Tales of the Old World 18

<Tales_GM> The year is 2512 on the Imperial Calendar...
<Tales_GM> As the masses of worshippers begin to pile into the Sigmarite Cathedral, you find yourselves in a sea of bodies.
* Roderick draws himself up to his full height, striding through the sea of bodies with an unflinching resolve, conveying that he will trample anyway unfortunate enough to stand in his path.
<Tales_GM> Sigmar's faithful take the message clear as day, and give the group wide enough berth to pass by without squeezing through the mass of bodies.
<Tales_GM> "Seig!"
<Tales_GM> "Seig!" the call repeats itself from somewhere in the crowd, even as it begins to thin.
<Seig> "Hey pretty sure I know that voice."
<Seig> "Rod can you use that awe inspiring presence of yours to clear away over."
<Tales_GM> "Is that you, lad?" the voice calls before trailing off somewhat, "Out of the way you scrawny bugger... Seig, over here!"
* Seig attempts to make his way to the voice.
* Roderick raises an eyebrow at being called 'Rod'. "We can wait here for them certainly."
<Seig> "Aye its me." Seig calls back.
<Tales_GM> A tall man with long, greying hair and a wide smile waves you over. He is broad-shouldered and well muscled, though both are hidden by a generous layer of fat and a large, bristly beard that grows right over his belly.
<Seig> "Fates bring you to Altdorf too Josef? How long has it been?"
<Tales_GM> "Aye, too long," he closes in for a firm hug, and a rustle of Seig's hair.
<Tales_GM> "Striking out on your own at last, eh?" he says with a grin.
<Tales_GM> "Not before time, you young rascal! I knew you had more in you than local voyages on those rotten crews!"
* Seig returns the embrace. "You could say that, its been an interesting couple of months I'll say that atleast, I'm sure I'll get a chance to fill you in over a drink or three."
<Tales_GM> "Why that's just the stuff. Tell me all about your misadventures, and... well, and who are your companions? Not locals, clearly!" he laughs heartily.
<Seig> "Everyone this is Josef I've known him since I was a kid and is probably a good part of the reason I'm not stuck on a logging barge running the same logging shipment from my village every fortnight."
<Seig> "Hes got a hell of a lot of stories and only some of them are embellished!"
* Seig turning back to Josef "Ran into these lot after the barge I was working on got impounded at Ubersreik. "And no it wasn't my fault."
<Tales_GM> "Oi, you cheeky rascal, Josef Quartjin needs no embellishment!" he says with a gentle, yet deceptively strong push.
<Tales_GM> "Not your fault, eh? Does its bargemaster know that, then?" he says with a laugh.
<Tales_GM> "Been in the capital long?" He asks, directing the question to the group.
<Far_Foririan> "No, we just arrived a bit ago." he says to Josef.
* Seig rolls his eyes at the comment but decides to save the explanation.
* Roderick nods politely to the older man. "We've just arrived and we have some business to attend to. Stay and catch up if you wish Sieg or you can invite him to sup with us later on after our work is done. There is the matter of paying the coach company and other errands. Mr. Quartjin." Roderick nods once more.
<Tales_GM> "Well then, before any of these deceiving locals get a hold of you, let me be your guide around the city. Do you know the company you're looking for?"
<Seig> "Not been here long enough to join their ranks then eh?"
<Roderick> "The offer is appreciated, Cartak Lines."
<Tales_GM> "Across the river, then. Perfect. I know just the little place we can end up in when business is concluded; the old Boatman Inn.
<Seig> "How long have you been staying in the big city anyways?"
<Tales_GM> "Not long, he shakes his head, and won't be staying longer than I have to."
<Seig> "Any particular reason or just too dull and safe?"
<Tales_GM> "Truth be told, the city doesn't sit well with me. Boatman's Inn serves the best beer north of the Reik, I says, but it's a strange place..."
