Academic Pursuits II: Job Hunting (WFRPv2)

[Perius]

Academic Pursuits
Part Two: Job Hunting
OOC Thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=15317258#post15317258)
Part One: An Unexpected Vacancy (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=15317239#post15317239)

The Abbey-town of Waldbach, Sudenland: 1st Ulriczeit: early morning

The carriage clatters over the icy cobbles, swerving sharply round Waldbach Abbey before twisting its way through the bumpy backstreets to the walled square behind the Crooked Staff coaching inn. A group of six cloaked figures stand huddled against the cold around a brazier, gazing through the morning snowfall at the dismounting coachman and his guard.

OttilynThe coach interior is musty and dark, but you’ve been glad for the warmth of the other passengers. Outside, the chill winds of the Sudenland winter have been driving against the timber frame of the coach, and you and your fellows have had to huddle deeper and deeper into your cloaks and blankets to stay warm during the last overnight leg of the journey.

At least it’s better than the ferry. Rejected by the crew because of your sex, and reduced to a shivering wreck by the rocking motion of the vessel, you spent a miserable week cowering in the vomit-smeared hold of the merchantman. Your fellow travellers were odd sorts – a trio of Breton merchants, a shifty Tilean with a split lip, a pair of Middenland sellswords visibly bound for the war in Averland, and the only other woman on board, a cross-eyed Talabeclander old enough to be your mother. She and one of the Bretons disappeared overboard in a sudden gale whipped up as the boat approached the dock at Staig Abbey, and after that the mood below decks became even more gloomy and quiet than it had been before.

At least you haven’t been seasick for the last two days of coach ride. The Bretons are still with you, smelling strongly of garlic and taking turns to sleep, visibly still shaken by the loss of their companion. They’ve been poor company, answering queries only with grunts and keeping themselves to themselves, and so it’s with some relief that you see them swing out of the carriage into the icy cold of the courtyard. The blast of air from the open door is invigorating, banishing the stuffy smell you’ve grown used to, and through the snowfall you see a wealthily dressed fat man waddle forward towards the coachman.

“And where is the University party?”
Ottmar
The coach interior is musty and dark, but you’ve been glad for the warmth of the other passengers. Outside, the chill winds of the Sudenland winter have been driving against the timber frame of the coach, and you and your fellows have had to huddle deeper and deeper into your cloaks and blankets to stay warm during the last overnight leg of the journey.

You miss the ferry already. It took the captain all of one day to see you for the seaman you were, and you spent the rest of the voyage working alongside the rest of the crew, pulling an oar in heavy winds and raising the single sail when the weather improved. Whilst Otti disappeared below decks, virtually knocked out by travel sickness, you spent a week in the welcome company of fellow sailors, eating and drinking in the galley with a crew eager to adopt you as a fellow Pfieldorf “Ferryrat”. The voyage passed quickly, and without much mishap, although a sudden blizzard one late evening off Staig Abbey dock did send the boat a swaying, pitching two passengers to their deaths in the water and very nearly injuring one of the crewmen by sending a pile of crates tumbling across the deck.

That, however, was the most excitement you’ve had. Trailed a few days by Averland outriders along the opposite bank of the river, you were left unabused by either rebels or Leitdorf forces, and the most recent two days of coach travel across rural Sudenland have been notable for their mind-numbing dullness. A pair of Bretons sit with you, smelling strongly of garlic and taking turns to sleep; from Otti you understand that one of the men lost over board was a travelling partner. They’ve been poor company, answering queries only with grunts and keeping themselves to themselves, and so it’s with some relief that you see them swing out of the carriage into the icy cold of the courtyard. The blast of air from the open door is invigorating, banishing the stuffy smell you’ve grown used to, and through the snowfall you see a wealthily dressed fat man waddle forward towards the coachman.

“And where is the University party?”
Rachel“Bloody finally.”

The fat burgher standing next to you and Snorri winces at the Dwarf’s choice language, and immediately turns to the other three members of your little brazier huddle, the shivering clerk and bony young woman a stark contrast to the towering zweihander-wearing mercenary standing behind them and starts excitedly reminding them to look smart and be on their best behaviour.

Oblivious, Snorri stomps his feet in the snow near the brazier, his eyepatch dusted with a light coating of the morning snowfall, and glowers at the glimmering coals. Even as his companions treated you to drink after drink the night before, he had remained scowling and dark, shaking your hand at the start of the evening only to mutter darkly “and if you dare cross us, don’t think we’ll forget”, before sitting, back against the wall, glaring at anyone who came close. Even during the night, on poking your head outside the room the Dwarfs purchased for you in the inn, you found his beardling companion Harald, leaning on the bannister, slowly turning his axe in his hand, eyes fixed on the stairway below.

You have very little experience of Dwarfs, but you are certain that this is not normal behaviour.

The fat man, meanwhile, has circumnavigated two foreign-looking merchants staggering out of the carriage to clasp the coachman by the arm.

“And where is the University party?”

Snorri settles for giving the foreigners a filthy look as they rush inside to the warmth of the inn.
Reinhold
“Bloody finally.”

The one-eyed Dwarf breaks his silence at the halting of the coach, stomping his feet in the snow and glowering at the skinny dark-haired servant girl standing next to him. Dr Leitmann winces visibly at the aggression in his tone, and turns to the rest of you, rubbing his hands in excitement. “Now, everyone, remember to be on your best behaviour.”

