always open, but it is still somewhat rude to linger in the doorway 
 Not my choice I assure you 
 You have made powerful enemies 
 We have also found powerful friends 
 This you understand, you know your value and that you are worth cultivating without being arrogant about it 
 Is this why I am a blackbird? 
 You don't see yourself as a midwife so a stork was out of the question, and swans don't perch so it is what it is 
 Not a raven? 
 You are  a valuable servant - but as yet a new one; why do you think I chose you? 
 Kwolf all but confirmed it is because you need me to do something your other servants cannot - probably because it would be a violation of their vows 
 And what do you think that is? 
 Nothing else would be too problematic, so I would guess you want someone who isn't sworn to kill necromancers and the undead on sight 
 Good good

Are you going to be able to deal with these nurglists here? 
 I hope so, we miss the dwarves though 
 You are familiar with the vampires of the Blood Dragon? 
 Mostly through what knowledge you have chosen to impart 
 Repeat it, but be brief 
 They are descended from Abhorash - the greatest warrior of Old Nekhara; who initially chose only to feed on criminals. After the fall he was able to decisively slake his sanguine thirst with the life blood of a great dragon. He has not been seen in centuries but his children are the Blood Dragons - who seek not power nor magic nor revenge only martial perfection against the most powerful foes.

The Red Knight of Bretonnia was one of their lineage but we do not know if the one we face now is him again or one using his name and heraldry. 
 I have another unorthodox servant such as yourself. He was a great mortal vampire slayer. He fell into the hands of the Blood Dragons and they embraced him, perhaps not entirely against his will.

However he decided that the most worthy opponents would be other vampires and he hunts them almost exclusively - hence my interest in him

He keeps a low profile but is based in the coastal fringes of Mousillon where he is known as the  Bécassine ver l'ouest , seek him out

Now you need to get there, I'd like you meet a friend of mine 

A puffin alights next to them

 Wighard Rauschenberg - the King of Storms

The King of Storms - Wighard Rauschenberg, Elect of my following  

The newcomer looks at Wighard confrontationally

  Albatrosses don't perch either  
dojango
Satisfied that she's got her kit back, but annoyed that he hasn't left any incriminating paperwork behind (or if he did it's all burnt up now) Jasmine slips down the alleyways away from the fire and starts heading back to the inn.  She's a little annoyed that the others didn't come and rescue her, not that she needed it but it'd be nice if they at least tried?  Well, whatever, they've got a ship to catch in the morning so she heads back to the  Jolly Pegasus  so she can get some sleep for the rest of the night.
wilphe
Wighard has never had much to do with the sea, apart from a winter spent at Dietershafen, but knows that the King of Storms is both powerful and fickle like the sea itself. Wighard also doesn't have the personal relationship with him that he has with  The Family  so decides to be a lot more formal.

  Yes my Lord 
 You are going to Mousillon to destroy a chaos weapon correct? 
 Amongst other reasons 
 Answer yes or no 
 Yes sir 
 That is better

There is relic of my cult there also - a spear

Bring it to Bourdelaux 
 The blood knight in question seems to collect powerful artefacts - weapons in particular, your Trundheim Flambard is a bauble that may pique his interest. He won't try to steal it, just kill the bearer. 
 Understood mylords 
 IF you succeed and prove yourself I may assist when you investigate Lyonesse. 
 Yes sir 
 And? 
 Sigh - one of my of my servants has been instructed to protect you - now you longer have dwarves to cower behind. They have been told to obey you. Do not abuse this authority  
 Yes sir thank you sir 
 You may thank me by succeeding 
 Yes sir 
 Anything else? 
 This Siobhan wench has taught you that cantrip that protects from rain 
 Yes sir 
 Short.

Only affects the hedger who casts it

I want a better version my priests can learn 
 Understood sir 
 My cult is rich and powerful

They can pay well 
 Yes sir 
 Not urgent, but in your copious free time 
 Anything else cousin? 
 No we are done  

The Puffin takes flight and transforms into an albatross as he does, sweeping around the lighthouse and out to sea

Wighard regains consciousness on the floor of the room surrounded by dead vermin of various sizes
farothel
Bruno had been concentrating on the fight downstairs, but he had heard Deanna's scream, so he headed outside after the noble woman.  He sees them carrying her and he hopes he would be able to catch up in his armour.  But he was sure that if he couldn't, Meloth could.  Nobody could outrun an arrow.
 "Leave the lady,"  he shouted at them as he charged after.
bramblefoot
bruno: the heavies keep moving, easily outpacing you in your heavy steel armor.  "back off or the lady gets a blade in the kidneys"  the heavy holding deanna hisses. they head down a side street, and disappear.

bertelis: the bugs are dead. what now?

jasmine: as you make it back to the jolly pegasus, you see bruno attempting to chase down a pair of heavies and failing miserably. whatchu gonna do?

meloth: your move. two heavies getting away with the mother of the knight banneret

wighard: you awaken to siobhan moving to grab a sword and watch over you.
Volthawk
Once it's clear the immediate danger is over, Meloth takes a moment to take a breath and drink a draught from his bag before breaking into a run after Bruno. When he reaches Bruno though, he doesn't have his bow ready - if the people they were after had a prisoner, they needed to be a little more careful, so instead he has a bola in his hand. He just calls out a quick  "Which way?"  as he approaches Bruno, slowing down just enough to get a direction before continuing to run. Bruno will catch up. Hopefully.

 
 Spoiler 

Meloth's Movement 6 while Bruno's at 3 if he's wearing his heavy armour, so I assume it's not too hard for him to catch up - he will take a turn and a bit's worth of time drinking and getting the bolas ready/carrying his bow, but hopefully the speed will let him catch up with Bruno at least and hopefully get a good way towards catching up with the heavies?

Healing Draught puts Meloth at 12 wounds (start at 15, lose 12 to the explosion, get patched up for 5 by Wighard and now 4 from the draught). Might be needed here.
 
MrAbdiel
While outside, Squire Maxime dashes down the street with Meloth preceding him in catching up to follow Bruno, inside Bertelis emerges from his awful chrysalis.  He throws off the blanket and dry heaves for a moment; his mail caked with the smashed gore of the bugs and a non trivial amount of his blood.  In a frenzy of disgust and panic, he tears himself out of his mail shirt and lets it slop to the floor, his coif shortly after, and then uses his hands to scrape out the handful of bugs that managed to work under his leather to start biting his skin.  These he stomps to death; a handful of survivors now no longer bound by whatever malific energy drives such swarms in service to cultists, scatter down the steps and out into the open sky to give dysentery to whatever owls or seafowl deign to eat them.  Finally able to collect his senses, he looks to the stirring Wighard.  Even in the insanity of the moment, with all that hands in the balance, he can't help but share a momentary look of exhausted relief at the wizard - the caster drenched in blood and smattered with beetlegore; the knight caked in beetlegore, and smattered with blood.  It has been some variation of this since they met up at Lorrimer's funeral.  With Emil back in Westvein and Gimgroth on his way to Tilea, the pair remain the founding members of the Company of the Burning Slug which seems to Bertelis likely to outlive both of them.  There have been as many latter-joining members as original ones, and each of them had proven themselves - Meloth, in that instant giving foot chase to the kidnappers of Bertelis's stepmother, dispelling any skepticism he may have had about the elf's virtues.  But Wighard and Bertelis had both been there at the start to witness the strange birth of this hazardous and harrowing group destiny, clinging to it as it gained momentum. It soothed a portion of the horror in Bertelis's heart to see the surgeon had once again mastered his own wounds, rather that being mastered by them.

But there was plenty still to be horrified about, and Bertelis stumbled to his feet.

 "They have Deanna - they have her again!  They will cut her throat again!"   The 'they' in this phrasing was obviously quite broad; a catagory of monsters that included both these scabrous brigands and the skaven of Axebite Pass.  The malefactors that the strange destiny of the Company had pulled into their path, once again.  He seethed, ready to up and run; halted only when Siobhan took his wrist in a gesture that had not nearly enough strength, but all the power, to halt him so she and Wighard could check over his wounds.  That was the smart thing to do, anyway.  If there was any catching the goons, Meloth would be the one to catch them.  And if there was no catching them, then Meloth and Jasmine would be able to find them.  Where is Jasmine, anyway?

 "We must find Jasmine - if this is an attack on the Company, they may have seized her too.  They took Deanna alive - leverage, perhaps.  Is this Yellow-Eyes, again?  Or ... "   He trailed off.  They had enough enemies, many of which whose motives he did not understand, that he could barely speculate.  He just panted, and let Siobhan work for a minute of cleaning and binding of wounds.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Bertelis is going to trust his allies to keep up with the kidnappers, and will let his medical friends assist him with a first aid check.  Since Wighard is also recovering, it might be fun to have Siobhan roll the check and Wighard assist, even if there's a lower chance of success.  At 4 wounds, he is not quite heavilly wounded yet.  But after that, it's time to take off and try to find our friends, I reckon.
 
dojango
Spotting the excitement around the inn, Jasmine jogs over to Bruno and says, " Oy, Bruno, what'd I miss? You alright, man? "
farothel
 "Nurgle cultists abducted Deanna,"  Bruno said while he kept moving,  "that way." 
He pointed to the alley and then moved on.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

run flat out as quickly as he can.
 
wilphe
Wighard stirs to find Siobhan over him

  How long was I out for?  
 Not long, they took Deanna, Bruno and Meloth went after her I told Maxine to follow 

He looks at Bertelis, who is even more a mess than himself

  There is a faster way brother.
  

His hand glows and a soft light moves over first Bertelis then himself, the mess of gore and dead insects vanishing away leaving both looking as if they had not just fought for their lives and nearly lost, Bertelis will note him shake slightly and the unnatural white from his eyes shining through the temporary membrane

  Are you hurt?  

Then bellows down the stairs

  Odmar, Berthold get up here  

And does a quick search of the body 
 Spoiler:  OOC 
Roll in OOC, 32 on 51 after the -15
 

  You two, pitch those bugs into the fire, you have no danger of infection as long as the fire burns, we will be back  

He looks at Bertelis and Siobhan

  Unless any better idea shows up, let's go pay these cultists a visit

Kwolf?  
  Yes?  
  They took Deanna, probably coming your way  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (3d10)[ 7 ][ 10 ][ 2 ](19)  -6 TN4

 (3d10)[ 10 ][ 3 ][ 10 ](23)  -6 TN4

Cleansing Glow
Casting Number: 5
Casting Time: Half action
Ingredient: A bit of soap (+1)

Description: A dim glow passes over the surface of any item or character, and it is cleaned to spotlessness. Dust is removed, tarnish polished away, rank smells eliminated, and beard stubble trimmed. Spoiled food or drink can be made pure—tasty, even, if it originally was—by means of this magic. This is a touch spell
 
dojango
" Go back and grab yer horse!  You roadwardens work better mounted.  Probably so's ya got someone to help ya think! " Jasmine shouts over at Bruno.  " I'll follow afoot! "  She hustles after Meloth.

 
 Spoiler 
If we've got a long chase ahead of us maybe you can run over to the inn's stables and get your horse, that will bring your movement up enough to catch up.
 
MrAbdiel
Reluctantly, Bertelis admits.  “I am hurt, alas; a hundred little bites, some stings. Ah… damn… creatures.  I picked a poor day to get into a fight before a second, more important fight.”  He snatched up Bruno’s sword from where it fell.  “I would appreciate a bandage on the worst of it, but then we might give chase atleast to recover our friends, if not to exterminate these scoundrels tonight.”
farothel
Bruno was glad that Jasmine was okay and she didn't have a bad idea.  He ran back to the inn and quickly put some reins on his horse.  He had ridden bareback before and the quicker he could get back into the chase, the better it was.  As soon as his horse was ready, he moved back out.  From his higher viewpoint he tried to find Meloth or Jasmine, or, if needed, go for the shouts.
wilphe
Wighard n W 13/13 FP 3/3

Bertelis n W 5/15

Wighard hands Bertelis a few healing draughts

  Have a couple for the road

Siobhan get us a lantern from the fire please  
bramblefoot
meloth and jasmine: you pelt after the mutants, and run headlong into a cloud of smoke, which starts making you hack and tear up. you could push through, but each round in the smoke will require a toughness test or take a wound

wighard: you find a simple copper medallion engraved with a fly on it. siobhan lights a lantern from the fire, and waits for your orders

bertelis: siobhan mutters a small chant, and your wounds begin to seal.

 (1d10)[ 2 ] 

bruno: where you going? the alley wont fit a horse
wilphe
Wighard checks the medallion for magic, then heads out towards the building staked out by Kwolf
Volthawk
Smoke was pretty bad - besides the effect it was having on his body, there was the simple fact that his kind of fighting required seeing the target at a distance. Given the way those mutants looked, if they caught him in the smoke...he didn't have a choice though, he had to keep on moving through. As the acrid smoke gets his teeth into him, he just hopes that it's a small cloud.

 
 Spoiler 

Toughness, TN 49:  (1d100)[ 34 ] 
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis drinks one of the draughts immediately - boy, does he need it - before passing off the vial to Odmar as he comes into the room.  But as he buckles his mail coat back on, he notices for the first time.

 "Wighard... your eyes..." 

But like so many things, there is barely time to consider and explore such things.  Soon they're out the door, on the steps of the inn, just in time to see Bruno having doubled back to grab his horse vanishing around a turn ahead; which is enough for them to follow!

 
 Spoiler: OOC: The Situation 
So the Alleyway is a (narrative) distance from the Jolly Pegasus; it can't be super far because they are dragging a captive there on foot.
 The party is stretched out.

Meloth and Jasmine are at the Alley.

Bruno doubled back to get his horse, which (I figure) gave a change for the late-comers to know which way to go.

Maxime will know he is supposed to stick with Bruno but Bruno is going back to get his ride, so he'll wait for him to return and thus also be a useful signpost for us.

Wighard and Bertelis come wincing in late.


If we end up having to fight these goons, it'll probably be one or two turns of delay between each partial-party arriving on scene.

I figure these guys either have a hideout in this smoke, or intend to lose pursuers by going through it - Bruno might be able to circle around and observe from the other side of the alley, since he's mounted now.
 
wilphe
  "Wighard... your eyes..."  
  I can still see, mostly, so worry about them later  

 
 Originally Posted by MrAbdiel 
  
 Spoiler: OOC: The Situation 

I've assumed that enough time has elapsed upstairs for Bertelis, Wighard and Siobhan to be unaware of where the heck everybody else is and where they've gone - though maybe they have run into Bruno getting his horse

Wighard was intending to head to head directly to the building in the shambles Kwolf has been staking out - partially through lack of other leads and partially because he really wants to kill someone and there will be somebody there who deserves it. It is very possible that is where they are taking Deanna, and also possible that because they will take a direct route and not be ducking through alleyways team BWS might get there faster than team goon and team BJMM
 
 
 
farothel
Bruno moved as quickly as possible with his horse around the building, trying to pick up the trail on the other side of the alley, looking out for Jasmine and Meloth or the bad guys, who he was sure he would recogise.
bramblefoot
wighard and berty: can i get initiative rolls as you pull up to the plague shack? you have no doubt the people inside have been warned

meloth: the smoke continues as you move farther down the alley. can i get an agility roll at -20 pls?

bruno: no sign of the heavies on the other side. its like they vanished into thin air

jasmine: your entering smoke central. toughness test or take a wound?
wilphe
Wighard Init  (1d10)[ 10 ] +5 W 11/13 FP 3/3

Wighard stops before they get right next to it, wrapping the winds of magic around him into a protective shroud that coalesces into a glowing orbiting head- even if one of his buttons shoots across the street and startles a cat. Though that will soon be the least of any racket that will break out

  Don't go charging in, remember what happened in Altdorf

Kwolf can you drop word at the Temples then find the others please?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 48 ]  Channelling 87
 (4d10)[ 7 ][ 5 ][ 7 ][ 6 ](25)  -8 TN14/10

Radiant Sentinel
Casting Number: 14
Casting Time: Full action
Ingredient: A buckler (+2)
Description: You create a ball of glowing light the size of a Human head that floats around your body, moving slowly or quickly as the situation demands. The ball deflects blows aimed against you, protecting you from harm. Once per round the radiant sentinel can parry a melee attack made against you, using your Will Power in place of Weapon Skill. This does not count towards your limit of one parry per round. The ball dissipates after a number of minutes equal to your Magic Characteristic ROS
 



He then marches up to the front door - not particularly concerned about the guys from the tripe stall; if they want to interfere they are welcome to try

  

Now let's see if this works  

He touches one of the beams and the entire structure shines with daylight - pouring out of the gaps in the walls and demonstrating what poor shape this building is really in

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (4d10)[ 5 ][ 10 ][ 3 ][ 9 ](27)  -8 TN9


Illuminate the Edifice
Casting Number: 11
Casting Time: Full action
Ingredient: An unburned wax candle (+2)
Description: You cause the interior spaces of any single building to shine with daylight. With Magic 1 you can affect a hovel-sized building, with Magic 2 a moderate sized multi-roomed house or building, with Magic 3 a large manor house, and with Magic 4 any single contiguous building of any size whatsoever. The light shines in rooms, attics, closets, and any other spaces bounded by a man-made roof and walls on all sides. In addition to illuminating the interior of the building, light shines out through open doors, windows, and even the cracks between boards and shingles. This is a touch spell; you must touch a solid structural element (wall, beam, or the like) of the building to be affected. Duration of one hour per point of your Magic Characteristic.
 
dojango
Bloody smoke!  This was worse than the fumes on the ship, or the fiery tenement, or... well, she has been breathing a lot of horrid fumes today hasn't she?  She tries to press forward, pistol drawn, but soon starts hacking and retching.  Overcome by the smoke she falls back towards the entrance of the inn and tries to catch her breath.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 96 ]  v. 32
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis isn't feeling hale enough to be foolish and charge off alone - he loiters by Wighard's side, shield on one arm and the Blade of Bruno in the other hand, squinting at the manifesting  Hysh. 

Maxime, meanwhile, is near enough to Jasmine as she backs out of the smoke  that the squire gives the halfling a useless but encouraging pat on the back as she coughs her lungs out, and stands by her in case all hell breaks loose.
bramblefoot
wighard and berty: kwolf will do so. the crack of a pistol shot is heard. the lanterns glass shatters, and the wick goes out

called shot lantern

 (1d100)[ 30 ] 

meloth: you step in a bear trap, which will close around your leg. can i get a wp roll at -10 to not scream?

regardless, its 1d5 unreducible wounds, and -1 move until fully healed

 (1d5)[ 3 ] 

jasmine: you hear the snap of a trap, and the crunching of bone
MrAbdiel
Alarmed at the presence of a shooter with such marksmanship, Bertelis whirls to look for the gunman!

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
In case you want a perception test...   vs61  - (1d100)[ 9 ] 

If I see someone shooting at us, I am inclined to charge him right away!
 
wilphe
Wighard is not in the mood to mess about

  I can recast that way faster than you can reload  

The flash and smoke from that should be easy to find - but the more important thing is what else might be happening with that as a distraction

Another set of hysh wraps around him - the time for subtlety is long past here.

Which is just as well as cats and rats flee, dogs bark and the diseased milk cows start trying to break out of their stalls

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 74 ]  Perception 96

 (4d10)[ 3 ][ 6 ][ 6 ][ 5 ](20)  -6 TN 7

Shimmering Cloak
Casting Number: 8
Casting Time: Half action
Ingredient: A candle (+1)
Description: You surround yourself with a field of light that protects you from ranged attacks. All non-magical missile attacks have their Damage rating reduced to 0 (in other words, damage is simply 1d10). Shimmering cloak lasts a number of minutes equal to your Magic Characteristic. You automatically fail any Concealment Tests you attempt while shimmering cloak is in effect. ROS
 
dojango
Jasmine sighs heavily and says to Maxine, " Our enemies love leavin' little traps behind when they feign retreat in order ta slow us down and weaken us.  Guess the elf hasn't been around long enough to learn that.  Suppose it might be best if you learn that now rather than when the trap closes on yer leg.  C'mon, les' go drag the elf to safety and see about makin' sure he's OK. "  With that, she cautiously advances towards where she heard the trap go off, probing for more traps along the way, just in case.
bramblefoot
wighard and berty: you both detect that the shot came from around the tripe store. with the lantern out, there is no way to tell where the person is or if he is inside or outside the store. meanwhile, there is a thunderous crash, and the cows begin to stampede through the hovel, and through the streets

meloth: gimme strength to free your leg from the bear trap.

jasmine: another toughness test at flat pls
wilphe
 Wighard Init 15 W 11/13 FP 3/3 

Wighard leaves Bretelis to cover the rear and somewhat forcefully opens the door and begins shouting, blunderbuss covering whatever is inside

   The time of judgement is at hand.

Put your hands up and surrender 
 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 16 ]  Intimidate 39 + whatever bonus for having your base magically lit up the middle of the night and a pissed off looking guy with glowing eyes, covered in glowing stuff and with a glowing head circling him like a beige Dr Manhatten kick the door in. Also he has a blunderbuss even if his clothes are on.
 
dojango
Jasmine quickly whips off the head covering she'd been wearing to 'fit in', per Bertelis's insistence, and wraps it around her nose and mouth.  She'd hoped the fumes would have dissipated by now but whatever's been fueling them seems to be unabated.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 92 ]  v. 32
 
MrAbdiel
Maxime has no time to be reluctant to take a halfling commoner's direction; trying to hold her breath to push through the smoke and find the elf with Jasmine...

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Rolling for Maxime to try her luck, but she ain't a toughy.    vs28  - (1d100)[ 48 ] 
 


... But the squire, too, is driven back coughing.  It's all she can do to try to see where the smoke is coming from, since it's so thick and noxious; perhaps the source can be attacked if the directionality can be determined.
farothel
Bruno didn't see the bad guys anymore, but he could see some smoke coming up, so he decided to head that way and see if that would yield something.  He wouldn't put it past cultists to fire some buildings to cover their escape and maybe he could pick up the track there.  And now he thought about it, Jasmine or even Wighard would probably do something like that.  Reluctantly, but still.  So he headed towards the smoke as quickly as he could.
bramblefoot
wighard: you hear someone shout  "come and get us then!"  followed by the sound of splintering wood from the rear of the building

berty: three people willl break and run out the splintered rear of the building. one is tall and thin, and the other two are muscled like fighting men

meloth: try as you might, you cannot free your leg from the trap. you may have to pry it open with a blade or something, or worse, amputate the foot.

bruno: there is thick cloying smoke, and no sign of the heavies and deanna. you do hear coughing from inside

jasmine: gimme perception
wilphe
Wighard Init 15 W 11/13 FP 3/3

  Fleeing in terror is also acceptable  
  Did you see the woman leave? 
 No 
 So she may be still in here  

Wighard continues inside and sweeps the place - looking for stairs up or a cellar down and checking the other rooms

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 55 ]  Perception 96
 
dojango
Senses alert, Jasmine cautiously looks around her, checking her flank, her pistol drawn...
farothel
Bruno will put a scrap of cloth or something like that in front of his face to protect himself from the worst of the smoke, he dismounted to see what was going on.  One couldn't be sure that it wasn't the person he was looking for and otherwise, saving someone always gave you extra points and as foreigner you could never have enough points.
bramblefoot
wighard: as you sweep the hovel, nobody jumps out at you. the hovel is empty, and the woman is nowhere to be seen. as you tap a loose brick in the cellar, a small secret passage opens up

berty: a rifle report sounds from the top of a building. the flash of the muzzle illuminates a hooded figure

 (1d100)[ 61 ]  that is a hit, but unlikely to do bo-diddly

 (1d10+4)[ 5 ] 

jasmine: you see a small rat run past with something in its mouth

bruno: as you enter the smoke, you hear grunting and cursing

meloth: you hear footsteps.

wdyd?
Volthawk
Hmph. Losing a weapon was never a good thing, but an acceptable price to pay to get out of the trap. Now then...would they take the opportunity to keep running, or would someone double back to see if someone was caught?

The footsteps answered that question. If they were just keeping on running, they'd be gone for now, but that must mean at least one of them was still here, trying to catch someone in the smoke. Well...maybe he could put that to use. Meloth looks at what he can see in the smoke, trying to find a little cover from where the beartrap is - he doesn't want to give away his new position, but does want to see who's coming investigating.

 
 Spoiler 

Guess I'll do stealth rolls just in case they're needed:
Concealment 67:  (1d100)[ 26 ] 
Silent Move 67:  (1d100)[ 21 ] 
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis winces as the musketball slams with bruising force into his shoulder... but then drops into his palm, instead of tearing through him.  A warning shot?  No.  They knew this shooter; and he did not shoot to warn.  He was merely victim to the same inferior-quality powder that his companions had been forced to deal with since they arrived in the Bretonnia.  The charge had probably been cut with sawdust to extend it, resulting in lackluster penetration at this range for such a weapon.

Now he  knows  it is Yellow Eyes behind this.  The sniper, the witch's confederate back in Altdorf who had at that time used his marksmanship to cover the heretic caster as he executed his plot, was here again, covering the retreat of a narrow man and his two bulky helpers.  And the sniper had shot out lanterns before - surely, he had been on the ground a moment before, shooting out the lantern to aid the escape of his friends and then scrambled up the building for a perch from which to cover them.  Bertelis could give chase, and take ongoing fire... Or he could climb after the shooter, and probably lose him... but what neither of those enemies had, he was sure, was Deanna stuffed in their vest pocket. If Wighard's instincts were right, she had to be here, somewhere, or nearby; that's what mattered.

  "Cowards!"    He shouts as they go; glaring up at the shooter's silhouette.  Previously he had evaded them again and again with his superior agility and marksmanship.  And he would do so again.  But now... they had an elven marksman, fleeter of foot than any man and as deadly with a bow as any yeoman in the world.  Next time they met would be the telling time.

Bertelis moved into the structure after Wighard, out of the line of fire.

 "Yellow Eye's obnoxious fusileer is covering their escape - though atleast some of his powder charges are toothless.  Next time we meet him, Meloth will thread an arrow through his eye.  Have you-"   He asks, but falls silent when the wizard discovers a discrete switch...
wilphe
Wighard Init 15 W 11/13 FP 3/3

Wighard decides that exploring further alone whilst gunshots are still going on above is not the priority and heads back up to see what is going on - possibly to tell those two to get in cover
dojango
Jasmine scowls at the rat.  Spy or accomplice?  Doesn't matter for whom, she whirls and shoots with her pistol at the tiny creature.  With a loud bang, the ball goes a little wide and the damn thing scurries away even faster.  She scowls even more as she starts reloading her pistol.  " Bloody cheap powder, stupid smoke, can't see where ta lead it, Maxine, hit it with a rock, wouldya... " but it's too late.

 
 Spoiler 
Aim + shoot the little blighter,  (1d100)[ 83 ]  v. 72
 
MrAbdiel
Maxime flinches at the gunshot; and at Jasmine's provocation, notices the rat that was her target.  He cannot run it down on foot obviously, and knights do not use ranged weapons...

But Maxime is a squire, not yet a knight; he has not taken that vow.  He drops his rapier and main gauche, snatches his strung bow from the hook on his quiver, and looses a wild shot...

 
 Spoiler: OOC:Twang! 
  vs37  - (1d100)[ 45 ] , though perhaps with a penalty for being rat sized!

Edit: Alas.
 

...But the arrow clunks forlornly into the mortar beside where the rat was a second ago.
farothel
Bruno suddenly heard nothing anymore and became suspicious.  What if it was an enemy.  But he can't really do stealthy, not in full plate, so he's quite sure that the enemy, if an enemy it would turn out to be, already knew where he was.
 "Jasmine, Meloth, is that you,"  he tried.  They had to be here somewhere.  He did ready his shield, just in case it wasn't.
bramblefoot
jasmine: the rat scuttles up a drainpipe and disappears.

meloth: you hear bruno call out.

berty and wighard: you meet halfway inside the hovel. what now?

bruno: no response

 
 Spoiler: ooc 
sorry for my short replies. i feel like im burning up with a fever
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis almost collides with Wighard as one is coming at the other is going.  He points to the partly opened passageway down.   "Wighard, you've found it - they must have taken her below.  We must follow!" 
wilphe
Wighard nods   Siobhan, stay her and cover the passage entrance  

He turns and proceeds firmly but cautiously down the passage warning Bertelis to keep his distance

  Don't bunch up  
dojango
Jasmine spits at the ground and presses into the smoke to find Meloth.  But once again the smoke drives her back.

 
 Spoiler 
Third time's the charm  (1d100)[ 75 ]  v. 32
 
Volthawk
Hm. No more footsteps. Either that was Bruno he heard walking around, or whoever it was stopped when they heard him call out. In any case, getting to Bruno was the best move he had at the moment, given the chain of events that just happened meant he wasn't intercepting the enemy any time soon.
farothel
As Bruno sees a figure come out of the smoke, he tenses and readies his weapon.  Soon it becomes clear it's Meloth.
 "Good to see you,"  he says,  "you know where the others are?  And the bad guys?" 
bramblefoot
wighard and bertelis: siobhan nods. the first few minutes are easy pickings following the bootmarks on the wet muck, but then the tunnel branches, and one set of bootmarks goes each way. wdyd?

bruno and meloth: you come out of the smoke, and spot siobhan who will wave you over.  "wighard and bertelis went down after some people"  she says, moving to escort you down to the basement of the hovel, where a small secret passage is revealed. siobhan grunts and clutches her head  "i sense something stirring"  she murmurs, and then manages to stay upright

jasmine: the smoke finally dissipates. can i get a search check at -20 to find where they might have gone? also there is a hunting trap up for grabs
wilphe
Wighard will have them follow whichever set of bootmarks looks deeper - like say they were carrying someone; if the same then whichever tunnel looks the most travelled (from scratch marks on the walls and like). If still the same, then the left


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 89 ]  Perception 96
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis escorts the Wizard.  The temptation to split two ways to cover more ground existed; but they had a better chance of recovering Deanna if they encountered her and her captors together, even if they had to double back and do so belatedly.  Glancing to the marked muck in the tunnel, he can only frown - he had acquired many skills in these past years, but tracking had not been one of them.
dojango
Jasmine disarms the trap and gives it to Maxine as she searches for prints.  Can't leave it lying around where someone might step in it.  Unfortunately, the cobblestones here are remarkably mud-free and there's no way to discern which way the prints lead.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 62 ]  v. 36
 
farothel
A mage who senses something stirring is in most cases not a good thing.  Bruno looked at Meloth.
 "We best go after them,"  he said,  "they might need our help." 

He looked at Siobhan.
 "I have my horse out here,"  he said,  "I don't know what did Wighard ask you to do, but if it's possible, can you bring it back to the inn?" 
Volthawk
Meloth nods at Bruno's suggestion. His leg still hurt from the trap, but his bow didn't need his leg to fire, and he was still quicker on his feet than the average human, so he felt ready. If nothing else, after that bear trap he needed to make things even.
bramblefoot
wighard and berty: there is really no difference between prints, and the walls look the same, so left it is! the prints go on for a couple minutes, and end in a pit where the darkness seems to swell and grow from. the smell is positively putrescent, and fat corpse-flies buzz around. you hear a deep belly laugh come from the pit  "so much might in you two"  the voice from the pit says.  "tis a shame im here to smother it." 

wighard, you sense the one of fly lord's avatars is close

perception tests from both of you?

bruno and meloth: siobhan looks distinctly ill  "hurry, its waking up"  she hisses, gesturing you toward the basement.  "ill tie the horse up here"  she says, and pukes up her guts, before tying off the horse and wiping her mouth.  "you need to stop it"  she says. chivvying you along

jasmine: as you disarm the trap, several town guards will walk up.  "so, orc, we meet"  the sergeant says, pulling his blade.  "will you come quietly, or does there need to be bloodshed?" 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis grimaces.  His hand flexes in the air, missing the runeblade of its recent acquaintence; but moves to the second healing draught to down it swiftly.  It seemed likely he would require it.  Then, with the Sword of Bruno and Shield of the Burning Slug in hand, he inches forward, keeping himself between the sound of the threat and his sorcerous companion.

 "Reveal yourself, monster.  You answer for your offenses today!" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Back up to 15/15 Wounds, now.  Still 0/3 FP, but full health!
 

 * * * * * 
Elsewhere, as authorities confront Jasmine, Maxime stands by in bewilderment; uncertain if she should try to intervene.  His noble privilege has little tooth here; especially since there exists no real "Squire Maxime".  He might take tale of this arrest to the others, or try to assist Jasmine in whatever her next scheme is - but he looks to the halfling for a cue.
wilphe
Wighard Init  (1d10)[ 8 ] +5 W 11/13 FP 3/3


Wighard talks to it whilst gathering the winds around him ready to send it back where it came from


  Piece of advice

"I'll sit on you" is not the scary war-cry you seem to think it is

Now where is Deanna please?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 61 ]  Perception 96

 (1d100)[ 33 ]  Channeling 77

Casting will be a fullround so not complete until next turn
 
bramblefoot
wighard and berty:

 "send me back, and you'll never find her"  the voice booms. a large putrescent hand with green scabrous nails will slap on the edge of the pit, and you both look into the horrid face of some large creature, whose eyes twinkle with mirth.  "your call wizard"  he says, and starts to chuckle, which turns into a hacking fit as large chunks of mucus fly everywhere

agility tests or get some sort of horrible disease?
wilphe
  Wighard Init 13 W 11/13 FP 3/3  


Wighard sidesteps the mucus, a few stray blobs hitting his  Shimmering Cloak  and hissing off like water on red-hot iron

The magic initially just fails to gather properly but swirls around the cloak inside his coat and streams of Hysh whip out to wrap the opponent



  Like you'd tell us anyway  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (4d10)[ 3 ][ 9 ][ 2 ][ 2 ](16)  -4 TN13

 (1d100)[ 19 ]  WP77
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis's decision not to split up is immediately vindicated.  If he or Wighard had encountered such a thing alone...

He sands back and covers Wighard as best he can from future gobbits of muck, with his shield.
dojango
" ORC ATTACK!  RUN! " Jasmine screams and runs off into the darkness.
farothel
 "We'll go and have a look,"  Bruno said, loading his pistol while talking to Siobhan.

As soon as he had reloaded, he would move down the secret passage.
 "You first to try and be sneaky,"  he asked Meloth,  "or me first to take the first hit on my full plate?" 
bramblefoot
wighard and berty: the nurglish horror chuckles.  "my essence is guarded"  he says, and claws his way out of the pit. he stands seven feet tall, and will make an attack on bertelis

 (1d100)[ 37 ]  hit

 (1d10+7)[ 8 ] 

note that he has impossible parry, so all parries are at -30

bruno and meloth: wighard and bertys steps are easy to follow heading left. you hear a monstrous chuckle, and the sound of battle

jasmine: whistles are blown as you flee into the night. the guards will hustle after you, calling  "stop right there!"  im gonna need an agility roll at -20 to see if you can outpace them
Volthawk
The noises they start hearing rather answers Bruno's question for him, by Meloth's reckoning, so he indicates ahead of him with his bow.  "No time to sneak about, let's get in there!" 
wilphe
Wighard Init 13 W 11/13 FP 3/3

Wighard looks at Bertelis

  Ok, Plan B, we just hit him really hard until he falls over  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Half Action left over to ready Axe and Shield
 
dojango
Jasmine has been lurking around the alleys of the city all day, and so she quickly zigs and zags and darts into an alley which she is pretty sure has a small gap in the boards small enough for her to wiggle through... but the guards are almost as quick as her and she finds them right on her heels.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 85 ]  v. 44.  FP if needed  (1d100)[ 77 ]  v. 44
 
MrAbdiel
Maxime keeps pace with Jasmine - longer legs mean he might be able to outpace her, but after being scolded today, he is reluctant to abandon even the least of the companions!

 * * * * * 
Bertelis raises his shield, but the force of the blow is such that even the blow caught  hammers him back; almost onto his back, but for Wighard bracing him.

 "Plan B it is." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
14/15 Wounds.

Swift attack!

  vs61  - (1d100)[ 80 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 7 ] 
  vs61  - (1d100)[ 82 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 16 ] 

Woo-wee them some bad rolls.
 
farothel
Nodding to Meloth, Bruno started running.  Full plate was quite useful to save his life in combat, but getting into combat in the first place did take a bit longer than without.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

run towards combat.

initiative:  (1d10+4)[ 11 ] 
 
bramblefoot
the nurglish horror will make two strikes against bertelis and wighard

wighard strikes

 (2d100)[ 46 ][ 48 ](94)  both hits

 (1d10+7)[ 13 ] 
 (1d10+7)[ 8 ] 

berty strikes

 (2d100)[ 57 ][ 69 ](126)  the 57 is a hit

 (1d10+7)[ 12 ] 
 (1d10+7)[ 8 ] 

bruno and meloth: you find yourselves coming in to berty and wighard in combat with a nurglish horror

gimme initiative, and prepare your actions'

jasmine: ill give you a choice. get away, but sacrifice maxime to the clutches of the town guard. otherwise, the chase continues

what'll it be?
wilphe
  Wighard Init 13 W 4/13 FP 2/3  

Wighard blocks the second blow with his shield, but the first is too fast for his magic defences and hits his left arm

This does not seem to slow him down and redoubles his assault

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 48 ]  64
 (2d10)[ 10 ][ 5 ](15)  +3

18 after Morr's displeasure


 (1d100)[ 34 ]  64
 (2d10)[ 9 ][ 1 ](10)  +3

12

 (1d100)[ 48 ]  47 Parry
 (1d100)[ 33 ]  34 Parry
 
MrAbdiel
 Bertelis - 9/15 Wounds - 0/3 FP 

The blows slam into both Bertelis and Wighard, smashing past their defenses and letting blood. But there's nothing to do for it, now; it's a death-fight, another brawl in the dark; this one conducted by the light shining from his friend's magical warding spell.  He does not waste time trying to convince Wighard to flee.  Instead, he merely tries to make himself a more obnoxious target, even as his blood leaks down his chest from where the beast's claws have raked through his mail.
 
"You weak spirit!  You puppet-sprite!  You come at the call of that yellow eyed witch and do his will?  You gloat like a master, but you are just another flunky behind which he retreats!" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Attack!  Attack, attack attack!

  Vs71  - (1d100)[ 6 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 14 ] 
  Vs71  - (1d100)[ 69 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 8 ] 
 

 Maxime 

Seeing the guards are gaining on them, and he cannot get away without leaving Jasmine to their clutches, Squire Maxime remembers his purpose - and makes an effort to flex his heretofore unused instinct for chivalry.   "Go!  I will delay them!" 

The appendix to that statement,  please get me out of jail as soon as convenience permits , is left unsaid.  But all of if depends on Jasmine electing to embrace this sacrificial exchange.
farothel
As Bruno entered, he immediately noticed the big Nurgle demon.  It's difficult to miss, as nurgle demons tend to have a ... distinct smell.  Bruno didn't hesitate and takes aim with his pistol, before shooting the thing.  Then he quickly switches to his sword.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

half-action: aim
attack:  (1d100)[ 67 ]  vs 38 (+10 aim, -20 melee) for damage:  (1d10+4)[ 10 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 9 ]  (impact)

parry first attack:  (1d100)[ 94 ]  vs 61 (46 + 5 BQ + 10 defensive)
dodge second attack:  (1d100)[ 17 ]  vs 41
 
dojango
Jasmine turns to laugh at the guards right before she squeezes through the small gap, but to her surprise and annoyance she sees Maxine behind her... Maxine who is too big to get through. Thinking fast, she shouts out in Bretonnian, so the guards can hear, " I'll get tha message to the king! Viva Leoncouer! Viva Bretonnia! " If the guards aren't horrible traitors and are just following orders that should keep Maxine a little more safe. And if they are horrible traitors, well... Best not to think about it. She emerges from the other side of the blocked alleyway and tries to get her bearings to figure out which way the others went.
Volthawk
Once again, Meloth found himself facing something he never thought he'd see, let alone try to  kill . First the dracoleech, now this...daemon? Monster? What did you call something like this? Was it originally a person, or...?

He shakes his head clear of those thoughts and lines up a shot. No point wondering why at this point, he needed to just focus on stopping it. Hopefully it cares about getting shot.

 
 Spoiler 

Init:  (1d10+5)[ 8 ] 

Half Action Aim, Half Action Standard Attack
Attack, TN 64 (74 BS + 10 Aim - 20 target in melee):  (1d100)[ 62 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 9 ]  w/ Armour Piercing
 
bramblefoot
the mutant monstrosity will make three attacks on berty, and one on wighard.  "the yellow eyed man did not summon me"  he growls, angrily swatting at his targets like a pair of maddening flies

wighard
 (1d100)[ 35 ]  hit

 (1d10+7)[ 15 ] 
 (3d100)[ 55 ][ 9 ][ 61 ](125)   two hits for 11 and 13 wounds

 (1d10+7)[ 11 ] 
 (1d10+7)[ 13 ] 
 (1d10+7)[ 16 ] 

jasmine: the guards will march off maxime as you escape into the night. wdyd?
wilphe
  R4 Wighard Init 13 W 4/13 FP 2/3  

Wighard deflects a heavy blow with his shield and takes advantage of the opening to make two heavy slashes at the attacking arm

  Care to tell us who did then? Consider it a professional courtesy  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 29 ]  Attack 54 +?? Anything up to +20 depending on Bertelis' state and Bruno's initiative
 (2d10)[ 1 ][ 9 ](10)  +3

 (1d100)[ 23 ]  Attack 54 +??
 (2d10)[ 9 ][ 3 ](12)  +3

 (1d100)[ 46 ]  Parry 47

 (1d100)[ 80 ]  Parry 34

Two hits for 12 to left arm
 
dojango
Jasmine circles back to the inn to try and find Bruno and Wighard to report the news to them.
MrAbdiel
Bertelis' baiting the beast works too well.  The monster's blows hammer on his shield, drive him to one knee, and blow past his guard, slashing his thigh.  Somewhere in the tumble, his Company brooch scatters off into the dark.  Bones aching, blood running, Bertelis begins to feel the nagging, clawing rise of fear up his spine.  Will they die here?  Must they die here?

Is it really, really better to die here than for only one of them to die here..?

But then the report of a gunshot in the dark, and the metallic clash of Bruno's plated footfalls; Meloth's arrow streaking past his shoulder and thunking, quivering, into the monster's hide.  Yes... This was enough of them, now.  Perhaps, no one need to die at all.

Renewed, he makes a guarded blow, trying to add to the creature's considerable suffering.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Guarded Attack, this turn.  That's a single blow at -10, but +10 to my defences in the coming turn.

  vs71  - (1d100)[ 5 ]  (Or vs 61 if Bruno hasn't made it to melee yet).   (1d10+6)[ 9 ]  for damage, with the mighty sword of Bruno.
 
farothel
Sword (still Bertelis' sword) and shield ready, Bruno moved in, hacking away at the monstrocity, shield up to parry the probably inevitable counter attack.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

move in
attack:  (1d100)[ 92 ]  vs 71 (+5BQ weapon, +20 outnumber) for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 14 ]  (+5 extra if TB deamon is &gt;=5) (if needed:  (1d100)[ 28 ]  vs 51 reroll from rune of grudges)

parry first hit:  (1d100)[ 3 ]  vs 71
dodge second hit:  (1d100)[ 45 ]  vs 41
 
bramblefoot
the nurglish horror will ponderously go down and fade away with its final words.  "i told you, you'll never find her"  a small silver ring clatters to the ground, rolling to a stop by bertelis' feet. this is deanna's wedding ring, and she was never without it.

berty if i can get a wp roll or take 1d3 IP?

jasmine: as you return to the jolly pegasus, the company of the burning slug is not there

wdyd?
MrAbdiel
Bertelis falls to his knees, gently places down his sword and shield, and picks up the ring from the ground between thumb and forefinger.  He regards it in a silent daze; the patter of blood dappling the floor around him, as the daemon’s essence smokes away from Bruno’s ultimate blow upon it.

He seems frozen in his thoughts.
wilphe
Wighard watches panting rather heavily and thus not as impassively as he wants as their foe is vanquished -

  Give my  .........    regards ........    to Father Nurgle  

And tries to read the winds to try and get an angle on how it resisted being banished

Then sets about checking for another way out of the room and if not back to take the other fork - leaving Bertelis to his own devices for the moment


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 97 ]  Magical Sense 76
 (1d100)[ 38 ]  AK/Magic 66
 
MrAbdiel
  Meanwhile, back at the Jolly Pegasus...  

Halflings are considerably less common in Bretonnia than the Empire - thus the mistaken identity and suspicion.  It is dangerous for Jasmine to be alone in such a place, given the vulnerability of the wee folk in a hostile world generally.  Fortunately, Jasmine is especially competent among her kind, and so arriving at the inn and finding none of her companions present, she is in no special danger at all.

It is fortunate for another soul, who had been counting on encountering her alone also.

Passing by the front step of the Jolly Pegasus comes a young halfling lad indeed - he cannot be much into his third decade, the pup he is.  A shock of copper hair hangs over his forehead into one eye as he hastens along, clutching a basket to his belly that is almost too big for him to hold.  The basket is laden with baguettes - fragrant, freshly baked, softer and more buttery by far than the rough-and-ready bread of most imperial villages whose primary feature was being baked to endure several extra days before gaining mould.  These baguettes are not baked with such reservation; their crunchy exterior and tasty, warm inner treasures throw caution to the wind.   'I will be eaten now or you will have lost me, mon cher'  they seem to demand with their fragrance preceding them on the wind and slicing for a moment through the rugged funk that is 'city' smell, for those who have not spent a full day to get used to it.

The young breadbearer's eyes dart to Jasmine's as he passes by, and he gives an easy grin of one child of the Moot to another in a far place; and with a darting glance back and forth to make sure no one is policing him, he plucks one of the baguettes from the basket and lobs it up to the riverwarden adventuress without breaking stride, and carries on his way.

A less canny halfling lass might simply devour the bread at once.  The gods know she deserves a break of good fortune, in between the previous crises and the next ones.  But given Jasmine's unusual cunning, it is unlikely she will fail to notice that on the smooth underside of the baguette, where its base has cooked flat on the tray, there is not just flaky crust... but also a short message.  The Mootish words seem to have been toasted, letter by letter, with heated wire like a meticulous branding.  Once discovered, when her eyes look up to the mysterious baguetteer, there remains only empty street.  The evidence of the encounter exists entirely in the perfectly leavened and baked treat in her hands.

 
 Spoiler: The Baguette's Request 
 "Across the road from Pierre Fondelette's tannery is a fallen house.
 Come this evening, alone." 

The letter is signed with a stylized capital  "Q" .
 
farothel
When the deamon vanished, Bruno immediately looked around to try and find tracks or a secret door or something that could indicate where Dianna was.
 "This is yours, I think,"  he said to Bertelis, offering him the sword back,  "it's a very good weapon and I thank you for the use of it." 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is shaking.  Furious.  On the verge of some blasphemously expulsive tirade, before Bruno approaches; and his fellow noble's more measured demeanour cuts through his anger.  He masters himself with a couple of deep breaths, then turns to face the Talabeclander; taking the gromril and rune infused company blade in exchange for the former roadwarden's own humbler, but no less hard working weapon.  He flicks off the remnants of smoldering daemonfilth, and sheathes it.

 "Yes... Well.  Once, it was mine; but then it was broken in the chest of a beastman.  Now, it's Glod's gift to the company, and so I consider it the Company Blade more than mine.  It serves no less righteously in your grip than mine; perhaps, it ought to know your hand more often." 

A verbose young man, Bertelis could say more on the topic of swords, and debts, and companions, and things shared; but naturally matters are more pressing.  He looks at the silver ring in his palm, before putting it away in a pouch.

 "...Just a ring.  Not a finger; not a hand.  Not some grisly token to mock; a proof instead for... for whatever extortion had been planned.  She's alive... she still cannot be far.  She -... ah..."   He leans forward, holding his slashed thigh, before looking somewhat helplessly to Meloth and Bruno.  The hunter and the road warden, of all of the Companions, has the best instincts for tracking abductors.  And Wighard had the sight, if that could tell him something useful about who drew this... monstrosity into being, or how, or why.

Bertelis could only bleed, and hope that Deanna, and Jasmine, Maxime, and Siobhan were all okay.
bramblefoot
wighard: you get a mind message from siobhan. she says maxime has been captured by the local LEOs. you sense that siobhan is back at the jolly pegasus with bruno's horse. can i also get a magical sense at +20?

bruno and meloth: what are you two doing? might i remind you that every second you dither, berty's stepmom gets farther away

berty: what are you doing?

jasmine: you see siobhan sitting at a table, concentrating furiously and whispering under her breath

wdyd?
wilphe
Even though its not something he knows how to do Wighard is not exactly surprised to find Siobhan talking inside his head

  She get hurt? 
 No 
 Where the **** is Jasmine? 
 She's here 
 Fine, whatever dumb **** she tries next you do not follow her or try to protect her, clear 
 Yes sir 
 Look out the scrying orb but do not unwrap it clear? 
 Yes sir 
 Kowlf can I have sitrep please? 
 They are getting themselves together 
 **** me, can see why plague runs rampant in this city 
 Funny Funny you man things are 
 Glad you find us amusing 
 

Wighard snaps back to reality, Bruno and Meloth will find him a sight - he cleaned himself up good after the cockroach fight but he looks a little  - well a lot - wild

His hair is standing straight up and his eyes have an golden glow through a thin film on his eyes like a radiant custard that's been allowed to stand.


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 91 ]  Magical Sense 96
 
dojango
" Oy, you done bein' spooky? " Jasmine asks Siohban.  " Bloody hell, tonight's been a right mess.  Suppose Bertelis and yer boyfriend's got their nuts in the fire now.  You have any idea where they are? "  After Siohban explains what she's done, Jasmine says, " Damn, that's a nice parlor trick.  You don't happen to know where they are? Sounds like there'll be more work ta do before the morning comes.  You comin' along or are gonna stay here?  I can't guarantee yer safety either way I guess, but... " she trails off.  " Here, eat this an' Ima heading out ta find Bertelis. "  Jasmine breaks the bread in half and gives Siohban the (slightly) smaller piece and starts eating it as she heads back out into the night to find Bertelis and the others.

 
 Spoiler 
Going to try and regroup with Bertelis and Wighard, hopefully Siohban either comes with or can give directions with her spooky mind powers to where Wighard is.
 
wilphe
 See that big glow outside? That'll be it

Plenty of gunfire

Might well be crawling with Priests and Watch by the time you get there

Thank you I am staying here 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Wighard cast:


Illuminate the Edifice - Causes the interior spaces of any single building to shine with daylight for at least an hour. The light shines in rooms, attics, closets, and any other spaces bounded by a man-made roof and walls on all sides. In addition to illuminating the interior of the building, light shines out through open doors, windows, and even the cracks between boards and shingles.


In a pre-Industrial city - at night - that's going to get some attention; probably including some very confused people who think its on fire
 
dojango
" Arg, not another fire.  Well, better head back to one of the undamaged rooms and lock the door.  And mebbe put a bed up against it. " Jasmine heads out towards the eerie glow to find Wighard and Bertelis.
Volthawk
When Bertilis looks his way with that look on his face, Meloth just nods. He still didn't know all the details underlying this, but he didn't need to. Find her. Simple enough task, hopefully. Search around, find the trail, or something else of interest...it's something he'd done before. He just hoped that there weren't more tricks hanging just out of sight - their enemy liked their traps, it seemed.

 
 Spoiler 

Follow Trail 56:  (1d100)[ 72 ] 
Perception 66 (+10 vision):  (1d100)[ 2 ] 
 
bramblefoot
wighard: you have no idea how the nurglish horror managed to resist the banishing

bruno and meloth: you each find a secret door. one passage is mucky and leads down with no footprints. the other is sparkling clean, and has a pair of work boots on a small mat. there is no trail on either way that you can tell

berty: the sparkling clean passage looks like a rich house to you, but noble, merchant, or something shadier you cannot tell

jasmine: tell me what you find when you arrive at the glowing house
wilphe
Wighard W 10/13 FP 2/3


Wighard binds up the sprain in his left arm and casts an eye over Meloth and Bertelis

  Before we go through any other doors might want to look at you

Got hit by a trap?  


He looks at the set of boots


  I am a little busy, would someone care to match those against the tracks?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 39 ]  86
 (1d10)[ 6 ] 
 
farothel
Bruno looks to Meloth.
 "Can you, you're faster than I am,"  he asks,  "I'll have a look around here." 

He then proceeds to check out both corridors, starting with the clean one, trying to find who actually was behind this.  A Nurgle cult in this town had to be taken down.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

perception to find any clues as to who is behind this:  (1d100)[ 75 ]  vs 69
FP in OOC:  19 
 
dojango
Jasmine arrives at the lit up building.  It looks as if the sun is shining out of the windows and doors and cracks in the tenement's walls.  A small crowd has gathered around and there is a lot muttering in confusion.  A few people have brought out buckets, but the lack of smoke and heat seems to indicate that they aren't needed.  Jasmine spots a small crowd of street urchins clustered together, gawking at the sight and she heads over.  " Cor, that's a sight an' a half.  Bet there's some bits and bobs o' shinies that might need rescuing, lads, an I reckon we're the ones ta do it! "  She tries to convince the group of urchins to invade the place and she'll follow in just behind them as cover...
MrAbdiel
Bertelis steadies his breath; takes a rag from his pouch with a shaking hand, and begins mopping at his wounds gingerly.  It's a poor effort at medicine - really just a preparatory effort, though he is learning more about the art of healing through painful demonstration these past months.  He shakes his head at the clean passage a little.   "I cannot say if they've gone through here - it seems to go to a fine house, however.. which might be a good place to stash a captive.  Guesses... guesses and speculation." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Bertelis will follow the group if Meloth or Bruno's investigation efforts yield promising information; but he's also beat to hell,  so he could wait for Jasmine and Siobhan, getting healing from the latter, and then they could go up and check the house above.   Much pends on whether these exellent search/perception rolls (long time coming) finally yield actionally intel or if we're flipping a coin as we head into more forking passages.

...Damn, forking passages.  What is this, Warhammer Quest?
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 
 Originally Posted by MrAbdiel 
 Bertelis will follow the group if Meloth or Bruno's investigation efforts yield promising information; but he's also beat to hell, so he could wait for Jasmine and Siobhan, getting healing from the latter, and then they could go up and check the house above. 
 

Siobhan is not coming because Wighard ordered her to stay put

  Fine, whatever dumb **** she tries next you do not follow her or try to protect her, clear  
 
bramblefoot
bruno: no footprints on either passage are eminently visible. the boots are a match for the prints in the muck, but as you pick them up, you hear an audible  click-clack  sound from up the passage. looking down, you see a pair of pressure switches that have been tripped.

wighard: siobhan nods, breaking the mental connection

bertelis: times a-wasting. every second you dither deanna gets further away.

meloth: gimme a perception check to identify the sound pls

jasmine: gimme fellowship at -10 pls
farothel
 "****, trap," , Bruno said as he put the boots back in the hope that it would deactivate the trap.  That would also mean he would be closer to the ground so if the trap threw something at chest height he would be lower.
Volthawk
Hearing the noise of the probably-a-trap being triggered, Meloth hisses out  "Crossbows!"  at Bruno, while staying out of the potential line of fire himself.
MrAbdiel
 Sir Bertelis Roche, 5/15 Wounds, 0/3 Fate.
 
Three passages, and no way to know which way Deanna had been taken.  But when Meloth warns of crossbows in the clean passage ahead, Bertelis makes up his mind.  Adventure has taught him that the path of most peril is typically the one that needs taking; and it would make sense for the kidnappers to the trapped passage to try to escape.  He was wounded, and apparently crossbow traps were spooling up to fire - but when had such an array of dangers ever dissuaded him from foolish action before?  There could be no more dithering; even if all he did was soak up the crossbow bolts for his companions, they might save Deanna after him.  That might be enough.

 "Lady defend me..."  He whispers, snatching his shield to arm, and charging at full speed into the passage, vaulting over the boots and the mat as he goes.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Running gives a  -20% to ranged attacks trying to hit; and the shield gives -10%; so Bertelis is hoping that if whatever traps or snipers there are fire, the -30% will be enough to protect him.  If not... well.  That's WFRP, baby.
 
bramblefoot
berty: gimme an agility roll at -20 or fall prone as halfway up the passage you run into an invisible wire which snaps with a quite audible  twang  noise. if they didnt know you're here, now they know

also lemme roll for the crossbow shots

 (2d100)[ 32 ][ 11 ](43)  1 hit for 6 wounds

 (1d10+4)[ 5 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 6 ] 

bruno and meloth: you notice various wires strung up the passage, some at ankle height, other at chest or throat height for humans. setting the boots down seems to do nothing

wighard: gimme a sixth sense at -10 pls

jasmine: you and the urchins go inside, and you're drawn to the basement, where a secret door is

wdyd?
wilphe
Wighard W 10/13 FP 2/3

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 72 ]  Sixth Sense 67
 
dojango
The other urchins immediately turn to one of them, clearly the leader.  A lean boy with ragged straw-colored hair and an easy grin.  He thinks for a moment and then says, "Filch, Lunk, go on."  A big, heavyset lad and a skinny girl run forward and peer in.  They give a thumbs up and disappear inside.  The whole crowd follows and splits up, ignoring the adults outside.  Jasmine follows, looking like just another one of the urchins with her guns and dagger hidden inside her cloak (the jezzail being left at the inn for now).  Once inside, Jasmine can see the kids tearing the place apart, pulling down furnishings and grabbing what they can.  She grins and heads down to the basement and considers the room.  Spotting the secret door easily, she notices the leader and his two flunkies have followed her.  She says, " Lookit the way the wall don't match right.  There's summat there, gimmie a hand there.  But carefully now!  Sometimes right bastards like ta leave little traps in front of their shinies, cause they're jerks... "

 
 Spoiler 
I guess search to look for traps?   (1d100)[ 64 ]  v. 56.  Well maybe the urchins will have better luck.
 
