Session 0: Kindred Spirits Report

General Summary

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A Chance Meeting

Date : 28th Day of Nachexen, 2507 IC Aubentag (Levyday)
Time: Late Evening after dusk
Weather: Dark Clear Night, Light North-Easterly Breeze

'The Crooked Hammer' is a slightly seedy, rough-looking tavern in the Teubrucke District of Ubersreik. It's a dark dimly lit place even during daylight and at night the taproom is only lit by a few cheap rushlights and the flames from the hearth behind the bar. Gunnar is sat at a corner table with his back to the wall watching the events across the bar when a Sali walks in.
Sali orders two double shots and two tankards of ale and downs the two shots immediately before Gunnar gets her attention and she decides to join him sitting facing him across the table with her back to the room.
They exchange greetings of a sort and then Gunnar asks "So then..... watcha 'ere fer?"r "I don't know," she answered with ironic confidence. She put away her dagger as she continued, "Not tired, can't sing, only person willing to hire us is... rather dubious..."
She drank from a tankard again, not quite ready to go on with her answer.
Gunnar is looking over the girl's shoulder into the darkness beyond the bar. The barman is clearly aware of someone over there in the shadows he takes them three ales. "Their waiting taad." whispered Roranfina careful not to let the girl across the table hear her "They're scared of you. Just like the others were. Waiting till you went away before they came for us." Gunnar heard the girl's voice falters as she relives the terror. The shame of it twisting in Gunnars guts.
Gunnar peers into the gloom across the bar “Them anything to do with you, girl?” He indicates the shadows. “I don’t think dem boy’s is fer’n ya singing’ an dancin’!”
"They might be, I'm always hiring," Sali responds, "but, seeing as no one here's wants what I have to offer yet, not sure where all their worries coming from," she drank from her other tankard, satisfied in her safety the more buzzed she gets. Her empty tankard is followed by a whistle to get the keepers attention for more drink.
[OOC: Apparently the Ale in The Crooked Hammer' is pretty weak and watery.so I shall treat it as Mild on the AU table raising Sali's AU Total to 4.5. With a T=4 that is enough to make her slightly tipsy even with her resilience to the effects of alcohol and she begins to suffer from the effects.]
Sali whistle's again to get the tavern-keepers attention.
[OOC: Gunnar Secret Observation Test 34% no deductions due to Night Vision.]
Gunnar manages to avoid looking towards the bar and the light of the hearth which would interfere with his night vision. Rory was right there are three of them sitting at a table on the far side of the taproom hugging their new ales and waiting to see what happens. Gunnar wonders how much they can see of events at his table.

The tavern keeper looks up. "Yes! Captain what'll it be?" he asks. Gunnar answers “I’ll git these Gert, same again for me an tha’ lass. Oh an Gert, you got an idea ‘bout yon’ scallywags?” Gert reaches under the bar for the glasses and tankards and glances over to the left where your scallywags are sitting.
He delivers the drinks. "Two double shots an' two ales fer the lady." he says as he places the drinks on the table in front of Sali. "An another ale fer you. Master Dwarf." he adds passing the stein across to Gunnar and collecting the empties.
[OOC: Sali now has three tankards of ale and two double shots sitting on the table in front of her.]
As Gert leans over to collect Gunnar's empty tankard he adds quietly "Won't worry yerself 'bout them three Master Dwarf they works fer Silvi, an' they ain't gonna bother the likes 'o you unless they 'as to. If yer get me drift.'
“Nay bother Gert,” He flips the barman some coin “Pity tis’ tho’ when young louts be shy an’ dainty tho!’”
Turning to his new companion “So then lass why don’ we git this party started?” With that hi picks up a tankard and pours it messily down his gullet before slapping his belly, burping deeply and slapping the tankard down with a snort of laughter.
Gert takes the coins and wanders back to the bar with the empties.
Gunnar stares across the table “So then what are you doing’ ‘ere? I’m looking’ fo’ a Troll or something big that’s my story!” He then takes a long drawn out drink waiting for her to reply...
Sali had drank through most of that conversation, ready to talk again after she heard him mention a troll. "Well, that sounds interesting?" She was humouring him a bit, the keeper having already mentioned the supposed troll, "have you seen it already? Has it been after you for a while already? Not something I hear about everyday."
Gunnar squints at her from under his bushy eyebrows wondering if she was mocking him. “I’s always looking fer a Troll that’s kinda what I do......” Then realisation came “Oh, yon’ Gert musta’ told ya I is on tha’ hunt fer’ one tha’ now. Well as te’ tha’? Dunno I got an itch ‘tween me ‘blades there be one ‘ere ‘bouts. ‘Till I fin’dit I’ll just ha’ make do wit whoopin’ young bravos fer fun like!”
"I might keep that in mind next time I need any more soldiers," she said, "tired of training people that think owning a dagger is enough to magically turn them into warriors that don't run away from a pups howl."
Sali took on her last tankard, still wondering if she should get another. She already lost track of her habit, not realizing exactly how much she's had until just now. "Men can get real irritating, that's why I'm usually at these places alone," she says, finally answering the question, "Men as is company men, not men as in your kind,"
"Men?" Gunnar's eyes flick up from his tankard at this impertinence, "My kind's no more bloody man than yerself me lass. Though I share yer views regardin their charms" he adds by way of conciliation, taking another swig of ale.
[OOC: This is a GM Post made under the DAYAT rule to keep the thread active.] Salundra empties the last glass on the table and ponders Gunnars comment. Her mind is already befuddled by the alcohol she has consumed. "Didn't mean that..." she finally observed "...but you're right none the less. Don't know about dwarf's but men are bloody annoying."
Salundra scans the empty glasses on the table a look of disappointment crosses her face as she realises they are all empty.
"That's it then." she announces firmly to herself "Time to go." Sali Struggles to her feet and turns bleary-eyed towards the door carefully patting herself down to make sure she has all her weapons and equipment and checking the table once more just to make sure.
Dice roll: Resist Drink Successful (SL2)
"Steady lass!" Gunnar growls as the tall girl staggers uncertainly to her feet. For a second the dim firelight frames her face, and Gunnar sees for the first time just how young she is under all her scars and bluster. His people would consider her an infant, but the Umgi have their strange ways. Do they not know the harm a girl can come to in this world?
"No hour for walking t'streets alone" he jerks to his feet, knocking over his stool. "'Specially not wi' so many..." he gestures at the bar. "I'll come with yer, drank enough o' this piss anyhow", the dwarf holds out a tattooed hand, swaying slightly as he tries to focus, "Gunnar Hrolfsson's me name"
Sali shakes her head "I appreciate the chivalry, but I can't be seen getting escorted and be taken seriously," she says, hiding her offence rather poorly.

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A Pair Of Sore Heads

Date: 28th Day of Nachexen, 2507 IC Aubentag (Levyday)
Time: Early Night
Weather: Dark Clear Night, The wind has dropped and the sky is clear. Mannslieb is bright in the night sky and Morrslieb is not visible at all.

Salundra dismissed the dwarf and headed carefully for the tavern door determined to maintain her dignity as she made her heroic exit. The door handle required some focused effort but the door eventually opened and head held high Salundra stepped into the night.
The chill night air hit her like a club to the head and for a moment she had to steady herself and collect her wits but eventually, her brain stopped spinning and she turned carefully downhill following the path towards the river and her waiting barge. She could see the glint of the moonlight on the water ahead and the mooring lights of the barge only about a hundred paces away. She just needed to take it steady, watch where she placed her feet and it would be fine.
There was a sigh from the darkness to Gunnar's right "Foolish child.". So she was there after all. It was not often his wife made her presence known. "You are like kindred spirits, both of you set on the path to self-destruction."
The three men on the far side of the bar quaffed the last of their ale and headed for the door. Gunnar could see them better now as they passed into the light from the hearth. They looked lean and hungry like half-starved wolves. They nodded their farewells to Gert "Tell Silvi we won't be long." one of them said "'Fingers-crossed 'o course." he added raising his crossed fingers towards the barman and with that, they were gone into the night.
Gunnar blinks, nonplussed by the woman's rapid exit, but the three figures who slip out of the door after her do not escape his notice. For a moment he pauses, scratching his beard. "Foolish child" he repeats, to no one. He checks the axe is secure in his belt as he pushes the heavy door aside and steps into the moonlight.
The girl is nowhere in sight but the three coves can be seen hurrying downhill towards the river.
The ale tells Gunnar to shout out a challenge to the three men, but the ale is not the only voice in his head. Instead, he follows them at a walk, letting the cool air take the edge of the drink, and keeping his eyes open for trouble.
The three men are striding rapidly downhill and seem intent on something ahead of them not noticing Gunnar struggling to keep pace. Unfortunately, dwarven legs were not built for speed and the men gradually pull away from Gunnar.
Farther down the hill Sali is also making slow but careful progress towards the river and her waiting barge. Following her own advice, she is taking it steady and making sure of her footing on the slope, careful not to let her legs get ahead of her or her feet to slip away and leave her sprawled in the road. (M-1 due to intoxication)
This requires considerable concentration and she doesn't hear the rapid approach of footsteps behind her.
At the last moment, Sali hears the sound of multiple footsteps coming up rapidly behind her and manages to look over her shoulder just in time to see three men descending on her from the darkness with blackjacks raised over their shoulders ready to strike.

