"Better safe than sorry is how I run my business....", Fernis says with a matter of fact tone.
"So she burns with the rest..." Mareike says with a shrug
"Let's get back, Franz is probably digging another cellar with all of his pacing"
Nearly simultaneously do group and cook return to the kitchen, luckily Fernis, Rangnir and Mareike are two steps quicker and so they have already entered the kitchen when the cook opens the door
Hey! This is not a ball room, would you kindly give us some space to do our work? Only an hour left to prepare the dinner. she snarls at no one in particular.
-----
Blucher seems impressed by your oath and sighs quietly
Maybe it was just a stupid prank... he mumbles, then turns to the manor I'll find and question him about it...thank you, gardener.
Fernis cast a raised eyebrow to Mareike and shakes his head. "You'll have room to do little else than hope a rescue party comes for ye if we don't get these foundations shored soon, woman. The young sir has tasked me and my kin with seeing to the integrity of this structure. SO MOVE OUT OF OUR WAY AND KNOW YOUR STATION,COMMONER!"
The cook falls silent at once and just as she has gathered enough courage to try a stammered reply, Gregor Piersson, the steward of the manor, enters the kitchen
What is all this commotion about? How far are the dinner preparations?
But as soon as he notices Franz, his demanding tone gains a soft edge and he adds
Oh, Herr Flechter, you shouldn't ruin your good modd by paying attention to our dour cook, heh.
Mareike hides a smile at the cooks dressing down by Fernis, then curtsies to Franz and resumes helping the cook with the preparations for dinner.
Franz quirks an eyebrow at the dawi's explosive temper, though most justified by the circumstance. To Herr Piersson, "I have no such desire, just trying to get ahead of all the problems abounding here. But the kitchen is no place for us, so ..." Franz turns to the dawi, "We can examine the outside now, I believe you mentioned the possiblity of serious water damage, let's check that before nightfall, if you please, Respected Craftsmen." Franz lets Mareike stay to watch the kitchen staff, though he is concerned for her safety. If the dawi go with he'll lead the way out back.
As soon as Franz and the dwarfs have left the kitchen, Piersson grabs the cook by the arm and whispers something in her ear - quickly she looks over to Mareike and nods.
Then Piersson addresses Mareike
Even though you are just a kitchen maid, I would like to invite you to the dinner, too...and this gardener who accompanied you, please find him and tell him that he is invited...oh and don't forget to tell the cook what you would like for dinner.
Where he meets his merry band of companions - (you may still interact with Franz and the dwarfs, we assume they were just about to leave).
Morrite, try to find a reason to get the girl out of the kitchen. We will be at the mur and the barricades, hopefully where we won't be overheard. We need to talk, all of us.
As soon as Franz and the dwarfs have left the kitchen, Piersson grabs the cook by the arm and whispers something in her ear - quickly she looks over to Mareike and nods.
Then Piersson addresses Mareike
Even though you are just a kitchen maid, I would like to invite you to the dinner, too...and this gardener who accompanied you, please find him and tell him that he is invited...oh and don't forget to tell the cook what you would like for dinner.
A momentary perplexed look comes over Mareike's face "But the cook...the work...dinner..." but seeing the look on Piersson's face , she nods and curtsies. She looks to the cook and says "Sorry Cook, I'll help you in here for as long as I can. But first I need to find the new gardener and inform him."
I know not enough abou human households, I fear. Perhaps Herr Flechters authority migh help?
"I suppose that Marieke could be summoned as a light bearer, for use in shaded areas, Zad as a digger to examine foundations more closely, the "Masons" to look, after all such gentelmen cannot be expected to root in muck. Wait is someone coming?" Franz goes quiet, not even thinking about how arrogant his words could sound.
At last, the whole group is united again - after a moment of silent exchange, you scurry back to your rooms. As the door closes behind the last of you, there is more than one sigh of relief - still, you have to discuss your next steps quickly.
Looking to Rangnir, Fernis speaks in their native tongue in a hushed voice,"How safe do you think it is to be speaking about what we have seen here this day? Who knows if the old coot that hired us is in on this? They plan to move soon. I plan to don my armor for this "dinner". It will not be out of sorts for our kind....the humans may stand out a bit if they do though." Rubbing his chin as he ponders how the humans will be most protected should anything arise.
"I will get ready and we'll go see Franz and advise him and the others to avoid eating tonight. Small talk with others at the table, knock it on the floor, whatever it takes. Just do not eat. Commoners do not get invited to sit a the nobles table in the human world. They have us pegged for what we are and I am sure they mean to deal with the problem in as quiet a manner as is possible. Now time is of the essence. I will escort you to Franz's chamber as soon I am prepared."
