S2E3: Enemy Within - Altdorf and dead noble

Lead-In: “Well, what do you think?” Gary sat atop the horse, showing off his slightly-used calvary garb. “Doubled my pay, going to get a horse, and now I look official. The captain doubted my ability to shoot ‘Ole-Bessey’ while mounted, till I blasted the water-barrel. Course, he don’t know I was aiming for the hitching-post behind it.”

Henryk itched at his left bicep where the seal of Sigmar was branded. He handed Agnes an official letter, “The ‘College of Magic’ wouldn’t back me. So, I am now an official Witch-Hunter under the order of the ‘Church-of-Sigmar’. That letter details my authority. Uh, sister. I’d like to commission you to teach me how to read and write. I’d like to be able to read that letter myself someday.”

As for Katja, “We might as well get paid for all the bodies we seem to find. And a Bounty Hunter seems to know in advance who are the guilty folk.”

Henryk (Bill) noble career change: Ranger/Witch-Hunter

Brandiwyn (Tony) career advance: Riverman with trained feral cat

Mallorhan (Brian) wood-elf Messenger

Gary (Matt) career change: Warrior/Cavalry Horseman

Sister Agnes (Duane) noble career advance: Nun, worshiper of Shallya

Katja (Geoff) noble career change: Bounty Hunter

Out-n-About Altdorf: Brandiwyn’s 6^th sense was non-stop pinging, “There’s danger at every corner. We could make a killing rounding up the misfits.” Agnes corrected, “Or meet our maker earlier than we’d like.” Suddenly the doors to the Boatman Inn crashed open as Henryk bust in, “Where’s Gary?! Hope I’m not too late; he hasn’t gotten the tattoo yet has he? I was asking the priests of Sigmar about that purple-hand tattoo. It’s a signet for a chaos cult. Father Denobis says I should kill all on-sight. He also says that Kastor Lieberung fella is from Nuln far down the Reik to the south. If we’ve time, we might want to go there to learn a little background on the fella.”

But there was no spare time for such ventures. Seemed every 3^rd day was announced with trumpet flair preceding the emperors’ grand procession. The crowd meekly grumbled to themselves, “Again?! Enough already. How can I do business with these interruptions? Least he could do is ride his griffin for a change. But last I heard; the beast lies sick in the zoo. Instead of parades, maybe the emperor should go tend to his favorite mount.”

While Agnes slept at her temple, the others slept on the barge. Too stifling hot to sleep inside the cabin. And now getting too crowded on deck with more and more barrels of wine delivered. Brandiwyn stretched across 3 barrels, “Think of them as waves rocking you to sleep. Good for the back. The soothing sound of sloshing wine echoes like waves upon the shore.” That’s when Brandi’s cat delivered another gift at his feet, “6^th rat today. At least he’s earning a living aboard ship.”

As they strolled the streets during the day, Gary was confronted by a skinny street-preacher in rags, “BEWARE! Shadows stir over Boganhafen. Beloved Morr stands astride Sigmar’s Great River ushering in Death on the Reik. The stained hand guides the once mighty lord, cursing us all to doom with the Power Behind the Throne. Yet it is the Horned-Rat who claims the throne, leaving our Empire In Ruin. Tremble in fear I say for the end of our world is at hand.” Gary scoffed as he tossed a brass coin at the man’s feet, “Tell me something not obvious. This is Altdorf, known for death. A playground for the god of death and dreams.” Diving for the clank (brass coin), the preacher hustled down the road, soon stopping before another mark, “BEWARE! Shadows…”

Agnes quickly made the sign of the cross, “Do not scoff at such prophesies but rather heed the warning. The green moon Morrslieb heralds misfortune when it crosses our skies. Have we not already seen a ‘stained hand’ associated with a cult?! Could that cult be pulling the strings that manipulate the emperor?! Wasn’t corporal Tylo also a member of another cult? And those blue wizards and their lens of cleansing that eliminated Tylo. Maybe the increase in wizard sightings is an effort to confront the growing evil threat.”