The man in the centre of the three utters a curse when he sees that the girl has noticed them but rushes at her anyway aiming his blow at her head which he assumes to be her weakest point.
WS50+10(Charging)-10(Aimed Blow)= 50 Success (SL3)
Salundra instinctively raises her right arm to block the incoming blow and manages to partially block Aldo's arm. Unfortunately, the blackjack consists of a heavily weighted rope's end and Sali's action only slightly reduces its impact on her head.
Aldo SL3 v Sali SL1 = Aldo Hits with SL2
Damage Roll 1d6 = 4 + Aldo's Strength +3 + SL Bonus +2 = +9
What Aldo hadn't anticipated when choosing to aim at Sali's head was that her rather large flamboyant hat is not just a fashion statement but actually hides a padded leather skull cap.
Damage +9 - AP2 = +7
Note: I've decided to double the AP value of armour simply to make it more valuable.
Toughness Test (7/11 Damage) 1d100<43-10 (intoxication) = 98 -6SL
Nevertheless, the ball lands on Sali's head with a resounding thud and her world is suddenly full of stars and then total darkness.
Gunnar rushing down the hill as fast as his short legs can manage see's the blow struck and Sali collapse in an apparently lifeless heap in the street. A trio of footpads is hardly a river troll, and there are no sagas sung of the Thiefslayer. But Gunnar knows what he must do all the same. He draws his axe and waves it above his head, chest out and trying to appear as large as he can.
"Blaggards!" he roars "By Grimnir leave off the lassie and try me, if yer dare!"
The roar of the dwarf caught the three footpads by surprise and cut short their celebration of Aldo's lucky strike. There was a brief second of indecision and then Aldo made the call 'Scarper!' and it was every man for himself.
Aldo didn't wait for the others but shot off at a sprint down the hill towards the river. The other two whether slower witted or just more greedy dithered too long over the body. Otto had seen the gem on Sali's hat and was trying to prise it loose whilst Goldberg had his hand on her coin purse and was trying to tug it free one-handed.
Aldo = 1d100<30 = 17 Success (SL2) This guy is so lucky.
Otto = 1d100<30 = 46 Failed (SL-1)
Goldberg = 1d100<30 = 77 Failed (SL-4)

Gunnar ploughed into the two remaining footpads, Goldberg still trying to pull Sali's purse from her belt tripped over her body whilst trying to get to his feet and sprawled face down in the road, whilst Otto had decided to give up on the gem and was struggling to pull Sali's whole hat off her head only to find that it was secured by some sort of chin strap.
Gunnar charges at the thief who has kept his feet, bellowing a warcry in Khazalid. He swings his axe aiming for the man's head.
OOC: Gunnar doesn't really want to kill these men unless he has to, can he try to strike with the blunt of the axe?
Seeing Gunnar bearing down on him with his axe raised Otto finally gives up on his efforts to remove Sali's hat and, in a move that was more luck than judgment, managed to avoid the swing of Gunnar's axe and as the dwarf ploughed past he landed his blackjack squarely on the back of the dwarf's neck.

Gunnar: SL1 Otto: SL2 = Otto wins with SL1
Damage: S3 + 1(SL1)-2(Improvised Weapon)+ 3(1d6) = 5 Damage
Please reduce the Remaining Wounds on Gunnars Head from 13 to 8

Otto having bought himself a few seconds as Gunnar shakes off the blow doesn't hang about for the dwarf to get his revenge but begins running uphill as fast as his legs will carry him.
Meanwhile, the larger footpad Goldberg has struggled to his feet and is desperately trying to put as much distance as possible between himself and the dwarf. Horrified that he's now the only one left to face him.

Blinking away stars and furiously shaking his bruised head, Gunnar rounds on the remaining foe, "Come and 'ave a go, yer snivellin', fat bastard!" he bellows glaring at Goldberg and launching into a string of Dwarvish obscenities and smacking one tattooed fist against his chest.
OOC: I can roll for Intimidate or is goon #3 already running for it?
Goldberg backs away rapidly almost tripping over his own feet again in his haste to put some distance between himself and Gunnar "I dint do nuffin." he protests hands outstretched and pleading even though one still holds a blackjack as proof of the lie.
"Never 'it her, never nicked nuffin. honest." and when Gunnar merely shouts at him he takes the opportunity to turn and run as fast as his fat legs will carry him down the road towards the river. Gunnar is soon left alone over the body of the prone girl in the darkened street.
Stowing his axe as the battle fever recedes, Gunnar stoops over the stricken human girl. He lowers an ear to her mouth, and satisfied she is still breathing he tries gingerly to shake her into consciousness. Humans have such thin skulls, he thinks, a dwarf would have shrugged off such a blow, trying to ignore the pounding in his own head from the thief's blackjack.
Though still breathing Salundra is out cold and babbling about someone called Nalindra and needing to get home. An inspection of her head wound reveals that the skin is not broken and she is not losing any blood. Apparently, her hat provided enough protection to prevent serious injury and only time will tell if there is any internal damage.
"Hmph, tougher'n she looks" mutters Gunnar under his breath. "Home lass?" he speaks loud and slow, "Where's yer home? H-O-M-E?"
When the girl makes no reply Gunnar is at a loss; it's cold, his head hurts, and for a second he feels the temptation to leave her and go in search of more ale. Instead he hoists the unconscious woman on to one broad shoulder and looks around for inspiration. The lights of a moored barge catch his eye, where the cobbled street ends at the river's edge.
Grunting and muttering at the extra weight, Gunnar makes his way carefully downhill down the hill with Salundra draped decorously over his shoulder.
As he approaches the barge with its mooring lamps lit a boatman sees him approach and hails him from the deck. "What happened?" he called. "We'd just about given up and were ready to leave. Weren't expecting two of you though."

"Run into a couple o' cutpurses, she's had a knock on't head" Gunnar shouts over the gunwhale of the barge. "Probably had a few too many ales an' all truth be told." he adds by way of explanation.
"Best find somewhere to lay 'er down."
he adds viewing the wooden barge dubiously "And who might you be anyhow, not another robber are yer?" he asks squinting suspiciously at the boatman in the light cast by the guttering lamps. Having seen the misfortune this girl has gotten into already tonight, Gunnar is not keen to hand her over to a stranger and will try to stick by her side at least until she's come to her senses.
"Schiffer's me name, an this here is me boat." the man replies. "The lady there hired me to take her back to Altdorf. Said she'd be back before we finished loading but she nearly never made it."
A woman appears on deck and seeing the dwarf on the quay with the comatose girl over his shoulder quickly ushers him aboard. "Oh! the poor lamb, you'd better get her below to the cabin. I'll boil some water."

Nodding to the boatman Gunnar steps on to the deck of the barge and follows the woman down into the cabin, doing his best to avoid knocking Salundra's already bruised head on the narrow staircase.
"My name's Eloise by the way. What's your's?" says the woman as she reaches for a kettle hanging from the bulkhead and fills it with water from a small pump before putting it on the samovar style stove in the centre of the cabin.
"Gunnar", he pauses for a second and holds out a hand,"just Gunnar. Yer a healer then?" Gunnar asks, eyeing the steaming kettle dubiously. "It were a couple o' scallywags, hit 'er on't head wi' summat", he adds by way of explanation, unconsciously rubbing the back of his own skull, "she probly just needs a lay down". The uncertainty in his voice betrays his concern.
Eloise looks puzzled for a second then see's Gunnar glance at the kettle and laughs "Shallya bless you no. I'm no healer it's a force of habit. Whenever anyone got hurt the first thing mother used to do is boil some water. She reckoned a clean wound healed faster than a dirty one."
She notices Gunnar rubbing his neck"Were you hurt too?" Gunnar hears the sound of scraping wood from the deck above and the boat begins to rock gently.
"It's nowt" replies Gunnar curtly, annoyed at looking weak in front of this umgi woman, then his expression softens. "Aye well, I reckon my old mam would've agreed wi' yourn. To tell truth I'm no healer mi'sen, though I can have a look at 'er if yer'll bring over that hot water and a bit o' rag"
Gunnar gently loosens the chin strap and removes the girl's ridiculous headwear and once the water is boiled he soaks the piece of cloth and gingerly swabs at the swelling beneath Salundra's dark hair. Although dimly aware of the barge's motion, and the boatman's mention of Altdorf, Gunnar is unfazed. A slayer's part is to be blown where the winds of his fate take him, and he will not look back on his flea ridden lodgings in Ubersreik with much fondness.
Gunnar cleans the area around the bruise as gently as he can but his earlier impression proved correct and the skin was not broken so the only concern is that her skull may be fractured or the swelling may prove dangerous. The girl seems to make no sign of coming round and continues to mumble nonsense and random words. The name Nalindra seems to come up frequently, but Gunnar has no idea who that might be.
Eloise looks concerned "Well, you've done all you can for her, what about your neck do you want me to bathe that for you or can you reach it yourself?" "We should be passing Buchedorf sometime around dawn. If she's no better I could ask Roger to dock and we can ask the Shallyan's at the Rotstier Hospice to take a look at her."
"No bother, do it mi'sen", Gunnar replies, soaking the rag in the kettle again and dabbing at the nape of his neck. The hot water is soothing, and as he relaxes Gunnar realises how tired he is "There a spot to get me head down fer a bit?" he asks "an we'll see how the lass is on the morrow."
Holding the hot cloth to the nape of his neck has an instantly soothing effect on Gunnars bruise.
[OOC: You may heal 5 Wound points immediately increasing the wound pool on your head back to 13]
Eloise quickly makes him up a bunk to sleep on and Gunnar is soon snoring loudly as the boat continues down river towards Buchedorf