<Tales_GM> "We have a saying on the river," he speaks more to the group now than Seig, "city folk are strange folk. Who wouldn't be, living cooped up among buildings all day? I'm more keen to talk about seeing the Emperor! What was that all about?"
<Seig> "We got no idea either, helluva welcome though."
<Tales_GM> A thin, balding man approaches your group without much concern for personal space, and takes Kruger by the sleeve, enticing you with promises of low prices.
<Tales_GM> "Oi! Back off, you bleedin' parasite!" Josef says, swatting the man away with his natural heft.
<Tales_GM> Turning to you once more he adds, "If you're keen to make any purchases, I can help you find quality merchants with fair prices. None of these pilgrim scaplers preying on visitors..."
<Roderick> "That offer is quite generous Mr. Quartjin."
<Tales_GM> Following Josef, he points out several such locations, along the so-called Street of a Hundred Taverns. A very busy street, lined with taverns, hostels eateries, inns, and endless shops and stalls catering to nearly every need.
<Tales_GM> "And there she is..." he points to a corner on a forking of the street. The entire triangle formed is taken up the Cartak central Coach House. From coach berths, to a massive storage warehouse and adjacent stables... the size of this operation becomes ever-clearer in your eyes.
<Tales_GM> "A man with his own barge has little business with establishments like these. I'll wait for you out by that sweetbread stall."
<Seig> "Hopefully it shan't be long"
<Tales_GM> Dietrich takes the lead, motioning Shivva to accompany him through the warehouse entrance.
<Tales_GM> "We will need these to be processed at once," he explains.
<Roderick> "Lead the way Dietrich."
<Tales_GM> Once in the warehouse, Dietrich instructs a few of the in-house stevedores to unload from the hand cart.
* Shivva_Runna follows Dietrich and drags the cart.
<Tales_GM> Producing the parchment forms from his coat, he disappears into an adjacent room.
<Tales_GM> "It is not, sir, a barge line! We have wagons. Terrestrial wagons," a man says, slamming the door open.
<Tales_GM> Dietrich emerges after him.
<Tales_GM> "So, Dietrich. I ask you plainly," the man turns to face him.
<Tales_GM> "Do you have 150 Crowns to replace it?"
<Tales_GM> When no answer comes, he continues. "I thought not."
<Tales_GM> "An indentured contract will be signed, and you will work off your debt. To the contrary, debtor's prison will be your new home."
<Tales_GM> "Markus, bring us a quil, and contract."
<Tales_GM> "You two, take the hand cart. It may fetch a few pennies," he orders a pair of stevedores to Shivva's cart.
* Roderick steps forward. "That handcart isn't property of you or your company, furthermore you won't be signing Dietrich into a life of slavery over an accident." Roderick gestures at himself and the party. "I can assure you this is not the route you wish to take. Afrock." Roderick gestures to block the path of the stevedores.
* Afrock moves into position and glares.
<Tales_GM> "Wait," he says instructing the stevedores to stop.
<Tales_GM> "And just who are you to be telling me how to resolve a matter of private debt?"
<Tales_GM> At this juncture, quil and contract are brought out by a clerical aide.
<Roderick> "Roderick Haynes, Witch Hunter, and a passenger of the coach that was made so poorly that it collapsed and endangered our lives. Frankly you're lucky we paid at all instead of seeking recompense. Take the payment from us as a blessing and move away from this. I can assure pursuing it further will not result in your favor."
<Tales_GM> "You foul our relationship with the Witch Hunters?" he says, turning to Dietrich again.
<Tales_GM> "I assure you, sir, we will deal with things fairly. Please accept my apologies on behalf of the Cartak Lines."
<Roderick> "You are the one fouling that sir. Dietrich was nothing but professional and loyal. So much so that he braved the roads and returned the valuables aboard, despite the difficulties presented. I'm afraid I cannot let such a man become an indentured slave as a reward for his loyalty."
<Tales_GM> "Sir, the craft behind each of our coaches costs valuable gold - to say nothing of the lost beasts."