Such foreboding surely was the cause of Mallorhan gaining a corruption. And Gary and Henryk losing at the casino tables. The day of Joseph’s sailing couldn’t come soon enough as they all seemed edgy. “To the bar and another round of drinks on me before we sail in the morning!”

Agnes sipped her water as she watched the others plow thru 3 rounds of drinks with another order on the way. She was already dreading the coming night aboard the barge full of snoring drunks. That’s when a brute of a man entered the bar and displaced 2 patrons at the adjacent table. “Yes, yes. It IS your table. We were just saving it for you.” They couldn’t scramble away fast enough. 20 minutes later, 2 nobles and their entourage of guards entered, “Oh how delightfully filled with filthy commoners. What say we play a round of ‘Brandy Bash’?” Which involved buying a brandy and spitting it into a commoner’s face. “Hehe. I scored a point.”

Gary jumped from his chair as he wiped the spittle from his face, ready to waylay the bastard who attacked him. Till he saw the noble clothing. And realization to strike or harm a noble could mean the gallows. Gary lifted his mug, gathered a mouthful of beer, and returned the favor, “I call this ‘Beer Bash’.” And that’s when the brute at the next table, rose, approached, and slapped Gary. Hard. I mean HARD. Gary staggered backwards to the delight of the nobles. Gary mustered all his strength and slapped back. The brute didn’t even flinch. Nor move. Brandiwyn adjusted his chair as he leaned into Joseph, “Another night of free entertainment.” But just to be sure, he cocked and readied his pistol under the table.

Mallorhan stepped forward to try his knuckledusters. A hard punch that got the brute’s attention, “Really? That’s all ya got? Your whole table isn’t enough.” The brute backhanded the elf [fightback fumble] who staggered backwards struggling to catch his breath. Gary swung for the brute’s kidney. A good punch but he opened himself for a headlock. And a nose full of foul armpit body-odor. Henryk rose and tossed his empty mug at a guard to expand the fight. Which only delighted the nobles more. “Oh. I think we found the best bar for our games.” But their glee turned sour when Agnes blessed the area. “Oh poo. A nun to spoil our fun. Let’s find another bar.”

The nobles left as Katja blocked the brawler’s swing and Gary kicked his nards. They ganged up on the brute yet the tide didn’t turn. Till Gary offered, “Great fight sir. How about a beer and we call it even.” The brute painfully straddled a chair as he settled in, “A chance to rest my aching nards. Now that my employers are gone. 10 silver per fight puts food on the table for my kids.”

Gary rose and went to the bar to order a round. And that’s when 2 men at the bar caught his attention. They flicked their earlobes and waited. Gary furrowed his brow puzzled. They flicked again; so, Gary used his index finger to scratch his nose. Now they cocked their heads and furrowed their brow in confusion. And that’s when a stocky man entered the bar, drawing them away from Gary to then exit the bar. Henryk followed, suspecting them more of the purple-hand cults. His first chance to answer Sigmar’s calling as a witch-hunter.

But the street was empty except for dockworkers. Henryk angled up the street toward the city center. And that’s when the twang of an arrow caused him to duck. Then another twang. But Henryk didn’t hear the arrows impact nearby. Silent moments till he got up to study his surroundings. Along the docks lay 2 prone men: the ear flickers. Impaled with bolts. “Two attackers considering how long it takes to load a crossbow.” Henryk checked the pockets and retrieved what little coin they had. And opened their shirts to reveal purple handprint tattoos. He kicked the bodies into the river before returning to the tavern. Only to find Joseph already leaving. Which meant free ale was no longer available. All followed Joseph to the barge for sleep before they sailed.

Morning: One last check of the cargo lashings and they were ready to go. Brandiwyn threw loose the mooring lines and jumped aboard with recent gossip. “Those nobles from last night. One was found dead this morning. And someone reported a suspect who left the Boatman Inn soon after they left. Sure sounds like you, Henryk. You might want to stay below deck till we exit the city.” Joseph was at the tiller angling for the channel currents to take them south. He couldn’t help but marvel at all the warships. “That’s the emperor’s command ship…1000-man crew. Prime and proper. For show. Has yet to set sail. Behind it are the prison barges.” Gary ribbed Henryk, “We could sail alongside and deliver you for the handsome reward.”