Volthawk
Meloth nods as he sees the wires, adding that to the sound he heard and getting a pretty good picture of the situation.  "Looks like they're all connected to crossbows back there. Hm...trigger one of the wires then get out of the line of fire, if you can. I'm curious if there's a crossbow for every wire back there or if the ones that fired were about it." 
MrAbdiel
As Bertelis charges forward, he feels the fusillade come on.  One bolt clanks hard into his shield, and bursts against its steel rim; another strikes him in the head.  But fortunate for the knight - or perhaps blessedly, given the prior prayer - the movement of his motion causes it to strike less than flush, and unlike the bullet that raked his skull in a previous encounter, the bold merely rattles his helm and skitters off the stone wall beside while Bertelis stumbles forward from the tautness of the wire he broke through... but holds his footing.

He stops for just a second, and calls back over his shoulder, hunkering behind his shield while the ringing in his ears dies down.

 "We cannot delay to disarm them!  But if you see them, let us hurry and navigate beyond them while them!" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: Actions pending 
Bertelis plans to bull onward, either with
 someone who can see better guiding him so he doesn't trip anything else or just going balls to the wall about it.  But I figure I'll pause to let the others take actions rather than just post twice rapidly about hooning off into the dark by myself!
 
farothel
 "Just a moment,"  Bruno said,  "those traps go off when you push against the wires, but if we cut them, it will most likely not do anything." 
He took his dagger and started cutting the wires he could see or feel, trying not to pull them as he cut.
bramblefoot
bruno: there are plenty of wires, and they're all strung real tight. it would take far too long to cut them all

berty: gimme three agility rolls at flat to make it through without tripping any more traps

wighard: another sixth sense roll at +10?

jasmine: the party's footprints lead left at the fork in the passage. which way you headed?

meloth: gimme perception at -10
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is able to tolerate waiting for only a moment; but the severity of the situation - both his ebbing mortality and Deanna's capture - weigh on him too gravely.

 "We cannot delay!  Forgive me - take cover if you must!" 

And with that, bounds off down the passage again; trying to keep his steps high and his body low and shielded... almost succeeding.
wilphe
Wighard W 10/13 FP 2/3

Wighard starts to consider that not reviving Bertelis the next time he falls and keeping him drugged in a tent for a few days might be a sound option

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

This is the passage to the place that looked nice where the boots are we are talking about yes?

 (1d100)[ 50 ]  Sixth Sense 87
 
farothel
Bruno looks at Wighard, gives a little shake of his head and then, after replacing his dagger with his sword again, follows Bertelis, at least as quickly as he can with his full plate, his shield also up to block crossbow bolts in case they missed Bertelis.  This was going to end badly, the only question remaining was how badly.
dojango
Jasmine follows the tracks and recognizes the footprints of the armored knights.  She says to the urchins, " Seems like the crowd went this away, that's prolly where the good stuff is.  C'mon, let's see what they've found, " and heads down the passageway.
bramblefoot
wighard: there is no way a heavy with a woman over his shoulder could have made it through all these traps without being turned into a rumsters revenge. in other words, youve been duped!

berty: you miss two wires, but hit the third and something large and heavy falls on your head. kindly take 1d3 wounds unreducible? You're also through the traps.

bruno: three agility rolls at flat plz?

jasmine: you catch up with wighard and the remainder of the party.

meloth: you come to the same conclusion as wighard
wilphe
Wighard W 10/13 FP 2/3

Wighard comes to a belated realisation

  No way could they have taken Deanna that way, that's a decoy  
dojango
Jasmine is relieved to be reunited with the others but tries not to show it too much.  " Oy, Bertelis, you don't look so hot?  Whydoncha stay behind with the urchins while we figure out which way ta go.  Hey, urchins, keep an eye on the knight, if he don't get kilt he'll give ya a silver penny apiece...  Once we track down the guys what set off the powder-ship we'll let ya pawn their weapons, OK? "

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 27 ]  v. 51 to convince the kids to follow along and not pickpocket anyone
 
Volthawk
Meloth nods as he hears what Wighard is saying.  "Thinking the same here. So...another secret passage we haven't found, or..."  He pauses, looking around to Wighard.  "Could they have gotten her out with sorcery?"  Given the kind of things they apparently dealt with here, it was worth raising the question.
MrAbdiel
Bertelis storms to the end of the passageway; his boot catching another wide and dropping a hail of heavy stones from the ceiling that clatter and bash onto his helm and shoulders before he can raise his shield.  He winces and staggers, and then, stunned, collides with the end of the passageway - the terminus of this hall.  Immediately, his hands are searching the surface of the wall for a handle, a latch, a movable part to open the way; but then Wighard and Meloth's words drift down behind him...

 
 "No way could they have taken Deanna that way, that's a decoy." 

 
 
 "Thinking the same here. So... another secret passage we haven't found, or... Could they have gotten her out with sorcery?" 

 

It made sense.  When he had begun his dash through the corridor, he had not anticipated such a wealth of traps; just  some . But the abundance of them now made his companion's observations seem correct; as did the dissapointing nature of the cul-de-sac in which he found himself.

Bertelis sighs heavilly; an exhale like a man heaving his last breath before dying, only to pause at the nadir of his empty lungs then suck in a sudden new breath; and with it, to howl in such frustration and rage that all the cracks in his sanity seem to rattle in his throat.

 "...Nnnnn...aaaAAAHHH!!! 

This is too much for Bertelis.  The hail of misfortune has fallen on the righteous and the wicked alike, and Bertelis prides himself on composure and coolness that befits a knight of Bretonnia.  But he has his limits; and it is this humiliating delay at such a critical moment that seems to be his.  The Breton that rips from his throat is a string of raging, tattered-soul vitriol and blasphemy that is not at all becoming of a nobleman, and much more like what one expects to hear from the raving village eccentric, braying at a misshapen cloud.

 "AhhhHHHH you LIAR, you LIAR, to do this to me!  Do I not honor my WORD, do I NOT honor MY WORD?!  Do I not forsake comforts and ease and pursue dark champions as I SWORE to you?!  Do I not BLEED MY HEART'S BLOOD in the PITS OF THE WORLD for my VOWS?!  You came to ME!  You came to ME and you make me make these vows, and you say you will return Deanna SAFE AND SOUND if I make these oaths to YOU, treacherous KNIGHT!  But since the moment you returned her she has been hunted and ATTACKED, her throat cut and her person snatched and sought by rats and men and demons who would take slaves and sacrifices!  Where is your dolorous blade to carry your promise to fullness?!  Are you knight or knave?!  What will you answer - that you promised only to return her safe and sound to me, but not safe and sound to her home?  Are you a knight who fills the spirit of his oath or a Talabheim litigant seeking only to square the edges of his contract?!  My father taught me 'fill the guest cup till it overflow' - my father, who lies DEAD or DYING of the illness that YOU VOWED to thwart, and all the while not knowing if his SONS or DAUGHTER or WIFE are dead or dying themselves!  I fill the guest cup till it overflow; I answer my word to its fullest, not its least, and if you seek to CHEAT me here with word-games I SWEAR TO ALL THE GODS..." 

He comes very close to making a new vow, and one so profoundly heretical there would be no turning back from it.  To Meloth, this must seem like totally unhinged raving.  To Wighard and Bruno, they know atleast the target of this venom - the Green Knight, with whom Bertelis parlayed for Deanna's return.  The Green Knight is not a deity himself, but a mystical servant of the Lady and an ally of the gods of the wild places.  Very few Bretonnians see him more than once in their lives, if at all; and the likelihood that such a warrior would appear to answer these charges was extremely low. There must be thousands of knights, frustrated in their quests, who have said unkind things in moments of haste about him; and he has shown no interest in answering those slights with duels.  Perhaps a later fit of humility and apology would be enough, even if that was required. But Bertelis comes very close to swearing by all the gods some act of vengeance or lasting emnity to the Green Knight, and therefor the Lady; and that is a rubicon that it is hard to imagine a knight being able to uncross.  Fortunately, he runs out of breath, and rage; and sags against the wall beside him, sliding to the ground; shaking with anger and loosing tears hidden by his battered, scarred, bullet-pierced helm.


  "Oy, Bertelis, you don't look so hot? Whydoncha stay behind with the urchins while we figure out which way ta go. Hey, urchins, keep an eye on the knight, if he don't get kilt he'll give ya a silver penny apiece... Once we track down the guys what set off the powder-ship we'll let ya pawn their weapons, OK?"  

A moment later, he hears Jasmine's words; and looks up down the length of the trap-filled corridor to see Jasmine and a swarm of scrappy urchins looking down to see where the roaring and commotion came from.  This seems to give the knight the quarter-measure of energy he needs to find his feet and composure.  It does his soul good to see that Jasmine, atleast, is alright; and lost and despairing and  bitter as his soul is, he cannot permit himself to degrade the image of a knight to these children.  Part of the sacred duty he had almost abandoned in a mad moment is to remain aspiration and inspirational for just such young Bretonnians.  He tries to hide a sniff behind a cough, and begins to pick his way back through the wires more carefully now that he has bypassed them once before.

 "Ah... Jasmine, I am glad to see you - you must warn your entourage that to look out for traps, such as these."   He gestures to one of the taut wires as he steps over it, back with the reunited Company.   "And you are kind to care so... But there is only one way to go now.  They could not have dragged Deanna through these traps; and they could not have walked through the muck tunnel without leaving prints.  They must have gone up, to the fine house above -... though by now, they might be..." 

He trails off, swaying on his feet; trying to prevent the sky from bucking under the weight of his disenchantment and sorrow.

They might have taken Deanna out of the house, into a carriage, and gone.  They might have gone out and then down into a sewer grate.  They might have bundled her on to a river boat.  They might be anywhere.

The daemon might have been right - they might never find her.
wilphe
  Wighard W 10/13 FP 2/3  

Wighard does his best to speak calmly and rationally

  We don't  know  that they took her here in the first place.

It was the only lead we had - also I really wanted to kill some people and was sure we find some here who deserved it.

I wasn't expecting to find that...  

He gestures at the dead chaos entity, with the eyes of the urchins growing a bit wide at the sight and what they have gotten into

  But I am glad we did

So lets take this slowly and carefully, check the other two passages

And we have other options:

I would like to think the Priests will be showing up soon

I have asked Siobhan to get out the scrying orb we took from the late Lord Armata  
MrAbdiel
Bertelis holds up between thumb and forefinger the silver wedding band the daemon left behind as it dissolved into repulsive incoherence of form.

 "She was here."   He says to the young hierophant; though even that assertion was not necessarilly true.  The snatchers might have given the ring to a confederate and had him deliver it to the daemon to throw them off; but on balance of probabilities, it seems more likely they passed it to the daemon on their own way past for use as a threat against the party pursuing them.  Still, it may not profit much to try to reason with Bertelis right now; even if he does match his demeanor instinctively to Wighard's calm, and defers to him and the others about their next action.

When Jasmine delegates the children to mind him, Bertelis moves so that their eyeline to him is not drawn to through the remains of the monstrosity.  Best that they escape this with as little trauma as possible.  He has always had a soft spot for children, poor or rich; and for the moment he puts his weary attention upon them rather than consider further the desperate circumstance in which he finds himself.
wilphe
  Or they want you to think she was

We are dealing with beings of deceit and malice, to accept what they offer at face value is exactly what they want you to do.

They know you are honourable and are playing you like a harp.

So for the gods sake  WHEN  we do find her, don't go charging straight at her because that will be a trap too

Still, we have two things that should prove useful should divination become necessary, personal item belonging to the one we seek  - and few items are more personal than a wedding ring - and I still have some of her hair.  
farothel
 "I've just been following your tracks,"  Bruno said as he looked around the room they were in for any clues as to who it belonged to.  It wouldn't be the first time someone had left their own crest which had been build into the wall.
 "So I haven't been looking too closely at other tracks,"  he continued,  "We're not going to get to her by rushing in, they're too far ahead now.  So I think we best use cunning and careful checking of clues to move ahead and find her back.  Meloth, can you take the lead?  I think you're trapfinding and tracking experience is a lot better than mine, and you move quicker too.  I'll go second, Wighard follows with Jasmine and Bertelis can cover the rear.  No offense, but you don't look all that good." 
bramblefoot
the company of the burning slug follows the footprints for about five minutes, until you reach a small ladder leading up. the grate above is slightly ajar, and the sound of lapping waves is heard

wdyd?
Volthawk
Meloth pauses as he hears the waves.  "Close to the docks again. They might be headed for a ship - if they were willing to blow one up to try to take Jasmine out of the picture, they likely have more. We might need to get her off a ship at this rate, which will be...trickier. But for now, let's see what we're dealing with..."  With that, he starts climbing the ladder, slowly pushing the grate aside (trying to not make much noise, just in case) and, providing that doesn't get an immediate reaction, raising his head up to take a peek at the situation above ground.
dojango
Jasmine shouts up to Meloth, " What do ya see?  If there's hissing or a funny burning smell, don't forget to duck! "
bramblefoot
meloth: you see a ship with three masts practically within spitting distance of the grate. the mooring lines are in the middle of being cast off by burly fellows in leather armor. two men stand next to the lines, holding heavy axes you could bet were meant for chopping through rope. there is no sign of deanna, or the man with yellow eyes. however, you do see a man with a long-rifle chatting on the quarterdeck near the helm. he sort of sniffs the air, and sighs.  "hurry it up!"  he calls to the sailors working the ropes

wdyd?
Volthawk
Alright, so that was how it was. Meloth drops down the ladder again, turning to face the others and talking fast.  "Whether or not they have her, they're leaving by boat. Now. We need to move quickly, but one of you who are wearing good armour go first. They've got a gunman watching from the ship - Jasmine and I might be able to take care of him before he can reload, that'll still mean he'll almost certainly a shot off first and, well, I'd rather it not be at me." 
wilphe
  Wighard W 10/13 FP 2/3  

Wighard fails to fully grasp the winds of magic and whilst the protective aura does swirl around him his left hand cramps up

  I will need a boost up  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 98 ]  Channelling 77


Shimmering Cloak
Casting Number: 8
Casting Time: Half action
Ingredient: A candle (+1)
Description: You surround yourself with a field of light that protects you from ranged attacks. All non-magical missile attacks have their Damage rating reduced to 0 (in other words, damage is simply 1d10). Shimmering cloak lasts a number of minutes equal to your Magic Characteristic. You automatically fail any Concealment Tests you attempt while shimmering cloak is in effect. ROS
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Then we using 4 dice

 (4d10)[ 8 ][ 1 ][ 1 ][ 7 ](17)  -8+1 TN8
 
dojango
" Shucks, I lost my big gun, I reckon it's up to you. Does he look guilty of something? Guess we probably can't just shoot him and figure out if he's guilty later. Gotta set a good example for the kids. "
wilphe
  Wighard Init (1d10)[ 7 ] +5=12 W 10/13 FP 2/3  

Wighard gets a good launch out of the sewer with some assistance and his three working limbs.

He is a sight, left hand useless in a unnaturally twisted claw, swathed in semi-transparent hysh and bright glowing eyes from his recent use of magic.

He doesn't wait for the others, immediately calmly walking towards the gangplank and addressing the dockworkers as he brings the blunderbuss up in his one good hand

  Cowabunga dudes*

You really do not want to finish casting off that vessel, my friends and I would really like to talk to the people on it and if it leaves they'll be very upset and possibly express their frustration physically.
  

In case anyone doesn't get the point

  On you  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 (1d10)[ 10 ]  Intimidate 39
 

 
 Spoiler: * 

I'm sure that somewhere there sewer dwelling heroes named after Tilean artists and trained in the martial arts of Cathay by the renegade Skaven Spreißel Klause
 
farothel
While Meloth was looking, Bruno recharged his pistol.  Then after helping Wighard is out, Bruno also moves up the ladder and gets out.  He stays behind Wighard, pistol and shield ready, not saying anything but just providing support and cover for the others to get out.
bramblefoot
the sailors will flee, but the two greataxe dudes will spend their actions to take up defensive positions on the gangplank. long rifle will pull a whistle from the inside pocket of his cloak, and blow a shrill blast on the whistle. the ropes start to uncoil rapidly, while the remainder of the ships rigging gets ready for departure seemingly handled by a multitude of ghostly hands.  "board the ship at your own peril"  long rifle hisses,  switching to a guttural language and barking orders down below

 
 Spoiler: ooc 
you got 5 rounds to get onboard or the ship is as good as gone
 
dojango
Jasmine turns to the leader of the orphans and hands him two silver coins.  " Go, run ta the harbor fort and tell them that the orcish saboteur what blew up the powdermain is tryin' ta escape aboard that ship.  Tell them ta sink it at any cost!  Meet me at Pierre Fondelette's tannery tomorrow evening and you'll get 10 more o' these coins for all yer help!  Go, go, go! "

 
 Spoiler 
Full action... get orphans to run to the fort and try and convince them to shoot the ship if it makes it out of the harbor...  I'll have them run back through the tunnel so they don't get in our way or get shot at, FYI
 
Volthawk
When the others get the crew's attention and the gunman fires, Meloth takes that opportunity to fire at him. Probably won't drop him with one arrow, but it'll at least make him think twice about sticking around long enough to take any more potshots with any other guns he has up there.

 
 Spoiler 

Aim and attack. TN 74? (BS 74 + 10 Aim - 10? cover*)

Attack:  (1d100)[ 29 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 7 ]  w/ Armour Piercing

*A look through the book just brings up cover in a section that says "yeah some ranged attacks will be harder because of circumstances, the GM will pick a difficulty", so I'm making a guess that half cover translates to -10 and if it's different and the difference will matter let me know.
 
MrAbdiel
Just as Bertelis is emerging, the gunman fired.  With the report of a rifle, a boy goes to the cobbles.  He’s not one of the ones following  Jasmine - they are retreating through the tunnels.  Who was he?  A stunned onlooker?  A pressganged lad fleeing the ship?  It doesn’t matter.  What he is, is proof of Bertelis’s growing, despairing suspicion - however he strives, he is no one’s shield.

“NO!” He blurts without a second thought, rushing to the boy’s side and interposing his own battered body between him and the killing weapon.  He cradles the child’s body, eyes helplessly searching over the wound and grappling with the painful knowledge that he has only knowledge of healing and medicine as a recipient, not a provider.

 
 Spoiler 
Bertelis will get to the shot child (whatever his nature) and, if he can do so in a half move, pick him up.  He would also like to know if it’s too late for him, or not.
 
bramblefoot
berty: the boy is dead. the bullet went right through his heart. can i get a wp roll, or just sit there and rock for 1d3 rounds? longrifle will cackle, and blow another note on the whistle. wind begins to pick up in a localized area, making it harder to plug him with any more arrows

bruno: the greataxe men will make half action attacks and enter parrying stances

 (2d100)[ 84 ][ 35 ](119)  1 hit for 13 wounds

 (1d10+5)[ 14 ] 
 (1d10+5)[ 13 ] 

wighard: this ship practically screams with ghyran, but its controlled by chains of dhar. you would guess the whistle is the key for controlling it

jasmine: the orphans nod, and bail down the hatch

meloth: you got a stiff breeze blowing in from your twelve o'clock, shooting is  gonna be a lot harder now

wdyd?
wilphe
  Wighard Init12 W 10/13 FP 1/3  

Wighard feels somewhat deflated that the dockworkers start fleeing before he even finishes his speech, but turns his attention to the two thugs in their way


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (3d10)[ 3 ][ 4 ][ 3 ](10)  -6+1 TN4

  (3d10)[ 4 ][ 2 ][ 5 ](11)  -6+1 TN4 

Other half action: Move

drop
Casting Number: 4
Casting Time: Half action
Ingredient: A dab of butter (+1)
Description: You compel a target character within 24 yards (12
squares) to drop whatever he is holding. The subject of this
spell can resist it with a successful Will Power Test.
 
farothel
 "As you wish,"  Bruno doesn't hesitate as he hears the shot and moves closer.  With the two tugs standing in front of him and his target he stops a bit of a distance from them and fires his pistol at them before switching to his sword again.

 
 Spoiler: OOC round 1 

move closer.
fire at one of the tugs:  (1d100)[ 88 ]  vs 48 for damage:  (1d10+4)[ 13 ]  or   (1d10+4)[ 8 ]  (impact)

free action: switch weapons
armour: 5 all locations
HP: 13/15
 
dojango
When the unnatural wind starts to blow, Jasmine knocks on the wooden edge of the hatchway leading out, and then pulls out her pistol, takes a moment to aim it at one of the thugs and fires.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 22 ]  v. 72.  (1d10+4)[ 10 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 9 ]  damage.
 
bramblefoot
bruno: one of the thugs will attempt to maneuver you off the gangplank and into the drink

 (1d100)[ 38 ]  2 dos on the maneuver

jasmine: the thug staggers, but stays up, as the pistol ball thwacks into him

wighard: this is a liveship, a long-forgotten form of magic that animates a ship into a sentient entity. tell me what you know of such things.

berty: Long rifle blows another note, and the ship itself begins to shift its side facing you into long spiky tendrils that begin to stretch towards the party. if you dont close now, its likely these tentacles will have blocked off your entrance route to the ship
MrAbdiel
Bertelis lets the boy settle to the ground - beyond any help, now.  His eyes crane to the sound of the whistle; and once more today, he pushes himself to shake off the leaden weights of despair and find the courage, or the instinct, or even the malice to fight again.  Deanna is still in peril; and his friends are risking their lives for her - or rather, for him.  How could he do any less?

The  Company Blade  sings from its sheath as he charges to Bruno's side, bringing the steel to bear against the goon who stepped to engage him.

 
 Spoiler 
Free action: Draw sword.
Free action: Declare this first goon the sword's 'enemy' for the Rune of Grudges.
Free Action: Activate the sword's fire.

  Vs76  - (1d100)[ 81 ]  or   Vs76  - (1d100)[ 97 ] , for  (1d10+7)[ 10 ] .  I'm gonna make him regret forgoing his Parry Stance to push Bruno! &gt;:(

EDIT: Trash rolls!  Well, the outcome is unclear. It's going to hit IF Bruno is still in combat after that maneuver attempt. If not... Sadly, it's a whiff.
 
wilphe
Wighard knows little of the sea, but he recognises what this is now he sees the magic. Its otherwise somewhat archaic appearance might draw attention from those more knowledgeable about such things.

Who came up with them first is disputed, some say the Norscans, others the Arabyans, some even Old Nehekhara - though that seems unlikely. The most favoured origin is the Druids of Albion.

Though they are normally reclusive the first was made by the great druid  Breanndán  
in order to voyage successfully though the fogs and currents that cut off Albion from the rest of the World.

Exactly where he went is still obscure, the legends say he visited Lustria centuries before any other human from the old world.

The secret of construction he shared with a few Elementalists from the mainland:

A ship made from wood nurtured in a grove, able to direct the winds at will and able to ride the worst storms.

Somehow the great Arabyan voyager Shihaab al-Saber got hold of one - if you believe any of his stories

The   Fasari brothers  supposedly employed one in their doomed attempt to reach Cathay by sailing west.

A recurring theme in these accounts is that they end up taking people into places they would not otherwise be able to get to; this usually means taking them into trouble they cannot get out of.


Nevertheless when the Norscan king and Seer Petter Hylen found out about the idea he "improved" on it, previous versions still required a crew. He was able to bind the spirits of sacrificed thralls so as to provide the labour - but they were still unskilled.

Therefore he took the spirits of vanquished warriors cutting a swathe across Norsca to build more ships and bind more souls.

His goal was to attack Albion itself - from where he took much loot -  and then in his hubris Ulthuan itself.  This worked about as badly as you might expect for him.

The exact process for making these have been lost, but to this day this is why great Norscan kings are buried in a ship and their most loyal of followers vie to die with them in the hope of recreating them.

It is also why Breanndán's name is reviled in Albion and why the elves take great interest in people who get hold of these things and an even greater and not necessarily benevolent interest in those who try to reproduce them.
wilphe
  R2 Wighard Init12 W 10/13 FP 1/3  

This particular example is one of the ones with souls bound to it - as such an abomination in the eyes of Morr and almost everybody else to be honest. Or it has been corrupted and has something even worse powering it.

Either way it is clear what Wighard has to do...

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Half Action: Get out Wand
Half Action: Channelling
 (1d100)[ 16 ]  77



Banish
Casting Number: 13
Casting Time: Full action
Ingredient: An oak wand (+2)
Description: You wrap a daemon within 24 yards (12 squares) of you in the tendrils of Hysh, using the pureness of light to banish it back to the Realm of Chaos. If the spell is cast successfully, the banishment is resolved as an Opposed Will Power Test. If you win, the daemon disappears. If you lose, it remains. In the case of a stalemate, the two of you remain locked in mental combat. Neither of you can take any other actions (including dodge) while the struggle continues. Make Opposed Will Power Tests on each of your turns until one of you is victorious. Banish can also be used to exorcise the possessed.
 
Volthawk
Hm. Magic to stop him picking off the gunman, huh? Perhaps that was a sign it was time to get moving. Meloth doesn't stop firing, mind, he just does it on the move as he gets closer to the ship, making sure that when the others get through he'll be there too, as well as switching his target to the thugs blocking the way - the company as a whole can deal with the gunman once they get aboard.

 
 Spoiler 

So that's two rounds of half action move + half action shoot. Meloth will target whichever one seems most hurt at the time of firing.

Attack, TN 44:  (1d100)[ 91 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 8 ]  w/ Armour Piercing

Attack, TN 44:  (1d100)[ 81 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 7 ]  w/ Armour Piercing
 
farothel
Seeing the thug push Bertelis into the water, Bruno couldn't do much at the moment, as he was still in combat.  He hoped that one of his companions could help Bertelis.  He would try to help by killing the thug.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

full attack:
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 5 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 6 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 40 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 11 ] 

parry first attack that hits:  (1d100)[ 81 ]  vs 61
dodge second attack that hits:  (1d100)[ 32 ]  vs 41
 
bramblefoot
the party notices four men coming up from belowdecks, wearing chain and hefting shields and axes, long rifle will pull a double barrel pistol and **** the first hammer back, firing at wighard

 (1d100)[ 51 ]  bare minimum hit.

 (1d10)[ 6 ] 

bruno: the spiky tentacles will batter at your metal shell, attempting to open your shell up

 (4d100)[ 35 ][ 36 ][ 2 ][ 9 ](82)  all hits, tho idk if any do damage

damage has armor piercing

 (1d10+3)[ 8 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 8 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 10 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 5 ] 

bertelis: what are you doing? long-rifle just popped somebody, and a few tentacles are making passing swipes at you

 (1d100)[ 98 ]  miss

 (1d10+3)[ 5 ] 

meloth: whats the play? brunos getting hammered by spiky tentacles, and bertelis has fallen off

jasmine: the coastal forts look dead quiet. no alarm has been raised yet
MrAbdiel
  Sir Bertelis Roche - 4/15 Wounds - 0/3 FP - 0/1 Lucky Charm  
What he had hoped would be a single definitive stroke so he could carry on up the gangplank does not manifest.  In fact, so hasty is he to get by, that the greataxe wielding goon shucks the blade from his grasp so it clatters to the ground, flame guttering out; and Bertelis himself can only gasp in a breath before he is dumped into the bay.

Salt water, and the muted pop and clash of gunfire and combat above.  He can taste his own blood in the water, wisping up from his wounds; and another taste he assumes is the gunpowder residue from the earlier detonation.  When did he last taste the salt of seawater...?  Bertelis can't remember.  His father's keep is inland; he has uncles in relatives in the city of Bordeleaux, but he has lived as country nobility.  There is no hostility between the two groups; though sometimes misunderstanding... and the pervasive rumor that the Lady's influence ends where the water turns to salt.

Not that the Lady has been showering him with grace in recent days.   Safe and Sound , the knight had said.   Safe and Sound , she would be.  But she was neither; and now, neither was he; laden with chain and leather and gear, kicking against the water to not sink disasterously, in an act he could not keep up for long.  Once more, he was in the dark; struggling, and flailing; tasting his own blood, his honor availing him nothing.

The Lady did not demand exclusive worship... And really, who can begrudge a drowning man such a prayer?

 Manann!  Manann, god of my father's father; god of my kin; put aside your indifference for a desperate son of Bordeleaux this time, and you will have his gratitude for all time - only give me what I need to survive, to recover Deanna, before she is stolen across the sea by these servants of evil.  Manaan, Manaan; god of my father's father... 

Pragmatically, Bertelis was in great trouble.  By the time he had shed all his armor and gear, he'd be at the bottom of the bay and drowned.  But it did not have to be that way - for the men that stood at the gangplank had axes and had been cutting the mooring lines; and Wighard had scared off the sailors before they could recoil them.  The dark magics seemed to be setting the boat to sail, not managing the tethers that must be trailing in the water beside the hull.  If he can grope through the dark, find such a rope, and climb up out of the water and onto the deck... Perhaps, Perhaps...

 Manaan, Manaan, god of my father's father... 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: Tossing a Hail Manaan 
Not much to do but try to swim and climb and climb!  I'm proactively rolling (let me know if you want me to roll something else, Bramble) on the assumption that some of this is stuff that doesn't need a roll (Bertelis is trained in both swim and scale sheer surface; and he's not trying to swim up a waterfall, just to scramble to a rope he knows is nearby.)  If we rolled for every action (perception to spot the rope, swim to swim to it, climb three times to get up it, etc) then it becomes quickly impossible to succeed at anything interesting.  But Berty's Strength is 50, which is the stat for both climb and swim, incidentally.  He will spend two half actions seekingrope/swimming/climbing!

1.  (1d100)[ 25 ]  + or - Penalties
2.  (1d100)[ 30 ]  + or - Penalties
 
dojango
Jasmine tucks the pistol away and pulls out the second pistol and aims it at one of the goons before shooting at him.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 85 ]  v. 74,  (1d10+4)[ 14 ] ,  (1d10+4)[ 6 ]  (it's only been like 20 seconds since the kids were sent off, it will probably take them some time to get attention (if they manage it) also the gunshots will probably attract attention too although it's still, IIRC, night time which makes a boat leaving super sus.
 
wilphe
  R3 Wighard Init12 W 10/13 FP 1/3  

Wighard contemptuously no-sells the pistol ball as it gently smacks into his throat and rolls down into a pocket and finishes  his banishment

There's a ripping sound like reality itself is being torn open as he tries to sever the animating force from the boat. At best there will be a bunch of liberated souls - albeit possibly confused; at worst he just unbound something very dangerous from the boat. Maybe either will bear some animus against those who have enslaved them.

At the same time it seems that the winds of magic themselves object to this vessel as a cold blast of wind opposes its progress and hits it like a squall line - backing the sail and tipping the ship slightly as it drives it back towards the dock


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (4d10)[ 4 ][ 5 ][ 10 ][ 10 ](29)  -8+4 TN13

Banish
Casting Number: 13
Casting Time: Full action
Ingredient: An oak wand (+2)
Description: You wrap a daemon within 24 yards (12 squares) of you in the tendrils of Hysh, using the pureness of light to banish it back to the Realm of Chaos. If the spell is cast successfully, the banishment is resolved as an Opposed Will Power Test. If you win, the daemon disappears. If you lose, it remains. In the case of a stalemate, the two of you remain locked in mental combat. Neither of you can take any other actions (including dodge) while the struggle continues. Make Opposed Will Power Tests on each of your turns until one of you is victorious. Banish can also be used to exorcise the possessed.
 
farothel
Bruno is beset by the thug, who now clearly shows Chaos modifications.  One of the spiked tentacles manages to get through the armour, although it has a lot less force by that time.  He knows that Bertelis' sword is close by on the ground, but he doesn't have the time to grab it, so he keeps fighting with his own blade.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

full attack:
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 65 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 15 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 58 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 10 ] 

parry first attack that hits:  (1d100)[ 71 ]  vs 61
dodge second attack that hits:  (1d100)[ 24 ]  vs 41

HP: 13/15
 
bramblefoot
bruno: the greataxe man will attempt to maneuver you into the drink

 (1d100)[ 64 ]  miss

berty: your clinging to the rope thats attached to the side of the ship. can i get a scale sheer surface at -10 to make it up without getting bopped by a tentacle?

wighard: the other greataxe boy will charge you

 (1d100)[ 88 ]  miss

 (1d10+5)[ 15 ] 

the men in scale and with axes will move two men to guard the heavy, and two up with longrifle
Volthawk
Now that he was a lot closer to the ship, Meloth's run slows to a stop and he takes his time before firing this time, trying to drop the axeman attacking Wighard - the wizard had the best chance here of dealing with this thing, and Bruno could handle the other axeman. He hoped.

 
 Spoiler 

Aiming and firing at Wighard's axeman. Assuming I'm still under the penalty, yes?

Attack, TN 54 (BS 74 + 10 aim - 30 magic):  (1d100)[ 66 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 9 ]  w/ Armour Piercing
 
farothel
Bruno kept hacking at the guy in front of him, trying to take him out quickly.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

full attack:
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 71 ]  vs 46 for damage  (1d10+5)[ 8 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 35 ]  vs 46 for damage  (1d10+5)[ 13 ] 

parry first attack that hits:  (1d100)[ 80 ]  vs 61
dodge second attack that hits:  (1d100)[ 45 ]  vs 41
 
bramblefoot
longrifle will delay
MrAbdiel
Arms burning, Bertelis drags his waterlogged set out of the water and up the waxy rope.  A snapping barbed tendril strikes at him, but he has momentum now; and it scores the flank of the ship where his heels had been as he ascends and heaves himself over the rail and onto the deck.

He had been prepared to rush the rifleman - but now, across at the now, the gunner stood with pistol in hand and two more armoured guards - more than Bertelis could manage in his state.

 Manaan, god of my Father’s father… 

Before they can react to his intrusion, Bertelis plunges a hand into a pouch at his belt, draws out a white-grey glass bead, and whips it down against the deck.  A great bloom of white smoke conceals him and the deck all around - enough subterfuge, hopefully, to permit him the freedom he needs to find Deanna.

 
 Spoiler: OoC! 
half action climb (succeed on the roll in the OOC); free action QuickDraw smokebead, half action to use it!  Next turn Bertelis plans to go down the hatch the goons left open when they came out and try to find  Deanna.
 
dojango
Jasmine looks over at Wighard doing... something.  Probably useful, but it doesn't seem to involve firing his blunderbuss into the advancing men.  Since her guns are fired and she'd lost her blunderbuss some time ago, she hustles over and pulls the gun away from him.  "Cover yer ears!" she says as she levels it at the cluster of me on the gangplank and pulls the trigger...

 
 Spoiler 
Since the fans are all calling for a blunderbussin' guess we'll give it to them.  Move + shoot
 
wilphe
  R4 Wighard Init12 W 10/13 FP 1/3  

Wighard hands off the firearm to Jasmine and begins casting again

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Half Action Channel  (1d100)[ 22 ]  77

Half Action Banish - will finish next round
 
bramblefoot
the axe boy on wighard falls down very dead, as does the other one on bruno

long rifle will pop the other barrel at wighard

 (1d100)[ 66 ] 
 (1d10)[ 6 ] 

the axe boys will make attacks on bruno

 (2d100)[ 27 ][ 50 ](77) 
 (1d10+3)[ 5 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 7 ] 

berty: your down below. its dark and cramped. you hear the sounds of muffled sobbing, followed by the sound of a smack and the sobbing stops
wilphe
  R5 Wighard Init12 W 10/13 FP 1/3  
  Nice work Miss Featherbottom   says Wighard as his assailant drops, then smacks another pistol ball from Long Rifle away with the same look of bored annoyance you might use on a mildly irritating mosquito before finishing his spell and matching wills a second time.

This time however all involved are suddenly and uncomfortably drenched in cold sweat, Wighard doesn't really notice that too much as he is too engrossed in trying to unbind the liveship's animating force as he does so starts to feel, helped, like something inside the ship wants to get out.

There's a sudden ripping sound as reality itself is torn open and the ships animation dies, the ropes that were held as if by a crew drop loose, the tentacles stiffen and begin to fade away into a swirling rainbow of magical essence

That rainbow of colours coalesces into what resembles a giant octopus with 9 tentacles (which if you know Classical would technically make it an Eneapod); except that it has two mouths, has a large anglerfish type lantern gutting out of its head and its tentacles are elongated to kraken like proportions. It's also iridescent like a cuttlefish.

  Oh crap  
   WHO HAS FREED ME?   

Wighard doesn't reply, being frozen in terror by what he's done

  This is not going to look good on the ol'resume...  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Half Action to complete Banish.
Other Half Action depends on success or failure

 (4d10)[ 4 ][ 5 ][ 4 ][ 9 ](22)  -8+4 TN13

Banish
Casting Number: 13
Casting Time: Full action
Ingredient: An oak wand (+2)
Description: You wrap a daemon within 24 yards (12 squares) of you in the tendrils of Hysh, using the pureness of light to banish it back to the Realm of Chaos. If the spell is cast successfully, the banishment is resolved as an Opposed Will Power Test. If you win, the daemon disappears. If you lose, it remains. In the case of a stalemate, the two of you remain locked in mental combat. Neither of you can take any other actions (including dodge) while the struggle continues. Make Opposed Will Power Tests on each of your turns until one of you is victorious. Banish can also be used to exorcise the possessed.
 
Volthawk
Feeling the winds calm down a little, and the targets close by embroiled in close quarters fighting (Bruno seemed to have it handled anyway), Meloth knows what he has to do, turning back towards the ship and letting an arrow loose at the gunman. He wasn't sure how much firepower the man still had, but no poin taking risks - and in any case, he was the one in charge as far as the elf could tell.

 
 Spoiler 

As mentioned in the OOC, this should be before ol' big and tentacled turns up, so Meloth's just going to aim+attack the gunman.

Attack, TN 74 (BS 74 + 10 aim - 10 wind):  (1d100)[ 63 ] #
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 9 ]  w/ Armour Piercing
 
bramblefoot
mr longgun will sling his kit, and bail over the side.  "until next time"  he calls, and will quickly swim away

emma on the other hand, will drop onto the once-liveship and begin to coil it

your all up
MrAbdiel
Bertelis finds himself, once more, in the dark with a foe he can’t see, smelling his own blood.  The shapes of the scene would resolve give. A little time for his eyes to adapt; but he didn’t have such time. His ears told him the story - the situation on deck had become so severe that everyone had gone up to fight - except the bare minimum to contain the prisoner.  There was one in the dark here, then - probably the youngest or weakest.

But then… Bertelis was weak now too.  Using one hand to feel his way around the corner, he produced the main gauche to his left hand and held it in front of him, visible to his foe in the dark.

“It’s over, brigand.  Your companions are doomed.  Leave the woman and flee, and I will have no capacity to chase you.  Harm her, and no corner of the world will shelter you.  So it’s-…”

The monstrous roar from outside cuts him off, the trio in the dark silenced briefly… before the ship rocks and the ceiling starts to splinter and buckle with its new, horrible aggressor.

Bertelis has no idea what it is; but he feels it adds power to his argument.

“…it’s time to leave.”

 
 Spoiler 
Half action to move into the lower deck; QuickDraw rapier for free.

Half action to try to convince this schmuck in the dark to flee while he has the chance.  If that is a free action then I will also parry stance and hope my eyes adjust soon.
 
dojango
Out of the corner of her eye, Jasmine sees... well, something... coiling around the ship.  But she also knows Wighard is doing his weird magic stuff and probably has it under control?  There will be time to panic later, her friend Bruno is still struggling against two assailants.  Her guns are spent, for now, so she draws her dagger from her boot and runs up behind one of the axe-men and tries to shank him with it while he's distracted trying to hit Bruno.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 29 ]  v. 46.  charge attack on one of the axe-men,  (1d10+1)[ 3 ]  damage
 
farothel
There's little he can do at the moment as he's beset by some idiots with axes.  Jasmine has it seemed come to his aid, but he wants these to be gone as quickly as possible, so he continues to hack away at one,

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

full attack:
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 91 ]  vs 46 for damage  (1d10+5)[ 9 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 31 ]  vs 46 for damage  (1d10+5)[ 12 ] 

parry first attack that hits:  (1d100)[ 47 ]  vs 61
dodge second attack that hits:  (1d100)[ 33 ]  vs 41
 
bramblefoot
berty: the jailor will bail. you find deanna in the bowels of the ship. tell me how bad shes looking

wighard: emma the chaos cephalapoid will start to squeeze the ship. deep resounding cracks start to sound

 (1d100)[ 22 ] 

bruno: one of the two axe wielders will attempt to maneuver you into the drink

 (1d100)[ 47 ] 

jasmine: the other one will make an attack on you

 (1d100)[ 18 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 11 ] 

the other two mercs will move to the gangplank, while the sailor gets eaten
MrAbdiel
Bertelis eyes resolve the darkness; and there is Deanna, after all the effort.  She is miserable, naturally; her face bruised from a number of silencing blows, blood from one corner of the mouth.  But she is not maimed, or wounded - Bertelis had thought this may be a matter for some kind of sacrifice, but it may have been as simple as an attempt to extort his family (or him specifically).  The ring left behind as proof; promise of safe return if... and so on, and so on.  They had not, like the rats, sought to fatally wound her out of spite.  What a very small mercy indeed, for which he mustered some gratitude.

They had taken her fine gown - no doubt it was somewhere else under the ship's deck, but as good as lost now - and put her in a dirty shift so that she looked less of a noblewoman and more of a run-of-the-mill slave or prisoner; a lower social value which would be more easy to ignore, in the eyes of bribed officials or random inspections.

 "It's alright, Deanna.  It's alright - time to go now." 

He sliced the bonds on her wrists tethering her to a support beam, and took her hand to lead her back to the deck.

 "Do you remember your swimming lessons, Deanna?  You might have to dive and paddle a few yards to the dock, if-" 

When they emerged, the  if  manifested.  At the foot of the gangplank, four goons crowded in, desperate to escape past Bruno and Jasmine.  And the jailor who had fled a moment ago was being ripped into the air by a massive tendril and dragged into the mouth of some awful horror, some leviathan, whose nature would have shocked and excited Bertelis a few years ago but now only filled him with icy dread and soul-rattling tiredness.

He released Deanna's hand, to fill it with the hilt of his foil.  They were close, now.

Whether to success, or death, remained to be seen.

 Manaan, god of my Father's father... 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Half action cut Deanna's bonds.  Half action lead her up to the deck at the top of the gangplank.

Free action experience soul-crushing anxiety.

Free action pray to Manaan that this all works out.

Free action quickdraw foil.
 
wilphe
R6 Wighard Init12 W 10/13 FP 0/3

   WHO HAS FREED ME?   

Wighard finds his voice and begins to regain his confidence

  It

It

Twas I.

I seek neither favour nor reward, only cooperation against our mutual foes  

He looks relieved at the sight of Bertelis and Deanna

  Though I would appreciate it if you could stop trying to destroy the boat my best friend is on  

He steps forward and retrieves the Trundheim Flambard

  Eat all those Nurgleistas though, saves the burden of a trial. Then I suggest you leave. I might not want to but I can still cast and artillery will be sighting on you as we speak.

You must have been thinking about what you would do when you got out for centuries, don't have it be over in mere seconds  
dojango
Jasmine spares but a glance at the tentacled horror engulfing the ship.  'Tis part o' the seafaring life, she knows, and at the moment, the bigger problem is the lumbering axeman trying to prune down her limbs.  She easily steps aside and laughs, " Not today, land-lubber ".  Then she tries to sucker-punch him with the hilt of her dagger but he pulls back in time.

 
 Spoiler 
Going to try something different:  Aim + strike to stun:   (1d100)[ 94 ]  v. 46,  (1d100)[ 83 ]  v. 45
 
farothel
Bruno put's his shield in between and pushes back, refusing to be pushed away.  He then goes to try to finally take down the guy and be done with it.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

I'm going to FP the willpower roll:  (1d100)[ 76 ]  vs 56

full attack:
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 32 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 13 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 7 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 11 ] 

parry first attack that hits me:  (1d100)[ 50 ]  vs 61
dodge second attack that hits me:  (1d100)[ 75 ]  vs 41
 
wilphe
Wighard sighs and catches breath as the last panicked opponent dodges out the way of Bruno straight into one of Emma's tentacles.

She carries him away as a snack for later,  winking?  at Wighard as she leaves - thankfully not spraying them with ink or something worse.

He tries to impose some sort of order on the chaos

  If your family name is Roche kindly stay where the hel,  
he remembers Deanna is there
  heck you are and I will look over you.  
  If you know how to reload firearms I suggest you do please, including mine, what passes for authority around here is going to show up sooner or later and I feel such conversations go better with loaded guns  

He looks at Jasmine

  I think this vessel will self-repair, but you want to check it over as you are the expert?  
 Meloth, you want to, I don't know, search those guys and keep watch? 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 75 ]  Heal 87
 (1d10)[ 1 ]  Deanna

 (1d100)[ 55 ]  Heal 87
 (1d10)[ 6 ]  Bertelis

 (1d100)[ 17 ]  Heal 87
 (1d10)[ 9 ]  Meloth

 (1d100)[ 100 ]  Heal 87
 (1d10)[ 1 ]  Bruno

Wighard hasn't taken any hits since the Nurgle fight and healed himself after

Jasmine is I think undamaged
 
bramblefoot
wighard: emma looks at you one last time, and then disappears under the water. you feel lugubrious voice speaking in your head.  "see you around wizard"  it says, and vanishes

berty: tell me, what is bretonnias policy for daemonic incursions?

jasmine: can i get an intelligence check to see what you know about this ship, and a search roll to find anything below decks

meloth: search roll on the munched up corpses?

bruno: what are you doing now that the preeminent threat is over?
Volthawk
Meloth just nods when Wighard suggests he checks the bodies and gets to work. He...well. He may have been in this world for over six decades now, but in the short time he'd spent with this company...truth be told, he wasn't quite able to put how he was feeling into words. It felt...odd, he was normally quite good at it.

Once he's done, he gets into a spot where he can see anyone approaching, gesturing for Jasmine to join him once she's done on the ship.  "I think it's best we make ourselves scarce once the locals arrive. Given...let's be charitable and just say 'the way they are around here', and what just happened, best to leave explaining ourselves to the humans, eh?" 
 
 Spoiler 

Search, TN 46:  (1d100)[ 48 ] 
 
dojango
Jasmine is a little hesitant to get on the ship and inspect it.  Not only was just very recently squeezed by some sort of monster and is also very clearly haunted, but it also is very obviously an ocean-going ship and most of Jasmine's career has been on the riverine service.  She spends a few moments peering in holds to spot the usual accumulation of spars, cordage and weevily hardtack before Meloth comes up with a suggestion to make themselves scarce.  " Aye, good thinkin'.  Glad ta see you're still up and runnin, too, I was worried ya were gonna go back ta elfland in little pieces.  Let's go back through the tunnel and make sure the orphans hain't been gettin' inta too much trouble. "
MrAbdiel
Bertelis holds his stunned and traumatized stepmother to himself as the daemonic monstrosity drags four men screaming over their heads and into the sea.  The horror, the fear, slips into Bertelis's heart - but it is so wracked with adrenaline and feeling that true appreciation for the awfulness of it must be forestalled for later nightmares.  In the weird quiet that follows, he takes the cloak from his pack - it is soaked through, but serves to preserve a modicum more of Deanna's dignity rather than descending the gangplank in the dirty shift alone.  Later, when they'd checked over the ship, they would recover her dress - though whether she would elect to wear that particularly dress ever again remained to be seen.  He brings her to Wighard's care, and gives the wizard, and then his other companions, a look of appreciation, and exhaustion.  He has not gotten to his depths of either; but it suffices for now.

The looky-loos are coming out, now; those who were watching the combat from  a safe distance.  Mostly, they are work crews clearing wreckage from the explosion earlier in the day; not paid nearly enough to get entangled in the mess that went down.  Others are Shallyans, operating a field hospital out of a street of businesses that have opened themselves to the holy healers' call, putting aside their stock to make room for those recovering from the blast.  The Shallyans could not be expected to get involved in the fight either; their fight was against blood loss and disease, and they had their work cut out for them.

Bertelis looked to the boat.  It listed a little, the mooring lines cut so it was held in place only by the anchor on the far side that had not quite been hauled up before Wighard's magic had expelled the automating spirits.  Then he looked back at the city; L'Anguille, to whom he had devoted only a days interest, and it had poured out such a jet of scorn and misery on him and his that he could not help but feel loathing rise in him.  His face hardens as his mood swings from despairing and beaten to harsh, and saturnine.

 "My name..."  He calls out, as those who watched from safety begin to emerge,  "...is Sir Bertelis Roche; Knight Banneret of the fief of Saulx!  These are my Companions, the Company of the Burning Slug.  We have defeated and banished here a gang of ruinous brigands and their evil magic - and you are ALL, on your sacred honor, witnesses of the fact!  You see the mooring lines were cut by the enemy, and so this ship is, by Manaan's law, at sea - and so I and my companions claim Right of Salvage!  All who doubt me, may attend me - sword in hand - no earlier than the tenth hour of the day tomorrow morning, prepared to let the gods make known their will!" 

The gods begin making known their will, soon after.  A daemonic manifestation, so soon after the cataclysmic gunpowder blast, drew the already restless and stirring clergy of the city to the scene; many having been alerted by Wighard's earlier efforts to provoke just such concern.  Bretonnian did not have Sigmarite orders devoted to the destruction of the witch; neither did they have formal magical colleges who policed magical anomalies in an afford to pre-empt the involvement of the Sigmarites.  But they had their share of witch-hunters - such were needed wherever they were witches - and they were almost exclusively servants of the gods.  As Meloth and Jasmine made themselves scarce on the scene, the devotees began to trickle in in parties; one or two senior priests with a band of temple enforces behind them, all armed (if slightly too late).  Dour Morrites; keen Verenans; sharp-eyed Taalites; canny Myrmidians.  Only the Shallyans brought no warriors of their own, only because Shallya had no warriors - all warriors sought her favour regardless - but they did come flanked by armed allies.

There are several Grail Chapels in the city L'Anguille.  Most of them are attended by a single knight, and a handful of pilgrims.  And a few are close enough to this side of the city that, when this particular call of concern rippled through the city, they have cause to emerge.  Naturally, they are drawn to Shallya's devotees on the way to the same scene - the pacifist women most in need of their protection.

There are four such knights who attend the scene.  All are just past the middle age.  One is blond, two are brunette, and the fourth has hair black as a raven's wing.  All have some scattering of silver in their hair; one of the brunettes is starting to bald, gracefully enough.  All are fit, even slightly bulky with muscle.  All move with strength and physical grace despite the heavy mail coats and brigandines they wear.  Their personal weapons vary, a little; each must surely know the lance, though they have arrived on foot rather than muster their squires and wait for their horses to be saddled.  In these ways, they are not more remarkable than imperial knights.

But they  are , in other ways.  First of all, each seems  almost  lambent; not shedding light, nothing so supernaturally brash; but in a way that the eye struggles to describe but the heart intuits, they are somehow brighter than the people around them.  And beyond that, they are so obviously what they are: Knights of the Grail.  If anyone has heard even vague legends of Bretonnia's proudest sons, those who have quested and returned with tales of their encountered goddess and her grail of favor, they are immediately recognizable as such.  They are not beyond the class structure of the nation, but it is obvious even from the small ways they pass by the peasant workers, even by the ways they look at them, that whatever ubiquitous frailty that compels men of station to spurn and hate their lessers has been excised from them.

In short, they strike the first impression of being fundamentally  good .  For all Bretonnia's oddness, the ways in which it is backward and its strictures seem to restrain it from Imperial expectations of modernity, men such as these are a powerful vindication of their strange ways.

Furthermore, they are very obviously the thing Bertelis is trying to become.  His personal displays of virtue, in honest assessment, start to seem like the antics of a child clomping about in his father's oversized boots.  Especially in his bedraggled, injured, and emotionally fractured state, he seems very plain in their bright shadow.

 "Your claim is noted, Sir Bertelis - I trust you will afford us some time to secure the scene, and speak to the witnesses, before supplying a response.  Your father is of Bordeleaux, yes?  Du Roche?" 

Bertelis turns to see the speaker - the raven haired knight who approaches him, as his own companions fan out to confer with the priests converging on the scene.

 "Ah- ... Yes.  Yes, but I am recently named to my new realm in Mousillon.  My companions and I are on our way there, stopping here a night - but ran afoul of many disturbances.  This tremendous explosion, to begin with - but also, a cult of the flylord toxifying milk, whose operation we scattered.  And a known villain was able to infiltrate the dock with this vessel, and a dark spirit bound within - my companions battled these to their flight, as well as a daemonic spirit in the tunnels that led here..."   He points back to the hatch through which they crawled.

Despite this dire news, the dark haired knight keeps some phlegmatic amusement.   "First Marcus of Bordeleaux, and now Bertelis - perhaps our city is fated to have a Bordelean do battle with ruinous forces every thousand years or so." 

Bertelis misses the humor entirely.  He shakes his head a little.   "Alas; I did little of the fighting - Sir Bruno, Baronet Richter of Talabecland, did most of it; and Heirophant Wighard Rauschenberg engaged and overcame the enemy sorceries."   He glances back over his shoulder, but not seeing wither Meloth or Jasmine, elects not to mention them at this time.

 "Then they are to be commended.  It is most disturbing that the enemy of mankind have made their way into even this safe harbour - but go, now; the Lady knows your deeds, but your companions need rest, and mine need to confer with the holy men and women to see the full extent of this taint is expunged." 

Bertelis pushes back, a little.   "I know your colors - you are Sir Reynault Ormadame, is it not so?  You fought at Middenheim?" 
 "I am,"  the veteran knight admits, with a small bow;  "And I did." 
 "Then you have seen what disaster befalls a city which permits corruption within its walls - surely, the duke must attend this matter directly; and furthermore, the explosion-" 

The grail knight's expression has to this point been indulgent and caring to the younger knight; but not grows somewhat harder.  He raises a hand, to halt his junior chevalier.

 "The duke has his duties all through his realm - for the moment, my companions and I have this scene under control." 

Blockheaded with naivete, Bertelis fails to see what Sir Ormadame is making obvious for him - there are more factors at play that straight forward accountability, and one of those factors is a certain amount of saving of face for the absent duke.  These are knights loyal to the Lady, and the Crown; and also their realm.  They are not unaware of the merchants, and the duke, and the tensions.  There are political subtleties that will not brook an outsider kicking in the door and swinging his lance around.  With bewilderment that is arching into frustrated anger, Bertelis's voice rises.

 "That is not enough - we must immediately-" 
  "It is under control!"  

The senior knight does not shout, exactly; he raises his voice enough to go over the top of Bertelis, but the authority in that voice creates a chilling lull over the assembling crowd.

Flustered, confused, still coming down from the edge of adrenal shock, Bertelis takes a frazzled step back, pivots, and walks away.

 "Did you know him, Sir Bertelis?" 

He looks up to see a young priest of Morr addressing him.  His temple enforcers are carefully taking custody of the body of the boy, shot through the heart; loading it into one of their carts.

 "...No.  No, I... suspect he was local; drawn into service of bad men, but not long enough to have done dark deeds.  I... think he was innocent.  I do not know." 

The priest nods.   "Morr knows."   He gives this small reply with an exonerating, small smile, releasing Bertelis from the obvious sense of responsibility he had over the boy.

Bertelis nods, and moves away, back towards Wighard, just as he is finishing with Deanna and looking for a chance to inflict his ministrations on the next Roche.

The young knight does not seem to be aware he is crying, as he removes his chainmail to permit Wighard immediate access to the worst of the lingering, fingernail sized lacerations created by the bug swarms, and the great dark bruises from the battering he has taken, all in need of blood letting.

Tears to which he is ignorant slide down his cheeks, as he submits himself once more to his friend's medical expertise.  For some reason, this time, he decides to pay more attention.

 "...Can you... tell me what the tools are, that you are using..?" 

An odd time to take an interest in the doktoring arts - but here it is, all the same.
wilphe
   All who doubt me, may attend me - sword in hand - no earlier than the tenth hour of the day tomorrow morning, prepared to let the gods make known their will!"   

Wighard barely looks up from his work

  And witnessed  

Otherwise he leaves Bertelis and Bruno to deal with the various authorities - they are respectable nobles after all.

