Tales of the Old World 21

<Tales_GM> The year is 2512 on the Imperial Calendar...
<Tales_GM> The gentle, almost imperceptible rocking of the Berebeli comes to the aid of much-needed sleep after a big, hearty meal.
<Tales_GM> Several hours later, the slowly-emerging smell of smoke rises you with the promise of Gilda's toast bread. It reaches into your dreams beckoning you to wake and rise for the rest of your journey.
<Tales_GM> Yet when the cries of an infant at last pierce through your slumber, you wake to find the interior of the ship is filled with smoke.
<Tales_GM> You can hear Gilda rising and pacing over to her baby, coughing into her sleeve.
* Thorek stands up slowly, in a drowsy state as he yawns and stretches. "What in Grimnir's name?"
<Tales_GM> "Wolmar? Can't see a fuckin' thing. Is it the stove? Gilda?"
<Tales_GM> You hear Josef pacing about, unable to see him.
<Tales_GM> "Sigmar preserve us... forgive us our sins..."
<Tales_GM> Kruger's prayers are hardly audible, yet by the sounds of it he bumps into Josef, and falls flat onto the deck.
<Afrock> "I can't see shite."
<Tales_GM> Attempting to open a window, Afrock finds it utterly jammed.
* Afrock sees a window in the smoke and fails to open it.
<Tales_GM> Shivva finds a door in the smoke-filled cabin and opens it with a bash of the shoulder. Quick thinking allows him to dodge the splatter of liquid as his eyes adjust to the deck outside.
* Far_Foririan begins to cough as he awakens from the smoke in the room, he then takes a piece of his cloak to cover his mouth and nose.
* Roderick follows Shivva out of the cabin door through the smoke, cursing when a crossbow bolt thunks into his thigh. Pushing through the pain Roderick curses and finds cover behind the large covered shipping crates, trying to put them in-between himself and the shooter.
<Seig> Still tense from the dealings with the authorities and the mysterious stalker, Seig heads out and dodges a pot lobbed in his direction. "Shits happening outside?!"
<Tales_GM> The clay pot shatters, and its liquid contents spill, evaporating surface moisture from the wodden deck and walls.
<Tales_GM> Greta calls for help as she carries the child in her arms, unable to see where to go.
<Thorek> Suddenly he realizes the air is full of smoke, and his companions are outside and making noises...and the noises are not good. He starts heading outside and looks around.
* Shivva_Runna gets pierced by an arrow through his cheek
<Roderick> Kruger covers his mouth and nose with his robed sleeve and hurries onto the deck and out of the smoke.
<Tales_GM> You hear a window shatter and Josef call to Gilda to exit the smoke-filled cabin.
<Tales_GM> As Afrock makes his exit, a large butch woman swings a studded club at him with a yell.
<Tales_GM> She comes out of nowhere, making your situation all the more precarious. Who are they? How many are they?
* Afrock gives up opening and decides to move outside, where he parries a blow.
<Afrock> "Not today!"
<Tales_GM> The radiating heat tells you that a fire has spread, and soon both Josef and Wolmar are hard at work trying to put it out.
<Roderick> Roderick ignores the pain in his thigh as the bolt grinds into bone and charges the butch woman attack Afrock, delivering a slash that catches her across her side.
<Roderick> "I've got your back Afrock."
<Afrock> "Good slash Roderick!"
* Far_Foririan not wanting to choke on the smoke makes his way out keeping his cloak covering his mouth and nose as he exits.
* Seig attacks the unknown assailant from the other side leaving her left arm hanging by a few sinews, the shock of said blow seeming to incapacitate her.
<Tales_GM> You hear the winding of rope, as a figure zips down in a wide angle, crashing into the docks from the rigging above only to sprint as far as his legs will take him away from the ship.
<Tales_GM> By now, Gilda has joined Josef and Wolmar in the efforts to put out the fire, and in short order most of the smoke gives to steam as the timbers are cooled.
<Tales_GM> A bolt whistles by from across the docks and strikes the planking not a foot away from Shivva.
* Thorek Looks over the noise of the man zipping down from the rigging. Crossbow in hand, Thorek shoulders it and takes aim, he squeezes the firing trigger and launches the bolt at the fleeing assailant. Satisfied as it thunks meatily into the figures arm violently.
<Roderick> Kruger channels Sigmar's wrath and rushes after the fleeing, wounded man. Bringing the quarterstaff down on the injured assailant, Kruger shatters the mans leg and incapacitates him. "I knocked him unconscious Roderick!"
<Tales_GM> "That's it, cut the lines! Wolmar, Sieg, cast her off!"
<Tales_GM> "Tell your priest friend to get back here. We'll be off before more trouble finds us!"
* Afrock get's in position to chop the lines on Josef's command.
* Shivva_Runna tries to look for his assailant. Unable to location them, Shivva dives behind some crates.
* Roderick rushes off of the vessel to Kruger and the assailant, intending to bring him aboard for questioning.