They sailed for 2 days before they came to Wiessbruck’s canal locks. Passage was to be slow enough thru the 3 locks. Longer considering the line of ships ahead of them. Most smaller and narrower. In fact, Joseph’s Berebeli barge was 23 feet wide. The canal only 25ft wide. Mules along the bank, lashed to the ship ropes, pulled them from lock to lock. Brandi whistled warning to Henryk as 5 road-wardens approached. “I’m Sgt Gukard. Looking for a bandit from Altdorf who killed a noble. Cut his throat. I’m not particular; any bandit will do.” Katja perked up at the mention of 15 gold reward. Bounty hunting indeed was a lucrative career. “We’ll keep a lookout. Who’s offering the reward?” Sgt Gukard realized someone was elbowing into his hunt and remained silent.

It took a full day to get thru the 3 locks. Joseph angled the barge to the docks where he tied up in front of the Blackgold Bar. “Best drinks in town.” Brandi realized Joseph said that about every bar he entered. But as they tied the barge, Katja noticed the man in the doorway of the bar, “Hey. That looks like the stocky guy from Altdorf’s Boatman Inn. And he has a repeater crossbow at his hip. Henryk suddenly realized, “HE’s the one who killed those cult members I found beside the dock. Rapid fire bolts that I thought came from 2 attackers. What the hell is he doing here?”

The barge secured, they jumped to the dock to enter the bar. Mallorhan stayed behind in the crow’s-nest as lookout. Inside the bar, the man was nowhere to be seen. Gary approached the bartender, “There was a man carrying a repeater crossbow. Did you see where he went?” Gary ignored the man’s palm-up request. Agnes contributed coins. “He’s a bounty-hunter. Said he was looking for a man coming in on a large barge. He just left out the backdoor.”

Half the group went out the back while the others exited the front and circled around. Where they found halflings squatting over a fire, baking pies. More coins to buy some pies earned them gossip, “The man went south into the heart of the city.” They whistled and waved to get the elf to join them. Their best scout. Who led them in circles. They stopped to ask locals who offered recent news, “I heard there is a man with a crossbow at the Trumpet Inn who is hiring.”

They entered the Inn where they found the crossbowman conferring with 3 other men. Thugs. Brandi sat at the bar, 3 seats down from the men, to eavesdrop, as Gary and Katja strode straight at the man. Henryk slipped to the side, pretending to be alone. Agnes and the elf remained near the door. Gary tapped the man on his shoulder to get his attention before he flicked his ear, “I hear you were looking for me.” The man replied, “I am Herr Adolfus Kuftsos. I was hired by the Lock/Stock/Barl lawyers to confirm you are the legitimate heir to the Leiberung wealth.”

Gary, aka Kastor Leiberung, flashed the affidavit, “This should be proof enough. But who were those 2 men from the Boatman Inn who joined you?” Adolfus confided, “I pulled them away. Worried they might expose you to the common rift-raft. I’m to ensure you arrive and claim your inheritance so they can get their cut. Lawyers…always getting a cut.” Gary tried to catch the man in lies, “But I heard those men were members of the Purple-hand cult. You wouldn’t sport such tattoo would you?” Adolfus revealed his bare chest. And that’s when Henryk revealed himself with a sigh, “I was hoping you had the tattoo so I could deliver you to the church.” Pleasantries and drinks till they departed, “Here’s to a profitable trip to Boganhafen.”

Brandi remained at the bar having never revealed himself. Thus, he was able to overhear Adolfus’ instructions to the trio of men at his side, “Keep an eye on the barge.” Meanwhile, Mallorhan remained in the shadows and followed Adolfus who went into an alchemist shop where he bought small bags designed to fit on arrows. The elf made his way back to the Blackgold Bar where he found the others. They compared notes and devised a plan, “Probably fire arrows. So, we’ll need water-buckets positioned around the barge deck. I don’t trust the hunter; he was probably hired to kill Kastor so the lawyers could collect more of the inheritance. So, let’s prop a dummy Kastor on the cabin roof to draw their fire.”

