Folklore Roll: Franz asks for what's reasonable for his rank. The player isn't sure of what that is.
Die pool: 1 purple, 3 blue, 3 white. Use favored by fortune and 1 fortune point for 3 white dice.
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But it appears that Franz has a clue.
Edit:Clueless player forgot the roll summery. 2 Successes, 1 boon.
Franz discuss the terms ending with, "And I'll work to see your interests are advanced, Uncle Rikkard. It appears I've taken enough of your time today, both of us could use rest from the road. By your leave."
After making his departure Franz will find Vern and find out what quarters he has been assigned and will ask. "Master Hendricks, I know you're busy with your lords's many tasks but at a time of your convenience, I need to inquire of any information you have regarding his lordship's ascension. I'll be resting in my room but do not hesitate to knock when you're ready."
'
[b]Fate has it that I might be able to bring you answer, soon. We will return to you in short time.[b]
Rangnir tries to cover his embaressment,
1 Success
1 Boons
Summary:
1 Blank
1 Success and 0 Challenge
1 Boon and 0 Bane
0 Sigmar's Comet
0 Chaos Star
0 Delay
0 Stress/Fatigue
0 Righteous Success
and makes his exit as fast as he can without offending the elder dwarf.
Bowing low, Fernis turns and follows his young ward out the door.
With a slightly surprised expression, the venerable priest wishes you well and turns back to the altar to return to his prayers...moments later Mareike watches Fernis and Ragnir return to the taproom...strangely, Rangnir's rosy cheeks and the beads of sweat on his forehead give away that the meeting didn't work out as planned...
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Rikkard nods and returns to his red wine...outside you meet Vern
Your room? Of course, please, follow me upstairs.
Your room is not as big as you had hoped for but tidy and clean and consists of a large bed, a desk and a large wardrobe.
Vern pauses after opening the door and then answers
I would be most delighted to help you...and to do something more adventurous than cooking...in short: I'm ready, where do we begin...to do what exactly?
Having entertained herself tracing patterns on the table top in the condensation from the beer stein, she looked up in surprise a the face on the normally stoic dwarf.
"What happened down there?"
There are even tears in Rangnirs eyes, as he answers in a low, pressed voice:
It is not, what happened down there...it is...was...the reminder...what throught the fear, the tension, then the pride...and we...I...did not even care enough anymor...to know what happened to that poor kin...
"We have work to do, dawi. Let us find the longshanks and ask him. Vern was running around enough to know the answer."
Franz smiles at the head servant and says, "Well, it appears that you are well conversant with the situation at hand. With my 'Uncle' fatigued his briefing was a little light. Do you know why this issue came up at all? Why would anyone believe the council is or would entertain any change in their status? Also, since you're much more conversant with this city, I'd appreciate any advice. Also where is the lady of the house, I should pay my respects? I'd also like to meet with Alfons, but a bit later." Franz is hopeful that Vern has more ability to follow questions than his master.
Mareike looks between the two dwarves, confused "Poor kin? There was another dwarf out there? I never saw one! "
Vern sighs and rolls his eyes when Rikkard is mentioned
Since he met this Alfons, he starts every sentence with 'do you remember this one game...'...anyway, her ladyship is looking for a costume for the ball next week, but she will return in the evening, then you will have plenty of time to talk to her.
Umm, Alfons Hammertritt is currently residing in a tavern at the docks and uh...the council? You mean why they chose to give up their state of independence? I guess it has something to do with the growing feeling of insecurity...beastmen in the Reikswald, orcs in the mountains, bandits on the streets...something like that...so, where would you like to begin? I say we pay Hammertritt a visit?!
Rangnir pays the piper...errr the vært, then nods to Mareike to leave.
Not the best story, but yes, there was a Morrslieb-struck dwarf at the lodge, in the infirmery
"Excellant summary, Master Hendrick. Yes, let's be off to see about this Alfons." Franz makes ready to depart. After they leave, Franz asks of Vern, "What is your assessment of Mister Hammertritt, besides his great skill and fame at sports?"
@Dwarf Gang:
Tell me, when you take further actions - looking for Vern is the plan for now?
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Vern grins and his countenance is quite telling
He's...well, let's say a common man...I guess he has some kind of rowdy-charm. Soldiers like Lord Rikkard - not the ones like you - seem to fall for that easily if you get what I mean. I don't think he has to offer much more than a good kick...and I also think he was hit too often on the head...