The Sisters of Rotstier Abbey

Date: 29th Day of Nachexen, 2507 IC Marktag (Market Day)
Time: Dawn
Weather: A Bright Spring Morning

Gunnar is awaked by the noise of people talking on deck and feeling rested gets off his bunk to investigate. He discovers the Schiffer's boat is now moored against the jetty of a small fishing village. It's just after dawn and the village is making the most of bright weather. Above the village, there is what looks like a monastery or hospice.
Eloise see's you appear on deck. "Oh! Good your awake." she greets you "Did you sleep well?"
Blinking in the morning sun, Gunnar stretches and yawns, noting with relief his headache has subsided. "Aye, well enough, morning to yer". Belatedly the night's events and the reason he finds himself aboard this barge come back to him. "How's the lass?" he adds with concern.
"She had a disturbed night I'm afraid. Do you know who this Nalindra is she keeps mentioning?"
"Fraid not, a sister mayhap? T'be honest we'd not long met, don't know much more than 'er name"
Eloise shrugs "Anyway, I've sent Roger to fetch one of the sisters from the hospice. I hope that's alright with you. Probably easier than trying to move her."
Gunnar makes to head for the cabin where Salundra is still unconscious, then stops. "And thank yer for putting me up for the night, what are yer owed?" he looks down "Not a rich dwarf as yer can tell, but ye'll be paid"
Eloise shrugs again "The young lady paid for the round trip and so as long as you are with her there will be no additional charge. Are you hungry there's some oatmeal in the stove?"
Gunnar's rumbling stomach gives him away "Aye lass, famished."
Once he's shovelled down a bowl of hot oatmeal, Gunnar turns to the woman. "Anyroad, t'lass say what she were doing in Ubersreik when she hired yer? he asks.
"A Little lady like 'er shouldn't be getting in scraps outside boozers"
"Some sort of meeting up at the castle I think, she seemed pretty nervous about it. She came back before we were ready to sail and said she was going to get a drink while she waited. Seemed a bit agitated."
Eloise looks up as a small party of people approach the boat. "Oh! Good here's Roger with the Sisters from the hospice." Gunnar glances up and see's Roger the boatman leading a small group of three women in white robes towards the boat.

Roger introduces Gunnar to the sisters. "This is Sister Roberta and her two initiates Riana and Henrietta," he says pointing to each in turn. "The young woman is in the cabin I'll lead the way." then he leads the three sisters down to the cabin where the girl is still laying unconscious.
Sister Roberta kneels beside Sali's body and lays her hands upon her forehead tenderly. "You say she was hit on the head last night?" She asks looking up.
"Aye right" replies Gunnar, "she's bin out cold and gibbering ever since, what d'yer think sister? Can yer help 'er?". The dwarf's forehead is furrowed with concern.
"Wounds to the head are always tricky, but we shall do our best." the sister replies non-committally. Perhaps she understands the dwarven culture better than most, or maybe it's natural for the Sisters of the order not to presume upon the support of their patron deity.
The sister glances up at her two Initiates "Whose turn is it?" she asks and smiles when one of the girls raises her hand and steps forward. "Alright! Rainy. Now don't be nervous. First of all, tell me everything you remember about head wounds,"

"Vount's to der het are alvay's serious." the young initiate begins her Wastelander accent still heavy "Because der het is der vessel vere is fount der mortal spirit ant so der is der danger that der damage may not just physical but spiritual too." she pauses for breath and the Sister urges her to continue. "Der het is also der vindow between der psyke and der mortal vorld vere ve find der physical senses of sight, sount, speech, smell und taste. So damage to der het can also severe der link between der spirit and der vorld creating confusion, disorientation and insanity." She lets out a sigh of relief obviously pleased to have remember what she has been taught.
"Good! Well done. Now take a look at our patient and tell me what you can see." instructs Sister Roberta.
The girl steps forward and inspects the head of the unconscious noblewoman carefully. "Der is no open vound ant no loss of blood. But der patient is unconscious ant so dere coult be spiritual damage to her psyche or her senses."
"Good so we must check for spiritual and sensory damage mustn't we." the sister looks up. "Has she opened her eyes or said anything since the incident?"
"Have you tried speaking to her and has she given any indication that she can hear you?"
"You are her guardian I take it." the sister says looking at Gunnar.
"Well, no, but... aye... well 's a long story" Gunnar trips over his words. "Anyroad, no she's not opened 'er eyes an' she's said nowt that makes sense to me, summat about a girl, Nalundra or summat" he adds
"Ad a look at 'er mi'sen, but me lines more cracking 'eads than patching 'em up"
Sister Roberta listens intently to Gunnar's faltering explanation "So, she has not lost her ability to speak and she still has a grasp of her memories. But she has not opened her eyes at all since the blow was struck."
The sister turns back to her initiate "It sounds as though her spirit has become confused and has retreated to a safe haven to recover. Do you remember how you were taught to check?"
"Yes! Sister. Through her eyes, because the eyes are the windows to our souls." replies the initiate clearly reciting from the memory of some oft-quoted text.
She leans over Sali and gently raises her eyelid to study her eye. The eye was rolled back in Sali's head so the pupil was hardly visible but even Gunnar could see that it was highly agitated and darting left and right.
The initiate checked Sali's other eye which was the same and then frowned at the Sister.
"Her spirit is highly agitated. She seems to be seeking something."
"Indeed!" acknowledges Sister Roberta "The blow has confused her spirit and it now seeks answers but does not know where to look."
She leans over Sali again and lifts her eyelid once more calling the initiates attention to "See how her eyes are rolled back almost as though she is trying to see inside her own head. She seeks answers from her past. She is questioning her own spirit and by staring into the darkness has lost her way back to the light."
The sister stands upright again and signals to Rainy to step forward. "Let's see if you can call upon the Goddess to lead her troubled spirit back into the light."
The initiate places her hands gently on the girl's forehead and closes her eyes. "Blesset Lady hear my prayer and grant me your support to leat the spirit of this poor soul back into the light."
There was a long silence as nobody in the cabin seemed willing to breathe as they waited for something to happen. Gunnar eyes darted around the cabin expecting to see some divine apparition appear. Everyone else seemed to be standing very still with their hands clasped on their chests.
There was a smell in the air but Gunnar couldn't place it some, sort of herb perhaps, and he noticed that there was a faint light clasped under the initiate's hands as though she was holding a small candle to the unconscious girl's forehead and then nothing.

The Sister leant forward and gently lifted the girl's eyelid again. "Her spirit is calm now and she can see the path."
She looks up at Gunnar. "Let her rest. But as soon as she is able to drink give her some water infused with this herb." she hands Gunnar a small pouch containing some dried leaves that smelt similar to the smell he detected earlier. "It's Valerian. It will help her heal."
The Shallyan's began to gather their belongings clearly planning to depart and leave the girl in the care of Gunnar and the Schiffers. Nodding to the sister Gunnar accepts the pouch of herbs. Once again he is thrown by the strange ways of mankind, where are the calls upon the aid of the patient's ancestors?
The promises sworn in the name of her clan?
The food and ale offered to the gods?
But he cannot deny the woman seems more restful at least; anxiously he settles down to wait for her to wake.

Back Into The Light

Date: 29th Day of Nachexen, 2507 IC Marktag (Market Day)
Time: Dusk
Weather: A Warm Spring Evening

The bright morning heralds a warm sunny spring day and the barge makes good progress downriver. The girl seems to be resting calmly now and Gunnar and Eloise taking turns at watching over her. As dusk begins to fall the barge reaches another fishing village this time on the southern bank of the river and Roger moors the barge against a small jetty.
Salundra’s eyes begin to flit open. Her vision is swimming, and a dull pain throbs in her head. It’s hard to make out her surroundings. She groans. “Where?... where?...”
She can’t finish the question but the intent is clear. Gunnar's own eyes jolt open as he sits up in the chair he had spent the last watch of the night in. "Easy lass, easy"
Shouting for Eloise to set a kettle on the stove he leans over the prone girl with a look of concern. "Can yer hear me aright? How many fingers?" he speaks loudly, holding up two stubby digits.