Mallorhan was the most artistic; thus, he crafted the dummy. [failed] “What the hell is that supposed to be?!” Brandi at least fixed it to make it believable in the dark. They positioned themselves aboard the barge, ready to repel boarders. The elf stayed on the dock in shadows. Hours slipped by, weighing heavy on their eyelids. Thus, it was only the elf awake to see the flame-arrows that arched toward the barge. The thug archers stood before the Blackgold Bar and arched their arrows to the higher barge deck. The crossbowman squatted atop the bar roof and fired 2 rapid fire-bolts. One bolt set the dummy afire as it toppled from its perch. An arrow actually hit sleeping Katja’s chest. Other arrows rained down on the deck. “Fire! We’re under attack!”

Mallorhan easily saw the crossbowman silhouetted on the rooftop but missed. Aboard the barge, Brandi grabbed a tarp to snuff-out the nearest fire. On a positive note, the fire-arrow barely penetrated Katja’s chest [effect of the attached alchemical bag]; so, she easily removed it before rolling to put out the fire. The barge crew of Wolmar and Gilda grabbed the pre-positioned water-buckets to douse the fires while the others fought the attackers, who drew swords and charged across the dock to begin boarding.

The barge deck was 4ft above the dock which meant the charging attackers could not see anyone onboard. Nor could Gary see them since he had slept inside the cabin. But he could see Adolfus; thus, he extended his blunderbuss barrel out the porthole and fired. Pellets peppered the roof tiles and the crossbowman. Gary winced from the confined sound of the blast within the cabin. Deaf for the next few minutes.

Meanwhile, Henryk leaned over the railing to shoot at a boarder but missed. While Katja’s arrow sank into Adolfus. Agnes held her symbol of Shallya as she cast/prayed for deliverance: one attacker ran away in fear/disgrace. But 2 attackers made the boarding planks and climbed aboard. Brandi paused in his firefighting and raised his pistol and blasted the nearest target. Gut shot. Dead. Henryk sent another arrow wide of his mark, while Katja engaged the lone boarder. A solid strike and the last boarder tumbled over the railing into the waters. If he wasn’t already dead, river waves pushed the barge against the dock, crushing anything between them.

And the elf began climbing to engage Adolfus with his quarterstaff. But roof-tile gave way under the elf, directing his swing wide as he dipped low off balance. Fortune that Adolfus’ swung of his empty crossbow arched over the unexpected elf duck. They grappled trying to throw the other off the roof.

Henryk steadied his aim at the rooftop fight, waiting for separation. [Initially missed, used fortune to re-roll and fumbled which meant a critical hit on the elf, burned a Resilience to hit Adolfus instead. Critical.] The arrow severed an artery in the man’s hand. Blood poured from the wound. Adolfus slipped on his own blood and tumbled from the rooftop. His crossbow clattering nearby.

They gathered round the dead Adolfus. Katja claimed the repeater crossbow and manacles tied to the man’s belt. Gary claimed 3 keys while Brandi took his coiled rope. Henryk handed Agnes a letter retrieved from the body. In the porchlight of the Blackgold Bar, Agnes read aloud, “My dear Herr Adolfus…signed by someone with the initials Q.F. Cryptic references to their meeting in Nuln. Vague allusion to a ‘certain society’ and an officer known as the ‘Magister Impedimentae’. Confirmed to be Kastor Lieberung! And you Gary told him straight out that was you! No wonder he attacked us.”

Henryk began trussing the body, making ready for delivery. The others questioned, “What the hell are you doing?!” Henryk explained the obvious, “Those road-wardens were looking for the killer of the Altdorf noble. All I need is a local magistrate to provide an affidavit to that effect so I can collect the reward for us. Surely my church orders assigning my witch-hunter duties will suffice as proof of my legitimate actions.” His allies cautioned, “But the wardens described their man as looking like you!” Henryk had confidence in his plan, “Their report describes the hunter of the true killer. You, Joseph and the other Boatman Bar patrons will remember the stout man who entered and left before I. HERE is the killer.”

They spent most of the next day finding a magistrate to sign a proper affidavit.

Next Session: https://rigglewwh.blogspot.com/2021/08/s2e4-enemy-withinshadows-over-boganhafen.html