Of course they aren't expected to be detail oriented, they have people for that - and if it becomes necessary he will step forward.

Deanna isn't badly hurt so much as shocked - its unlikely that anyone has ever lifted a hand against her ever, and of course Emma didn't help matters. A few bruises and some swelling that will go down. He considers sedating her but wants the ship to be secure first.

For Meloth he quickly fixes the bleeding before the elf makes himself scarce

  This will do for now, if you must be gone. I will want to check this properly, if the bones have been cracked you'll probably need a splint and bedrest.

I also suspect that the minute the adrenaline wears off you will be incapacitated, be careful  

Bruno, he never seems to have much luck with, and mumbles an apology as he ties the sling

+++++++++++

   "...Can you... tell me what the tools are, that you are using..?"   

Wighard smiles

  These tools were gifted to me by my master Maher after our first campaign together and I had proved I knew which end of the scalpel was the sharp one

One day I might get some more specialised tools but even then I barely use nineteen twentieths of what I have. You need them to be a proper surgeon because you never know what you might run into but they are very highly specialised - haven't needed to treat an anal fistula ever.  
 
  But I am battlefield medicine not general practice, so mostly that is a matter of cleaning wounds and binding them - sometimes sewing them. Simple tools like probes, tongs and needles - what matters is that any foreign body is picked out and that they are kept clean, I try to wash them in rotgut between patients.

Even then I have a few special tools - special scissors for cutting bandages and clothing, a few gizmos for removing mail links that have been driven into the skin, arrow extractor - haven't had need to use that yet during our acquaintance.  
 
  Haven't needed to use scalpels much either, I get to treat people promptly and not ones that have been lying in the open for a few days like I did in the wars

Then I need to cutaway - debride if you will - dead and infected flesh

Also if I need to do an amputation - its not just a matter of cutting the limb off, though I can do that if time is critical.

But to do it properly you want to flense off some skin from what you are going to cut off to form the stump, and your tools need to be sharp so you can work fast.  
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is attentive to the lesson; asking questions, clarifications.  He has intuited a non-trivial amount about medicine from receiving so much of it.  At some point, as the grail knights and the clergy have the 'scene' contained, it becomes time to return to the Jolly Pegasus.  There is a bed waiting for him there, under a roof he has not yet slept in; and every part of his body aches.  He'll have to roust the staff of the now damaged establishment to draw Deanna a bath; and another for him, given how soaked with harbor water he is.  But that will be an excuse to pay compensation to them for their trouble.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Spark a dark, where's my Squire? 
At this stage, I don't think Bertelis knows Maxime is in jail - he'll have to discover that when he gets back to the Pegasus and have a last late-night door to kick down!
 


Recovering Deannas effects from the ship, he leaves her in Bruno and Wighard's company while the surgeon slings the Imperial's troublesome arm, and wanders toward the dockside again.  There, gazing out over the water with eyes of blue and a mane of red hair, is the priest of Manaan who responded to the alarming events.  He is not quite to middle age; somewhat shorter than average; but possessed of an unusual serenity that causes him to seem larger than he is. A carved wooden albatross, the rendition the size of a man's hand, hangs around his neck.

 Manaan, God of my Father's father... 

Bertelis approaches.

 "Master Priest...?" 

The red-maned Manaanite nods a little, without looking to the knight.

 "You can, yes." 
 "I can ...what?" 
 "Come by the temple, seeking answers of the master of tides - and what he intends for you, as repayment." 

For not at all the first time today Bertelis is stunned.  But the priest looks to him, and gestures to his water-soaked appearance; letting him off the hook as his thoughts spiral toward how this man has received some vision of insight.

 "You are not the first knight who fell, armored and armed, into the sea; and crawled out of it having bargained halfway down.  Just a deduction.  But the temple is open all hours.  I am Brother Jacquois - if not I, Brother Cassian or Sister Serina will attend you.  But I advice you do not leave a promise made to the Lord of Waves untended, if you expect to go again to sea." 
 "Yes... I suppose there is wisdom, there.  Thank you, Brother Jacquois.  I will come to speak, later still." 
farothel
When the last of the attackers was taken down, Bruno took Bertelis' sword and as soon as he came over with Deanna, Bruno would hand him the sword and take over Deanna to bring her to Wighard for first ministrations.  When the knights, priests and what not arrived on the scene, he would give a sort of truthful account of what happened (leaving out some things, like Jasmine and Meloth) and certainly making sure that they understood there were cultists in this city.  If there were questions he'd rather not answer, he would claim not to understand fully, or talk next to the question.

When the grail knight raised his voice a bit, he hurried over.
 "Politics, I'll explain later,"  he whispered in Bertelis' ear.  As his companion left to get his wounds tended to, he turned to the grail knight.

 "Please forgive my companion, my lord,"  Bruno said,  "he has had to rescue a family member from cultists and he has heard that there is an illness in his family.  I'm sure you can understand that this has put a heavy burden on his mind.
 We will leave now and head back to our lodgings in the Jolly Pegasus.  Our first priority now has to be the Lady Deanna's wellbeing, I'm sure you agree.  Should you have any further questions, please come to there or request our presence." 

With a bow, he would take his leave and accompany the group back to the inn.  As Wighard has his work cut out, Bruno has very little to do at the moment, so he will take the opportunity to clean his weapons and divide up the good powder so he can hand half of it over to Jasmine as soon as she comes back.
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Wighard isn't going back to the Inn until the ship is secured

In fact he probably will stay on it

Also didn't Bertelis sleep in that inn already?
 
bramblefoot
berty: what are you doing now after deanna is settled in? maxime hasnt shown up, and you get a feeling that something is wrong

wighard: you have another dream vision of morr. tell me what he says.

jasmine and meloth: you make it back to the jolly pegasus. It's late, and your feeling sleepy.

bruno: the knight nods, and starts checking over the scene

 
 Spoiler: ooc 
if there is nothing else, i feel we would be advised to skip ahead a little
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is reluctant to leave Wighard at the ship, given all that has happened - but he needs to get Deanna somewhere warm and, especially, safe.
 
"I'll be making another trip to the waterfront tonight,"  he assures the surgeon;  "I'll check in with you then.  The knight with the black hair, over there - he is Sir Reynault Ormadame.  He rode with the king during the breaking of the siege of Middenheim in the recent war; he knows you are a heirophant and has experience  in cooperation with Imperial mages, thus I expect he will hear you fairly, if you need something.  I will see you soon."  With that, and with the  Company Blade  reassuringly back at his side, he returns with Deanna to the Jolly Pegasus.
 
 ***** 
He is glad to see Siobhan is alright - both because he cares for the girl, and because he is so bone-tired he cannot bear to imagine another frantic chase tonight.  But once Deanna is secured away in her room with a warm bath to balm her trauma, Bertelis naturally looks for Maxime to post at the door - and finds no one.  Siobhan fills him in.

 "...Arrest-" 

At once, his countenance darkens.  The wyrdstone-wrought groove on the side of his head throbs with migraine mockery, and he squints his eyes closed.

 "...This  ridiculous  city.  I see now why its duke rules it from afar - it is cursed.  Siobhan - keep an eye on my step-mother, if you would be kind.  There are patrols of the town's mercenary peacekeepers on the roads now, so their should be no more violence tonight -... but it is best she is not left alone.  I must... rectify this." 
 ***** 
Bertelis ties up Rainier outside the wooden watchhouse.  Rage and frustration boil up the back of his throat and he swallows them down; shivering once as the night air continues to chill his seawater-soaked garb.  He is dry enough on the outside, but the gambeson and the smallclothes beneath it have not had a moment to be shed and changed; and the irritation of it all only escalates his frustration.

He shoves through the door of the watchhouse, gazing around for someone in charge.

 "My name is Sir Bertelis Roche, Knight Banneret of Saulx.  I am here to put right a great wrong - it is either a great misunderstanding, or an act of such vile offense it can only be answered in blood.  I pray the Lady's mercy it is the first.  Who is in charge here?" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Bertelis is obviously here to retrieve Maxime - since it's only been a couple of hours, he is hoping she's just locked in a cell awaiting the judgement of... well, typically in Bretonnia it would be something like a Lord's appointed magistrate, probably a knight of the realm; but in L'Anguille with its depletion of knights, they might have just deputized mercenary officers with peacekeeping for such a matter.  Whomever it is, Bertelis is here to throw his weight around.

Also, if they have the wanted poster for Jasmine up in this place, let me know!  Bertelis will react to that too!
 
MrAbdiel
    Head of the Queue   
  One day after the explosion at the docks. 
  La Tannerie de Pierre , like most tanneries, is too fragrant of a business to exist without objection in the middle of town.  It exists as a not-unimpressive, two story wooden operation butting up against the interior of L'Anguille's great wall, a significant distance from the main inland gate.  It has other odious neighbours: charcoal burners, gong farmers, and a poor hospice run by the most enduring Shallyans of all.  But across the narrow road from the tannery is house that has been gutted by; its second story collapsed into the first and much of the shattered and scorched timber cared over the way to the charcoal burner.  There is still a crusted wasteland of debris inside what might have once been a respectable shopfront: some clay brick benchwork inside particularly, surrounding a squat set, tall standing chimney and the now abandoned, soot crusted baker's oven.  The whole brick pillar stands like a headstone over the destroyed business, which has been annihilated by a fire some time ago which has clearly only scorched its immediate neighbours.  How fortunate that these poor folks happened to have a wealth of water and buckets on hand at that time, to contain the fire as they must have; limiting the destruction to just one very specific business.

A clay likeness of a plump halfling holding a giant baguette over his head, lies broken and scorched black just inside where the door was once framed.  Other than that, the place seems abandoned.

Oh, wait - not quite abandoned.  When footsteps cross into the wreckage and crunch over the debris, a great shape at the back near the brick oven stirs.  Previously, it might have looked like a lump of crumbled ash refuse; but the moment it moves, it's clear that the form is humanoid.  Not just humanoid, but massive - ogroid, even.  He is not  eleven  feet tall - that is the most comfort you can derive from his physicality.  The creature is broad and strong, which is not remarkable for his kind; though there is plenty remarkable about him.  The black hair on his thick head is shaved close to the scalp from brow to the top of the head; and then let to grow from the ears back to be grouped into a single braid that, you are amazed to consider, he might have braided himself.  He wears clothes, not armor; long breeches down to socks and sandals, and a closed fabric overcoat with wooden toggles for fasteners.  The clothes might be all black dyed; but it's hard to tell, on account of the fact that the ogre is so caked in soot and ash that every inch of him is as blacked as the charred remnants of the wooden walls around him; a surprisingly cunning camouflage that definitely stood at least a chance of evading detection if he had elected to remain still; not stand up and announce himself.

Bizarrely, he doesn't speak - but beady, dark brown eyes watch your arrival; perhaps waiting for something. 
wilphe
  "...This  ridiculous  city.  I see now why its duke rules it from afar - it is cursed.  Siobhan - keep an eye on my step-mother, if you would be kind.  There are patrols of the town's mercenary peacekeepers on the roads now, so their should be no more violence tonight -... but it is best she is not left alone.  I must... rectify this."  

Siobhan has clearly been spending a lot of time with Kwolf, and possibly still remembers the slap

 Night in the cells would be character building for him 
dojango
Jasmine spends most of the day sleeping, it's been an exhausting night. In the late afternoon she heads out to the tannery as promised; she was going to meet the urchins there to pay them their promised reward. She'd told the others that she was leaving, " Come along if'n ya want, there might be dinner at the end of it, " she'd said. She goes out cloaked and covered, trying to look like a nondescript wandering child who happened to be concealing two pistols. Predictably, the urchins found her before she spotted them and she grinned and thanked them.  "Hope ya got some good stuff from that weird glowy house. Here's the coin I promised ya. Turns out we stopped the ship afore it got underway, but ya did what I asked, or at least, ya tried. Sick bastard on the ship got away... Hey, any o' your lot go missing lately?" 

The leader of the urchins confirms that one of his crew had disappeared recently after nosing around the docks, they figured he'd come to a bad end and nodded sadly when Jasmine told them about the boy who'd tried to escape from the ship.  Still, their spirits brightened when Jasmine asked them to accompany her to the ruined building. We might get a meal outta it, she'd told them, and she hadn't steered them wrong yet. But when they arrive at the ruined building the urchins freeze in fear when they see the huge figure emerge from the shadows. Jasmine holds her hands up placatingly and says, " Hey there big fella. Easy now. I'm lookin' for some little folks round here, ya seen any around?" 
MrAbdiel
 The massive, soot blackened form offers the smallest bow; though it's possible that a deeper bow would tip him over, given how much of an ogre's mass is above the hips.  The beady eyes swing over the crowd of children behind Jasmine, as she speaks of looking for little folks.  He seems to take a moment to come to a decision about how to deal with this, then speaks in surprisingly clear Reikspiel, which leaves the Bretonnian urchins confused at the ogrish rumbling.

 "Life's hard questions always start simply. Big businesses always start  small ." 

The line has an odd, recited feel to it; a recollected, learned aphorism.  But it doesn't seem to require a response - the ogre reaches over with one hand, without looking; bangs a fist on the cast iron door of the brick stove; and it swings open with a dull clang.  Even from your safe distance, you can see the bottom of the oven's inside is hollow; and a glimmer of lamplight shines up from within.  The ogre holds up one finger, points at Jasmine, points at the oven; shakes out his hand, points at the crowd of children, wags the finger back and forth.  It's not a complex sign language - he is only interested in permitting Jasmine past this strange checkpoint. 
dojango
Jasmine puts her hands on her hips and looks up.  " Oh no you don't.  I am a proper married lady an' I ain't steppin' foot in the den o' the notorious lechers and rogues that is the lodge without bein' accompanied by my chaperones.  Who do you think I am, Lady Sackville? 1  "

1:  An infamous halfling courtesan from the last century.
MrAbdiel
 The ogre stares, and flaps his arms a little.  This generates a puff of soot.

 “He whose desires are few gets them; he whose desires are many goes astray.” 

He tilts his huge head back and forth on his shoulders, looks over the swarm of kids... and then holds up two fingers to Jasmine.  At first it seems he's flipping her off; but a moment's consideration suggests this might be an offered compromise - some, not all. 
wilphe
Wighard asks those returning to the Inn to send him Odmar, because he still doesn't trust Berthold. Siobhan is left to look after Deanna and he pays a few coins to the onlookers to help moor the Liveship.

He does however take the gangplank up and with himself, Odmar, Kwolf and a reloaded blunderbuss he is more or less confident of being able to handle things.

As he himself takes watch in the pre-dawn and lets Odmar sleep he feels a familiar presence next to him

   Bad news, your Puffin friend says that as your Bretonnian has found his way to his church that's the new bodyguard he promised you. 
 He would not be the sea if he was not changeable. 
 He may have seen it coming - I have no monopoly on prophecy 
 I feel I am not such a squishy wizard anyway - not anymore 
 Neat nanny goat by the way, what do you intend to do with it? 
 Its a powerful artefact, albeit one we have limited use for and will have difficulty keeping hold of. So we are better giving it to somebody before we lose it. 
 Any idea who? 
 Church of Manaan, Duke of Bordeleaux, Grail Maidens - not the local merchants unless they offer an astounding amount of cash. I don't suppose you want it. 
 Not really, congratulations on making a new friend by the way 
 Who? 
 Your little chaos cuttlefish, you could have tried to banish her again, hut you didn't. 
 I was afraid of what might happen, the winds were becoming unstable 
 That wouldn't have stopped you if you really wanted to; you had compassion for her 
  
Wighard digests this insight - the sort that gets you burnt

   I can see what my daughter sees in you. They have compassion even for the followers of Nurgle. My followers seek to save even the most depraved and corrupted so that they may safely enter my realm rather than that of the chaos gods.

On that subject   

Wighard feels something leave his head and colesce on the other side of him as the shade of Xueek Grimfinger

   You are ready Xueek? 
 Yes yes my Lord 
 You have anything to say to Wighard before you go?   

The skaven stammers uneasily - like he is using words he has never used and expressing concepts he had only recently been exposed to

   Th Thank you my Lord 
 Call me Wighard Xueek 
 Thank you Wighard   

Xueek slowly fades and dissolves away, his essence absorbing into Morr; who looks pleased and satisfied like he just made an important move in a high stakes game

   Take a little secret of the trade, corruption works both ways.

You helped redeem a single Skaven and where there is one they can be others - because why wouldn't you want eternal rest rather than to have your soul recycled to fuel an eternal and unwinnable war?

Demons however are tougher - they aren't on this plane for very long and they usually only meet the very worst elements and the better ones respond with violence

Emma however had been bound for half a millennia, she has, despite herself, been fascinated by the unselfish acts between captives on this vessel. Right now she is looking for a ship of slavers to attack. She will tell herself it is for vengeance.
   


The presence fades, leaving Wighard with only the impression of an unknown but assuredly friendly face and a lost room in the elven ruin
dojango
There are nearly a dozen urchins in the shadows, intently staring at the showdown.  Jasmine looks over at the three 'leaders' who are closest to her; the slim girl they called 'Filch', the hulking boy called 'Lunk' and the leader, with his sly grin that they called 'Brambleberry Finn'.  She looks back at the giant and says, " I don't suppose they never told ya the secret to a happy marriage?  Ya gotta let her make all the 'little' decisions.  Three, and those kids, " she indicates the remaining ones, " better get some neighbor's dinner 2 . "

2:  The concept of 'leftovers' is a foreign one to the halflings.  When one halfling is trying to impress the others with his largesse and wealth and so serves more food then his guests can consume, tradition has it that the neighbors and their neighbors and so on are invited in to finish the meal.
bramblefoot
berty: the man, who turns out to be the captain of the watch sighs and stands.  "you do realize that title means absolute bo-diddly here" he says, crossing his arms.  "as of yesterday, we sent a letter to the king, notifying him of our secession"  he will sit back down and light a pipe.  "so citizen bertelis, can i help you with anything?" 

wighard: the liveship contains plenty of provisions for seaborne travel, and a small locked box with a dagger inscribed in the halfling language

jasmine: the ogre sighs, and says in reikspeil.  "cause no trouble"  he'll pull a large loaf of bread out, and slap it down into the urchins hands, who make short work of it. i leave it to mrabdiel to describe what is at the bottom of the oven

meloth and bruno: the next morning dawns with town criers calling out the news about languilles secession from brettonia

wdyd?
MrAbdiel
 Ogres are also unfamiliar with the concept of leftovers; a meal unfinished requires only that the consuming ogre  slow down  a little.  But curiously, perhaps concurrent to Jasmine's suspicions, this ogre does seem familiar with the halfling idiom.  He gives a displeased look on his soot blackened face, but bobbles a hard-negotiated nod; lifts a third finger on his hand, then flags Jasmine, Lunk, Finch, and Brambleberry Finn through the oven door while the other orphans keep watch; ready to scatter and report treachery, or else to receive some nourishing bribe.

The oven hatch leads to a short ladder and a stone lined, comfortably broad basement.  Humans and elves might be able to uncomfortably worm down and up the entry passage; but anyone taller than a dwarf would have to mind their head on the ceiling, which is lined with boards at about the five foot mark.  Naturally, the idea of the ogre following Jasmine into the oven is completely ridiculous.

The smell of ash and smoke gives way to a much more pleasant bouquet - fresh bread, and flavoursome pinch of common herbs.  The smell is strong enough that it does much work masking the somewhat less flavorsome smell of the four lamps in the room, burning their whale oil to cast illumination on a number of desks, bedrolls, benches, chairs... the kind of furniture a keen intellect might anticipate for a small, long term clandestine operation.  Every piece of furniture in the room seems to be constructed to a fair standard, even if they are composed completely of short planks and posts that were able to pass through the narrow corners of the entry passage.

There are several occupants in the room; all in varying states of lazy reprieve.  A very fat dwarven woman tinkering with some kind of rifle, on a workbench.  The grinning halfling baguette-flinger who delivered the invitation, playing cards with another halfling - this one shaved bald and with such dark skin that does not naturally occur in the empire, but only in fanciful tales of the halfling tribes of the southlands.  A human woman in furs and leathers, sitting by a rack of pigeon cages and feeding them single seeds at a time on the tips of her fingers.  And finally a third halfling, who clears his throat with an approving  "Ahah!"  when Jasmine and her young flunkies emerge into the lamplight.

The gent has dark coppery hair with wisping curls at the ends that suggest its natural state is an unruly mop, but it is styled and parted in the manner of halflings who are used to operating in the circles of human nobility that expect a certain level of grooming.  Being just on the far side of middle age has peppered that hair somewhat; but hasn't done much to diminish a distinguished halfling handsomeness, augmented by what might be a genuine beauty spot on his left cheek.  Ring bedecked fingers hold the flaps of a fine leather coat over a tailored outfit that would not be out of place in a merchant's guild meeting or a lower noble's advisory meeting; though perceptive eyes can pick up a perhaps forgivable pair of sweat stains under the arms; and the remnants of flour not completely swept away from the edges of an apron's stencilling protection.

 "There she is - the woman upon whose shoulders so much hope rests!"   He speaks in Breton for the moment, happy to flatter the adventuress in front of her young lackeys as he crosses with a hand extended to shake.

"Ernald Dandycrust; a pleasure to finally meet.  I was crestfallen when you didn't make the meeting as I'd hoped, thinking you'd had no interest - but it seems you were out and about doing deeds of daring, and for this I can hardly blame you.  Would it be fair to say your experience in the  Lady's Lands  have been... unfortunate?  Oh - and can I interest you in a baguette?"

He snaps his fingers behind him without looking away, and the laconic, thickset halfling pops up from his game of cards and trots over to a table at the back of the room near another baker's oven - this one build down here, and somehow channelling its smoke away to another chimney in the area to permit the most discreet baguette manufacture.

He brings a tray of freshly baked baguettes across, along with a jar of butter and a silver spreader that looks like a mirror-polished, miniture bricklayer's trowel.

Ernald takes one baguette, not one to deny himself; and seems pleased enough to allow the children to grab some for themselves while waiting for Jasmine's reply, and reaction to all she sees. 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis' eyes flash.  Before Bruno can intervene more moderately, he snaps.

 "You are lying.  And if you are not, you are a fool if you think the cartel in the light house haven't sent their fastest runner to track down and stop that message before arriving, on account of the fact that your powder stockpile  exploded in dock  yesterday, and your city is riddled with cults.  I will be leaving in a few short days.  Your whole city may sink into the sea and spare you ancestors the shame of acknowledging you, at that point.  But right now, you are still Bretonnian; you serve the king, I serve the king with authority.  Your men arrested my squire in the process of prosecuting the capture and dispatch of cultists of the great enemies of mankind.  You will release him  now  or I will see your head  secede  from your shoulders!" 
bramblefoot
the watch captain smiles, and rolls his shoulders.  "money makes the world go round, even in the land of wine-swilling frog chompers"  he purrs.  "now do you wanna go quietly, or do i get a chance to smack around a knight banneret?"  he doesnt look armed, but appearances can be deceiving
Volthawk
Meloth had appreciated the opportunity to finally rest for the night, to let the adrenaline fade and just...sleep. The last few days had been...again, he chose to be charitable and just think of it as "rather eventful", but he was strangely...okay with it. Sure, it had hurt, but they'd...well, they'd done a damn lot more of significance than he'd done in his decades of wandering. Maybe there was something in that. It was a different perspective on things at least, that much he was sure about.

When he gets downstairs and hears the criers, he sighs and looks over to Bruno - the others were still busy with their own affairs, it seemed - and gives a small shrug.  "Any idea if this is going to change our travel plans? Bertelis  is  still a knight, so..."  Another shrug.  "If it were up to me, we'd be making ourselves scarce pretty soon, but the others might have other ideas." 
farothel
====Evening====

Bruno, still in his fullplate and with his sword, shield and pistol (he wasn't about to go unarmed in this city, certainly not now), decided that it wouldn't be a bad idea to intervene here.

 "Sir Bertelis, if you would allow me,"  he said, not really waiting for an answer but immediately speaking to the captain.
 "Captain, while I can understand you trying to do what Marienburg has done, I think it best to be very careful here.  You might be able to smack my companion around.  Then again, you might not.  But I can tell you that as soon as the King of Bretonnia hears about this secession, he will come here with an army.  Do you really want to deprive the good citizens of this city the benefit of your august self in defending it from the King's attack?  Or, as a reward for the service we've done to this city by removing a chaos cult within its walls as well as getting rid of a possessed ship, you can overlook the I'm sure minor infractions by my companion's squire and let him go free.  Especially since we will be leaving the city very soon.  Besides, what are the charges against my companion's squire?" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

I'll go with charm here:  (1d100)[ 79 ]  vs 87 (basic roll, GM to add bonusses and/or penalties as needed)
FP if needed:  (1d100)[ 51 ]  vs 87

I'll leave the FP roll here in case with penalties the first roll would fail.
 


====Morning====

 "I'm sure we can have him see reason that on his own inside the city there's nothing he can do,"  Bruno said,  "besides he has his family to think about as well.  I think it's best if we got out of this place as quickly as possible.  It's not a lot of fun being in a besieged city and I'm sure as soon as the King hears about this, that's what will happen." 
dojango
The name 'Dandycrust' is frustratingly familiar but unfortunately Jasmine can't recall any gossip or family connections on the spot.  She never rubbed elbows with the upper crust of halfling society much.  She does reach out to shake his hand, though, and replies, " Ah, you must use that charm on all the young lasses.  An' I bet it works at least half the time, too!  Whaddaya want, chief?  I'm not stickin' around town for too much longer so ya might be a bit more careful about puttin' all yer hopes on some random shoulders.  'Specially without askin' her husband first. "
MrAbdiel
 Ernald smiles affably; appreciates the shake, but raises his hands in surrender at the careful invocation of Jasmine's marital status.
 
"Mrs. Featherblossom, I assure you that your lucky husband's luck has not run out, with you meeting me.  Nor are my hopes purely for myself  But here, let me respect your time, and circle atleast toward the point." 

Ernald Dandycrust's vernacular shifts then to the lilting, melodic morphemes of a son of the Moot; the Mootish words curled with the particular brogue of the townships along the River Aver's east bank.

The children's capacity to listen in, at this point, is naturally lost.

"I represent the Quinsberry Lodge, Mrs. Featherblossom.  I'm sure you've heard of us."

Jasmine has.  She would have had to have been grown like a turnip, head in the earth and feet sticking in the air, all the way through her life to have not done so.  There were many groups throughout the Empire that advocated for the rights and fair treatment of the wee folk; but the Lodge is and always has been the most influential.  Connections to criminal enterprise in some places is rumored; but what is certain, and what is public knowledge, is that the Lodge has for hundreds of years used the leverage of its people's collective expertise for their broad benefit.

 "'Twas back in 1359 when the new Emperor taught our people a lesson - that the world is built to scale for the Big Folk; and we need them... but they do not need us." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: Lore: The Tall-Short War 
Not a true war as much as a pogrom, a time when the Elector Count of Stirland became Emperor of Nuln, and immediately used his power to repay the insult levied upon Stirland by Ludwig the Far centuries prior.  Imperial soldiers marched on the Moot to enforce taxes and harsh governance.  Across the empire, but especially in Nuln, tall folk were galvanised by a common local enemy who was easy to bully.  Sometimes it was simple industrial jealousy - who wouldn't take advantage of a little racial violence to put their shortfolk competitors out of business? - but much was simple mob-fueled glee, superstition and good old fashion ignorance.  Halfing ghettos were burned, halflings stoned in the streets - it was every bit as bad as it sounds.
 At that time, many halfling advocacy groups sprung up either to try to organize imperial halflings into defensive units to protect their neighbourhoods, or to leverage the soft power of halfling fraternity, embedded at many levels in the machine of Imperial industry, to insure against future suffering.

The Quinsberry Council, later the Quinsberry Lodge, was born out of the fires of such duelling responses.
 The movement was named for Quinsberry, the Hafling God of Ancestry and Tradition - the god whose domain was in danger of being snuffed out by the unchecked, swinging legs of the longshanks.
 


"...Until they do need us.  Neededness is the currency that has improved the quality of life of our people and given us respect - in as much as we have ever grabbed it - in the halls of human power.  They need our scribes in Nuln and Altdorf; and our farmers in Averland..."

Ernald struts as he talks, pointing back at Jasmine swiftly with his half-munched baguette as he continues,  "...Our riverwardens, on the Stir and the Talabec and the Aver!"   A little laugh, as he flips the longbread in hand.   "...And of course, our cooks in every court of quality from one end of the empire to the other; our grand and humble family ready to pull together... so that when the next Emperor or Theogonist or Reiksmarshall decides 'what, really, can these little people do if we want to flatten their homes to build more factories, or tax their tiny ponies at the same rate as the bloody destriers that rip up the streets?'... So that the next day, he has every general and magister and duke beating down his door about how all their fletchers and scribes and cooks have walked off the job, and something better be done fast!" 

So enthralled with his own telling is he that he literally jumps and claps his feet together at the climax of his story; a uniquely Mootish expression of glee, for those who do not wear shoes with heels to click.

 "Yes, our people will never be the  masters  of the world; we leave that to the tall folk, and not without some gratitude for their strength against the greenskins and the whatnots.  But we have only ever known sustained peace in the world where we are respected in all levels of power by those who  are  masters of the world.  And we have chapters representing our people beyond the Empire, now - in Kislev, in Luccini, in Marienburg..." 

He stops his pacing then; his glee draining out, and his expression becoming a longsuffering smile.  He points to the roof above him; and the burned out husk of a bakery above it.

 "And three years ago, I came with a band of other halflings from the Empire hoping to establish a respectable presence here in L'Anguille.  There's halflings in most of the major cities in Bretonnia, keeping their heads down on account of being such easy targets for pig headed knights or pig-ignorant peasants.  But we've no power here at all, Mrs. Featherblossom.  No respect at all, and nothing to leverage to get that respect.  Why, if they had your likeness up on the walls in  Middenheim  - not the friendliest city to our people, mind you - offering a treasure horde for your head as an 'orc collaborator', then the Lodge would be able to have your back immediately, and within days the magistrates would get the order from above to produce some gods-damn evidence for such a ribald claim or withdraw the bounty!  But here, no one cares!  No leverage, no power, no respect!  Who am I in the empire?  A big enough wheel of cheese to avoid the knife on all but the most special of occasions, I am.  But here, I'm a weird little man who bakes better bread than the locals, and ought to be baked in his own bloody oven for his trouble!  For no crime at all, and without an advocate to appeal to!" 

He sighs, tugs on his coat to straighten it; finishes his baguette; brushes the crumbs from his hands.

 "But you, Mrs. Featherblossom.  You're something else.  Even if they don't realise it here, yet.  The Quinsberry Lodge is always, always keeping an eye our for halfling heroes making a name for themself in the world, to hold them up as an example to our people and, more importantly, as an example to the tall folk.  And that is nowhere more important than here, in the land of 'chivalry'.  Hazeldown gained his glory through giggles - but someone here will have to gain honor, through heroics!" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: Lore: Hambelly Hazeldown 
Hambelly Hazeldown was the first Halfling Elector of the Moot.  Once the Jester to Ludwig the Fat, he made a wonderful joke that the Emperor might create a Halfling Elector at the expense of the electors of Averland and Stirland who often profited from taxing the halfling realm themselves.  It was so funny that the joke made its way across the Empire; and eventually, the halflings laughed themselves all the way into permanent electoral significance.
 


More excited than ever, he elaborates with much animation.   "There is no election process here; there are dukes, and kings with kingly claims and legacy.  And we have no homeland here - few in Bretonnian have even heard of the Moot.  But kings respect deeds and heroics, Mrs. Featherblossom.  And you have no shortage of deeds - honored by the Reiksmarshall for saving Altdorf during the Great Debacle.  Fighting fiends of chaos in the wild places in the Empire.  Haha!  Even  leading  a squad of yeomen to save scores of Shallyan pilgrims from the slavery of the ratmen!  A halfling leading human soldiers in Bretonnia!  And a woman, too - inspiring beyond words!  And that's without what I understand has transpired overnight - chasing cultists and saving Bretonnian noblewomen?  Jasmine, Jasmine!" 

He approaches suddenly, almost exhasperated with rhetorical hope, reaching up and clasping his own hands in the air before her.

 "I don't know if you know what an impact your story is having in places you haven't been.  And it's this kind of heroism that is going to get you, eventually, recognized by the king.  He already has his eye on your companion, the knight.  You're going down this path of deeds anyway.  In time, you're going to be recognized and honored for what you have done.  Will he make you the first halfling knight of Bretonnia?"   Ernald grimaces, and wavers a hand in the air, tempering expectations.   "Probably not.  You can count the number of female knights that have been recognized by kings in this country on one hand.  And probably two or three times.  But it'll be something, for sure.  It'll be the acknowledgement of the king, and that's never happened before.  So you see, I'm not really asking of you anything that you're not already doing, or planning on continuing to do.   I just want to... better equip you to do it.  Back you, you understand?" 

He sighs, almost exhausted by his oratory; rests his knuckles on his hips, and looks to Jasmine for a response. 
bramblefoot
bertelis: the captain of the watch sighs.  "ill get your squire, if you take a troublemaker off my hands."  he takes a seat again, and puffs on his pipe.  "regine lacroix. a thief and an issue. take her, and youll get your squire back"  he lets you two mull it over
BananaPhone
 "He is right, I can be an issue, at times..." 

Regine stood behind the captain, leaning against the door frame that would take one into fhe cells. Behind her, what was her cell could be seen to be already open, the bar-door yawning wide.

 "You forgot to lock my cell, Monsieur, and I heard my name, so naturally I did not want to be left out..." 

She wore the smile of a rogue and a troll, as she looked at  Bruno and Bertelis and gave a little bow.

 "Handed over to the authority of two handsome young Monsieurs? Are you threatening me with a good time again  ?"  she teased the captain.
dojango
Jasmine listened politely.  Or at least, looked like she was listening.  After all, she'd heard the tale dozens of times already.  When he was done she said, " The lesson that we shoulda learned from ol' Hambelly is that we can't out-reach a human, we can't out-stubborn a dwarf, and we can't out-weird an elf.  We gotta find our own path in the world, not follow the one the humans think is the right one.  I ain't gonna be a knight any more than I'm gonna be a wizard.  Ya want these humans ta give ya the respect ya deserve?  Why ain't ya feedin' the orphans or takin' people in who're out in the cold cause of the disaster?  Why ain't ya makin' deals with the city council or organizin' a mob of yer own?  If the aldermen don't listen ta ya, maybe they'll listen when the garbage is pilin' up in the streets cause you got control o' the gong farmer's guild.  The path ta power, ta real power don't come from killin' monsters or whatever.  It comes from yer neighbors and from yer kin and yer friends who support ya and are willin' ta put a brick inta the windows o' yer enemies to remind them that ya got people who got yer back.  If ya think power is just gonna be handed to you cause someone else went and fought a demon...  well, then yer gonna be waiting a long time. "
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is furious that he is being bargained with.  To someone unsympathetic to his  recent predicaments , it may seem like the bombastic entitlement of every other noble in the nation opposing an uppity peasant.  But when Bruno carefully finesses the situation while Bertelis' grip spasms towards his sword, he is undercut by the success and deflated.  Not ungrateful; but deflated.  The appearance of Regina having liberated herself, this cheerful criminal representing the price of Maxime's freedom and the also another headache, causes tension in the knight; tension turning to awkwardness at her ribald flirtation with both he and Bruno, and he makes a moment of bewildered eye contact with his fellow knight before scoffing to the side.

 "Fine.  We will take her beyond the city with us when we go." 

He takes a moment to memorize the watch captain's face.

For later.

He points a mailed finger at the thief.

 "This is a mercy from the gods, mademoiselle Lacroix.  Most thieves receive much harsher punishment than a free trip by sea, regardless of their reasons." 

The Bretonnian, incidentally, looks like hell.  There's a handsome young  fellow under there, for sure... but it's a little buried.  His face is bruised badly from a punch-up earlier in the day.  The lacerating bites of insects stitch a visible line up his neck from collar to jaw on the left side.  Beyond that, his left eye has a bullet scar where a shot has grooved down the side of his face from the corner of that eye carving a scarred furrow over the temple and back into the blond hair.  The healing of the scar pulls the eyelid down a little, souring the symmetry of his features.  On top of this, he hasn't quite dried out from his involuntary swim.  Bruno, who has made it through the events with no less action but much less humiliation, is certainly the more presentable of the pair at the moment.
BananaPhone
Regine wore a smile that the devil would love as she leaned against that door-frame, arms folded over her flat tummy.

 "Of course Monsieur, I am your helpless captive,"  she said with just a touch of sarcasm, holding her arms up before her as if she were about to be handcuffed.

 "A frail and helpless lady under the watchful eye of two strapping, capable knights! Are you satisfied, Monsieur Capitaine?"  she asked the captain of the watch, stepping forward from her position and brushing past the man, their bodies scraping against each other as if awkwardly passing in a confined space.

Turning her back to the two knights, Regine offered the captain a bow, her left hand over her abdomen and her right out by her side for a dramatic flair.

 "I thank you Monsieur Capitaine for showing me the error of my ways! I am off to accompany these two fine fellows to live a chaste and virtuous life!" 
 "This is a mercy from the gods, mademoiselle Lacroix. Most thieves receive much harsher punishment than a free trip by sea, regardless of their reasons." 

Regine had walked-backwards with her little bow towards the door of the jail, having straightened up by the time Bertelis spoke to her.

The girl grinned that chesire smile once again.

 "Do not worry Monsier. You can trust me." 
MrAbdiel
 Ernald almost leaps, so excited is he to be even conversing about the topic with a new partner.   "Yes, yes!  All fine points and true enough.  Our folks hunkered down and fought back during the troubles in Nuln; but generations later, when the orcs tore through and burned the place down, we rebuilt it side by side the men who had stoned and beat us, yes!  And henceforth relations have been much better. You're right!  But Mrs Featherblossom, we're a long way from being able to do such things.  You performed deeds here and came in a sacred pilgrimmage, and even you were immediately marked as an orc collaborator for reasons that escape the seeking mind.  Hambelly laughed his way into the Emperor's pocket over a thousand years ago!  It's been a  thousand years  of slow progress, winning the trust of humans with honest work and quality goods and policing our own troublemakers and yes, at times, leveraging a gongfarmer's union or two when things get dire.  But those levers don't exist in this country, yet; do you see?  Ludwig the Fat was a thousand years ago.  A thousand years ago, Bretonnia was less than a hundred years past its own unification!  Guilds are illegal in many places and frowned on in others.  I came to L'Anguille because it was the most forward thinking city in the country; but as you might have heard this morning, they've just forward-thought themselves into a blockade and a siege.  They don't allow halflings in unions - hell, I've see wee folk snatched up off the street and taken on ships. They know we're hungry - they make us fight for scraps in the galleys, as a form of fun!  Can you imagine?  It's barbaric!  But the men here are only one step removed from barbarians.  When the siege is over, and they're putting this city back together, I'll be first to put my resources to work doing so like we did in Nuln - but for now, we're leaving.  Maybe Mousillon will be kinder, eh?  After all, who knows more about living around cursed and infested lands, and scrapping out a little corner to make into a paradise anyway?  P'raps we'll take some cursed land and make it sing, and win some recognition that way - but it won't matter a whit if the Duke of bloody Lyonesse can just walk in and annex it because we're not recognized at all.  But a fraction of recognition from the crown can change that!  It can be the first step in a long series of steps that gives us legitimacy, and the chance to do all those things you mentioned - do good works, become indispensible.  We know how to do it; but it's been a thousand years since we had to get the ball rolling like this.  For Hambelly, it was a joke that echoed across the empire.  But in this place, they don't have the same sense of humor.  They prize deeds, not gags.  And you're  doing deeds.   Let me help you - that's all I ask.  I'm not asking you to work for me; just to accept a hand.  Here - let me introduce you to my friends.  You met Agurth upstairs - the big boy.  You might not think an ogre can sneak up on you, but you're wrong.  That's Tiberia..."   He points to the woman with the bid cages at the end of the room.  As if on cue, a pigeon flutters down the oven shaft, past you, and zooms over to perch on her hand.   "Tilean born, but trained under the Beast Wizards of the Empire.  Humans train pigeons to fly between towns, but Tiberia is a master of them.  She can send a bird to track someone down halfway across the old world - it's a marvel, you ought to see it.  Cousin Longfoot over there is from the Southland tribes; he's my pathfinder and good friend."   The dark skinned halfling slowly turns from his idle cards to look at Jasmine from across the room.

His feet are, indeed, quite long; but just as well, considering how far he had to come to be here.
 
"And this is Bullriadoc Honeyacre."   He raps his knuckles on the chest of the broad shoulder halfling baguette thrower, who offers a wordless, flat grin.   "Bully's a lad of many talents.  One of them is he knows how to handle Tiberia's birds.  I want to send him with you, as an assistant.  That way, if you're in the middle of nowhere and need some information I can provide, you'll have a way to contact us; and I'll get you a reply as soon as possible.  He doesn't like to fight, but he does have some wonderful talents.  Here - cover your ears, a moment." 

Giving everyone as chance to cover their ears, he pulls aside his coat to reveal a holstered pistol (slowly enough not to threaten); draws the pistol, and points it down the middle of the room to the back wall.  No one stands at risk of being hit; and now that it's pointed out, you see an wooden board pitted with bullet holds and arrow bites.  With a bang, a little plume of splinters flies out of the impact point, and Ernald drops his pistol to the ground.

 "He used to caddy for the son of the Elector Count of Ostland, y'see.  Wonderful hunting companion.  Knows all manner of guns." 

In the time he has taken to say this, 'Bully' has taken his cue and acted.  The pistol has barely hit the ground before Bully has smoothly stepped and scooped it up on the first bounce.  His hands are a blur as he produces powder from a horn at his waist, chews some wadding, packs it down, adds the pistol ball, and to cap it of, slips it back into Ernald's holster.  The whole operation takes about twelve seconds - a very impressive reload speed indeed.  Ernald lets his coat flap back into place.   "See?  Wonderful companion; incredible time saver.  And you might need him for this - Gotgrunda!  Bully, would you...?" 

Bully hustles over to the rotund dwarfess, and takes from her keeping an impressive looking longgun.  The barrel is a stylish hexagonal prism; and the finely carved cherrywood stock is clearly scaled for halfling limbs.  There is a small latched 'window' in the side of the stock, where spare wadding is kept.  The stock has some pretty, if non-specific carved swirls and feather shapes; but the barrel's six faces are each graven with classical characters, forming six lines in the stanza of a poem.  The lettering has been smoothly filled with gold - this seems to be what the dwarfess was doing, moments ago.

Ernald takes the weapon from Bully, and offers it to Jasmine.   "Now this... is very special.  This is the  Nutcracker ; one of the first firearms made by Murcwit Thistlespur; the first halfling admitted to the Imperial College of Engineers back in 2017.  His daughter, Milly, used it to blow of Carlos von Carstein's head near the end of the Vampire Wars, 'bout thirty years after.  You will not find a finer weapon, Mrs. Featherblossom.  The Lodge will want it back eventually; but I can't imagine a finer bearer for it, for your adventuring days.  All I'm asking is that you continue doing your good deeds, and in doing so, raise the profile of Halflings as a valid people in Bretonnia.  Bully can handle most of your reloading, and communication when you travel.  Maybe you want to be able to get a short message back to your husband as you galivant across the world, hmm?  Or your Talabeclander friend - he'll want to hear from his family for sure, given the state they were in when you had to shuttle out of Altdorf.  All that cult business... Anyway.  You're a credit to our people, Mrs. Featherblossom.  I ask that you let your people get the most out of that credit." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: Bully and the Nutcracker 
Bully isn't a direct combatant (unless he has to be); but he does have the  Master Gunner  and  Rapid Reload  talents, allowing him to reload a pistol or firearm in 1 turn instead of 2; and a blunderbuss in 2 instead of 3.  He also has the  Quickdraw  talent, enabling him to pick up a weapon from the ground for free once a turn; or to slip it away in someone's holster.

Also, as part of Ernald's operation, he can send and receive pigeons, guided and spurred by  Ghur , to deliver and receive messages at extraordinary distances with extraordinary accuracy.

The  Nutcracker  is a Best Quality Firearm.  Thus, its profile:

 The Nutcracker .   Encumbrance:  27 (though 'caddied' by Bully, if you prefer).   Type:  Gunpowder.   Damage:  4.   Range:  24/48.   Reload:  2 Full.   Qualities:  Best Craftsmanship (+5% to hit), Impact.   Value:  3000GC~.
 
 
farothel
 "Very well,"  Bruno said, ignoring the flirting of their new companion for now.  Better play the stoic noble for now, at least until they're out of the city.  He wasn't sure if they would need a thief, but having someone who could open locks without a key might come in handy some day.  And unlike Bertelis, he's a lot more flexible in that regard.  Of course, only time will tell how this girl will hold out against the horrors that seem to be finding the company on a regular basis.

As soon as they're out of the captain's office, he will let Bertelis deal with Maxime while he takes the young thief aside.
 "A couple of words of advice,"  he said,  "in our group, we have to trust each other with our lives.  And you can take that last quite literally.  We've seen quite a few horrors.  If that trust is broken, we can't function.  So if you ever pickpocket one of the group, or those under our protection, I'm more than happy to slit your throat myself.  Bertelis here might be the paragon of knightly honour, I started out as an empire roadwarden and it wouldn't be the first thief I encounter who gets instant justice." 
wilphe
Wighard watches as the city comes alive in its new self-declared status, revolutionary cockades suddenly on most of the hats

  Well, Emil, if only you could see this  

Kwolf perches by his side

  Revolutions eat their children you know  
  The people who start them never think that part through - or they think it couldn't possibly happen to them. Take a message to the Jolly Pegasus please, I want Siobhan and Deanna aboard here, I want Berthold to prepare the horses and bring them down here for boarding. Odmar will join him after I have him run a few errands  

By noon Wighard has really got things moving despite not actually leaving the ship:

A local limner has painted the company logo on the shields of Berthold, Odmar and Meloth; and also picked out the name   Trundheim   in fresh paint on either side of the bow and across the stern

A new flag of the company flies from the mainmast and the Imperial merchant ensign from the stern

Odmar has delivered a letter to the local Imperial consul introducing themselves, emphasising that as they an Imperial registered company their ship is under Imperial jurisdiction and offering their services should anyone wish to evacuate to Bordelaux.

Overall this should deter the local authorities from interfering without risking a diplomatic incident, he also expects that at least a few people are going to seek sanctuary aboard.

He is also aware that they don't really have a crew, but not that Jasmine is not an open ocean sailor.
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 


Regine remained quiet during Bruno's talk, that half irritating, half endearing subtle lining of amusement on her face.

 "A couple of words of advice, in our group, we have to trust each other with our lives. And you can take that last quite literally. We've seen quite a few horrors. If that trust is broken, we can't function. So if you ever pickpocket one of the group, or those under our protection, I'm more than happy to slit your throat myself. Bertelis here might be the paragon of knightly honour, I started out as an empire roadwarden and it wouldn't be the first thief I encounter who gets instant justice." 

The promise of horror, threats to slit her throat and dark warnings of prior experience of frontier justice...

 "You must be the sweet-talker of the group,"  the thief replied with a coy tilt to the corners of her lips.

 "As my mama used to say to me, monsier, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar!" 

Regine paused as she cast her eyes around the crowds on the street, the jubilation and anxiety palpable in the air as news of the succession was still sinking into the sediment of peasant minds. Exploding ships. Succession. Nurgle cults. Perhaps she was better off shacking up with these boys for a little while to get out of town, if only for a while.

 "But, you are a long way from home monsier, non?"  she said, reaching to her hip and withdrawing a purse so that she could unstring it and peer inside to count the contents.

 "I have never been beyond these walls,"  she gestured to the perimeter defenses of the port city.

 "I am willing to, how you Imperials say, 'play ball', ja? Just do not give me a reason to reconsider and all should be well!"  she offered that bright smile of hers, her unusually tall and athletic frame clad in the dark clothing and black boots of her trade.

 "If I were you and your friends, however, I  would plan to vacate this city soon. As you can see my friend, passions are running high and crowds are growing thicker. There'll be many out with scores to settle who will take advantage of the cover provided." 
dojango
Jasmine takes a moment to look at the gun.  Not really, but to give her time to think.  Then she bursts out in a laugh.  " I'm sorry, it really ain't funny.  But I understand ya.  As Sir Bertelis's seneshal, I am hereby givin' ya permission to a settle on his fief out in Mousillion.  We'll work out the details later... rents, corvee, sharecropping... and I'll make sure it's in yer favor.  If ya want ta start afresh I reckon you oughter do it before the city is blockaded.  As ya say, the locals are huge jerks and when the Bretonnian Huns with their long range guns come in from the great clawed sea it ain't gonna be much better.  Say... any of you know how ta reef a sail or splice a rope and want ta plough the ocean fields?  Cuz I got an opportunity for ya... "
farothel
 
 Originally Posted by BananaPhone 
  "As my mama used to say to me, monsier, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar!"  
 

 "And you can catch even more with manure,"  Bruno replied with a smile,  "we will be leaving as soon as we get a ship.  A day or two at the most I hope." 
bramblefoot
wighard and meloth: with the ship under nominal imperial control, no authority figures will show up, but you do get a trickle of refugees, which quickly becomes a flood. what measures are you taking to make sure they dont take over the boat

berty, bruno, and regine: will you all give me perception checks?

jasmine: mr dandycrust will bid you adieu, and bully will come with you, hefting the rifle  "where to miss featherbottom"  he chirps
wilphe
Wighard keeps the gangplank up as much as possible and when its down there's a blunderbuss stopping anyone getting any dumb ideas. As well as two giant wolves who are at least intimidating in theory even if Schlapp mostly wants belly rubs and Catwulf's contribution is to curl up and doze on the gangplank daring anyone to step over her.

Also he's an Imperial Officer and a scary wizard with eyes still glowing from the previous night's activity and now with purple and green tints from talking to Morr and attuning to the LiveShip.

With that he sets Siobhan to filter those trying to get aboard to the right mix of deserving, unthreatening, and able to contribute either because they bought supplies and money or have some skills, and after Berthold arrives with the horses he decides enough is enough, ineptly casts off and drifts the boat back out into the harbour on his control of the current, shakily anchoring.

  Well we aren't full yet; even if I don't really know what full means in this context. However there needs to be room for the others and whoever they are bringing.  

From their new position he can also see a bit of the Elven stonework on the mole on the opposite side of the harbour that he recognises

  Also Meloth we need to go check that out, don't know why exactly but is important - and we will be getting a new companion.  
MrAbdiel
 In the Ruins of Dandycrust Bakery... 

"A flattering offer; but we're taking an inland route.  Even if a war wasn't on, you couldn't pay me enough to sail through the  Dragon's Maw.   Don't be a stranger, now - we're only a bird away.  And please, here, take as much bread as you can carry - it's the last batch that will be baked on this oven.  A semi-sacred thing."  Dandycrust gives you six more baguettes.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: The Final Batch 
You gain 6 * Baguette.

They are not magical or sacred; halflings just like their superstitions.
 


Bullriadoc "Bully" makes his rounds talking to his companions, shaking hands, exchanging farewell.  He shoulders his a backpack with a trio of leather scabbards in it for long-arms of all kinds, and a curious little wooden dowel poking out one side which, later it would be clear, is for birds to perch on.  Four small bird cages dangle from his gear, with docile looking doves and pigeons within.

Mr Dandycrust bids Jasmine adieu, and 'Bully' follows her out of the oven, past the ogre with a wave, and into the street.  "Where to, Mrs. Featherblossom?" he chirps.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Just a small expansion on Bramble's line to fill out the scene a little and explain why they're not taking the offered boat ride!  That's it for the side scene!
 


***** Bertelis, 10/15 Wounds, 0/3 FP *****

 At the Watchhouse, Early Morning After The Battle of L'Anguille Docks 

Bertelis regards Regina with what seems to be outright hostility.  Some can be chalked up to a noble son's disdain for a thief.  But a L'Anguillan, at that... She grated at the Bordelan born knight, perhaps unfairly.  Fortunately, not for much longer in that moment.

 "Maxime and I have another errand before rest - I need to check in with Wighard, and then another thing.  But I will return to the Jolly Pegasus as soon as I can."   He touches Bruno's upper arm; a silent communication from one knight to another bidding him safety, warning him redundantly to watch the theif... and then off he paces into the gloaming morning light; the recently emancipated squire Maxime following behind and asking question after question about what he missed.

They check in with Wighard, finding him standing sentinel on the deck of what would become the  Trundheim .  Bertelis is surprised it still floats - infact, the cracked hull seems to be halfway less cracked than it was when he last saw it.  After updating the Heirophant on what happened at the jail, he bids him farewell, too; leaving Maxime to join the vigil at the ship, tasked with cleaning the battered and dirtied chainmail Bertelis had worn all day; and bending links back into shape with a pair of narrow pliers.

A little later, he wanders into the waterfront temple of Manaan, and finds Brother Jacquois gazing out at the breaking waves.

 "What do you need, Sir Bertelis?" 
 "I am here to... honor my pledge to the Lord of Tides.  Is there a... beast he bid slain?  A cult of Stromfels somewhere on the coast..?" 
 "The Lord of Tides has the Knights Mariner for these things, Sir Bertelis.  And I asked a different question - what do you need?" 

Bertelis pauses.  He frowns.   "I ... need to fulfill my oaths.  Free and gather my family... try to... bring peace to my Duke's lands.  Attend my... my new lands.  I need to... educate my squire.  I need to defend my companions - we are so often hunted.  I-..." 

The Manaanite waves a hand, cutting the knight off; a show of significant ecclesial confidence.   "These are all obligations you have - that's not what I mean.  Here, try this: What's wrong with you, Bertelis?  Why do you come in here like a man held together by frayed ropes and slipknots?  Eh?"   He strikes the knight on the cheek; a soft slap that dazzles him with shock and speechless outrage.  And then another slap, a little harder, which seems to dislodge something psychologically.

The knight coughs, and coughs again; claws open his gambeson and rakes his nails over the discoloured scar near his heart.  His knees give out.

 "Sh-she... took something out of me.  Stole my courage.... filled my heart with ice water.  I am so often afraid now, and I can keep no one safe; and I am buried in obligations and my family.. my family -..."
 
Wheezing, weeping, inconsolable, Bertelis kneels on the blue glazed tiles of the temple of Manaan; the priest's hand on his head.

The man who returns to the Jolly Pegasus later is not quite the same that left it.

Bertelis skips the bath, and sleeps - he needs it.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Perception! 
I made the bold assumption that whatever we are perceiving wouldn't delay Bertelis's sideshow just there .  If it does, I can edit it out and plug it back in later; but I wanted to knock out all my 'pending' actions so we can move on soon.

  PerceptionVs61  - (1d100)[ 27 ] 
 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine had a wonderful poker face, truly one of the best. She opened that pursed, observed the twenty gold coins within it, uttered a silent prayer of thanks to Ranald, and pocketed the item on her person.

 "And you can catch even more with manure, we will be leaving as soon as we get a ship. A day or two at the most I hope." 

Regine smirked. It was an impish, sly little smirk.

 "Well I hope neither one of us becomes compost in the near future, monsieur,"  she offered him a wink, as Bertelis performed his silent communication of caution to Bruno.

Watching the other knight leave, Regine turned her attention back to Bruno. One might expect her to make an escape attempt, simply melting into the crowd and disappearing into the city at large. But, truth be told, right now, Regine was actually going to go along with this. These boys were her legitimate ticket out of the city. And hey, having a pair of armored knights around to beat up anyone threatening her would be pretty handy too.