“T... two...” Why is he moving his hand so much?
Sali tries to prop herself up so that she’s leaning against the bed frame.
Eloise quickly fills a kettle with water and puts it on the stove to boil.
“I remember you. From the inn... Where are we? How long has it been?” Sal reaches a hand, gently touching the spot where she had been clubbed. “They weren’t gentle, whoever they were. But I’ve had worse.”
"Aye gentle they weren't" agrees Gunnar. "That were yesterdy evening, an since then we've bin on this barge. Said yer'd already paid for the passage to Altdorf?"
"They're good folk anyhow, yer seem to find friends as easy as yer do foes." Aware he is rambling, Gunnar looks off to one side and shouts again "Where's that hot water Mrs Schiffer? Yer passenger's awake."
"It's ready did you want to put the herbs in and let them brew?" asks Eloise.
Sali's vision begins to clear, and she starts to feel steadier in herself. “Let’s hope the next people I meet are friends, and not foes. A few more hits to the head and I’ll... well I won’t be talking to you.” Sali chuckles a little. Sending a fresh throb of pain through her head and neck. “Thank you for staying with me, in any case. What became of the people that attacked me?”
Gunnar takes the pouch of herbs the sisters left from his belt and passes it to Eloise. "Aye well, dunno their names exactly," he says turning to Salundra "but they were Silvi's men, he's an Ubersreik lowlife.
Eloise drops the pouch of herbs into the boiling water of the kettle and begins to stir it around with a wooden ladle. After a few minutes, she spoons some of the infused liquid into a cup and hands it to Sali. "Careful it will be hot." she says "But we were told it would help you heal." The rest of the liquid she pours gently into a flask and hands to Gunnar.
Sali takes the drink, and sips it gingerly. “Thank you. Oh... it is hot.” she blows into the cup to cool the liquid.
"Ten to one that bloody barkeep were involved an' all, Gert's his name, so yer'll be wanting to pay him back in kind too. Or is it yer father handles such things?" He is unsure quite how humans handle their Grudges.
Sali let’s out a little chuckle at the mention of her father. It’s quietened when she feels a fresh throb of pain from too much movement. “No, no. I’m usually able to get my own back. I’ll remember the names. And I’ll be sure to pay them a visit!”
She eyes the dwarf. “Is that how your folk do it? I was under the impression that dwarfs carry on their father’s grudges, not the other way around.” “You look well able to fulfill a grudge or two, in any case. I might bring you along when I head back that way!” Sali chuckles again.
"Well, it's a matter for t'whole clan, though as a rule not including..." Gunnar manages to stop himself before he says 'children', unsure if the girl would be offended at the description.
“Not including... your women?” Sali cocks an inquisitive eye, missing the intended meaning. Internally, she scoffs at the idea. She’s run her blade through a few in her time.
"But aye, would be a pleasure to stand at yer side" he grins, it's good to see an umgi with a proper sense of paying ones debts. "How are yer feeling now anyhow? That there tea do owt for yer?" he says, looking a little dubiously at the contents of the flask Eloise passed him.
She polishes off the rest of her tea. Her body feels warm. She tries to pull herself from the bed. “Yes, yes. Much better!” She claps the dwarf on the shoulder as she passes him. “I won’t forget your offer.”
Roger appears on the companionway leading up to the deck. "It'll soon be dark so we'll be shoving off. I suggest you all stay below decks. Just in case there's any trouble."

Sali cusses quietly. “Well, that’s the one place I wanted to be. Fresh air, and all that. Master Gunnar, would you like to accompany me up on the deck for a few moments? In case I get into more trouble!”
Roger looks a bit nonplussed but clears the companionway and allows Sali up onto the deck.

Drifting Past The Patrols

Date: 29th Day of Nachexen, 2507 IC Marktag (Market Day)
Time: Darkness has fallen
Weather: A Warm Spring Night
The Schiffers boat is tied alongside the jetty of a small fishing village. There are a few other craft nearby some pulled up on the river bank others moored to small piers or jetties. The night is warm and calm and the sky clear, the light of Mannslieb reflects off the river as it flows north towards Altdorf. Sali can hear the sound of singing from a small tavern a hundred paces or so along the quayside Roger follows Sali back on deck and begins to cast off the mooring lines.
Sali stretches her arms, and her back cracks. She gets the strength back in her legs by pacing the deck. She tries to ignore the sound of merry making. It’d look bad in front of Gunnar if she was gasping for an ale not five minutes after waking up from her last drunken altercation. She’s glad that the boat casts off. Sucking the air in deep, she leans comfortably against the side of the ship, the warm air blowing across her face.
Roger shoves the boat away from the jetty with a pole and pushes it out into the current before moving to the tiller at the stern and steering the boat out into the main channel letting the current carry her along in silence.
The village gradually slips away into the darkness behind you and after a while you can see a much larger settlement emerge from the shadows. Roger puts the tiller over and steers his boat as far away from the settlement as he can manage to hug the opposite bank of the river.

Salundra recognises it as Auerswald, part of the Wallenstein estate much of it built on thick stilts in order to reach the navigable channel of the River Teufel across the flood plain that the river creates when in spate.
It's supposedly a rich trading centre benefitting from being built at the confluence of the Teufel, Tranig, and Ober rivers. But Salundra has heard that the Graf neglects it badly leaving its governance in the hands of a corrupt council of burgomeisters more interested in lining their own pockets than the welfare of the town.
Fresh air is not of much concern to a dwarf, but nonetheless Gunnar trails the girl out on to the deck of the barge. For a moment the lights and sound of the town in the distance make him melancholy, but he pushes those thoughts to the side. "Yer not doing so bad for someone who's bin conked out all day" he says with a wry smile. "We never got much past introductions lass, what were it took yer to Ubersreik anyroad?"
Sali chuckles a bit as Gunnar notes her return to form. She motions to the scar across her face. “Well, I’ve had worse. And the one that gave me was a little more determined to finish the job than those lads back there.” Sali looks down into the water. “As for Ubersreik, well... that’s a good question...” She hesitates for a moment.
The Schiffers barge continues to float silently past the lights of Auerswald staying as close to the far bank as Roger dare steer and letting the current carry her. You are almost clear of the town when another barge appears upstream rowing hard down the centre of the river. It gains on you quickly and is almost level when there is a shout from somewhere on the Auerswald bank "Heave to! And prepared to be boarded."
"Taal's teeth." Exclaims Roger instinctively ducking below the gunwale "The idiots have woken them up. Keep low they still might not notice us."
"It'll wait lass" says Gunnar softly. Crouching down beside Roger and squinting at the newly arrived barge, he asks "Valaya's tears what is it now?"
Sali hunches down beside Gunnar, mentally checking just how noticeable his firey-red hair was. She whispers: “What exactly is happening?”
Roger glances over at Sali "If they're lucky its the River Wardens from Auerswald. If they're unlucky it's the pirates. There's not much difference but if it's the wardens they might live."
Gunnar stares out across the water towards the other vessel now floundering in mid-stream. There seems to be some disagreement amongst the crew as to how to react to the summons from the far side of the river. By Gunnar's estimate, there are no more than six people on the boat Four of whom had been rowing, but now the oars are in disarray as some of the oarsmen try to continue whilst others have stopped as ordered.
There is a distinct thump from the opposite side of the boat and Gunnar sees more men clamber over the gunwale and push the crew away from the oars. "Trying to avoid the Graf's taxes err!" one of them growls "Well that'll cost yer double."
Sali is speaking very quietly. She doesn’t want to take the chance of both of them being spotted, and lose a possible element of surprise if one is needed. So she asks Gunnar: “Psssst. Gunnar. How many of them are boarding? How heavily armed?” Sali wondered how well she could swing a sword tonight if it came to that...
"Can't make out" whispers Gunnar hoarsely, "more'n there are of us anyhow."
Turning to Roger he asks "If they're t'Graf's men then why are yer ducking 'em? Not smuggling owt are yer?"
Roger gives Gunnar an indignant glance "Just being careful. Auerswald is a den of thieves and cut-throats these days and best avoided. They're lucky that they only woke the river patrol, though it's cost them. Let's just hope they don't see us."
“And if they do?” Sali whispers, putting a hand on the hilt of her sword out of instinct. “You seem terrible afraid of the prospect.”
"They will chase us down and charge us double the normal river toll too. Whilst they might not kill us and steal our cargo they will certainly take the opportunity to line their own purses at our expense. I'd rather not have my money used to subsidise their drinking and whoring."
Gunnar nods his head in understanding, "Me apologies for insinuatin' then Herr Schiffer. No chance of outrunning 'em?"
"No chance. Their boats are built for speed whereas this is built for cargo. Besides, they'll have at least six oarsmen and even if you and the lady helped we'd only be able to ship four. They'd catch us easily. It's their job after all."
"Hmph, best to keep our heads down then eh lass?" Gunnar whispers, looking at Sali over one shoulder.
Gunnar turns back to peer over the gunwhale at the stricken barge in midstream, keeping quiet unless he sees things turning violent. "Aye! Hopefully, if they look this way we are close enough to the bank that we are just a dark shadow against the trees behind us. They're using lanterns to search for contraband so they'll be half-blind anyway. As long as we don't attract their attention." [Stealth Check Rolled]
The River Wardens continue to search the barge herding the crew under guard to the stern of their boat and carrying lanterns aboard to help inspect the cargo. The Schiffer's boat continues to drift slowly northward gradually increasing the distance between it and the two boats until eventually a bend in the river hides them from sight.
Roger breathes a sigh of relief and finally stands up and returns to the tiller.
Sali stands, and straightens herself out. “Will we have such luck the next time, do you think? Wardens are one thing, but they patrol, if you could call it that, these waters for a reason. How are you set for combat, Roger?”
"I'm not prepared for combat at all. We try to avoid trouble if we can and if not we pray to Shallya for mercy."
“And has Shallya kept you in her graces thus far?” Sali stretches back out after hunching for so long. The stress, and the possibility of combat, had her thinking of a drink.

“How long until our next stop, Roger?” “And are we like to run into any more o’ yer pirate-wardens?” “Or any other trouble come to think? There were talk of a river troll back in Ubersreik...” Gunnar brightens up at the possibility.
"Once we are past this section of the river things will be safer and we can make better time. If all goes well we should reach Rottfurt by dawn and then Grunberg by dusk. The Emperor himself will ensure our safety from Rottfurt onwards."
Turning to answer the dwarf's question he adds "I have heard the rumours about the river troll too, all I can say is that if there is a troll in Ubersreik then it must be clever to stay out of sight with all those people looking for it. Pirates, on the other hand, can spring up anywhere that the river wardens are not doing their job an that depends on how well the nobles fulfil their duty to protect their subjects. "Personally, I'd be glad to see the Jungfreuds take over from the Wallenstein's in Auerswald perhaps then the river wardens would do their jobs and the river here would be safe again."
"Aye, had a feeling it were an old wives' tale" Gunnar replies wistfully.
“Well gentlefolk, yer pardon but it's time for bed, holler if any more o' yon pirates should turn up."