Franz nods having his fears, though not his worse fears confirmed.
"Well, I'll need to see him to assess how useful he may be. A use can be found for most anything or so I was taught. As an aside, do you know how many troops Lord Rikkard can call to his banner? If protection is desired it would be nice to know how much and what can be delivered."
At this point, I'm assume we are on the way to Herr Hammertritt?
Looking for Verne is the plan for Rangnir.
You could spend a fortune point to maximise your chance to accidentally run into Vern and Franz :)
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Vern scratches his chin and his answer takes several moments
The Lord's bodyguard consists of twenty men, professional and well-trained soldiers...and well, then he has about 120 men at arms and hirelings...mostly crossbowmen and pikemen.
As is Fernis.
Marieke looks from Fernis to Rangnir and back again "Are you saying that we have to go back to that Sigmar-cursed lodge again? To look for one of your kin?" she says scowling, then shrugs "Ah, well, if needs be, I'll surely come along"
"Thanks for your clarity and conciseness, Master Hendricks, Let's get to Herr Hammertritt, then." Franz is eager to get on with the day.
Is that a no regarding the fortune point?
And who is that lovely Marada?^^
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Vern nods
You're welcome...
and after a short while of walking through the rather crowded streets of Ubersreik - a fine city no doubt - you reach the tavern "Smuggler's Haven".
Vern gives the place a pitiful look and sighs
I guess you won't want to come inside? I'll just tell this Alfons to come out, right?
"That might be best Vern, I have no coin and I suspect privacy is unavailable in there." Zindelo seems very dejected by that situation.
As Vern enters the run-down tavern, suddenly the dwarfs and Mareike turn around the next street corner - what a lucky incident...
Hvaffornoget...this place looks bad, even for him...
"Stay on your toes, dawi. We are not here in a desirable time."
Franz spots the dawi down the street, along with Marieke, and give a gracious wave but doesn't otherwise draw attention with a vulgar display.
He thinks, Wonder, what brings them this way?
It takes quite a while until Vern returns, accompanied by an actually lean man who sports an impressive belly, obviosuly formed by beer and fat food.
Alfons Hammertritt looks by no means like a sports-star...he has straw-blonde hair and pale blue eyes...and a big reddish nose...and his physical condition is, well, not so good...
Vern nods to the dwarfs and harrumphes
Uh, so this is Mr. Hammertritt, the...
Mr. Alfons Hammertritt, rookie of the year, passer extraordinaire and best kicker in all of Reikland...but you m'lord may just say Alfons, heh.
he puts his hand forth and smiles a smile that misses several teeth.
Judging from the comely setting that this might be something like a 'clandestine' meeting, Rangnir keeps his distance and signals Fernis and Mareike to do the same. As soon as that wreck of a human being is focussing on Franz, Rangnir hopes to catch Vernis attention and signal him to come over.
Mareike's inappropriate question Why is Franz talking to that big tub of lard? is forestalled by Rangnir's motion to keep quiet and in-obtrusive. She contents herself with crossing her arms and frowning .
Fernis scratches his beard in thought. I wonder if I ever sacked that piece of grobi scat.....? Following Rangnir over to the table, he says"What be it, beardling? Something a miss?"
Franz takes the hand of the sadly failing athlete and gives a firm shake. "Pleased to meet you Alfons, I'm Master Flechter, cousin to his lordship." Franz looks him over, "I trust your family is well? I'm here to get your views on mi'lords desires; we can start with how you came to his confidence."
Once again Franz's noble background keeps him from the gaucheness of wincing in public. I wouldn't confide the headlines of the local broadsheet to this man; I should hear him out though, don't pre-judge.'
"Back when I was playing that fella would gotten crushed, but don't take him lightly. Passers are tough runts." Fernis says in a low voice.
Alfons garbs the waistband of his trousers and pulls them up...which doesn't help much...
Hah, that's quite a story, m'lord. Last year, I was on a "All-Star-Retired-Players-Tour" and we also had a game here in Ubersreik...yeah and I had a good day, ye know. Great pass followed on great pass and in the end my team won by quite a margin, ye know. Yeah and after the game Lord Rikkard came to our dressing room and told me what a big fan of me he was, heh...big fat honour, ye know. An' well, he invited me to his castle and we spent some glorious nights in his wine cellar with stories of my more successful days.