You merely snort in reply, and shuffle a bit closer to the brazier. You’ve travelled in mail-coaches before, and the last thing they is warm. Your room at the abbey last night already seems like a distant memory, the cosy stone shelf in the corner with the straw mattress and warm woollen blanket a world away from the freezing cold of the Waldbach streets. One of the nuns, a middle aged woman by the name of Sister Eveline, had brought you a warm bowl of broth, and sighed wistfully at the thought of the great adventure she seemed to think was ahead of you.

Looking at your fellow travellers now, it’s hard not to feel that it’s you should be envying her. The snivelling, pasty lad with a slight scholarly stoop and the bony young woman with a hard look in her eyes are introduced by Leitmann as the expedition’s clerk and cook, respectively, but they don’t seem too friendly in the freezing cold of the morning, and neither are you, so the hour of waiting before the coach arrives is spent in a muffled, chilly silence. Leitmann obviously feels that his encouragement is falling on deaf ears, as he waddles away from you towards the carriage, circumnavigating the two foreign-looking merchants staggering out of it to clasp the coachman by the arm.

“And where is the University party?”

Next to you, the Dwarf spits into the brazier, and throws his skinny servant-girl a filthy look.
Erica“Bloody finally.”

The one-eyed Dwarf breaks his silence at the halting of the coach, stomping his feet in the snow and glowering at the skinny dark-haired servant girl standing next to him. Dr Leitmann winces visibly at the aggression in his tone, and turns to the rest of you, rubbing his hands in excitement. “Now, everyone, remember to be on your best behaviour.”

Not that you need reminding. You spent the night huddled together for warmth with Gysela and Rebecca on the stone floor of Seknelm's pantry, but after your days on the road that seemed like raw luxury. Anything, after all, is better than the snows. Waking early with the servants, you were first to the meeting place at the brazier, and it was with bated breath that you waited for you future travelling companions.

Not that they look particularly exciting. The snivelling, pasty lad with a slight scholarly stoop and the tall, dour giant with the two-handed zweihander strapped to his back are introduced by Leitmann as Hans’ newly-hired clerk and bodyguard, respectively, but they don’t seem too friendly in the freezing cold of the morning, and neither are you, so the hour of waiting before the coach arrives is spent in a muffled, chilly silence. Leitmann obviously feels that his encouragement is falling on deaf ears, as he waddles away from you towards the carriage, circumnavigating the two foreign-looking merchants staggering out of it to clasp the coachman by the arm.

“And where is the University party?”

Next to you, the Dwarf spits into the brazier, and throws his skinny servant-girl a filthy look.
Wilhelm“Bloody finally.”

The one-eyed Dwarf breaks his silence at the halting of the coach, stomping his feet in the snow and glowering at the skinny dark-haired servant girl standing next to him. Dr Leitmann winces visibly at the aggression in his tone, and turns to the rest of you, rubbing his hands in excitement. “Now, everyone, remember to be on your best behaviour.”

You scarcely register his annoyance, however. A sleepless night at the Temple of Morr has left you exhausted, and it's all you can manage to stay on your feet in front of the flickering fire. Whenever your eyes flicker close, you catch a glimpse of the dead boy's face - although, somehow, you sense that the gods have been appeased by your show of remorse. All that's left is to survive the journey ahead of you, put up with your companions and hopefully come out the other end smelling of roses. Leitmann's packet of letters weighs heavy beneath your cloak, and you sense his eyes on you as he inspects your travelling party.

Not that any of you are much to look at. The tall, dour giant with the two-handed zweihander strapped to his back and the bony young woman with a hard look in her eyes are introduced by Leitmann as the expedition’s bodyguard and cook, respectively, but they don’t seem too friendly in the freezing cold of the morning, and neither are you, so the hour of waiting before the coach arrives is spent in a muffled, chilly silence. Leitmann obviously feels that his encouragement is falling on deaf ears, as he waddles away from you towards the carriage, circumnavigating the two foreign-looking merchants staggering out of it to clasp the coachman by the arm.

“And where is the University party?”

Next to you, the Dwarf spits into the brazier, and throws his skinny servant-girl a filthy look.

[LeSwordfish]

Rachel
Rachel was still on edge. She wouldn't be happy until she was out of the town. To tell the truth, she wouldn't be happy until she was out of the country.

Put it this way: there's a heavily-armed dwarf between them and you, right?

The thought was hardly comforting.

Standing in the snow, she tucked her hands into her cloak for warmth. "University party? They're out of their way, huh?" It was a poor attempt at conversation with Snorri, but anything beat standing in silence and the snow.

Her hand inside her cloak brushed the hilt of her sword. Now that was a comforting thought.

[Dead_Jester]

Wilhelm
The continued quiet, only pierced by the sharp shrill of vaporizing snowflakes, made Wilhelm visibly uneasy.

"Ulric is in a poor mood today; it seems the wolves of winter have awoken." he adds, a distinctly mournful echo in his voice.

Gazing at the sky and the falling snow before looking back to the warmth of the fire, Wilhelm appears to regain a measure of composure.

[Perius]

RachelYou and the most runtish looking of the others speak at the same time, his gaze wandering up to the sky.

"Ulric is in a poor mood today; it seems the wolves of winter have awoken."

Snorri, unsurprisingly enough, ignores your attempt at conversation, instead shuffling his feet and staring into the embers.

Wilhelm, Reinhold, EricaThe runtish clerk Wilhelm gazes mournfully at the sky, staring into the snows.

"Ulric is in a poor mood today; it seems the wolves of winter have awoken."

At the same time, the Dwarf's stringy companion turns to him and mutters,"University party? They're out of their way, huh?" She is ignored by her companion.