Sheep and Soldiers

Date: 30th Day of Nachexen, 2507 IC Backertag (Baking Day)
Time: Early Morning
Weather: A Hot Sunny Day.

Sali and Gunnar are woken by the smell of food from the small galley beyond the bunks where they slept. The new day has dawned hot and sunny to reveal the Schiffers boat moored alongside a wooden quay awash with sheep. Beyond the quay, a small village rises in tiers above the river and there are green hills in the distance.
The air is full of the bleating of sheep and tinkle of the bells they wear around their necks. But Sali's eyes are instantly drawn the figure of an officer of the Imperial Outriders armed with quill and parchment talking with a merchant further down the quay. She soon spots more soldiers amongst the sheep. She has been a soldier and officer long enough to recognise a foraging patrol when she sees one. But such things are rare in times of peace.
Drawn out of the cabin by the smell of food Gunnar gratefully accepts a bowl and wanders on to the barge deck. Squinting in the bright sunlight and cracking his neck, where the bruise has begun to fade, he catches Sali's gaze falling on the soldiery. "Friends o' yours?" he asks.
Looking out at the scene, Sali replies “Friends. I wouldn’t say friends. Cousins, maybe. Distant cousins at the best of times.” Sali let out a little chuckle to herself. There was a certain undeniable brotherhood within the profession. Though she couldn’t admit it was extended universally. She’d had her fair share of run-ins with men in uniform.
“I wonder what these men are doing here. Requisitions? To what end?”
Wiping the remnants of his breakfast from his beard Gunnar walks over to the gunwale next to Salundra. "Well, if not friends then let's hope not foes either."
"Herr Schiffer!" Gunnar raises his voice and hails the boat owner, "What's yer plan? Stoppin' here?" he asks.
"A beautiful morning Master Dwarf and a profitable one too I think." Roger replies clearly looking pleased with himself.
"It seems that both the Sun and Handrich are shining on me this morning." he gives Gunnar a self-satisfied grin before explaining his good fortune.

"See, those soldiers on the Quay there?" he asks pointing at the soldiers wandering about ineffectually trying to herd sheep back and forth. "Well, they're buying up huge numbers of sheep." He winks conspiratorially and touches his nose "But their only interested in the meat and most of those sheep still wear their winter fleeces. So there's a mad panic amongst the shearers to save the fleeces before they get marched off to join the army and with all that wool on the market, I got a great deal this morning on five whole woolsacks. Should be delivered within an hour or so. Soon as they've shorn enough sheep. Then we will head for Grunberg."
"I even managed to get a decent deal on some Rottfurt Silver. The way I figure it those soldiers aren't going to bother keeping the hides of the sheep they slaughter and so the more sheep they march away the less parchment there will be for the scholars of Altdorf."

"So, I've invested in some stock for when the price rises." he says proudly.
"Well, a bit more than just a boatman aren't yer. A good morning's work." Gunnar nods appreciatively at Roger's business. "Did your new pals let on why they were provisionin'?"
"Had yer heard o' any campaignin' in these parts Miss Salundra? Bit far from the mountains fer greenskins I suppose..." unconsciously he runs a thumb over the blade of his axe.
Roger Shrugs "Didn't really talk to the soldiers, but hopefully they're going to flush out some of the pirates camping on the Wallenstein's land."
Sali listens to the two talking. “Might it be a good idea to go and ask, Gunnar?” she looks to the dwarf. “Could be that there’s trouble in the area that we ought to know about. Could be that they’re preparing to march off somewhere for campaign. North, or South, who knows. No harm in asking, to put our minds at ease!”
Sali will prepare to disembark the boat, and call over to one of the soldiers.

"Aye, be good to set foot on firm ground an' all." Gunnar makes to follow Sali onto the quay, turning back over his shoulder he shouts, "call out when you're ready to cast off Herr Schiffer."
Sali and Gunnar disembark and make their way along the quay towards the young officer they can see standing with a local merchant. They're knees gradually getting used to the firmer surface now that they are no longer on the boat.
The young officer looks up as they approach noting Sali's military garb but clearly puzzled as to why she's here. As it becomes clear that Sali is meaning to approach him the officer dismisses the merchant and slides smartly to the alert doffing his hat and bowing slightly as Sali draws near.

"Kornet Walter Horney of the Outrider Regiment at your service." says the thin young officer with the white hair and badly marked face.
When a Dawi throng marches to war the longbeards give the orders, so Gunnar is a little surprised to see older men saluting this youth, but his bearing seems to indicate he is in charge.
"Nowthen lad, name's Gunnar," he holds out a gnarled hand "What brings yer here buying up all these folks' sheep eh? Are yez on the march?"
The officer seems surprised to be addressed by the dwarf but recovers quickly and answers the question. "Aye! we are. My orders are to purchase three hundred sheep for the army."
Sali returns the greeting. “A Kornet, eh? A fine position. I rememeber those days fondly.” Sali says.
Looking at the hectic scene of soldiers and sheep. “If I might ask, why so many sheep? Is there a campaign? Are you heading to the Wastes or Brettonia?”
Perhaps the Border Princes are in disarray again? Or the Von Carsteins?
So many to choose from. Poor lads...
Walter looks excited "We don't know yet, but do you think that's possible?"
"My orders are to secure the sheep here and await the west of the army." He looks around conspiratorially to make sure his men are out of earshot. "But tween you an me the wumour is that the lords in the west are wevolting and we are on the verge of a civil war."

“Anything is possible. Now more than ever. Though I’d rather be fighting the green skins than fellow empire folk, no matter the disagreement. Shame to lose the men." observes Sali "Have you heard what the ruckus is all about? Land, no doubt. Or someone being passed over for a title?”
"What else?" admits the young officer "Graf Ferdinand is convinced that Graf Sigismund has his eye on his silver mine and next thing you know there is blood in the Twifel."
With the conversation turning to squabbling noblemen Gunnar's hopes of green skins fade, and so does his interest. Content to let Sali and the young officer converse his sits down on a nearby woolpack, enjoying the sun on his back and firm ground at his feet after two days on the barge.

“Well, I suppose that sounds about right. Still, seems a waste of the sheep. Have you time to let these men fetch the wool at least? Seems the decent thing to do!” Sali asks. Then noting Gunnars crestfallen demeanour adds “I don’t suppose you’ve heard tell of a river troll in the area, have you? Only we had heard about one, and are dreadfully keen to see it gone!”
Walter scratches his head thoughtfully "The army really doesn't have any interest in the wool, leastwise not in its natural state. No doubt some of it will find its way into our uniforms in due course. As for trolls, the only wumours I've heard were that a couple had been seen upriver around Castle Wittgenstein. But these wiver folk do like their horror stories." he guffaws.

Walter suddenly seems to realise that he doesn't know who he is talking to which is hardly comensurate with his role as a scouting officer in the Imperial Army "I'm sorry! We have not been introduced. May I ask your name madam?"
“Excuse me!” Sali removes her large hat, revealing more of her face and hair. “Salundra von Drakenburg. Pleased to meet a fellow soldier.” Sali looks about at Gunnar “Hear that?" she calls out "We’ll be knee deep in Trolls before you know it!” Gunnar seems to take no notice content to sit and soak up the warmth of the sun.

Turning back to the young officer she takes her leave “Well, thank you for your time. I wish you well in the coming troubles! I hope that you can give these men some time to shear the flock! Happy eating.” And with that, Sali wheels about and heads back to the boat. Beckoning Gunnar with the cocking of about eyebrow.
Walter returns the bow and watches Salundra walk away. For some reason, her name sounds familiar but for the time being, he cannot remember where he has heard it or in what context it was mentioned. No doubt it will come to him eventually, in the meantime he turns back to the merchant still waiting patiently at a discreet distance.
Whilst Gunnar and Sali have been talking a wagon has arrived on the quay loaded with the Schiffer's bales of wool and it is already being unloaded onto the deck of their barge. The boat should be ready to depart shortly. The thought of stepping back on to the barge's swaying deck doesn't fill Gunnar with joy, but it appears the humans have finished chattering.
Gunnar glances round the little village one last time, concluding there's not much chance of a good ale or a good fight, and follows Salundra back down the quay.

The Grey Man Of Grunberg

Date: 30th Day of Nachexen, 2507 IC Backertag (Baking Day)
Time Late Evening
Weather (Hot) A sunny spring day.

