You know what I mean...rat catchers...sewer guards...men and women who patrol the sewers of the larger cities...we all know that sewers are a place cultists like to hide in.
Rangnir tries hard not to show his horrified disgust, but fails, yet, he keeps silent.
"I am afraid sewer work falls beneath Rangnir's station, but for one of my clan's profession small filthy tunnels are not beyond us. What exactly are you hoping to find down there?", Fernis almost knows what he plans to find before the lord even answers. Long have the dwarfs of his hold held to Skaven Grudge written in the Great Book of Grudges. It will be of no surprise if the "cultist" they will find will also be tainted by the Warp.
Mareike puts down her spoon and meets Rikkard's eyes "I know nothing about sewers, but if cultists hide there, I will go."
Franz rises an eyebrow at Lord Rikkard's words, and shakes his head no to the question of sewer experience. He comments, "As I understand it Mi'lord, the sewers and pathways below long existing cities are a large and nearly impenetrable maze. What makes you believe there is an issue of import there?"
Lord Rikkard gives Franz a friendly smile and a pat on the shoulder
Hah, Franz, you will surely not crawl around in the darkness of the sewers - Imagine that, a man of your standing inmidst all the dirt of Ubersreik...no, you will be of help in other matters... then he turns to Fernis and explains
Actually I hope there is nothing to be found...but I guess I have to explain a few things to you: Ubersreik is a free city, controlled by a council of burghers and protected by the Emperor himself...well, that was correct for the past, now Ubersreik wants to prosper under the protection of a mighty noble...a noble like...me, heh. But since I'm not the only one who wants to persuade the council now that he or she is the right one to be the future lord, I have to take some actions - for example securing the safety of the city by employing a sewer guard - great idea, isn't it?
Mareike ignores the noble's prattle and continues to eat her meal.
"Sewer guard is not something a dwarf of my standing does, Rikkard. We are not here to be your political pawns. I am here to watch him....", he says gesturing to the other dwarf."as he gets his bearings among the world of men. I am about to risk my honor nor that of my clan to help you in your attempt on a manling town. Sewer guard, pfft. Have you ever met a dwarf? Insinuate we stand beneath the rabble your kind calls a noble again and it will not be cultist you are having trouble with, Man."
No, surely not pawns - friends, I would say! The people from Ubersreik have a long history of good bonds to the dwarfs of Karak Azgaraz. Ah well, if watching the sewers isn't the kind of work you are looking for than I can surely also keep my...gold?
Rikkard asks while playing with a handful of gold coins.
What about taking steps to ensure that cult we just fought doesn't reappear in Ubersreik? If you find traces of other cultists there, take steps to take them out. I would be happy to help you with such an endeavor, and I am sure it would do the city more good then establishing a sewer guard you yourself find superfluous as anything but a political tool.
Wouldn't a couple of real cultists brought to justice do more for your reputation than a half hearted plan of employing a semi-necessary guard, too?
Marieke pauses, a spoonful of stew half-way to her mouth. Turning and fixing the noble with her righteous gaze says "You can save your coins, Lord, my work is in Sigmar's name, and not undertaken to stuff my pockets with baubles. You'd do well to remember that!"
The moment her heartfelt words have left her mouth, Mareike is seized by a moment of panic as she suddenly has the terrible fear that her honest words will somehow alienate her new companions, causing them to leave her...alone...to face the darkness....alone....
Taking a deep shuddering breath, she calms herself and returns to her stew.
Rikkardjust grins as he notices Mareike's sudden embarassment
Hah, you're right...how could I...oh well, Meister Rangnir, your idea sounds great - those cultists have to have a base or some such...where would you look for such a place?
They sure didn't hide in your mansion, and they were not outcasts. They could be anywhere in Ubersreik, I guess, but that is hard to say, as I have never been to that city. Give me a few days to know my way around there, then ask me the question again.
"The city has a fine representation by the dwarf clans here, beardling. Perhaps we should seek their un-corrupted council." he says finishing the last sentence more as a statement."If we are to do this for you, what are the terms, manling?"