Everyone OOCJust to clarify - Rachel, Wilhelm, Reinhold and Erica are from now on in one group, Ottmar and Ottilyn in another. Spoilers only for private reflections and/or memories of the past few days.

I'm going to wait for everyone to do an introductory post for their character before moving on (although if you get interaction going, that'll be great).

Sorry for the shambles of a start!

[Malachite]

Reinhold, Rachel, Erica and Wilhelm



Reinhold alternates holding his hands near the brazier and rubbing his arms to keep the blood flowing against the frigid weather. Puffed and slashed sleeves might be fashionable but they're not particularly warm, and his mail shirt is drawing the cold in like oil up a wick. Gods know what it must be like for the poor sods fighting in the north. He grunts in agreement with the Dwarf as the coach arrives. Normally he'd be in better humour, having just got a new job, but it's hard to summon up the enthusiasm when waiting in the snow for an hour


He steps forward with Herr Leitmann, looking the coachman over as he does so. Always a good idea to know what kind of man you're trusting to carry you.

"So, Herr Leitmann," he begins. "This is the carriage which will take us to the professor, is it? How long is the journey?"

[Betrayer]

Erica, Rachel, Wilhelm

The slight woman pulls her plain cloak more tightly around her, staring into the brazier. When the clerk speaks, she smiles humourlessly.

"He tends to be, this time of year. Still, at least this should end the campaign season. There's been enough bloodshed to see us through 'til Hexenstag."

Her ugly smile vanishes, to be replaced by an equally unendearing scowl.

She finally looks away from the fire and glares round the circle, starting with the clerk, then the servant girl, and finally the dwarf, before frowning into the brazier again.

"I'm Erica Walker."

Perius
First thing in the morning, before the others arrive, Erika looks around for any plants still growing, with leaves still growing on them. (Somewhat optimistically).

[TheSummoner]

Ottmar

“And where is the University party?”

Ottmar looked over to Ottilyn.

"Think he means us?"

He had taken the job, but he still had trouble thinking of himself as working with the university. That was Ottilyn's role. He was just here to make sure she stayed in one piece.

Sorry for the delay in posting. Had to review the old thread and get myself caught up again.

[Perius]

Ottmar and OttilynBefore Otti can respond, another figure detaches itself from the brazier, this one a tall, dark-haired man with a huge zweihander strapped to his back. Stomping his way over to the fat man and the coachman, he appears to ask a question of the two men.

His words are lost in the wind and the snow, but you see the coachman gesture towards the carriage, and hear his reply, shouted towards the group at the brazier.

"They're in carriage thar, a yonug woman an' her man." The chubby fellow looks surprised and waddles over, poking his head in through the door and wrinkling up his nose at the stench from the long journey. When he speaks, he addresses himself to Ottmar in a refined, Reikland accent.

"Are you the Nuln University deputation?"

ReinholdThe coachman is short and blond-haired, with a cabbage-shaped nose and a pale, tired face. You notice that there's a chunk missing out of one of his ears, whilst his unkempt beard looks - and smells - like it hasn't received attention for several days. Wrapped in his travelling cloak and furs, he looks as round as Dr Leitmann himself.

"They're in the carriage thar, a young woman an' her man" he answers the both of you, gesturing to his coach, his voice more Nordland than anything else. Leitmann starts, eyes flicking to you. "A young woman? I had thought this was the Nuln party, but why anyone would send Groescher a girl for a task like this is beyond me."

Immediately, he waddles over to the carriage and sticks his head in the door, evidently determined to check up on the veracity of the coachman's story. The driver himself, meanwhile, simply shrugs and continues towards the others at the brazier, growling at them to get ready to board the vehicle, as he wants to get back on the road as soon as possible, before the weather worsens.

Everyone except Ottmar, Reinhold and OttilynThe Dwarf glances at Erica, and grimly nods. "No blood on this journey, lass, let's be hoping."

Glancing back into the fire, he gestures to his serving girl. "This here is Rachel, an' I'm Magnus. Bound for Tilea, we are - the lass has family there, and I mean to see her safely home." Before he can continue, however, the emerging figure of the coachman cuts him off. A short, blond man with a weary looking face, round as Dr Leitmann in his furs and cloaks, he glances gloomily at you all before gesturing towards his carriage.

"Get aboard, then, if you're coming. This weather'll only be getting worse."

RachelYou don't have a clue why Snorri is lying.

[LeSwordfish]

All but Ott, Ott, and Rein
The dark-skinned woman smiled politely, atlthough the smile never reached her eyes. "If it will get us out of the wind, I'd get on a coach across half the world."

Rachel headed for the coach. Some coaches had hot coals or warmers in them, and she would NOT be kept away if this one did.

To herself (So, GM only)
If Whatsis Dwarfferson wants to say we're headed for Tilea, who am I to argue. Just stay out of these other folks way.

[Dead_Jester]

Wilhelm, Rachel, Erica
With one last look around the courtyard, Wilhelm follows Rachel towards the coach. "Aye, best not tarry in this weather. Name's Wilhelm Talhoffer, son of Sigurd Tallhoffer."

DM only
As he leaves the courtyard, Wilhelm attempts to see if the tendrils of Shyish around his being have somewhat released since he left the vigil. "I am a thief and a murderer; it seems a poor fit for the light of Hysh." He ponders to himself.

[TheSummoner]

Ottmar

"Not me."

He gestures to Ottilyn.

"She's from the university, I'm just her guardian."