<Tales_GM> Wolmar assists Josef to prepare the ship for cast-off.
* Far_Foririan spots the other crossbowman, taking his long bow, he draws back one of his arrows and releases the arrow.
<Tales_GM> The loosed arrow travels at a curved angle. A brief moment after releasing the projectile, the man's form bends sharply, as he drops his weapon in pain.
<Afrock> "Good shot Far."
<Far_Foririan> "Thanks."
<Shivva_Runna> "Is he dead?"
<Afrock> "I hope so."
* Seig runs to put himself between Roderick and Kruger holding up his shield unsure if there are more attackers.
<Far_Foririan> "I don't think so but he is behind that stall over there."
* Roderick and Kruger lift the unconscious man and carry him onto the barge while Sieg provides cover.
<Tales_GM> The sails drop and begin to tighten in place.
* Far_Foririan grabs another arrows and has it at ready.
<Tales_GM> "Coming with, or swimming?!" Josef calls out to the side.
<Roderick> "Shivva! I need you to keep this one alive! I've got questions."
<Seig> Once back aboard Seig throws his weapons aside to help crew the barge.
<Seig> "Sorry for the delay but we need to learn what the fuck is going on."
<Shivva_Runna> "Right, be there soon."
* Shivva_Runna walks over to Roderick to assist him.
<Tales_GM> You're barely on board before Wolmar lights a lantern in the fo'c'sle and the barge begins to move into the Bögen.
<Roderick> Once Shivva is finished stabilizing the man Roderick secures him and with Kruger's assistance, carries him into the hold.
* Far_Foririan watches as they cast off but is not able to see the crossbow man
* Shivva_Runna with Afrock's assistance, pulls out the arrow out of face. He patches himself up.
<Thorek> After reloading his crossbow Thorek keeps a sharp eye on the shoreline with Far.
<Tales_GM> "Careful in the cabin, bloody fire ate through the timbers... we'll need to make repairs in Bögenhafen. Is Elsa alright?"
<Tales_GM> "Aye, she's alright Josef," Gilda nods.
<Seig> "Bögenauer had our back today, that could of been a lot worse."
<Roderick> Roderick pats the man down, ensuring he has no implements he could use to free himself, once done the assailant is then secured to the mast with even more rope.
<Tales_GM> "Reach for a cabbage, Sieg," Josef nods, steering the vessel, "Make a splash with it as an offering."
* Afrock looks over the dead club wielding assailant and states, "Shivva you wanna do your thing?"
* Shivva_Runna checks the body first.
<Thorek> "Kruting manling bandits. You encounter such often on the waterways, Josef?" he asks over the shoulder as he continues to eye the shorelines.
<Shivva_Runna> "I will have to study our assailants."
* Seig heads into the cabin to retrieve a cabbage, saying a short prayer to himself before releasing it overboard.
* Far_Foririan puts his arrow away back into his quiver and lowers his bow as the sail off. "Well, at least I can say I always hit my target."
<Tales_GM> The journey to Bögenhafen takes four days to complete and is, mercifully, uneventful. Josef and Wolmar spend most of the time they aren't navigating trying to make what minor repairs are possible. Gilda, for her part, tries to make do with the remaining stores of food - the flames having consumed a great deal of the pantry.
<Seig> Seig is able to supplement the limited meals with some fishing on the side.
* Thorek keeps watch in between bouts of helping Josef in what limited maintainence can be done on the ship.
* Afrock does what he can to assist Josef.
* Shivva_Runna removes the bolt from Roderick's leg. He disinfects the wound and patches the leg.
<Roderick> Roderick begins 'questioning' the captive using his tools of the trade.
* Seig finds something to do below deck while this is ongoing.
<Tales_GM> Through the process, the captive named Gurt reveals that he was hired by a man of the name Adolphus. He claims that Adolphus is a bounty hunter, or some kind of hired assassin. Gurt claims that he isn't sure as he normally works as a stevedore or deckhand in Weissbruck. It was the money that drew him to this job. Gurt claims that Adolphus was after a man by the name of Kastor - here he
<Tales_GM> describes Shivva. At the end it seems all he knows is that Adolphus is intent on killing Kastor, and has gone to great lengths to stay on his tracks, for over a month, it seems.
<Roderick> Finishing his grisly work and leaving the captive worse for wear Roderick moves out of the hold and fills in the group on what he learned, after he apologizes to Josef and the crew for the noise.
<Seig> "Hes not too dissimilar to me who was brought onto Thorek's bounty when money got tight, I think hes suffered enough we should patch him up and let him go or hand him over to authorities."
<Thorek> "Adolphus? Umgak, we've got quite bountyhunter on your trail, Shivva. The fact I recognize the name should speak for itself. Not too many of my kind get that famous. Best we stay on our toes."
<Roderick> "I don't think handing to him to the authorities would do any good. Working for a bounty hunter offers a certain amount of latitude as we've discovered."
<Shivva_Runna> "Why does everyone want me dead?"
