Work on the docks was hard, hot and heavy. In addition to getting roughed up by the old hands it seemed the good work never found its way to him. The premium shifts went to the foreman's favourites and relatives... then fortune smiled upon him.
Its a lucky wind that blows sour, Rudolf the foreman complained. We're down a man and have two barges to land tonight, another two tomorrow morning if the scuttlebutt be right. What to do?, he asked his troll of a son, Franz... a truly ugly man, all ears and nose who was built on a bulky lard like frame, alike to his sire.
Beggin' your pardon... but I'll work a double, triple shift if needed!, Axel pipped up as he limped by, sensing an opportunity. Blister on his foot be damned!
Garn! You've not the leather, Franz said contemptuously, before hawking up a gob of spit.
We've nought to lose... , the grizzled old Steveadore reasoned, Besides if he screws this up? We'll put in a word to the office and be well rid of him! Okay Tosspot, grab a bite and a drink - will probably be your last until forenoon watch.
Where to put him Da?
Pollin', Rudolf said with an evil grin. Pollin the skiff with ole Bianca.
Axel suppressed a groan. Bianca was easily the most ill tempered of the docks crew. If polling the skiff out to a barge that couldn't make it to the docks, loading it up and then unloading it again wasn't bad enough, it was that Bianca had a tongue that cut like a knife, and a tendency to be very free about whacking slow workers with her pole.
Ha! Now we'll see if he's tough enough!
Hans had a busy week, to say the least. The first order of business was retrieving his goods from where they were impounded. This was not the easiest of affairs. His cart, his mule and what went with it had cost him many a coin. Twenty five gold, if one counted every copper, which he certainly did. It had been the culmination of years of hard work. Buying it had been the moment when he had decided to really set out on his own, to be his own (guilded) merchant. He had dreamed of making many times his investment, moving goods from town to town. It had all seemed so simple. But life wasn't. First, there was the cost of having his cart impounded. Then there was the cost of having his mule cared for. And of course, the penalties that came under the law for his transgressions. With interest, of course. Now, he had expected this, and he bore with it was much good grace as he could muster. But it hurt, nonetheless, when he sold it. After paying off all of his fines, impounded fees, and then finding a seller, twenty five gold turned into 12 gold and 10 silver. Just half of what he had spent on it. It was, he considered, a fitting epithet to his life as a merchant. His act of selling his cart and mule was closing the coffin on his old profession. Now it was just time to put the last nail in it.
His purse more filled than it had been since when he was a young man full of hope and optimism, he walked into the Greater Reik Offices. And there he resigned his position. He had an entire speech planned out. He planned to meet with everyone he had known and worked for. To tell them how much of an honor it had been to have spent so many years of his life working for the Company. He wanted to go out on a good note, afterall. There was no point in making enemies. He had feared that they would yell at him. To call him a traitor for leaving, after they had put up with so many of his many failures. What hurt far more than his worst fears, though, was what he was met with. Indifference. He had walked in, given his resignation, and nobody cared. So, he was working for a noble now? A noble who was working with the Company? It just meant one less name on their books. There wasn't even a thank you. Just an acknowledgement and an awkward silence, in which he began to give his speech, trailed off, and quietly showed himself out. With a tight feeling in his throat, he was shown the harsh truth that what meant so much to him as an identity really didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. He was so far down the totem pole that he wouldn't be missed.
Standing in the streets, Hans let the world flow around him while he got his bearings. Feelings welled up inside him and fought for control, until he was left with a feeling of...weightlessness, was perhaps the best word. Of having a large weight off of his shoulders. The soul-breaking stress that he had heaped upon himself dissipated, as the realization set in that he was no longer a merchant. But he was still Hans.
Walking from one identity to another, he went to the market. He had signed on as a guard, a valet, a servant, a warden...an all around assistant. He had never worked for a noble before, but he had done business with their estates many a time. But he knew that such experience mattered little, given that he was to be working for an elf. And not just any elf. A wood elf! Or what was it she called herself? Asrai? Regardless, what it meant was a steep learning curve. Still, at least the elf knew little enough about the Empire, meaning that he had some value. And if the legends and rumors were true at all, by the time she bored of him enough time would have gone past that he'd find the next thing for him to do by then. It was said that a human lifetime was a blink of an eye to an elf. He wasn't sure how much he believed it, but he assumed that he would know the truth of the stories soon enough.