[Malachite]

All, assuming Ottilyn and Ottmar are the two in the coach



Reinhold walks up to the coach before turning back to the others around the brazier.
"Alright then," he calls. "The sooner we're on board, the sooner we can leave and the sooner we can arrive and get warm again. I'm looking forward to a hot meal at the other end!"

He pops his head into the carriage briefly with a quiet "Pleased to me you, sir, ma'am. I'm Reinhold, the bodyguard." before withdrawing and shouting back to the coachman.

"Do you fancy company up top? I reckon it'll be cramped enough inside without one such as me squashing them all up, and an extra pair of eyes might be of use in these times." He pauses for a moment. "Don't suppose this'd fit inside anyway," he says, gesturing with his greatsword.

[Betrayer]

Rachel, Wilhelm, Reinhold and Erica
Erica is silent, and trails behind the rest of the group. She glances indifferently up at the coachman, before lifting her cloak off the ground to step up into the coach.

Once inside, she looks around, wondering if she'll get a seat.

[Perius]

The coachman looks Reinhold up and down and grins. “Aye lad, reckon I ha’ a space up front, s’long as yer don’t mind the wind.” Next to the swordsman, Dr Leitmann pulls his head out of the interior, confusion on his face.

“The woman’s in charge? I knew Nuln was sending Groescher a doxie, but I never guessed – I was under the impression this was an academic mission!”

The wispy, brown-haired teenager sitting next to the hunched over bruiser inside the carriage is having none of it, however.

“Yes, I’m his assistant. As a hiring agent, my sex is really none of your business. Is this my retinue? Sorry I can’t get up, it’s a pleasure to meet you all.” Her words are sharp but her smile definitely seems genuine. “I’m Ottilyn, Ottilyn Hirtzel, but you can call me Otti. This is my protector, Ottmar – I’ve already met Reinhold, and, seeing as it’s freezing, can probably wait until we’re under way to be introduced to the rest of you.”

She turns and glances at the plump doctor. “Unless you’ve got other duties to perform, I think you’re dismissed. Sorry, but I don’t tip.” Leitmann is left spluttering in indignation as the sturdy Magnus, skinny Rachel, hard-eyed Erica and stooping Wilhelm clamber into the carriage past him. You think you hear the words “disgraceful!” and “Altdorf will certainly be informed!” somewhere in his incoherent fury, but the gist of it is lost as the coachman slams shut the passenger door and swings into the driver’s seat next to Reinhold.

“Nex’ stop, Navis,”he rumbles, pausing as a young serving man in a red waistcoat carries a slightly steaming bundle and a small keg of beer out of the inn for him. Tucking these into the bag hanging off the seat next to Reinhold, he waits long enough for his coach guard to have extracted suitable payment from Dr Leitmann before clicking his teeth and sending the coach rattling back out of the yard. Your journey has begun.

Inside the coach (everyone except ReinholdThe interior of the coach is musty and dark now the door is shut, the small shuttered windows on either side of the carriage giving you passengers a greatly reduced view of the outside world. The two wooden benches on which you sit are covered in musty, garlicky blankets, but they offer a welcome protection from the howling draft that slips in through the windows now the coach is moving.

Otti and Rachel have secured the warmer central seats for themselves, leaving Ottmar and Wilhelm perched on either side of Otti, and Magnus and Erica sandwiching Rachel. A small brass heater sits squat behind Otti’s forward-facing bench, and the heat it produces does something to combat the biting cold of outside.

Otti waits until everyone has settled themselves as comfortably as they’re able before fixing a friendly smile to her face. “Well, I think you should all introduce yourselves. Who here’s the cook?” She doesn’t pause. “I don’t like stews or black bread, and I’m allergic to fish, but apart from that I think you’ll find me easy enough. Assuming you’re the clerk,” she smiles at Wilhelm before glancing over Rachel and the dwarf, “what are you two? My maid servant and porter?”

Magnus’ answer shuts her up, and she falls quiet as the coach rattles towards its first stop, Magnus glowering out of the window on his side, visibly fuming.

Outside the coach (only Reinhold)The cold, already biting, only gets worse as the vehicle starts moving. A cold wind is blowing from the south, and, as the carriage bumps its way out of the chilly streets of Waldbach and into the country, you find the exposed driver’s seat gets the worst of it. Next to you, the coachman nurses himself deeper into the furs and blankets weighing him down, and on the back seat you can see his caravan guard doing the same.

Your more fashionable clothes are less able to withstand the chill, even with the help of the travelling cloak you wore on your journey from Altdorf, and you rapidly find yourself missing the warmer climes of distant Reikland. Fortunately, as the pair of brass pipes emerging from the roof of the cabin show, the carriage carries a pair of stoves, and you are grateful for the little warmth they provide as you rattle down bumpy dirt tracks.

By the time the snow flurry breaks it is several hours into the day, and you have lost all feeling in your hands and feet. Around you, the heaths of Sudenland stretch for miles, dotted with the clusters of oaks and ancient earthworks for which the region is famous. Sheep are still spread out, gnawing at the snow-dusted grass, and here and there the odd shack shows the summer sleeping-places of the local peasantry.

You once spot a pair of shepherds huddled round a campfire on a distant rise, but apart from that the land is deserted, save for the occasional curled-up corpse lying by the roadside, vagrants, pilgrims and refugees fallen to the cold of nights spent in the open.Ahead of you, the grey sky of the morning darkens with black clouds, and the coachman clicks the whip for the horses to go faster. “Need be in Navis before noon,” he mutters, his first recognition of your presence since leaving Waldbach.