 "So Monsieur, I am now in your custody. Shall we share life stories over a bottle of spirits at the nearest, fine establishment? Enjoy a game of cards together or does some other knightly duty demand your attention?"  
dojango
Jasmine heads back out to the ruined house with Bully and the three urchins.  Then she turns to Bully and switches to the halfling dialect and says, " First off, It's 'Mrs. Featherblossom'.  But call me Jasmine, I ain't old enuf to be a 'Mrs Featherblossom' yet.  Second.  I want ta be honest wit' ya.  If ya travel in my company there's a good chance that you, and me, and that fancy gun are all gonna end up at the bottom of the sea or in the belly of a beast somewheres.  If you and that gun disappear at the first port o' call I ain't gonna be mad, I swear.  But if ya stick around then ya gotta stick around cause then I'm gonna be relyin' on ya, you unnerstand?  Third, I dunno what Dandycrust sees in me or in you, but are ya sure that you ain't the hero he's lookin' for?  You got the fastest hands I seen, how's yer shootin' eye?  Bully Honeyacre, fastest gun in the Western regions of Bretonnia, excludin' the mysterious sniper cuz he's gonna be dead soon, it's got a nice ring to it?  Don't let Dandycrust's preconceived notions be yer boundaries, OK?  Fourth, and finally, keep that fancy gun wrapped up in a blanket or cloak while we're ramblin' about town, ya ken?  It can only cause trouble and the best rule of heroing is ya don't start trouble unless there's a reward in doin' so, and gettin' in a fight with revolutionaries or guardsmen that want to commandeer that gun ain't goin' ta have any percentage in it for us.  So keep it hidden... keep it safe. "

Once done, she turns to the urchins and passes out the bread she'd been given.  She also switches to Bretonnian.  " Alright, you lot.  You been a help to me and I reckon I ain't steered ya wrong yet.  I dunno if the revolution is gonna work out or fail miserably, but there's gonna be a lotta dead bodies either way and I don't reckon you wanna be one of them, right?  So I gots a ship outta here but I could use a few hands ta help crew it.  You three... " she indicates the leaders, " Are big enough ta handle it, and I reckon the others can help out as best they can.  It's honest work and we'll make sure ya got proper rations so's ya grow up big and strong.  If ya think the seafarin' life ain't for you, no hard feelin's, but this is the could be yer ticket outta here, ya ken? "

With that, she turns and leaves the ruins.  The little gang slides through the crowds back towards the docks.  The sun is setting, and combined with the liberty bon-fires on every corner it gives the streets an eerie red hue.  There are agitators on every corner shouting out revolutionary slogans and speeches, while groups of shopkeepers and workers hastily try to erase all signs of noble or royal influence on the city.  Some petty Burghers who were too slow or too unpopular are finding their shops and homes being smashed and ransacked, and at one point Jasmine spots some poor sod being tarred and feathered.  But still, they make it to the docks and Jasmine tracks down idle lighter and convinces the owner to row them out to the ship.  Jasmine helps the little ones up the side before telling Wighard and the others, " Got a few hands ta help fill out the berth.  I see you been busy collectin' some crew of yer own, hopefully ya got some prime hands aboard, alright?  How we doin' for provisions and the like? "
wilphe
Kwolf circles the boat as it comes in, he is getting a bit  too  into this, having somehow gotten hold of an eyepatch and a tricorne both of which stay on in defiance of logic and physics

  "Zut alors jacques garcon."1

"This be the  Trundheim  it be."

"Stand to y'all, Capn' Featherbooty be coming aboard"

"Un massif"2  
 
 Spoiler: 1 
Argh! Jim lad!
 

 
 Spoiler: 2 
Avast
 


Wighard is waiting at the top of the chains and smartly salutes Jasmine as she climbs up without any trace of irony

  We are fully provisioned. Never done this for a ship before but food is food.

I know nothing about ropes and such, so we are mostly relying on you to check that over, I have taken the liberty of putting ourselves at the disposal of people trying to leave the city - with preference for Imperial citizens and those able to help in someway as well as the deserving.

Some of them seem to know what they are doing, so I have them helping out and checking things, you will be able to check if they do in fact know what they are doing.

Hull is near fully repaired, both Siobhan and myself have been able to attune ourselves to the vessel and control wind and current - to a certain extent

I would also counsel you that just because the  Trundheim  can take the worst weather and survive, that protection does not extend to any of us aboard it

Also I think you should take this  

He holds out what he found in the chest, to most people it just looks like an ordinary but exquisite dagger, with  Hin shall not kill Hin  inscribed on the blade but she and he recognise it for what it is

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Dagger Of Halflings

The Dagger of Halflings will only display special magic properties in the hands of a Halfling; to other users, it simply counts as a magical weapon against creatures only affected by such. Although only the size of a dagger, when used by a Halfling, it counts as a normal sword, with an additional +10 bonus conferred to WS.

 - That bonus does not count when fighting other halflings, because they can perceive its true nature and because Hin shall not kill Hin - or whatever the word is here

Other races who become aware that these things exist are a lot more cautious and respectful of halflings because any one of them may have one of these on their belt and in fact so might the entire apparently unarmed moot village you just walked into (ok that is more of an insanity)
 

  I have some business ashore I wish to attend to before departure, with your permission Ma'am  
farothel
 
 Originally Posted by BananaPhone 
  "So Monsieur, I am now in your custody. Shall we share life stories over a bottle of spirits at the nearest, fine establishment? Enjoy a game of cards together or does some other knightly duty demand your attention?"   
 

 "I have no duties at the moment,"  Bruno said,  "but I want to get out of this armour and have some rest.  It's been a full night.  And we'll have time enough on the ship to talk." 
dojango
Jasmine takes the dagger, glances at it in surprise and sticks it in her belt sheath.  " Haven't seen one o' these in a while.  The Professor had one he was borrowin' for a bit, I seem ta remember.  Anyhow, if mosta these refugees are Imperials, they ain't gonna be too happy that our next destination is Mousillion.  In fact, they might be downright mutinous when they hear, so make sure we got the deck-sweepers out when we let them know.  Although some of them might jump at the chance to be Sir Bertelis's new tenant-farmers, you never know.  Best o' luck in town, try not to look suspicious.  Well, more suspicious then usual.  Yer bird has the right idea, disguisin' himself ta look like a revolutionary. "
wilphe
  I have made it clear that the ship will be proceeding to Bourdeleaux even if we may be leaving it early Ma'am.

We may need to revise our plans in any case, but that can wait until we are all reassembled and under way.  

he leans forward and drops his voice

  You are the only one of us who knows anything about ships; if you are going to command this vessel please act like it and I will support you all the way. If you are not comfortable with that responsibility and would rather be sailing master for Bruno then fine, but you must decide and quickly  

He steps back and salutes

  They will want recognition from the Empire, Ma'am, they would be foolish to jeopardise that with a diplomatic incident  

With that he descends to the boat
bramblefoot
berty: tell me where you find the couronnan captain, and what issue prevents you from just walking up and talking to him

wighard: what are you doing?

jasmine: the urchins will all stay.

bruno: you see a small mendicant procession leaving with a hooded figure at the front.

regine: you spot nothing out of the ordinary, but hey, thats no issue?

meloth: an albatross lands on the mainmast of the trundheim. it seems to be a sign of good fortune
dojango
Jasmine laughs and says, " Since when is knowin' how ta sail a requirement ta be a captain?  You must not have met many captains in the Imperial Navy.  Nah, Sir Bruno or Sir Bertelis can wear the fancy hat and pretend to be in charge, dependin' on whichever port we're in.  I'll have my hands full tryin' to keep this passel of landlubbers from capsizin' the ship the first time we get inta a cross-current. "
MrAbdiel
Bertelis gets several hours sleep - right through lunch, to the other side.  Then it becomes time to wake, to pray, to escort Deanna to the ship that she last left as a fleeing prisoner... which she will be boarding once again, this time more willingly.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: More to add, but rolling first... 
Rolling for Bertelis' Imbalance of Humors, for the first time.

 (1d100)[ 67 ] .

Will narrate the rest of this post with the result!

53-76 - Melancholic - Shot through with despair and worry, the character dwells on past failures and personal weaknesses obsessively for the day, in defiance of consolation. He takes a -10 to Charm and Willpower tests, and -20 to Weapon Skill and Ballistic Skill until he is heavily wounded - at that point, pain and mortality reassert their value for the day.
 


...But the pain of his wounds, the toll on his mind, hang on him like ill fitting armor, that morning.  Even strapping on his quality leathers and shouldering his pack is a challenge.  Mournfully, he looks back at the bed he left, wishing he could return to it - but he is both forbidden by vow, and by time.

He leaves a tip with the owner of the Jolly Pegasus, considering the trouble they brought to his door - and the difficult times that are like to come to the man during the secession.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Marking off 3 gold coins as general charity for the poor innkeeper who had his doors kicked off the hinges and his rooms filled with evil murderous bugs.
 


They make a sorry pair, walking to the dock; Deanna still shellshocked from her ordeal, Bertelis clouded with gloom, but when they get there, he leaves his stepmother in Maxime's keeping; the grumpy squire occupying herself by monitoring the refugees accumulating, and scouring Bertelis' chainmail of rust flecks by shaking the sack full of sand - tiring, necessary work.

But he does not board himself, just yet; he makes his way to the temple of Manaan to bid farewell to Brother Jacqouis, and to make a donation.

"What's this?" He asks the brother, as a bundle of cloth is pressed into his hand; white, cotton robes around a metal bundle.

 "Something for your travels.  I do not know if the Tide Lord will retain you to his clergy, at the end of it; that is between him, and the Lady.  But I know this: Marcus of Bordeleaux was a companion of Gilles the Uniter.  He threw down Svengar of the Skaelings from the top of that very lighthouse and  saved  L'Anguille from total sack and razing.  He fought side by side with Manaan himself to drive raiders from Bordeleaux; that is how his legend began.  And Nathanael du Roche, your father's father, was one of those who could draw his line unbroken back to Marcus; coastal lords who honored the Lady, and the Lord of Tides. Perhaps your father took his calling to an inland fief with no affinity for the sea; but your ancestry is tied to Manaan not from desperate obligation, but from affection; from a fickle god who cares for little, to a line of men who honored him.  In as much as you elect to serve him, do so as an act of honor, not obligation.  Permit him to be an anchor for you in the storms ahead; not merely another storm." 

He opens the cloth folded robes and finds within a length of bronze chain, surprisingly untouched by verdigris even in its obvious age; and at its end a three flanked anchor as might hold secure the small boat a lone fisherman might use.

Bertelis batters his way through his melancholy to force a smile, and gives the holy man a hug; leaves his donation, and heads back towards where the ship now marked the  Trundheim  is anchored, with beasts, companions, and more than a few refugees, at that.  Almost time to pull up anchor and get out of the port for the night...

But the Companions of the Burning Slug accomplish very little without complication.

Up and down the dock, bands of mercenaries at the behest of the new ruling merchants are scooping up able seamen to join the Free Navy of L'Anguille.  Many are lured by good pay, better than they've ever had; others need to be propelled with more coersion.  And a cunning few figure out ways to escape it entirely.

 "Excuse me, Sir Knight -"  comes a voice so squeaky and shrill it can barely be described as belonging to the woman who issues it.  Bertelis turns to see a group of six sisters of Shallya, dressed in their voluminous, form-denying robes with wide wimples and plague veils.  A fair precaution, given the Nurglish activity that has transpired.  The leader thereof leans toward him, intently.   "...Do you perhaps know of a ship bound out of port?  My sisters and I are on a sort of pilgrimmage you see, and we are earnestly in need of a means to get underway." 

It takes all of the melancholy knight's effort not to say 'I don't care' and pass by.  He tries to be conversational, at a knightly minimum.

 "To where does your pilgrimage take you?"   He asks.

 "Oh, perhaps to Bordeleaux, I should think..."  The sister squeaks.

Bertelis frowns.   "...There are no Shallyan relics in Bordeleaux.  And the people will need your succour here.  This is a poor time to abandon your city, sisters - treasonous though it may be."   And he pivots, and stalks off toward the Trundheim.

And then, with the sisters gabbling amongst themselves far behind him and the berth of the  Trundheim , he pauses, and looks back, and his sullen mind pushes through the facts.

 ...Pilgrimmage?  Bordeleaux...?  And I am not in my tabard or armor - why think me a knight, not a sailor? 

He scowls.  Of course the voice wasn't feminine - it belonged to Captain Labasaixent, who sailed the riverboat with them up to L'Anguille.  The skinny, buck-toothed captain was skilled and reliable - exactly the kind of person the L'Anguillians were trying to pressgang right now.  Somehow, the captain - and presumably his five Couronnan crewmen - had acquired the habits of Shallyans and were farcically hiding themselves from the new authority.  Bertelis had been too dense to understand the captain was begging for help to escape.

They needed sailors, and a captain... but a gaggle of Shallyan sisters boarding their ship to leave town would be very suspicious indeed.  And elsewhere on the dock, the Dockmaster in pay of the merchants was sending out his men to look for all the captains of vessels logged as being in the port.  Extracting the captain and his men from their ruse to the  Trundheim  might be... tricky.

He was not a man of tricks.  For this, they would need Wighard, and Jasmine... and perhaps the theif, Regina.
wilphe
Wighard gives an inward sigh in a combination of frustration and relief

He'd never been on a ship before, but understood enough that their usual MO of "everyone do their own thing" was going to be dangerous.

On the other hand he respected Jasmine for turning down being in charge, however Bruno wasn't there yet so it was back to him and he addresses the new recruits

  My name is Wighard Rauschenberg I am a surgeon and wizard in the service of his Imperial Majesty, this is my apprentice Siobhan Padholder, my companion Kwolf and our familiars Schlapp and Catwulf who we have raised from pups.

In case you didn't know this is a magic ship and was recently animated by a chaos entity I, I, was able to exorcise from the ship but not from this plane of reality

If you have any superstitious problems with  any  of that I suggest you leave now because it is  not  going to get any better  

None of them move

  Good

Miss Padholder I have some errands to run, by the time I get back I want this lot washed, medically examined, hair cut and issued new  Slops   
 Yes sir 

Wighard descends to the boat with Meloth and asks them to take them to the other side of the harbour where there is the site that interests him

Hearing Siobhan take charge as he leaves

 Let's get down to business.

Strip

Don't be shy

I am a medical professional

You don't have anything I haven't seen before

Yes including one of those

Except they are usually a lot bigger than that 
wilphe
Its not entirely clear why there is a remnant of elven stonework in the mole, perhaps some outer fort that was built over, or maybe a standalone outer berth, or maybe the entire mole is built on Elven foundations.

In any case the boat skilfully cons up to it, enabling Wighard, Meloth and any others present to step onto the base of the ancient blocks

  Stand off a bit so you don't get stove in, we'll call you when we want to come back  

Wighard looks at it, feeling its age and the quality of the stonework, then looks at Meloth, wondering what thoughts go through the elf's head.

Pride maybe? Or Melancholy that such great works should be laid low

Returning to the stones, he pushes one apparently at random and a door swings open revealing a clean passage that seems to lead to a lit chamber

  Well, this is what I saw certainly, but I don't think this has lain undisturbed for centuries. Shall we?  
Volthawk
Meloth's happy to give off the impression that he's thinking the kind of thoughts Wighard's guessing he is - dramatic thoughts, playing on themes of pride, despair and melancholy - but the truth is that he...isn't. The elves of those days and himsel are so removed that he feels little attachment to them - he's not even sure if this was built by the elves who would become his people or those that returned west - even before one considered that...well, that he didn't exactly have much claim to whatever kind of noble elven heritage he was supposed to feel an affinity for here...

Still, if others were to attach that kind of noble air to him, he saw no reason to  not  play into it. Of the various reactions to elves he'd seen from humans, this was one of the better ones.

The doorway being revealed breaks Meloth from his musings.  "It isn't that much of a surprise that it's here. Elves built the walls and the lighthouse, so it stands to reason that there'd be more of their work around the place, built over by the Bretonians in the many years since. Still, here..."  Meloth frowns.  "Lit up and kept clean, and with a relatively easy to find hidden entrance. We're not the first ones to find this place - plenty of people in docks this busy would love to have a secret place to keep things. Many won't appreciate unwelcome attention."  He gives a small shrug.  "It might be fine, but we should be cautious regardless. Even if we can't strike first, just in case they're...well, friendly may be a stretch, but not immediately violent." 
bramblefoot
meloth and wighard: there is a spiral stairway that leads up, and a trapdoor in the floor of this hidden passage. will you two both gimme an intelligence roll at flat

bertelis: you make it to the ship. siobhan snaps you a clumsy salute, saying  "ship and crew ready for inspection sir!"  the trundheim is looking good, but the crew is a sorry lot

regine: you earn your stake back, plus another 10 GC
wilphe
  Well I didn't so much find it as know it was there - it was a divine guidance thing

But yes, if it is this clean and lit, its seeing some traffic - or someone put a lot of elbow grease in knowing we were coming  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 26 ]  INT 66
 
Volthawk
Meloth frowns.  "I don't like the sound of your alternative explanation either." 
 
 Spoiler 

Int 46:  (1d100)[ 95 ] 
 
farothel
Bruno points out the procession to his current companions and then starts following it to see if he can recognize any of the symbols or see who the hooded figure is.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

as I don't know where this falls in the timeline, I've just kept it general.
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis puts one foot on the gangplank, as Siobhan salutes.   "Thank you, Ma'amselle.  I... shall come aboard, and see what we have in the way of charts." 

While on the gangplank, he pauses; touches a brass fastener on his jerkin, touches the silver ring on his finger; reaches into his mouth and touches his canine tooth.  It's a strange sequence of gestures, but he remembers it from learning from his father about the varied superstitions  his  father taught  him .

Brass, silver, ivory.  Touch brass, touch silver, touch ivory, when boarding.  Touch ivory, touch silver, touch brass, when going to shore.  And aboard he goes, moving to Jasmine when he sees her and speaking in conspiratorial low tones:

 "Lady Jasmine... I need your cunning.  Do you see that gaggle of Shallyans down there - six of them, all big and gawky as any women has ever been?  They are the sailors and the captain from the riverboat we came in on.  They need our help, and we could use the experienced crewmen.  But if they are revealed they might be spotted by men looking for them; and if they board as nuns, they will be suspicious enough to perhaps trigger an inspection.  If we delay too long, the mercenaries on the dock will see through their ruse.  Have you a notion of craft, to get them aboard?" 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

 
 Originally Posted by farothel 
 Bruno points out the procession to his current companions and then starts following it to see if he can recognize any of the symbols or see who the hooded figure is. 
 

Regine was  about  to walk off, her foot off the ground, her body turned about, the crowd before her as the greatest camouflage she could hope for into which she could easily meld and vanish....but her new 'comrade' gestured to something, prompting her perception to halt her advance and draw her back to his movements.

 "Uhh...mec?"  Regine asked, reaching out to try and tap at Bruno's shoulder but missing, as the knight moved forward in fascination with the hooded figure.

 "Frère, what are you doing? Time is of the essence, non, mon ami?" 
wilphe
 
 Originally Posted by Volthawk 
 Meloth frowns.  "I don't like the sound of your alternative explanation either."  
 

  Hey the  Company of the Burning Slug  is a well established organisation with a reputation to keep up.

If you want a spot amongst our recurring antagonists you have to have standards; place has either got to be spotless or the sort of horrible that shows you really put the effort in. Anything else is just half-arsed.


Also I didn't get warned of any danger here, just that I should check it out

This should not be taken as confirmation that there isn't anyway  
farothel
 "Maybe,"  Bruno said,  "but it will only take a few minutes to check things out and you never know what you will find." 
He will continue until he can identify the people in the procession.
dojango
Once Bertelis tells Jasmine about the disguised sailors, she breaths a sigh of relief.  " Thank Manann's curly beard, we could use a few steady hands to show the kids the ropes.  Tell them ta make ready for a jollyboat to come pick them up.  We'll hoist up the yellow jack and ain't nobody gonna ask us any questions 'cept 'how fast can ya get outta here.'  We oughter be ready to go immediately after, tho.  Wighard and Meloth went off ta go look at some elvish ruins and Sir Bruno ain't back yet.  But speakin' of which, you oughter get the fanciest hat aboard the ship while we're in Bretonnian waters.  Might make dealin' with the authorities a mite easier. "
MrAbdiel
Bertelis sighs.  He looks around for a moment as if looking for someone else to pawn the job on to, but instead finally accepts it, nods, and rubs the bridge of his nose.   "Yes... Yes, I can do that; that's a good plan.  Thank you, Jasmine." 

He vanishes below deck, and emerges wearing the white cotton robes of a Manaanite acolyte; a braid of what looks like horsehair around his neck, with a small wooden albatross hanging from it.  There were Manaanites buzzing around the docks all the time; one coming and going from the ship is unlikely to acquire notice.  Under that cover, he heads down the gangplank  (touch ivory, touch silver, touch brass)  to relay the message to his 'Shallyan' counterparts, before returning aboard  (touch brass, touch silver, touch ivory) .

 "They'll come when the boat is ready and the plan is in motion.  I suppose we'll just wait for the others, now; if Wighard and Meloth are in trouble, I'm sure they'll find a way to signal us.  We can always take the other boat out to get them, as needed." 

He brings a bundle of ship's charts and maps from below deck, and unfurls them in the sunlight where they can be best read between him and Jasmine on the deck.  It's possible the gunman had marked where he was planning on going, after all - but if not, Bertelis needed the maps to chart their voyage to Mousillon.  But he looks up from the spread of parchment to the halfling, when he realizes her hair is uncovered... and then, more importantly, spots the bruising behind the ear from where she was conked out and tied up the night before.  This part of the tale, Jasmine's part, he didn't know about - he hadn't thought to ask.  She simply vanished, and turned up to help again.

 "...Ma'amselle Jasmine - what happened to you, yestereve?  Before you rejoined Bruno and Meloth, chasing Deanna's takers..?  Are you alright..?" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: Maps! 
Bertelis has Navigation, Trade: Cartographer, and Academic Knowledge: Geography, so charting their course (with a little nautical consultation) should be easy enough.  But if there's any clue in the maps about where mister sneakygun was going or came from, or was working for, that'd be good to know!
 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

 
 Originally Posted by farothel 
  "Maybe,"  Bruno said,  "but it will only take a few minutes to check things out and you never know what you will find." 
He will continue until he can identify the people in the procession. 
 


The thief perked a slender eyebrow at the Imperials suggestion. She knew exactly what they'd find: more trouble. The city was tumbling into martial law around them and this fellow wanted to gawk at priests and their rituals? Strange people, the Imperials were.

About to protest but thinking better of it, Regine moved near Bruno and kept her eyes and ears alert.
dojango
 
 Originally Posted by MrAbdiel 
  "...Ma'amselle Jasmine - what happened to you, yestereve?  Before you rejoined Bruno and Meloth, chasing Deanna's takers..?  Are you alright..?" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: Maps! 
Bertelis has Navigation, Trade: Cartographer, and Academic Knowledge: Geography, so charting their course (with a little nautical consultation) should be easy enough.  But if there's any clue in the maps about where mister sneakygun was going or came from, or was working for, that'd be good to know!
 
 
 

" Hmm? " she replies, looking at the map.  " Oh, that.  I didn't want ta tell you cause I didn't want ya to get mad.  But back when we was in Montfort, and you was hurt bad, I figured that our enemies might be usin' catspaws ta spy on us.  Ta track us.  So I tried dealin' with some information broker to buy that information offa him, but he knew who we were and said he weren't gonna truck with us, so I figured he was workin' for the other side, if ya know what I mean.  So anyway, I decided ta eavesdrop on him to 'establish probable cause' as the Vereneans are always natterin' on about, but he was usin' dark magic to protect himself so I couldn't.  So I talked to, ya know, our magic specialist and some weird demon attacked us.  And the demon knew Wighard's name, even!  His true name!  Anyhow, Wighard got scared off and said it wasn't our job to 'eliminate' the guy spyin' on us with weird shadow demons, which I thought was gonna be a problem later on, so I talked to some local lads who probably din't want dark magics in their fine city and suggested that they deal with the problem.  They musta done somethin' cause he turned up here in the city and tried ta grab me.  I mighta accidentally let slip that we was headin' ta Sault, by the way, so if we seem him there and he's on yer fief then it's definitely our job ta take him out, so you's can see the justice of it all, cuz you're the lord o' the manor, I reckon.  But anyway, I managed ta escape and he set the tenement on fire and swiped that jezzail I got off the ratmen, which is why I couldn't shoot that jerk on the boat when we got there. "
bramblefoot
bruno and regine: the woman with the hood has a nondescript face, her eyes are covered by the hood, and all in all, she looks like a normal mendicant. she just keeps walking, paying no attention to you. the rest of the mendicants do the same

wighard and meloth: can i get a search at flat to see what you find in the tower?

berty: the map has a red X in the middle of the dragons maw. there is a coded logbook, in what looks like a mishmash of breton, tilean and reikspiel, with plenty of nonsensical parlance thrown in, and some other documents, none which seem to be useful

jasmine: bully will walk up, and point out a tall man with a tricorn watching the trundheim  "im getting funny vibes from him"  he says
MrAbdiel
Bertelis listens as best he can.  When Jasmine gets going, she palavers good and hard; and Bertelis has been speaking so much Breton in recent days he has to blink and change gears to remember how to digest information in the language of the river tribes.

But after he does catch up, some seven or eight seconds after Jasmine has finished, he touches his own face with his palms.   "...I am glad you are well, through all that."   He says this first and lets it sit; without appending it too quickly with any qualifier lest it get lost in what follows, and not seen as principally important.

 "Jasmine, you are my good friend.  Over these last months we have bled for each other in old tombs and swampy battlefields and cracking riverboats.  Yesterday, you ran and tracked and fought to save my step-mother with the same courage I expect you would have done for your own kin.  And I will never forget what you did back in the Axebite pass for me, and Glod and Gimgroth, and the dozens of pilgrims and slaves who were destined for short, miserable lives of toil and suffering.  You have nothing to fear from my anger.  I am glad that you escaped your captors here, just as you escaped the rats in Axebite.  But I fear one day you encounter an enemy who knows how to tie knots.  And if you are missing..." 

Oddly, he pauses to squeeze his eyes shut, and breathe for a second.  It's a vulnerable moment to be sure; but something about his mental state is shifted a few notches in the direction of vulnerability.  When steady again, he summarizes.

 "I can put blade and lance, horse and horseman to work; and my body has caught so many arrows and bullets now that I can hardly complain about a few more.  But I do not possess the skills to track you down if you are lost; and I cannot leverage my skills to fight for you if I do not know where you are.  Just..."
 
His hands hover in the air between them, curling a little like he is trying to wring the right words out of the air between them.  He gives up, and shakes his head a bit, and trusts she gets the gist.  Just as he notices the red X; and Bully brings his report to the irrepressible riverwarden.
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine stared at the procession that Burno had seemingly become so fascinated with, her raised eyebrow still present as she looked at it and then the back of the mans head.

It was just a priestess and her coterie of initiates. So what?

The thief did not understand the Imperials transfixation, nor did she have time to discern what truly allured him to such a spectacle. If Regine was going to uproot her 20 years of existence in this city and depart within a few hours, she had to leave  now .

 "Seen one procession, you've seen'em all, monsier,"  Regine spoke, her ethereal-like presence half-in-the-crowd and half behind one of Bruno's shoulders.

 "I gave it a few minutes and have seen nothing to anchor me any longer, mon ami. Please excuse me, but I have a life to uproot and pack. I will meet you and your others at your ship. Au revoir!" 

And with a little wave and bow, Regine melted off into the crowd...

  La dame en rouge  
 
 Spoiler 

 La dame en rouge  was the best and worst gambling den one could frequent. A well-decorated and homely interior might have disarmed any onlooker into thinking it a place of good repute, but those who partook in its delicacies could see past the pretentions to higher society. This was not a watering hole for any local dreg who could break someone's fingers to force a few coppers out of them. No no, this was the place where the  boss  of such a thug would pour a cognac, smoke gamble and converse with his fellow mid-tier criminals while powdered-up mademoiselles tried to land their next powerful, wealthy partner.

 "...and now the madness unfolding in the streets! I have ships coming in and leaving, all with or without my goods!"  Louis Dubois, one of the largest smugglers in L'Anguille. A shorter than average man of slight build and an over-compensatingly large hat, his neatly trimmed goatee and foppish exterior hid a dangerously calculating mind that many had underestimated. He took a sip of a warm, amber liquid from a goblet before gesticulating with his right hand a dismissive notion.  "The merchants have lost their minds!"  he snapped at no one in particular, drawing his cards up to observe their markers before placing them on the table.

 "Better than workers!"  grumbled Claude DuClare, a heavy set man with a face like a beaten leather ball pinned to a pair of intimidatingly broad shoulders. Every word he produced sounded as if it had been scraped through a sandblaster and directed to whatever object he was staring at. Unlike Dubois, Claude was holding his cards before him, as if using them to create a fence that would bridge both of his hands  "Five of my joints closed down in one day! Arrested most of my girls, even tossed the madams into the same cells! You'd know that though, wouldn't you, little Loup?" 

Across from Claude and the giant pot of gold and jewels nestled upon the centre of the table, was Loup, Regine. She sat with both elbows on the table, her left hand flat against its surface and her right pinning down her cards. Her shoulders were hunched together, though her face wore that smirk of hers.

 "And why's that, DuClare?" 

The bigger man laughed as if he were coughing.

 "Spent the night in one didncha? I heard you got pinched last night breaking into one of Andre's warehouses!" 

Louis rolled his eyes from the side,  "Bastard..."  he uttered quietly.

 "Nonsense!"  Regine replied, feigning offence.

 "One of the guild masters caught me with his wife..."  Regine said with clear sarcasm, eliciting a stifled, lightly amused snort from Dubois, while DuClare merely glared with his narrow-eyed, lips-parted grin. Regine hadn't garnered any modicum of respect in this world by talking like a priestess: she swore, drunk, fought with her fists and told all the crude humoured jokes necessary to be on the minimal level of 'one of the boys'.
 
"Still!"  Regine started, leaning back in her chair, eyes on her cards before drawing them up to DuClare.

 "They'd have sent me straight to the gallows if they knew what I did with his dau - " 
 Ka-Boom!! 

Suddenly the main entrance doors, a pair of beautiful, oak and carved double-features were blown inwards from a gun powdered explosion as plumes of smoke wafted into the ostentatious gambling den and several dozen clearly armed figures followed in its wake.

 "Dubois? Dubois!? Where are you hiding your motherless, goat fiddling son of a dog!?" 

The gravely voice was unmistakeable: Andre "Facer" Renault! Taller than Dubois, but equally trim, he stood at the centre of his men with his colourful, extravagant attire, large, wide-brim hat sporting 3 white feathers and a set of knives holstered across his hip to remind others why he was called the 'Facer'. Meanwhile, in his hands the man brandished a heavy cross-bow.

  Uh oh  ...Regine thought to herself, her eyes shifting from Andre, to Debois, to DuClare and...the giant pot of money and jewels resting upon the table.


 "Andre Renault..."  Dubois announced, eyes narrowed, hand moving to the rapier upon his hip as he rose from his seat.

 "I thought I smelt something...growing desperate in these dangerous times?" 

Andre smirked with thin lips beneath a well-groomed goatee,  "look outside the window, mon ami...times change."  and with that, he swiftly raised his crossbow and loosed a bolt in Dubois' direction, the latter only managing to dive behind a table at the last moment, only for the projectile to strike a poor waiter who had been indecisive behind him.

 "Men, kill every last one of them!"  Dubois shouted.

 "Damn bastard - you slashed my best girls face!"  DuClare roared, flipping the table before him and drawing his emerald-pommelled sword.

The once semi-luxurious palace of smoke, half-naked women, alcohol, gambling and pretentious sleaze-bags erupted into a free-for-all melee, with crossbow bolts, swords, throwing knives and axes sailing every which way and bodies catching many of them. Regine, meanwhile, had kept her focus on the most important thing in the room: the over-turned central money pot. Lashing out with her closest hand, Regine managed to draw up a fist-full of gold coins and shoved them into her waiting purse. Barely a second past before she rolled over and up into a crouching formation, as the roars and bellows of fighting men and the clash of steel of steel rang out about her.

 "Loup!"  Andre's voice barked, the usurper having ascended the flight of stairs leading to their elevated gaming floor.

 "Or,  chienne , should I say?"  he provided a mocking bow, bloodied large knife in hand, ostentatious hat flopping forward with its rims as he did so.

Regine could only offer a slow shrug and an oh-well smile in return, quickly leaning backwards, her hands flattening on the floor behind her as she somersaulted her legs up and over her body to stand up primed and ready to flee.

 "I will never forget what you did you truie!"  Andre bellowed as Regine turned and fled; her athletic body and long legs propelling her figure forward swiftly, ducking blows, side-jumping over furniture and directing herself straight at one of the large, ornate windows. Andre's roars and threats of violence were drowned into the background of Regine's focus as her vision suddenly became laced with crossbow bolts and thrown knives impacting the area's she had  just  occupied half a second earlier, as she drew closer to that large, glassy portal to freedom, hurling herself upwards in a forward twirling somersault that deposited her a foot before the window - which she promptly plunged out of gracelessly in a shower of glass.

The chaotic violence of the gambling den swiftly departed the thief's senses as she luckily managed to catch every balcony on the way down to the street, her body impacting heavily against each out-cropping in a plume of masonry, wood and plaster before she landed in a groaning heap upon the cobbled floor of the back-alley.

And there she lay for one, two, maybe three minutes. Her mind rang with a numbing, droning whine and the clarity of the world only slowly returned to recognition as the thief gradually hoisted her body up from the hard ground of the city street, chaos and violence above her and chaos and violence in the streets beyond her.

But - oh no!

Regine's hands went to her hips before relief flushed through her battered figure like a morphine replacement: the gambling winnings were still there.

 "Putain de bâtard!"  the thief groaned as she rolled her shoulders and gritted her teeth as splinters of hot pain shot through her figure. But, whining and curses could come later - now was the time to escape!

Some of her prize retained at least, the thief shambled forward into an awkward, injured run. The city's alleys were home to her, and even in her bruised and battered state, Regine managed to stick to the shadows and gradually make her way to the docks...
 

  On Board the Party Ship with Jasmine and Bertelis:  

It had been several hours since Bertelis and Bruno had "received" Regine into their custody. Bertelis had departed the responsibility, while Bruno had been relieved...by the thief herself.

Yet when they had last been in each others company, Regine's disposition had been one of the sarcastic, swashbuckling rogue, a coy smile upon her face, knowing look in her eye and both irritating and endearingly playful demeanour upon her entire mien.

But when she arrived at the boat, Regine seemed less than entertained. Not in a dour mood, mind you. There were no frowns, glares, glowers or hateful stares to be found here. But when she came up that gangplank the thief was dressed in her dark, surprisingly  good quality  clothing, her hair drawn back into a light pony-tail in such a way as to frame her angular, oddly pleasing features, while across her back was strung an exotic looking weapon indeed - a repeating crossbow. It rested upon a backpack fat with personal effects, while around her right shoulder was a slingbag that was equally bloated with items belonging to the thief who had just picked up her entire life in a single night and had decided to set sail an depart.

Oddly, though, Regine wore upon her pleasing features a wide, black-purple bruise around her right eye, an upper lip that was cut in two places and a cheek that seemed lightly swollen.
dojango
" I weren't worried you'd be angry at me... " says Jasmine, but trails off.  They stare at the map for a few minutes more, finding solace in staring at the map to let the moment of awkwardness pass.  When Bully reports, she heads out of the cabin to take a look at the suspicious watcher.  She shrugs and tells Bully, " Keep an' eye on him, probably just an agent o' the directorate tryin' ta determine if they can press our ship.  If he looks like he's gonna do anything let me know.  Mebbe when he's watchin' try ta look sick and hurl o'er the railing, it'll lend credence to our little roos-de-ger we've got planned. "  But then she's distracted by the sight of an even more suspicious newcomer climbing aboard the ship.  She turns to Bertelis and says, " Hey, didya hire a pirate ta help crew our ship?  You gotta tell me if yer gonna hire a pirate.  Hey, lady, we ain't flyin' the black flag, you sure yer on the right ship? "

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
I don't think anyone mentioned to Jasmine that we've got a new master thief in the crew yet.
 
farothel
 "It looks like nothing,"  Bruno said to Regine,  "but as I said, better safe than sorry.  Now lets get to the ship and see how fast we can get out of this city." 
He would lead her towards the ship.
wilphe
  This is the problem, I only know I am supposed to come here, not what I am supposed to find 
 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 51 ]  Search 66
 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine had never been on a ship before.

Well, she had...but to steal something, naturally. A finely made brace of pistols from a captain of minor repute and fame. Those had fetched her a pretty penny with her contracting fixer!

But  travel  on one? No. This was going to be a first.

However, when she reached the top of the gangplank Regine felt an almost girlish rush of excitement through her body as she beheld the midship deck, the towering mast and web of rigging as the ship was humming with life. She had to admit, there was the essence of adventure in the air, palpable and contagious. She damn near even smiled.


 
 Originally Posted by dojango 
 But then she's distracted by the sight of an even more suspicious newcomer climbing aboard the ship. She turns to Bertelis and says,  "Hey, didya hire a pirate ta help crew our ship? You gotta tell me if yer gonna hire a pirate. Hey, lady, we ain't flyin' the black flag, you sure yer on the right ship?"  
 

Regine turned to face the...halfling! She was being addressed by a little one.

 "A pirate?"  Regine asked, humour in her voice.

 "I have neither the scurvy, rum nor noose around my neck and a wonderful view from the gallows to be a pirate. Pirates don't exactly berth in ports with authorities that try to hang them, mademoiselle..." 

A sly smile crept along the thiefs face,  "two knights have taken me in their employ and told me that this is where I can earn an honest living. Regine Lacroix, mademoiselle, humble labourer and problem solver at your service."  Regine put one foot forward and performed a little bow, one hand up and other to the side.

 "Enchanté!" 
MrAbdiel
 
 Spoiler: Re: Gangplank 
I sort of stunted the gangplank into existence earlier... so.. Erm.  Bleh.  Let's say after Regina and Bruno board they pull up the plank and anchor a little from the pier again, it's the easiest solution. Bingbangboom, the whole gang is here.
 


Bertelis quickly furls up the charts when Jasmine draws his attention to the boarding Regina, and Bruno not far behind.  He keeps his eyes on the thief as she enjoys her first nautical experience.

 "She's a thief, Jasmine.  The Watch Captain blackmailed me with her custody, to get Maxime out of his cell.  Bruno and I gave our words we would take her with us out of the city... beyond that, I suppose we'll see.  That Watch Captain..." 

He glowers, shaking his head a little.

 "...Treasonous, arrogant weasel.  When this rebellion falls apart and the crown returns to L'Anguille, I will return here and-"   He delays, finally, slowly, learning his lesson about rash vows.   "...Discuss it.  Ma'amselle Lacroix... I suppose I do not have to explicitly require of you not to perform any misdeeds on these poor people, or the companions on this vessel.  But I should ask, given that you are a daughter of this rebel city... Are we going to have political disagreements?" 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine stood with one hand on her hip, wearing that ambiguous expression of hers. Honestly, Bertelis' question was cute. It was adorable, really. She was born into nothing,  raised on the streets and became one of the best thieves the city had ever produced - yet in his world, it was politics that took precedence. He must have been born into nobility, Regine thought.

 "The politics is the same everywhere you go, monsieur: big f***s small,"  she stated flatly.

 "But if there is a steady paycheque in it...I'll believe whatever you say." 
dojango
 "So, not a pirate. Fine. Good! Although I was hopin' you knew a stay from a halyard, but you can figure it out as we go along. But if 'monotony of pay' is what yer after instead of a life of adventure and excitement, this might not be the ship for you. Since I don't have much truck with coercion, so if'n you ain't interested in anything else than a ride out o' town, I won't look for ya if ya jump ship at the next port.  If'n ya want to stick around, glad ta have ya with us, through hell an high water. Literally, not figuratively. Till ya make up yer mind you can stow yer kit in one o' the lockers and sling a hammock anywhere before the mast. Just make sure ta give yerself two feet above or below the other hammocks." 
bramblefoot
wighard and meloth: you find an ilthmar mail shirt in the lighthouse mole. it looks old, but still servicable

berty: maxime is dropped off at the trundheim by two burly men in tricorns, who unceremoniously row her out and put her on the ship, and then row back
wilphe
  Guess that is for you, hopefully Maxime will have got some practice in cleaning mail before he gets set loose on that  

Upon departure the door swings closed by itself and cannot be opened again, nor even seen.

++++++

Wighard proceeds to the Tennis Court and gets a brief audience where he gives a medically precise and charismatic account of its merits

After that to the Temple of Shallya, where he sets up one candle but the pinging of another button suggests he should not push on.

He explains how they should light other lights from it and returns to the ship
wilphe
Upon return he observes Regine and immediately walks over, without having been introduced and dips into his boot

  Glad you could make it, I think you should have this given that everyone else is too much of a Junior Griffin* to carry a poisoned blade.   he hands it over hilt first   Black Lotus, be careful. Oh and I am Wighard by the way, your name would be?  
 
 Spoiler: * 
Don't know if there is a Boy Scout equivalent for the Empire, but there is now
 

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Misericorde of Poisonous Malice - (Magic Dagger and +4 wounds from Black Lotus)
 
farothel
As soon he was on the ship, Bruno would ask his valet where his cabin will be and then would head down to take off the full plate.  While it did offer a lot of protection, swimming in it was very difficult so he wouldn't even try.  he would also stow away his chainmail, just using the leather that was underneath it all.  Not ideal, but it would have to do for now.  Then he would head back up.

 "So, how are we going to do things and where are we going with this ship,"  he asked,  "and do we need to get some extra crew or is that also taken care off?" 
dojango
Once the disguised sailors are retrieved, Jasmine gathers together the entire crew on the deck for a short speech.  She pulls out a case and opens it up, displaying the cat o' nine-tails used by the prior owners of the ship.  It's a vicious instrument, with bits of metal woven into the cords, still stained with blood from its previous victims.  She holds it up so the crew can see it, and then with a dramatic gesture, she hoys it into the sea.  " As long as I'm yer crew boss, this ain't gonna be a floggin' ship.  Those o' you who don't know what to do, learn as best ya can and follow orders smartly.  Those who do know what to do, do it, and show the others so's they can learn.  If'n ya steal from yer mates, or shirk yer watches or get too drunk or just be a jerk, we'll put ya ashore at the next port of call and you'll be missin' out on the best damned ship you'll find in a hunnerd years.  Any questions, or anyone want ta jump ship?  Otherwise we're headin for the open sea! "
wilphe
  You're in charge given that this is an Imperial vessel, Sir Bruno Sir.

Try not to eff it up,

Bertelis is your 2IC

We have a scratch crew:

Master Petrus who bought us down from Couronne will be in charge of all nautical matters, and most of the senior petty officers are also former members of his crew not interested in being pressganged, some of them rapidly promoted

Jasmine has brought along her posse - they are inexperienced but young and consider themselves well in, we'll try them out in various positions and see how talent and personality gel before deciding permanent apprenticeships

I also screened through those seeking for refuge for the right combination of deserts, desperation and ability to contribute either materially or skill wise. That's where we have a cook from.

Given they have not worked together before I suggest we do not worry about progress so much for the first part of the journey but drill and work up.


Jasmine will be boatswain given that she is the only one of us who knows a bilge from a batten

Siobhan and I will be Surgeon and Mate respectively, one or other of us will be standing watch at all time for control if necessary - again I would like to work up. Do not count on us having full command of this vessel's unique abilities. I will also be handling pursery.

Meloth and the new lady will be Midshipmen

Odmar will be fully occupied tending animals

Berthold will be fully occupied tending you

Maxime will attend Sir Bertelis

Lady Deanna is a supernumery Surgeons Mate


Awaiting your command sir  
dojango
" Oh yeah, Captain Bruno, better get the fanciest hat ya can.  Don't worry about little things like givin' orders to the crew an' chartin' a course, we'll handle that.  You just concentrate on the most important bit which is lookin' smart an' dignified. "
wilphe
  With our position on the Lash established.

Do we have any outstanding positions on Rum and Sodomy?  
farothel
Bruno wasn't sure that he wanted to be captain, but someone had to do it and he could command if he had to.  And remembering his history, it used to be that people could just buy the command of a ship of war, so how would this be different.  At least he wasn't going to war if he could avoid it.
 "You should have told me that earlier, I could have gone hat shopping.  Now I only have the ones going with my good costumes and neither of those are really suited for a ship." 
 "Very well,"  he continued,  "Miss Featherblossom, Master Petrus, take us out of this harbour and set course for Bourdeleaux." 
dojango
 
 Originally Posted by wilphe 
   With our position on the Lash established.

Do we have any outstanding positions on Rum and Sodomy?   
 

" Take it up with yer girlfriend.  An we drink wine in Bretonnian waters.  One cup for the hands, but we better make it half wine and half water for the little kids.  Least until they get used ta it. "
MrAbdiel
Bertelis grimaced a little as the wine was handed out - though how this came to be the Bordelan’s expression for the matter, none might know.  He did take a moment to catch Jasmine again briefly.

“Psst… ease on the ‘girlfriend, boyfriend’ jokes with Siobhan and Wighard, eh?  I don’t know if we ever talked outright about Trundheim, being before you and Bruno and Glod joined us; but we pulled that girl sniffling and shocked from hiding place at the mine.  Her father died to give her time to run; and Wighard has taken on that role all but officially, now.  It is likely the only chance either of them have to have a child or parent.  And Wighard is good humoured, but very defensive of her.  I would not care to see the day when such a joke strikes the wrong tone at the wrong moment.”
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

  "So, not a pirate. Fine. Good! Although I was hopin' you knew a stay from a halyard, but you can figure it out as we go along. But if 'monotony of pay' is what yer after instead of a life of adventure and excitement, this might not be the ship for you. Since I don't have much truck with coercion, so if'n you ain't interested in anything else than a ride out o' town, I won't look for ya if ya jump ship at the next port. If'n ya want to stick around, glad ta have ya with us, through hell an high water. Literally, not figuratively. Till ya make up yer mind you can stow yer kit in one o' the lockers and sling a hammock anywhere before the mast. Just make sure ta give yerself two feet above or below the other hammocks."  


And that was that. Regine was a sailor now, apparently. And not just any old sailor - a midshipman.

It was a lot to take in as Regine moved across the deck and down those stairs into the low-ceiling lower area's, as the woman had to duck mildly as not to strike her head upon the beams above.

What did she know about sailing? She thought as she tucked her two bags into a locker. Nothing. Absolutely nothing, she thought as she looked around at the sailors and other passengers, her predatory instinct resting at the base of her skull as she immediately estimated the reach, probably speed and girth of their purse. Old habits huh?

Later on, Regine had changed into  ordinary clothes  of her style, though distinctly un-sailorlike. She'd need a hat sooner or later, she figured, for when the sun beat down on them across the deck of the ship. What she was quickly discovering, however, that being a midshipman was not the most ideal learning-on-the-job task. The sheer volume of things she had to remember and the speed with which she had to recall them and bark out orders to men whose names and skills she  also  had to immediately recall if need-be, was almost overwhelming. That she looked like a girl who had only recently left home for marriage didn't help at first either, with the able seamen beneath her charge likely resenting being ordered around as such.

That didn't help when Jasmine decided to throw the icon of discipline overboard and into the sea.

   What are ye playing at you damn half-woman?    Regine cursed to herself, already struggling to rise to the occasion and now doing so knowing any type of disciplinary action would be frowned upon. At least disciplinary action that tough sailors would respect.

Thankfully, Regine had five things going for her: despite her visible youth she had a tall and athletic frame that clearly marked her out as someone more physically capable rather than a soft girl, she was smart enough to pick things up quickly, she asked for and listened to advice from the most senior sailor beneath her charge, she got stuck in and helped with rigging, drawing of ropes and other physical labour and, finally, she had a crude sense of humour that made the boys snicker. This made the days go from overwhelming, to tolerable to an orderly day of work. She gradually gathered a reputation as, yes, a tiny bit shady, what with the rumors of her running card-games at off-duty hours, but she was a firm task-master that physically helped out rather than barked out orders, and wasn't above trading just enough quips with the lads that it'd be considered crossing the line between good humored banter and lollygagging. When she eventually heard one of the lads defending her from another part of the ships crew with  "Nah, she's alright" , Regine knew she was in.


   Glad you could make it, I think you should have this given that everyone else is too much of a Junior Griffin* to carry a poisoned blade. he hands it over hilt first Black Lotus, be careful. Oh and I am Wighard by the way, your name would be?   

 "Regine Lacroix, monsieur!"  the thief-turned-midshipman put a foot forward and performed her little bow, before reaching out to receive the offered  magical  and poisoned weapon.

The girls eyes widened a little at such an offering. A magical and poisoned weapon?! And it was being given to her for the purpose that she wasn't as much a goody two-shoes as the other nerds on board? My my...

Regine would smile and ease the blade into an empty sheath.

 "Merci, monsieur..."  with the understanding she was being given this weapon because the day would eventually come when Wighard would want her to use it on someone.
dojango
 
 Originally Posted by MrAbdiel 
 Bertelis grimaced a little as the wine was handed out - though how this came to be the Bordelan’s expression for the matter, none might know.  He did take a moment to catch Jasmine again briefly.

“Psst… ease on the ‘girlfriend, boyfriend’ jokes with Siobhan and Wighard, eh?  I don’t know if we ever talked outright about Trundheim, being before you and Bruno and Glod joined us; but we pulled that girl sniffling and shocked from hiding place at the mine.  Her father died to give her time to run; and Wighard has taken on that role all but officially, now.  It is likely the only chance either of them have to have a child or parent.  And Wighard is good humoured, but very defensive of her.  I would not care to see the day when such a joke strikes the wrong tone at the wrong moment.” 
 

" She's a healthy young lady, she's got desires o' her own. Speakin' of desires and sex and all that, we are gonna have ta find you a wife soon. Got any requirements or types yer lookin' for or should we just look for a lass with big tracts of land ?"
MrAbdiel
  "She's a healthy young lady, she's got desires o' her own..."  

 "Not for her father, she doesn't; adopted or not.  It's not fitting to joke about family in that way." 

In the background, as if summoned by his strident objection, there goes Deanna; recovered from her captivity such that the blackening of her eye seems to make her only more sympathetic and compelling in her awkward excess of loveliness.  She gravitates to Siobhan, Maxime and Bertholt, among all the unfamiliar faces.


  "...Speakin' of desires and sex and all that, we are gonna have ta find you a wife soon. Got any requirements or types yer lookin' for or should we just look for a lass with big tracts of land?"  

 "Oh, I don't know.  Graceful, dark haired, well born.  I like green eyes, I suppose.  But I am not expecting to be able to filter for such preferences.  I'm a lord of land in Mousillon - noble lords will not be lining up to toss their favorite, most beautiful daughters into a derelict and cursed territory.  But it's moot.  I'm not thinking about such things, just yet.  It would not be fitting to take a wife before I can settle down... at least, for a while.  Until I fulfill my oath to the Green Knight - to slay four champions - and until my family... whatever is left of it is secure... Until all that, I can't even think of addressing my own realm, Saulx.  And that will take some putting right." 
bramblefoot
the trundheim sets sail out of l'anguille harbor. the first few days are smooth sailing, but eventually you see storm clouds on the horizon. master petrus looks at those clouds and sighs  "its gonna be a real unfun journey through that"  he says.  "we could divert, but that would cost us a week, maybe two if we're unlucky" 

captain bruno: What's the call? sail through, or go around

jasmine: can i get three sail checks to see how well you get accustomed to this vessel?

berty: the logbook is beyond your capability to crack at this time. it will probably need a trained cryptographer. the red X on the other hand, is smack dab in the middle of the dragons teeth

we cut to a meeting in the wardroom with the party

anyone with a plan, please outline it
wilphe
Wighard and Siobhan settle in, usually sat or standing on the poop deck directly above their cabin on H4, not  really doing anything but getting used to the feel of the water, the rhythm of the ship and flows of Ghyran around the ship. Neither really feels that they have mastered it.

The perceptive will notice that as goes further without casting the gold and white fade from Wighard's eyes and they take on a greenish tinge from bonding with the ship.

Schlapp very rarely strays from Wighard's side or feet; Cathwulf apes feline behaviour by hanging out at the bow around the galley, intuitively finding spots impeding the route to the heads that are inconvenient enough to be annoying but not so inconvenient that anyone wants to try to get her to move.

Kwolf maybe be perched beside him, up in the crow's nest or vanish entirely as he likes.

   +++++   

After the first few days of shakedown Wighard will task Siobhan with the practical research project of getting the better version of  Protection from Rain . Though any casting involved they do at the masts head to keep them well away from having any side effects on the rest of the ship
farothel
Bruno spent the first days to get to know the capacities of the crew and the ship to see who they would be able to count upon and who maybe less so.  He will confer every watch with Jasmine and Petrus to make sure there's good people in every watch and people who need to learn.  He knew he had a lot to learn about sailing, but he did know something about leading and he tried to get everybody organised as best as he could.

When Petrus tells him about the storm, he puts one of the assistant masters at the helm and calls for the team and Petrus to the main cabin to discuss things.  After Petrus tells the rest about the storm, Bruno looks at the others.
 "I think we best go around,"  he said,  "we have a lot of untrained people here to go facing a storm." 
He looks at Wighard.
 "Unless you can calm the storm or conjure up some protection for us,"  he continued,  "and of course, if we have enough food and water to get us around." 
wilphe
  I'm not so hubristic as to say yes.

The ship can survive most anything, that protection doesn't extend to those on it

Especially as we have horses below, they are at the centre to move less but again less is not none.

Supply wise it means we are going to not be able to make the voyage non-stop, going to have to stop somewhere

Are we intending to check out where X marks the spot?

We can try a scrying  
MrAbdiel
By contrast to Bruno's diligence in his leadership, Bertelis is radically inconsistent.  On that first day they are departing the dock, he is pliable and sullen.  The next day, he is intemperate and surly.  He would have gotten into two fights that day, if the sailors he was haranguing were not used to abuse from captains and nobles, and inclined to back down even when, to anyone's later report, the knight had little reason to get upset or to interfere.  On all days, he has been teaching Maxime swordsmanship; but on that one he becomes so frustrated trying to correct a footing error that he ends the lesson early and releases the squire to fraternise for the evening - a direction that would sound like a blessing to some, but feels an overly severe punishment to the squire who is genuinely trying to learn what is being taught.

But the next day the choler has left him.  It simply doesn't seem to have left much animus in its departure.  Bertelis' hammock is rigged up awkwardly by the railing outside the captain's cabin and a tent peg nailed into the wood diagonal from it.  Due to his vow, he cannot sleep below deck more than once; and he is 'saving' it for a day when he is so battered and injured he can not object.  The cabin set aside form him, he reassigns for two purposes - for the precious items of the Company, and for a private quarters for Deanna, Siobhan, and a rotation of the the common women aboard who might care for one in every three nights to be spent away from the crowding and company of men; not to mention a modicum of private space whose rationing he leaves to Deanna and Siobhan.  Jasmine and Regine might have figured into this arrangement also; but they both seem to be getting on so well with the crew in general (better than he is) that he cannot muster the effort to see if they need the same accommodation.

When it comes time for him to take command while Bruno catches sleep, it takes a firmness of insistence bordering on striking to rouse him, at which point he finally presents to the duty.  He wears no mail on the ship; only the very fine leathers, supple and well fit, that he had worked together for him in Altdorf.  So his regalia is nice - even if his countenance is somewhat slovenly, on that day.  But he catches Bruno for a moment, before the Imperial is headed to bed; and confides for a moment.

 "We have no formal leader, you know; within the company, I mean.  But I'm sure you've known that I've often... thought of myself as taking that role, in as much as I need to; especially in times of conflict.  But I think I need to ask you to be prepared to step up when those moments come, when I would normally...  I need, uh..."   He pauses as he sometimes does when he is searching for a word in one language that he knows fits best in another.  For an uncomfortable moment, his countenance seems to collapse into an unmanly grimace like he is going to burst into tears, before he crushes that weakness out of his features.  It retreats into a quaver in his voice, as he finds what he mean to say, or near enough.   "...I am losing my mind, Bruno.  Wighard knows; I told him so.  But no one else knows."   This is wishful thinking; but he seems convinced.   "The Dancer - that daemon, back in Altdorf.   She did something to me when we fought... I have not quite recovered.  I do not know what I can do...  But I hope, once we are done in Mousillon and Bordeleaux, we can return to Couronne and the Shallyans for a time.  Until then... I must focus on my prayers, and the charts, and on training Maxime.  I am sorry to burden you this way. I hope in time you will feel repaid with the same loyalty." 
 * * * * * 
In the evening they gather in Bruno's cabin to discuss matters.  Bertelis is late.  He needs to be caught on up what has already said.  After that drag on time, the question about the storm comes up in question and he frowns.

Delays, delays, delays...  Petrus gives him a look like he expects, like the day before, he will be quick to anger and ropable for the delay; but he accepts it with a sort of flaccid apathy.

 "I fear there is not much option.  Out path must go next into the Dragon's Maw, or atleast skirting its outside; sailing in such conditions in such a place is lunacy, even with out advantageous vessel.  We cannot go through in the storm.  But still, I wonder if we cannot merely get closer to shore and drop anchor and wait out the storm - it cannot be such a colossal hurricane oncoming that would require us to flee from its winds a week across the Sea of Claws..?  Let us drop anchor and wait the day or two we need to for it to blow by." 
 "As for the mark on the map... A scrying may help.  I would ask that we do check it.  It is in the Maw, which is dangerous... but we must understand, the dangers of the Maw have been more mysterious than just the rocks.  For many years people have been vanishing even from the shore on the coast adjacent to the maw.  Ships wreck, but fishermen don't perish out of sympathy for the jaggedness of rocks four hundred yards at sea from them.  People call it a curse; but I say it is abduction.  I say so because we are presently in the ship seized from a gang of abductors; and it is a ship uniquely suited for navigating the Dragon's Maw... at least without a cataclysmic storm thrown in the mix.  I do not know what is at that mark on the map - it may be a place they trade slaves or stolen goods to Norscans; or it may be a ritual site for the dark gods and a prison full of desperate captives.  But we have recently dispatched the knaves who were heading there - and their leader, the gunman, is unlikely to get there before we are.  This may be a very good chance to disrupt whatever operation they have - and, perhaps, to liberate once again some poor folk wickedly seized." 