Cash
12 gold, 10 silver from sales
2 gold, 3 silver from purse
14 gold, 13 silver total
Encumbrance
Str (4) + T (4) + Sturdy (1) = 9
Purchases
1 Gold: Sword, 1 encumbrance
1 Gold, 4 silver: Leather Jack, Leggings, Skullcap, 3 encumbrance
1 Gold: Storm Lantern
18 Silver, 2 Brass: Buckler (Shield 1, Defensive, Undamaging) 0 encumbrance
3 Gold: Shortbow
10 Silver: 24 arrows
1 gold 4 silver: Fine clothing (Fine Meticulously crafted to please the eye. This Quality is a sign of social status and can be taken multiple times. The higher the quality, the more impressive it seems)
Beginning: 14 gold, 13 silver, 0 brass
Total Cost: 8 gold, 12 silver, 2 brass
Total Left: 6 gold, 0 Silver, 10 brass
Encumbrance: 5/9
It was an all together new experience for him to go out and buy what would be needed for his new life. He needed a sword, that was clear. Luckily he knew how to use one, for a merchant on the road had to defend himself. Likewise, a buckler and some solid leather armor. All guards needed something to keep their blood in. Likewise, he grabbed a shortbow. He kind-of knew how to use it, for he had a few lessons when he was a child. But being on the road it just seemed like the kind of thing he should have. If nothing else to provide some cover if they decided to run. And a storm lantern, of course. He had seen guards hired by the company with those before. He eyed a collection of spears, but decided against it. In the future he'd learn how to use them. But at the moment it seemed wises to just stick to what he knew. And finally...finally he got a new pair of clothes. It wouldn't do to only have one pair. It could easily go over the leather. When traveling, he'd have one set that would be worn without a care for how it ended up. And when in town, he'd have a set of fine clothing, with an appropriate hat to wear over his skullcap. If he was to be representing a noble, then he had to look the part when in town.
Once done, his purse was much lighter, but it was still full enough. He had enough gold to live off of for quite some time, if worst came to worst. And he had to admit, that he did look the part.
Returning to the group, he walked over to Zarine and bowed his head in greetings. "I hope that everyone had a productive time." He said, looking around.
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"Never mind a ghost story. My folk told me about a whole island that disappeared on them. Was this place in the river where they buried the dead, or so they say. Kept bodies safe from wolves, see? Don't know if it was upstream or downstream. Vanished, see? River fog swalled it up one night, and it ain't never been seen since. Now that's proper spooky!"
About then, the man's shipmates catch up with him and pull him away with muttered apologies. Through tears, the man cries out "Light a candle for them!"
"Your fortune for a few pennies?" she asks.
You're engaging in a conversation with a chandler when a fragment of a conversation grabs your attention from across the room.
"You'd never seen the like of all those papers they was pulling out of the Swordfish House."
"Lots of ghosts ni the river," says a halfling. "Drownings, accidents, murders. Then there's Janni Vertfang and the Naiads. Won't come aboard though, not unless you invite them. Just stay out of the water. Wouldn't even trust rowboats. That's where they'll get you."
Their compatriot is wearing an ill-fitting smock. "Naw, ghosts can get aboard, even if you don't invite them. Can't get you though...you'll just hear slow footsteps and creaking boards. Sometimes you'll see wet footprints on the decks. You have to invite them aboard if you want to talk to them, so they say."
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The sailor and his... well, mania, about rumours he'd already heard before unsettled him. Then again, he'd personally seen something worse than any story - AND LIVED!
The story of the drowned tapping on boats passing along the river was something he'd heard waaay back before. At the start of when he took up his river adventures in fact! Maybe he should investigate.
If you've anything more to share? I'm listening...