[Perius]

Inside the coachNo-one breaks the silence between Otti and the Dwarf, and the rest of the morning is spent in an uncomfortable quiet as the coach rattles on through northern Sudenland. Through the small slits in the window you can see that the snowfall of the morning has stopped, the sky now blue and clear as it stretches over the rolling fenland which surrounds the carriage.

Around lunchtime, the carriage turns westwards off the hard dirt road, and a ramshackle group of peasant huts surrounded by a low palisade becomes visible to those who peer out of the windows of the vehicle. A few moments later, and you're rattling in through the gap in the wall that passes for a gate, gazing up at the three heavily scarred corpses dangling from the wooden walls with nooses round their necks. The vehicle swings to a halt, and the coachman starts beating on the side door. "Alrigh', every'un out! We go no further today!"

Read on the text after Reinhold’s spoiler

Outside the coach (Reinhold)The coachman doesn’t seem to want to expand on his comment, and the rest of the journey is spent in quiet, as the horses pick up their pace and trot faster towards Navis. The road remains clear, its mud still hard from the frost of the night, and it’s actually just before noon as you creep round a rise of mounds and see the hamlet of Navis lying in wait, a few small huts clustered round a large stone coaching inn and a whitewashed Sigmarite shrine.

You see the bodies not long after, three heavy-set men stripped down to the waist dangling from nooses slung over the low palisade surrounding the settlement. As the coach draws closer, you can see that each one also has wounds on their heads and chests – and, judging by the smell, they seem to have died pretty recently. The coachman has also noticed them, and he pulls the coach slower, staring at the bodies as he clatters his carriage off the main road down the little frozen track into the hamlet.

“Now, what’s ‘appened ‘ere?” he mutters, as much to himself as to you, passing through the gap in the palisade that passes for a gate and pulling the brake on outside the inn. “Alrigh’, every’un out! We go no further today!”

As everyone piles out of the vehicle, a forcibly cheerful Otti leading the way, a voice hails you from the high stone coaching inn in the centre of the settlement. Glancing up, you can see the broad face of a teenaged lad, grinning down in relief from behind a pointed crossbow. “We though’ yer were more of them, we did!” A few moments later, the heavy wooden door of the inn is pulled open, and a similarly broad-faced person pulls it open, although this time the face belongs to a young woman. “Dietmun’s out roun’ the shrine, burying Helma an’ Georj,” she offers, standing aside to give you free access to the inn.

Otherwise, the village seems entirely empty. A large bloodstain is visible across the side of one of the little huts near the inn, all of which appear deserted with broken doors and windows; beyond the tangled bramble bushes that run down one side of the inn, you can see a small crowd gathered round a little white shrine next to the far side of the palisade. From behind the woman in the door, you can see a pair of small children staring out from behind a heavy table next to an invitingly large fire.

WilhelmOOC: sorry that I’m doing this a bit late.

Although the tendrils of Shyish clung close to you on the journey from Waldbach, as you drew further away from the town of your crime you felt their grip loosen, until at last you can be sure that your sin no longer marks you out.

[TheSummoner]

Ottmar

"This place has seen better days."

Ottmar muttered, more to himself than anyone in particular. The road had left him with a thirst, but his desire to warm himself for a while won out and he made his way over to the fire and tried to find a place to sit.

For now, Ottmar is content to just listen in on any conversations that may be happening. If anything catches his interest, he may see about joining in.

[Dead_Jester]

Wilhelm

"Aye it has. Something happened here recently, and I'm not sure I want to know what." He adds, glancing to the bloodstain and distant shrine before entering the inn.

[Betrayer]

Erica

Erica dismounts from the carriage, and walks up to the door of the inn. Once she is sheltering inside the door, next to the woman who just opened it, she turns to her.

"Hi. I'm Erica. We've come down from Waldbach. What... What happened here?" She waves vaguely at the bloodstained hut and at the palisade, or rather, the bodies beyond.

[Perius]

Inside the innThe inside of the inn is welcomingly warm after the freezing cold of the road, and you gladly make for the crackling hearth. A large black iron pot containing some kind of stew is bubbling over the flames, and a trio of small children stare out at you with wide, curious eyes from under the wooden table in the middle. You notice that it, too, is stained with blood, whilst Ottmar realises that the stool he's managed to find a perch on is also balanced above a puddle of blood on the flagstoned floor.

"A band o' ruffians," the girl at the door explains, walking down the corridor into the main room in step with Erica, Otti and Magnus trailing behind them. "Come from the war, or the south, or somewhere. Dietmun' saw them ridin' down and got everyone inside the inn, just in case o' trouble, an' sure enough, there was. They kicked up a fuss out in the cold, but we weren't fool enough to let them in 'ere, so they broke into the 'ouses an' ransacked them."

Suddenly, a stomach curdling groan from beyond the door on the other side of the wooden bar that runs down one side of the room sounds out. The eldest child pales slightly, and second later it’s followed by another moan, this one equally chilling. The other two children remain with their eyes locked firmly on Wilhelm and Ottmar seated at the fire, evidently more interested in you than the sound. The door-girl gestures everyone to the

"A couple o' lads from hamlets up yonder were staying here, travellin' to join the roadwardens up at Waldbach. When the villains tried to get at their 'orses, they'd 'ad enough. We got four of 'em locked up in the cellar, an' another three yer saw on the way in." The groan comes again, causing the eldest kid to scuttle out of the room in fright. "Tha's one of the lads from the hamlets, took a knife to the stomach. I don't think he'll live."

The matter-of-fact tone of her voice is more chilling than the set of groans that follow. Behind her, Magnus is brushing blood off another wooden stool to make it dry enough to sit on. Otti simply leans on the doorframe, visibly pale.