I think we should speak the human tongue now. Sure, we don't know each other, but I am quite sure about the girls hate towards the forces of chaos, the Morrite we should respect for what he is and Herr Flechter is in on this already. I know there is alway risk to trust, but I fear there would be more to fear in distrust among us. I agree with the food, so please repeat your warning to the others, and the armor - I will don mine, too
From here on, Rangnir continues to speak the the tongue of the empire .
Know that there is more to this than a few traitorous serfs. Below this place is an altar of chaos. From the ways that lead to the altar, I am sure the Librarian, Otto Geizhals is in this, as I fear, is the cook - the entrance in the kitchen would be of no use if she isn't. The gardener and the Doctor cannot be trusted - they are probably among the cultists, too.
It is not the humans we travel with I suspect...as of now. If we are to communicate our intentions aloud we should keep it in our tongue and write it in theirs. If we catch any of the cultist moving about by themselves I says we do them quick and quiet."
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Better safe than sorry :)
Franz is uncertain of how they ended up in their rooms, but rolls with it. Checking about to make sure that they are not being overheard, he brings Zad up to speed on what he knows. When Mareike explains the invitation he'll point out that, inviting servants to actually eat at a noble's dinner table is never done and certainly not by a chief servant, it would breach custom even if issued by the Lord of the Manor personally. They are exposed, unsurprisingly since none of them are spies. He'll reiterate that the Houndmaster seems a good man.
Stroking the edge of his axe, an eerie grin splits Fernis' lips. "Time to make that gold, my friends. This is why I was hired."
Mareike listens to the others discuss the situation, her fingers itching to put the entire place to the flame. As Franz mentions the dinner once more and her own invitation, a little of the girl she was emerges within her mind I don't even have anything to wear.
With a shake of her hair she once again focuses on the conversation, when a thought comes to her. To the dwarves she asks "The key seems to be the dinner....but the rites would occur in the altar room we found...does the dinner room lie above the altar room?"
"It's hard to say, but they seemed rather intent on knowing what we wanted to eat....is that a normal custom for a human banquet? We dawi just eat what is being served, but we tend to like the same foods." Thinking for a moment he says,"You may have something with the hall being linked to the alter and a possible ceremony. Perhaps myself and Rangnir should check the kitchen one last time as the dinner is starting.If I see anything strange, then I will handle it quickly and quietly."
"No, it's not normal to ask, you just serve all you can and the guests chose what they wish at the table. The leftovers go to the servants or as charity to the poor." Franz interjects. Franz waits for more information.
As far as Mareike can tell, the dinner room is not directly above the altar room.
Whenever you have made a plan and want to go on, just inform me. By now it looks to me as if you are still in the planning phase.
"No, it's not normal to ask, you just serve all you can and the guests chose what they wish at the table. The leftovers go to the servants or as charity to the poor." Franz interjects. Franz waits for more information.
"Yeah, they seem to want all of us in the same place. Its a bit obvious though, isn't it, I'm not as knowledgeable as you are, but aren't cultists usually more sneaky?"
They still don't know that we were hired because of suspicions towards the serfs. They probably hope that killing us - perhaps by poison - will keep us from deducing the truth about what the fidgets we may have found by now mean.
"They are on to us. We must not play our hand too soon or there may be more trouble than we want. We will go to the dinner. Do not ingest anything. Think of a reason if asked,but do not make it elaborate. False truths are best left simple. The dawi here and I will be comin' a bit late in an effort to disrupt whatever it is that they have planned."
Of course they are on to us, but I hope they still think we might be suspicious because of a few of their slips we witnessed, not on a prior suspicion that brought us here in the first place. I think us two coming late to the dinner is a good idea. We should get to work on the defences prior to the dinner, so no one will think too much about or belatedness,
Fernis nods his head in agreement.
...and is interrupted by a sudden argument right in front of your door
Piersson: Hey, wait...have you looked into their rooms? Found anything?
Female voice: No master, they didn't leave anything in their rooms...which is quite strange I think?!
Piersson: You dopey cow! It isn't strange at all...because they are no gardeners and masons and whatsoevers!
Female voice But Susanne told me that this Mareike is really friendly and...
Piersson: Shut up! I don't wanna hear what Susanne thinks! You will now go and search them, tell them, dinner is nearly ready...oh and tell Otto to bring the eye down...and remember: Goose is good!