So, a few days to get an understanding of the city's populace? That sounds only fair...terms? Ever a businessman, eh, hah! I'll pay 1 silver a day, what do you say?
Vern nods in appreciation
That's a good deal, I think.
"2."
2?
Rikkard arches an eyebrow and looks at Vern
M'lord, according to the records I keep about your monetary options I strongly recommend that...
Ok, two Rikkard cuts Vern short.
Eating her stew, Marieke surreptitiously keeps track of the negotiations, trying to glean any strategies from Fernis. Despite her self-righteous rant earlier , she realizes that recieving coin for her noble deeds wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing; at the very least any monies she didn't need could go to the church.
Franz pays little attention to the negotiation for the Dwarves services, the amounts so small as to be meaningless. He does raise an eyebrow at the idea the the Emperor wishes to change the sistuation in Uberreik so radically. He'll need to look into that. He then tucks into his meal famished from all the action over the past day. He wonders at Vern's protest, thinking, If milord is so improverished that his man wants to quibble over a silver, what does that mean for me? I'm destitute and a few silvers will not do.
Vern, embarassed by Rikkard's rather unfriendly tone, keep quiet and eats his stew...
About an hour later you're on the road to Ubersreik again.
To your right, the grey waters of the River Reik slowly flow downstream and then and now a small boat passes you.
When at last Ubersreik comes into view, the sun has already begun to set and nearly instantly, the greenish lights of Morrslieb taint the lands again.
Ah, there it is...the pearl of the Reikland...now, I assume Franz will stay with me, but what about you others? Rikkard asks.
"I go with Rangnir.", Fernis says remembering his first order of business is to acquaint the dawi with the world outside the hold.
Where will we meet again to continue our conversation about possible cultists in the city?
Then you should go to the dwarfish district...Vern? Rikkard looks at his servant and makes an impatient face
Yes, mi'lord...the Axe and Hammer Inn, that is a nice place where humans and dwarfs meet and speak about contarcts and business, actually I've been there, too. It was...
Yeah, right...so Axe and Hammer Inn, tomorrow at noon?
Rikkard asks even more impatiently.
For a moment, Marieke looks like a deer caught in the carriage lights; she hadn't thought forward enough about where she may stay once they made the city.
Shyly she asks "May I accompany you and Rangnir, Fernis?"
"Absolutely, lass. But, shall be needin' te get you some decent clothing that isn't covered in the filth of them who ye have slain."
Wonderful, then this is the plan...Vern tell the coachman to drive to the dwarfish distric.
But m'lord, he's sitting next to you and...
Vern?!
To the Axe and Hammer Inn, coachman.
Vern sighs quietly as you pass the gate of Ubersreik...
Some minutes later you find yourself in front of a squat bunker-like stone building with small viewing slots as windows.
A sturdy dwarven bouncer is in front of the inn. He's missing several teeth but greets passersby very friendly...These passersby are mostly human but there is quite a number of dwarfs in the streets too.
"Good to be in the presence of the stout kind again, eh Rangnir? Walking up the bouncer, Fernis clasp his hand in a shake greets him. After introducing himself he directs the bouncer's attention to Rangnir.
Rangnir clasps his hand to his chest, greeting the dwarf. I did not realize our folk was this common amongst men.
"Here they are, beardling, here they are. For generations the manlings of this land have seen the wisdom of working closely with our people in an effort to avoid unnecessary....conflict."
Mareike hops down from the wagon, sack over her shoulder. Looking very much like the young girl she is, she stands , unsure, once again out of her element.
Once the dwrafs and Mareike have left the wagon, Vern signals the coachman to drive on.
We'll meet again...tomorrow.
Rikkard says and turns back to Franz.
The dwarven bouncer returns the handshake and then looks at Mareike
Ye two are travveling with tha' human lass?
"The lass is with us, sure enough. A fine girl with the heart of Grimnir himself. Wish all manlings had as much courage and since of honor. Does 'er lord Sigmar right no doubt."