Outside the inn (Reinhold)Erica and the door-girl turn and walk inside, deep in conversation. Otti and Magnus the Dwarf follow warily, leaving you and the two coachmen still out in the cold. Castor, the guard, swings down from his seat and waves cheerfully at the crossbowman before leading the coach round to the side of the building, presumably towards where the stables are.

You stand alone in front of the inn, the wind picking up slightly from the south, and watch as the crossbowman in the window starts to pick his nose. By the look of things, the gathering at the shrine has broken up, and a small procession of figures are making their way before you, led by a hefty man with tufty black hair, who scowls suspiciously as he lays eyes on you and your sword.

"An' who the hell are you?!?"

[Dead_Jester]

Wilhelm

Hearing the plaintive wails from inside seems to bring back bad memories in Wilhelm. "Excuse me madam, but could I have a look at the lad? If there is something I could do to help him, or at least ease his passing, I would gladly attempt it."

[Malachite]

Reinhold



Reinhold raises his right hand in greeting to the black-haired man, sword left clearly lowered. No sense antagonising the locals unnecessarily.

"I'm acting bodyguard for a small academic party out of Waldbach. Something to do with Nuln University. It looks like you've had some grief here. What did this to you?"

[Perius]

ReinholdThe tufty-haired man looks you up and down before grunting.

"Aye, yer could say that. Could 'ave done with a lad like you, at any rate. Had unexpected visitors in the night, became a bit of a scuffle." The rest of the procession are now trickling past you both, most heading towards various damaged huts but a handful heading into the inn itself. All of them look miserable.

"We've buried our dead, got a few of theirs still livin' down in cellar, but there's more of us missin' and several of theirs still on the run-about." He's now level with you, the rest of the burial party filing past, most heading into the ruined buildings but some trickling into the inn.

"I don't know about yer academics, but I'll be a-looking for volunteers fer search parties shortly, I'm thinking..."

His eyes are now firmly locked on the sword on your back.

Inside the inn (so everyone else)The lass glances across at Wilhelm in surprise and some fear. "Yer a priest, then?" she asks, some aggression in her voice. "Or one of those doctors? I'm tellin' you, we can't be a-doing with paying, not round these parts."

[LeSwordfish]

Inside the Inn
Rachel pretended to herself not to be unnerved by the blood, and sat down somewhere dry. At least it was warm. Her eyes slid round the room- not for anything particular, just for practice. This place probably wasn't worth it anyway. If they couldn't pay a doctor...

"Nice place." She offered politely, hoping that "if you take away the blood" was implicit. "I grew up in a village like this."

[TheSummoner]

Ottmar

Seeing the blood on the floor, Ottmar decided he'd rather stand.

"Was it just the lot you killed and captured or were there more that got away?"

[Dead_Jester]

Wilhelm - Inside the inn
Looking back at the young lady, Wilhelm motions for her to calm down. "Nay mylady, I'm simply a clerk, who happens to know some things about the human body, and I won't ask or accept payment from you or the man's kin. You allowed us into your hearth; the least I could do is to see if I can't bring assistance to those who share the same roof."

[Perius]

Inside the innThe girl calms down at Wilhelm's soothing words, although the suspicion still doesn't leave her voice. "Alright. Don't see nothing unreasonable about that... just wanted to get the rules straight now, b'fore anyone went accusing anyone of not payin' what's owed. The lads are through there," she continues, nodding at the door, from which another groan comes, this one louder than the previous ones.

Rubbing her hands on her dirty linen dress, she settles down on the table as Wilhelm heads towards the door, taking a few moments to register Ottmar's question.

"Others? Yeh, some of them got away, a handful of 'em too drunk or craven to fight, an' a few of the camp women too. All the better for us, otherwise we'd a been done for."

As Wilhelm opens the door a rancid smell of vomit wafts out of the cupboard-room beyond. You can see a tall dark-haired lad with a vicious rent down the side of his face, lying moaning on a straw pallet in the corner.

A chamber pot sits next to his head. Bending over him from a chair next to the pallet sits a pale young man with a pointed dark beard and an arm in the sling, snoring softly.

At the light, the man in the bed groans again, twitching on the hay, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.

Just for WilhelmThe man in the bed is clearly in the grips of a fever. Whether he will live and die, you cannot tell - and, as you look at his quivering form, you are also aware that you can only guess at what might help him one way or the other.

[Malachite]

Outside the inn


"You have some alive?" Reinhold replies. "So what are you planning? Make them tell you where they came from? Bloody bandits."
He spits on the floor to indicate his contempt.

"I'd gladly have offered to go searching for the lost or rest of the scum but, like I say, I'm under contract. As long as they're paying me, I have to stick close to the academics. Sorry to disappoint you. Anyway, I'd best head inside and see what their plan is. Hope you get your folk back safe and sound."

With a rueful expression on his face, he turns and enters the inn, ducking under the lintel of the door frame.


As he passes through the door, anyone looking at Reinhold will see a regretful look on his face for just a few moments before he lays eyes on the bar. Walking over, he orders a large mug of ale ("To help take the chill off") before settling down with the rest of the group - hopefully somewhere near the fire.

"Ulric's beard!" he exclaims as he finds a seat. "It's freezing on the top of that coach! How many days' journey have we got again?"

[Betrayer]

As Wilhelm walks through the door to the injured man, and the stench hits them, Erica shivers. She gathers her cloak around her, however, and heads through the door after him, mumbling something about how she might be able to help.

[TheSummoner]

Ottmar

Ottmar clenched and unclenched his fists.