Hans was not the kind of man who threw coin away needlessly. It was too hard earned for that. But he was starting a new life and was in a good mood. Why not support a woman’s honest hustle? ”Sure, why not.” He said, as he walked over and took a seat. ”What is in store for me?”
"I did hear something on the hull, though," insists another of the sailors, encouraging the others to jeer at him. You can tell the ribbing is old by now.
"Driftwood, or Reik turtles maybe. Don't you Lubin us too, Anselm."
You can tell that Anselm isn't convinced with their explanations, but won't say more.
You take a seat across from the woman and she begins to shuffle the cards, eventually having you select a card and cut the deck, all in good showmanship for someone in her craft.
That done, she lays out a set of cards facedown in rows with a row of two closest to you, then four more. She has you select two more cards from wherever in the deck you wish and sets the first away from the other cards, closer to you and to your left. The final card is placed in its own row just to her side of the four card row. She turns the last card over first.
"The Fool: men despise the Fool for his folly, but they fail to see the fetters that bind them. The Fool's choices stretch far and wide."
She then turns over the card in the row of four to your right, revealing The Hanged Man without comment. She follows it with the row of two, showing Justice and Moon. She hisses as the sight of the last card. "A man has died wrongfully. This is Khaine's work."
The woman then flips over the card in the row of four, furthest to your left. She looks shaken when she sees what the card is, but sets it down in front of you. "The Tower: had we seen Death, the murder would be yet to come, but this has already happened."
She looks at you in the eyes, intent. "Young man, do you know how to speak with those who have moved beyond the veil?" She taps the table meaningfully.
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Hans listened and smirked. The fool. It certainly sounded like him. The smirk faded with the talk of death and murder. Shaking his head he said "No. Would I assume that you do?" He pulled out his coin purse. Ten brass...with a shrug he just handed over all ten coins, making sure that she saw that it was all he had. Granted, he had another coin purse with his gold coins, but he was smart enough to know not to show that off.
Zarine doesn't ask for information from the people she overhears, but when the group is together she mentions that she overheard some humans talking about ghosts in the river, and some group called "Janni Vertfang and the Naiads" and that you shouldn't invite such to come aboard...
I have never heard of such a group. Is that a group of smugglers, or are they talking about actual naiads as in spirits of the water?
That said, she returns to her fortune and flips over the card furthest toward Hans to reveal The Devil. "A powerful will is at work here, devouring all that is around it." She seems increasingly uncomfortable with the fortune she is telling but continues on to the inner cards of the row of four, revealing the left before the right. She shows The Empress and The World.
"A woman lies in your path, but her role in this is clouded from the fates. With The World at its center, your fortune tells of a moment of greatness amid peril. Great rewards await you if you prevail."
"You have my thanks." Hans said. "I shall heed your advice and will keep a lamp on my person." He wasn't certain how much he believed, but being rude served no purpose. After a moment's thought, he added "This woman...is, well, will, she be human?"
As you finish your work in Ubersreik, you receive a runner informing your passage back to Grunberg has been arranged with the barge Flatbottom and that the ship will be leaving the next morning.
At the appointed hour, you show up at the docks and you find your way to where the Flatbottom is berthed. The barge is larger than the ones you have sailed on so far and appears to have a full crew. The deck is stocked with merchandise, largely crates and barrels that have been tied down smartly with canvas tarps. True to its name, the Flatbottom is very...flat. But you can't see the bottom, so who can say?
As you get closer, you see Sabine Schwortz talking with a stern-looking man in leather armor and wearing a pistol and an axe on his belt. They look natural on him. "You asked if I would have 'room' on my ship, Sabine. The Flatbottom is a hauler ship. 'Room' means 'cargo'. I can stick more barrels on deck and not have any problems. Taking people is another matter altogether."
Sabine has to tilt her head back to look at the other man as she gets closer to his chest. "You signed the contract before you left for Nuln last month, Gotthard. Seemed happy enough about it then. Contract says 'haul capacity'. We can take it to the majistrate if you want, but you'll take these passengers to Grunberg. I'm sure you can refit your cargo to clear space for a few bodies."