The Schiffer's finished loading the wool they had purchased from Rottfurt and then cast off and continued their journey downriver. The day remained hot and sunny, unusual weather for so early in the year.
There were occasional glimpses of cavalry patrols along the banks of the river. The soldiers waving or shouting greetings to the barges as they passed.
On two occasions you met a whole barge crammed with troops heading upriver being pulled by a team of horses on the towpath. The soldiers wearing Altdorf State Colours despite being in the Baronry of Grunberg seemed in good spirits, waving and trading banter with you as passed. They were clearly enjoying the warm sunny weather and making the most of a pleasant boat trip along the Teufel.
By late evening the Schiffer's barge was mooring alongside the quay at Grünburg.
Roger secures the barge and pays the mooring fee to the local river warden. "We'll rest here a few hours and then head for Prieze in the morning. We'll use the canal as there is no point risking the Reiker Marshes for the sake of a few coins. The town certainly looks busy should be lively in the taverns this evening." He nods towards the scenes along the quayside which seems to be crammed with troops from a variety of regiments some just wandering about and others clearly formed up and receiving instructions or loading and unloading barges.
Hearing the promise of a good time, Sali begins to feel a familiar dryness in her throat. An ale would go down nice, right about now. But not too many... she turns to Gunnar “It’s been a few days now. Fancy an ale?” she asks checking to ensure that all of her weapons are easy to hand just in case the night should be a repeat of last time.
Sali suggestion was Just what Gunnar had been waiting to hear! As hospitable as the Schiffer's have been, that hasn't extended to drink and he is more than ready for an ale or three. Quashing a nagging memory of the last time she got drunk, he nods to Sali and steps on to dry land.
Sali and Gunnar bid farewell to the Schiffers and climb up onto the quay. Roger warns them to be back aboard before dawn as he wants to make an early start for Prieze.
Sali and Gunnar climb up from the barge into a scene of organised chaos with soldiers and stevedores bustling back and forth on a myriad of apparently random tasks. Crates and weapons are being unloaded and stacked on the quayside, others are being loaded onto barges.
A company of soldiers is drawn up in formation nearby their weapons already stacked and waiting to be loaded they are about to be dismissed and allowed to explore the town. A pug-nosed sergeant is giving them a final warning. "I am about ta release you on the unsuspecting people of this fine town. But I shall be watching you never fear. You are guests so behave yourselves. No drunkenness, no whoring, no fighting an I shall personally hang anyone of you caught stealing. Is that clear?"
"YES SERGEANT" came the expected response from the soldiers.
"Remember this is a Reikland town. Do NOT dishonour yourselves, your uniform, your regiment and most important of all do not dishonour me or I will make you wish you'd never bin born. Do you understand?"
"YES SERGEANT"
"Right then.DISMISS." he brawled and with a cheer, the thirty-odd soldiers broke ranks and surged off up the street towards the nearest tavern.
It was clear that the taverns of Grunberg were going to do good business this evening. The sergeant turned touched his hat to Sali and then walked off to report to his captain.
"Mebbe find one a bit less crowded eh lass?" Gunnar peers in to one bierkeller already heaving with soldiers singing some raucous marching song. "Yer know what them lads can get like after a drink"
Gunnar leads the way down a narrow street heading away from the river towards the town centre. It's crowded with soldiers and lined with hawkers, peddlers and beggars trying to make the most of the opportunity afforded by their enforced guests. Nevertheless, they are sensible enough not to try and interfere with the passage of a slayer and his upper-class companion. Gunnar and Sali pass a couple more taverns each of which is clearly overcrowded with a small crowd of soldiers still trying to force their way in through the door.
They eventually emerge onto the towns central square.
The square is surrounded by the towns civic buildings some of which pre-date the foundation of the Empire and are heavily decorated with gilded fresco's depicting the towns proud history, heroes and sources of wealth. Scenes from the Battle of Grunberg adorn the Rathaus in the centre of which the hero Count Erich Adolphus of Wissenland and the Orc Warlord Gorbad Ironclaw are locked in the fateful struggle which ended in both their deaths.
The guildhalls are similarly adorned with depictions of their respective trades. Those of boat building and horse breeding being dominant over those of the more normal trades.
The square itself has been transformed. The area in front of the Rathaus being turned into a makeshift dance floor where soldiers are busy demonstrating their dancing skills to the local girls accompanied by an orchestra formed from regimental musicians playing energetic country dances.
Local brothel owners quick to grasp the opportunity are taking money from the soldiers in return for providing them with dancing partners creating long queues of eager customers as women are in short supply and the girls are fast running out of energy.
A more sinister construction appears at the far side of the square opposite the Rathaus where a raised dais had been built on which has been erected a number of whipping frames and a long table. Sali instantly recognises the arrangement as preparations for the summary judgement and punishment of any soldiers caught dishonouring their regiments. Clearly, the army is expecting trouble and is prepared to deal with it quickly and effectively.
Pointing out the whipping station, Sali cringes. “It’s nights like this I always had my nails bit to the blood. Waiting for a scream or a bell or the sound of a firearm exploding in the streets. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to pass here, Gunnar. Nasty business, all that and what follows.” Sali pushes passed the imposing structure, and heads to where the soldiers and drinking and dancing, beckoning Gunnar to keep close.
Sali beckon to one of the serving women ”Two pints, please. And some grub. Whatever’s hot.” The girl nods and weaves her way between the knots of men being careful to keep clear of the rowdier groups and returns shortly with two tankards of ale and two bowls of chicken stew with some coarse bread. "Anything else mistress?" she asks.

There are over a dozen soldiers seated around you. Some are listening to the music, others are arguing over how to split the cost of the bill. There is a heated debate taking place nearby about the state of the Emperor's health.
“Not for now, thanks. They giving you any trouble?” Sali asks, gesturing to the rowdier groups of soldiers. The woman grins at Sali "No trouble at all your ladyship, I'm used to it." she replies "an wot I can't deal with me husband surely will." As if to demonstrate a deft backhand swipe with her muscled left arm catches one of the soldiers square round the face as he reaches across for her ample bottom. Raising a general cheer of derision from his mates. “Good. Any trouble, you let me know! I’ve spent enough time around men like these to know how to handle them. Though it seems like you have things under control.” Sali smiles
"Don't recognise the uniform, what regiment are you with?" the girl asks Sali clearly curious "Some mercenary outfit?" she adds noting the fact that there is a dwarf at the table. Gunnar ignores the conversation gratefully accepting the food and taking a huge swig from the tankard. Wincing slightly at the taste of mannish ale, he turns to the steaming bowl of stew and tucks in. All the while he keeps an eye on the heaving crowd of men at arms for signs of trouble and leaving Sali to handle the conversation.
“As for us... not mercenaries, no." admits Sali "Though, we aren’t attached to this troop either. I’ve been a soldier my whole life, but even I’m wondering what all this is building towards. No no, we are simply passing through on our journey on the river. I expect we shall continue on tomorrow, as will these men. Have you heard why they’ve mustered?”
"Some sort o' trouble brewin around Ubersreik so Manni says. Manni is me husband." she adds to avoid any confusion. "He tells me it's nothing serious, but then he always tells me that. I say if it ain't serious then why so many men?"
She leans closer conspatorially "I even heard tell there was a wizard around here somewhere. They don't let them out of the colleges for something that ain't serious now do they."
"You're one of them slayers ain't yer?" she says interupting Gunnars eating "Can tell by the hair." she grins. "Bit late if you was lookin fer greenskins to kill round here. About eight hundred years too late." she adds with chuckle and a nod to towards the mural along the front of the Rathaus. Sali smiling at the girls joke “I think this particular slayer would be satisfied facing Trolls and the like. Haven’t heard tell of a River Troll around, have you?”
However, Sali is slightly taken aback by the mention of a wizard “A wizard, in town tonight? Did you see his colors?”
"Haven't sen him at all, but that ain't surprisin. He'll be kept well out o'the way till he's needed." replies the girl "You here fer the dancing then?" she asks as the band strikes up yet another lively tune. The queue for the girls is getting ever longer and Sali can't help noticing that some of the men on nearby tables are staring in her direction and egging each other on to ask her to dance.
Oblivious to the eyes lingering on Salundra, Gunnar waves his now almost empty tankard at the serving woman. “Well if there’s no troll to be had how about another couple o’these.”
"Plenty more where that came from." she replies with a grin and minces off to collect them slapping hands away right and left as she goes.
“Dancing? Well, I don’t usually go in for dancing. It was always a bone of contention at home! How about you, Gunnar?"
"Care to show us a dwarf dance?” Gunnar's eyes widen at Sali's suggestion, turning almost as red as the young soldier who has just been shoved oput of his seat towards their table. He manages to mutter "S'not really a... dancin'... well... not customary..." before taking a long drink from his tankard to cover his awkwardness.

The young soldier urged on by his mates approaches Sali and sheepishly asks if "Er! Would yer ladyship care to dance." his face now redder than the facings of his uniform. The soldier stands there rigidly to attention not really sure what else to do.
Sali realises that he probably a fresh faced recruit, and knowing that the others are probably setting him up for embarrassment and failure she reluctantly takes his hand. Before departing, she quickly spins around and empties the contents of her tankard. “Just a quick one then, sir. On the condition that you ask the dwarf for a dance next!” She flashes a mischievous look at Gunnar!
As they walk hand in hand onto the dance floor Sali asks “Them lads giving you a hard time?” She hates dancing. “I’m not much for dancing, I’ll warn you!” A shocked silence descends on the soldiers table as they see Sali get up and take their friend's hand. Mouth's drop open and then as Sali drags their mate off towards the dance floor she hears a chorus of catcalls and cheers rise from their ranks.
"No! M'lady they just dared me ta do it. Not that I didn't want to mind." he coloured again briefly. "I just like dancing is what I meant and the girls are in short supply here it seems." Sali leads the soldier onto the floor and they take their positions for the dance. Fortunately, the young man seems to know the steps and once the music starts he quickly takes charge and Sali soon finds herself being lifted and spun effortlessly around the floor. After the initial shock, the soldier's confidence grew and she found herself flung high and higher into the air and getting quite breathless.