"Sickening. Good men fight and die in the north while the strong prey on the weak in the south."

Ottmar muttered, disgusted.

[Perius]

ReinholdThe inside of the inn is welcomingly warm after the freezing cold of the outdoors, and you gladly make for a stool next to Ottmar at the crackling hearth. A large black iron pot containing some kind of stew is bubbling over the flames, whilst a bloodstained wooden table stands in the centre of the room. Ottmar's stool also stands in a bloody puddle, whilst Otti and Magnus the dwarf stand awkwardly at the fringes of the room, watching on.

The girl who answered the door is seated at the table, opposite the entrance to a small room where two wounded men can be seen, one sleeping in a chair and another groaning feverishly from a raised pallet-bed. Wilhelm and Erica hang about the doorway, looking in at their forms. The servant-girl Rachel is standing by the bloodstained table, from under which the curious eyes of two small children are staring.

OOC: feel free to read Betrayer and TheSummoner's posts immediately above this one

Reinhold takes a seat next to Ottmar, successfully avoiding the blood puddle as he crosses the floor. At the sight of his impressive bulk, the two small children retreat from the table, one moving over to stand by the bar-girl's skirt, the other one trying to position herself behind the Dwarf Magnus, who mutters and steps aside, visibly uncomfortable.

Laughing, the local girl pulls the children close to her - "they're no used ter such big lads round here, sir" - before Otti, visibly unimpressed at the Dwarf's attitude, attempts to answer Reinhold's question.

"We think the Professor is in Pahl - he was there last - so hopefully we'll be able to find him there. If not," she smiles apologetically, "we'll probably be on the road a bit longer."

"In any case, it'll be another two days." The coachman and the guard have now emerged from the corridor beyond, both looking exhausted. It's the coachman who speaks.

"We cannae go on any further today, wha' with the storm whipping up ter the south - an' me an' Castor here needs have a sleep before continuing, been awake most part o' two days. If we leaves tomorrer at the crack, we'll be in Pahl by sundown, like enough." Castor, the guard, nods in agreement, flashing a grin at the bar girl before collapsing on a stool against the bar.

The coachman, however, isn't finished.

"You all heard the news? Terrible business... Dietmun' - tha's the bailiff - reckons some got away, he's worried for the hamlets in-country, thinks there might be trouble for 'em if they're not warned." His gaze lands on where Ottmar and Reinhold are sitting, relaxed, by the fire. "Might be some folks could lend a hand with that. If I weren't so young, I might do meself."

EricaA single look puts your mind to rest. The man is evidently feverish from his head wound, but you reckon he's a chance at surviving. It's clear to you, however, that he shouldn't be moved, and the bandage on his head evidently needs a change. If you had any fresh rosemary, you might also be able to make him a restorative broth that would greatly increase his chances.

If.

[Malachite]

Reinhold squats briefly, a smile on his face. "No need to worry, lassies. I'm no robber," he says with a wink.

He listens to what Ottilyn and the coachman have to say, gaze flicking across to Ottmar with the coachman's before coming back to rest on Ottilyn.

"Well, ma'am," he begins. "You're in charge here. How do you want to play this? I'm contracted to help protect this party and that's what I'll do, but we could detour through some of the hamlets if you want. Doesn't seem right to leave them unwarned and vulnerable."

[TheSummoner]

Ottmar

Ottmar nods and turns to Ottilyn.

"If you say there's time for it, I'm in."

[LeSwordfish]

Rachel glanced at Snorri, waiting for his reaction before she weighed in herself. Inside, though she was horrified. Slow to a crawl and drop into all these tiny manure-holes on their way through the country? Instead of speeding on comparatively swift wings away from all her problems. She struggled to keep the look of dismay off her face.

Then again, she thought, every problem is a new opportunity.

[Dead_Jester]

Wilhelm, in the room with the injured man
Turning to Erica, Wilhelm points to the man. "I am not sure how I could help him, but changing the bandages and cleaning the wound cannot hurt. A poultice might alleviate the fever, but it won't help with the true cause of the issue."

[Betrayer]

Erica looks at the injured man for a moment, impassive. "We should do what we can for him, in any case. I've seen men who've survived worse. I think that a rosemary broth could help him, if only we had some. I suppose there might be some around, but we'd never find it under the snow."

She sighed. "We don't have anything to change his bandages to in any case. I'll go and ask them outside if they have some, or some rosemary."

She turns on her heel and marches back out of the room into the main section of the inn.

Erica bangs through the door from the side room and walks over to the woman who had greeted them on arrival, ignoring the rest of the group.

"We think we may be able to save him. Do you have any fresh bandages? Even better, do you have any rosemary? It could make a difference to saving his life."

Her tone is stony and matter of fact - perhaps even a little more aggressive than polite.

[Perius]

Otti frowns. "Our mission is to get to the Professor as fast as possible. I don't see why we should risk our limbs on someone else's fight." She's cut off by the Dwarf.

"Bandits mean trouble. Better ter meet them with the locals at oor backs terday than alone on the road tomorrer." The coachman grunts in agreement, shifting himself over to slouch at the bar next to his guard.

"The Dawi's right, miss. Hamlets here aren't too far off, yer'll be back by nightfall. Two Black Rams!" This last is hollered in vain at the bargirl, who's deep in conversation with the emergent Erica.

"Bandages? Yer can use shirts, I suppose... as fer rosmary, we don't have none here, but there's a wise woman over in Lewek Water who might have some." Next to her, Gustav makes the sign of the comet and spits. The coachman moves round the bar and starts serving himself from the ale tap.

