Franz lets the man hug him and then when air starts to run out wiggles free. "Thank you, Uncle for your embrace." Franz then frowns and looks around for a moment before turning back to face Lord Rikkard directly. Speaking quietly so even Master Vern could not hear if he tried evesdropping, Franz says, "Uncle, I've seen the many signs of neglect of this estate all around. It appears the prior lord was derelict of his duties. I could well see servants being surly and slothful because of that. Pray tell me what you have seen that would cause you to call the servants here rebellious. Specifically which servants and what did they do to arouse your .... concern?" Whew, I almost said fear there. But fear it is, not righteous anger; what in hell is going on here?
Rikkard's face hardens
I can't put my finger on it directly...most of the servants seem lazy and slothful, even though I have made clear that I have no qualms to look for new ones in Ubersreik...have you met Gregor Piersson already? He is the steward and has already served under Martin von Bruner...you should ask him, he seems more or less trustworthy and is as annoyed of the situation as I am...oh, we should meet again after dinner, then I will have found my journal in one of these boxes and can tell you more of the things that happened here - oh and please tell the cook whether you would prefer goose or venison. I'd recommend venison, now that hunting is not an option with all the beastman around, it could be your last chance to get some for days.
Rangnir will walk around in the main hall, seemingly inspecting the brickwork and the general architecture, while he is actually keeping an eye out to see if anybody behaves suspiciously: somebody trying to get more then a peek view at the man who went upstairs, somebody visibly nervous at the sight of the newcomers or other telltale signs.
Suspicion grows in Franz's mind. Why would any lord need to check his journal to remember what he wrote in the past few days, a few weeks at most? All he's said is to repeat what I said. Franz smiles warmly. "Trouble yourself not Uncle, I'm sure whatever is prepared will be better than the horrors inflicted on my journey." Franz takes his cap off, "And thanks for your gift, I apprecate it, it fits well doesn't it?" Franz puts his chapeux back on. Wonder how he will respond to that lie?
Guile: 4 blue dice any other mods.
Intuition: 3 blue, any other mods.
Observation: 3 blue, any other mods.
Lord Rikkard also hesitates for a moment but then his big arms close around you and you nearly drown in the man's massive embrace
Hah! It feels so good to have you here Franz! I cannot trust anyone of this rebellious bunch, but now with you at my side, I feel the times will be getting better! Come in come in - Vern, you wait in front of the door, make sure no one eavedrops.
Vern nods and remains in front of the door.
The Lord's chamber is a medium-sized room, boxes, crates and chest are scattered over the room, some stand open, others are still closed, it looks like Rikkard has only recently begun to unpack.
Wine? he asks.
---------------
The woman needs a moment to understand what you just said to her
Are you kidding me?!?! What have I to do with the shrine or the garden? I'm just the cook and now back to you, are you two my new kitchen hands?
" Uh....yeah. We're to help in the kitchen, cleaning, all that sort of thing. Vern brought us. " Mareike says her anger lowering to a slow boil. "Where can I put my things" she says holding up her pack with blood stained axe sticking out of it. "We had a bit of a problem with a Gor on the way in." Mareike says in explanation holding the woman's gaze with her own.
Fernis stays rather quiet as the party makes their way into the manor. Long years on the trail of quarries have taught him the closed mouth gets the most answers.
Rikkard looks at the cap, arches an eyebrow and maybe senses that something is wrong (1 failure, 1 chaos star)
Franz, what are you speaking of - never have I seen this thing...I... then he staggers and grabs your shoulder for support again...I'm so tired...always happens in the afternoon...must be all the fresh air. With your help he moves over to the bed and sits down I need a nap of sleep, please tell Vern to wake me for dinner, will you do that?
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The cook was about to say something, but her mouth closes as you mention the gor
You have met one of these monsters and you're still alive? I thought you're only a kitchen aid? Here come in, you can put your pack in that corner until you have been given a room. I will call Susanne at once.
------------
In the main hall where the two dwarves have waited, a tall, gaunt man wearing an old-fashioned black livery, appears out of one of the two corridors leading out of the room. He looks at you with a hint of bewilderement
You there, who are you? he demands rather rudely.
"The last faces you'll ever see ifin' ya keep that tone in your throat, man. Yer lord has requested our presence ta ensure yer kind has walls strong enough to fend off them beast that would make a quick meal of ya. If you want to yer boss why a master dwarven mason left, be my guest."
