Tales of the Old World 14

<Tales_GM> The year is 2512 on the Imperial Calendar...
<Tales_GM> Indistinct shouts and calls are exchanged between the riders. Now at full-gallop, they will be upon you in a matter of seconds, weapons drawn.
<Roderick> "Stop where you are by order of Witch Hunter Haynes or face the consequences!"
<Tales_GM> With two swift motions of a blade, the man presumably in charge splits the riders in two flanking lines.
<Tales_GM> "All weapons on the ground, or be cut down!"
<Tales_GM> "The Emperor's colors!" Kruger cries, pointing at the plumed riders.
<Tales_GM> The priest drops his staff.
<Roderick> At Kruger's words Roderick quickly changes his tune. "Do as they say!"
* Far_Foririan drops his staff to the ground.
* Roderick drops his blade.
* Afrock drops his axe.
* Shivva_Runna tosses his crowbar and dagger to the ground.
<Tales_GM> Pointing sharply at each of you with the point of his blade, the lead rider issues clear commands for where you are to stand, and how clearly visible your hands must be.
* Far_Foririan makes his way over as he also take off his bow and drops it to the ground along with his short sword.
* Seig twiddles his thumbs wondering what the riders are up to.
<Tales_GM> A wiry man of average height, dark skin, and deep-brown eyes, the lead rider remains atop his mount while his subordinates dismount.
<Tales_GM> "Sergeant, they were attempting to rid themselves of the evidence - bodies burning in a pile."
<Tales_GM> "What a mess..." another says looking at the pooled blood and dead horses.
<Tales_GM> After eyeing each of you up and down, the sergeant finally speaks.
<Roderick> "Lies. I was performing my duties and burning mutants. The innocents are buried in a marked grave."
<Tales_GM> "You will speak when questioned, and at no other moment."
<Tales_GM> "Look closely," he commands at the rider by the fire. "See you signs of mutation among the dead?"
<Tales_GM> After some prodding with a long stick, the reply comes with a simple nod.
<Tales_GM> "Explain. Select your words carefully."
<Roderick> "We are traveling to Eilhart and then afterwards to the capitol. Our coach remains on the road where we were assaulted by a mutant. The horses were spooked and bolted into the forest. Upon searching we came across this grizzly scene before you. There were five mutants surrounding the upturned and looting the innocents. I was thereby charged to perform my duties and slay the corrupted. I and my compatriots rushed their position and disposed
<Roderick> of them in short order."
<Tales_GM> "Witch Hunter?"
<Roderick> "We then piled the tainted and burned them, while burying the victims in a grave. We had just completed the burial when you broke from the treeline."
<Roderick> "I am. Under Witch Hunter Wittenheim."
<Tales_GM> "Of what Temple?"
<Tales_GM> "The Sigmarite Cult, your lordships, in Altdorf," Kruger says, pathetically.
<Tales_GM> "Speak without cause again, and I will have your tongue," the Sergeant snaps at the priest.
<Roderick> "Excuse Acolyte Laut, as I am sure these events have been trying for him. The answer to your question is the Temple of Sigmar. One of the reasons we travel to the capitol is to return a Sigmarite Idol to the Temple where it belongs."
<Tales_GM> "Can you prove this?"
<Roderick> "I have the idol in our coach."
<Tales_GM> He nods.
<Tales_GM> "All of you, right that coach. And put that animal out of its misery."
* Roderick nods. "You heard him. Let's get that coach righted."
<Afrock> "I'll handle the horse."
<Roderick> Roderick retrieves his blade from the ground. "Very well Afrock."
* Afrock slowly picks up his axe and prepares to put the animal out of it's misery
* Far_Foririan picks up his weapons and then helps with righting the coach.
<Tales_GM> The coach is righted with brute, uncontrolled force, nearly tipping over the other side before snapping back upright, slamming against several of you.
* Far_Foririan its able to back away in time to not get hit by the coach.
<Afrock> "Ow.'
* Roderick grunts as the coach slams into his leg
* Shivva_Runna grabs his right leg and says "Sssshh, Ah! Fuck!"
<Tales_GM> Your horses are brought back by one of the riders, having been found grazing a short distance away into the woods. Horses are reattached to coaches, and makeshift repairs are made to damaged harnesses.
<Tales_GM> The non-mutant bodies are dug out of their fresh, narrow grave, and piled on the coach at the scene of the ambush, without any effort by the riders to identify bodies.
<Tales_GM> "I will have to take in sworn statements at the next inn," the Sergeant explains, "Bodies will be handed to the cult of Moor nearby, as is proper."
<Seig> "Uhhh... so... what happened?"
<Afrock> "A lot."
* Seig cocks his head slightly, but decides not to be concerned.
<Roderick> "It is a tale to be told as we continue our journey, we have been waylaid long enough and we must follow the riders to the next inn to give our statements."