Franz hears Piersson's statement, confirming in his mind all his suspicions. He says flatly, "Take them, quick, quiet, and alive." Franz opens the door for the fighters to move and do the deed. He waits in the room for them to bring the evil-doers in.
"The alive part might not happen."
Fernis rushes out the door attempting to slam the man into the wall with his finely crafted shield. Leaning into the blow Fernis thinks to himself,"Bastard is gonna wish I'd kill him."
[ooc]Dice pool if needed. Action: Shield Slam, Reckless 1, 3 Blue 1 Red 2 White (1 from MW Shield, 1 from Weapon Skill trained as noted under special on action card.)
Rangnir groans at the rushed decision, then leaps outside to grab and the woman and keep her silent.
Piersson is far too surprised to try any sort of defence and just moans as the shield connects with his ribs and all air is pumped out of his lungs. The woman manages a shriek before Rangnir grabs her and pulls her into the room.
Once the door is slam shut, the woman's eyes widen in fear and she stammers
Please, don't kill me, it was all his idea! accusingly she points at Piersson who just snorts
How pathetic your are - do you really think just because they have arms, they are a danger for us?
Mareike was about to assist a the Dwarves, but the swiftness of there actions took even her by surprise.
Looking at the girl, she says "Are you Hanna?"
Not turning her eyes away from the mocking Piersson, she slowly nods.
To the dwarves, Mareike says Keep him quiet.".
Turning to Hanna, "Tell us everything, Hanna." Mareike says in a low voice.
Rangnir tears some fabrik from the sheets in this room and makes a gag for Pierson.
Anybody got a rope? While I would not hesitate to kill this traitor to his own kin at the spot, I would prefer Lord Aschaffenburg to wield judgement.
Fernis smashes the man in the gut with a meaty fist. "Hard to talk when ye got no air. This scum isn't gonna talk and he is worth as much dead as he is alive. I'm thinkin' I might do him right here and turn this whole place over to the witch hunters.", the bounty hunter says not taking his eyes from the cultist. "Now lay face down on the floor or I'll split where you stand."
Franz is impassive at the brutality but mildly says, "Techically he hasn't been judged, not that I doubt his guilt. I would have him held for the lawful punishment of burning alive, though, law and traditions deserve respect. As to burning the whole place, while having appeal, it also is the only strongpoint in an area full of beastmen, we may need it for that. And purifying this place without fire is not out of the bounds, such has been done. Also I'm sure there are a few good people here, just not many, the former lord clearly should be found and burned but that is not the most pressing matter. Tell Mareike all you know, it's your only salvation girl." FRanz turns his attention the the quivering servant girl.
Hearing the confident tone in the young lord's voice and having a great respect for tradition, Fernis stays his axe for the time being. "Ya make a fine argument,manling. 'll stay my blade fer now, but not for that long. This place is a filth hole and those who are responsible will pay a blood debt for what has been done here. I swear an oath to make those responsible for that stricken dawi's state to pay with what miserable lives they have and if not them then those who would be their kin."
Gagged, bound and threatened, his face pressed onto the floor, Piersson prefers to remain silent...
Hanna takes her eyes off him and begins to explain
It is all connected to the Eye...an abyssmal painting that shows a large lidless eye surrounded by swirling clouds of purple...the former master, Herr von Bruner used to watch the eye several hours each day... until he vanished...now Otto Geizhals has the painting and hides it in the library. Otto and the others will soon meet in the catacomb underneath the kitchen and when their chanting begins, the beastmen will know the time has come to...
Suddenly someone knocks on your door.
Leaning over the bound man, Fernis whispers, "A sound and I crush yer skull with my boot." Sliding to the wall opposite its opening arc, Fernis spins his axe around so as to use the counter balance as a bludgeon . Nodding his head to Franz, he waits ready to strike.
Gagged, bound and threatened, his face pressed onto the floor, Piersson prefers to remain silent...
Hanna takes her eyes off him and begins to explain
It is all connected to the Eye...an abyssmal painting that shows a large lidless eye surrounded by swirling clouds of purple...the former master, Herr von Bruner used to watch the eye several hours each day... until he vanished...now Otto Geizhals has the painting and hides it in the library. Otto and the others will soon meet in the catacomb underneath the kitchen and when their chanting begins, the beastmen will know the time has come to...
Suddenly someone knocks on your door.
Her face growing paler and more drawn with each of Hanna's words, Mareike pulls her dinner list from her pocket.
At the sound of the knock , she drags the girl to the far side of the room.
"Who besides you, Otto, and that " she says in a quiet ominous voice, gesturing toward the bound steward " are among these others you mentioned?