<Seig> "Lets let him go then, he can't do us anymore harm than that guy who survived."
<Roderick> "I am less agreeable to letting him go. Endangering just us is one thing. Trying to burn down the Berebeli and endangering innocents is something I'm not inclined to forgive."
<Seig> "That sounds like a decision for the crew then not us."
<Roderick> "I am well within my rights to just shoot him and be done with it. I am discussing this so we can reach a democratic solution."
<Far_Foririan> "I have no opinion on this of what to do with him."
<Seig> "I think we should leave him to the mercy of Josef and the crew."
<Seig> "As you say going after us and Shivva is one thing, endangering the crew another."
<Thorek> "I don't take kindly to being shot at, though he has surrendered himself. I wouldn't kill him outright now that he's our prisoner. Could you hand him to the authorities once we get to our destination, Roderick?"
<Thorek> "Pah, guess that doesn't accomplish much, as you say." He grumbles.
* Thorek thumps his fist against a crate as if realizing something. "Make the man swear a life-debt to you."
<Shivva_Runna> "I prefer not let the man suffer anymore than he has."
<Tales_GM> "True allegiance to the imperial throne demands that we obey our orders..." Kruger speaks up at last.
<Tales_GM> "If this man has spoken true, then he operated under the orders of a licensed and well known servant of imperial law."
<Tales_GM> "There be no crime here, Brother Roderick. Only the cruelty of fate."
* Roderick raises an eyebrow. "It is an option, how willing he would be is another matter...though it would be preferable to dumping him in the river and watching him drown. This is true Kruger."
<Seig> "Whatever penance you think he deserves Roderick he has already served it at your hand."
<Roderick> "We will offer him the choice of a life-debt or working aboard the Berebeli to repay for the damages and losses Josef incurred."
<Seig> "I'll fill Josef in and see if that would be acceptable."
<Shivva_Runna> "Making him work on the vessel is fine has long as he goes free after."
* Roderick nods. "First things first. Shivva go and fix him, otherwise he'll die in that hold."
<Shivva_Runna> "Got it."
* Shivva_Runna heads down to the hold to patch up the man.
* Seig heads to speak to Josef, filling him in on the situation. "Seems they were hired by a bounty hunter and have mistaken Shivva for somebody else... what'd you think to letting him work off his debt to you? Working for a bounty hunter means he was acting legally, you and the crew were the real victims though so I'd understand if you thought more aught to happen to him."
<Tales_GM> Josef remains shaken by the attack and the events since. He asks few questions, and agrees that either he or his master take on the debt of the cost of repairs. Yet he resolves not to allow Gurt on his crew, as he wants him nowhere near little Elsa - on this point Josef is firm.
<Seig> "How would you service such a debt?"
<Tales_GM> "If his employer be a man of recognition and respect, then I ask your friend to bring his colleague to account. Debt to be paid in cold, hard, shillings."
<Tales_GM> "If he refuses, bring his name to shame among the bounty hunter guilds. Help me here, as I have helped you."
<Seig> "I feel its likely for us to cross the bounty hunters path, and if we can't get his money I know how to get a word to spread around. How much do you expect repairs to cost?"
<Tales_GM> "Won't know until I speak to the shipwrights at Bögenhafen."
<Seig> "Might as well take a formal quote with us, try and do things as properly as we can."
<Roderick> After Seig fills him in Roderick heads to hold to offer the man his remaining option, to swear a life-debt. Release possible on how helpful he is.
* Seig joins Roderick aware that the man might need to see a slightly friendlier face.
<Tales_GM> The trauma of his experiences makes the captive unwilling, or perhaps unable, to speak. He diverts his view from Roderick altogether.
* Roderick sighs heavily and stands. "I'll leave the negotiating to you Seig. If you're unable then there's only one other option for him."
<Roderick> Roderick turns and leaves the hold.
* Seig steps in front of Roderick to block the mans view. "Gurt, your actions directly endangered the lives of an innocent family with a child, and you have suffered for that sin, but the wrong that created this situation is yet to be righted, if you help us find your boss and fix this situation, while your body will still be scarred your conscience can be clear."
<Seig> "Basically you will be required to assist us in tracking down the bounty hunter you work for, the specifics of how that encounter will play out are impossible to know, but you will be released when that encounter is over, you aren't responsible for his cooperation."
<Tales_GM> "And if I refuse? I'm not Adolphus's friend... I told him. I told the torturer. I was hired on the spot."
<Seig> "The River will have to take on your debt, It wouldn't be my choice but your debt needs to be paid to these people in some way."
<Tales_GM> A moment passes without reply.
<Tales_GM> "Where do we disembark?"
<Seig> "Bögenhafen, ever worked there?"
<Tales_GM> He nods.
<Tales_GM> "You're headed for the Schafenfest..."
<Tales_GM> "I accept your terms."
<Seig> "Understand that this is a life debt, repercussions for betrayal will extend beyond this life."
<Tales_GM> "Bögenauer is our witness."