After a pause, he adds.   "There is also a decent chance to recover a fair amount of wealth, considering the number of wrecks in the area; but I would not suggest we linger  treasure hunting with so many other matters pressing.  If I were not convinced there were lives at stake here also, I would be objecting to us pursuing this end at all.  And as for this..." 

He holds up the encrypted book.   "...I cannot parse it.  I read the languages, but much of it is coded nonsense.  But we are departing from the ship outself at  Turris Vigilans ; if anyone can help breach it, it will be the Verenans" 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine was present at the meeting, much to her surprise. She was a criminal who had been released into these peoples custody...yet here she was, with an entry officers rank on a ship, commanding people about and sitting in on meetings to help chart the course of the whole ship. And on top of that she was given a poisoned blade!

These people were either insane or the most trusting bunch of saps she'd ever met.

Maybe that is why Ranald had put her among them, to help install some sense to them by example.

She stayed quiet, for now.
wilphe
Wighard starts at the mention of the Vereneans

  You know what I had completely forgotten I had a spell that can help - at least temporarily.

I'll want to cast it at the masthead though - because when things go slightly wrong food can spoil and animals go mad and we don't want either of those things to happen here, so up and away it is.
  

Wighard and Siobhan and anyone else climb up top with the book and some notes and anyone else who wants to come

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 81 ]  Channelling 77

[rollv]3d10 [/rollv]-3+2 TN10

Perfect Comprehension
Casting Number: 10
Casting Time: 2 Full actions
Ingredient: A wax candle blessed by a Priest of Verena (+2)
Duration: 1 minute per Magic characteristic
Description: While under the effects of this spell, you understand any language or method of communication, foreign or arcane, spoken or written, coded or confused, as clearly as possible.
Some ancient elvish, magick or Old One tongues may not translate (GMs Call).
You can only comprehend the language, not communicate with it (EtcEtc)
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (3d10)[ 6 ][ 5 ][ 1 ](12) -3+2 TN10

Perfect Comprehension
Casting Number: 10
Casting Time: 2 Full actions
Ingredient: A wax candle blessed by a Priest of Verena (+2)
Duration: 1 minute per Magic characteristic
Description: While under the effects of this spell, you understand any language or method of communication, foreign or arcane, spoken or written, coded or confused, as clearly as possible.
Some ancient elvish, magick or Old One tongues may not translate (GMs Call).
You can only comprehend the language, not communicate with it (EtcEtc)
 
dojango
Jasmine attends the meeting, also in a foul mood.  The last few days had not gone well; first off, an inexpertly tied knot led to a sheet flying loose and the sail nearly going by the board, which would be normally be a minor disaster, had it not happened in full view of the L'Anguille port, making it an embarssment as well...  and that was a knot she had tied personally so she couldn't blame anyone else for it.  In addition, there had already been a slew of minor injuries, half the new hands were seasick, and trying to get the ship moving around without the riverbanks as a guide seemed like a recipe for disaster.  When the weather reports of an incoming storm come in, she said bluntly, " I can't guarantee that a ship full o' land-lubbers will make it through this storm intact.  We either fly to the east or we find a spot to drop anchor and ride it out.  Either way we lose time, but that's better than losin' men, or Manann forbid, the mast. "
farothel
Bruno looked at the map, but it didn't give any fine details, so he wasn't sure.
 "Is there a cove somewhere we can hide in to ride it out,"  he asked the more experienced officers,  "Otherwise I think around would be best.  The crew is simply not experienced enough for going through." 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis taps the map; the coastline of L'Anguille, as it approaches the border to Lyonesse.

 "It's not sheer cliff straight into the water.  There's pebble beach all along the coast; just nothing anyone could build a harbour out of. But we could sail to the coastline and drag the ship to beach.  Last I heard, the coast opposite the Dragon's Maw is just as prone to vanishings - but at least the ship would be safe, and we could wait out the storm grounded.  Perhaps, seek the marked X once it passes." 
dojango
Jasmine says, as diplomatically as possible, " Careenin' the ship... that is ta say, beachin' it deliberately... on a pebble beach in the middle of a storm with an untrained crew is a mite safer than tryin' ta steer through the dragon's maw, in a storm, with an untrained crew... but only cuz once the ship is smashed to flinders we'll be on land when it happens.  Nah, flyin' north towards Norsica or East towards the wasteland is the safest plan.  An' in this case, safest means best.  Ya can't fight Manann when he's in a rage, best to make yerself scarce until he blows over. "
MrAbdiel
Bertelis just shakes his head, and furrows his brow.  He certainly seems to think they have time to make it to shore before the storm hits; but perhaps he just doesn’t want to lose so much time from the objective.  And he has seemed … odd, lately.  But he doesn’t have the spirit to make a fight of it or an argument, however diplomatic the pushback.  He just slouches wordlessly in his chair, looking fantastically tired all of a sudden.
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine was going to speak up at the insane plan to beach the ship, but thankfully cooler heads prevailed. How would they have un-beached the ship? With an inexperienced crew? And in an area notorious for disappearances? Unthinkable.
wilphe
There is a slight vibration, Wighard and Siobhan look uncomfortable for a few moments before it passes - then exchange glances

  If you felt something that was every timber in the ship protesting at Sir Bertelis' proposal  
  If we are intent on checking out X, then I remind you that we have a few score of refugees on board who may not be keen on that

If we are intent in that course and intent on running East perhaps we offer them the chance to put ashore

Perhaps we could put off final decision until I have looked over the coded book?  
bramblefoot
wighard: the logbook is mostly times and dates of pick up and drop offs, from various ports to the red X which is called  black crypt  its lots of foodstuffs, and some other building supplies, mostly timber. the last one was a week ago. there seems to be no rhyme or reason when the ship arrives at black crypt. some voyages seem to take longer, and others seem to take no time at all. there is a slightly squiggly drawing of a large black outcropping of rock on one of the pages, with some slightly smudged writing you cant make out

berty: siobhan will place a hand on your shoulder.  "might i suggest some breathing exercises?"  she offers.
wilphe
Wighard and Siobhan descend and rejoin the group   Well it looks like a logistic buildup  

Siobhan brings in the Purple Gem they found on the road that time Wighard nearly got killed by orcs

  Shall we?  
MrAbdiel
Bertelis gives Siobhan a little smile.  He doesn't respond to the question - he's quite sure he has mastered breathing some time ago - but seeing Siobhan does remind him that he, and the Company, are indeed capable of succeeding in their noble goals.

As for Wighard with the gem, Bertelis offers a tired, accepting nod and produces the  Company Blade  to one hand, and his  Companion Shield  to the other.  The likelihood that the scrying gem would produce something that required either was very low... but he might as well be prepared.  Magic was an unpredictable and dangerous thing, after all - especially when employed by a man.  Even Wighard, as smart and good hearted as he was, did not possess the feminine instinct required to prevent it from biting back in unusual and scarring ways.
wilphe
Wighard will wait until all are ready before beginning, being slightly nervous about using this thing, but they need the information

He will start by examining the Black Crypt, if things go well he turn to other matters


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

"Palantir" and "Helps to be of strong will"

So, Magical Sense?

[roll]1d100[//roll] 77
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
"Palantir" and "Helps to be of strong will"

So, Magical Sense?

 (1d100)[ 37 ]  77
 
bramblefoot
wighard: the scrying is productive, but shows very dangerous defenses. there is a single rocky harbor, with a lone path up to a crag fortress single file. you see no defenders in the harbor, but a single beacon with a campfire sits on an outcropping looking over the harbor.
wilphe
Wighard's eyes begin to glow a bit bluer and he gestures to his companions

  Put your hand on it and you can see.

Show us a safe course please  

The light within the gem begins to flicker and Wighard lets the connection die rather than wrestle with it, though the outlines of a course appear

He looks at Petrus and Jasmine

  Can you steer that course?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 (1d100)[ 89 ]  77 (FPed to 76 in OOC)
 
farothel
 "Are we sure we want to go that way with the refugees onboard,"  Bruno asked, still not sure that this is the best course of action,  "maybe best to drop off those first before we try and tackle fortresses in the dragon's maw." 
bramblefoot
master petrus will put his vote into not going after the fortress yet until the refugees are dropped off

wighard: as you engage sound on the dreaming stone, haunting whispers come through. the words repeated over and over are  i see you 
wilphe
  I hear you   Wighard terminates the connection and hears out Petrus and Jasmine before asking the Master

  What is the best or closest place we can find shelter and drop people off? Somewhere on the north coast of Couronne? The marches? The Wasteland? Please tell me not Marienberg itself  

He steeples his hands

  Also, I suggest that what we know does not leave this wardroom.

Otherwise word will spread and get to our enemies  
MrAbdiel
Bertelis continues to tacitly concede with his posture. It sounds like they will be rushing east for two days to escape the storm - that will put them across the bay of L'Anguille again and up against the cape of Couronne.  Perhaps mistaking Wighard's question for being aimed at him, he answers it.

 "We... could drop off some or all of their refugees to the keeping of one of the coastal Lords of the cape.  There are no great harbours there, but we could run refugees to shore in the boats to one of the fort villages like  La'Creur  or  Petit Jezebel .  They have garrisons and watchfires, on account of the Skaeling and Sarl." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
I have made these villages up just now.
 
farothel
 "Sounds like a good plan,"  Bruno said,  "either first drop of the refugees and then head out to sea to wait the storm, or the other way around, depending on what's best.  And then we can move and have a look at that fortress or whatever it is." 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 


Regine had been typically quiet, as she was, an observer trying to discern between the leylines of opportunity, luck and chance. Normally she wasn't one to stick her neck out for others, but at the suggestion of dumping a bunch of refugee's onto a coast and just assume they'd be fine?

 "I would recommend depositing any refugee's with a day or two of provisions, lest they be further at the mercy of any fortress-town on the coast where they're dropped off." 
wilphe
Wighard nods

  We had enough supplies to take them to Bourdelaux, that should not be an issue

Food and supplies there may be tight if the King and Duke are preparing a military response  
bramblefoot
after dropping off the refugees, you sail for black crypt. it takes maybe a week by your reckoning to make it there, but time seems to be wishy-washy out here

black crypt comes into view, and from the beacon, a lantern is seen. it flashes in a predetermined pattern  long short short long  and waits for a response

you would see a sarl ship at anchor, oars stowed, and a skeleton crew stalking around the boat. this is a sweet raiders boat, with a heavy daemon-gun mounted on the prow. two crewmembers, one short and one tall are keeping the daemon gun pointed in your general direction

 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is as eager as everyone else to see this harbour with his own eyes, even given his currently cantankerous mood - but the presence of another ship wasn't something foreseen.

When shipmaster Petrus announces his count of on the deck and guesses their affiliation, Bertelis grimaces.

 "Sarls...  I'd have taken Skaelings, over Sarls.  But a dozen..?  It seems too few.  They must have more within the fort - not counting their kinsmen whom we slew back in L'Anguille, I expect.  But they must be expecting our vessel - with any luck, they won't know we mean them ill until we're upon them." 

Then comes the flash-signal, and Bertelis reddens with (somewhat excessive) frustration.  " Merde .  Wighard, I hope you spotted some notation about call-and-response lantern signals in that book.  They'll fire on us if we approach without a response, or if we give the wrong one; or if we take too long...  Maybe even if we try to come about and leave.  But we have a few minutes before one of them is bold enough to make that decision."

With hazards and danger at play, his mind has at least something to do besides devour itself.  He snaps into hard-browed assessment and trying to prepare for what is to come.
 
"Master Petrus - if they fire on us, we have no option but to run aground regardless of whether that means ramming their vessel aside or damaging this one.  We might survive a few rounds from such a beastly looking weapon, but not many."   The truth was, they might not survive one - but there was no sense planning for such an outcome.  The appropriate response - drown miserably - was intuitive.

 "Maxime - in one event or another, you remain here and protect our crew and passengers.  Do you hear?  We die before they do harm to the women and children on this vessel.  We DIE before this happens.  Do you hear?   Bon ." 

No mail armor - not today, not on the boat.  If they got to shore and got a moment, he would throw on his sleeved mail coat; but for now, he stood in his finely crafted leathers as Maxime fetched his weapons.  Wighard and Siobhan's ministrations have done well on him - he looks more vital, more ready for violence, than he has since before the skaven shot him in the head.

 "If we can creep close enough to shouting range, I may try to provoke a challenge from their leader; in which case they might let me and perhaps another come ashore in a boat and face him in combat.  If they were Skaelings, I might even expect them to honor the terms of the duel's outcome - but Sarls are just as likely to fire on me after a victory as they are to pack up and row home.  Still, it may buy us enough time to drift the ship outside of the cannon's arc... But if they take no challenge, then I see no option but full assault; with Regine, Jasmine and Meloth firing from the cover of the ship's railings while Bruno and I invite them to melee." 

He does not list a position for Wighard in the plan - he still hasn't grasped the mage's full combat capacities, but trusts him to be embedded in the fray or conjouring his magics from a distance, as he prefers.

This is all stated with sureness of purpose and confidence - though Wighard may yet discover a response code, or anyone might concoct a better plan within those critical minutes to come!
dojango
" Gun can't shoot at us if the gunners are dead.  Unless it's on o' them spooky haunted guns like the ship used ta be afore Mister Wighard exorcised all the ghosts or whatever he did.  But even then I reckon it can't shoot well without the gunners.  Anyway, soon as we get close enough we'll start pickin' off anyone tryin' to point that thing at us.  Messin' around with signals is all well an' good, but if we throw out a wrong one they'll smoke us right away.  So maybe just do nothin' until they get impatient and start shootin' "
wilphe
Wighard would have preferred to anchor up and scout but the lack of any such opportunity means they have no option but to sail straight in. At least their own flags have been stowed, the  Trundheim  for the moment remaining incognito

  Siobhan, take a lantern, get to the bow, flash the beginning of a return signal then fumble it over the side. Let us know if they are about to fire

Kwolf, give us some eyes please, get aloft

Master Petrus, this might require some radical manoeuvres, be prepared to execute on my mark.   
bramblefoot
there is no response for about a minute, and then all of you on the ship would see the beacon go up in flames, and the sound of heavy war drums come from the black crypt. onboard the sarl ship, the crew will perk up their ears, and the two crew on the daemon gun will fire it at the trundheim. the shot makes a whistling sound, and smashes into the trundheims starboard side, sending splinters and shrapnel everywhere. can everyone gimme an agility roll or take 1d5+1 wounds?

 (1d100)[ 14 ] 
 (1d10+12)[ 16 ] 

wighard: siobhan and you both feel very nauseous, like a part of you is hurting along with the ship. siobhan will groan and clutch her side as the ship takes the cannonball hit

bruno: the daemon gunners have the range, and your likely to take a punishment if you try to close. whats the play?

berty: as you look over the side, a large clawed hand appears, and a small imp will pop over the side and cackle
wilphe
  Wighard 13/13 2/3  

Wighard feels the pain as the  Trundheim  takes the blow, though he himself doesn't take any damage from the hail of splinters

  When you see a hole, go in it   he barks at Petrus and then his attention drifts to the seas around the  Trundheim 

He feels the flow of water, the depth of the seabed, how the current and the tide flow and then he begins to shape it.

The water seems to empty out into a hole almost as big as the ship itself as he drives the water to the lowest point of a spring tide, Petrus steers her straight down avoiding a capsize, then the water flows back in behind to high springs propelling  Trundheim  up and forward

He then repeats this process in a slightly different tack, but still heading towards the enemy

 Trundheim  is therefore either sailing down a 3 metre standing wave or being buoyed up by a following 3 metre tidal bore. This is great for making progress and even better for not being shot because much of the time there is water between her and the enemy even if the enemy can time their shots for the right elevation

On the other hand Wighard isn't skilled enough to do this and make it comfortable for anyone about except him, and that is only because he knows what is coming.  Trundheim  is alternately falling or rising and pitching back and forth accordingly whilst Petrus keeps her more or less upright.

This are not circumstances anyone has experienced in the Old World  - and won't until either powered flight or the rollercoaster are invented

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d5+1)[ 3 ] 
 (1d100)[ 97 ]  Channelling 77 FPed to 60 OOC

Kinda feel that anyone who isn't experienced crew (ie:Petrus and co) or Wighard needs to make a Toughness roll

Also probably going to take a penalty to BS
 
dojango
What's our range to the enemy ship (within 48 yards yet?)
MrAbdiel
The round slams into the Trundheim, and everyone on board pitches about; though Bertelis is able to snatch a hold of the starboard railing rather than hurt himself or pitch over.  It's certainly easier to do so, without wearing mail.

A moment ago he had been kneeling, shield on his arm, helm on his head, asking the Lady and Manaan to create the opportunity he desired to carve the Sarl ship boss apart.  But the combat begins before he can finish his prayer - this fight, like so many others, refuses to be ideal.

But leaning over the side, he spots the small, slavering imp scamper up the boards from the crumpled impact zone of the cannon's hit, and toss itself to the deck.

 "Daemon rounds!  The shells bring boarders!" 

This is very unfortunate.  One of the small perks of having no cannon on the  Trundheim  was that their small crew were all scurrying about on the top deck making themselves useful.  All vulnerable if they ever pulled up on a galleon that decided to rake their deck, to be sure - but in a state of readiness like this, there was no one down below to get ripped apart by a cannonball smashing through the interior of the ship.  Deanna would be in her cabin, and Bertholt would be in Bruno's.  Down below was only poor Odmar, and the horses.  He'd have heard the horses screaming if they'd been hit - but he could not find in himself the optimism to believe that the ball from that hellish cannon summoned only one pitiful imp.

 "Maxime!  Handle this!"   He tasks his squire, the elegant youngster posturing defensively against the daemon.

Bertelis had hoped to fight the Sarl in open combat; he had been entertaining a fanciful vision where, in a ramming action, he would be flung through the air like a cannonball himself and kill the man he landed on.  But if Odmar was down there with more of these things... not to mention the horses...

Trusting Maxime to atleast delay the imp long enough for the others to kill it, Bertelis charges down the starboard stairs below deck to find the resting place of the daemon cannon's shot... and whatever interlopers it might have brought with it.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Blast!  I needed 2 minutes to complete a prayer to the Lady.  Alas!  Bertelis rushes below deck, drawing his weapon as he goes.
 There might not be a pod of cackling imps down their trying to eat the horses and set fire to the ship; but y'never know.

Oh, and I guess an Agi roll for Maxime?  (1d100)[ 56 ]  or  (1d5+1)[ 6 ]  wounds.

Edit:  Oof!  Maxime cracked his shoulder on the deck, or something. Big hit.
 
farothel
Bruno looks at the scene and then notices that the gun is on the bow of the ship, so it can only fire in certain directions.  With the ship anchored, they can't easily turn it, certainly not with a limited crew onboard.  When the gun fires, he gets peppered with hits, but his armour stops most of it.
 "Turn to port,"  he shouts at Petrus at the wheel,  "let's get out of their arc before they reload." 
He doesn't immediately see any rocks or breakers in that direction, so it should most likely be safe.

 "As soon as someone has range, take out the crew,"  he shouts at the others.  He only wears a pistol, so that will not really work, but Meloth has his bow and there was also a rifle onboard.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

agility:  (1d100)[ 53 ]  vs 51 (he's wearing only his leather armour, although he is wearing his helmet (but that doesn't impede Ag or Movement).
 
bramblefoot
berty: as you run downstairs, you find four imps busily despoiling the food supplies. they have not noticed you.

meloth: you spot two smooth shapes cutting cleanly through the water, headed for the trundheim

wighard: kwolf will report that sarls are flowing back to the ship, and are quickly raising anchor to get ready for pursuit

bruno: petrus nods, and will go hard to port

attack rolls on maxime

 (1d100)[ 36 ]  hit

 (1d10+3)[ 6 ] 
dojango
Jasmine easily avoids flying splinters and rushes to the damaged section of the hull, directing the novice crew to begin plugging up the hull with canvas sacks and matting while the ship veers to madly to avoid more of the demon cursed shots.  " Go get hatchets from the lockers, " she tells the crew once she hears the sounds of fighting.  " Prepare ta repel boarders! "
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Maybe this is why that captain had released her into these peoples custody: they were insane.

As soon as Regine had spotted the Mount Doom-like crags awash with the unnaturally colored froth of a seemingly malign ocean, she wanted to immediately Nope right out of there. But alas, she was just a Midshipman, she wasn't the captain.

By the time the cannon had fired, Regie already had her crossbow in hands and was backing up to get behind cover provided by the railing and rigging of the ship. But as soon as that Imp came over the other side, the thief's eyes widened and her mouth parted. By what in all of Ranalds plots had she gotten involved with?! Daemons?!

Swallowing, Regine brought her weapon up, aimed down the sights and loosed bolts at the creature, each one leaving her crossbow with a slicing  Thwick!  sound.
wilphe
  Wighard 13/13 2/3  
 Turn to port 
  Aye sir  

Wighard changes tide and current in accordance with Bruno's instruction
Volthawk
Meloth should've known that getting off land wouldn't stop the general trend in the company's fortunes. It was probably telling that the imp's arrival didn't surprise him much at this point.

Spotting the shapes down below, Meloth calls out  "More coming in the water!"  before focusing on the threats already there, trying to line up a shot at the imp.

 
 Spoiler 

The standard aim and shoot setup. Unsure if the circumstances would cause a ranged attack penalty or not.

Attack, TN 84 (BS 74 + 10 aim):  (1d100)[ 38 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 13 ]  w/ Armour Piercing
 Fury triggered and confirmed  for +6 damage, for a total of 19.
 
farothel
 "Get us out of their arc,"  Bruno said to Petrus, letting the experienced seaman do the actual sailing stuff, while he did what he was good at, namely killing stuff.  Seeing Meloth shoot an arrow through the imp, moved to the side of the ship, looking over the side and firing at any other enemies trying to climb the ship, but the movement of the ship meant he missed.  He then switched to his sword and shield.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

OOC: I assume that 19 damage will kill an imp, so taking another target.

half action: move to the side the cannon shot came from
attack:  (1d100)[ 86 ]  vs 48 for damage:  (1d10+4)[ 5 ] 
free action: swap pistol for sword
 
wilphe
Schlapp has grabbed Siobhan by the clothes and is dragging her into cover so she doesn't go overboard what with everything happening; Cathwulf adopts a protective stance as if daring any hostiles to try anything
MrAbdiel
 "Raaaagh!" 

Bertelis finds himself pleased to have an enemy he can attack with abandon, for once; no mercy for the minions of the dark gods is required, for there was never humanity in them to start with.  And the are befouling the food - a crime unforgivable!

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Attack/s! 
  vs66  - (1d100)[ 53 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 11 ] .
  vs66  - (1d100)[ 53 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 8 ] .

If Bertelis can swift attack, he'll do that.  If he has to move and attack, just the first roll will apply.
 If he can charge, then the first roll applies, +10.
 
bramblefoot
berty: one imp goes down, and the rest turn on you

 (3d100)[ 52 ][ 63 ][ 49 ](164)  no hits

 (1d10+3)[ 10 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 13 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 4 ] 

the people on the deck: two people clad in wet leathers will vault onto the deck, and you hear an ungodly sound as one of them lets out a bestial howl. he begins to shift, bones snapping and reknitting until he stands a good head and shoulders above bruno, with a massive maw of shark teeth and two beady eyes staring at you. the other, a man with a pair of bloodshot eyes, scans the deck before closing to melee with wighard.  "face me wizard!"  he bellows

 (1d100)[ 18 ]  hit

 (1d10+5)[ 6 ] 

everyone who sees the shark monstrosity, can i get a fear test at -20 or take 1d2 IP?

the sarl ship has raised anchor, and its rowing crews coolly propel it through the water on an intercept course to the trundheim. petrus notices the heavy iron ram mounted on the sarl ship and calls it out
MrAbdiel
Bertelis hears a shout of challenge from above and curses his current distraction - the enemy champion came to them, and he wasn’t there!  But he is blissfully ignorant of the approaching ram, and vents his fury on the remaining imps as they scrabble at his shield.

 
 Spoiler: rarrglebargle! 
  vs66  - (1d100)[ 21 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 16 ] 

And   vs66  - (1d100)[ 72 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 8 ] 
 
.

Meanwhile, Maxime has been given a very specific task - and as Meloth’s arrow flits past him to annihilated his devilish enemy, he gazes in astonishment at the monster from the deep!  He takes a backward step toward where Siobhan and Schlapp are, dueling blades up, hoping he will not be required to go toe to toe with such a thing in the girl’s defense!
dojango
Jasmine whirls from her task as the two boarders appear on deck, only to stop and gibber for a moment.  " Sharks!  On the boat!  Nowhere's safe! "
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine's eyes widened as those... things  lurched on board and disfigured themselves, taking on new and grotsque forms of depthless  horror.

 "C'est quoi ce bordel!"  she gasped under her breath, pivoting herself about, keeping the railings between herself and the new, disgusting newcomers, as she brought her crossbow up and let loose more bolts that sizzled through the air and  Thwacked!  into the monsters flesh.
wilphe
  Wighard 13/13 2/3  

Wighard's hand grips the rail and he appears to be talking to the ship

  Your pain is my pain

LET MY SHIELD BE YOUR SHIELD  
 Trundheim  is suddenly wrapped in glowing tendrils of Hysh, that at least should in theory protect from incoming fire

Wighard has of course never tried this, but if he and Siobhan are that psychically linked to  Trundheim  that they feel the liveship's pain it seems reasonable that a spell that normally only affects him should affect it too. If he can find the energy

 "face me wizard!" 

Wighard gives every impression of being unbothered and goes back to channelling the winds

  Really? I might be the least of your problems. Could somebody kill Lavagirl here for me please?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (4d10)[ 6 ][ 8 ][ 1 ][ 4 ](19)  -4+1 TN8

Shimmering Cloak
Casting Number: 8
Casting Time: Half action
Ingredient: A candle (+1)
Description: You surround yourself with a field of light that protects you from ranged attacks. All non-magical missile attacks have their Damage rating reduced to 0 (in other words, damage is simply 1d10). Shimmering cloak lasts a number of minutes equal to your Magic Characteristic. You automatically fail any Concealment Tests you attempt while shimmering cloak is in effect. ROS

Half Action: Cast
Half Action: Channel
 
wilphe
This sort of effect isn't directly damaging to any of their boarders, but should at least make the demons slightly uncomfortable

Meanwhile Schlapp and Cathwulf leap up to the poop to attack LavaGirl


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

S
 (1d100)[ 40 ]  36+10 Charge +20 outnumber 3-1  = 66
 (1d10)[ 7 ]  +3

C
 (1d100)[ 65 ]  66
 (1d10)[ 8 ]  +3
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 27 ]  Channelling 87
 
dojango
Jasmine snaps out of it, thinking, 'they're everywhere.  He's out there.  Plotting.  Remove the pawn and another rises.  But at what cost?  One step closer.'  She draws one of her pistols, sights down the barrel and tries to shoot the the not-sharkman in the back.

 
 Spoiler 
Quick Draw, aim + shoot:   (1d100)[ 92 ]  v. 74,  (1d10+4)[ 12 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 12 ] 
 
Volthawk
Walking sharks now...Meloth doesn't vocalise his unease like the others, but he was thinking the same. Once again, he momentarily thinks over what brought him into this mess, before getting his head back into the fight and firing at one of the...men? Creatures? Monsters? He wasn't sure what to call them, but hopefully they could kill them just fine.

 
 Spoiler 

Aim and shoot at the one not in melee (Sharkman, I believe?).

Attack, TN 74:  (1d100)[ 73 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 4 ]  w/ Armour-Piercing
 
farothel
 "Do what you have to do, master Petrus,"  Bruno shouts back as he's charging the big sharkman, following Meloth's arrow in.  There's little he can do about another boat coming closer, that's for the people who know how to sail.  He can however try to do something about critters attacking the ship he's on.

 
 Spoiler: OOC actions 

charge sharkman:  (1d100)[ 29 ]  vs 56 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 7 ] 
 
bramblefoot
sharkboy will make three attacks on bruno.

 (3d100)[ 54 ][ 92 ][ 23 ](169)  all hits, (got a 46 in the ooc)

 (1d10+5)[ 9 ] 
 (1d10+5)[ 14 ] 
 (1d10+5)[ 13 ] 

lavagirl will snarl as he manages to parry cathwulfs attack, but schlapp bites into his arm. it seems to not do a lot of damage, and now that you look at him a little more closely, you see silvery marks all over his arms and body

lavagirl sees the crowd of peeps and will go full defense, waiting for sharkboy to save his bacon

berty: the imp will go down, and the other two will make attacks

 (2d100)[ 61 ][ 67 ](128)  no hits

 (1d10+3)[ 4 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 4 ] 

the sarl ship is pulling hard, and may possibly impact the ship in the next couple rounds
farothel
Bruno manages to parry one attack, but the two slashes he got in did hurt... a lot.  He really needed to rethink this idea of not wearing full plate on board.  But he had to hold for the rest of the group to come and help.  So he gritted his teeth and kept attacking, hoping on a lucky hit.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

full attack:
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 41 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 11 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 94 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 9 ] 

wounds: 3/15
 
wilphe
  Wighard 13/13 2/3  

Wighard tries and fails to cast at the crew of the oncoming ship

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (4d10)[ 2 ][ 3 ][ 7 ][ 10 ](22)  -4+4 TN 28
 
wilphe
Sclapp and Cathwulf work on savaging Lavagirl, but Schlapp misjudges and slides along the deck into the rail

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

S
 (1d100)[ 100 ]  66 (+10 2+1 +20 Allout attack)
 (1d10)[ 6 ] +3


C
 (1d100)[ 37 ]  66 (+10 2+1 +20 Allout attack)
 (1d10)[ 1 ] +3
 
MrAbdiel
Down below, another cannonball slams into the hull and cracks wood... but miraculously, doesn't penetrate.  Bertelis can only thank Manaan and try to finish the imps off infront of him, calling back to the poor shape of Odmar with his dung shovel in the 'stables'.  Just one one daemon cannonball rolling around inside the ship, now.

 "Odmar!  Take your shovel and heave the cannonball that came through out the hole it came in, earlier - don't touch it!" 

While the farmer-turned-slave-turned-groom deals with that issue, Bertelis carves at the imps...

 
 Spoiler: Berty Smash! 
  vs66  - (1d100)[ 68 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 16 ] , and
  vs66  - (1d100)[ 89 ]  for  (1d10+6)[ 13 ] .

Both rerolled to hits, in the OOC.
 


Above, Maxime is horrified at the shark monstrosity that bashes through Bruno's learned guard; but dares not stray too far from her charge.  But nearby, Wighard and the wolves brawl with the other interloper - this one, she attempts to strike, hoping to free the wizard to his sorceries.

 
 Spoiler: Maxime-als, Maxime-ize! 
  vs73  - (1d100)[ 43 ]  for  (1d10+1)[ 11 ] .
  Precise for slightly better hits, and fast to be slightly harder to defend against. 

EDIT: Actually  13  damage, it's a mace not a foil.
 
dojango
Jasmine turns to spot the other ship looming nearer.  " Bully, Bully!  Gimme the fancy gun! " she shouts, to be surprised when he steps up beside, her looking impassive.  He hands her the ornate firearm and takes the spent pistol from her while she whirls and takes a moment to aim.  Gunner, tiller, she thinks.  Tiller.  She swings the firearm in his direction and breathes out and waits for the roll.  And then fires.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 53 ]  v. 77 to hit,  (1d10+4)[ 9 ]  -or-  (1d10+4)[ 11 ]  damage
 
Volthawk
The gunshot from Jasmine gets Meloth's attention, and with the sharks aboard their ship tied up in close combat he decides to help her plan, adding an arrow to the fire directed at the crew of the other vessel.

 
 Spoiler 

Standard aim and attack, at the tiller this time.

Attack, TN 74:  (1d100)[ 68 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 7 ]  w/ Anti-Armour
 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine kept her crossbow trained on that shark-man as it fought a vicious duel with Bruno. Though she barely knew the man, she didn't want him torn apart by  that  thing. She was a thief out for herself, but she wasn't heartless.

Aiming again, she loosed more crossbow bolts, but hissed under her breath as the missiles sailed wide.
bramblefoot
berty: the imps are dead. are you going up to the top deck to deal with the two interlopers

jasmine: the tillerman slumps down dead, but another man quickly will heft him off and take the tiller, keeping the ship mostly on target. it may not be a ram, but they may have a chance to grapple

sharkboy will attempt to finish off bruno, and then help lavagirl

 (3d100)[ 55 ][ 60 ][ 11 ](126)  all hits

 (1d10+5)[ 7 ] 
 (1d10+5)[ 8 ] 
 (1d10+5)[ 8 ] 

lavagirl will make a guarded attack against schlapp

 (1d100)[ 61 ]  miss

 (1d10+5)[ 13 ] 
MrAbdiel
When the last imp flies apart, Bertelis gives one quick look around - Odmar and the horses are alright, not under further attack, and that matters to him - before hustling back up the stairs.  There, from the top of the stairs to the lower deck, an ichor-speckled Bretonnian's eyes catch sight of the the ship's most gruesome interloper - the hideous, muscle-swollen shark-man, claws red with the blood of Bruno who is doing mighty work holding it at bay from the other party members.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Willpower! 
  vs54  - (1d100)[ 55 ]  or else take  (1d2)[ 1 ]  insanity points!
 


The choler boils in his guts; and the scarred eye flickers a wicked green for a moment as his face twists with rage.

 "Jeg sender deg tilbake til Stromfels i bøtter og spann, Sarl!" 
 
 Spoiler: Norscan: 
"I will send you back to Stromfels in buckets, Sarl!"
 


He races across the deck as the  Company Blade  flashes with white fire, and shears at the monster with wild, gallic élan.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Do you hear the people sing? 

Move action to get up the stairs (Half Action)

Declare the sharkman to be the sworn target of the  Company Blade .  Activate Rune of Flame.  (Both Free).

Charge Sharkman.  Spend last fortune point to gain the half action to perform this full action.

  vs86Ws  - (1d100)[ 81 ]  or   vs86GrudgeReroll  - (1d100)[ 9 ] .    Damage  - (1d10+12)[ 19 ] .

(I have made the assumption that this monster has a TB of 5 or more.  Otherwise the damage is 5 less.)
 


Meanwhile, Maxime seeks to repeat his successful assault by adding two more!

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Maxime-mum damage. 
Swift Attack from Maxime, on 'Lavagirl'.

  1stVs64Ws  - (1d100)[ 52 ] .    Damage  - (1d10+3)[ 8 ] .
  2ndVs64Ws  - (1d100)[ 8 ] .    Damage  - (1d10+3)[ 9 ] .
 
wilphe
  Wighard 13/13 2/3  

With pistol shots from Jasmine indicating that the enemy are close enough Wighard draws his blunderbuss and targets one of the rowing benches. Killing people here is a bonus, his main aim is to throw them off their stroke causing the ship to lose speed and yaw sideways - hopefully thwarting any further ramming or boarding attempt until they can regain control.

And if she goes so out of control that the cannon can no longer bear, well even better

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 8 ]  Does it work?

Half Action: Draw Blunderbuss
Half Action: Shoot


Simply measure out a line as long as the weapon’s maximum range (32 yards/16 squares in the case of a blunderbuss) and 2 yards (1 square) wide. Anyone caught in this area must make a successful Agility Test or suffer the weapon’s damage.

If they attempt an agility check to get out the way - they break stroke - mission accomplished

If they stay at their post - they get hurt - some of them die - they break stroke - mission accomplished
 
farothel
With Bertelis in the frontline, Bruno decided to give the shark dude one more whack and then go somewhere else as he wasn't feeling all to well at the moment.  He kept his shield between them to ward of any claws coming his way.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

attack:  (1d100)[ 30 ]  vs 56 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 12 ] 

move away (shark dude gets a free attack on me, but I still have my parry).
free parry:  (1d100)[ 10 ]  vs 61
 
dojango
Jasmine hands the firearm back to Bully and draws her second pistol.  She sees with some satisfaction that Wighard has unloaded his blunderbuss into the rowing benches of the enemy vessel; hard to pull an oar effectively with a bit of sharp metal in your arm, as she knows from personal experience.  Spotting the two boarders still on the deck of the ship, she aims at the non-shark one and fires again.  " Back to the waves with ye! "

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 48 ]  v. 72,  (1d10+4)[ 14 ]  -or-  (1d10+4)[ 13 ] 
 
wilphe
Schlapp is still trying to get back on his paws, whilst Cathwulf continues to worry at Lavagirl

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 6 ]  66 (+10 2+1 +20 Allout attack)
 (1d10)[ 3 ] ]+3
 
Volthawk
The other boat seemed handled for now - at least, as far as he could tell in the moment, so Meloth turns his attention back to the sharks on the ship.

 
 Spoiler 

Aiming and shooting at Sharman.

Attack, TN 54 (BS 64 + 10 aim - 20 melee):  (1d100)[ 37 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 5 ]  w/ Armour Piercing
 
wilphe
As Bruno falls back Siobhan presses a Healing Draught into his hand
bramblefoot
berty: the sharkman will make three attacks on you, spitting out in semi-fluent brettonian  "you may try, but i have an ace up my sleeve" 
 (3d100)[ 63 ][ 42 ][ 3 ](108)  two hits for 11 and 13 wounds

 (1d10+5)[ 6 ] 
 (1d10+5)[ 11 ] 
 (1d10+5)[ 13 ] 

sharkman dodge: unsucessful

 (1d100)[ 83 ] 

lavagirl will disengage, and bail over the side, swimming to the sarl ship and hauling himself aboard

swim
 (1d100)[ 18 ] 

the sarl ship will make its way over, rowers pulling hard to get into grappling range. they'll be in range for grapples next round

row roll

 (1d100)[ 47 ] 
dojango
No sooner has Jasmine's target leapt over the side does she turn to Bully.  She is pleased to see him placing the loaded pistol on the deck next to her, and with practiced hands is beginning to load the fine musket he's been given charge of.  Jasmine scoops up the pistol and takes a few seconds to examine it to make sure the charge is properly loaded before turning to shoot the man in the back as he climbs up onto the enemy ship.  She's tired of enemies escaping their wrath and wants to make sure that this one is sent to Morr's Garden before anyone else goes there.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 51 ]  v. 62,  (1d10+4)[ 10 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 12 ]  pick up new gun, make sure it's loaded correctly, then shoot!
 
MrAbdiel
 Bertelis - 10/15 Wounds - 0/3 Fate - 1/1 Charm. 

Bertelis takes the worst blows on his shield, but they crash into him with bone rattling force and one of the monster's claws rakes down his upper arm, opening a fresh wound.  He struggles for an opening to finish the monster, or atleast drive him off the deck; but then finally Maxime is there, having done his squirely diligence in protecting Wighard and Siobhan to the best of his power, and long enough to recover the courage needed to join his master against this most unnatural foe.  As Maxime's mace swings in, Bertelis drives hard with the  Company Blade  - too full of violence and the need for victory to offer another rejoinder to the sharkman's goading.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Berty and Max, Stacks of Attacks! 
Maxime's Charge:   Vs64  - (1d100)[ 19 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 9 ] .

Bertelis Attack 1:   Vs76  - (1d100)[ 67 ]  OR   Vs76  - (1d100)[ 79 ]  for  (1d10+12)[ 14 ] .
Bertelis Attack 2:   Vs76  - (1d100)[ 60 ]  OR   Vs76  - (1d100)[ 96 ]  for  (1d10+12)[ 14 ] .
 
wilphe
With their immediate foe vanquished, the two Wolves follow Maxime back down towards where their foster daddy is threatened



 
 Spoiler: OOC 

S
 (1d100)[ 77 ]  66 (+20 3:1 +10 Charge
 (1d10)[ 7 ]  +3

C
 (1d100)[ 72 ]  66 (+20 3:1 +10 Charge
 (1d10)[ 7 ]  +3
 
farothel
Bruno nodded at Siobhan and as there are enough people around the sharkman, he will start to reload his pistol.  He also kept an eye on the other ship coming closer.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

half-action: start reloading
half-action: reloading
 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Fighting shark-men monsters, sailing the seas, being rammed and boarded by Chaos-worshiping lunatics...Regine was starting to think she'd have been better off staying home. What madhouse had she signed up for?!

Loosing bolts at the shark-man...thing, the thief hissed under her breath as she felt the tell-tale sign of an empty magazine. The thing would take too long to reload, and though instincts told the thief to flee...there was nowhere she could flee to. If that thing and incoming friends killed her new ship-borne allies, they'd just come for her next. She'd end up fed to sharks, a sword in her guts or worse.

Setting her crossbow down, the thief withdrew her handweapon and dagger, the latter in her left hand as she crept up behind the melee of Shark-fins and swords, where she waited, aimed and then  staaabbed  the shark-man in the back with her own blade.
wilphe
Wighard considers doing something to the Daemon gun but instead decides to further protect   Trundheim   from being grappled, tells Siobhan to get ready to heal the ship up and back and gets his Axe ready

The spell goes off, but he finds the casting draining



 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Half Action: Cast [rollv[4d10[/rollv] -4+1 TN 8
Half Action: Ready Axe


Shimmering Cloak
Casting Number: 8
Casting Time: Half action
Ingredient: A candle (+1)
Description: You surround yourself with a field of light that protects you from ranged attacks. All non-magical missile attacks have their Damage rating reduced to 0 (in other words, damage is simply 1d10). Shimmering cloak lasts a number of minutes equal to your Magic Characteristic. You automatically fail any Concealment Tests you attempt while shimmering cloak is in effect. ROS
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (4d10)[ 1 ][ 3 ][ 1 ][ 7 ](12) 
 
 Try again
bramblefoot
berty: describe the death of sharkman. he is a goner

the crew of the sarl ship will throw grapples at the trundheim and attempt to board. four attach, and one does not

a tall norscan woman with an axe and shield will quickly scale the rope, leading the bondsmen over to engage. her wild eyes scan the deck, and lock onto sir bertelis'  "so, you slew him"  she purrs, stalking towards you like a cat.  "but will you attack a woman"  she asks, drawing axe and shield. her eyes seem to glow. can i get a wp test or take a -10 to ws to attack her?

 

meloth: you hear a screech from black crypt, and spot a large griffon being ridden towards the combat zone. the griffon looks very mistreated, and the black rider in full plate on its back gives you the  i see you motion  and will spur the griffon into more speed
MrAbdiel
Another massive shark-claw shrieks off his shield as he defends against the monster.  Then Schlapp and Catwulf are there snarling and barking at biting about the thing's legs; dividing its attention critically many ways.  It's enough of an opening for the  Company Blade  to make a forehand slash across the monstrosity's chest, spilling a splattering fountain of blood on the deck; and then a driving thrust on the return, embedding the flaming blade in its chest.  Even this seems not to end its malice; with a bitter roar, it draws back an arm, but them Maxime strides into the flank and strikes that flexed arm with his mace - and Reginé darts in and spikes her own weapon sharply into the side of the sharkman's head, in and out of the earhole.  That seems to do it - it remains upright and gurgling, full of hatred but critically braindamaged and moments away from collapse.

Bertelis' response is petty.  He releases his grip on the enchanted sword, lunges right to snatch up a loose bailing bucket - the one with the big hole that everyone hates using - and smashes it down on the dying shifter's head.  The rim of it catches on the lower jaw and the sheer width of the monster's head splits the old bucket's binding a little, but it's poetic enough for the choleric Bretonnian's taste; and he renews his grip on the  Company Blade  with his prime hand and shieldhand on the pommel, leaning in.  The all-but-dead beast gives a few automatic backward steps with the charge, tottering as it goes.  As its shins hit the railing, Bertelis kicks out with one boot and rips the blade to the side; and with a fantastical  geyser of smoldering guts and blood splashing down in the water below, the sharkman tumbles over... almost cut in half.

From there, Bertelis can see the hooks flying - one clanging off a shield of light, but others finding the ship's rail.

 "Hooks on!  Hooks on the starboard waist, and stern!  Where are those axes?"   The hooks at the starboard waist, near to the company's position, were already disgorging warriors - two bondsmen after their raiding leader. But those toward the stern were slower to find purchase, and perhaps, if the crew were quick enough, they might cut or dislodge those lines before they bore their vicious Norscan invaders.

But now, he could not dare to focus on that matter too deeply - the next combatant was here... sauntering up, goading him with a mocking coo.  Strictly, he had no issue visiting violence upon a raider and pirate, woman or man; but he had not cleft a woman before... at least, not one who lacked the decency to have tentacles and participate in a mutant ambush in the Drakwald.  He snarls and adjusts his grip, moving to circle the woman - but he is somewhat shaken by the act she is driving him to commit.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
That's a whole not of text for me not taking my turn; just painting the picture.  I had a few lines, but that seemed like a good taunt for Jasmine or Reginé to riff on before a shot or stab; so I reserve my action for the moment.  Presently, Bertelis is not committed to melee; but I'm assuming he's too close to charge, so on his turn he'll have to move in and attack.
 
Volthawk
Seeing that the sharks are dealt with, Meloth fires an arrow in the direction of the enemy ship, to unclear effect, while he keeps watch for new targets. The targets he quickly acquired, though...

 "More from the air!" 

Hoping that more firepower would join him soon, Meloth tries to put an arrow into the gryphon - if it was ill-treated, perhaps it'd be easier to spook the animal with pain, or perhaps it wouldn't hold up to getting injured as well as a healthy specimen might.

 
 Spoiler 

Round 4: Meloth's going to fire at the ship crew as they approach. Not sure what kind of shot he can get, but in any case firing is what he's doing this round - it'll just be up to Bramble if there's a valid target he can hit, one of the bondsmen, or if it's just fired in the right direction to little effect other than reminding the crew that they're gonna get shot.

Attack, TN 74:  (1d100)[ 15 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 13 ]  w/ AP

Round 5:
Aiming and shooting at the big bird  (yes yes it's a gryphon not a bird but shh) .

Attack, TN 74:  (1d100)[ 68 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 6 ]  w/ AP
 
bramblefoot
the dame waves away her two bondsmen to guard the grapnels, and circles bertelis  "shall we settle this one on one?"  she purrs, confident in her ability to take down a wounded knight of brettonia.  "i call upon old jormung to witness a fair duel. any who intervene shall be cursed!"  she calls, and there is a low rumble of thunder from the distant horizon

 "you southlanders are all the same. so soft, so weak, so effeminate"  she purrs, still circling bertelis. she will suddenly lash out, making two attacks

 (2d100)[ 43 ][ 46 ](89)  both hits

 (1d10+4)[ 13 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 8 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 13 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 11 ] 

parry

 (1d100)[ 1 ]  successful

dodge
 (1d100)[ 23 ]  successful

the griffon shies away from the arrow, and the black rider snarls and tries to control his mount
dojango
 
 Spoiler: retconned 
Not wanting more boarders on the ship, Jasmine hands over the spent pistol and grabs the newly loaded firearm from Bully.  " Go below an' don't let yerself get taken alive, " she warns him as she runs over to the nearest grapnel and tries to slice through it with her dagger.  Unfortunately she isn't quite able to get through the rope fast enough and the first boarder clambers towards her with murder in their eyes...

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 52 ]  v. 44
 

 
MrAbdiel
 
 Spoiler: Actions redacted, for Intermission 
 
 Spoiler: Bertelis and Maxime Rolls; Narrative to follow. 
Bertelis doesn't think he'll win a rock-em-sock-em against this gal, and he also wants to embarass her now she's insulted him, so he's going for the disarm.  Half Action Feint, Half Action Disarm.  However... I guess it's fair to take that pre-rolled Parry as the opposed WS roll; and that prerolled dodge as the successful parry that follows.

So this action cannot succeed.  Still, for posterity:

  FeintWSroll  - (1d100)[ 91 ]  Bertelis Weapon Skill is effectively 56 right now, between the quality of his weapon and the girl germs taxing him -10.  If he happens to roll something like a 1, he might actually beat her 1.  Otherwise... She succeeds against the faint, and is permitted to defend against the attack roll to come.

  StandardAttackRollVs56  - (1d100)[ 51 ] .

If that miraculously hits, we make opposed Agility rolls.

  OpposedAgilityVs51  - (1d100)[ 52 ] .

And if we get this far and she beefs her roll.. fun ensues!


As for Maxime, she's going to follow Jasmine; and she will charge the bondsman closest to the halfling.

  vs54  - (1d100)[ 94 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 8 ] .

Edit: All whiff, all the time.
 


Bertelis grimaces as the heavy overhand axe blow bangs down on his shield.  He knows the name of the god she invokes -  Old Jormung , the death serpent of some of the south-coast Norscan tribes; the gate to the ancestors and witness of dooms.  He's uncertain if many of his party will take such an invocation seriously - but the thundercrack invites them to consider a genuine divine event at play.

 "May Old Jormung choke on you, like Stromfels the ones you sent before!"   He is hurt; and not particularly well armored right now.  The sword's magic is purposed to deal with monsters like the shark-man - but against mortal champions like this, it is not much more effective than a typical blade.  Trying to work around his discomfort, he makes a testing blow to which his opponent does not flinch.  His following strike bounces off his opposite number's shield, leaving them stalemated.

 "Maxime - go to-" 

But the squire has intuited his intention.  Seeing Jasmine head off to work the grapnels, Maxime chases with her to assist - but veers aside to intercept the bondsman nearest, entering into a weapon clash that, at the least, keeps the wee pistolier out of combat.
 
wilphe
 Intermission: 
  Wighard 13/13 2/3  

With Lavagirl fleeing and Sharkboy dying with his head in a bucket, Wighard gets a little bit of a breather and takes stock. Then reacts to the grapple landing right by him by slashing at the rope

And with Bruno and Bertelis beaten up, it might by time for him to go into melee, besides he is almost out of tricks.

Almost but not entirely...

  Given that the fort seem to have noticed us, can you take a look? 
 Anything in particular you want to know? 
 Garrison size, does it look like they have prisoners there and do they have any artillery up there so we don't anchor under it 
 Understood 
 And if they do have prisoners, feel free to enact a daring rescue whilst they are all distracted 
 hahahahah  

A globe of radiant light leaps into view and circles him protectively


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 8 ]  54 +30 (Unaware target) (-20 Penalty?)
 (2d10)[ 1 ][ 6 ](7)  +4

 (1d100)[ 16 ]  54 +30 (Unaware target) (-20 Penalty?)
 (2d10)[ 10 ][ 3 ](13)  +4

 (3d10)[ 6 ][ 7 ][ 6 ](19)  -3+2 TN 14

 
 Spoiler: Radiant Sentinel 
Radiant Sentinel
Casting Number: 14
Casting Time: Full action
Ingredient: A buckler (+2)
Description: You create a ball of glowing light the size of a Human head that floats around your body, moving slowly or quickly as the situation demands. The ball deflects blows aimed against you, protecting you from harm. Once per round the radiant sentinel can parry a melee attack made against you, using your Will Power in place of Weapon Skill. This does not count towards your limit of one parry per round. The ball dissipates after a number of minutes equal to your Magic Characteristic ROS
 

 
wilphe
 Intermission: 

Siobhan will try to get Bruno more functional, and then if Wighard has indeed successfully severed the only rope that grappled the stern 
 Spoiler 
he did 24 damage to it...
 
 have  Trundheim  naturally pivot the stern away from the Skarl vessel so the two vessels are not alongside but more broad of each others bow.

Schlapp and Cathwulf return to their master and mistress's sides, whilst Kwolf swoops low out of Griffon rider range and embarks on his reconnaissance / heroic rescue

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

One round: Healing of Hysh on Bruno for (2)?

One round: Channel the ship
 
MrAbdiel
  "Keep your heads down!"   Bertelis shouts at the sailors as he moves to group with them, raising his shield and almost casually deflecting a dart hurled his way.    "Manaan blesses those who honor his rituals, and there is none more sacred than suffering no pirate - Sarl or otherwise!  Cut that line!  Get back now I've got the other!"  

Gesturing with the flaming  Company Blade , Bertelis moves through the midst barking commands at the sailors before lining up to receive the first bold Norscan to come over the rail...

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Intermission Actions! 
Turn 1 - Hindering Action (Command):   Vs67  - (1d100)[ 69 ]  - success grants -1 to the first roll for the boarders. EDIT: Bah!  A bare, bare failure!
Turn 2 - move to rail, Delay Action to Standard Attack the first Sarl to board.
 
farothel
Bruno let Siobhan heal him while he reloaded his pistol and then he aimed and then shot at the first one trying to cross over to their ship, hoping to take one down, or at least drop him into the water.

 
 Spoiler: OOC intermission 

round 1: reload while being healed.
round 2: aim and then shoot at one of the guys coming over:  (1d100)[ 54 ]  vs 58 (maybe some bonusses as they can't move out of the way while climbing on ropes)
damage:   (1d10+4)[ 5 ]   or  (1d10+4)[ 12 ] 
 
bramblefoot
brambleberry finn will move to try to dislodge a grappling hook, only to scream in pain as another grappling hook catches him in the shoulder and slams him into the ships rail. a grinning norscan with spiky blond hair will climb across brambleberry finn, leaving him attached to the rail and boarding, along with the dame and three others, spiky hair will go after maxime, while the dame will go after berty

the other three bondsman will go after the sailors

 
spiky hair attacks against maxime

 (1d100)[ 48 ]  hit

 (1d10+4)[ 14 ] 

spiky hair parry

 (1d100)[ 81 ]  fail

the dames attacks on bertelis

 (2d100)[ 15 ][ 48 ](63)  one hit

dame parry
 (1d100)[ 93 ]  fail

dame dodge
 (1d100)[ 29 ]  succesful

bondsman attacks

 (3d100)[ 87 ][ 67 ][ 74 ](228)  all fails

 (1d10+3)[ 4 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 12 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 12 ] 

bondsmans parries

 (3d100)[ 79 ][ 64 ][ 16 ](159)  bondsman 3 succeeds
Volthawk
In the lull before the next storm, Meloth keeps raining down arrows at the enemy ship, hoping to kill (or at least wound) some of the men down there before they get aboard.

 
 Spoiler 

Two rounds of aiming and shooting at boat lads during the intermission.

Attack, TN 74:  (1d100)[ 56 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 8 ]  w/ Anti-Armour

Attack, TN 74:  (1d100)[ 96 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 10 ]  w/ Anti-Armour

Unsure about if any negative modifiers should apply.

And then once the intermission is over, I guess that shot at the gryphon still happens?
 
dojango
Jasmine grabs the firearm from Bully as he finishes loading it.  Spotting a new man at the till, she grins and aims the gun at him and fires... while no doubt there are several men aboard the ship who are skilled enough to handle the enemy vessel they won't want to risk manning the till if it is a death sentence...  But as she shoots there is a loud bang and she yells as shrapnel cuts her in the face as the gun misfires.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 100 ]  v. 77,  (1d10+4)[ 9 ]  -or  (1d10+4)[ 5 ] 
 


Once the two ships crash together and the boarders come over, Jasmine throws the ruined gun at Bully and tells him, " You fouled the loadin'!  'Best Halfling craftsmanship my ass!  Go below an' try not to get in the way! "  She runs over to where Brambleberry Finn is trapped and tries to pull him free of the grapnel.  Angry at Bully, at the enemy, at the world, she almost effortlessly pulls the grapnel away from him and gets him free.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 13 ]  v. 45 strength
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis lands a bleeding cut on The Dame just in time to receive her galling challenge and barrage of bamboozling racism.  Fending off her first assault, he is taken aback by her brazen words…  But he is in little enough mood to be overly chivalrous - accepting the duel wordlessly and seeking to cause his opponent some humiliation of her own.  Meanwhile, Maxime fights for his life - barely parrying a blow that would have taken off his arm, he is aided by a less than courageous but perfectly helpful assault from Regine!

 
 Spoiler 
Bertelis needs to hit twice in order to land a blow.  The first hit will only trigger The Dame’s dodge.  He also needs to pass that willpower check or take the -10 from the unsettling girl germs.

  vs52Wp  - (1d100)[ 81 ] 
  vs66  - (1d100)[ 71 ]  to hit
  vs66  - (1d100)[ 30 ] .  In the unlikely event both hit, he’ll use the actual landing blow to attempt a disarm.

Maxime, double teaming with Regine:

  vs53  - (1d100)[ 3 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 13 ] 
  vs53  - (1d100)[ 31 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 6 ] 
 
wilphe
  Wighard 13/13 2/3 (Shimmering Cloak, Radiant Sentinel)  
 "shall we settle this one on one?"  she purrs, confident in her ability to take down a wounded knight of brettonia.  "i call upon old jormung to witness a fair duel. any who intervene shall be cursed!" 
  You think I am some sort of Bretonnian?
Throwing out challenges like that
I am an Imperial
Chivalry doesn't work on me only money  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (3d10)[ 8 ][ 10 ][ 2 ](20)  -3 TN7
Radiant Gaze
Casting Number: 7
Casting Time: Full action
Ingredient: A lens (+1)
Description: Your gaze focuses radiant power on one target within 16 yards (8 squares). This is a magic missile with Damage 6. Sometimes, looks really can kill.
 
wilphe
A blaze of Hysh streaks out from Wighard's eyes towards the raider holding the grapple that snagged Brambleberry Finn

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d10)[ 1 ]  +6
 
wilphe
Siobhan will continue trying to push the ships apart, Schlapp picks up Wighard's blunderbuss and takes it over to Bully with an expectant look on his face
dojango
Jasmine pushes Brambleberry towards the hatch and he stumbles away, muttering 'I had worse'.  But two of the smaller kids grab his hands and help him down below.  Meanwhile, Jasmine draws one of her pistols and aims it at the men on the other ship getting ready to board.  " Who wants ta be the next man to die today?  Step forward an' choose! " she shouts at them.  Perhaps it would have been a little more intimidating if she'd used a language they understood, however.