Does Alphonso need two more endeavors? He will work as a tanner on his way to make coin.
Here are the rolls:
"The phantom island... I tied up there one misty day and had a look round. Rough ground, little chapel of Morr in the middle, and old gravestones. Don't think it was still in use. Thing is, I've been up and down that stretch and it's just not there now. Maybe I'm muddled in my old age. Maybe it was a phantom after all." He looks properly horrified by that idea. "You look the sort to get 'urself killed right 'proper. If you want to go look for an island that's 'na there, I can't stop ya. Look on the Teufel, north of Rottfurt. Don't think 'ul find nothin' tho."
Alphonso rides down river on his fine steed tryin to catch a boat so as to look for this lost island wondering where he might find a vessel doing slow work down the river in question.
say there river boatman? You going down this river the slow way and able to take a rider and his horse aboard
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Axel looks up at the rich man in some interest. Maybe the river captain would put him in his place. Maybe he'd bow and scrape. Axel was curious to see how it would play out, and his new attire, and cleanliness gave him an unusual confidence that didn't have him rushing over to turn a penny or two.
Zarine also pays attention, wondering if this is someone she can recruit for her team.
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Captain Gotthard is displeased over the turn of events, but eventually gives in to Sabine's badgering. "Fine. I'll not have you saying I broke my word." He yells at his crew to move his cargo about and sends his first mate to the market to determine if any of it can be sold profitably.
He notices Alphonso in the middle of ordering his men about and holds up a finger to let the squire know he's been noticed. He eventually turns his attention back to the young man, taking in his tack & bearing. "What outfit you with, son?"
He rolls his eyes when Alphonso asks for passage but doesn't otherwise try to refuse him. "I can take you on, but stabling a horse onboard is a real trouble. Are they trained for this?"
He eventually charges a crown for Alphonso's horse and two shillings for Alphonso himself.
good sir if you could but see this magnificent horse you will know she will keep good company and I will put on some blinders and a cut sack behind her to help keep the ship clean. Finally I am not only trained on horse in combat but also on foot and can assist you with bandits and river pirates.. Alphonso sees he is gathering a crowd including a lady and removes his helm so they may clearly see him and as a sign of respect to the Captain and those watching.
Alphonso nods and passes the coin across and says thank you for your consideration of my order on my behalf. I shall be sure to mention your name Captain as a fair man. Alphonso dismounts with a spring and places on the blinders tutting to the horse and calming her as he board and ties her to the place indicated.
Your plan m'lady?, Axel asks Zarine with deference.
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Hans watched the haggling for a moment, but turned away in disinterest. He thanked the gods that he no longer needed to make a living that way. The anxiety and the stress? Better Alphonso than him.
Zarine smiles.
Plan? Well, for now, let's set up camp on deck and make sure the good captain leaves us enough room to sleep. Second priority, perhaps recruit the young man that just boarded? He seems eager and idealistic. Perhaps our goals will align with his.
As you wish, Axel agrees. He is not her servant but he felt safer around her than some, and was interested in currying some degree of good will... and perhaps even securing a confidence with the elf.
Axel had no expertise at horses but weeks on the docks as a Stevedore gave him a very good grounding in how things were meant to be loaded... and a face level recognition of the men on the docks.
Apologies m'lord, he said diffidently. If you'll allow me but things would go much smoother if you would..., before proceeding to lay out some polite instructions that finished in, and for a few pennies? That young dockhand over there would make fast and light work of all your boarding needs, pointing one of the men out who didn't make his life hell.
Alphonso nods to the man who approaches and says Very kind sir. My name is Squire Alphonso Wolf, and I am a member of the Order and am seeking soon to earn my spurs so I am no Lord. I would enjoy an introduction to yourself and from what I believe are your friends that you are here on behalf of as I observed you all just as you observed myself. Alphonso takes out a few pennies anyhow and pases them to the man pointed out and removes the saddle bags but not the blanket from his horse so she may ride the lighter.
