S4E8 PBtT- A Barfight to Silence the Ogres’ Drumming

PCs: Agnes (Duane), Gary (Matt), Brandywyn (Tony), Rega (Bill), Ymath (Brian)

They return to the Templar’s Arm Tavern per their arranged meetings. Rega tries to console the Trollslayer slumped in the corner, bemoaning his win. “Cheer up, you still have 2 more days to die in the arena. And with Sigmar’s blessing, and quick lessons from the Ironbreakers, I can heal up enough to challenge another minotaur.” Allavandrel sets a bottle of wine on the table in challenge, “To tomorrow… may you die honorably.” Five bottles later, all 3 are drunk.

Meanwhile, Gary and Brandi sit with Dieter and his betrothed Kirsten. And of course, Natasha snuggles up next to Brandi. Dieter orders, “Drinks for everyone!” Brandi leans into Kirsten, “Can he handle his consumption? Who should we bet on tomorrow?” Kirsten only laments, “He knows how to moderate. Too proud to throw the Graf-Champion fight.” Gary prods Dieter about their earlier conversation, “So, think we can get the elf to host a hunt on the Graf’s land? Of course, we’ll have to keep it secret from Sister Agnes. She tried to thwart our Rhinox hunt. Too bad we already sold the horn… I understand it can be ground into an aphrodisiac.” Natasha tugs at Brandi’s sleeve, “Next Rhinox, save some for us.”

Ymath and the other ogre Gothog reminiscence about the Rhinox hunt. Both approach the elf Rallane, “How about composing a song about our hunt?” As Rallane plays his lute and sings, Ymath tries to join in on drums. Badly… such that the elf stops and glares. Ymath pleads, “Teach me.” Gary steps in and tries to get the elf to sing a risqué song to Agnes, but the elf knows when he is being set up and declines. At this point, both Gary and Agnes try to get Dieter drunk. Which gives Kirsten hope her betrothed just might get too drunk and lose tomorrow.

Rega hobbles to Dieter’s table, “So, you want to get into horse-trading. Won’t these new taxes hurt your business?” Dieter’s joyous partying voice turns into a monotone reply, “The taxes are good for the city.” Rega is about to continue picking at the subject when a pack of dwarves enter the tavern. Although he doesn’t recognize any of them, he offers, “A round of drinks for my clan. The least I can offer considering you lost bets on me in the minotaur ring.” Truth be told, they bet against him… who brings a net to a club fight?!

The dwarves accept the drinks but scowl at the 2 elves within their midst. Grumbling begins, especially at Rallane (Court Minstrel) suspected of bending the Graf’s ear against them with the taxes. [DEX-00, Fortune-03] Watching the dwarves, Gary catches a thrown mug mid-air aimed at the elf, chugs the remaining ale, and returns fire, hitting the dwarf on his noggin. No surprise a fight erupts. Ymath stops drumming, pushes away from the table, and charges one of the dwarfs, punching the air out of his lungs. “Ooof!” The dwarf crumples to the floor gasping. The heroic Brandi shields Natasha and leads her upstairs to safety… under some sheets. Rega… looks for anyone willing to bet on the outcome but no-one is willing to bet on the dwarves.

It is a dwarf-pile on Ymath as Gothog stays at the table to drink the deserted mugs. Agnes tries to bestow ‘Blessing of Consciousness’ but her words fall on deaf ears. Dieter joins the brawl and quickly uppercuts one dwarf across the room to land on a table that breaks under his weight. The mass of dwarves explodes as Ymath flexes his girth and kicks one in his nards then throws another across the room. Those dwarves return to the pile to resume punching.

The barkeep begins calling for “City guards!” And Rega calls for “Tap another keg!” Gary runs toward the mass on Ymath and gets plucked by a dwarf and then thrown over the bar. Gary fortunate enough to land under an open tap. He stays prone drinking in bliss. And that’s when the city-guards arrive to escort the dwarves to the drunk tank. Rega is corralled along with them, till his allies reluctantly claim him as their own. And the barkeep demands, “Who’s going to pay for the damages?!” Silence, then laughter as everyone digs into their coin-purses, “It was well worth it.” They settle back at their table to resume talk and drinks. More talk about Dieter’s horse-trading plan, which gets Agnes to ask Allavandrel his thoughts on Gotthard. “Sister, I’ve heard your Shallya order speak kindly of him since he donates to your church. Personally, I don’t like the man. Do you know he ripped off Dieter on a horse trade?”

Day 2, Aubentag: The throng of people arriving in Middenheim crowds the streets and slows traffic to a crawl. Twice as long to get anywhere. Gary convinces everyone to paint letters on their chest in support of Dieter. They are just about to depart for the Graf’s Challenge when the street-urchin Karl (hired to follow the green-eyed lady) appears, “Have you seen Johan (hired to look for members of the Purple-Hand cult)?” Duly noted but they are running late to get ringside for the match where they find Marshall Maximillian and Knight Eternal Siegfried. Brandi and Gary strike up conversation with Maximillian who had heard from Dieter, “Our current champion speaks highly of you.” Gary exchanges war stories before asking the Marshall’s opinion of Gotthard. “Who?”