<Roderick> "The risks of an operation spanning the country I'd say. Leave it alone, in fact." Roderick turns to address Dietrich. "Join me and put this business behind you. Join us and become valued for your loyalty."
<Seig> "Attempting to pass off operating risks of your business onto your staff when they have no power over the conditions of the road is simply you trying to cover your own back."
<Seig> "Don't try to become a bargemaster with that attitude."
<Tales_GM> The man's eyes dart between Roderick and Seig.
<Tales_GM> Before a reply can come, Dietrich pushes past him.
<Tales_GM> "Arrest me, Robert, or let me leave," Dietrich says, standing between Roderick and the now wordless man.
<Tales_GM> "Leave the premises, and don't come back to ask for further employ!"
<Seig> "Shivva make sure you don't leave your cart."
* Shivva_Runna grabs his cart. "This is mine."
* Afrock prepares to leave and act as a rearguard for company.
* Roderick leads the group out of the building and towards the designated sweetbread stall.
<Roderick> "Glad to have you aboard Dietrich."
<Tales_GM> "With respect... what will I do?"
<Seig> "Think that went about as well as it could have..."
<Afrock> "Try not to die."
<Far_Foririan> "You can join us on our great adventures!"
* Seig glances at Afrock and Far Foririan in turn, questioningly.
<Far_Foririan> "What, they have been exciting so far." he says to Seig.
<Afrock> "I agree with Far."
<Tales_GM> "There you are! What took you so long? I thought I might empty that cart of sweetbread waiting on you lot!" Josef says with a hearty laugh.
<Roderick> "Well not only will you have the chance at adventure like my friends have said but you can always drive like you did before if that is what you wish. We intend on acquiring our own mode of transportation. Though it may not be as glamorous as the carriages you're used to driving haha."
<Tales_GM> "Glamor or not, I can drive," Dietrich says before turning to Josef.
<Tales_GM> "Now," the large, jolly riverman says, "where to next?"
<Seig> "I think that's all our immediate concerns? I wouldn't be surprised if Dietrich here needed a drink either."
<Tales_GM> "Now that I can do. Plenty of quality shops on our way, too!"
<Tales_GM> As Josef leads you towards his favorite watering hole and its nearby stores, you spot a skinny preacher dressed in rags stands at the side of the street. He clutches tight to a scroll as he screams his prophecy to any who listen.
<Tales_GM> As you pass by him, the wild-eyed seer locks gaze with you and gasps.
<Tales_GM> Left arm pointing, he screams revelation as his eyes roll up into his head.
<Tales_GM> "I see Darkness Gathering as the Last House of Joy Falls - beware, for Shadows Over Bögenhafen stir!" he pauses making a strange gesture with his clawed fist, "Then Beloved Morr, resplendent in Vestments of Green, stands astride Sigmar's Great River. Yea, I see Death of the Reik and I despair! For then the Stained Hand guides the Once Mighty Lord, and this Power Behind the Throne
<Tales_GM> curses us all," with another pause he gasps for air, "Lo, the Horned Rat then claims the Broken King atop his Throne of lies, and the White Walls Fall, leaving our Empire in Ruins!" He finishes by gripping at his chest, "Tremble in fear, ye mighty, for the End Times have come!"
<Tales_GM> "City folk are strange folk..." Josef repeats to himself.
<Tales_GM> "Perhaps not..." Kruger replies.
Tales_GM> "House Jungfreud - the Last House of Joy" he continues.
<Tales_GM> "Yet, perhaps it is nothing. A tired mind interpreting a madman's ramblings."
<Roderick> "Hmmmm, perhaps so Kruger."
<Tales_GM> "Aye, pay the man no mind," Josef shakes his head. Let's get your affairs settled, and on to share good drink!"
<Seig> "I wonder if the dukes son ever got found in Ubersreik..."
<Tales_GM> Spending the next several hours conducting trade, Josef at last leads you to the Boatman's Inn, eager to share the establishment with you.