Franz gamely tries to find something salvagable out of the man. "And great days they were indeed. Now, how do you see your role in supporting mi'lord? How many contacts to the other notables in this town do you have?"
I'm begining to wonder if this guy is even a mountebank, is my cousin building his hopes on this man, completely based on his own thoughts?
Alfons picks at his ear and then scratches his butt while he formulates an answer
M'lord, it is the way it is, ye know. As a famous son of the Reikland I know many of the wealthy burghers and minor nobles personally...and...I'm able to swing their opinion about the new lord of Ubersreik in your uncle's favour. So I think I'm exactly the right man for the task at hand.
Franz breaks into a wide smile that totally lacks warmth at Alfon's obviously mendacious words. "That's excellent news, it would help though to know which of the notables have received your advice favorably, and those that are so lacking in public spirit as to not be as enthusiastic as we would hope for." Franz seems friendly but it's clear that he expects answers.
Well now I know, this revolting peasant couldn't sway anyone not besotted by useless past glories. And he knows that or he'd be less oily.
Actually to your surprise, Alfons seems a bit unnerved by your "friendly-unfriendliness" - you didn't even expect him to notice that much...
Uh...well... he licks his lips nervously Your uncle didn't tell me when EXACTLY I had to begin with my task, so I decided to wait for further instructions, ahem. BUt yeah, I could begin at once and meet my old friend Florian Pfeifraucher, Vicount of Weißbruck.
Franz smile remains as it was as he encourages Alfons to go on, "I'm sure your coach said never to waste a minute, as true in war and politics as sports. Vicount Weissbruck, sounds good, what assistance is your good friend able to supply, do you think, and when can you report back?"
Franz attempts to pin down this greased pig, politely demanding goals and results.
Vern is so intrigued by the whole scene that it takes him several minutes to notice the others and even then he is only reluctantly leaving the scene
Ah Meister dwarfs and Miss Mareike... after the half-hearted greeting he quickly turns his attention back to Franz and Alfons.
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Alfons' smile widens and he seems relieved to have gotten out of the situation, at least mostly
At once, m'lord, at once! And report back...ah well, not easy to say, you should know that meetings with nobles may run this way or that, hah! I'd say tomorrow?
"If you weren't such a creaky old hinge, I'd take you for a schoolboy. If you wanted to be regaled by stories from the pitch, I could have given you much better tales than those."
A very slight amount of warmth flows into Franz's broader smile and he says, "Sounds good, either Vern or myself we will with you here then say-late tomorrow afternoon, surely such a good friend will have meet with you my then. It seems other friends of mine are here so I'll not keep you further from such an important task. Thank you and good day!" Franz dismisses Hammertritt praying that something useful will come out of this, though not hopeful as he notices the dodge of the expected results.
Totally uninterested in having the faded star and real heroes meet Franz head towards the Dawi and Marieke. With a warm smile Franz greets them, "It's good to see you, Masters Dawi, and you as well Marieke. What brings you to this less inspiring part of town?" It doesn't occur to Franz to explain what he is doing.
Alas, a sad and shameful story. Something...came up that brought back to my mind what shouldn't have been forgotten in the first place. Vern...you remember the poor Morrslieb struck dwarf at the lodge...to my greatest shame the fight and the hunt for the cultists made me forget about his fate...would you, by any chance know what happened to him?
Vern looks at the departing Alfons who leaves with an oafish grin and shakes his head
No, enough stories for one day...
The dwarf? Uh...Kordren, Kordren Kurgansson was his name. Oh, I don't know - I think he stayed at the lodge and hopefully recovered...the Bruners had already paid him in advance...
Franz is immediately concerned, "I thought that had been taken care of but I did not check on him myself and I should have. I presume you wish to see him, we should go and check on him? Master Hendricks, is he still there? This takes precedence over our current matters."
Franz is thinks, Damn! And I hoped to win over the support of the dawi in town, well, perhaps it is not too late.
Seeing him is important to me nad I would be gracious for the possibility to go back for him. Also, since I know there are dwarves in the city that care about him, we should try to transport him here.
"This is not going to be easy, dawi. Be careful the oaths you swear are those can make good on, boy." Fernis says in their native tongue.