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Bergmann Klaus's page
10 posts. Alias of goodwicki.
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First Living Thing Vernalis Met Outside the Sphere
Village of Bergmann
Day 3: Late Night to Day 4: Day
Vernalis sleeps through the early morning and wakes refreshed. After preparing himself for the day, he goes to bid his farewells to Klaus, who accompanies him to the beginning of the road.
"This road leads to the capital, but be wary of those you meet in the mists. We know little of Aerugo; in the time when our elders were young we had visitors from the city, but since the Wunderkind became governor we have had only the taxman Bee Foor. From what we can tell from him, only those in the service of the governor remain in the city." Klaus gives Vernalis the supplies promised to him: clothes, rations, and a "hot box." "We've warmed the stones for you, so they should last you until tonight; put them in your fire when you make camp and they'll be ready again the next morning."
The hirsute man gives the wizard a nod. "Good fortune to you, Vernalis."
First Living Thing Vernalis Met Outside the Sphere
Village of Bergmann
Day 3: Evening
"Beyond the world's edge?" Klaus shakes his head in disbelief. "We of Bergmann believe that there is nothing save this world we know; but we are not scholars. If you know not from whence you came, then who else is to say? In any event, I am told you were of great help at the mine last night, and for that we are thankful. You are welcome to stay here in Bergmann for as long as you like, but I fear our lives are simple and hard.
"Perhaps in the capital someone may know of your tribe or your home, but again, we know little of the city save what our elders' elders told. Bee Foor is a strange type of man who cares little for casual conversation, and simply makes clear what our Governor requires - that we provide ore for the tithe, and enjoy our lives and our work. Up until today, we have done both for generations; now we must try and put aside our sorrow and throw ourselves into our work so that we may again do both for next season's tithe.
"Our eldest matron says you wish to discuss mining; I shall introduce you to our mining master. If you decide to leave us, we can outfit you against the cold - we men of Bergmann grow accustomed to it, but it seems you are not so hardy. We can dress you in berweave and furs, and give you hotrocks to carry, to ward away the chill. Now that the tithing has passed, it will only grow colder."
If you have any more specific questions for Bergmann Klaus we can continue the conversation; if not, he'll lead you to the mining master, which will require a Know: Dungeoneering check from you to discuss and advise their methods.
If you have no more for Klaus and plan to leave the Village the next day, please indicate this in your post, as well as whether you take them up on their offer to outfit you, and I will include the mining master discussion and the next day's farewells in my post.
First Living Thing Vernalis Met Outside the Sphere
Village of Bergmann
Day 3: Evening
"You must come from far away - there have never been any peoples here at the world's edge save us, and we've had no disasters here except for the recent landslides. First, the peak of Mount Alidade crumbled five days ago, though by chance the mine was spared. Then, a second landslide came the night before we met, along with a flood, and washed out the mine entrance; perhaps there has been some secret river eating away at the heart of the mountain? Who can say.
"There are dangers here, to be sure - wild bogoats, weirdling mists, drought, and the like - but we have always lived and tithed in peace, removed from the concerns of other folk. We have tales that folk of other provinces are strange and dangerous, that they send the weirdling mists to torment us, that they make war upon each other for the attentions of the Sovereign City. Perhaps you come from one of them?"
First Living Thing Vernalis Met Outside the Sphere
Klaus still wears a guarded frown but seems placated by Vernalis's explanation.
"What are you then? You helped me in the mist," Klaus gives an unconscious shudder of revulsion at the memory, "and helped us find ore at the mine. You obviously share some language with the taxman; are you from the capital? We did not think that free folk lived there still. Some here believe you to be a creature of the mist, while others think you a servant of some other province, and some few think you both; either way most think you're here to spy on us. Is this true?"
First Living Thing Vernalis Met Outside the Sphere
Village of Bergmann
Day 3: Evening
Bergmann Klaus is obviously surprised and mildly upset by Vernalis's words. "You can speak our language - you've understood me this whole time - yet you did not speak? Why?"
Convincing him that you have learned his language since meeting him a day and a half ago will require a Diplomacy check.
First Living Thing Vernalis Met Outside the Sphere
Hope had briefly filled Klaus's eyes when Vernalis began conversing with B4, but as the "offic'r" begins pointing out members of the crowd, his face droops in disappointment and defeat.
First Living Thing Vernalis Met Outside the Sphere
Klaus cocks his head to one side, again looking the wizard up and down. Finally he lets out a long sigh, his shoulders drooping, and looks up with a hopeless expression, eyes rimmed in tears. He shrugs and motions in the direction of the departing men and children.
First Living Thing Vernalis Met Outside the Sphere
Foothills / In a Golden Mist
Day 2: Dawn
The color drains from Klaus's face as Vernalis's spell takes effect, and the fear returns to his eyes as he stares at the wizard.
"What... what are you?" he whispers. He falls quiet as his legs begin mending themselves and lowers his eyes to them, though whether it's to watch the process or avoid Vernalis's gaze, the young wizard cannot tell.
After the spell has run it's course, only bruises remain on Klaus's legs. He tentatively runs his hands over them, then looks up at Vernalis with guarded eyes.
"What now, mist-man?"
First Living Thing Vernalis Met Outside the Sphere
Klaus furrows his brow at Vernalis's pantomime. "You're a healer of some kind? Or a singer?" He glances back over his shoulder in the direction he was crawling, then down at his ruined leg, and shrugs. "Either way, I suppose you can't make it much worse, stranger." He gives Vernalis a nod.
First Living Thing Vernalis Met Outside the Sphere
Foothills / In a Golden Mist
Day 2: Dawn
The man narrows his eyes and looks into Vernalis's.
"You're a 'Vurnlish?'" He shakes his head. "I don't know what that is. I'm a Bergmann," he then mimics Vernalis's self-referential motion, "Bergmann Klaus." Calming down somewhat, Bergmann Klaus looks Vernalis up and down. "You don't look like you're from around here, but seem mortal enough up close. Are you from another province?" He pauses for a moment, then scowls and sighs. "Like you can understand a word I say."
He scoops up a handful of small stones in both hands, pours them out over his legs while making a guttural 'whooshing' sound, then motions about indicating the rocks.
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