Otti, glancing back at Ottmar and Reinhold, shrugs. "Very well. You have my permission to go." From the determined look in Magnus' eye as he turns back to the door outside, Rachel can sense she's not going to be given the choice. "Right. Huntin' party, with me. Let's go find this bailiff."

[LeSwordfish]

Rachel opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. For Ranald's sake. "If you need me on the hunting party, let me know. Sharp eyes." And sick to death of sitting around.

[Dead_Jester]

Wilhelm
Walking out into the common room, Wilhelm points back at the wounded man. "We should at least change his bandaging for now, we'll see if we can't find any rosemary while out and about." Turning to Rachel, he continue "Right with you lass. I am not much of a fighter, but I might have skills of some use, and these people look like they need all the help they can get right now."

[Malachite]

Reinhold nods.

"Fair enough, let's go warn these folks," he says. "Might even get the chance to take care of the bandit scum once and for all."

[Betrayer]

"Shirts then - it'll have to do. Can you give us some?" She holds out her hand to the girl expectantly. "Lewek Water is one of these hamlets."

Raising her voice to address the group at large. "If it'll be safer on the road later if we try and do something now, we should act now." She turns back to the girl, still waiting for a shirt.

[TheSummoner]

Ottmar

"Aye. I'd welcome the chance."

[Perius]

Three hours later, and the group of travellers is strung out across a wind-lashed hillside beneath a stormy sky. The clouds loom threateningly over you, and the dampness in the air suggests the weather is about to break.

Ottmar is out in front, huddled into his cloak, Magnus and Vormann, your guide from Navis, not far behind him. Erica and Reinhold are keeping good pace, and in the rear, stumbling over clumps of grass, come the two urbanites Wilhelm and Rachel, both shivering from the cold and thoroughly miserable. Ottilyn's decision to stay back at the inn and tend to the wounded men now seems eminently sensible.

In the north to your right small patches of sunlight are fleeing from the advancing clouds. A cluster of huts Vormann has identified as Stannhaffen hamlet stands in one such patch. You know Dietmund the bailiff has led his part of the posse to warn the population there, and feel a pang of jealousy.

To the west ahead, the road to Lewek Water seems to have only bad weather to offer.

“It’s not far now!” Vorrmann pauses, leaning on his halberd. “Just over the next rise an’ we’ll be there!” New energy filling your limbs, you pick up the pace.

Then, from over the hill, you hear screams.

[TheSummoner]

Ottmar

"Looks like we found the bandits."

Grabbing his axe, Ottmar ran towards the source of the scream.

[Dead_Jester]

Wilhelm
Moving after Ottmar, Wilhelm waves for the group to keep together.

"Lad, I know you probably like cracking skulls, but if you want to keep yours in one piece, you better not run into an ambush." he adds to the eager man.

[TheSummoner]

Ottmar

Without slowing his stride, Ottmar glared back.

"I don't like anything about this. Doesn't mean I'm going to sit on my ass and let men prey on folks weaker than them, though."

[LeSwordfish]

"Just so we're clear, I'm not in favour of skull-cracking." Rachel reported, drawing her dagger and peering into the darkness around. "Mind you, I'm even less in favour of being ambushed."

[roll0] vs 40 perception.

[Betrayer]

Erica starts jogging after Ottmar hisses at the others, "For Sigmar's, be quiet! We might be able to surprise them, if you do not fancy screaming at each other louder than them over there."

[Malachite]

Reinhold

Unslinging his greatsword, Reinhold follows Ottmar over the hill.
"Ambush? They're busy cutting down the villagers, not waiting for people they have no idea are here!" he says angrily. "Besides, better to face the bandits now, while screams won't bring reinforcements. Once the attack is over, we'll be facing the whole lot of them at once. Oh, and everyone we came to help will be dead. Bit of a problem, that!"

[Perius]

Ignoring Rachel’s words of caution, Ottmar leads the charge over the crest of the hill, the rest of the party hammering on his heels.

There seems to be no sign of ambush, nor any spot on the windswept hillside from where a group of men could conceivably launch one.

The hamlet on the other side is a pathetic little thing, a few wattle-and-daub huts clustered round a small stone well. It lies about a hundred yards from where the hunting party now stands, slightly downhill on a shoulder of the current hill.

From where you currently stand you can see a group of people struggling in the middle of it. A man’s body lies stretched out on the ground, and a pair of men in dirty mail seem to be holding three other people back whilst a third armoured man drags a wailing child towards the well. Aside from the screams, anything else being said is snatched away in the wind.

Between you and it lie a couple of low drystone walls and a handful of grubby sheep, all utterly in the open. Wilhelm, Erica and Ottmar spot a brushwood hut over about thirty yards to the left, below which starts the entrance to a bush-filled gully which runs on a roundabout route to pop out near the settlement, by where a couple of elderly-looking cows are watching the scene with unnatural calmness.

One of the cows is definitely a bull.

It's apparent to you that taking the gully will simply delay your arrival.

[Malachite]

Keeping low, Reinhold makes aa quick estimation in his head. 100 yards downhill over flat ground is what, 15 or 20 seconds once armour and walls are accounted for? On the other hand, a stealthy approach doesn't look to offer much advantage. The group aren't particularly outnumbered, and the longer they wait, the more people will die - the child likely first. There could be more in the huts, but then wouldn't they be helping control the villagers?

He shrugs, hefts his greatsword and begins to run downhill. With the wind covering the sound and the villagers occupying their attention, hopefully he can still get fairy close before the bandits notice him.