Whilst Sali is enjoying herself being flung around the dance floor Gunnar is approached by a rather strange-looking man. At first glance, he might be mistaken for a Witch-Hunter. He has the same sombre taste in clothing and demeanour, but a second glance reveals that his clothing is much higher quality than any Witch-Hunter could afford and his hat just a tad too flamboyant for a true Sigmarite.

He approaches Gunnar with a smile and sweeping off his hat bows politely. "Master Dwarf, don't worry I am not going to ask you to dance." he grins. "But I wonder if I might join you. I have some business to discuss with your mistress. Once she has finished her indulgences." he glances over at Sali being twirled around the dance floor before returning to study Gunnar "You two are together I take it?" he asks.
Still somewhat taken aback by the thought of dancing it takes Gunnar a moment to acknowledge the stranger’s presence. “Aye, welcome to” he mutters distractedly with his eyes still on the dancers. Belatedly the oddly sombre appearance of the grey man amidst all the revelling soldiers occurs to Gunnar and he looks him up and down more suspiciously. “What manner o’ business anyhow?” he asks.
"Perhaps, that can wait until your mistress joins us." replies the odd-looking manling as he pulls out a chair and settles himself at the table. He removes his hat and delicately takes off his gloves arranging them neatly on the table before him. Gunnar notices some expensive-looking jewellery revealed on his fingers "Have you been in her ladyship's service for long?" he asks politely.
Sali noticing the sudden appearance of a stranger at their table waits until the end of the current song, before breathlessly excusing herself “Thank you for the dance, sir. I barely had to carry a step, thanks to you!” and looks over to check on Gunnar and the stranger in grey seated with him. “Oh... thank you again, sir! It seems I have business to attend to! Please excuse me!” she says dismissing her dance parent as graciously and quickly as she can and rushing over to the table to investigate. Sali weaves her way back through the dancers to find out who he might be.
"Service?" thinks Gunnar. His Reikspiel is fluent but he doesn't recognise the word in this context. Setting aside his confusion he holds out a hand for the newcomer to shake, as much for the chance of a closer look at his bejewelled fingers. "Met the lady but a few days since. Gunnar. And yerself?"
"As far as I know this will be the first time we have met." admits the grey man sitting back in his chair "But her reputation precedes her." he adds impishly. Glancing over to see if Sali has managed to fight her way off the dance floor sucessfully,
Sali lands back at her table, and tries to hide her curiosity over the new face. “Hello! Is this a friend of yours Gunnar?"
“Looked like yer were making a new friend yerself,” Gunnar says under his breath, suppressing a smile.
If Sali heard Gunnars comment she ignored it focussed instead on the newcomer "Salundra von Drakenburg! And who might you be?” she extends her hand in greeting. The stranger rises to his feet and taking the proferred hand bows politely and kisses it gently. "My name is Pieter Verstohlen. You may have heard of me?"
Sali elbows Gunnar as best she can while being discreet. It glances off his shoulder, while she too smiles. “Ahhh... Peter Verstohlen. Right, yes of course! What brings you here?”
Verstohlem smiles smugly and gestures Sali to her seat. "Please be seated and rest your legs after all that energetic exercise. At least if you have heard of me we can dispense with all the usual formalities. It does get tedious having to repeatedly explain to everyone who you are. Don't you think?" he asks sitting down again and gesturing to the serving girl to call her over to the table. "Vivandier! Do you have any decent wine?" she nods and heads towards the victualling wagon.
Vestohien settles himself down on his seat and returns to the business at hand. "Now then the way I see it you two are either most incompetent spies this side of the Grey Mountains, or the most unlikely travelling companions and I'm rather curious to discover which." he raises a finger to silence any immediate retorts. "But either way let me begin by asking for your considered assessment of what you have seen in your trip down river with the Shifters. I'm curious to hear your opinions."
“Well yes, I suppose we are an unlikely pair. But I’ve found that we’ve gotten on quite well, don’t you agree, Gunnar?” Sali stabs out again with her elbow, playfully! “As for the river journey. Well we spied some very questionable requisitions by the Wardens, and of course the lads gathering sheep for the army. Why do you ask?”
"But you did not find it odd?" queried Vestohlen pausing a second as the vivandier returns with his glass of wine. Taking a sip and nodding his acceptance of the quality. "Did you make any enquiries about the number of sheep being requisitioned or the purpose behind it?" He gestures for the vivandier to wait a moment and produces a silver shilling from his pocket. "My dear I have a delicate mission for you, for which I shall pay you this silver shilling now and another when you return successfully." The girl eyes the coin suspiciously "What do you want me to do?" she asks. "Oh! Nothing distasteful or dangerous I assure you." he smiles at her reassuringly. "Simply go to the Quartermaster Sergeant in charge of the supply wagon and tell him that Peter Verstohlen would deem it a great favour if he would part with one of the five bottles of Bretonnian Brandy he has hidden away." The girls eyes widen "I can't do that he'll kill me." Verstohlen shakes his head dismissively "No! he won't. Not if he wants to keep peddling his illicit trade and two silver shillings is worth the risk is it not?" he slides the coin over toward her. "If he does seem reluctant to oblige merely point out to him that one bottle out of five is not an extortionate tariff and tell him that if he's really quick on his feet he can easily replace it with the ten bottles that the Schiffers have hidden under the bottom boards of their boat. I should imagine by now Roger is looking to offload them in a hurry so he should get a good price." The girl looks at the coin and finally takes it and hurries off on her errand.
Verstohlen turns back to Sali and Gunnar. "Now where were we?"
"Oh! yes. We were discussing sheep. You have served Captain von Drakenburg, so you must have been involved in requisitioning as a junior officer. Did you not think the number of sheep being requisitioned unusually high, or did you not ask?"
“Yes, of course I made inquiries. The lad said there was trouble brewing. I’ll admit to being more concerned with seeing to it that he did the job properly, rather than the job itself.” Sali takes an irritated swig of her ale. This man was annoying. “As for the rest, a few crooked watchmen are hardly worth mentioning. Though our guide was worried they might try the same to us! Must be quite the problem to put such fear in the river folk!”
"Indeed you are correct, there is indeed trouble brewing. The difficulty being to determine what and where." agrees Verstohlen "Roger has already explained the corruption he perceives to exist in the town of Auerswald and there does indeed seem to be trouble festering in that place. But nothing a few of those damned Witch-Hunters could not root out and destroy. Hardly the justification for an army of this size." He takes a sip of his wine.
"You have just come from Black Rock Castle have you not?" He waves his hand dismissively "Forgive me if it surprises you that I know that, but under the circumstances, you realise I had to have the comings and goings of visitors to the Jungfreud family monitored and recorded." He smiles reassuringly. "Believe me! I have no interest in the reason for your visit. However, I am curious to know if Graf Sigismund's son happened to mention anything about the mustering of troops and their numbers."
Gunnar says nothing, indeed he feels a little overwhelmed by the great wave of words pouring from this strange manling. How is it humans can use so many words to say so little
From what he follows of the talk of lords and castles he senses that Salundra’s talent for finding trouble may again be showing itself.
Salundra frowns uncomfortable about just how much this fellow knows, She decides to take a more conservative approach to the conversation than she first intended to. “I don’t recall anything being mentioned about a muster, truth be told. Family gatherings are always a bit much for me.” Sali replies looking the stranger up and down and wondering who he was. “And it seems like you’d know of such a thing a moment after the news left Graf Sigismund’s lips. Surely you know more than me! Perhaps you can enlighten us of any danger we might encounter?”
Verstohlen nods his understanding as he listens to Sali's response. "Indeed it seems unlikely that Graf Sigismund could muster a sizeable force of arms without it being noticed and yet the rumours persist that he does and in my line of work it's always prudent to verify what you are being told from more than one source."
Vestohlen sighs resignedly "If what I am being told is true then the Duchy of Wallenstein does not face imminent invasion by Graf Sigismund and this army is a sledgehammer to crack a nut." Vestohlen temples his fingers and his brow furrows "And if that is the case then who is spreading these lies and what do they hope to gain."
Vestohlen waves his hand at the troops seated all around them "The force you see around you represents most of the garrison of Altdorf, The fact, that it is here and bound for the borders with the Duchy of Ubersreik will leave the city barely defended which could be a danger in itself. But I am not aware of any external threat to the city and I'm sure that a large force of troops would have been noticed by someone."
"That suggests some more subtle motive but I have no idea what. The trouble is that if I return to Altdorf then whoever is behind this scheme will know I am suspicious and change their plans. I need someone to be my eyes and ears in my absence who has the authority and ability to track these rumours to their source and the intelligence to unravel their purpose."
"You should consider this an interview for that role. For both of you." he adds turning to the slayer "For if this is what I suspect then we are dealing with a monster far more dangerous than any troll, with many more tentacles than any monster and much more powerful teeth." he grins at Gunnar.
"Are you interested?" Vestohlen asks.
Sali takes a moment as the wave of information washes over her. “I’ve always found that external threats have a way of materializing quickly.” Sali leans closer and lowers her voice so that only Gunnar and Vestohlen can hear “Goblins, beastmen and others pop up at a moments notice. Well... certainly quicker than these lads can march back to Ubersreik. Especially on a belly full of drink.”
She looks around at the drunken, happy faces of the men. More often than she’d like to remember, a nice evening like this has been ruined with an urgent order to march in response to the Empire’s enemies. She mulls over the offer: “A monster far more dangerous than any troll? Not that I don’t love that prospect... but what would we get in return for our service to the Emperor?” It was always difficult to discuss duty and coin!
"You shall be compensated of course." Vestohlen replies with an understanding smile. "But only upon results," he adds firmly. He appears to consider the question before making a proposal. "Shall we say ten shillings per useful report?"
"We can discuss what I consider 'useful' later, but basically any information on unusual events in Altdorf would be of value. I would expect you to decide on compensation for your dwarven friend here and any others you wish to employ."