Uh... the man's lips form a slightly too friendly smile I'm sorry, how could I know that you were not some vagabonds or people looking for shelter...you see, our ressources are already limited, we cannot house each and every weary traveller...so you have to forgive me that I didn't recognize you for the master mason you are Herr dwarf...I'm Gregor Piersson, head steward of the manor.
"Pardon me Uncle, my mistake, must have been Uncle Gertee." I'd buy I made a mistake if he didn't just "get sick." "Of course Uncle, let me ready the bed. I'll tell Vern. Good afternoon." Franz exits, putting on his normal bored face though he's anything but. He addresses Vern, "Master Vern, please inform the staff their master wishes to be roused from his nap at dinner. Also, it might be best if I was introduced to the servant manager, does this manor have a dedicated bailif or a butler?" Franz also looks around tapping his pack.
Vern looks a bit worried
Tired again? That is really strange, has happened for quite a while now...he always begins to tire in the afternoon and is quickly exhausted...just some days ago I wouldn't have believed this to be possible...but yes, I will wake him when it's dinner time. Oh, have you already chosen whether you want venison or goose? We have a master steward here, he's not really a bailif, but also not a butler...more or less something in between. As far as I know, he was quite close with Martin von Bruner, his name's Gregor Piersson.
Rikkard looks at the cap, arches an eyebrow and maybe senses that something is wrong (1 failure, 1 chaos star)
Franz, what are you speaking of - never have I seen this thing...I... then he staggers and grabs your shoulder for support again...I'm so tired...always happens in the afternoon...must be all the fresh air. With your help he moves over to the bed and sits down I need a nap of sleep, please tell Vern to wake me for dinner, will you do that?
-----------
The cook was about to say something, but her mouth closes as you mention the gor
You have met one of these monsters and you're still alive? I thought you're only a kitchen aid? Here come in, you can put your pack in that corner until you have been given a room. I will call Susanne at once.
"Well it was fight or die.... Sigmar's blessing was upon us. Mareike says, watching the woman for her reaction upon hearing Sigmar's name invoked. She then puts her gear in the corner indicated then looks about the room, waiting.
The woman just shakes her head and repeats the name slowly
Sigmar...yeah well, ok, umm...you can start by brushing the room and you... she points at Zadlu You go over to the hospice...maybe they need a helping hand there.
We were atacked by beastmmen on the way to the manor, and now you tell me that the forsvars of the manor are stretched so thin that you would expect some vagabonds to be able to walk straight into the main hall? If that is the case I doubt that reinforcing the mur will do any good!
Oh no, that wasn't what I wanted to say, I just feared our ever vigilant guards would have let you pass because they tried to be especially merciful...a trait we cannot afford during these dark days.
So you have to fear they would let a stranger pass despite being ordered not to? That fails to inspire confidence in your forsvars as well!
You're right, I give you that...Capt. von Blucher has his own ways with the poor and people in need...I told Lord Aschaffenberg that isolation is the best defence here in the Reikswald, he believes that we are obliged to help every human out there. Piersson sighs and looks at Fernis ...ummm you are a mason like the dwarf over there, right?
-------
The cook looks at Zadlu
We already have a gardener! she barks.
Bertoldt...Bertoldt Granhof, he is a diligent boy, but the garden is large and the weather was bad during the last days.
"I am! But, alas my skills are more in muscle and less in technique than my fellow dawi. I am hear to assist in the quality and cutting of the stone."
Isolation? Bah, I have seen the barricades you use to 'reinforce' the crumbling mur - you need all the help you can get, so isolation is out of the question, good sir!
The cook grimaces
But Bertoldt IS in the hospice!
-------
Yes, you masons know more about walls then I do, I will not question your skills...umm now, shall I show you your rooms?
The woman just shakes her head and repeats the name slowly
Sigmar...yeah well, ok, umm...you can start by brushing the room and you... she points at Zadlu You go over to the hospice...maybe they need a helping hand there.
Mareike tries to determine if the woman's reaction is due to ignorance of Sigmar ( imagine such a thing! ) or indifference ( even more un-imaginable! )
3 characteristic dice + any modifiers
Franz frowns, "What happened days ago? Has my Uncle recently became poor of health? Franz checks himself, "I see we have much to talk about but I should settle in. Do you know which room I am to have? I can drop off my pack meet the chief steward, and then continue meeting other members of the household, I'm eager to see the hounds." In truth I am but for a very different reason, if the houndmaster is loyal we have a chance to deal with all the problems here if not ... Franz gives a minor grimace when he considers his fate, if his darkest suspicions are confirmed. Franz waits to be directed to his room and then will promptly decend to the ground floor if something more interesting doesn't happen.