Axel gives the lucky dockhand a nod as if to say 'Thank You' as much as it is to point out a good turn done... then subtly winces remembering he skipped a bunch of queuing protocols that might see him with a split lip if he returns to work here again.
I am called Axel... and am something of wanderer, though I too work as a dockhand from time to time. Though his clean clothes, and recently groom appearance don't match up with his claims as a dockhand, his study boots and somewhat weathered backpack match with the wanderer angle.
I have the honor of being Lady Zarine's travel companion, he says pointing over. Would you be interested in an introduction?
The halfling was keeping quiet for a while, still pondering unanswered questions about the basilisk lethality, and how much she could have done if she had more medical training.
She swears to herself than she will soon becoming a doctor, and knows that she will have to spare as much money as possible to pay for her licence.
Hearing Axel words bring her back to reality, and she just waves at the newcomers
Greetings. My name is Magda, Magda Kupferaugen. I study the medical arts.
The ship's crew spends the better part of a day reorganizing the cargo on the barge & you observe a tense meeting between the captain and first mate as they debate which of their goods to sell in Ubersreik & the price of food in the city. Night is about to fall by the time the work is complete, and the Greater Reik Trading Company puts you up for the night.
You depart Ubersreik early the next morning. Conditions on the barge are generally cramped. Zarine is granted a room in the cabin while the remainder of the passengers, the first mate & crew are expected to make do where they can. You aren't quite squeezed between barrels in the hold. The passengers aren't expected to labor beyond their own care and Alphonso for their horse.
The first evening out of port, the captain introduces himself again as Gotthard Frank. He runs his ship in an organized, efficient fashion and seems very comfortable giving orders to his men.
The first mate is Per Hofbauer, a man with a cracked tooth and an eyepatch that looks just right on the man. Where the captain seems stern & controlled, Per is rough & seems to inspire an edge of fear in the rest of the crew.
The other crew members are Gerlach, Gonzalo, Aldo, Bodobert, Rocco, Wolfram and two Alwins.
Captain Frank seems to take it as assumed that his passengers will help with the watch at night as the Longbottom ties up on the side of the river.
yes please do introduce me to the rest of your friends Axel and of course Magda. I would appreciate such and Alphonso will follow Axel to meet the rest of the group.
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Hans was an old hand at taking watch. One did not travel as much as he did without being very well versed in it. Taking first watch was always a good choice. Usually a person couldn't fall asleep right away anyways, and people tended to do their work before falling asleep. Yes, after a long day it could be hard, but it generally wasn't too bad. And last watch was fairly good as well. One could get some solid sleep, and then wake up being more or less refreshed. From there you could do what was needed immediately and then take your time before the day started. But the middle watch? The middle watch! That was the worst. After falling asleep it meant being woken up and having to pay attention. Then, after fully being awake, you then had to fall asleep again! So he graciously volunteered for the first shift...
...he didn't want to be seen as being lazy. But at the same time, only a fool would go for the second watch.
Zarine greets the young man with grace and asks him why he is traveling.
____
Zarine chooses to take the middle watch. Middle watch was perfect, because it was the deepest part of the night when everyone was asleep, and you didn't have to talk to the people staying up late or those that were getting up early. It was just you and the night. A great time for contemplation. Plus, she was accustomed to taking naps whenever she could from her elven training, so it fit her pattern really well.
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Hans had something of a panic attack. He was her bodyguard, and he was now on a different watch. Was that alright? He would guard her while she slept, but what if she did something insane again like right a sea monster…again?! Should he switch watch? He didn’t know. He wasn’t actually trained for this, he was just a burnt out merchant. He really wished that this bodyguard job came with a manual. Reluctantly he came to the conclusion that he really had to take second watch. Because his personality demanded that any job worth doing was one worth doing right.
Axel finds a moment to pester Magda about the large and painful blister on his foot... then resolves to take the pre dawn watch if no one else wanted it
Alphonso pulls on the leather jerkin and carries his shield and spear for the watch humming along with the shanty
oh the year was 1776 oh I wish I was in shoorbrooke now...
Zarine wakes up in the morning to the gentle rocking of the boat. She really likes being out on the water.