<Tales_GM> "They are bound for Eilhart. We make a stop at the Seven Spokes for their statements and call on the Doomsayer there," you can hear the sergeant say to his men nearby at they mount up.
<Roderick> "Everyone into the coach, Dietrich follow the riders to the Seven Spokes."
* Far_Foririan makes his way up and into their coach, "Well this has been a exciting day so far."
* Afrock gets in the coach.
<Tales_GM> "What will we say about..." Kruger lowers his tone to a faint whisper here, "Lord Lieberung?"
<Shivva_Runna> "Glad at least some one is enjoying this." He gets into the coach.
<Roderick> "He was no such Lord, Kruger. He was a mutant that can change shape. I intend on informing them of that to a degree."
<Tales_GM> "With respect, an acolyte of the Sigmarite Temple in Nuln was among the dead traveling with him. A note signed by Priestess Zicherman of the same, swearing to know who the Lord is and confirming his identity, was found. Interrogator, I fear you are making a mistake."
<Roderick> "Then what reason can you provide for him wearing the face of one of our group?"
<Tales_GM> "I have none," he shakes his head. "But I will not doubt the word of those of our Temple."
<Roderick> "Do you not think that a face-changer could've assumed a different form for the purposes of fooling them as well?"
<Tales_GM> Outside, you realize you share the road with a merchant train heading in the opposite direction.
<Tales_GM> "I can only speak to the righteousness of the faithful."
<Seig> Seig strikes up conversation with the merchants and manages to pawn his spare medical supplies learning a thing or two in the conversation before catching back up with his own coach.
<Far_Foririan> "I will say, what is the chances of the mutant change its face to look like one of us?" he says at the same level of volume.
<Far_Foririan> "I had a though it could be some sort of magic but its is something I am unaware of."
* Seig Seig leans down from the top of the coach and knocks on the window, once its opened he tosses a coin at Shivva. "Debt paid with interest."
* Seig once comfortable Seig pulls out his other fish and enjoys his dinner.
* Shivva_Runna takes the coin.
<Roderick> "I will give my accounting as I see it. I will not lie to them, though I know you would like to capitalize on such an opportunity Shivva."
<Tales_GM> The rest of the journey to the stop-over is uneventful. The layout of the Inn of the Seven Spokes is similar to the Coach and Horses, perhaps it is owned by the same greater company. Three coaches are staying overnight, so the inn is crowded, but the Sergeant is able to secure a room to take your statements. He allows you time to grab a meal and settle your thoughts, allowing you to
<Tales_GM> report in when ready.
<Tales_GM> Your testimony is taken, each of you heard one by one. By the end of it all, you are dismissed without further questioning, the papers identifying Kastor Lieberung as an heir to a fortune seized as evidence.
<Seig> Seig sleeps in the common room using his bag as a pillow keeping his gear underneath it.
* Roderick enjoys a decent meal and fine ale before retiring to his room to rest and prepare for the continuing journey.
<Tales_GM> Food and lodging paid for, the night passes without incident, giving way to a windy morning.
<Seig> On the walk to the river with Afrock Seig shares what he had learned gossiping.
<Afrock> "That's interesting."
<Tales_GM> A door slams, loudly, in the bar room as the wind pulls it shut. This awakes most of the guests who can shortly be heard groaning and rising in their rooms.
* Roderick starts as the loud slam breaks his concentration as he made his morning prayers.
* Far_Foririan is wakened from the loud sound of the door being slammed from the bar room.
<Tales_GM> When Seig and Afrock return from their short trip, it is Phillipe who eagerly urges you all on. He claims that he can smell the vineyards beckoning him onward.
<Tales_GM> Indeed, by the time Dietrich has prepared the coach, the Bretonnian has already left the Inn.
* Roderick packs his things back into the coach and climbs inside.
* Seig having all his things with him climbs aboard.
* Afrock prepares for the journey
* Far_Foririan packs his items into the coach and get aboard.
* Shivva_Runna packs up his belongings and heads to the coach. He is half asleep.
<Tales_GM> As though matching its master's energy, Phillipe's horse is unusually rowdy, uneasy in a distinct way... excited.
<Tales_GM> You see the Bretonnian riding energetically up and down the road, even diverging to the top of the low rolling hills of the area to get a better vantage of the countryside.
<Roderick> "Onto Eilhart, Dietrich. We must make up for lost time."
<Tales_GM> "To Eilhart, aye," he nods.
<Tales_GM> "Come, Dietrich, you bore the beasts! Push them, let them run and feel the air on their face!" Phillipe teases the coachman as he brings his mount to a trot next to the coach.
Tales_GM> About an hour into this leg of the journey, you pass by a cavalry detachment riding in the opposite direction. Their colors mark them as a regiment under the Emperor's command.
