We should hurry then! One of those Jævels on a street under the bright sun tells of bad tides to come.
"Indeed, dawi,indeed."
Franz is unsure that Master Hendrick saw anything but a trick of the eyes, since he saw nothing, but says nothing as the dawi urge the party forward.
"Very well, with the afflicted with us we cannot check further, and running into sewers is just a bad idea all around. Marieke check forward to see that no other untoward surprises are there and let us get to the place we need to be."
Not wishing to draw attention to the group, Franz puts his weapon away.
A felt one million times have you gazed back on the way to the inn, but there was no sign of any ratmen again...the bouncer lets you pass unchallenged and the expression on his face is one of serious worry, he even opens the door for you and quickly makes way for you in the taproom.
Though she was ready to charge into the sewer in chase of whatever Vern saw, Marieke held herself back and accompanied the others back to the inn.
"We'll need ya manlings ta stay top side. This will not be something his kin will want to be sharing." Fernis gesture to the barkeep to supply shoulders to the shield as they make for the stairs below.
After a moment of hesitation that feels like it was taking eternally, the heavy door is opened by the old runesmith himself.
As his gaze falls on Kordren the lines in his face seem to become deeper
Where have you found him?
the dwarven priest asks without any introductional ado.
"In the care of a priestess of Shallaya, Lord. She has attempted to ease his mind, but to no avail. She kept him separated from the rest of the manlings in an attempt to see him well while using a great deal of her limited resources to do so." Fernis takes a deepbreath and continues,"There are other issues at play 'ere also, my lord. We have seen Skaven scouts in route from the temple where a flood of manlings suffer from some unknown ailment."
The dwarven community should know about that. The Skaven know that their deceptive ways do not work on us as they do on the humans, and we are more resilient to the pestilence they breed. They might well come upon us with blades while they wait fro the humans to succumb to their plague
Franz nods at the dawi's desire to keep it in the family, and sits down at an open table to waits, taking in the sights of a dwarven taproom. "This may take a while."he comments.
The venerable dwarf nods solemnly
Come in
He nods thankfully to the already departing Franz and once the dwarves have entered the inner sanctum closes the heavy portal.
Kordren will stay here and if Grimnir is still boiling in his blodd may recover...now let's turn to the whisker-breed...have you already spoken to anyone about that matter?
-------
Any orders Franz?
"None but yourself, long beard. The manlings have no knowledge of these blight carriers. I am sure they would only write them off as chaos beast of some sort."
Marieke frowns as the dwarves abandon her upstairs again.
Turning to the barkeep she "We'll have what we had before...and some food." she says brusquely then sits down in her previous chair.
When, Franz sits down with her, she asks "Do you think your cousin was talking about these rat-men when he asked us to do some rat catching?"
Franz talks to Mareike while they wait, he orders nothing by the way. [/b]"Doubtful, stories of these rat-men are considered pointless ravings by most of the nobility, including me, but I suppose ratty beast-men are possible. Stories of an empire of rats beneath us with endless armies, waging a secret war against us for centuries with not a shred of evidence to support it - that's not well received by the Lords of the Empire. So, no, I think it's something else, but it may be related. Under that moon though, maybe anything is possible, well anything that is not good."[/b]
Franz, unsettled, makes the Sign of the Hammer, to ward evil away.
When the barkeep arrives at the table and catches the last words of Franz' statement, he just shakes his head
Jus' because ye cannot see it doesn't mean it is not there...
he places a tankard on the table and a plate with some cold meat and bread.
----------
The runesmith nods
I will talk to the elders of our exclave...return tomorrow and pray to Valaya...Kordren will need all available help.
"And it shall be done." Bowing his head and taking his leave,Fernis sweeps out of the forge. Heading back top side he approaches the table of manlings saying, "We shall have our answer soon. I will explain the what you saw in the morning. It will be best to let thins be this evening, but what you have seen is no doubt looking to make sure you do not speak of it. We will need to be on guard from here on out."
After finishing with his companions,Fernis begins to speak with the keep, informing him of the Skaven presence in the city and the need to make preparations should they slink in looking to silence those who would stop them.
The barkeep takes the news with stoic determination - no signs of surprise - and after you have finished asks
Do you need anything? Shall we contact anybody? Do you need hands and helpers?