The Dwarven tongue doesn't include the concept of metaphor, but Gunnar gets the sense the man's talk of tentacles and teeth isn't strictly literal. Looking at the set of Salundra's jaw however, he realises that the danger is very real nonetheless. He pushes the dregs of his ale away, suddenly more interested in the stranger's words.
Sali sucks air through her teeth. “Seems simple enough, and not completely contemptible work. If the Dwarf here is not against it for some reason, then I suppose we could send anything we find along, yes!”
Sali looks to the Dwarf. You could never tell with them if they might object to a course of action for some impractically ancient reason.
“Ten shillings?” says Gunnar with an affronted look. “Should of thought a fella of your means could manage a crown a piece. For such an experienced pair o’ report... reporters.” He nudges Sali with his boot under the table.
“Well, I hadn’t wanted to mention that, but I did suspect that my Dwarf friend here would take issue with the rate." admits Sali "Such an expensive muster here, I’m sure. But I think it would ease my friends concerns if you might be able to spare a little more for his trouble. It is dangerous work after all!”
Verstohlen smiles ingratiatingly at Gunnar and Sali "Captain von Drakenburg I appreciate your natural instinct to wish to maximise the compensation for your effort. But really all I am asking you to do is write me regular reports highlighting any strange events you notice in the city. The only cost to you is a little ink and parchment and I'm sure even you would agree that ten shillings for a few minutes of your time is hardly unreasonable."
"Now let's not sour our friendship with further haggling. Gunnar do dwarf's appreciate good Bretonnian Brandy or shall I order you another ale?" As he speaks the vivandier turns up with the bottle of smuggled brandy he asked her to get "Three glasses please." Vestohlen orders and not waiting for Gunnar to respond he opens the bottle and pours three full glasses.
Gunnar’s scowl at the failure of negotiations softens slightly at the prospect of good brandy. “To our business then,” Gunnar growls raising his glass to the other two and knocking back the liquor in one.
"Good, lets do that." agree's Verstohlen. He leans forward and lowers his voice. "I have a contact in the city and I shall have a note of their name and address delivered to the Schiffers barge before you leave tomorrow. You are taking their barge to Altdorf I assume?" He refills Gunnars glass.
Sali sips her drink slower than their new employer. She thinks it’ll be a few trips to the tavern before she fully lets her guard down again. “The barge, yes. We shall continue along the river. Should we expect any more trouble from Emperor’s finest river wardens as we go? she asks "And what’s the appropriate action, if we do?” Sali is gauging to see the potential trouble caused by sticking a knife in a crooked man’s belly with the current simmering tensions.
"You're in the Baronry of Grunberg now, which is part of the Emperor's demise. So, the rivers and canals are as safe as they ever can be. Probably safer than usual given all the patrols the army is making. As for killing an Imperial Agent, I personally wouldn't recommend it and if you have too then try not to get caught." Vestolhlen replies dismissively.
“Understood! Well, thank you for your time. Here’s to a fruitful relationship. Cheers!” Sali clinks glasses with the others, and finishes off the remains of her glass. She thinks now might be a good time to get up and settle down for the evening. Then again... she looks to Gunnar. “Another?”
Verstohlen pours Sali another drink "It's early yet." he quips with a smile. [OOC: Sali Au=3] "Aye, why not, a contract should be toasted proper," agree's Gunnarholding his empty glass out for Pieter to fill, and turns to clink glasses with Sali. "But Herr Verstohlen, tell us some more o' these strange happenings yer so interested in hearing of. Lot's o' your umgi ways are strange enough! But yer must have summat special in mind..."
Vestohlen frowns "I may be seeing demons in my soup. But something about what's happening here just doesn't smell right. Even assuming that the rumours are true and the western provinces are planning secession and revolt, the number of troops here is far too excessive for the task. In fact, they may even trigger a secession rather than prevent it. Because if I was a western lord seeing this force heading my way I would be wondering what their mission was. Anyway, everyone, I talk to claims there is no evidence that the rumours are true. Even you two claim not to have seen evidence of a mustering of troops in Ubersreik." He pauses to take another sips of brandy before continuing. "So! I'm curious about the reason so much of the states army is being sent out of the Capital. That's all really. I need people on the ground in Altdorf who can keep me informed of any strange or unusual events."
Sali’s mind is starting to swim with the drink. “Well, rest assured... we’re the ones for the job! Hey now. Have you heard about the wizard in town with... this lot?” she gestured broadly to the troops sitting all around them.
Verstohlen reaches to refill Sali and Gunnar's glasses. "Yes! Guardian Engel is a Magister of the Grey Order. Lord Schwarzhelm requested his presence to help reveal the apparently hidden forces or our numerous enemy." Verstohlen gestured dramatically to imply that a huge army might be hiding under the table. He grins wickedly "Mind you by the glimpse I got of him yesterday I'd be surprised if he's managed to find his piss-pot yet."
[Roll WP Test to refuse the offered drink]
“Oh? Trouble with the college of mages these days? Sending subpar wizards out to the fields of battle?” asks Sali jokingly.

"They have their uses, This Engel is supposed to be an expert at illusion and disguise. So keep your eye open for a chicken wearing a wizards cap." Vestohlen says with a wink whilst reaching to top up Sali's glass again. "Master dwarf are you not drinking. Are you still thinking about the Teufel Terror?" notes Vestohlen. "If it exists I'm sure it will still be here when you get back you know. But I doubt even the dumbest troll or Greenskin will hang around here with all these troops stomping about."
[Roll WP Test to refuse the offered drink]
“Oh. Not for me... thank you. I think... I’ve had quite enough.” says Salli covering her glass to prevent it being refilled “Any threats... that you’re aware of... that might suit a slayer? Non-human... non-political threats preferred... I’d imagine.” interupts Sali glancing at Gunnar for confirmation that he doesn’t want to meet his doom negotiating a treaty outlining borders between imperial provinces.
"It's hard to predict the nature of these things, but I shall give you a letter of introduction to someone in Altdorf who will be able to fill you in on the latest news in the city. The difficulty as always when dealing with the Imperial Court is knowing what's a real threat and what is just natural greed and ambition. But if there is a purpose behind these events then I'm assuming that whoever is behind them will want to make a move before this campaign is resolved and the army returns." He sighs and then rises from his seat.
“Well, Captain if you have had your fill of brandy it's probably time I took my leave and let you get back to your dancing. I shall have that letter delivered to your barge before dawn and Sigmar smile upon your efforts." The potent brandy has taken Gunnar’s mind off trolls and goblins for once. The man’s flowery speech was difficult for him to follow without the drink, now it’s just a jumble of words which washes over him. He nods absently and makes to follow Sali back to the barge and bed.

Back To Your Bunks

Date: 30th Day of Nachexen, 2507 IC Backertag (Baking Day)
Time: Nightfall
Weather: (Hot) A Warm Evening.

Sali and Gunnar bid farewell to Verstohlen and ignoring the hopeful glances from the soldiers on the nearby tables Sali leads Gunnar back to the Schiffer's barge. Gunnar has the necessary awareness to notice that there is still a third of a bottle of brandy left on the table and brings that along with him.
They return to the barge without incident the soldiers in the street seem boisterous and noisy but are more concerned with their own pursuits than Sali and Gunnar and their presence has driven off most of the other street thieves and cutthroats.
Roger and Eloise greet them on their arrival and confirm that the barge will be sailing at dawn and taking the Grunberg Canal to Prieze.
Sali leads the way below and collapses on her bunk “Well... he was quite the character. Strange fellow... strange job...*hiccough*....Strange... yeah... eh?” she stammers between trying to remove her boots.
“Glad yer thought so too,” says Gunnar, squinting at her a little to focus.
“He seemed to think we should we should know ‘im by sight, funny sort of fella...” Gunnar reflects, “still don’t sound like too hard a days work, yer done much spying afore?” He reaches for what remains of the brandy and grabs the bottle on the second attempt.
“Can't say that I have...” Sali says as she slumps into a chair, and promptly falls into sleep.
GM
SESSION CLOSED


Please submit all future posts to SESSION 1: SHADES OF ALTDORF

Rewards Granted

+1 Good AP for charging in to assist Sali.

+1 Chaotic AP for ignoring social convention and dancing with a common soldier.

Character(s) interacted with

In Order of Appearance:
Gert Hunder
Aldo
Otto
Goldberg
Roger Schiffer
Eloise Schiffer
Sister Roberta
Initiate Raina Cronenberg
Walter Horney
Genovega Hammermann
Pieter Verstohlen

Created Content

Buchedorf
Rottfurt
Grünburg

Related Reports

Session 0: Kindred Spirit's - Sali's Story 
Session 0: Kindred Spirits - Gunnar's Story Report 

Campaign

Making the Rounds

Protagonists

Salundra von Drakenburg

Gunnar Hrolfsson

Report Date

02 Mar 2021

Primary Location

Ubersreik

Secondary Location

Grünburg

Related Historical Events

• Nachexen, 28, 2507 IC Aubentag (Levyday)
  Kindred Spirits