 
 Spoiler 
Hindering action:  Intimidate the enemy waiting to climb over.   (1d100)[ 61 ]  v. 55
 
farothel
Seeing as they are now being boarded, Bruno swapped his gun for his sword and headed into the fight, trusting his shield more than his armour, which was in his cabin.  Rushing towards the railing, he started attacking the first guy he encountered.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

swapping pistol for sword is a free action
charge into the fight, first guy on the ship
attack:  (1d100)[ 63 ]  vs 56 for damage: [roll]1d10+5[/rolll]
 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine wasn't feeling particularly comfortable. This wasn't her scene, not her forte. She was in the shadows, quiet, stealthy, planning and intel gathering before launching a heist and gaining that big score that'll set her up for life. What she was  not  was some marine on a deck fighting against the horrors of chaos in a bloody, whirling melee.

With the sharkman and his partner defeated, more hostiles were incoming as Regine spotted the longship lurching towards their own craft. More howling and hollering warriors were cramped onto the deck of the vessel, grappling hooks hurling up towards the railings of their own ship with every intent to flood their decks with bloody murder - and when it arrived, Regine did what Regine did best. She disappeared.

Not literally, of course, but she blended into her surroundings. Crouching low, shrinking her profile and hid as she crept up behind the Spiky Haired bondsman fighting against - Maxine, was it? - and shoved her sword into the mans back.


OOC:
This is the post I should have done yesterday, sorry.
Volthawk
With the battle on board seeming to be mostly on hand, Meloth keeps firing down at the enemy ship to try to preemptively deal with some boarders.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack, TN 74:  (1d100)[ 18 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 9 ]  w/ Anti-Armour
 
bramblefoot
the dame fights fiercely, and will make two attacks on berty.  "old jormung has my back southlander, which god has yours?"  she taunts

 (2d100)[ 98 ][ 46 ](144)  one hit for an fury of the dark gods

 (1d10+4)[ 6 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 11 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 10 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 14 ] 

regine: the spiky haired bondsman snarls, and slaps maxime to the deck with his shield, turning to you  "stupid boy wasnt a proper fighter anyway"  he says, turning his gaze on you  "oh but you are so worth my time"  he purrs, running the blade across the edged rim of the shield  "hound bless me!"  he roars to the sky, and his face painfully reshapes into that of a large wolfdogs, sparing lips and tongue for speech  "so girl, feeling brave now?"  he slurs, and will attack

 (2d100)[ 90 ][ 4 ](94) 
 (1d10+4)[ 7 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 5 ]  one hit, but unlikely to do bo-diddly
MrAbdiel
It’s a hell of a brawl - the Trundheim’s crew are outnumbered more than two to one, if one chooses to exclude the children.  No sooner has Maxime struck down the first spike-haired marauder but she is bowled over by another whose hair spikes are so substantial the previous attacker seems bald by comparison - and that’s before the hideous shifting!  As it lays into Regine, it’s all Maxime can do to return the thief’s favour with support of her own.

Meanwhile, Bertelis grunts and rolls with a deflected blow from the Sarl’s lady champion, and continues his efforts to embarrass her…

 
 Spoiler 
Maxime attacks Spikey Hair 2: Wolf Edition.

  Vs53  - (1d100)[ 24 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 6 ] 
  Vs53  - (1d100)[ 52 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 11 ] 

Meanwhile Bertelis tries to shake the -10 from unsettling girl germs

  vs51WP  - (1d100)[ 71 ] 

And then two swings from Bertelis.  If he scores a hit he’ll go for the disarm. If he successfully disarms, he’ll QuickDraw to put away his sword and snatch up the axe, even making his second attack with the stolen weapon if he can.  Rolls made assuming no -10.

  vs66  - (1d100)[ 100 ]  and then

  vs66  - (1d100)[ 100 ] 

Narrative and sass pending results.

Edit:…

…

Okay.  So… I’m going to suggest he manages to disarm himself.  The flames on the Company Blade go out and it is knocked back over his head and scatters behind into  some cargo on the deck, out of reach until he can get to it.

Then he flubs a second, bare handed disarm check and … what do you think, Bramble, has his helmet knocked off?

He’ll end his turn quickdrawing his foil.
 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine pushed the scene out of her mind as much as she was able. Or at least, her prior instincts to flee, to run, to simply hop, skip and disappear on out of there. Maybe she could hide somewhere on the enemy boat and swim to safety once this was done? Bah, who was she kidding. They either defeated them or they died.

The thief pivoted on the spot with cat-like grace as the blade missed her, her own weapon glittering about and stabbing the man for a light wound.
wilphe
  Wighard 13/13 2/3 (Shimmering Cloak, Radiant Sentinel)  
 "old jormung has my back southlander, which god has yours?" 
  I serve ones with the sense not to eat their own ass.  

Another beam of Hysh comes out from Wighard's eyes, this time directed at her, but not particularly powerful   
 Spoiler: OOC 
7 damage
 


Below decks however Odmar is going to have his work cut out as the horses spook


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (3d10)[ 4 ][ 4 ][ 9 ](17)  -3 TN7
Radiant Gaze
Casting Number: 7
Casting Time: Full action
Ingredient: A lens (+1)
Description: Your gaze focuses radiant power on one target within 16 yards (8 squares). This is a magic missile with Damage 6. Sometimes, looks really can kill.
 
wilphe
Siobhan is still concentrating on pushing the ships apart as best she can, Cathwulf heads for the Company Blade as Schlapp continues to look patiently at Bully
dojango
Jasmine is pleased to see that, whether due to her intimidating figure or the pistol in her hand only two of the enemy work up their courage to board the boat. Being a halfling of her word, she aims at the first one to step foot on her ship and fires at him.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 47 ]  v. 72,  (1d10+4)[ 8 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 10 ] 
 
Volthawk
Meloth continues to focus on holding back the flow of boarders, trying to drop the injured ones as they come up.

 
 Spoiler 

Aiming and shooting Boarder 3.

Attack, TN 74:  (1d100)[ 73 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 12 ]  w/ AA
 
farothel
Bruno kept chopping at the guy in front of him.  He would have to do that before he could do something else.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

full attack
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 62 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 11 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 71 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 10 ] 

if attack 1 kills the guy, move to the next one.
 
bramblefoot
wighard: you hear a deep rumble of thunder, and the skies turn black. a large cloud with eyes of lightning hovers over the battlefield and a deep voice rumbles  "who dares interrupt a sacred duel!"  the cloud booms, scanning the ships for the person who interrupted a sacred duel.  "a wizard, as expected"  it spits, voice filled with loathing  "i have a special treat for wizards who do not honor the rules" 

a large iron gorget marked with lettering in the darktongue wraps tightly around wighards neck, and begins to choke him  "cast, and it chokes you"  the cloud says.  "the more you cast, the tighter it gets" 

berty: the dame seems appalled at wighards intervention, and then cheers when the large cloud appears  "forward to victory!"  she calls, voice amplified by the storm. four more bondsman stalk across the grapnels

 (2d100)[ 32 ][ 94 ](126) 

[roll]1d10+4 or  (1d10+4)[ 9 ] 

[roll]1d10+4 or  (1d10+4)[ 12 ] 

dame dodge and parry

 (1d100)[ 49 ] 
 (1d100)[ 20 ] 

spiky hair jr attacks

 (2d100)[ 26 ][ 66 ](92) 
 (1d10+4)[ 8 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 11 ] 

spiky hair jr parry
 (1d100)[ 85 ] 

bondsman attacks

 (6d100)[ 73 ][ 83 ][ 28 ][ 12 ][ 80 ][ 18 ](294) 
 (6d10)[ 2 ][ 3 ][ 3 ][ 6 ][ 2 ][ 2 ](18)  add 3
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine again moved like water, seemingly shapeless whenever her opponents blade searched for her but forming to take another slash at his exposed areas.
MrAbdiel
Maxime fends the aggressing Norscan on one side, while trying to menace the wolfman.  His instinct is to fight back to back with Regine, but the thief’s fighting style is considerably more mobile.  Still, he leans on Bertelis teaching, and stays near and prioritises the foe attacking Regine - it’s the chivalrous thing to do.

 
 Spoiler 
  vs43  - (1d100)[ 20 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 13 ] .
  vs43  - (1d100)[ 96 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 4 ] .  Die, spikey hair junior!
 


Bertelis, meanwhile, suffers another reversal.  The Company blade is wrenched from his hand and clatters amidships; and a mocking backhand knocks his helmet from his head leaving him baffled with apoplexia.  The divine censure upon Wighard is the icing on the cake - perhaps defeating this woman will release that burden from the wizard… but for now, they are hobbled without his magics… and Bertelis is shaming his gods.

“Manaan!  Manaan, god of my father’s father!  Do not permit your servants to suffer this way!”

 
 Spoiler 
  vs51WP  - (1d100)[ 11 ]  to overcome girl germs.

  vs61  - (1d100)[ 54 ]  to hit for the disarm.  Dame fails to dodge.
  vs61  - (1d100)[ 7 ]  But this is purely recreational as it is parried.
 
wilphe
  Wighard 13/13 2/3 (Shimmering Cloak, Radiant Sentinel)  
  Oi, Bertelis the Butterfingered, could you stop poncing about like some effete Estalian and just kill the ****ing bitch? Or am I going to have to come down there and do it myself?  
  As for you   he addresses the Gorget,   I don't see why I should go along with the definition of a fair fight from someone who sends their pet fish up first to take the hits.

I'd almost sooner take the word of a Hung

Besides I don't need magic to be dangerous  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Nothing right now
 
wilphe
Cathwulf grabs the Company Blade and trots it over to Bertelis like a cat presenting a dead mouse to its owner; Schlapp meanwhile waits for Bully to finish reloading and bounds back up to Wighard

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Cathwulf: Normal action
Schlapp: Delay then move
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis's foil clashes and bangs off the Dame's axe, and shield.  His strikes are tentative and reserved; discomfort in the woman's weaponization of his chivalry obvious.  For a moment, it seems as though he's about to get her weapon away - but she pulls it free, and manages a lacerating blow across his pectoral.  He gasps and reels back, blinking to find the lupine conveyer of the magic sword there and changing to the superior weapon in a splitsecond of break in the action. He will spare some affection for Cathwulf when he is not currently being beaten senseless.

  Oi, Bertelis the Butterfingered, could you stop poncing about like some effete Estalian and just kill the ****ing bitch? Or am I going to have to come down there and do it myself?  

That tears something. Bertelis is normally quite good humored; but his choler is up today and the irrational fury he feels from the mockery of his friend eclipses and burns out the restraint he displayed at the Dame's taunting.

 "No!  Do... something else!"  He calls back through gritted teeth; a lame response that is all he can afford to spare in attention away from his attacker.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Let's say Wighard's taunting is what caused him to pass that WP test to stop being unsettled.

Also Bertelis uses his quickdraw action to put away his foil and take up the Company blade from Cathwulf.
 


Meanwhile, the sailors continue their valiant fight, holding the Sarls at the rail mostly even as they are slowly pushed back across the deck.  They are rivermen, mostly; Petrus has mentioned he did a term on coastal runs once before, but aside from that he and the merry sailors from Couronne are experiencing a novelty. They have never seen Norscans.  They have never had to fight them. But they have defended their riverboats from time to time against wreckers, and beastmen, and the so-called "merry-men".  Norscan or Bretonnian or monster, pirates are pirates.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Sailors 4, 5 and 6 fight back against those who attacked them, as does Petrus.
 Sailors 1, 2, and 3 are currently with Bruno and will cue off his action, though they are inclined to return to the 'line' and help their fellows.

Sailor5 Vs Boarder7   vs31  - (1d100)[ 69 ] , for  (1d10+3)[ 5 ] 
Sailor4 Vs Boarder6   vs31  - (1d100)[ 9 ] , for  (1d10+3)[ 7 ] 
Sailor6 Vs Boarder5   vs31  - (1d100)[ 16 ] , for  (1d10+3)[ 5 ] 
Master Petrus vs Boarder8   vs42  - (1d100)[ 81 ] , for  (1d10+3)[ 8 ] , and
   vs42  - (1d100)[ 76 ] , for  (1d10+3)[ 8 ] .
 
wilphe
Wighard takes a spare belaying pin, and shoves it in the gap between neck and gorget

  Siobhan, mail sheers please  
 Aye 

Siobhan goes below to the instruments
dojango
Jasmine mostly ignores the strange 'miracle', classifying it as 'more wizard problems'.  What is of more immediate concern is that they will be all picked off one by one, so she holsters her spent pistol and draws her long knife.  She runs over to where Regina is fighting the strange beastman and tries to stab him it in the back as he's distracted by her.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 94 ]  v. 66:  36 + 10 (dagger) + 10 (charge) + 10 outnumbering,  (1d10+4)[ 6 ]  damage
 
farothel
 "Keep the line,"  Bruno shouts to the crew,  "but try to move it up against the side of the ship." 
Taking that advice, he keeps chopping at the enemy around him.  He would leave the moving and stuff to those of the team more suited to such.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

As the ship is quite small, I assume I keep having enemies near me.  And as long as they haven't moved, I still have the outnumber from the crew.
full attack:
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 43 ]  vs 66 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 7 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 87 ]  vs 66 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 15 ] 
 
Volthawk
Seeing how many of them just made it aboard, Meloth changes his focus to fire on the boarders, hoping to finish one off after the sailors have had a go at them.

 
 Spoiler 

Aiming at shooting at one of the injured boarders MrAbdiel has pointed out - targeting-wise, I suppose Meloth will go for whichever one is furthest out from the edge of the ship, to try to get Bruno's plan going.

Attack, TN 54*:  (1d100)[ 16 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 8 ]  w/ AA

*If I have the situation right, every boarder is engaged now, yes?
 
bramblefoot
the dame will muster the gumption, and make two attacks  "even if you kill us, the island will move"  she taunts.  "no do-gooder has found black crypt twice, and lived to tell the tale"  she'll wave a boarder over for a little backup  "since your wizard broke the sacred duel, im no longer bound by it either" 
 (2d100)[ 21 ][ 56 ](77) 
 (1d10+4)[ 5 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 11 ]  hit for 11 wounds

 (1d10+4)[ 12 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 6 ]  hit for 12

parry and dodge

 (1d100)[ 99 ] 
 (1d100)[ 60 ] 

spiky jr will make attacks against regine

 (2d100)[ 72 ][ 45 ](117) 
 (1d10+4)[ 9 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 9 ] 
 (1d100)[ 35 ] 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is beyond conversation.  His retort barely makes sense as the  Company Blade  flashes back to fiery life in his hand.

 "No crypt for you, heathen!  Despoiler!  Let the crabs and crawler-fish pick your bones at Manaan's feet!" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: Bertelis Attacks 
Bertelis is going to just go for attacks; he's too agitated for something as complicated as a disarm right now.  One day he will get the disarm-kill - but not this day!

She has pre-flubbed her defenses, so these go straight through.  C'mon, Manaan!

  vs66  - (1d100)[ 66 ]  for  (1d10+7)[ 9 ] 
  vs66  - (1d100)[ 6 ]  for  (1d10+7)[ 13 ] .
 


Meanwhile, the spike-maned wolfman continues laying huge blows at Regine; but with the arrival of Jasmine to the fight, Maxime turns her attention to the Boarder trying to strike her down from behind!

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Maxime Attacks 
Swift attack on Boarder4.  The fight is now 3vs2, so no outnumbering bonuses.

  vs43  - (1d100)[ 44 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 7 ] ,
  vs43  - (1d100)[ 41 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 10 ] .

Boarder4's parry:   vs35  - (1d100)[ 44 ] 
 
MrAbdiel
Petrus has been in a few scrapes, and has a habit of hooting and hollering as he lays about with his weapons.  This, and Bruno's charge, seems to inspire the sailors - the are all on their feet, which is almost miraculous considering their opposition!  And, just as importantly, still fighting!

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Sailor Strike! 


Sailor 1 vs Boarder 11:   vs31  - (1d100)[ 49 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 11 ] .
Boarder 11 Parry:   vs35  - (1d100)[ 52 ] 

Sailor 2 vs Boarder 9:   vs31  - (1d100)[ 83 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 4 ] .
Boarder 9 Parry:   vs35  - (1d100)[ 96 ] 

Sailor 3 vs Boarder 10:   vs31  - (1d100)[ 79 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 6 ] .
Boarder 10 Parry:   vs35  - (1d100)[ 27 ] 

Sailor 4 vs Boarder 7:   vs31  - (1d100)[ 71 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 11 ] .
Boarder 7 Parry:   vs35  - (1d100)[ 55 ] 

Sailor 5 vs Boarder 7:   vs31  - (1d100)[ 67 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 13 ] .
Boarder 7 Parry:   vs35  - (1d100)[ 76 ]  (if last attack missed)

Sailor 6 vs Boarder 5:   vs31  - (1d100)[ 31 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 11 ] .
Boarder 5 Parry:   vs35  - (1d100)[ 72 ] 

MasterPetrus vs Boarder 8:   vs42  - (1d100)[ 46 ]  for  (1d10+4)[ 6 ] .
Boarder 8 Parry:   vs35  - (1d100)[ 69 ] 
MasterPetrus vs Boarder 8:   vs42  - (1d100)[ 31 ]  for  (1d10+4)[ 14 ] .
 



Another two of the Sarls fall to the deck.  There are several cloven bodies by the rail, now; all the hardy tattooed forms of the norscans... none of them, somehow, the sailors of the  Trundheim.   Perhaps that's what caused the Dame to change her tune - changing from threats of divine destruction to warning of the shallowness of victory seemed to be half of an admission of defeat. The other half came when finally the Bretonnian landed a heavy, bleeding slash down her front, from shoulder to opposite hip, the blade's tip gouging bone as it goes.  It might have been a mortal wound, if not for the cauterising flames; and as she stumbled back to the safety of the rank of Sarls trying to break through the sailor's line, her backward movement signalled retreat for the lot of them.

Bertelis seeks to follow up; but over his shoulder, he sees Jasmine, and Regine, and Maxime striving at their own foes.  Furious as he is, all the chivalry has not fled from him; and he hedges his bet staying close enough to intervene, even as it proves out they are capable of running off their own aggressors.

The swell of magical power in the air, the growl of discontent thunder, is something he does not care for, but can do nothing about.
 
"All hands to quarters - they're making to run!  We cannot let them bring that gun about!" 
wilphe
  Wighard 13/13 2/3 (Shimmering Cloak, Radiant Sentinel)  

Wighard sets aside his axe and takes his blunderbuss back,

  Who's a good boy?  

then leans over the side for a clear shot before the boom of the blunderbuss goes off again

However this time most of them successfully find cover from the whistling shot, except for one who somehow manages to both get hit and stumble over the side

  Disappointing, but still not casting   he taps the gorget
wilphe
Siobhan is in the cabin retrieving mail sheers, Cathwulf backs out away from Bertelis whilst Schlapp waits patiently at Wighard's feet

Oh, and

  If this island is going to move would you mind landing and stowing away? 
 I liked it better when you wanted me to do a heroic rescue  
dojango
Jasmine lays about with her dagger as the enemy tries to break away.  One of her blows draws blood but the enemy manages to escape her wrath.

 
 Spoiler 
Swift Attack:   (1d100)[ 43 ]  v. 46,  (1d10+4)[ 8 ]  &amp;  (1d100)[ 60 ]  v. 46,  (1d10+4)[ 12 ] 
 
farothel
When the enemies retreated to their own ship, Bruno kept harassing them, before starting to reload his pistol.  He thought of following and boarding them, but with his wounds and the wounds their crew had taken, it probably wasn't the best idea.
 "Let's get out of here now we can,"  he said to the others,  "the faster we get out of this location, the better.  We can always let the navy know.  They probably have more options to deal with that cannon." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

free attack:  (1d100)[ 54 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 7 ] 
 
wilphe
Wighard looks up from where the Sarl survivors are trying to get organised and away whilst the  Trundheim  crew rain missile fire on the,

  With all due respect Captain, sloblock to that.

They've got other problems and we have about the only ship that can get in here  
dojango
As the enemy crew retreat to their ship and start cutting their grapnels, Jasmine runs over to where some of the gear is.  She quickly grabs a lantern and uses flint and tinder to light it.  Then she hurls the lit lantern towards a part of the enemy ship that looks particularly flammable.

 
 Spoiler 
Really wish we had some fire grenades that worked properly...  I don't know BS test to throw lantern?    (1d100)[ 75 ]   rolled 51 in OOC thread.  I guess you can adjudicate whether it starts a fire or not.   Jasmine will draw her gun and shoot the first enemy sailor who tries to put it out, however.
 
bramblefoot
wighard: alright, so heres the pickle. the island is beginning to flicker in and out of sync. you could pull hard and come with it, but you have no idea where it will go, and if the transportation is harmful or not

jasmine: the lantern crashes against the side, but is quickly smothered by a combination of seawater and other measures. the sarl ship will survive, albeit with a reduced crew

capn bruno: It's your call. leave and never find the island again, or go and be transported to gods-knows-where

berty: you see on the top of the tower, a black clad figure point at you and run his finger across his throat. his face is covered by a mask, and he practically oozes evil

 

regine: what are you thinking?

meloth: you see the same thing as berty, with a few added differences. the figure has a necklace of elf ears around his neck, and carries an elven staff
wilphe
Wighard watches impassively, trying to get an idea of the magical processes involved, and even if this process is stoppable

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 18 ]  Magical Sense 77
 
wilphe
  I am experiencing some reluctance to tag along for the ride 
 Not going to ask you do something you aren't comfortable with, abort  
dojango
Jasmine grumbles as the surviving sailors aboard the enemy ship manage to put out the flames, but as it pulls out of range she goes over to the others. " So, what do ya reckon is on that island? We gottem by the balls, ain't gonna have a better chance to yank them off then this!" 
Volthawk
Finally done with pelting the enemy ship with arrows, Meloth turns his attention to the island like the others, frowning when he sees the figure at the top.  "Elf killer. Looks like he took out an elven wizard too...going be pretty good, then."  Meloth shrugs.  "Common sense would be to get out of here, to avoid having to deal with a wizard of that strength. However, the way this company has operated since I got here...that would have us go in and take him out, stop what he's planning and save...whatever is being threatened by Chaos now."  He chuckles as he looks around to Bertelis.  "How heroic are you feeling, sir knight?" 

Truth be told, he was surprising himself a little with how easily he was taking the prospect of going there. Hm.
MrAbdiel
As the Sarls row for their lives, and the orphans scurry out from belowdecks to strip the loot from the slain boarders, Bertelis is squinting up at the tower, and the distant figure upon it.  Just barely, his eyes make out the broad throat-cross gesture.  It's a universal gesture of threat.  With a sneer, he slings back his shield, and raises middle and index finger on his now freed left hand and thrusts them high in the air.

 
 Spoiler: Deux fois salués 
 Deux fois salués  is a gesture developed by Bretonnian peasants during a particularly bleak period of conflict between Reikland and Parravon, during which Imperial lords would have the drawing fingers cut from the hands of captured peasants to prevent them taking up their bows in war again.  At a nadir, the practise spread to taking the fingers of knights errant to deform their capacity to hold a lance or sword (a practice that lead to a breifly extant order  Frères de la masse , who wielded flanged maces in their locking gauntlets).  Uncharitable historians will suggest that it is only when it began happening to noble's sons that the insult was felt; but we all know it was merely the final straw that broke the camel's back, and led to a considerable number of counter-mutilations and ultimately the  Treatie of Axebite Pass , on which lords on both sides agreed not to mutilate their opponent's sons.
 And, for good measure, their peasants.

The discerning reader should be prepared to reject ahistorical lies that the Imperial gesture,  Das Doppel , is the original gesture coming from a Bretonnian inclination to remove the trigger fingers of handgunners captured in battle, and that  this  initial offence led to reprisals and then the  Treatie of Axebite Pass .

One can only imagine that if such dishonest Unberogen scribes had  their  fingers removed they would be less capable of committing to page the libels that their graceless kind instinctively produces.
 


When Meloth mentions his detailed notice, his first instinct is to double-take, and then stare at Meloth with marveling confusion that his elf-eyes are so spectacular that they can pick out trophies at this distance.  But his second is to touch the slowing bleed of the gash in his arm, and then gaze up at the distant silhouette again.

 "They are most heroic, I think, who do heroic things without pre-possessing the heart for the act.  We have been fortunate to lose no lives of our people thus far... but this is where our enemies sought to bring Deanna - are there other captives within?  Other dark dealings?  And if not, would I not impress upon you to help me avenge my kinsmen, had I seen their slayer?  That is enough, I think.  All these brutes - orcs, skaven, Norscans - they cover themselves in talismans of their slain enemies, hoping to soak in the valor of better men by walking forever in their shadow.  So heroic enough, good Meloth.  Heroic enough, I think." 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 


And just like that, the boarders were scurrying off their ship, tail between their legs. Regine took a swipe on the spiky haired fellow with whom she'd been dueling, but all she got in was a light nick that she doubted would do anything in the long run.

Exhaling, collecting her thoughts, the thief never in a million years predicted that she'd be on the high seas, fighting off bloody Norscan marauders from a ship. What the hell was she doing here?! Across roof-top, scoping a place out, entering stealthily, lock picking and delicious thievery - those were her fields of expertise. Not fighting bloodthirsty maniacs wanting to drag her off into slavery!

It took her a few moments, but Regine had recollected her thoughts, she went about the mid-ship, where she was technically the Midshipman. She retrieved her crossbow and started to reload it, while also searching for 'her lads' among the remaining crew, gathering them together and trying to tend to them medically as best she could...which really just amount to wrapping bandages tightly about any wound they may have received, before the ships surgeon could see them.

This is what occupied most of her time. When the shadowy figure emerged upon a cliff-top and gestured down his threat, the thief looked over at the group and slunk her way over quietly, standing just ajar as she listened to what their plan was. Hopefully nothing too insane...
farothel
Bruno looked at Wighard.  The mage probably knew things about this that he didn't about strange islands that threatened to disappear.
 "Move in,"  he shouted,  "stay outside of the cannon's arc.  Shooters, keep at the ship and try to kill as many of the sods as possible.  Anybody who has more armour than currently wearing, now might be a good idea to put it on." 

He then moved to Wighard.
 "Okay, we're moving in, but why do you feel we should?  And how much healing can you and Siobhan do for those of us who have taken wounds, preferably before we go into the next fight." 
wilphe
  We got this ship from Longrifle

He kidnapped Deanna, probably wanted to take her here

They also seem to be building a base up

Seems a good reason to come piss in their porridge for once rather than just passively react all the time  
wilphe
  Strip their bodies of armour, weapons and gear, then heave them over the side  
bramblefoot
aside from cruddy norscan steel and armor, nothing of value is found

the trundheim pulls up to the island, as it starts to pulsate like a disco ball.

the island and the trundheim snap away with a stomach-jarring lurch, and the feeling of bone-chilling cold permeates the trundheim. when the world comes back into focus, you see the island is in the middle of some very cold place way up north in the sea of claws. You're still in the harbor, but its very cold

everyone gimme a toughness test at -10 or take a level of fatigue
wilphe
Wighard shivers, but does his best to make it clear it is from cold not fear.

He looks around for the Sarl ship to see if that had made transition too.
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is stunned at the magical transferrance; and then horrified.  They are now in the frozen north - that's for sure.  As for where in the frozen north... he cannot guess until the stars are out.  The (mildly) unstable knight lets out a barked growl of anger at the inconvenience - but it's only later when he'll have a moment to consider how much further away from Mousillon they have become.

It seems his blood is too hot in the moment to give the cold any purchase.

 "Maxime!  Maxime, go below and tell Odmar to blanket the horses, and Bertholt to get his master's armor at once.  Bring back my chainmail while you're coming back.  Once we set out, you'll remain here with Siobhan and Deanna while they treat the rest of the sailors.  Make sure the crew stays below near the warmth of the beasts taking rotating shifts in the cold with lookouts once the ship is secure in harbor.  You'll have to plug the hole in the deck below until the ship... repairs itself, to keep the cold out.  Petrus will know what to do." 

As the crew throw our mooring lines to the posts in the island's only harbor, Bertelis is suddenly glad the daemon gun was on the enemy ship, and not mounted on the land.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Ready to go! 
Bertelis is ready to raid.  He could use one of those heal checks (he's 5 wounds down), but otherwise he's armoring up and ready to roll.
 
dojango
" By the Ice Queen's toes that's cold! " exclaims Jasmine as she collects her bearings.  Fortunately her cloak is both thick and, more importantly, dry, and she snaps it back in the cold wind for a moment before wrapping it around her shoulders.  She heads down beneath the decks to check in on the orphans.  They are gathered around Brambleberry, huddled together for warmth.  He grins weakly and says, "I had worse," but they all know it's a lie.  Lunk on the other hand holds up an axe and says, "Next time, lemme at em!"  Jasmine steps back.  They've only been on the ship a short time, but three regular meals a day and hard exercise seem to have made the young man shoot up three inches and bulk up.  She just responds " I need ya to stay on the ship an' protect the others.  We'll be back soon enough with all the loot we can carry.  Once we get ta sea again mebbe the knight can teach ya to fight right.  And mebbe I can teach ya how to fight wrong. "

Soon Bully comes up to her and tells her, "Missus, the damage to the mechanism wasn't as bad as you thought.  I cleaned it out and pulled out the misfired shot with some tongs and it seems to be working now."  He hands her the  Nutcracker ; she takes it from him and examines it closely before responding, " Next time don't overload it ya oaf.  Ya got big thumbs, make sure to put just less than that in the barrel next time.  But the next time ain't gonna be now, you stay on the ship and help the others sweep up and throw those bodies overboard. "
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Along with the rest of the crew, Regine was sucked into the portal that cast their ship to who knew where on this blasted planet. That destination, it would seem, was the Sea of Claws, off the coasts of Norsca.

Stumbling a few paces, inhaling and exhaling to steady the contents of her stomach, Regine shook her head as she muttered several curses, before the sheer mercilessness of the cold finally registered across her nervous system. The wind wasn't particularly harsh in its force, but it cut to the bone with its chill. Inhaling sharply, her breath now manifesting as vapors before her, Regine shot her arms about her own torso in a tight self-hug as shivers over-took her, teeth clattering and skin turning a little paler.

What. The. Nine. Hells. Were. These. People. Doing?!

She thought she was on a boat ride down the coast! Now in the space of an hour she's almost been carried off to be a concubine by a pack of Chaos-touched norscans, had giant cannons shot at her, men on gryphons, black-clad murderous sorcerers and now she'd been tossed through the ether to the frozen roof of the world where she'd freeze her cul off.

 "Duco!"  she harkened to one of the older teenage boys allocated under her command.

 "Get us all coats from the ships stores!" 
wilphe
Wighard snaps a few requests,

 Can I have eyes in the sky please? Want to know who else is here, what's in that fort and in case the other ship comes back 

Kwolf takes back off and begins climbing, Schlapp pounds across the deck, leaps onto the dock and heads up towards the fort, Cathwulf follows with less enthusiasm

He talks softly to Bruno as he works

  Might I suggest they don't moor, going to want to be able to move if the gunners come back  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 15 ]  76
 (1d10)[ 9 ]  Bruno

 (1d100)[ 80 ]  76 FPed to sucess in the die roll thread
 (1d10)[ 9 ]  Bertelis
 
bramblefoot
wighard: the norscan ship is nowhere to be seen. kwolf reports no movement outside the fortress, though he does report the feeling of being watched. schlapp and cathwulf report the same feeling, but they see no evidence of anyone watching them. kwolf reports no good way to spy out the layout. its all arrow slits and closed trapdoors

bertelis and bruno: whats the play for the way up? its single file up the harbor until you get to the main fortress. what awaits up there is anybodys guess.

jasmine: bully nods, and will help with hefting the corpses over the side

regine: duco comes back with four human sized coats  "im afraid thats all they have in the stores ma'am"  he says apologetically.

meloth: the ilthmar mail seems to recoil at the island itself.

wdyd?
farothel
Bruno looked at Wighard when the sudden cold took hold.
 "Make sure we try and find food to get back,"  he said to the mage while he was binding Bruno's wounds.  When that was done, he would put on his armour, all of it.
wilphe
Wighard relays the report back from the scouts,

  Siobhan, please look after the other wounded and make an assessment of what damage was done to the stores please  

He looks at Regine

  Reckon you can find another way in if we have to Madame?  


Wighard will not take one of the coats - he has one - but he will take one of the grappling ropes, as the party moves up Cathwulf will return to the ship
MrAbdiel
 "Keep shields out, as we approach.  It's got arrow slits - we can expect they have arrows.   But Sarls do not build fortifications - Norscans have barely mastered stacking stones let alone building strongholds.  Whoever built this was no Norscan, or Kurgan.  Perhaps they are squatting - that would be good.  Hard to pitch darts and axes through arrow slits."   With that, they hurry up the narrow approach.  The figure that watched from the tower likely had not expected them to dare his island - perhaps they can precede him organizing whatever he has for houseguards...

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Marching Order 
Barring strenuous objection...

Meloth

Jasmine

Regine

Bruno

Bertelis

Wighard


... is the order.  This puts a bunch of perceptive folks with guns and bows at the front if they need to shoot things.  They may, if they desire, choose to heed Bertelis' suggestion and move with shields up.  If Regine or Meloth asks, Bertelis will lend them his shield - but there were spares on the ship, too, left by out slain enemies. Still warm!
 
dojango
Jasmine quickly confers with Petrus.  " Once we're ashore, drop anchor a few cables offshore an' be ready to warp out if needed.  Don't leave us behind unless it's necessary ta save yer own skin. "  Once ashore she hoists up her shield and starts heading up towards the strange fortress, keeping eyes out for anything suspicious.  She mutters to herself.  " Reason sure ain't cloudin' our judgment.  Is this what that ol' Krahl fool was talkin' about? "

 
 Spoiler 
Pre-emptive perception test.    (1d100)[ 13 ]  v. 66
 
bramblefoot
alright, so the company of the burning slug crests the ridge, to see the fortress's doors closed and locked shut. the first challenge is to enter. all of you would notice your ears pop, followed by the realization that you can no longer understand one another.

a high cackle splits the sky, followed by a  "like my handiwork?"  this you can understand perfectly well.  "lets see how well you handle adversity"  it appears that this sorcerer enjoys playing with his food

wdyd?
MrAbdiel
Bertelis instictively puts his hand to the side of his helmet, over his ear.  He asks his companions:

 "Errõon!  Ycahtue hediþe msoht, nauteh olnosha hon?" 

And then, upon a bewilderingly nonsensical response, clarifies:

 "Ede leeke yiehpud?" 

And finally, when that fails, he lifts his free hand and gestures in the limited military sign language available to him.

 
 Spoiler: Presuming it works, for those with Secret Language: Battle Tongue 
 "Wizard, unseen.  Skirmishers, engage freely." 
 


He gazes up at the edge of the fortress, wary not to stand under any murder holes, and invites his companion's creativity with his silence.  A barred fortress door can hardly be picked, after all; it requires a battering ram, which they do not have.
farothel
Bruno had taken a cloak, but not a coat as that wouldn't work above his armour.  But with all the padding inside the steel, he was sweating quickly anyway, especially going uphill.

When they heard the voice, Bruno automatically started looking around to see where it came from.  When Bertelis started speaking in a language he didn't understand

 "hvað sagðirðu,"  he said, before realising that he spoke a language he didn't recognise.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Perception:  (1d100)[ 91 ]  vs 69 to figure out where the voice came from.
 
dojango
Jasmine's eyes narrow as the others start spouting gibberish.  She makes a gesture that is universally recognized as being rude in the direction where the wizard had been, before turning her attention to the others.  The marines had taught her some signs, the one for wizard is to stroke an imaginary beard.  She nods in understanding at Bertelis and then points to the door and makes a chopping motion with her hand, as if to say "Let's chop this ****in' thing down".
MrAbdiel
Bertelis glances to the rest of his companions, his expression hidden behind his helmet, but his frustration at being delayed in this way radiates off him.  He looks up first, to see if there is an iron porticullis that could drop on their wrists.  There may yet be one on the other side of the door; but that, they will have to deal with second.  He produces the Dame's axe, the one that nearly killed him, and waves up Meloth.  His reasoning, which he is unable to share, is that the elf living in the woods must know his way around an axe.  The fact that his racism maps onto Meloth's expertise as a woodsman is a happy coincidence.  He gives the left door a slap just below where he expects the bar will be on the other side, and a thumbs up to the elf to get cracking.

Next, he turns to Wighard. He points to the axe at the wizard's belt, and opens his palm to ask for it.  In return, he slides the Company Blade from its sheathe, grips it at the ricasso, and offers its hilt to the wizard.    Presuming no disruption in this exchange, he gets to work on the right door, matching his chopping rhythm to strike in the off-beats with Meloth.
   But a hilarious pantomine ensues in which the wizard is not at all willing to release his axe.
And then, after a moment, looks back to Jasmine, and signs.

 
 Spoiler: Battle Tongue (Hand Sign) 
 "Eyes up.  Attackers above." 

Contextually, the suggestion is clear enough there are graveyards full of would-be siege heroes who died with boiling oil on their back, or an arrow through their crown, or something as simple as a rock dropped on their head while trying to break through a keep door.
 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Well, a lot happened in a very short amount of time!

When Duco returned with the bad news, Regine had to resist her instincts to just snatch away a coat for herself and let the lads sort themselves out. It was tempting, very tempting, but she knew that this position of hers required that she showed more...leadership skills. Pursing her lips, she gestures to the boys,  "Put them all on, I'll scrounge something together from down below..."  she uttered, before Wighard approached and posed his question.

Turning around on the spot, Regine now saw the large fortress looming before them ominously, its occupants unknown and its creators equally as mysterious.

  Reckon you can find another way in if we have to Madame?  

Regine nodded, her eyes on that castle.

 "With enough reconnaissance and planning, you can get into almost anywhere..."  she stated matter-of-factly. However, soon that crazy knight returned, and Regine found herself being marched forward in a column, as if she were a soldier of some type. She had barely been given enough time to reload her crossbow, the weapon slung over one shoulder and ready to be drawn up, should they need it.

Grasping a shield, the thief looked around, every instinct she had screaming at her to dive behind some sort of cover. This was  not  her forte - she was a thief! A cat burglar extraordinaire! She stuck to the shadows and lightened the purses of those with too many coins - she didn't march in formation to storm a castle!

And then the wizard made his presence known once more. He cackle and bellowed down upon the troupe before his magics worked their horror, casting out everyones language so that when each person spoke, nothing but gibberish emerged from within.

 "Ano ito?"  she uttered in disbelief, unable to understand what she was even saying. She  knew  what she was saying, but she didn't understand the words coming out of her mouth.

This was madness. This was going to get her killed!

 "Pssstt!"  she hissed under her breath towards Bertelis and the others, as they made a plan to...chop down the front door...Regine facepalmed, and drew both of her gloved hands up as she started waving them at her compatriots to get them to stop.

She pointed to herself, then up the wall.

The thief then reached her gloved hands up. Still dressed in her leather armor, the woman gripped onto the masonry as high as she could and, exhibiting an impressive physical feat, pulled herself up off the floor and seemingly disappeared out of view and up the gate house - the thief vanishing across the wall and over the ramparts above...
wilphe
Wighard stares at Bertelis with an incredulous look on his face and refuses to give up his axe
bramblefoot
regine: you crest the wall, and spot a trio of warriors prowling the inner courtyard. two wear full chain mail, while the third seems to be headless and ambulatory in chain as well. they supervise five bondsmen who wait patiently for anything out of the ordinary to happen. the headless one seems to look up at the wall for a half second, stops, and slugs his sister in the arm and points up in a general direction of you. the sister grunts, and looks up, not spotting you, but the headless one seems to have a sense that something is not right. either he has other senses that you dont know about, or hes got an uncanny sixth sense

 

the remainder of the party: the voice will cackle.  "my fortress is protected by worse things than you can dream of. many have tried, and many have died trying to take it. what makes you think you can succeed where countless others have failed?" 

everyone out in the freezing cold who isnt wearing a jacket gimme toughness at -10

gimme perception at flat as well
wilphe
  Wighard 13/13 2/3  

Wighard stays back and asks Kwolf to keep an eye on Regine if he can



 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 50 ]  Perception 86/96 Visual
 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

The thief pursed her lips as she spotted the... headless  man? Where in the nine hells was she?

Luckily, they only  suspected  something was wrong, they hadn't spotted her yet. Thus, the Master Thief slipped into the gatehouse above the portcullis, her eyes spotting around for the opening mechanism for the door. It took her a few moments, beholding the system of levers and chains, until the simplest solution appeared to her.

Moving forward, the thief  quietly  drew the main chain and threaded it around a pillar and then through one of the arrow slits.

For those down below, all they would see is that chain suddenly emerging from one of the slits; its length slowly and quietly extending down towards them.
farothel
Bruno had wrapped his cloak around him.  While it didn't do as much as the coats, it should help at least some.  He had been out in the wild before and he made sure the he was out of the wind, which should lessen the cold issue already.
 "Because we have Sigmar at our side,"  Bruno said back.  He hoped that he could goad the guy into something so they could at least figure out where he was.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

I'm not sure if it helps, but I have outdoor survival:  (1d100)[ 61 ]  vs 59
toughness test:   (1d100)[ 2 ]  vs 30
perception:  (1d100)[ 65 ]  vs 69
 
wilphe
Wighard nods at the chain, then holds up three fingers and then five

He will then attempt to climb up if one else wants to go first
dojango
Jasmine draws her cloak tighter around her shoulders and nods at Wighard.  Three for five apples the corner market is a good deal, after all.  But she scans their surroundings for anything suspicious...

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 100 ]  v. 66 perception
 
bramblefoot
regine: as you turn back around in the gatehouse, you see mr headless blocking your path out. this close up, you see small cilia waving on his skin, and he draws a finger across his non-existant throat and draws steel and shield, banging them together, and causing an alarm to sound. gimme a wp test or take a -10 to attacks due to his menacing trait

 (1d100)[ 83 ]  hit, but only barely

 (1d10+4)[ 10 ] 

the rest of you hear a rhythmic banging noise from inside, sounding like steel on shield

wighard: kwolf notices mr headless entering the gatehouse just a hair too late to do anything

bruno: the voice laughs. it seems to come from everywhere and nowhere  "sigmar is a whelp in terms of age. i was there when the dark ones drove sigmars ancestors into the empire"  the voice begins to chant  "and since your such an overconfident bastard, let me give you something to remember me by" 

a ghostly hand presses its palm into your face, and a feeling like molten lead marks you with a freshly burned handprint into your face
farothel
Bruno screamed as it burned and with a reflex put up his shield and try to hit with his sword in the direction the hand comes from.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

attack:  (1d100)[ 84 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 9 ] 
 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine had finally found some cloak with which to stave off the cold, scything wind, as she hurriedly wrapped it around her shoulders while quietly feeding that chain out the arrow slit. Further and further down it went, until  it  emerged.

Its hulking frame thudding to fill the door, its supernatural senses seemingly detecting her earlier, the abomination drawing its shield and sword up to clatter them together as an impromtu alarm. The thief's eyes widened at the hideous display, but she was not frozen in wits enough that the ensuing attack found its mark - she brought her dagger about to deflect the incoming blow.

 "Kunin ang kadena at hilahin ito para buksan ang gate!"  she yelled through that arrow slit, before feeding through a much of the chain as she could while trying to avoid the monsters attacks.
bramblefoot
regine: the headless monstrosity slashes your retreating form for ten wounds, and will follow it up with a half move and attack

 (1d100)[ 56 ]  miss

 (1d10+4)[ 8 ] 

the rest of you would see the chain come down into grabbing and pulling distance. will the stronkest among us gimme a strength check at -10, with a +10 for each helper?
farothel
When the chain is low enough, Bruno will grab as high as possible and pull down with all his weight, using the added weight of the full plate for good this one time.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Bruno will help.
 
dojango
Jasmine also tries to leap up and lend her strength towards opening the gate.  It's just like hauling on a rope on the ship, same principles at least.
bramblefoot
the party outside: the gate creaks half open, and the sounds of alarm come from inside

regine: mr headless will move and do a punch to the solar plexus, hopefully immobilizing you and making you easier to finish off

strike to stun

 (1d100)[ 35 ] 
 (1d10)[ 6 ] 
MrAbdiel
After a moment of puzzling at the chain, after Wighard, Bruno, Jasmine and Meloth get to it, Bertelis joins the scrum as they haul the door open enough to squeeze through.  With that accomplished, he snatches up his shield again and rushes toward the gate, calling the charge:

 "Ow tethao oredrinvo udw oþyttiȝ cer!  Oþyttiȝ cer, udw!" 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 


The huge, headless monster fell upon the thief further, his sword slashing about and stabbing while Regine ducked and weaved away from the biting blade that would have surely slew her should it make contact. Breath caught hot in her lungs, the thief ducked away, that weapon slashing through where she had stood just half a second earlier, before the beast came down once again, drew back and armored fist and slammed it into her solar plexus in a crushing blow.

Or,  would  have been, had Regine not sunk her heel into a broken part of the floor by accident, causing her to tumble backwards earlier than anticipated and protecting her an otherwise brutal strike by fortuitous circumstances!

Somersaulting backwards and regaining her footing, the thief spun away and darted towards the entrance to the gatehouse...

__________________________________
OOC:

 Full Turn Action:  Disengage towards the gate house entry.
wilphe
  Wighard 13/13 2/3  

Wighard looks for a way to keep the doors open and fails to grasp the winds around here


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 98 ]  Channeling77
 
bramblefoot
berty: your inside the walls, and up to your ears in norscan bondsmen. led by another burly female norscan. the bondsmen are trying to plug the gap so nobody gets inside

bondsmen attacks

 (5d100)[ 48 ][ 7 ][ 9 ][ 89 ][ 57 ](210)  all but the 89 are hits. divide them amongst yourselves as you see fit

 (1d10+3)[ 11 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 6 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 7 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 12 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 4 ] 

parries

 (5d100)[ 70 ][ 31 ][ 99 ][ 39 ][ 31 ](270) 

female norscan attacks

 (2d100)[ 89 ][ 16 ](105)  8 wounds to berty

 (1d10+4)[ 8 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 8 ] 

regine, you out into the gatehouse entrance to see the second norscan brother charging you, bloody murder in his eyes. mr headless is gonna leave you alone, and try to close the gates

 (1d100)[ 78 ]  miss

 (1d10+4)[ 10 ] 

wighard: there is nothing outside the fortress with enough oomph to prop it open for long.
farothel
As soon as the door opens and Bertelis moved inside, Bruno followed inside.  As the bondsmen came to them, he immediately attacked the nearest one while dodging and parrying their attacks.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

I'll take the first three, Bertelis can take the last and the leader attacks (the fourth missed).

parry the first, dodge the second and the third comes in.
parry:  (1d100)[ 24 ]  vs 61 (success)
dodge:  (1d100)[ 84 ]  vs 41

so the three attacks do no damage to Bruno

full attack:
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 8 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 14 ]  (if this kills one, the next attack is on another one, but if it doesn't, both attacks go against the same guy)
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 23 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 8 ] 
 
dojango
It was time for knife fighting, Jasmine reckoned.  Sure, a blunderbus blast might have been helpful but there was no way to communicate that with the others.  So she charged in, dagger and shield at the ready and tried to shank one of the enemy defenders so they could carry the gate and breach the castle yard.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 65 ]  v. 56 &amp;  (1d10+4)[ 11 ]  charging in and stabbing someone
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis howls his defiance.  There wasn't much for tactics in such a space - it was what the dwarven seige commentator Gnorlo Blackhammer called "neck and shoulders brawling", for reasons Bertelis couldn't understand.  But the Company Blade burst into flame, and turning aside a blow coming for his heart, he laid into the enemy without much discrimination.  It was the psychology of it, the raiders smashing in and hacking and burning and chopping, that would break the mob at the door, if anything.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
  Vs66  - (1d100)[ 80 ]  for  (1d10+7)[ 13 ]  and
  Vs66  - (1d100)[ 48 ]  for  (1d10+7)[ 10 ] .
 
Volthawk
Seeing the way the situation had rapidly deteriorated into a brawl, and the fact he still had an axe in his hand, Meloth didn't see much in the way of better choices than just joining the fray, so that's what he did.

 
 Spoiler 

Alright, melee with a BQ axe, let's see...

Given that apparently we get a full action after moving in, I guess Meloth will still aim before swinging.
Attack, T 64 (WS 49 + 5 Quality + 10 Aim):  (1d100)[ 95 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+3)[ 5 ] 
 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 


Regine ran headlong into the other Norscan that had barreled up to the ramparts to back up his compatriot. Knowing she didn't want to get into a 2v1 fight, even though the other wouldn't be on her yet due to his attempt to close the gatehouse, Regine ducked below one of the swipes of the Norscans blades before trying to scurry up to the roof of the gate-house and away to the safety of an elevated position. But alas, she couldn't get the footing on the smooth stone used in its construction to give herself that initial launch, and so she remained locked in combat, for now.
wilphe
 Wighard 13/13 2/3 

With his channeling failing and his friends outnumbered Wighard forgoes any attempt to get his defences up and instead joins the fray chopping at the bondsmen

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 23 ]   44
 (2d10)[ 3 ][ 6 ](9)   +4


 (1d100)[ 37 ]   44
 (2d10)[ 3 ][ 5 ](8)   +4

 (1d100)[ 30 ]   Parry 54
 
bramblefoot
the bondsmen stay in formation and will make attacks against the more lightly armored of the group

attacks
 (5d100)[ 93 ][ 29 ][ 38 ][ 75 ][ 11 ](246) 
 (1d10+3)[ 12 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 5 ]  hit
 (1d10+3)[ 11 ]  hit
 (1d10+3)[ 4 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 5 ] 

parries
 (5d100)[ 43 ][ 79 ][ 90 ][ 67 ][ 2 ](281) 

berty: the female norscan easily parries the company blade, and will make two attacks on you

 (2d100)[ 3 ][ 11 ](14)  both hits, but you have to worry about the 12

 (1d10+4)[ 5 ] 
 (1d10+4)[ 12 ] 

parry and dodge for ms norscan

 (1d100)[ 52 ] 
 (1d100)[ 26 ] 
wilphe
  Wighard 13/13 2/3  

Wighard presses his attack to hopefully finish this bondsman off

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 32 ]   44
 (2d10)[ 10 ][ 3 ](13)  + 4

 (1d100)[ 5 ]   44
 (2d10)[ 9 ][ 1 ](10)  + 4

 (1d100)[ 70 ]   Parry 54
 
MrAbdiel
 Sir Bertelis - 10/15 Wounds 

Another slash rakes down his chainmail, the point of the enemy's weapon breaking some chain links and spilling blood.  He seethes with resentment at the blow - but he's played this out on the ship once already, and strives to try a different tactic - faking out with a shield bash and then striking with the blade!

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Bertelis has had enough with these defence-heavy Norscan girls!  He's going to half action Feint, which is an opposed weapon skill test.  If he succeeds, his following action (a standard attack) can't be parried or dodged.

  Vs56Feint  - (1d100)[ 20 ] .  If he fails, it's a bust anyway. But if he succeeds, Bramble, you need to make a WS test for this gal as well, and try to succeed better.  Otherwise, no defences against the following attack:

  vs56Attack  - (1d100)[ 62 ]  for  (1d10+7)[ 17 ] .

Blast... That misses... unless having his flaming sword has helped negate the chill penalty from earlier.   If not... Well, let's see if she fails her opposed WS test.  I'm sorely tempted to reroll that attack with my Lucky Charm because it's such a meaty attack... 

EDIT:  Resolved in the OOC - flaming sword has defrosted me, and a successful feint and then a hit for a cracking  32 damage , kills her instantly. Bam!  Gimgroth would be proud.
 
dojango
The enemy warrior that Jasmine tried to stab turns at her and grins with a mouthful of broken, rotting teeth.  He says something in his strange language, presumably something unflattering, and lashes out at Jasmine.  She twists out of the way, but it is difficult in the cramped confines of the gateway, but the blow still misses by a hair's breadth.  She returns the favor by wildly lashing out with her dagger.

 
 Spoiler 
[roll] swift attack:   (1d100)[ 9 ]  v. 46,  (1d10+4)[ 7 ]  &amp;   (1d100)[ 58 ]  v. 46,  (1d10+4)[ 12 ] 
 
farothel
Seeing Bertelis chop their leader in two, Bruno continued to attack while he was being ignored, hoping to make them sorry that they did.
 "We accept your surrender at any time,"  he said to the bondsmen in front of him.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

full attack:
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 22 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 6 ]  on the one I wounded previous round if he wasn't dead yet.
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 4 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 15 ]  on another one ( 23  damage confirmed fury in OOC topic)

Dodge and parry when needed.
 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine ducked down from the norscans blow, her agile figure pivoting away. Unable to scale up to the top of the gate-house, the master thief tumbled backwards onto her feet and darted down the battlement stairs to regroup with her group.

__________
 Action:  Disengaging, moving down the stairway towards the gatehouse entrance with the others.
Volthawk
This was not the kind of fighting Meloth was used to, but he pressed the attack. At least he wasn't a stranger to swinging an axe, albeit previously in less...chaotic circumstances.

 
 Spoiler 

I didn't roll to evade earlier because I misremembered and thought Parry was also something you had to learn, but in any case with 3 TB and 2 AP from the mail shirt (forgot to decide whether or not he was wearing it earlier, but some GM fluff earlier assumed he wore it and this is the kind of situation where you  would  wear all you've got) it plinks.

Another aimed swing.
Attack, TN 64:  (1d100)[ 75 ] 
Damage, Impact:  (1d10+4)[ 12 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 9 ] 
 
bramblefoot
bruno: the bondsman spits, saying  "victory or death!" 

rolling bondsman attacks

 (4d100)[ 19 ][ 23 ][ 44 ][ 67 ](153) 
 (1d10+3)[ 8 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 6 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 7 ] 
 (1d10+3)[ 13 ] 
 (4d100)[ 85 ][ 11 ][ 90 ][ 71 ](257) 

the big burly norscan will light a barrel on fire, and kick it down the way towards the scrum. a hissing fizzing noise is heard as the barrel rolls, detonating at the feet of the scrum. a sound like thunder is heard, and a massive explosion, basically blowing the norscans to chop suey and dealing you all thirteen wounds with AP 2

him and mr headless will both run for the inner keep, shutting and locking the door behind themselves
wilphe
  Wighard 11/13 1/3  

Wighard's temporary elation at the apparent ease at which they were chopping through the opposition fades somewhat, but on the other hand if the enemy are so desperate as to blow up their own people that has to be a plus.

Ears ringing and blood streaming from his nose he moves into the cover of the next floor of the gatehouse and begins to work

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 85 ]  76
 (1d10)[ 6 ] 
 
wilphe
  Scout the bailey please, want to know status of outbuildings, other towers, any doors, any locked doors, any prisoners please  

Kwolf and Schlapp check the area out
MrAbdiel
The norscan woman-warrior infront of him bares her teeth and makes her assault - but the events on the ship have left the choleric knight feeling a great deal more egalitarian than he felt waking up.  As Bruno cuts down a man to his left and Wighard cuts down one to his right, Bertelis fakes forward with a shieldbash that his opponent sees coming and backsteps.  And into that space Bertelis steps with his left foot, spins around to his right, and with a neat turn all the way about, the Company Blade's blade of leaves a streak of white flame that shears through the norscan warrioress entirely, just below the shoulders.  With their success causing the enemy line to faulter, Bertelis felt the  flexion point.   Now was the time to push, and break them; and then hunt them as they ran for cover, before they could regroup to start all over again.  Shouting, roaring, Bertelis steps over the girl's body and bulls forth into the press, creating a salient in their line.  This might have succeeded in breaking the Norscan mob; but as it happens, what it succeeds in doing is putting him remarkably closer to the burning barrel that detonates, eviscerates the Sarls immediately before him, then hammers into his chest and sends him flying back to tumble and roll.

Bertelis is left blind and deaf.  He can feel the ruin made of his face by the blast - coming to his knees, pulls off what is left of his helmet hoping it is just obscuring his vision - but there is only black, and he does not hear it clang to the ground.  He thrashes about blindly with the Company Blade for a moment and stumbles desperately to his feet, before halting in place.