"It is no doubt that this city is already under siege. We will need to reinforce this place as we would our own halls. The manlings will be caught unaware when they do finally launch their attack. They will fight hard, but will ultimately fall if we are able to shore up where they leave holes. Contact whom you may. Though the beardling and m'self are not of your clan you have our hammers and those of my adopted daughter and the young noble there."
Franz listenst to this dumbfounded. "Wait, what? There's no proof ever seen by men of these Skaven, no one of true human authority here will listen. I'd never doubt a dawi's word but no Lord of the Empire will act without evidence. In any case if the town is in danger, I'll have to meet with my cousin and try to get to the bottom of this. More than one place would need defending, best if it such evil never happens, thousands of men, women and children, dawi, humans and others live here, they would die in droves if surprise attacked."
I wish my cousin had better briefed me, I do not know the exact details of the troubles that the great men of this town fear. That'll be a problem.
|
Even if we cannot make the city see the full extend of the danger the Skaven present, if they see that 'beastmen' are within the city proper, that should put the guards on the edge and prove a hindrance to at least some of the Skaven workings. It is crucial that we find out the details of the Skaven plans!
Speaking in Khalzid, Fernis says,"You are wasting your breath, beardling. Manlings have no understanding of this world and would rather call something a heresy than believe that something could exist such as these. I know not why given what they have seen, but their's is a young race and given to corruption. This city will fall into siege and disease. Then fear will tear it apart. We must be prepared to strike down man and ratkin alike should they turn on us out of fear....or worse."
We have seen men fighting valiantly against chaos - I am willing to believe that many in this city will fight against the Skaven, too. If you think that we cannot bring them to see them for what they are, then we will not try - let them fight rat-beastmen, so us and our kin will have fewer of them between us and the rat-nest.
"But, that is not our way. That runesmith down below likely assisted in settling this town and there are reasons they choose to dwell amongst the manling. We shall stand with them, too, though they are of weaker heart. The manlings will fight and many as bravely as us, but do not drop your guard, beardling. This place will be far worse than the manor. Chaos they understand as part of their religion, but a race far craftier than the greenskins they will even tolerate. It is our duty to stand by the dawi here and for you to prove yourself to that longbeard."
You should not plan to burn the town before the fight.
Mareike watches the conversation between Fernis and Rangnir, her frown deepening into a scowl, unable to understand a word.
"What are you talking about?" she bluntly demands.
I...am sorry. In a place like this, it is easy to forget I am not in a dwarven Kharak. I did not intent to be impolite and we shall continue our conversation in your tongue, Mareike.
Fernis cast glower at the impetuous youth before turning sullen eyes on his "daughter." "We will be needing to teach you our tongue." Looking about the tavern, Fernis wonders if enough bearded ones will be available before the invasion. "We will need to go down below. We need numbers if this berg is to stand any chance. And quickly...."
Franz is a bit miffed himself at the dawi's exclusion but keeps his peace, allowing Marieke to handle it as a dwarf-friend. At the last remark though he speaks up.
"I see that the sighting of one rat-man has ignited a bonfire here. Since I do believe in the steadiness of the dawi, who have been the rock the Empire has stood on for 25 centuries, I accept what you say. But, it would be helpful if you explained in more detail the threat that is near, and why you believe it is very soon."
"If they are allowing themselves to be seen, it may be far too late already. The next time we see them someone will be dead or dying unless we find them and their hole first. We need to recon the sewer system and speak with local rat catchers. We will be needin' a guide down there. Vern, summon the best, find out who he thinks is touched in the head,and then find me that one. That will be the one we need."
You notice that even though no one said a word about the ratmen sighting aloud, the tension inside the inn is palpable now. The other dwarfs whisper and glare at the green moon through the windows, short sword and axe blades are checked and more than one silent prayer mouthed...
A bit mollified by Fernis' offer to teach her his language, Marieke settles down and listens to the conversation, only twitching and flinching occasionally as she thinks she sees a ratty face staring at her from the shadows, only to disappear when she turns her head quickly to look directly at the apparition.
Franz listens but doesn't seem to be hearing a clear or reasonable plan.