The dwarf look at Mareike and nods approvingly
Oh well...seems to be some kin' of lottery whether humans are blessed with some gut or nay, heh. Come in come in then.
he pushes the door open and you are gretted by a cloud of beer, smoke and rost smell
Like home, eh?
The tap room of the Axe and Hammer Inn really looks like the archetypical dwaven inn (if such a thing exists). A long bar many niches with small tables, a low ceiling, a large fireplace - everything you would have expected is there...and in the centre of the room: A small platform on which a very small barrel of beer sits...nothing special...besides the lettering on its side: Bugman's Bitter
Yah, see that, beardling?.....",Fernis seems to trail off, eyes locked on the cask and overcome by the smells of home. He finally manages a "Home. Yeah."
Rangnirs eyes follow those of Fernis, nodding in agreement he leads the group to a nice table.
Tjener! Bring us three large kegs of your finest!
"The lass is with us, sure enough. A fine girl with the heart of Grimnir himself. Wish all manlings had as much courage and since of honor. Does 'er lord Sigmar right no doubt."
Momentarily stunned by Fernis' public support of her, Marieke nontheless follows the dwarves into the tavern. Peering about the smoky room, she starts now and then when the shadows part to reveal a stern dwarven visage staring at her frankly. Trying not to show her jitters she follows her friends to the table and sits.
Franz escorts the dawi and the young lass off the coach, bowing a farewell. He then gets back in, turning to his Uncle/Cousin, he says, "Mi'lord, it seems that much is going on, we need to talk about the place you have in mind for me in your plans. But that's better done in a comfortable parlor, rather than in a moving coach." Having set up the circumstance of a hopefully long and fruitful conversation with his soon-to-be benefactor, Franz will lightly doze as the coach makes it's way to the estate.
The barkeep, quite a strange sight for a dwarf since he's quite tall and rather thin, walks over to your table and as he notices Fernis' gaze grins
Well, that's our finest...so...what can I get you? We have a another pretty good ale, Stonebiter's...a bit smoky and quite strong.
------
Rikkard smiles all over his face
Oh yes...I've rented a nice and very comfortable town house...
the wagon rumbles through the narrow streets of Ubersreik and more than once the coachman curses as a pedestrian gets in the way...
After about twenty minutes of rather slow rolling through the city, the wagon holds in front of a respectable mansion. The buildings around it look similar, so you conclude that this must be Ubersreik's district for the richer people.
Rangnirs looks puzzled first, then a bit angry.
I thought I was quite clear about what you can get me.
The dwarf grins and rethinks his first impression of the young dwarf
Aye, if ye can afford it ever the better.
Then he walks back behind the bar and rings a large bell...suddenly it has become totally quiet in the room and all faces have turned towards you...
"Oh boy."
"That order is mighty spendy, dawi. You sure your father would approve of this?", Fernis says about Rangnir's purchases.
Sitting at the table, Marieke's face twitches at times as she tries to ignore the beasts and demons forming out of the smoke, visible only in her peripheral vision; disappearing, of course, every time she blinks.
Thankful for the distraction, she is nonetheless perplexed by the mini-drama evolving over an order of beer.
As Fernis mentiones Rangnir's father, the young hotspur of a dwarf thinks again...Bugman's brews...that were these extremely costly things he had always said...maybe it's better to not order one...at least not now.
The barkeep pauses for a moment
What smith are you talking about?
"Any smith who may offer use of a fine forge to an apprentice runesmith, my good keep.", flashing his guild badge before continuing,"I have some very pressing work which calls for use of such tools. Do you know of such a smithy?"
Fernis grows slightly uncomfortable with Rangnir's free admission of station in a mixed race public house, but betrayers amongst their own kind are few and far between. And given the fact his mission here is to allow Rangnir the chance to broaden his sheltered horizons, Fernis defers his judgement against speaking in such a free manner for now.
"Let us at that fine dwarven ale. One knows a dwarf's mouth feels of ash when forced to subsist on the brews of other races."