 "Tinfeþn!  Tinfeþn!" 

He shouts the word at the top of his lungs, and hears nothing.  And his vision does not return - but his mind fills up with what it does in darkness every time.  The Dancer - the sensation of her violent nearness, the feeling of her claws punching into his chest and almost ripping through his heart.  Now he is trapped here - trapped in the silent dark inside his own head with just the memory of the daemon, and his legs quake.

 "Tinfeþn!  Tinfeþn!  Tinfeþn!" 
 Manaan, god of my father's father!  Manaan, deliver me from this hell!  Lady of virtue, take my legs from me - let me die standing, or kneeling, or on my face; but do not let me run!  They have killed me!  They have killed me! Take my soul before  she  does! 

He sinks to his knees.  In a small answer to prayer, the adrenaline fizzling out in his blood robs him of the ability to stand.

There will be more answers.  He is not, in fact, deaf.  There is plenty wrong with him - the explosion has driven two big shards of the barrel into his body like darts; both punched into his abdomen and oozing blood from their impact points.  But his hearing is not gone - not permanently, anyway.  His hearing will return in a minute or so; having been so close to the blast leaves him temporarily deafer than his companions, and perhaps in later years he will hear the ringing again in quiet moments.  But for now, he cannot hear himself shouting in a slowly more panicked pitch.

 "Tinfeþn!  Tinfeþn!" 

Niether is he blind.  His helmet is blackened and scored from shrapnel that perhaps would have wounded him, but did not.  Otherwise, it is in working condition.  The Sarl infront of him was ripped apart by the blast; and a splash of its gore painted the front of his helmet, and over his eyes through the slot of the visor; and the fire from the blast has scorched it sticky over his eyes.  A little water will repair his 'blindness'.

And even the jumbling curse preventing them from hearing each other's meaning fades, finally; though he cannot hear as the word he shouts in dawning horror to the smoke and blood strewn courtyard resolves into its comprehensible true meaning.

 "Tinfeþn!  Tinfeþn!   Winfeþn!  Winfern!  Wighard!  Wighard!   Wighard !" 
farothel
Bruno is feeling they are doing a good job when suddenly the world turned white and he fell back.  As he stood back up, he saw that his armour would need some work to make it presentable again, but it seemed to be still fully functional.  While he didn't have many extra wounds, some of the ones he had gotten before were now back open.

Standing back up he looked around to see if the others had survived and then looked around.
 "Now I'm starting to get seriously pissed,"  he said, realising that they could speak again to each other,  "let's kick that door down and remove these idiots." 
Of course, with a sword he would do very little kicking.  An axe would be a lot better in this situation.


wounds: 6/15
dojango
Jasmine swings her blade at the foe and it comes back red with blood.  She evades his attacks and sees her comrades cleaving apart the enemy.  Victory is in their grasp, when suddenly she feels and hears and sees the huge explosion!  She's thrown back into the gate and lies there covered in blood and gore.  Fortunately the enemy soldiers took the brunt of the blast and she seems to still be mostly alive, but she doesn't feel inclined to get up and move around too much.  She moans, " Arg, damned gunpowder.  Why do they got all the gunpowder, it ain't fair, " as she lies there.
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine was a dervish of black clothing and leather as she first disengaged from the norscan near the gatehouse, before back-tumbling down the stairs to land on her feet...just in time for that lunatic to hurl down a barrel of gunpowder that detonated amidst the whirling melee of her compatriots and enemies.

The heat-wave prickled across Regine's face as her reflexes hurled herself backwards and out of the main area, narrowly avoiding becoming a Crispy Lacroix, though she felt some shrapnel penetrate her skin. Wincing from the pain as she landed on her back, the thief coughed once before drawing herself up onto her side to take in the scene. Her ears were ringing, her vision was blurred, she watched as headless and another Norscan went to barricade themselves inside the keep, while her compatriots look badly mauled.

Drawing in hot breath, Regine drew herself to her feet, telling her that she desperately needed a vacation.
wilphe
  Wighard 11/13 0/3  

Wighard descends back down to do what he can

  "Tinfeþn! Tinfeþn! Winfeþn! Winfern! Wighard! Wighard! Wighard!"  

He grabs the Bretonnian by the head and sets him straight

  You want to learn healing? Basic principle, its the ones that can't scream you check first. You can scream, so you probably ain't gonna die soon so sit the **** down and be quiet while I tend to Jasmine

For once you are not the most badly hurt here 
 

He gives his first attention to Jasmine

  "Arg, damned gunpowder. Why do they got all the gunpowder, it ain't fair,"  
  Clearly our demises are worth a great deal of effort  

He pulls some shrapnel out and binds her up

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 81 ]  76 FPed to sucess
 (1d10)[ 5 ] 
 
wilphe
  Wighard 11/13 0/3  

And he turns his attention to Bertelis

  Allright

**** me

Not all of this blood is yours, so stop freaking out
  

He cleans up Bertelis' face, discovers there is nothing wrong, then goes to work on the real damage

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 20 ]  76
 (1d10)[ 10 ] 
 
bramblefoot
the search is finished, and schlapp and kwolf find plenty of boltholes leading out of the fortress. it seems the keep has a network of tunnels under it. it could be a way in, but there could be plenty of nasty gribblies down there

there are two options: bust down the door, and go in that way, or take the chances with the tunnels

whats the play?
MrAbdiel
Bertelis can't make out anything Wighard says.  At the start he can hear nothing at all; but the medic's rough handling treatment strategy was distinctive enough that he recognises it, and calms.  When his vision comes back, when the red is washed away, he seems to shrink an inch in height from the tension leaving his body - escaping from inside his head, to see his battered companions all, mostly, upright.  Slowly his hearing returns, the boom dying down to a faint ringing that will exist with him only in the deepest silences for the rest of his life, and he considers the heroes arrayed.

Once again, without Wighard, they would be in dire straights indeed.  Seeing Jasmine pummeled and sootwashed by the blast alarms him most, but he is glad to see the doctor's efforts well received there.  With a draught, she is likely to be fighting capable again.  Everyone buy Regíne, it seemed, caught the blast badly; but despite his best efforts, he could not hold that against her.  She had scampered in and lowered the winching chain for the door, after all.  Disquieted as he was to see his competing discomforts - brigands finding safe harbour and women in danger - he could not deny she was a valuable ally to have.

When the discussion comes about how to proceed, Bertelis is predictably direct.

 "Every time we go down into tunnels, someone falls through a hole in the floor and we end up seperated and fighting for our lives.  I don't care for it - but the least we can do is secure the area above us, before we have to go down.  We need to breach this door and clear the tower to the top, where we saw the figure.  If he has retreated to the tunnels below, so be it - but we cannot afford to have enemies behind us to stopper up the tunnels and trap us in the dark."
 
farothel
Bruno had accepted the draught that Wighard had brought with him as a quicker way to feel better.  While the surgeon was busy with his companions, he would look at the castle, trying to figure out a way to enter that did not involve bashing down the door.  While they probably could, it would be very obvious to those inside what they were doing, inviting more traps.  He agreed with Bertelis that the tunnels were not necessary a better way, but it might be the only way.  At least the only way that they could get inside that didn't involve armies and siege engines.

The next point of business was to figure out where they were at the moment.  So he started looking at the sun and trying to calculate approximately where they were.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

draught:  (1d10)[ 5 ]  (wounds: 11/15)

to find weaknesses: perception:  (1d100)[ 36 ]  vs 69
to find out where we are: navigation  (1d100)[ 97 ]  vs 59
 
wilphe
Wighard looks at Regine

  If Kwolf can get a grapple up there can you climb?  
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine had disappeared from the scene while everyone was recovering, her intentions being to scout the rest of the keep and see what could be found. Secret entrances, tunnels, means to enter that were alternative from the front door...

However, when she returned, the thief's eyes were a tad wide as if she had witnessed something truly shocking.

  If Kwolf can get a grapple up there can you climb?  
 "Non..."  Regine trailed off, before looking back at the  marble  walls of the keep, then back at Wighard.

 "It is made of marble! One wrong footing and one would fall to their death - but marble, monsieur! To hell with the wizard: take the walls from his keep and we will live like kings!" 
MrAbdiel
“Once we clear them out, I intend us to keep the whole thing.”

Bertelis sighs, now much recollected, and reassessed his earlier hopes.

“We do not have powder sufficient to blow that door.  And if there are prisoners, they are almost certainly in the tunnels below.  I do not like it - but I suspect we will have to go through the tunnels and work up, after all.  At least we know they cannot go too deep; lest the ocean claim those deep reaches.   Time to prepare torches, I think.”
dojango
Jasmine gets up cautiously after she is treated.  She checks her cloak and clothing... now sadly stained and tattered with blood.  Her leather coat is also ripped up and torn with shrapnel tearing gashes in it.  She still keeps it on for warmth but it is mostly useless now.  She grumbles, " Marble, you say?  So we can't burn them out?  Damnation... if we had a crew o' stoneworkers we could make our own door way but for now we gotta use their prolly' trapped way in. "
wilphe
  Below it is then  
farothel
 "Indeed,"  Bruno sighed, not really liking it,  "we need to bring some light with us and probably decide on a marching order." 
He reloaded his pistol and gave all of his good powder he still had to Jasmine, who used a lot more than he ever did.
 "This is some good quality stuff I managed to get from some merchants,"  he said,  "you shoot a lot more than I do, so you better use it." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

I have 10 doses of good powder, which I give to Jasmine.
 
wilphe
Wighard channels a little, people get the same sensation they've experienced when animals go amok but nothing happens here.

A set of lights appear in front of Wighard, and he sends them off in front of the group.

He then tries to light up one of the rocks, but screams and recoils in pain from it


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Marsh Lights
Casting Number: 6
Casting Time: Full action
Ingredient: A firefly (+1)
Description: You create the appearance of a number of distant lights
that suggest torches or lanterns. They appear within 100 yards
(50 squares) of you and can then be sent off in any direction.
They naturally follow corridors or paths and do not need to be
controlled or overseen in any way. You can control them more
closely if desired, but only as long as they remain in line of sight.
You can’t perform any other actions while controlling the lights.
The lights travel at various speeds, but never slower than 8 yards (4
squares) per round or faster than 16 yards (8 squares) per round

Rolled 100 on Channeling for the second spell, so that didn't go well...
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis places a hand on Wighard’s shoulder.  Such magical backlash was becoming more and more common, the more they pressed the wizard to do his magics.

“It’s alright.  We can do this with the light already provided, I think.”
dojango
Jasmine takes the gunpowder and says " Thanks; not enough ta blow up the place but maybe enough ta shoot some evil wizards. "
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine remained quiet as she listened to the others speak and decide by which method they would attempt to penetrate the marble-constructed fort. As it turned out, they would defer to the surreptitious method: down through the tunnels.

The underground tunnels of an evil wizards lair just screamed to Regine one thing: traps, traps and more traps. She knew that she would be the one taking point on this task, and just like she had with the gatehouse, the success and lives of the group relied on her.

She wasn't getting paid enough for this.
bramblefoot
the party slinks deeper into the tunnels. which head more or less down for a good half-hour. eventually, you reach an open cavern with hooded figures attached to instruments of automated torture. suprisingly, all the people are not screaming, but are actually seeming to enjoy this. a large framed portrait stands in the far back corner, seemingly reflecting the sunset.

 

bertelis: whats the play here? It's likely these people will never be the same again, if theres even anything left in there. also, one of them has a signet ring on his finger

wighard: that portrait is obviously magical, but what it does is unknown. also, you're beginning to feel odd. can i get a toughness test pls?

regine: this is clearly some bizarre form of torture right? so why are these people enjoying it?

will all of you gimme perception at -20 (note that smell is the only thing that applies here)
MrAbdiel
By the light of the  Company Blade ,  Bertelis’ eyes widen as he beholds the monsterous fate of these prisoners…

… and he grinds his teeth as he considers how close they came to losing Deanna to these people.

The weird delight taken by the sufferers makes them seem almost complicit in the madness - but killing them before giving them a chance to recover their sanity was unthinkable to him.

“Wighard,” he asks with a quaver it stressed restraint in his voice, “we will need you to guide us here, to deactivate and destroy each of these… machines… without hurting their occupants.”
wilphe
Wighard is not well, though it is not clear exactly how.

  We should be careful

You know what people will do for another hit of mandrake root - or what happens to anyone who gets between them and it

Well imagine that what you are experiencing is a thousand times better than any mortal pleasure - and what you will do to anyone who takes that away from you  
farothel
Bruno had followed the more sneaky members of the group.  If they wanted to surprise someone, you don't send the guy in full plate at the front.  But as soon as they arrived in the larger hall with the strange people, Bruno looked at Wighard.  If anybody would know what was going on, the wizard would.  He looked around for any strange stuff... or even stranger stuff.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

perception:  (1d100)[ 99 ]  vs 49 (59+10 mastery -20 penalty)
 
dojango
Jasmine shrugs.  " Nothin' like a long sea voyage to sober a man up.  There's plenty men who got press-ganged outta a mandrake den and once the shakes and vomiting and screaming wears off a month or three later, they usually end up half-decent sailors.  Well, mebbe quarter-decent, they usually gotta bulk up a lot once they ken keep food down again. "
bramblefoot
those who passed their perception rolls: you smell an odd, sickly sweet odor wafting from the portrait. might i suggest toughness tests at +10 or take a level of fatigue?

those who failed their perception tests: take an automatic level of fatigue, and gimme a crazy hallucination straight out of your worst nightmares. your considered helpless for a round, and then can make wp tests at flat to break out of the nightmare realm

everyone who is suitably creative will receive a temporary fp back

all of you would spot the painting turn pitch black, and inky tentacles begin to creep their way out of the frame, going for those who are incapacitated by hallucinations
dojango
 
 Spoiler: Deep Dark Fear 
As Jasmine stares into the room, she isn't surprised to see Bertelis stride forward, blazing sword in hand.  Then he grounds the sword and stands stock still like a guard.  Behind her, she suddenly feels that cold hand on her shoulder and that sibilant voice in her ear.  "Going somewhere?" he asks.  Then beside her, Wighard says, "The price is paid.  The sacrifice is delivered."  She is paralyzed with fear.  The long awaited betrayal!  But then she starts to laugh.  Bertelis is the strong right hand of the company, and Wighard it's heart.  They would no sooner betray her than her own heart...
 


As she comes to, she laughs and laughs and once again she is standing in the room with the damned souls.  She draws  Nutcracker  in a smooth motion and aims for the painting and then fires.  The bullet goes wide and misses the painting entirely.  She laughs and says, " Gods damned Quincy doodle.  Shoulda known not to trust them. "

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Going to shoot me a painting:   (1d100)[ 100 ]  v. 72.  If damage is needed,  (1d10+4)[ 7 ]  or  (1d10+4)[ 11 ] .
 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 


As predicted, Regine had taken point. Though light had been provided, none of her compatriots knew the methods as she did. The amount of hallways and cellars she had crept was incalculable, with traps and alarms galore, and it was that honed combination of instinct and skill that the master thief once more lent to their outing.

When they arrived at the cellar however...Regine curled her nose and shook her head.

 "Degenerates..."  she uttered under her breath. The casting of dispersion and judgement of moral character was rich coming from her, but she felt her position safe enough to do so.

She'd heard of enough secret little parties like this among the academics or wealthy of her home-town to not be so shocked by what she beheld...
wilphe
  Wighard 11/13 0/3  

Wighard stumbles again at the smell, he's only smelt it once before, when he was at Master Maher's back when destroying a chaos cult inside one of the officers' brothels during their time with the Army.

Its the sort of intense sweetness that puts you off eating anything that isn't savoury for weeks.

He watches as the inky tentacles come out of the frame towards his comrades

  You don't! YOU DON'T!  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (4d10)[ 4 ][ 7 ][ 6 ][ 3 ](20)  -4 TN 13

Banish
Casting Number: 13
Casting Time: Full action
Ingredient: An oak wand (+2)
Description: You wrap a daemon within 24 yards (12 squares) of you in the tendrils of Hysh, using the pureness of light to banish it back to the Realm of Chaos. If the spell is cast successfully, the banishment is resolved as an Opposed Will Power Test. If you win, the daemon disappears. If you lose, it remains. In the case of a stalemate, the two of you remain locked in mental combat. Neither of you can take any other actions (including dodge) while the struggle continues. Make Opposed Will Power Tests on each of your turns until one of you is victorious. Banish can also be used to exorcise the possessed.
 
farothel
 
 Spoiler: crazy hallucination 

Bruno walks up to his uncle's mansion and opens the door.  Inside there are the normal furniture, but what is not normal is that they are covered by flies.  Not just some flies, as there were always during summer, but flies covering every surface.  They moved about and some were lazily flying around.
 "Ah, there you are,"  he suddenly heard behind him.  Turning around he saw his uncle standing behind him, pustules covering all flesh he could see.
 "We've been waiting for you,"  he continued, as suddenly he heard a buzzing inside.  Looking back he saw the flies were all -well, flying- and coming towards him, covering his eyes, crawling into his ears and his mouth.  It was then that he noticed that these were stinging flies.  Also their stings would more quickly than normal form a bump and the stings in his mouth was blocking his throat, making breathing difficult.
 


Bruno came around, staring at the painting and the tentacles without being able to move.
MrAbdiel
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Bertelis' most immediate fear is the Dancer in the Dark murdering him in her globe of darkness again; but I'm giving that one away for free all the time, so here's another.
 

 Bertelis could not rightly remember the time in between, but he was here now - finally, back in Bordeleaux; back at  Beaurépit , his father's fief.  There had been delay after delay, demanding obligation after demanding obligation, summons from the king and storms all number of things.  But here, finally, he was home.  Yet it did not look like home - it looked like hell.

He was too late.  Around him were the scattered stones that were once the walls of  Beaurépit , and the cold and burned bones of the slain defenders.  There is the remnants of a grand bed; and the bones of his father Dion who he must hope had died before the fire came.  Beside him must be the mortal remains of poor Deanna, whom he had striven so hard to protect only to deliver her to this end.  There were bones bearing his brother Andre's brooch; there, one with Dermand's helm with its horsehair crest reduced to ash; still another with Mahieu's smart gloves, just barely recognizable in the ash.  Too late.  Too many delays; too many dividing demands, and now he had not even arrived in time to see the smoke rising from the home he had vowed to protect!  A lone, scorched door stood incongrously up from the scarred foundations - the door to his young sister Celeste's room.  He does not want to see - but he reaches with a trembling hand for the door's handle...
 
...And as he stands still and glassy eyed in the torment room, that trembling hand reaches slowly towards a tendril spidering toward it in return - bound to make contact, but for Wighard's mystical rebuke.
bramblefoot
wighard: the inky tentacles crawl forward into the light, and keep coming

 
 Spoiler: ooc 
the tentacles got a 16 on their high high willpower
 


bertelis and bruno: the tentacle will spend a half action to grapple you both. since you both are stuck in hallucination land, im gonna rule it auto-succeeds, and will begin to reel you both towards the painting.

regine: What's the play? your two heavy hitters are grappled and being reeled in to a demonic portrait. what are you doing

jasmine: the nutcracker misfires, but doesnt blow up in your hands.

meloth: i still need your hallucination, unless you succeeded on your wp test
MrAbdiel
 Bertelis takes the door handle, and turns it.  Beyond, standing impossibly in the flattened ruins, stands the bedroom of his young sister, rolling with flame and smoke.  He steps in... 

Bertelis' hand curls to gently, almost complicitly snare the tendril reaching for him; the company crested shield clattering to the ground where he was, before the recoiling tendril drags him off his feet and across the ground toward the nefarious painting - the knight glassy eyed and unaware...

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Failed the snap-out test in the OOC for the end of this turn, so better luck next turn!
 
wilphe
With Bruno getting conscious again, if still firmly grasped, only Bertelis is still inert.

Wighard once again tries to lock wills with the portrait

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (4d10)[ 4 ][ 7 ][ 6 ][ 6 ](23)  -4 TN 13
 
dojango
As Bruno and Bertelis struggle with their inner fears, and as Wighard is doing... something, albeit unsuccessfully, Jasmine reaches a decision.  Fire purifies all, the Sigmarites say, so time to put that to the test.  She gets out her flint and steel and strikes a flame, lighting a torch.  Once it's successfully lit, she'll try and hurl it towards the painting...
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 


The for which Bertelis reached was drawn open to reveal the inky, blackness within. No room, no sister, nothing recognizable: just a femininely shaped spectre coming at him from the centre of the void, whenever her arms moved they seemed to leave a blade of residue in their wake, giving the visual impression of immaterial, black scythes.

 "Bertelis!"  that familiar voice shouted at him, the sound emanating from where its angular features  would  be, but currently was just an unknowable mask.

 "Snap out of it!"  the color rescinding, its image taking form. Auburn hair, bright green eyes, fit and athletic - it was Regine! Her hands on his shoulders.

 "Bert?! Bert!"  she shook him.
farothel
Bruno awoke while he was being grappled by a tentacle.  He had seen strange stuff before, so his first priority was to get free.  To that effect he started fighting against the tentacle to get out.  He hoped that his heavier armour would help him with getting free, depending on how much such a tentacle could lift, as it was easier to lift something that didn't try to wriggle out.

It was as if the malevolent entity behind the tentacles didn't expect him to snap out of his nightmare, as it seemed that he just had to wriggle ones and he was free of the tentacle, dropping a few feet onto the ground and ready to attack again.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

Freeing myself of a grapple is a full action with an opposed strength check, so here's mine:  (1d100)[ 42 ]  vs 43
 
bramblefoot
bruno: the portraits inky black tentacles will drop you at the base of the picture frame, and proceed to put the beatdown on you

 (2d100)[ 88 ][ 28 ](116) 
 (1d10+5)[ 6 ] 
 (1d10+5)[ 11 ]  hit for 11 wounds

bertelis: the tentacle will lob you at the torch-lighting halfling. will you and jasmine roll agility or be set on fire?

 (1d100)[ 13 ]  hit

 (1d10+5)[ 14 ] 

jasmine: you spot a flying knight of bretonnia inbound, 12 o'clock. might i suggest praying that i miss

wighard: the portrait is still operational
dojango
Out of the corner of her eye, Jasmine sees a sudden movement and before she even realizes what it is there is a blur of movement and right where she was standing a moment ago a flailing armored form bowls past her.  "By the Lady's tits !" She swears. " Burn the painting! " She shouts to the others. She hurls the torch at the painting.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 33 ]  v. 62 BS to throw torch at the painting.
 
wilphe
  Wighard 11/13 0/3
  

Wighard temporarily gives up on trying to banish and instead tries to shed some light on the problem


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

[rollv[3d10[/rollv] -3+2 TN11

There are structual elements in the picture of the room, so this would seem to be a valid target, if not target the picture frame


Illuminate the Edifice
Casting Number: 11
Casting Time: Full action
Ingredient: An unburned wax candle (+2)
Description: You cause the interior spaces of any single building to shine with daylight. With Magic 1 you can affect a hovel-sized building, with Magic 2 a moderate sized multi-roomed house or building, with Magic 3 a large manor house, and with Magic 4 any single contiguous building of any size whatsoever. The light shines in rooms, attics, closets, and any other spaces bounded by a man-made roof and walls on all sides. In addition to illuminating the interior of the building, light shines out through open doors, windows, and even the cracks between boards and shingles. This is a touch spell; you must touch a solid structural element (wall, beam, or the like) of the building to be affected. Duration of one hour per point of your Magic Characteristic.
 
MrAbdiel
 "...What..?" 

Something about Reginé plea, the feminine sincerity of it, is amplified by the wyrd power in the room.  Suddenly, the miasma of despair is pierced by a competing mentality - one much more basic and elemental to the Dark Prince.  From where the tendril hauls him across the ground, he is looking up at the beautiful thief; who is young like him, and courageous it seems, and perhaps if he were to suggest -

 "...What!?" 

The Dark Prince cannot let despair intrude on simple animal  attraction , when the opportunity arises.  And so that competing corruption pushes out the other - but this pattern of thinking, this train of thought, is one to which he is less susceptible: he has been scrupulously sublimating his sensual drive into romantic valour for years; it's the depression that he cannot answer.  And so they eyes behind the helmet flash with recognition, then embarrassment, and then alarm, and then finally anger as he remembers his predicament, and hoists the company blade to prepare to sever the dragging tendril.

But at that point, the  thing  in the painting is giving up its snare of him - pitching one flaming menace at another, and Bertelis careens through the air and nearly bangs into Jasmine on the way.  Instead, he crashes into the wall and slides down with a gasp and wheeze. He has managed not to impale himself - but the white fire from the blade has spread a more conventionally threatening orange flame to his tabard, which he tries to smother in his daze.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Okay, well you'll be shocked to learn there's no rules for putting out fires, just for being on fire.  But I'll take some initiative and use the rules from 4th edition to put out  Ablaze  conditions.  Which is an Athletics test - which doesn't exist, so let's go with Agility.  Circumstances are modified by how easy it is to put out fire - and considering this is a damp cool seaside cave, in which dwells a painting that is afraid of fire, I think it's fair to say rolling around on this floor is pretty conducive to fire extinguishing.  Say +20; -10% for the Chain Mail penalty.

  vs61  - (1d100)[ 28 ] 

Bertelis is, thanks to Regine, able to spend this turn putting out his fire so he does not burn any more!
 
farothel
Standing at the base of the painting, Bruno lifted his shield to parry the tentacle, before he started to slash at the painting.  While fire might work, chopping it to little pieces should also do the trick.  He did line up his sword to try and do so as best as possible.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

parry:  (1d100)[ 28 ]  vs 61

I'm not sure if I need to roll to hit a stationary painting, but if needed, here it is:  (1d100)[ 51 ]  vs 56 (I first aim, but I probably get a bonus on this, as it's a static object, but I let the GM decide that).
damage:  (1d10+5)[ 7 ] 
 
bramblefoot
jasmine: the portrait will concentrate, and swing narrowly out of the way of the torch, which bounces and catches a wooden support beam on fire. thick acrid smoke begins to clog the air, making you choke and gag.

bruno: the painting will shrug off the sword attack, losing a tentacle in the process, and continue the beatdown

 (2d100)[ 54 ][ 74 ](128) 
 (1d10+5)[ 6 ]  hit, but unlikely to do bo-diddly
 (1d10+5)[ 8 ] 

wighard: youd spot a terrible darkness behind the painting. the light doesnt get very close to the painting

regine: a tentacle will make an attack against you

 (1d100)[ 11 ]  hit

 (1d10+5)[ 9 ] 

berty: gimme a notice roll as you get up

your move chickadees!
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine watched as the knight's eyes flickered and shifted between a melenge of expressions; angry, confused, realisation, gratitude, before the tentacle wrapped around his waist and yanked him away, leaving the thief mouth-open dumbstruck for the briefest of seconds, until another inky, grasping rope whipped about in her direction.

Bending over backwards, literally, at the last second, Regine felt the wind against her face from the pressure of that thing passing within inches of her body, before she shot upright again, exhaling and looking around the room.

Spotting a one of the torches hanging on the wall, the thief bounded towards it and unhooked it from its ring-holster.


OOC:
____________________________

Move Action: Moving over to the ring-holster carrying a lit torch.

Action-action: Picking up a lit torch.
wilphe
  Wighard 11/13 0/3  

Every adventuring company has someone whose first response is "kill it with fire", most in fact have more than one, for others it is pretty much an entry requirement

Wighard is therefore not surprised to find himself in more danger from his teammates than whatever they are fighting, he looks over the "prisoner?" closest to the fire to see if they can be released, and how to do it without killing them
MrAbdiel
Bertelis snuffs out the flames with frantic effort before they can cause him more than superficial burns.  Now his choler returns; rage at being manipulated, and overcome.  As he stands, he watches Jasmine's torch scythe through the air, dripping with enough oil to ignite the painting - and then the daemon-art defends itself, putting the fire to one of the beams supporting the cavern.

That was inconvenient - but not catastrophic.  It would take some time for such structures to burn to cause hazard; it was the smoke from the accumulated dust that was most troublesome in the moment.

He strode forth to where his shield lay, and snatched it up - determined not to be caught like that again.

 "Meloth!"   He called, unable to keep an edge of snarling demand from his voice.   "The flames!"   The elf was a woodsman by trade and wood elf by nature; both being the most fleet among them and most versed in managing fires, he was the ideal opponent to extinguish the blaze.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Half action stand; half action move; free action snatch up shield with a quickdraw.
 And free action, sic our now NPC Meloth on to firefighting duty, taking him out of the fight for the priveledge of not being smoked out or burned to death.
 
farothel
Bruno fought off the tentacle while keeping up the chopping at the painting.  While normally he wouldn't want to destroy works of art - not that he was such an art lover, but they were often worth quite a lot of money - in this case he would gladly make an exception.  He ignored the rest for now.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

parry the attack:  (1d100)[ 4 ]  vs 61

full attack:
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 30 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 14 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 59 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 12 ] 
 
bramblefoot
 

berty: youd notice the people are beginning to writhe more, as if the painting is drawing strength from them. one of them lets out a deep rattling breath and goes silent

bruno: the painting will eat the attack again, decide its had enough of armored knights and will spit a glob on ink aimed at the helmet visor

 (1d100)[ 90 ]  miss

if successful, you are blinded for 1d5+1 rounds and take 1 wound unreducible for the duration

wighard: the nearest prisoner is twitching, practically straining in joy as you sense ghyran leaving his body and being transferred to the painting, which uses it to heal itself. to defeat the painting, you may have to kill these poor people

jasmine: the painting will shift to a face in it, which opens its mouth to inhuman proportions and begins to breathe in. you all feel pulled towards it with a giant vacuum of wind which will attempt to pull you all into the painting

can i get agility rolls at -20 from all of you, or be sucked into mr paintings gaping mouth
MrAbdiel
 "No!"   He calls, watching one of the captives die.   "It's feeding on them!  Daemon-thing!  Be thee damned by thy own damnation!" 

Bertelis is just stepping into a charging run when the flow of air in the room contracts.  He skids on his heel, but with a snarl of contempt, he his drawn off his feet and into the air - and moments later, into the painting itself!
farothel
As Bruno got sucked in, he stabbed with his sword into the mouth, trying to halt his progress by using the sword like people use an ice pick on a gletser.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

full attack:
attack 1:  (1d100)[ 23 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 13 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 32 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 13 ] 
 
dojango
"The prisoners are bait! Remove the hook afore you bite!"

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 44 ]  v. 49
 
bramblefoot
bertelis: you float through a nightmare realm of cackling daemonettes. your approaching a platform, where the dancer in the dark waits upon a silken divan  "ah, so good to see you again"  she purrs, rising to take you in her arms.  "we have many things to discuss"  what is your reaction to this?

 
 Spoiler: ooc berty 
whatcha gonna do about ms daemonette here? there seems to be no way out
 


bruno: you fall into a sandy arena. a large red orc with a massive potbelly grins and says  "took you awhile 'umie"  a bell rings, and the orc will move with suprising speed towards you

 

mr orc charge attack

 (1d100)[ 61 ]  hit

 (1d10+5)[ 13 ] 
 
 Spoiler: ooc bruno 
bruno you are currently at full health in this dream world. you must defeat the orc to leave
 


regine and jasmine: youd spot your two heavy hitters and the wizard go into the paintings mouth, which shuts with an audible snap, freeing the swordblade from the paintings lip and sucking it inside.

wighard: your back in the light college, except its empty and quiet as a tomb. nobody is to be seen.

wdyd?
farothel
Bruno sees the orc coming and in reflex pulls up his shield to block the blow, then immediately goes on the attack, without really looking at his surroundings (survive first, look later).  He strikes two quick blows, hoping that they will land some success.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

free parry with shield:  (1d100)[ 12 ]  vs 61

attack 1:  (1d100)[ 71 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 13 ] 
attack 2:  (1d100)[ 2 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 8 ] 
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis drifts in space; unreal visions of daemons glide by in the dark, and he knows what is coming.  When the Dancer is there, he is sucking breath between clenching teeth.  He swings his flaming sword through the vacant air between them, powerless to close the gap in this weightless space.

 "We have nothing to discuss!  Monster!  I'll kill you!  Do you think I'm afraid?!  Afraid of you?!  I'm not afraid!" 

But he  is  afraid.  His heart hammers in his chest remembering the feeling of the daemon's claw sliding into his chest; robbing him of blood, and glory, and the courage that once dwelled in his soul.

His only refuge from fear his is seething anger; and he lashes powerlessly at the air between him and his tormentor.
dojango
Jasmine watches in incredulity as the others are sucked into the painting but she recovers and turns to Regine. " It'll be like the story o' old Jonah, they'll cut their way outta the belly of the beast in no time! Help me pull down the painting let's see what's behind it. " She runs to where it is on the wall and tries to use her dagger to pry it loose.
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Still grasping her torch and planning to set fire to the painting, Regine is halted in her advance by the pleas of the midget woman and her idea to 'manhandle' the painting instead.

The desire for action was coursing through her, the temptation to set the torch against the foul canvas and watch it burn was stirring and motivation...but Regine relented. Putting the torch aside, she moved up to help the little one remove the painting - reaching up and gripping the top of it to unhook it from its mount upon the wall.
bramblefoot
bertelis: the daemon grins chillingly.  "rage against the darkness all you want princeling"  she purrs, running her claw down your cheek.  "i can smell your fear"  she will carry you over to another portal, and throw you through, but not before saying  "i will see you agan, and i treasure the thought of you joining me"  you awaken in the bowels of the tower.

 
 Spoiler: berty 
describe where you awaken, and gimme a complication that has befallen you
 


bruno: the orc will parry your humdinger, and reciprocate with two attacks. both hit, and bite deep, the tooth-edged blade causing heavy damage

orc attacks
 (2d100)[ 64 ][ 6 ](70)  both hit

 (1d10+5)[ 12 ] 
 (1d10+5)[ 13 ] 

regine and jasmine: i need a flat strength roll to pop the painting out of its wall mount
MrAbdiel
Cast out of whatever in-between realm the painting led to, Bertelis thumps into the ground in the darkness.  A moment later, as if hocking up a troublesome bone lodged in its throat, the unseen void disgorges the  Company Blade.   The knight has to grope for it for a while; long enough to hear something else in the room breathing.

At the edge of panic, his mailed fingers touch the hot steel, and he finds the handle; lifting the blade aloft and igniting the flames to reveal the room.

A massive slab of flesh occupies a full third of the dark chamber; pulsing with a false heartbeat; wheezing with phantom breath.  From that grotesque, bloated tumor, pumping like a wicked organic bellows, long cords of muscle and vein stretch from the organ to the edges of the room.  Past a thicket of the awful sinews, the flamelight from the runeblade reveals the stone steps that spiral back up - presumably, to the interior of the tower and perhaps some intersection where the caverns can be accessed.

It would be a tiring, but not overwhelming matter to thrash through that obstacle to the stairs and try his luck.  He was in fair shape, even after the marathon of combat and horror of the day.  And that is what he intends to do-...

But picking himself up, trying not to think about the daemoness so personally invested in his suffering, his eyes rake over bloated heart again.  Its flesh is stencilled with shapes and signs; designs that made no sense at first. But then they resolve - squares, shapes, wooden protrusions with angles that burst up through the stone of the ceiling and vanish.  A distorted, collapsed rectangle features the melted and misshapen likeness of the painting into which he fell.

At once, the awful shape of the menace before him resolves in his imagination.  This tumor, this  heart , is the dark magic engine of the tower.  The torture devices above, even the portrait, are not independent entities: they are organs extruded from this monstrous core.  Even if they separate and kill the portrait, the devices will continue to feast on the warped suffering of the captives.  The dark master of this tower must draw on this heart for his magics - feeding it with captives sufficient to power its teleportation and curses against interlopers.  Perhaps destroying the heart would be the only way to save the captives from a most hideous death; and perhaps spare his comrades above.

...On the other hand... if the organ still beat, if they could wrest control of the tower from its master, perhaps Wighard and Siobhan could force the magics to take them to Mousillon.  Bertelis had no appreciation for  dhar  or delineations of magical natures; he could not guess for a moment whether the wizards would be able to operation the flesh-machine or do so untainted.  But if they  could , it would take many days, even weeks, off their journey to deliver his family from perdition.

His companions were stout, and powerful.  If he cut through the forest of veins and sinews, he could be back with them soon - or it seemed likely, to his mind.  They could have an incredible weapon, and they could be south fast enough that he could save his brothers, and sister, and perhaps even his father.  His  realm. 

And all he needed to do... was turn a blind eye to the gruesome suffering of the captives; sons and daughters of L'Anguille it seemed to him; a traitor state.

If he could just... let them die... he could thwart the Dancer.

But she knew that, didn't she?  The daemoness that taunted him was not the sponsor of this tower - she saw no trouble undermining another wicked entity's operation if it would force  him  into such a horrendous dilemna.

...Because she knew, most likely, that he could not do that.  He would have to destroy the heart, to 'kill' the torment machines that grew up from its 'roots'.  And it would strand them in Norsca, further away from his suffering family than he had ever been.  That, atleast, seemed likely to him.  Maybe Wighard would be able to coax enough power out of the 'dead' tower to make it move one last time...?  Maybe he could have it both ways...?

Bertelis sucked in a breath, and screamed; another breath, and another scream until his boiling frustration nearly deafened him in the heat of the blasphemous basement.  He was no wizard.  He knew nothing for sure about this.  He had only dire speculations.

What he  knew ... was that there were Bretonnians above who suffered, and he had been brought to a place where he could perhaps deliver them.  It wracked his soul to contain the irony - the Lady's demands of him, in this moment, coincided with what the Dancer seemed to want.

Screaming his fury and despair, Bertelis laid into the daemonheart with the runeblade; whether or not it doomed his distant brothers, and damned his poor sister, and killed his poor ailing father.

 Rejoice, peasant; for the Knight of Bretonnia is your shield. 
dojango
The damned thing is a sight heavier than she initially though, so Jasmine braces herself and gives the frame a mighty yank to wrest it free...  " Argh, damned thing is stuck, give it a good kick willya? " she says.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 71 ]  v 45
 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine hooked her hands underneath the frame of the painting and strained as she attempted to hoist the thing up and off the wall.

It didn't budge.

Exhaling, inhaling, repositioning herself, the thief would try again as soon as she was able...
bramblefoot
bertelis: the hacking of the heart with the company blade takes more time than youd like, and by the end. you're covered in blood and viscera. you find a hell coin in the guts of the heart with a weeping maiden face on it. you cant help but feel triumphant, until you hear a hollow laugh come from behind you  "you have stabbed the heart, but someone must replace it"  turning around, you spot a skeleton man, easily seven feet tall, and walking towards you.  "i offer you a chance to name who goes in the heart, but you must bring them here" 
 

the rest of you feel a massive rumble from deep below, and the island shakes, before steadying itself. all of you in paintings are forcibly ejected, and you hear a massive scream from the top of the tower

whats the play?
MrAbdiel
Heaving with breath, steaming with gore, Bertelis stands in the abattoir of his making.  The strange relic coin he pulls from the nest of blood and flesh strikes him as untainted, and for a moment, he feels something like contentment.  He has done  the right thing , however calamitous the results may be.  He must trust that the Lady will do what is right - directing knights by visions to where they need to be... or not, as her wisdom permits.

And then comes the laugh, and with it melts away all the victory he had used to balm the miserable, morbid anticipation of what his insistence to detour to the island had cost.

 "you have stabbed the heart, but someone must replace it" 

With dread and despair, he turns to regard the  thing;  the goliath skeleton, radiant with profane power.

 "i offer you a chance to name who goes in the heart, but you must bring them here" 

The tip of the company blade clinks lightly against the stone tile as his tired arm lets it droop.   This bloated tumor was once a man - and its steward demands another take its place? 

For a moment he considers - they have no shortage of enemies upon whom he would wish suffering.  But a righteous desire to see someone like Yellow Eyes or the Lord of the Foxwoods flogged then hanged was not the same as giving his word to condemn a man, even a helplessly corrupt one, to such a fate - and to feed this evil engine and wicked tyrant in the process.  And that would be what he would be doing - giving his word.

Should he... lie, and flee?  Or die down here, never found by his fellows; robbed even of any glory cast in the periphery of his sacrifice?

 Oh Lady of Virtue... must you take everything from me...? 
 "My name is Bertelis du Roche.  I am a son of Bordeleaux, and Bretonnia; and I am not in the business of entering into bargains with the dead or the damned, monster!" 

He scrapes the remnants of his courage and strength together, and ignites the  Company Blade  again, and lets the warming light of its white flame scour the sickly green of the skeleton's radiance from his skin.

 "If you crave a heart, I have but one - and you shall need to claim it for yourself!" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Bertelis... is taking the Full Defense action.  He refuses to participate in the dark deal.
 
bramblefoot
 

berty: the skeleton sighs  "i am no monster. i am the keeper of the balance. as there is light, there must also be darkness"  the skeleton will take a seat, and bids you do the same.  "a heart is needed to restore the tower to rightness, but it comes with perks" 

those who give up their heart to the keeper of the balance gain a +5 to their wp, a -5 to their fel, and a custom talent

heartless wretch: spend a temporary fp when you encounter a fear causing enemy. that enemies fear is nullified against you
MrAbdiel
Bertelis waits for the other shoe to drop, but then relaxes a little when the skeletal guardian seems neither to take offense, nor opportunity to assault him.  He lets himself feel his tiredness again, watching the creature warily, letting his brandished weapon fall to his side.
 
"...I... Don't understand completely.  But if you are no ghoul or spectre, then stand aside so I may ascend to find my companions.  There are yet evil men dwelling in this tower that need justice done upon them; and captives that need to be set free.  But once these deeds are done, I give you my word - by Manaan, the God of my Father's Father, God of the Seas all about us anywhere we might flee - that I will return here with my companions before we leave, and seek honest fulfilment of this duty." 
farothel
Bruno tried to dodge and parry the Orc, before trying to go left and then attack right.  He still kept silent, not replying to anything.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

dodge the first:  (1d100)[ 82 ]  vs 41
parry the second:  (1d100)[ 92 ]  vs 61

feint:  (1d100)[ 67 ]  vs 46 (opposed WS roll, if I succeed, the next attack can't be dodged or parried)
attack:  (1d100)[ 97 ]  vs 46 for damage:  (1d10+5)[ 9 ] 

Wounds: 8/15
 
bramblefoot
bertelis: the skeleton bobs his head  "i will attempt to hold the island together while you hunt"  he says, and assumes a meditative pose  "you must hurry, lest the island collapse" 

bruno: you are spat out of the painting, almost colliding with jasmine and regine who are trying to fiddle with said painting. the tentacles inside said painting retract in, and the painting goes quiescent

regine and jasmine: bruno comes flying out of the painting. can i get agility rolls at flat to avoid another plate armored missile
dojango
Jasmine pulls out her lockpicks and starts to fiddle with the bindings of the people hooked up to the devices. The locks are weird, almost organic-looking, and she is unable to make any headway. Before long there is a flash of movement and another armored knight flies towards her. Since she's half expecting it this time she slides out of the way more easily this time.
farothel
Bruno didn't manage to hit the ork and as a big choppa is coming at his face, he suddenly finds himself flying through the air, narrowly missing Jasmine as she manages to dodge out of the way.  He quickly stood up and looked around to see if they were all there.
 "What happened here,"  he asked,  "and does anybody has a cleansing fire for this place.  Normally I feel that witch hunters are way too quick with the fire, but I start to see their point." 
wilphe
Wighard wanders the empty corridors of the Light College and finds himself back in the auditorium where he was cross-examined and judged what seems a long time ago but was only a few months

  Wighard Rauschenberg your crimes are too numerous to count and your guilt too obvious to debate.

However as a skilled surgeon you may yet be of use to the Empire should you survive pacification, before we do that though there is something you need to see  

The view shifts to outside the college where the entire faculty and student body is gathered and Siobhan is tied to a stake, Wighard gets to watch as the flames that consume the painting begin to consume her before he is ejected into the same chamber as Bertelis
wilphe
  Wighard 11/13 0/3  

Wighard is in a more or less fetal position confronting his worst fears, and slowly realising - at least intellectually - that none of that was real.

He listens in on the conversation between Bertelis and The Keeper and gathers himself together

  So this place is a tool?

Neither good nor ill, but can be used for both?

What sort of heart do you need and can I help you hold the place together until we find one?

Or why should we hold the place together, beyond the obvious fact that we are in it?  
bramblefoot
 

wighard and berty: the keeper of the balance will tell you the reason  "light and darkness must stay in balance, as they are corollaries to each other. with too much light, the world becomes stagnant and ordered. there will be no innovation, no growth. too much dark, and the world goes down the loony bin"  as to the heart, the keeper responds.  "the heart must be given of its own volition. that is all" 

bruno, jasmine, regine: it takes time to free the prisoners, but it is done. anyone with common knowledge brettonia, gimme it at +30 as you see this man

 
farothel
Bruno isn't sure what is going on, so he just helps and gets one of the prisoners handed to him.  He looks at the guy, trying to figure out what's wrong with him and hoping that Wighard would get back to where-ever he was sucked to.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

common knowledge (Britonia):  (1d100)[ 20 ]  vs 89 (59 int + 30 bonus)
 
wilphe
  And what happens to the donor?  
bramblefoot
 

wighard and berty: the keeper of balance sighs.  "for those who give up their heart, the world becomes dull and grey. no pleasure can be gained from anything, and they often forget to eat, as meat and drink taste like ash to them. i must tell you that those who are strong of will have a better chance of staying the course." 

he continues  "you may be called to the tower unexpectedly, and will always be linked to said tower." 

bruno, regine, jasmine: you would recognize this man as the missing duke of l'aquitane, prematurely aged and stooped beyond his years
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 


Regine couldn't make the painting shift, and so when they decided to instead begin unbounding the people within the chamber, the master thief assisted with that. She unrolled her lockpick tools and got to work, her effortless ease making short work of their restraints.

But, when one particular man was freed, the thief gasped audibly, her eyes widening.

She didn't  want  to do it. She'd rather just bite her thumb at him and go on her way. But, in this restrictive chamber with nowhere to go and the mans memory now returning to him providing him with a transcript of her conduct when he got back to safe land, Regine knew the practical and safe course of action was to right now show the etiquette necessary.

She curtseyed to the Duke and offered her greetings.
dojango
Jasmine has no idea who the prisoners are; they all look to weak and frail to haul a rope or reef a sail at the moment. A few weeks of holystoning the deck and eating three meals of hardtack and watered wine should get them ship-shape and ready to learn the sailing trade, however.  When she sees Regine curtseying to one of the prisoners though, she sidles over and whispers " Until we get a priest, a witch-hunter or one o' them magic girls ta look over the rescues, we gotta assume they're potential collaborators.  We'll have them swab the decks until they're cleared for full-time sailin' duties.  But let's start hustlin' them back out to the docks, I don't like the sound of this tower-shaking.  Our wizard musta done something wizardly again. "
MrAbdiel
Bertelis realizes his is not alone with the Keeper for the first time; he looks at Wighard with both relief, and clueless, exhausted frustration at the situation at large.  It's clear that Bertelis does not want to participate in the strange bargain, however much command it might give him over his admittedly frail psyche.  Passion was part of the path of the knight as much as restraint.  Lambard of Carcassonne was famed for his stoicism; but Beren of Gisoreux and Balduin of Brionne were both immortalized for their passionate exertions - Impetuousness and Temper, respectively.  Even if that were not the case, his loyalty was already divided several ways - to Manaan, to the Lady, to his King, to his companions.  He was a man divided near to breaking point; he could not split himself another way.

He did not understand the nature of the island.  The keeper, some spirit of a nature that did not seem outright corrupt, spoke of 'light and dark' requiring a balance.  To Berterlis, this is the kind of rhetoric that handwringing hedgewizards and forbidden book enthusiasts told to themselves before sliding town the greased slope into total corruption and madness.

But Wighard was his friend, and wise to the ways of strange powers and dark places of the world.  He looked to the wizard to make the call.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: Thoughts on the Heart question. 
You've made it appealing, Bramble; but Bertelis won't be wanting the heart transplant.  It's possible someone else might.  I suspect Bruno, Jasmine and Regine all prefer their Fellowship and passions intact than the Willpower boost and the fear-counter.

Wighard might go for it, given that WP is valuable to him as a wizard; but honestly the big dealbreaker might remain "give away your heart in supernatural exchange for vague mastery of the tower".

So my feeling is,  if no one else wants it, I think NPC Meloth should go for it. 

1. Neatly removes Meloth from the party
2. Meloth is a strange loner anyway
3. Previous owner is an elf killer, it's poetic justice for an elf to kill him and take his tower
4. Gives Meloth an act of tragic sacrifice to depart from the story upon; perhaps someday we will return to him.
5. NPC Meloth could learn the mastery of the island and turn it into a beautiful elven grove on the seas which is sort of cool.

Let us know your thoughts, everyone.  I'll repost this to the OOC, so we can discuss it there.
 
wilphe
  Wighard 11/13 0/3  

Wighard looks at Bertelis then back at the Keeper of Balance

  Well I doubt you will find anybody within our current group.

I can maybe find somebody amongst our crew or the survivors of those imprisoned.

However I need them to know what they are agreeing too.

Magical ethics requires informed and explicit consent  

He looks at the Keeper again

  So I am terribly sorry to burden you with details, I am sure it must be very tiresome for you but please understand that  "Give up your heart for the giant green glowing skeleton"  is a hard sell to the average person - especially when most of them will freak out at the sight of you  

He pauses

  So what is in it for them?

Do they get to control the island's movement?

Why is it full of chaos cultists?

Who are these prisoners? If they are indeed prisoners?

What's the deal with the painting?

What's the deal with the guy with no head?  

A thought strikes him

  I suppose that if I had spent an indeterminate length of time being tortured by Slanesshis then not being able to feel anything might be a suitable penance  
bramblefoot
 

wighard and berty: the keeper of balance sighs  "we're running out of time"  he says.  "even a being as powerful as i can only keep the tower out of the sea for so long"  he looks at wighard, and you see an idea pop into his head.   "meloth would be a suitable heart"  he says, and you feel him concentrate. meloth appears next to you

 "meloth greenfeather"  the skeleton says, proffering a sacrificial knife.  "do you agree to give your heart to the tower, to keep it floating and make it a place of balance"  meloth gulps, and nods, saying  "i do give my heart to the tower, to keep it floating and make it a place of balance"  the keeper of the balance nods, and the heart floats out of meloths chest. the keeper concentrates, and the heart begins to grow to replace the old destroyed heart.

bruno, regine, jasmine: you all disappear, and end up in the top of the tower, alongside berty and wighard. youd spot the sorcerer mounting a winged horse, with a man in full plate and a sword etched with runes on another winged horse. the sorcerer will slam his staff down on the ground, and a wall of air will appear, spoiling any shots on him and the man in full plate

 
 
MrAbdiel
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
I think it may be best to assume, for the smoothness of our story, that Meloth's particular share of mandatory prophetic dreams have led him to this moment - may Lileath guide him.  Hopefully, after the fight, we will be able to see what the island can do, if anything, with a noble heart.

I'm also going to assume there's time, during that dark ritual, for Bertelis to quaff a healing draught because he knows the big fight is still to come.  Chugchugchug.
 


No answers are forthcoming to Wighard - though all the questions are worthy.  And then Meloth is with them, put to the same question - but he seems strangely receptive.

Bertelis isn't happy with this exchange - but the elf, after a moment of steeling himself, seems sure.  Bertelis knows Morr as the king of dreams; but the elves, he understands, have a maiden goddess of such things - and the Lady is famed for drawing nobility out of difficult tasks assigned to mortals.  He quietly vows to revisit the wood elf, when they have time - to see if this curse, this seizure of the heart, might not be reversed by some gentler means than the last.  But then they are whisked away again, the familiar disorientation of displacement washing over him - and suddenly they are face to face with the sorcerer who had mocked them no so much earlier, and side by side with his allies to face them.

Bertelis edges forward, and calls out through the torrent of air - wary not to get too far ahead, lest the swift flying steeds outflank him, and engage his allies instead of him.

 "You knaves! You black hearted wretches!  What sickness have you been propagating in this place?  Do not hide behind your sorceries now!  The blood of these captives, and the victims you have murdered, cries out for justice!  Come forth, murderers, and be judged!" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Bertelis is taking the Full Defense action!
 
wilphe
  Wighard 10/13 0/3  

Wighard accepts Meloth's choice with a glance that the elf is in fact accepting of this and isn't entirely surprised to find them all gathered on the roof

A protective ball of light flies out and around him and he barely acknowledges the slight spark of backlash


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (4d10)[ 10 ][ 10 ][ 4 ][ 2 ](26)  -4 TN 14
 
farothel
Not sure what to do now, Bruno quickly reloads his pistol.  He knows he can't fire it now, but that doesn't mean he won't be able to use it later.
 "Jasmine,"  he calls out to the halfling,  "if we're in melee and you can use my pistol, just grab it from my side if I haven't fired it at that time." 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 


What fresh hell was this?

One moment Regine was unlocking the restraints binding the captive to those torture wheels, and the next...now she was in some type of tower chamber alongside her compatriots and facing down two pegasi-mounted lunatics.

Immediately, Regine tried to 'shrink' herself into the background as she withdrew her crossbow. Finding cover and hiding herself behind it, the thieve drew her weapon up and aimed at the sorcerer, ready for when the violence would let loose...
dojango
Jasmine shakes her head at Bruno but doesn't say anything. She pulls out the unreliable musket and checks it over before taking aim at the sorcerer and saying " Wighard! Take care of that wind so we can just shoot the bastard off his horse! "
wilphe
  It's not stopping Ms Regine, and anyway I can't. Try a more positive attitude  
farothel
Bruno also had his pistol out so far, but the range was way too far for him to even try to shoot.  But on the other hand as long as those guys were just standing there, he was okay with waiting.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

initiative:  (1d10+4)[ 6 ] 
 
bramblefoot
 
 

the mage will laugh at bertelis' yell, and drop two magic bolts into him  "honor is for those with no stomach for dirty deeds"  he says, and will drop one each into regine and jasmine

 (1d10+4)[ 7 ]  berty
 (1d10+4)[ 12 ] berty

 (1d10+4)[ 13 ]  jasmine
 (1d10+4)[ 12 ]  regine

with that, the winged horses will turn and dip below the horizon of the tower. turning to look, the men on the backs will drop what look like carpets on the trundheim, causing an uproaring of coughing and hacking below.

the pegasi will wing away over the waters until they recede out of sight

take 400 xp and we can call this combat ended
MrAbdiel
Two of the spiraling bolts of dark magic crash into Bertelis, hammering into his shield and driving him back on his heels.  Every wound in his body flares with pain, and his ears ring with the lingering shock from the explosion earlier.  He barely hears the mage's mockery - someone will have to recite it to him later, to fill out his memory.  But he sees the bolts coming; racing towards  Deanna and little Celeste, neither of whom had done anything in their lives to warrant such malice.

  "No!"  

He can see faces in the magic, as it comes at them; twisting, laughing skulls in the black magic being slicked back by their deadly speed into spears - killing spears, flying for poor  Regine and Jasmine, and by the time he orders his thoughts to move, his legs are already in motion.  Lurching sideways, the bolt meant for the criminal cracks into the fine shield with its Company colors; and as the force of the impact turns the stride into a dive, the bolt flying for the halfling strikes that same battered spot on the shield, blows a neat hole clean through it, and thuds into the Bretonnian's chest, scattering blood and split links of mail across the ground.  The power of it sends him skidding on his back across the tower's top; the Company Blade quenching and bouncing to a stop nearby.

He lies on his back, taking wheezing shallow breaths, knowing this to be it.

 This is the moment he will die.  Here, far from home, in the godless frozen north. 
 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Negotiated to take all 4 bolts in the OOC. Bertelis is on 0 wounds, and is stunned for  (1d10)[ 3 ]  rounds.  Even if he thinks he is going to die, Wighard will quickly diagnose that, once again, the hedgehog knight has just barely cheated death.

+1 IP; up to 4 again.
 
wilphe
Bertelis' martyr complex turns out to be faster than Wighard's attempts to stop self-harm, but he will have to work on that. As it stands he gets to Bertelis almost as soon as he stops sliding and checks him over.

  You'll live.

You stupid bastard. They are both big girls and better able to take a hit than you.

So lie there and consider your choices.

I have the ship to worry about
  
  They both leaving?  
  Looks like  
  Any more hostiles?  
  Negative 
 Siobhan, sitrep please 
 &lt;Cough&gt; &lt;Cough&gt; 
 Ok, breath as little of that crap in as you can, get everybody off the ship until I can check it out  

He turns to the others,

  I have to get back to the ship for whatever that was

Were you able to rescue anybody from the machines?

Is there anyone else still trapped there?