"Master Dawi, even by surprise, it would take a large army to do more than mischief to the people of this town, beyond a murder or ten. Bad but not not a threat of destruction. If you believe an army is hiding in the sewers, then a great many troops would be needed, it would be attack against a large prepared enemy on their home grounds. By the book, we would need four times their number, all else being equal. That seems hard to acquire." Franz stops there to give the dawi a chance to clarify what appears to be a overly risky charge into unknown dangers.
Pestilence, the most dangerous weapon of this army against a city will be pestilence.
One by one the dwarfs leave and you stay behind with a feeling of uncertainty and tension...maybe someone should coordinate the actions the folk of Grimnir - Borgun Foambear, owner of the resident Foambeard Brewery could be someone like this...
"Rangnir. What do you know of the priest in this city?"
I'm irritated too, so just go ahahead :)
"I suppose that was a misguided question, beardling. Let us ask our host where we can find the headman of their community resides." With that,Fernis sets forth to do just that.
Rangnir stands up and gestures to Mareike to follow.
Please, come with us, it is a fitting time to make the headman know you are kin.
Rangnir turns to Franz.
Will you accompany us, or will we meet up when we return? Oh, do you know if this city has guilds for Ratcatchers ord Dungsweepers? They might have seen more of the Ratmen already than the dare tell the authorities...and they will know every hole that leads into the depth of this city. If there are guilds like that, they should meet with the dwarves!
Franz shakes his head, wondering how to break the facts of politics to the headstrong dawi without causing offense.
"I'm sorry Master Fernis and Master Rangnir. There are several questions here that I have some knowledge of but I'm not native here so my insights are incomplete as yet, gaining such intelligence took much of my time in the past day. For the question of guilds for ratcatcher's given the base social position of the impoverished trade, I've never heard of it being guilded in any town I know of. There may be informal groups though. I'm sure inquires could be made."
Franz takes a deep breath, "Now, no offense intended, but it is unlikely to get an audience with The Burgomeister, Ernst Maier, without references. And it would even less likely a report of a moments glance of a single rat-like beastman would result in favorable action, the opposite is more likely. The Burgomeister is not the sole ruler of this burg, there is a ruling council. It would be more respectful and advantageous to go through the appropriate channels to achieve results. Now I would not presume as to know who is the clanhead or heads of the dawi here but they are, of course of great influence. However, I do know, that for the dawi of this town, the respected council member would be the master brewer, Borgun Foambeard. Our good host here, the proprietor of this fine establishment should know how to contact him." Franz gives a short but respectful bow to the dawi he believes to the the innkeeper. Franz waits the results of his reluctant intervention in pursuit of rationality.
Marieke is surprised by Rangnir's offer, and hurries to get up, all gangly arms and legs.
Hearing Franz' comment, she frowns "Too much talk! The threat is there or it isn't. If it is ....we burn it out!" she declares, with a youth's confidence in the rightness of her opinion.
Ahh, yes, but this threat will be well hidden, and if the rats see a fire, they will just crawl into a deeper hole and wait until the ashes are cooled down. No, we must make sure we strike at its heart. Since the Skaven seem to be already on the move, to do so we must try to make sure Dawi and Men will stand long enough for that heart to be exposed.
"Let us hope they have not brought any store of their blasted stone."
That seems like sound advice, don't you agree, Fernis? If all our ki are confident to let master Foambaerd speak for them, he will be most respectable and it would be wise to seek his counsel.
Since I doubt that Fernis has anything to object:
You beckon the barkeep over to you and he quickly explains you the way to the Foambeard Brewery. Borgun is there everyday, supervising the brewing process and the loading of the wagons.
Fernis gives his thanks and beckons the others to follow him to the brewery.
Marieke follows, muttering to Fernis "I don't understand, why is a brewmaster so important?"
"In our society beer is not not just a beverage and brewing is not a profession, but more a near divine calling. To be called brewmaster is a hollowed title sought by many and attained by but a handful in all the world. In a place like this, he will hold great sway with most of their thanes."
The Foambeard brewery, located closely to the city centre, consists of several large workshops in which massive brew kettles are tended by a small host of dwarven workers - at least fifty of them scurry around with lists, books, examples in small flasks, technical devices you have never seen before in their meaty hands.
Steam rises from the kettles and the noise coming from the depths of the halls is ear-defening.