To reach the hospice you have to cross the dining hall, where the head steward is still speaking with the dwarves. As he notices you he pauses and addresses you Another new face?
What? Eh...I mean, are you another mason? now he sounds genuinely annoyed...
Bertoldt? This lazy scu...umm, yes, he's in the hospice...told me his back was aching...again.
Huh? Er, yeah, just down this corridor.
Come,dawi, we need to get our room set.", Fernis says as he prepares to follow the steward.
Yes, please follow me.
Piersson leads you along a corridor with several doors to the right and left until he stops for the final one at the end of the corridor.
This one is a double room, it should suit your tastes - the other new arrivals can stay in the rooms left and right of this one.
-----------
Zadlu meanwhile reaches the hospice at the end of the corridor opposite of the one that led to the kitchen. Upon his knocking, the door is opened by a sleepy man of twenty years. He has short brown hair and wears a dirty shirt and green trousers.
Ja? Who are ye? he asks rather directly.
Fernis takes good long look in to the room before stepping through the doorway. With a nod he makes eye contact with Rangnir. Speaking in there native tongue, he says,"What do you think?" Looking about the room, the dwarf continues to look for any signs of the problem in this room.
Marieke grabs the broom and begins sweeping, her movements sharp and angry, her brow furrowed in concentration as she ponders the woman's reaction to Sigmar's glorious name.
In the kitchen, the cook begins to prepare large amounts of venison and goose, while humming a children's tune. Agaian and again she fills a glass of dark red wine and emties it...soon her face is bright red and her motions begin to become slower and slurred.
---------
Bertoldt looks at you with a mixture of dismay and arrogance
A what? An underling? Whose idea was that? Yeah well, as you kan see, my back is sore and I need to rest, so I can't do the garden work at the moment...but maybe you can?
---------
The room is rather spartan, two beds, one chest of drawers and a larger wardrobe are the only pieces of furniture in it. The room is clean and has a small window to the garden.
Piersson nods and before leaving adds
Please, tell the cook whether you would like venison or goose for dinner.
-----------
FOR EVERYONE: We need a progress tracker now, who can take care of it? One marker for "unknown" one marker for "party investigation".
Rangnir walks slowly along the inner and outer walls of the room, inspecting them with the dedicated thoroughness only a dwarf can muster as if fearing the room itself might be the traitor to the lord.
Amazed by how much wine the woman is drinking; and still able to continue cooking, Mareike eventually finished sweeping the floor.
Looking around for something to do , a memory comes to her unbidden: her mother's voice saying "Idle hands...". Furiously shaking her head, Mareike tries to banish the thought from her mind, a tear sliding down her left cheek.
Wiping the evidence of her weakness away, she strides to her pack, lifts it and says over the din of the cook's labours "Where is my room? I will take my belongings there now,then return to assist you."
Fernis decides to ground his gear, but maintains shield and hammer. Taking the mail from his body, the dwarf stretches his back and says, "Lets go see about some of that venison, dawi. Maybe they will have decent brew."
Bleary eyed the cook grins and points at the door through which Zadlu went
Down the corridor, through the main hall, then follow the corridor on the left until you reach the servants' chambers.
For Fernis, Rangnir and Mareike:
You meet again in the main hall, the dwarves are just returning from the corridor the cook told Mareike to look for a room.
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Bertoldt shrugs
I don't care...if you ask me...I couldn't care less about you working or not, actually I...
Sorry?!
From behind Bertoldt a short stocky man wearing thick glasses and a stained white apron made of some thick kind of fabric appears
Can I help you?
Franz waits for a response from Vern who says nothing to him for an uncomfortably long time. Finally Franz shruggs and goes downstairs, and looks around to see what is happening. He thinks he hears Zad in the distance down some corridor and seeing no one else in the foyer he heads that way, feeling somewhat creeped out by the whole situation.
Ah sry Franz, we posted simultaneously (same minute) that's why I didn't see your post - my bad.
Retcon:
Vern seems unsure and hesitates for a moment before he answers
Not really poor of health, but he tires more quickly than usual. Oh, I think Herr Fernis and Herr Rangnir have already met Herr Piersson. I can hear them talking in the main hall. Your room? Here, the one right next to Lord Rikkard's. And while you meet Piersson, I will speak to Olver Gand and tell him that you want to meet him.