<Tales_GM> Deciding to forego any further stops, you pass by two villages intent on reaching Eilhart. By mid-afternoon, you almost feel Bretonnian... the vineyards are indeed giving the air a slightly sweet character, and just over a hill and a turn on the road you spot the bridge-crossing into the bountiful lands of Eilhart.
<Tales_GM> "Do you see it now? Ah, it is like being back in fair Bretonnia," Phillipe says as the fields become visible.
<Roderick> "I suppose that is the cause for the extra spring in your step Phillipe?"
* Far_Foririan looks out the window of the coach looking at the area they are approaching.
<Seig> "All I can smell is the shit from those pastures" Seig states, gesturing to the closer enclosures.
<Tales_GM> "That Imperials are able to produce a drinkable wine is remarkable enough. That it can almost pass as a proper Bretonnian vintage? Why, that's what makes Eilhart renowned among my people."
<Seig> "Pretty enough mind."
* Shivva_Runna looks out the window of the coach.
<Tales_GM> To your right, a vast enclosed field holds herds of sheep, goats, and cattle.
* Shivva_Runna thinking out loud "Never thought I'd see this place again."
<Tales_GM> Riding into the town proper you can see the town's age... and how remarkably unchanged most of it appears to be. Old buildings are used for all sorts of things, the only new construction being wooden hamlets dotting the land where fieldhands are able to live near the soil in which they labor day after day.
<Roderick> "Alright Shivva, we'll stop at the Inn then go and see about this...debt, of yours."
<Shivva_Runna> "Right, Boss. Hoping to settle my business here as soon as possible."
<Tales_GM> You ride into the center of town, just off Sigmarplatz, where one of the town's better-known taverns stands. The Drum and Hat is popular with tourists looking to sample a range of the region's light, hoppy beers, as well as discerning locals keeping tabs on the town's slow expansion out of wine and into other alcoholic beverages.
<Roderick> "Which inn do you recommend Shivva?"
<Roderick> "This is your home after all and it doesn't appear as though much has changed over the years."
<Shivva_Runna> "Let me think for a moment..."
<Shivva_Runna> "There's a old woman who ran a boarding house. Hurkle was her name. Let's see if she's still in business."
<Tales_GM> Widow Hurkle's Boarding House is indeed still in operation, though the place is drab, and generally without much merriment. It will do to stay the night, however.
<Roderick> "An inn Shivva. Not...this place."
<Seig> "Looks cheap - perfect."
<Shivva_Runna> "Looks like it hasn't changed much at all."
<Roderick> "That is an issue in some regards. An inn Shivva."
<Far_Foririan> "This place Looks... like shit."
<Shivva_Runna> "We could try the Golden Stallion."
<Shivva_Runna> "But..."
<Seig> "That name tells me its too rich for my blood."
<Afrock> "Aye."
<Tales_GM> "The Golden Stallion, oui. It is known among Bretonnian travelers as a suitable place of accommodation."
<Roderick> "That sounds a much more reasonable place."
* Seig walks into the boarding house.
<Tales_GM> "Pardon," a voice interrupts your discussion.
<Tales_GM> An old woman has approached. "Are you Emma's boy?"
* Seig pauses midstep.
* Roderick turns to view the interrupter.
* Far_Foririan looks to the older woman.
<Afrock> "Who?"
<Shivva_Runna> "That's me mum, remember?"
<Roderick> "The name of Shivva's mother."
<Afrock> "Ah."
<Far_Foririan> "Makes sense."
<Shivva_Runna> "Yea, I'm her son."
<Tales_GM> "You poor, poor boy," she says with sadness.
<Shivva_Runna> "I just got the news a few days ago."
<Tales_GM> "Good Emma left us, and that is why you are here. The Doomsayers have already prayer for her passage to Morr."
<Tales_GM> "Ceremony or no, a son may always visit with his mother. When you wish it, I can take you to her."
* Shivva_Runna looks at Roderick then at the old woman. "Yes, that would be so kind. Th... Thank you."
<Roderick> "Visit with her if you wish, we'll board here. Rejoin us when you're ready to meet the debtor and if you wish any of us can go with you my friend, just say the word."
<Tales_GM> She tugs on Shivva's sleeve as to pull him in close. "The collectors have eyes in Eilhart. Always watching for a way to fulfill old debts."
<Shivva_Runna> "So I heard..."
<Tales_GM> "Hear me now, boy. The debt will rise. Every day it rises, do you hear me?"
<Tales_GM> "Oh, how Emma spoke of you. I hope your friends here will be able to help," she says shaking her head.
<Shivva_Runna> "...Yea, I haven't been the best to her. And now the debt and her passing, I have so many questions."
<Tales_GM> "She did it for you, you know. Got involved with these men... got into such debt to build something. So leave something for you."
<Tales_GM> "Come find me at the Temple of Sigmar when you are ready."
<Shivva_Runna> "...Thank you."