Rega interrupts, “Are your reserves ready to replace the true defenders of the city now that the dwarves, wizards, and priestess are being driven out?” Maximillian tempers the berating, “What I think of the taxes doesn’t matter. The military supports the peoples’ decision.” And that’s when Ymath enters the conversation, “Have you heard? Rumor says the Law Lord Ehrlich plans to step down. There will be a new election.” Siegfried chortles, “Ignorant fool. Law Lords aren’t elected. They are selected.”

Meanwhile, anyone who could read would question the lineup of Agnes’ Orphans with painted chests, “TIERED? What is that supposed to mean?” [D.I.E.T.E.R] Brandi escorts Natasha prodding her for gossip, “What’s your opinion of Princess Katarina?” Claws flash as Natasha casts insults, “That little bastard twit? She’s too busy looking for her prince charming. Always looking down on us Ladies-of-the-Court. As do the nobles. Gotthard? Uugh, disgusting man. The chancellor? He tried hitting on Petra just the other night. Another disgusting member of the court.”

After collecting winnings from Dieter’s success, they have a few hours free… to search for the missing Johan. It takes a while before they find someone who knows something. “Yesterday, I saw strange men talking with him. One had his ears sewn in a flap, another missing his front teeth. Johan left with them down that alley.” Brandi flips the man brass coins as they investigate. Uneasy feelings as they enter the alley. On edge, they find a clean sewer manhole cover as if recently used. Brandi sets a trap under the cover just in case they return.

4pm, Bard’s Matinee: While Ymath goes to the College of Music, the others enter the stadium to place bets on the minotaur fight. Ymath meets Rallane once more who points out others in attendance. “There’s Dr. Luigi who is tending the Graf’s son. Just watch out for him around the women. That one is the High Priest, Ar-Ulric Jarrick Valgeir. Let’s just say I respect his title but not his tolerance for the Sons-of-Ulric. They are spinning out of control. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m needed on stage. I plan to sing my latest ballad, ‘The One-Eyed Fella in Hiding’.”

4pm, Bernabau Stadium/Minotaur Fight: Brandi arrives escorting Natasha. At the arena, they encounter: Siegfried, Allavandrel, and Gotthard. Agnes and Brandi engage with Gotthard who actually kisses Agnes’ hand since she is in her Shallya vestments. Agnes extends greetings, “So nice to meet a Wittgenstein.” He corrects her, “Name is Wallenstein. Would you like a drink? Yes? Then if you will, please get me a wine also.” Brandi objects to Gotthard’s’ use of Agnes. Meanwhile, Gary approaches Siegfried, “I’m a friend of Katja who speaks highly of you.” The Knight-Eternal replies, “As protector of the realm, my mere presence comforts the people. Now who is this Gotthard you ask about?”

At this point, Agnes returns double-fisted with 2 glasses of wine… that she ‘accidently’ dumps on Gotthard. And makes apologies as she tries to dry him off. [Really patting him down to check for purple-hand tattoos.] “I’m sorry, I was distracted and distraught over Siegfried’s words you a fool.” Gotthard confronts Siegfried, “I hear you mock me.” Both get into a squabble of witty jabs. “You protect the city? By wearing shiny armor that has seen nothing more than cleaning rags?!” “You the Kommissioner? By omission and absence? Did you wet yourself?”

Gotthard and Siegfried part company which gives Gary the chance to inflate Gotthard’s ego by congratulating his rebuffs. “You put the pompous man in his place. Which reminds me, I want to congratulate your idea of pouring wine in the streets. Brilliant idea to raise the people’s spirits and get them into the shops.” Gotthard settles his ruffled feathers from his verbal confrontation. “The wine is meant as offering to offset the taxes. A necessary evil, unfortunately carried to an extreme.” Gary prods, “But why the higher taxes on the dwarves and churches? Are you not concerned you’ll drive them out of the city and lose a greater portion of your tax basis?” Gotthard confesses, “Alas, I used to have more influence… before the Graf’s wife died. I do hope to speak to the Graf about the taxes.”

But that is when Rega approaches the Kommissioner, “I couldn’t help but notice your signet ring. How are you holding up to learn that your family castle was destroyed? Your sister, mother, and father perished in its collapsed. I guess that makes you the last… Sir Gotthard Von Wittgenstein.” But once again the man not flustered, “Be that as it may, let me say that I am against the dwarf tax. You and your kind are short-changed enough as it is… in height, wisdom, manners. You suffer enough thru your own faults.” About the only thing Rega accomplished was giving Agnes time to spike Gotthard’s wine. 

Next Session:  https://rigglewwh.blogspot.com/2022/05/s4e9-pbtt-how-to-serve-ratmen-raw.html