Meloth, can you hear me? Can you take us to Castle Bordelaux please? Not on top of the ruins we are supposed to be exploring at some point please  
dojango
A few things happen at once; the vile sorcerer looses some magic at the party and Jasmine fires off her gun, hoping to drop the mount.  At that moment, however, Bertelis crashes in front of her, spoiling the shot, which goes wide.  She looks on in shock and horror as he falls at her feet.  " Bertelis! " she shouts.  " What have you done? "  Once she sees that the party's 'healer' is ignoring him, she sits by Bertelis and holds his hand.  " The marines told me ya gotta dodge away from the enemy's blows, not into them!  Just a thought.  Those bastards are everywhere around us, plotting and laughing at us.  Ya gotta be more careful if ya want to see them dead! "  She thinks back to the vision she had of Bertelis being dragged under the waves by a kraken.  She shudders.  " We gotta stay away from boats for a while. "
farothel
 "There was only one I recognised,"  Bruno said,  "the missing duke of l'aquitane.  But none of the others.  There might be a reward for bringing him back.  I wouldn't go anywhere on this blasted island on your own, Wighard." 
The last he added when the wizard wanted to head back to the ship.
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 


The thief hissed under her breath as she watched one of the bolts glance off of the sorcerer's body, doubtlessly ricocheting off of some fortuitously timed bit of metal the bastard wore on his outfit. However, the second projectile struck true, impeding itself deeply and definitely leaving a mark.

Regine's satisfaction was short-lived, however, as the sorcerer and his goon quickly brought their pegasi about and took to the skies to flee the scene. Beginning to pick herself up out of her crouched cover, Regine's watched as the sorcerer turned about in his saddle and spitefully launched bolts of his own in their direction - black, disgusting magical bolts that sizzled through the air like disintegrating dogturds, and they were heading right for Regine.

The thief's cat-like reflexes were already well ahead of her conscious mind, her nervous system blasting messages across her body to spin-and-jump out of the way...but another had taken it upon himself to intervene. Out of the corner of her eye, Bertelis leaped before her, his shield held aloft and his bellowing shout of  "Noo....!!"  trapped in the thiefs ear as the vile projectiles collided with him instead and tossed him across the floor to skitter to a halt, his armor blasted open to reveal the tenderised flesh beneath.

Landing on her feet from her half jump, the thief's eyes widened at the spectacle as she quickly dashed over to be at his side.

 "Bertelis, you fool, what have you done?!"  she uttered, her hands moving to tak aside his shield and free him of the worst of it, though thankfully Wigward was on hand to apply even further measurements of scathing rebuttals and medical aid.

Her heart thumping in her chest, the thief shook her head, the 'dashing knight' protecting her against the vomitous magic of dark sorcerers when weeks ago he had threatened her with death. Oh Bertelis, why did you put yourself in harms way for a pretty face?!
bramblefoot
wighard: you hear meloths voice in your head  "assuming i can get us there, that would leave the islands mana reserves dry for a month at least, maybe more"  you hear a deep sigh, and the island sort of shakes for a second.  "lets discuss our plans before we make any jumps yes?"  the trapdoor leading in from the roof pops open, and a branchy arm waves you down

meloths new form
 

we cut to a meeting room that is full of plants and greenery. meloth stands at the head of a map table that has the map of the current location on the table.  "currently, we are here"  he points a tendril-finger at the sea of claws.  "if we wanted to get to castle bordeleaux, we would need to make either one massive jump, or one medium jump and then activate the islands mobile travel features, taking us roughly two weeks to make it there"  he crosses his leafy arms.  "the first option leaves the island dry for a month, and the second gets us there with reserves for jumping if necessary"  he opens his arms, as if offering opinions

 "what do my honored guests think?" 
wilphe
Wighard descends down into the tower itself,

  Nice place you have here. Was this already like this or is your choice?  

and he hears Meloth out

  Can we hold off on a decision on that until I know what they dropped on  Trundheim ?  
wilphe
With that he takes his leave, exits the tower and hurries back to the ship.

Siobhan having done as he commanded has evacuated everybody off and out of the cloud, though some are already showing the signs of Scurvy Rot

With the cold and stress his first attempt to get a Light of Purity off fails, the second does succeed but fortunately he doesn't do it near the ship as it panics the seabirds into flight and causes the limpets to stampede - if anyone bothers to look closely enough to check.

  Light some more fires and torches off of this one, sort out transport to the tower, those affected will need plenty of fresh water and to be restrained.  

He calls up Kwolf

  Inform the others please that we can keep this under control, but it will take at least a week to run its course. Therefore I recommend that we take a medium jump and then the surface travel as he suggested

Also that we need a source of freshwater, please find a well.

And that the rest of you and any prisoners rescued should keep quarantine  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 94 ]  Channelling 77

 (3d10)[ 4 ][ 1 ][ 7 ](12)  -3+2 TN 12
 
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Second try

 (1d100)[ 54 ]  Channelling 77

 (3d10)[ 1 ][ 1 ][ 9 ](11)  -3+4 TN12
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis filters back into reality from his delirium to find himself on his back; with one hand over his oozing wound, and the other held by Jasmine beside him.  Regine is there too, looking down at him  with some hybrid expression of reproach and alarm.

Those who know Bertelis know him to be, at other times, somewhat flippant even when badly wounded.  An imperial alienist might get a set of callipers around his head and decide this was a typical gallic coping habit.  Today, however, he has no more sass; and neither is he terribly conversational.  The wound is oozing, not gushing; Wighard is assured he will be alright without immediate attention, and that is enough.  But he has been stabbed and bashed and exploded and magic'd today; and only Wighard and Meloth know in the moment the reason he is so awfully caked in dark blood - like he had crashed through a slaughterhouse before he emerged on the tower top with everyone else.

He is alright, but this is enough fighting for one day - and all the urgency with which he was pushing the Company and crew to press on, on to Mousillon for all that is at stake there, seems to have vanished from his demeanor.  If pressed for an opinion, given that Meloth is uncertain about forcing the island to move all the way to Bordeleaux, then a smaller jump - perhaps to Lyonesse - might be agreeable.  But he is wary of the magic in general.  And he is bone tired; the chivalry and choler knocked clean out of him for the day.
bramblefoot
 

wighard: the keeper of balance awaits you, sitting cross legged on the stones and watching over the heart, humming a dirge as he twiddles his skeletal thumbs.  "ah, journeyman wighard, what brings you to the heart chamber"  he says, standing and moving over to you. he pulls a small set of rune-carved dice from out of thin air, and will ask  "care for a wager?" 

bertelis: the lord will come over to you, and discuss matters of bretonnian politics with you. can i get a perception roll at -10 while you discuss things with him?

regine: gimme perception and search at -20 each to canvas the tower for anything out of the ordinary

jasmine and bruno: gimme a complication you both find on the island that may impede the future use of the island
wilphe
 "care for a wager?" 
  No thank you, I go to great efforts to take the element of chance out of my work.

I don't feel the urge to put it into my recreation.

Besides the last person who wanted me to play with them was our principal recurring enemy. So.  

He shrugs

  Tell me your story  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 70 ]  AK: Theology 71

Wighard vaguely knows that there were once gods of Law who were just as hostile as the forces of chaos, and that their following is almost entirely gone in favour of the neutral pantheons that exist now.

So as the follower of a neutral deity he is more ok with the Keeper's existence than might be expected

So a chat about origins, history and who if anybody he serves is on the card

He is mostly concerned with Meloth however and what the island's previous occupants were up to
 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 


The Master Thief shook her head as Bertelis was fallen with his grisly wound. The warlock, Wigward, had tended to the knight and given his blessing for future recovery, and as she knew little about such matters, Regine had to trust that his word was sound.

Hearing the man starting to blabber now, and feeling a tug of gratitude for the way in which he had gallantly thrown himself before the incoming projectile, Regine scooped a shoulder of hers under his.

 "Up we go, Bertelis, let's get you somewhere to rest..."  Regine uttered, doubtless assisted by another as she helped draw the man to his feet and return him to a place of rest.


Once that was done, Regine was free to "explore" the castle. A fortified bastion like this, manned by marauding wizards and norscans, was doubtless to possess some grand bounty of plundered loot! The thief was veritably salivating over the idea of opening up a door only to reveal a literal treasure trove within, it's riches enough to set her up for life, and then some.

Alas, the best she found was a single, silver bracelet.

The thief peered at this trinket with a sceptical eye. Sure, it was still of considerable value. A peasant would have to work years to be able to afford such a prize. But...well...best not look a gift-horse in the mouth, for now at least.
dojango
Jasmine spends the next few days exploring the island, to see what made it so weird.  She stands by the edge of the island and throws a stone idly into the water.  And watches as the stone floats away.  Puzzled, she picks up more stones around the island and spends time throwing them into the water.  Some of them act like normal stones, but the stones pried up from the base of the island float away.  She thinks about what that would mean.  For a ship, the heavy stuff, the cargo and the ballast, has to be at the bottom of the ship to keep it from tipping over.  If the island is able to float, is able to travel around, and most importantly, not tip over, that would mean that there would have to be a great deal of mass hidden somewhere, below the surface.  She takes a rowboat out in the harbor and around the island, taking soundings.  After a day or three of pondering and exploring, she comes to the conclusion that the island's roots reach very deeply into the water beneath.  At least fifty fathoms, maybe more.  So no matter where it travels, it needs to stay in deep water, lest it get grounded, or worse, be elevated out of the water and then topple over.  It will never be too close to shore except in spots where the near ocean is deep enough.
MrAbdiel
Bertelis is too battered even to object as Regine and Jasmine help him inside and park him comfortably on a mossy, seat-shaped root in Meloth's woodland interior of the tower.  Eventually, the shivering, recently freed and deeply traumatized Lord du Dragongorge finds his way there; and both mangled men share a few words about the homeland.

Lord du Dragongorge is, understandably, very keen to speak about anything, anything, other than what he has just now undergone.  That may require the consultation of some mind-soothing Shallyans in time; but for now what he craves is normalcy.  And Bertelis, for his part, is also very keen to avoid talking about his home, and Mousillon, and the deeds ahead. But he is able to talk about the Company - these brave souls who have rescued the poor captives, and especially Meloth who has made a mystical sacrifice for all of them.  They talk about L'anguille, and the coup - the Lord is alarmed, but silently, he is happy to have something to think about, and to plan.  His outlying lands are not in the city, and so he relies on the Duke's reknown and attentive pursuit of the beastmen to keep his lands safe.  He hopes his son is okay.  He hopes he can get home, and start navigating the difficult time ahead for his realm, and his family.  He hopes, very much, to be working on some future problem instead of spending any waking moment thinking about what has been done to him.

These men, these mad Bretonnians, spend a few hours  scrupulously avoiding talking about their traumas.   By the end of it, they have bonded over what they have not talked about.  And Lord Éduin du Dragongorge has managed, in this evasive way, to communicate something he could not speak directly to the Knight Banneret.

The cultish slavers of this island had not only Sarl allies; but Bretonnian ones.  The name came up three times in the conversation -  Lord Arduin Montague .  Before Lord du Dragongorge had been captured, he had been friends with Lord Montague - a man of Bordeleaux, and therefore an unusual bosom companion for a L'Anguillan.  The two had investigated the disappearances around the Dragon's Maw together - but Montague had handed over his friend and their hunting companions to the dark cloaked masters of the tower in exchange for forbidden, sorcerous knowledge.

What Bertelis knew, that his new friend did not, is that his betrayer had succeeded beyond all expectation.    Baron  Arduin Montague had led a host of knights to crush a host of beastmen and had been rewarded by the king with a parcel of land in Bordeleaux - right in the midst of what soon after became plagued lands, and peasant riots.   Bertelis didn't dare hope this scoundrel had been dragged out of his castle and killed by his peasants.  But it was one more thing to investigate, once the other fires were put out.  Slowly, slowly, it was beginning to seem like there was a long and winding string of cult activity; starting from Trundheim, leading through Altdorf and L'Anguille, now to Mousillon and Bordeleaux.

Perhaps it was not that they were stumbling over and over again into the madness of the ruinous powers.  Perhaps Morr, or the Lady, or whomever it was, had been guiding them by these visions and circumstances  to thwart the actions of one, international cult. 

The thought made him shiver.  He would have to talk to Wighard about it.  Later, when he was being stitched up.
wilphe
After having organised the treatment for the Trundheim crew Wighard returns to treat Bertelis

  Good news, thanks to the Magic Isle of Meloth we will arrive in Bordeleaux earlier than expected, and soon after the outbreak of scurvy rot should be done.  

Then takes in his news

  I would worry that Lord Dragongorge is in great danger as the only witness and unlikely to survive his trip home

But then I remember we are going to Castle Bordeleaux and the Duke, Alberic?, is going to be able to hear his testimony and perhaps take action, even if Baron Arduin Montague holds his lands and title directly from the King. Do I have that correct?  

He continues

  The sorcerer and his friend took flight, so we should assume that they have some contact with Baron Arduin and that he knows we are coming. And he will certainly know that once word of Lord Dragongorge's arrival spreads  
farothel
While the others were doing whatever, Bruno wandered around the castle and its immediate vicinity.  He wasn't sure what was going to happen now, but he did start to order his memories about everything the company had encountered so he might write a book about it later.  It might gain some interest in the empire.  Something to think about if he had some more time and could find the parchment or paper to actually write the thing.

As he wandered around the island, he found a small pool deep in between the rocks.  The smell of it made him almost lose his lunch, so he didn't touch it or even go near it.  But he did notice a faint green glow beneath the dark waters.  He didn't know a lot about these things, but he did know that water wasn't supposed to glow green.  There were no plants or animals near this pool, even though fresh water was scarce on the island.

He did go to Wighard to ask if he knew what was going on and if something could be done about it.
bramblefoot
alright, so the jump goes smoothly, albeit leaving you all with a bad taste in your mouth. it tastes like iron shavings, and the slightest hint of blood. the two week trip to castle bordeleaux goes off without a hitch. the island easily cuts through the water like a hot knife through butter, its rocky outcroppings acting like mobile independent rudders to keep the island on course. meloth will park the island in the outskirts of the dragons teeth, and see you off with a wave

as the trundheim crests into view of castle bordeleaux, youd spot a two masted ship with bright yellow sails at anchor in the harbor. can i get a CK: the empire roll at -10 to see if you know the ship?

 

wighard: the keeper of balance shrugs.  "if i told you the whole story, youd be long dead before i finished"  he will give you an abbreviated version of his history, in which he is portrayed as a balancer of the scales, a cosmic force to keep the light and dark balanced more or less evenly

the rest of you: what do you do for the two weeks until castle bordelaux comes into view? gimme a montage of what you do

regine: the silver bracelet looks like it fits on your off hand. this might be worth a pretty penny, but it also may have practical use
wilphe
  With Bruno:  

Wighard doesn't need to see it, he can feel it before its even in sight, but checks it out anyway

  Place has been occupied by chaos cultists for a while, that's the runoff from all their foul magic.

We can put some signs up, warn people off. No one should be drinking that or even worse bathing in it.

Hopefully it will clear itself up, but we should better ask a Grail Maiden, Priest of Taal or the like to take a look at it because its not something I can fix.

Fortunately we drove them off before that could be become a chaos cyst but we don't want it to become one   
  With the Master:  

He will enjoy the abridged version, share some anecdotes of his own, find ways to help Meloth

Interested in finding out if their are limitations on where the island can go


  Upon arrival at Castle Bordeleaux  

After asking Meloth to wait if they can, and reloading all the livestock after giving them a chance to graze and exercise on the Island Trundheim heads to the castle.

She is fully repaired, her provisions barely touched and those who were not sick got to spend some more time training and repairing.

As she gets close both the Imperial Flag (from the stern) and the Company Flag (from the main mast) are let loose


 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 41 ]  CK: Empire 61
 
dojango
Once Jasmine better understands the island's precarious situation, she spends a fair amount of time caring for the orphans.  While Lunk, with the annoying vitality and strength of youth, rapidly shrugs off the symptoms of the disease and is able to assist in caring for others, Brambleberry Finn is extremely sick and for a few days, Jasmine isn't sure he'll even make it at all.  He and Filch are wrapped tightly in blankets and periodically doused with water, while Jasmine wraps herself up in a scarf and watch cap to avoid exposing herself to their bad humors.  She sits by them, under the light of one of Wighard's candles, reading to them from a book she'd found in one of the store rooms.  " ' Il Modo del Mundo ' by Leonardo Da Caprio ", she says.  " Oh I heard of him, one of the great scholars of Tilea!  Let's see, chapter 1.  'The inclined plane...' "

The next few days sees her reading and re-reading the book out loud to the sick children, while also trying to make sure they get enough to eat and drink.  She also tells Lunk to take care of Bully, who is also sick and similarly out of sorts.  At one point she hears him thrashing around and she and Lunk have to hold him down while he yells out, "ERNALD YOU BASTARD!  NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOUR DAUGHTER AM I?"  He then calms down though as Lunk dumps a bucket of seawater over him and Jasmine gives him a double-strength draught of wine but spends the rest of the night trying to grapple an imaginary foe.

Once the kids are recovered, she goes back to her duties on the ship itself.  With the veteran crew recovering and unable to perform their full duties, Jasmine finds herself trying to do a lot of it herself, while explaining to the land-lubbers just what it is that needs to be done and when.  By the end of it, even the surliest orphan is jumping at her command and the state of the ship is far more improved then it was when they had left L'Anguille.  To Captain Bruno, she says, " A good storm or battle is all ya need to really bring the crew together, I reckon.  It ends up either forgin' them together or shattering them apart, either way ya know what you're in for... "
farothel
Bruno will help Jasmine caring for the orphans.  As soon as they are well enough (and with the ones not getting sick in the first place) he gives them some weapon training.  While it was just a start using sticks and the like, it would form the basis they could use later to defend themselves with real weapons.  He also included some extra training with a dagger, as that was the weapon they most likely would have on them at all times.  In order to make the fights fair, he will fight with the stick in his left hand, which also is good training for him in case something happens to his right hand.  He will also do some runs around the island in full armour to get more used to the weight of it, doing some leaps and jumps in it as well.  The better he learns to move in it, the easier it will be in a fight.

When they were on the ship, he will not wear his full plate, but he will wear the helmet and his chainshirt, having learned the hard way about armour during a fight.
 "You might be right,"  he says when they arrive in Bordelaux,  "but neither is a good prospect right now.  That's a big one over there, and quite far out for an Empire ship." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

common knowledge (empire):  (1d100)[ 13 ]  vs 59
 
MrAbdiel
 Merriment and Medicine 

The first week is mostly recovery for Bertelis.  He swings between agitated, lethargic, and tearfully withdrawn and introspective.  He is mostly useless with his wounds; even on the fifth day when he is mobile and limping about; merry of mood enough to play his flute for the crew.

It's not until the second week that he seems to turn the corner, contemporaneous with the budding recovering of the orphans, whose young blood and street upbringing join forces to repel the infection more quickly.

All but Brambleberry Finn, whose condition is complicated by the hook he took to the shoulder.  His arm is still slinged, and he is unable to join the deck dances that the other children are easilly whipped into when Bertelis gets into one of his bright-eyed moods in which he seems to exist to bring them joy.

 "Here!  Here, Finn, I will need you!  I will need you to be the caller.  I cannot call it - I must play the flute!  Do you know  Pique la Baleine ?  It's a sailor's song.  All the crew will know it.  Hey!  Bruno!  Bruno, I know you can keep time.  Come here, drum on this bucket.  Petrus!  Petrus, get your accordian!  Come-come, while the wind isn't fighting us!  Ah, if Glod was here - Glod had the best baritone.  Here, it goes  thus -" 

It takes a little teaching, but when Bertelis's sanguine mood is ascending, he is grating to the patience of adults - but delightful for children, and the delight of children is compelling for the adults.  And thus, for a few days of the journey and a few pockets of time in the recovery from the ordeal preceding and the malady on deck, there is music and merriment on the deck of the  Trundheim ; the much perforated hedgehog knight strutting and prancing gaily and leading the orphans in circle dances on song.  And Brambleberry Finn is equipped soon to call some of the work songs when Bertelis is indisposed or  not of the humor .  Seeing the urchins in high spirits is a boon especially to the traumatized survivors of the island, whose desperation for normalcy an wholesome things is starvation level.

 In Conference With The Company 

There are three matters he brings up, in exclusive hearing of the companions.

 "...And I had expected there to be more loot on the island for distribution.  It seems our enemies haven't been storing it - but whisking it away.  Thus there will be no boon for the sailors this time.  Still, they performed so admirably in the battle on the sea and endured extra suffering that I feel compelled to reward them with extra shares as soon as our exploits net a decent bounty.  As in the Foxwoods with the marines, our young company does well to establish a habit of treating out hirelings generously considering what we put them through.  Which brings me to another matter - Regíne."  

He regards the catburglar with his tired eyes; no energy in him today to keep his social and chivalrous scepticism up.  He even smiles, ever so faintly.   "Given your participation in our escapade with all its hazards, and the largely uncomplaining nature with which you committed to each fight... and especially your certain skills which we more broadly lack, the Company of the Burning Slug is inclined to offer you, ma'amselle LaCroix, membership and peerage in our company.  If you accept, you will become privy to matters heretofore kept secret to you - and bound to fidelity and service with our band not by threat, by volition.  Our members come and go when demand rises - with Meloth, there are four friends we have now released in good standing to their callings.  But you may be interested to know that, in addition to our seeking to perform noble deeds for the good people of the Old World, we are in pursuit of a hidden treasure whose quantification is likely to amount in the hundreds of thousands, even millions, of gold crowns.  If this is not enough incentive... I suppose we will release you in Bordeleaux and you may start your new life there... in a more honest fashion than the last." 

Once that matter is resolved, he speaks shortly about Bordeleaux, and the coming arrival in the capital of his home Duchy.  "We will do well to go swiftly to the castle and speak with Duke Alberic; or his First Knight if he is away.  I expect they will be mustering the fleet to answer the king's call about L'Anguille; but we can offer that, when we return from Mousillon, we might take whatever men at arms can be spared from the eastern banners and go west to contain the peasant revolt.  He will have been reticent to do so considering the plagues, but... hopefully the Green Knight's promise, and our action in Mousillon, will negate that threat.  Past that, we should spend just the day in the city; Petrus will see to restock of the  Trundheim , I will see Deanna to the home of some friends.  Someone will need to see our recovered prisoners to the local Shallyans.  I..." 

He pauses then; awkward, a little ashamed.   "I expect some of you are missing Imperial food - I recommend  Gunter's Pork Knuckle Paradise , on the dock, for lunch.  The halfling proprietor, Gunter, has sausage imported from the empire; and makes a fair few of his own.  But we... may do better for us, and the crew, to spend the evening on the  Trundheim.  The city becomes... perhaps, inappropriately raucous at night." 

This suggestion is doomed.  There is no way the crew, having been at sea all this time and through all this, are going to stay on the ship for their only night of shore leave just because the knight thinks Bordeleaux will be  too fun. 
wilphe
  "...And I had expected there to be more loot on the island for distribution.  It seems our enemies haven't been storing it - but whisking it away.  Thus there will be no boon for the sailors this time.  Still, they performed so admirably in the battle on the sea and endured extra suffering that I feel compelled to reward them with extra shares as soon as our exploits net a decent bounty.  As in the Foxwoods with the marines, our young company does well to establish a habit of treating out hirelings generously considering what we put them through.  Which brings me to another matter - Regíne."  
 
  I am sure Milord Dragongorge will be able to provide some appreciation of his delivery. We of course are content to work in fame, honour and favours, and peasants need no such encouragement. However sailors and ships consume coin.  
bramblefoot
everyone who passed their CK: empire checks: this is the wandering wyrm circus, a travelling troupe of actors and jugglers and circus-folk who travel around and perform shows. it is a little strange that they are down in bretonnia, but you did hear from a passing ship that the company's last act in the wasteland got a little spicy and may have ended in minor rioting.

as you get within shouting distance, a tall man with a fancy hat will appear at the side, and call over  "ahoy there! where do ye hail from?"  he seems curious, but not overtly suspicious.

captain milton
 

bertelis: bully is on the deck, watching as a carrier pigeon struggles to make its way here. it lands with a thump on the deck, small body twitching and spasming. youd notice the message scroll on its leg is there, and with a final breath, the pidgeons life force leaves its body. as you turn it over, youd notice a lead ball in its breast. seems like someones shooting pidgeons, but who?

tell me what the message says, and make it suitably dire. added to that is three words in a different writing style  see you soon 

bruno: what is your response to the captain? gimme charm at +10 while you're at it, to pump captain milton for info

jasmine and regine: what is your response to the shot carrier pigeon?

wighard: gimme a couple rolls for siobhan and yourself for the protection from rain spell pls
wilphe
Wighard lets Bruno talk to the Captain, boss to boss; but wonders in his head if Zarinna is going to cross their paths again

So far he has mostly been letting Siobhan work on the spell itself, whilst he works on the licensing agreement - but he didn't really expect much to get done with them on a sea voyage where there is hardly the space and time for such things.

What would otherwise have been a suitable interlude on the island lost a bit of time to the sick, but they were able to get several hours a day to the task

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 61 ]  AK/Magic 71

 (1d100)[ 40 ]  AK/Law 71

 (1d100)[ 22 ]  Siobhan
 
farothel
 "We come from all over these lands and the Empire,"  Bruno shouts back,  "but we left with this ship from L'Anguille.  But I wouldn't go there, as there's a lot of trouble brewing there.  They decided to do what Marienburg did years ago and I don't think the local Duke will take it kindly.  He might win or the city might, but it's going to be very interesting and they probably are not going to be all that interested in a circus for some time.  And you, where did you come from?  And some interesting news for a group of wandering people?" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

charm roll:  (1d100)[ 50 ]  vs 97 (67 + 20 mastery + 10 GM bonus) (vs 107 if he's a noble)
 
dojango
Jasmine says nothing but eyes Bully extremely suspiciously.  Later, she gets up on a barrel in front of the crew and tells them, " Now I know this ain't what ya signed up for, cuz ya didn't sign nothin when we rescued ya from uncertain peril, but now is the time ta make the choice that will define yer life.  Ahead of you lies a journey of peril and danger an' enemies that should terrify any honest man.  They terrify me, I ain't afraid to say.  But if we triumph then we'll return with riches an' glory beyond the ken of most men and an accomplishment that each an' everyone can be proud of.  But if ya want to turn away an' live an ordinary life of honest work and toil, there ain't no shame in that and there ain't no hard feelings.  The world rests on the shoulders of those who work hard for meager reward.  Ya don't gotta choose right now, but ya gotta choose before we leave.  And if ya stick with us then ya got to stick with us to the ends o' the world.  For now though, ya got a day's worth o' shore leave ahead of you.  Don't do anything yer gonna regret too much and be sure to use the buddy system.  Even if it means they charge ya extra, I want ya ta stick with yer buddy the whole time.  This town's got a hard edge ta it to those who ain't careful. "

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 42 ]  v. 51 charm test.  FP  (1d100)[ 98 ] 
 


While the crew is making ready to berth the ship, she also take a moment to talk to Bully.  " The choice is yers, too.  Don't tie yerself to the mad whims o' that Quincy doodle feller.  Go take care o' yer birds afore ya go out an' have a good time and make yer choice. "

 
 Spoiler 
Once the crew heads into the city for their shore leave though, she will don one of the orphan's raggedy cloaks and follow Bully around town, checking to see just what he's doing...   (1d100)[ 77 ]  v. 69 shadowing
 
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

 "...And I had expected there to be more loot on the island for distribution. It seems our enemies haven't been storing it - but whisking it away. Thus there will be no boon for the sailors this time. Still, they performed so admirably in the battle on the sea and endured extra suffering that I feel compelled to reward them with extra shares as soon as our exploits net a decent bounty. As in the Foxwoods with the marines, our young company does well to establish a habit of treating out hirelings generously considering what we put them through. Which brings me to another matter - Regíne."

He regards the catburglar with his tired eyes; no energy in him today to keep his social and chivalrous scepticism up. He even smiles, ever so faintly. "Given your participation in our escapade with all its hazards, and the largely uncomplaining nature with which you committed to each fight... and especially your certain skills which we more broadly lack, the Company of the Burning Slug is inclined to offer you, ma'amselle LaCroix, membership and peerage in our company. If you accept, you will become privy to matters heretofore kept secret to you - and bound to fidelity and service with our band not by threat, by volition. Our members come and go when demand rises - with Meloth, there are four friends we have now released in good standing to their callings. But you may be interested to know that, in addition to our seeking to perform noble deeds for the good people of the Old World, we are in pursuit of a hidden treasure whose quantification is likely to amount in the hundreds of thousands, even millions, of gold crowns. If this is not enough incentive... I suppose we will release you in Bordeleaux and you may start your new life there... in a more honest fashion than the last." 



The thiefs skin prickled gently at the mention of her name, her natural shadowy instincts putting her on immediate alert as if Bertelis was preparing a grand and dramatic gesture of sudden but inevitable betrayal.

Instead, it was an offer: stay with them and, hopefully, become filthy rich.

The thief said nothing as she sat there, her hands together, thumbprints pressed against each other as her crafty, cunning mind ran the numbers. She'd almost died twice already with this lot, though she had acquired an 'official' position as a midshipman that she could use if she wanted to depart their company. The legitimacy of such a position was worthwhile as a wonderful cover the next time the Master Thief spotted a particularly tasty score.

But on the other hand...the woman was a bit of a gambler. Not stupidly so, but habitual enough that pursuit of a job  that  big? Mmmmm it was tempting indeed.

The thief, therefore, said nothing as she listened to the Knight speak, though her large, green eyes conveyed a mix of curiosity and resignation. Ultimately, it was impossible to tell what she was thinking. She hadn't gotten as far as she had, in the crowd she mixed with, at her relatively junior age, by being easy to read.

 "Millions of gold crowns you say?"  was her only answer, a knowing smile creeping across her pleasing features.

That was all the answer needed.
MrAbdiel
Bertelis scoops up the perished pigeon.  He and Bully look over its for a minute; the creature having made such an olympian effort to deliver its message despite distance and attack.  Only a gentle infusion of  Ghur , the Amber wind, by her Quinnsberry Lodge aligned handler gave it the instinct and direction to find a moving ship; but only sheer, indeed admirable animal stubbornness gave it the strength to complete the journey.

He confers with Bully - the Halfling knows much more about guns than he, and he will confer again to confirm with Jasmine later - but the conclusion is clear.  It must have been a very long shot indeed for a round to have hit the little pigeon and not shredded it or killed it.  The round would have had to have lost some velocity before impact.  And the bird is a small target - a long shot at a small target.  And, while there were cannons on many of the ships in port, there were very few men with firearms that could make long shots reliably; and very few of  them  would waste the silver on powder to shoot at a pigeon zooming along over seawater where it never should have been.

But the Company  did know  one particular gifted marksman, one who carried guns even here in Bretonnian, one with very good reasons to be angry at the current owners of the  Trundheim  and instinctively seek to shoot down messenger pigeons headed for their vessel, if he could see them and make that judgement.  Perhaps he had some way to detect the magical guidance of the bird, and that clued him in; perhaps he just shot at lone birds to keep his skills sharp.  The Trundheim's delays dipping back toward Kislev to avoid the storm had been overcome by the fortuitous forward movement of Meloth's tower - but it was not impossible that Longgun could outrun them.  Given that the allies he was working with had pegasi, it had become indeed possible that the rifleman had less than typical ways of getting where he needed to be.

The knight places his thumb lightly over the bullet hole in the slain bird; brushes it lightly, as if it were alive to appreciate the gesture.   "I know the feeling, little fellow." 

He wraps the pigeon in a square of scrap cloth with a small stone sharing its shroud, binds it with twine, and drops it overboard with quiet appreciation.  Perhaps Taal would be a better receiver for such a brave creature; but he died and see, and Manaan makes his claims.

Bertelis reads the message in tiny lettering printed on the little scroll.


 Be ye warned: 1 day after your departure, my witness spotted members of your Company shaking hands with Merchant Carteliers in L'Anguille promising 'appropriate reprisal to Alberic'.  Someone using your likenesses to frame you; escalate war.  Intuited destination likely to be Bordeleaux.  Frame job can't work if your ship does not dock in Bordeleaux.  Recommend docking elsewhere and proceeding overland to investigate.  Check Bordeleaux Powderhouse? Scheduled for restock from the  Brynduraz ; dwarf steamship out of Barak Varr.  Good Luck. - Ernald 

Bertelis pales.  He look from the deck to the sprawling harbour.  There, snugly anchored and in the process of unloading, a fat bellied dwarf ironclad was in process of carefully unloading barrels of powder - fine dwarf power, not cheap Marienburg junk powder opportunistically slipped to the rebel state.  The dwarves had their own domestic crew of stevadores who lived in the city to handle dwarven goods, and a pair of their wagons were already rolling away into the harbor streets, presumably toward the powder house.

He sucked a breath in through his nose.  This was dire.  The bird's injury revealed that Longgun was likely close enough by to be a hazard; but a second threat, perhaps the one responsible for the powder explosion in L'Anguille, was at work here too - and if there's another explosion, aside from the calamity and loss of life and the injury to the Crown's ability to supply ships to oppose the rebellion, it will the the Company of the Burning Slug that was conspiciously present at both attacks!  And people using their likenesses - imposters?  The fact that they had left L'Anguille a day before they supposedly confessed willingness to be part of some conspiracy is the kind of detail that matters less and less the more desperately someone is looking to lay blame.  It's so alarming he almost misses the second message, tucked in the corner of the little scroll of paper:


 See you soon. 

In a warm purple ink, written in flowing script somehow miniturized to be barely visible. The knight tore this corner away - more mockery from the daemoness.  She had been taunting that she would be waiting in the ashes of his father's estate... But one threat at a time.  Or two, at most, if Longgun was involved.

Petrus and his best man remained behind while the rest of the crew went to explore Bordeleaux on their shore leave; but Bertelis hurridly re-assembled the Company proper to convene discretely, and pass this alarming news on.

 
 Spoiler: Bramble Only: 
You wanted dire; that's what I've got for you.  My thought was that the Changeling (or perhaps better, a Changeling wannabe trying to copy him, since Changeling himself is crazy powerful) is trying to aggitate the Bretonnian Civil War and has decided to frame the Company for explosions in both L'Anguille and Bordeleaux causing a cacophany of rumor and an impossible web of facts and lies.  Maybe we can stop THIS explosion from taking place!)
 

 * * * * * 
 "...It may not be our familiar marksman, but I wouldn't bet against it.  But much more pressing is this... supposed plot.  If our doppleganger, or ...gangers, are positioning to instigate an 'appropriate reprisal' for the blast and blame it on the Duke of Bordeleaux - our cities have enjoyed a... rivalry for some time -... Well, we cannot permit it to happen.  If we have an enemy adept at disguise, they may already have been in town performing mischief.  Indeed, this may be the source of the wild overreaction we saw in the escalating bounty on Jasmine.  But we must bend all our cunning towards thwarting this 'reprisal' before it comes to pass." 
wilphe
  Well we can just, leave, but that would look even more suspicious.

Also Dwarven powder handling is going to be a lot better than those idiots in Anguille so doing anything will be a lot harder  
bramblefoot
bruno: captain milton says that the wandering wyrm circus is putting on a show, and they will offer you tickets at a reduced price. other than that, feel free to come up with some hooks. also, whats the play? dock and find out whats going on, or do something else

the rest of you: what is your plan for the day of shore leave? everyone who decides to take shore leave, narrate your shore leave and gimme a toughness roll at flat

meanwhile, on shore:

a tall woman with dreadlocks slits a chickens throat, pouring the blood into a bowl and adding some herbs. she drains the bowl dry, and sighs, power coursing through her limbs  "you ready for the boom sister"  a tall man says, dressed in the outfit of the city guard. the woman nods  "of course i am"  she says, cracking her knuckles. each pop is a gunshot in the small space. the man grins  "lets prepare for their undoing" 

dreadlocks
 

guardboy
 
wilphe
Wighard will remain aboard ship with Siobhan and around a quarter of the crew, and after putting ashore those who are going ashore (and dealing with the various mounts that need to be offloaded and stabled - hopefully Bertelis has somewhere for them to go) will back off from the dock and head towards the floating Temple of Manaan to pay respects and introduce themselves.

Otherwise he will spend the day letter writing, hiring a few of the younger crew going ashore to drop his card at the other local temples and maybe do some work on the new spell Manaan has asked for.
dojango
Jasmine returns to the ship in a bad mood.  Bully had disappeared into a thick crowd and she'd been unable to follow him.  He hadn't taken the gun with him, so she was almost sure he wasn't deserting, but that just made her even more suspicious.  She returned to the ship under the cover of darkness and brooded for a while.  Eventually, in the small hours of the night, she made up her mind.  The pigeons that Bully had been taking care of were on a cage on deck, next to the chickens and goats.  Jasmine slipped up to the cage and, making sure nobody was watching, carefully unlatched the cage and opened the door.  The birds, sensing freedom, woke from their slumber and within a few moments were winging their way home.  She left the cage door open and went back to her bunk.  The next morning, when she awoke, one of the orphans was standing in front of the cage, anxiously.  "Where'd the birds go, mamzel?" the little waif asked Jasmine.  Jasmine just sighed and said, " Bully must'a left the cage door open when he was feedin' them yesterday.  Damned shame... "
farothel
 "Thank you, captain, that's very nice of you and I might take you up on your offer,"  Bruno shouts back,  "But I first need to see to my ship of course." 

When the ship is where the harbour master wants it (docked or anchored in the harbour), Bruno assembles the entire crew on the main deck.
 "We've all been through a lot and seen some things that very few have seen.  I'm sure you will want to go on shore and kick lose and I can't blame you.  However, there are two things I want to say to you before you go.  First, no mention of the island we were on.
 We sailed from Bordelaux to here, were blown of course by a storm and that's it.  You can talk about the situation in Bordelaux all that you want and it certainly isn't a problem to talk about that.  Second, I want second watch to stay onboard for now.  At sundown they are to be replaced by third watch.  Tomorrow it's first and fourth watch who are on guard duty.  People from third watch, that means you need to keep your drinking to a minimum so you're still able to stand guard.  No exceptions.  You can do your heavy drinking tomorrow.  That's all.  No, wait, no fighting.  I don't want to come to the city watch to get some of you out, got it." 

After a chorus of aye, captain, he let the men go except for the ones who were selected to stay onboard.  He went back down to get his heavy armour before he too headed on shore.  The first thing he does is going to the harbour master's office to get an update on the situation in the town and to see if there are any cargoes for their intended destination.  While they had other things to do, it couldn't hurt to get some cargo to cover the costs of running a ship.  He will also inform them of what happened in Bordelaux and ask about any issues in this town and its vicinity, as well as anything they knew about the sea conditions further ahead.

After talking to the harbour master and his assistants, he will do a tour of the town, checking up on his crew to make sure they stay out of trouble.  Just poking his head into various taverns to see if everything is okay.  If he notices a better quality tavern where the ship captains and  merchants gather, he will stop buy to have a drink and maybe something to eat and to gossip with the captains and merchants, trying to pick up hints on things to come and maybe pick up cargo if he hadn't in the harbour master's office, although he will not commit at this moment, wanting to speak with his group.

In the late afternoon he goes to the show of the wandering wyrm circus.  He can do with some entertainment just as the crew, but he prefers a show to the more common sailor entertainments.  After the show he will talk a bit with captain Milton before heading back to the ship at sundown.  That will show his crew that their captain will also be a part of the regular watches.  He will inform Wilghard about any cargoes they might have, as he is functioning as quartermaster and therefore technically in charge of the cargo.

 
 Spoiler: OOC rolls 

to pick up rumours: gossip  (1d100)[ 46 ]  vs 87
to pick up hear about cargoes: gossip  (1d100)[ 76 ]  vs 87
 
bramblefoot
wighard: you find a specialty cargo from a wizened man with a long beard asking for two crates to be delivered upriver along with himself, no questions asked. he will pay 75  ecu , but he needs to make sure that you all understand the crates dont get opened. he seems cagey, and will not say what is in the crates

wizened man image
 

bruno: at the harbormasters office you find the usual cargoes, mostly bulk goods and such headed not where your going. one of the captains, a scarred man with a peg leg will mention several ships have gone missing near a particular spit of land just out of sight from turris vigilans. no sign of them has washed up on land. the show goes smoothly, with no issues. it is fairly R-rated humor, but other than that, no issues

scarred captain
 

regine: just as your about to leave the gambling den, two hooded and masked figures will sit down across from you  "care for a wager?"  one says, shuffling a deck of cards between its gloved fingers. the other one says nothing, and just scans the area. youd notice its just you, and the two masked figures now. even the barkeep has ducked into the back to get something. these cards are exquisite, with gilt edges and embossed with rare materials. you have no doubt that this deck is one of a kind

hooded and masked figures
 

playing card backs
 

jasmine: as you wander back through bordelaux's neighborhoods, something catches your eye. a raven sits on the top of one of the stores, watching you with beady eyes,

bertelis: as you wander the streets, youd spot a small herbalists shop, called mama trepans tinctures. as you enter, youd see a small wizened woman with a single blue eye looking at you. the other is milky white, and she will walk over to you on a heavy oaken cane.  "can i get you anything good sir knight"  she wheezes, puttering around to look at stuff.

mama trepan
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis looks out at the temple of Manaan, as the Trundheim pulls away toward it. The massive galleon-cathedral is moored near the entrance to the harbour as it always is; accessible only to entrants across the waters, and never to Damsels and Grail Knights whose allegiances to the Lady are too firmly entrenched. Bertelis has never been inside - but now, recently initiated as he was, he very much ought to.

But not yet. First came other duties, long suffered to see accomplished; and almost all of them at the Keep. A short discussion with the staff at the keep entrance gets him most of it; recognition of heraldry, a bit of your-cousin-served-with-my-uncle-at-wherever, and Bertelis' legs are standing on the hard stone foundation of the greatest castle of his home duchy, after so long at sea.

As it happens, this is a day he is feeling particularly sanguine; and he alarms the guards by kneeling down and kissing the stones.   "Mwah! Ah, here I am, Bordeleaux; I told you I would come back, and back I have come!" 

He charges some of the castle staff, and one of the attending court knights, Sir Gregoire du Champs, with the care of Lord Dragongorge and his kinsmen.  "These have been through a great deal of suffering - Shallyans skilled in alienism ought to see to them swiftly, and Lord Dragongorge particularly. Do this for me, Gregoire, and I will see the debt repaid at a later time. You have my word." He bids farewell to the tormented L'Anguillans, who would have had their souls and bodies twisted beyond all recognition if not for the Company's intervention.

He leaves Odmar and the horses in the royal stable, and tips the local horsemaster generously to treat them all well.  "These poor beasts have been at sea for many weeks through battle and terror, and Odmar here has been bitten, battered and bowled over keeping them from hurting themselves."  He omits the wizard's tendency to miscast in a way that drives the livestock bonkers belowdeck, too.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
Marking off 2 gold to the horsemaster to ensure Odmar and the horses get looked after for a little while, because I feel bad for everything we have put the poor bastard through.
 


Finally, it is time to part ways with Deanna for now. He holds his stepmother's hand in both of his own; kisses her on the knuckles, and releases her to the hospitality of the castle, where she will be able to have rest, and the comfort befitting her station; and then to wait and wait for news of the rest of the family, who are now in the hands of fate and the Companions. He invokes a favor to another knight of the court, Sir Baldric 'The Tall'.  "Watch over my father's wife, Sir Baldric, and I will repay your favor in time.  You have my word. My Lady Deanna - It is... good to see you safe." 

And safe she was; as much as ever. From the claws of rats, and the blades of cultists, and the rampage of mobs. If only he could promise something for her to return to; if only he could promise the safety of her daughter, Celeste.

One thing at a time.

When he tries to speak with the Knight-Castellen, but finds himself blocked - there are war councils going on, and the movements of men by order of the king to shore up one part or another of the kingdom while keeping wary eyes on the rebellion in the east. He is invited to try again tomorrow morning - which he will have to do.

It's trudging back through the streets as the sun goes down that he stops in at Mama Trepan's. Maxime is thoughtful enough to remind him that there are still some aboard the ship with lingering illness.

 "I have men recovering from the late symptoms of scurvy - I wonder if there is a medicine on hand for that, to add to the cabinet of our ship's doctor whose supplies have been gutted by the outbreak." 
dojango
It's no surprise that birds have been on Jasmine's mind lately.  The pigeon messenger shot down bearing a message, the 'escape' of the ones held in cages on the boat... so when a cheeky raven seems to be watching her, her paranoia comes back in full force.  Now, she had left the musket back on the boat to give Bully the opportunity she'd promised him, but she did have her pistols with her.  But she was in a crowded neighborhood.  So she stared directly at the raven, pointed at her eyes, pointed at the raven, and back and forth twice more.  When she was sure the raven had it's eyes cocked towards her, she showed it her pistol and made to aim at the thing, before holstering the pistol and moving back through the crowd.  Too many eyes watching in the neighborhood, and not all of them humanoid.  She hurried back to the boat and asked the sailor on duty if Bully had returned.  He had not.  The sailor gave a cheerful salute and headed into the city; it was now his turn for the delights of shore-leave.  Jasmine recovered the musket and sat at the stern of the ship, watching to see if any familiar-looking ravens approached the ship...

 
 Spoiler 
Perception, I guess.  Going to shoot the raven if it comes over.   (1d100)[ 38 ]  v. 66
 
wilphe
Wighard looks over the prospective passenger,   I won't be on board so I will ask those who will be if they are willing to accommodate your requirements   , also giving him a once over.

He speaks to Petrus and Siobhan,   We are going to be proceeding on land. So you will be left to your own devices for at least a month or two. Siobhan it is time you had some time to yourself and without a wizard  Trundheim  is a sitting duck for anything more modern.

It is now 32 Sommertide, Sonnstill is in two days. Be back here for Pieweek, we will either be here or send further instructions.

Your call if you want to do this trip, but it'll put some coin in your purses and you are all disciplined enough to know if the man says do not open the crates you do not open the crates.

Note however he said nothing about smelling them or using witchsight on them.

It is at your discretion to accept the cargo.  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 (1d100)[ 95 ]  Perception 101/111 Visual

 (1d100)[ 89 ]  Magical Sense 87

On Old Guy
 
wilphe
Kwolf settles on the rail by Jasmine

  And the good south wind still blew behind,
But no sweet bird did follow,
Nor any day for food or play
Came to the mariner's hollo!

And I had done a hellish thing,
And it would work 'em woe:
For all averred, I had killed the bird
That made the breeze to blow.
Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay,
That made the breeze to blow!  
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 


Magical elfslayers. Norscan pirates. Fighting for life on the deck of a ship. Learning the ropes of a midshipman. Visiting a brutally cold island in Norsca where she was set upon by headless monsters, pegasi and narrowly avoided being blown up. Giant skeleton men that put their hearts into boxes. Gaseous carpet bombing and disease.

It was all a bit much for Regine. The girl was simple enough She'd been raised on the streets and received her degree from the School of Hard Knocks. She'd had the stuffing knocked out of her a few times in her life, and she had moved through the murky underworld of intrigue within a notorious chaotic port-city. As such, she had an antennae for danger, and so when two of the most sinister looking, hooded figures offered her a 'wager', Regine offered a polite smile in return.

The Master Thief was dressed quite nicely for the occasion. She wore her Good quality clothing that included a vest and pants, with a nice, large brim hat with black and yellow feathers. She had a pretty face underneath that extended crown, and when she turned the charisma on and wore her lovely clothes, there were few social events that were closed off to her. As such, she had gone onto shore and headed straight to what she enjoyed: an upscale gambling den.

The music! The dancing! The partying and free flowing champagne and cognac. Regine soaked in the atmosphere as she sat at her table, rump parked on a chair and facing half away from her cards so that she could take in the view and chit chat with normal people, not people who took her on insane adventures that almost got her heart ripped out.

So when a pair of shifty, hooded twins approached the thief in her final moments within the bar, Regine leaned back with an elevated left eyebrow. If one were to look up skeptical in the dictionary, her face would be next to it.

 "A wager on what, I wonder?" 
farothel
When back on the ship, Bruno took off the plate armour and went to the quarterdeck, where he gazed out at the now dark city.  Standing against the railing, he looked around to the other ships and then up to the sky.  With both moons at around half, there was quite a bit of light so it was easier to look around.  He noticed a rowboat in the harbour, but as long as the boat didn't come close to his ship, there was nothing to be worried about.  And he vaguely remembered that some fish were easier to catch at night, so some fishermen were out during those periods.  Keeping an eye on things with those of the crew on guard, Bruno kept looking around, enjoying the quiet and peace they had for this moment, as he was sure it wouldn't last.
dojango
Jasmine scowls at Wighard's familiar and says, " That ain't no albatross so back off chump. You don't want me to shoot yer friend? Tell her ta take a hike and stay away from the ship  "
bramblefoot
regine: the twin not shuffling pulls three clear glass vials out of her sling bag.  "one is concentrated life essence, one pure poison, and one is unknown to even i"  she shakes her head, as if listening to something only she can hear.  "will you take the risk gambler?"  she says, swirling the vials around on the table and placing them in the center of the table.  "pick one, and drink"  she says, watching you impassively. you would notice the barkeep has returned, and moves by you to shut and bar the doors

wighard: the man seems to be a relatively regular guy for all you know, just a little cagey. no aura that you can tell, and very good at business. he will take his leave, whistling a jaunty marching tune as he moves off

siobhan and petrus will nod  "of course master"  siobhan says, bobbing her head like an excited bird. petrus mouths  ill keep an eye on her 

berty: mama trepan nods.  "fresh fruit cures scurvy"  she says.  "as of yet, there is no medicine i can prescribe, but i might suggest the fresh fruit stand over in the marketplace?"  she'll mix a large bubbling cauldron in the back and turn back to you.  "a storm is coming, and i can feel it in my bones"  she mutters to herself.

jasmine: the raven will taunt you, staying just out of range as it flits back and forth in various places on the various ships at port. it blows a raspberry at you before flying away

bruno: youd spot a small periscope pop up, scan the area, and then disappear back under the waves
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

The thief reclined back in her seat, one knee folded over the other, a smile across her face as she considered the 'deal' before her. Three vials. One would kill her. One had 'life essence', and the other...who knew what!

 "Take a one in three chance to die...one in three for something random and another in three to imbibe...life essence?..."  she trailed off.

 "Sounds like I got 2 in 3 odds to be pushing up daisies for very little gain, mon ami, got a better sales pitch?"  she asked, pivoting her right hand in a circular 'continue...' gesture.
wilphe
 That ain't no albatross so back off chump. You don't want me to shoot yer friend? Tell her ta take a hike and stay away from the ship  
  Sorry, just because all halflings know their ancestry and any two that meet can tell how distant cousins they are doesn't mean that's true of everyone else.

I have no idea who that is or who they work for, if any, I don't even know all my colleagues.

But if you are going to object violently to people taking an interest in you then maybe the adventuring life is not for you, especially the high profile one. Perhaps go back to your hole and fight Skaven if you want to be shunned and unrecognised.

And after what you did in Couronne any spell-caster is going to want to keep an eye on you, out of self-preservation if not an urge to do unto you first. 
 
MrAbdiel
Bertelis nods at the fruit comment - Wighard had said so, but he'd hoped to discover some additional, more miraculous cure.  "Alas. Thank you, madame. Rhya bless your home, and Lady keep it." 

In his sanguine state of mind, he puts a stack of five silver pieces in her palm for just that small moment of advice - unbidden, foolish generosity that profits, at least, someone. Then he begins over toward the market, ready to buy some fruit.

It's only when Maxime reminds him of the more pressing matter - the explosion to come, the framing, the fate of the city - that he gets back on track.

 "Right.  Of course, yes.  Today, the mission.  Later... the fruit. We must proceed with the fear that there may have been some in this town operating with the faces of the Company already - but we have no where to start but the dwarven stevedores, and the powderhouse. Do you speak Khazalid...?  No, no.  I suppose not.  Worth the ask." 

He heads back toward the ship, to start gathering the party up and prepare to suss out the dwarven steamship, and the powderhouse.

 
 Spoiler: OOC: 
We must gather our party before venturing forth.
 
wilphe
Wighard is ready to con the  Trundheim  wherever Abdiel wants to go
farothel
Bruno looked better and then went around the ship to the various guards to see if they had seen something.  Unfortunately nobody had, but as Bruno wasn't sure what it was or if it was threatening, at least as far as he knew, so he told the guards to keep a very good eye out for any strange stuff and then keeps a guard.
bramblefoot
regine: the twin shuffling the cards offers  "perhaps a game of poker instead? The winner gets a piece of information that could prove useful, or a vial"  she keeps shuffling, while the barkeep brings over three drinks  "if you lose, you owe us one, and we will collect eventually" 

bertelis: everyone but regine is on ship. you could look for her, but that would take time out of warning the powderhouse and the brynduraz

everybody else: narrate something interesting as you make your way to wherever your going
dojango
Jasmine rolls her eyes at the bird and says, " I ain't in the mood for arguin' with a bird.  If yer boss wants me to explain just how badly he screwed up back in Montfort to him I'll just tell him in person.  Again. "

With that she starts ignoring the birds (both the spying one and the nagging one) and starts anxiously surveying the docklands around the ship as the crew is off in the city enjoying themselves.  She spots a commotion along one of the warehouses nearby and idly stares at it, trying to suss out what is causing it.  Suddenly, it comes to her.  It's one of the local longshoremen guilds, and they're upset.  The angry voices drift across the water.  Given the way that the speaker, an agitator of some sort, is gesturing at the dwarf ship, they're angry that the dwarves are using non-guildsmen to unload the ship.  And why wouldn't they be?  That's money out of their pockets, food off of their table.  The dwarves are no doubt insisting on it in the name of 'safety' and 'hazardous materials handling certification' The agitator is trying to convince them to do... something... she's not sure, maybe blockade the docks or start beating up random dwarves but whatever it is, it can't be good, and is probably going to be used as cover to for the saboteurs.  Thinking quickly... she won't be able to speak out against them, that's an easy way to get a scab's necktie, but maybe...

She leaves the ship dressed in a raggedy cloak and heads over to the outskirts of the crowd.  While the agitator is fulminating against those "Dwarves coming here and takin' our jobs!" she starts whispering, and then shouting towards the men in the crowd.  " Circus is in town, one night only!  Go see the world's strongest woman wrestle a bear!  Thrill at the freaks an' geeks!  Watch the death defyin' trapeze girls and their dazzlin' show!  Watch Mademoiselle Theodora perform her amazin' snake dance! "  At the last, she pitches her voice low and adds, " She ain't wearin' nothin' but the snake! "  She continues to tout for the circus for a few minutes, but unfortunately all she gets are some angry shouts back and a few shoves.  She's no public speaker or tout, so she slinks away to watch the agitator rile up the crowd even more.  She gets a good look at him, at least, whether he's an active participant or a useful idiot of their enemies remains to be seen but at least she'll recognize him again if she sees him.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d100)[ 72 ]  v. 51 charm to try and convince some of the angry mob to dissipate
 
wilphe
Kwolf gives a loud and low chuckle, that would seemingly come from a  much   larger being and seems almost entirely without mirth

  He doesn't know that you whipped up an angry mob against someone for no better reason than refusing to deal with you.

Neither does he know you told Bertelis that he didn't act out of cowardice

I'm not going to tell him, I will leave that for you to do, and apologise, if you have it in you  

His last sentence is as dry and quiet as a tomb

  Unless of course I decide that you are too stupid and dangerous for him and Siobhan to be safe around you.  
BananaPhone
   Regine Lacroix 

Regine reclined back in her chair, her bright eyes peering out from a skeptical expression as she rose a single, auburn eyebrow.

 "You try to poison me, and now you want a card game with the loss being a favour owed?"  she asked, more amused than insulted as her smirk grew.

 "Thank you for your attention, buuuut I wonder to myself why I should take any risk?"  

Standing up from the table and handing a few silver over to the barkeep with an apreciative nod, she turned back again to the twins.

 "Whoever you two are, I wish you fair journeys. Au revoir, mon ami!" 

Offering a foot-forward bow, twirling her hand as if she were using a hat to accentuate the gesture, Regine straightened her appearance and departed the establishment. Walking back to the boat, the taste of cognac on her tongue and a new coinpurse fat with gold, the thief smiled to herself as she inhaled deeply the night air. Sometimes things just went right!

OOC:
Regine is heading back to the group's HQ, the scent of cognac and tobacco upon her.
farothel
Bruno will stay on the ship for now, letting the others, mostly Regine and Bertelis, who knew Bretonnian cities better than he did, do the land stuff.  He will keep the watch going, while also keeping a watch for those strange periscope he had seen.

When he found a moment, he would tell Wighard and anybody present at that moment about it, hoping they would know what it could be.
wilphe
 
 Spoiler: Periscope 
Is Bruno telling the rest of us that he saw it?
 
wilphe
Wighard tries not to look perturbed, and only partially succeeds.

  A submersible? I guess we are not the most exotic craft in port after all.  

Although this might be his pride in  Trundheim  being affronted

  I don't know who uses those other than the Dwarves? So hopefully it is escort to  Brynduraz .

Of course if one had fallen into the wrong hands it would be a perfect for a false flag attack - but I thought we are the ones supposed to be blamed for whatever happens so maybe I am over-thinking  