"Der innkeep" <point at inn> zum men in der hall unt 'im were argueing; and zer guards showed up; I looked out in de 'all az dey ver outside me dur; unt der guards made us drop everyzing. One man in der hall; ee said dat ee saw a set of learing eyeballs inside zee innkeeps belly; oy veh. Den I make wit de intimidation; hehe all; I be powerful magi; you be doom and devil; unt all zat; lol; but zen; dee innkeep; he vas lake "Oy; you found me out; damn all of you and I take zee to 'ell wit me; und he throws down diz green orb und it explodes; und many die in zee hall; und; de kursed inkeep; ee turns into a demon; oy vey; but zee lawgivers; dey schlep it good; it dead; but zee gas; it begin come in me room; so I climb down 'eere; guess I best vait for zem; sigh.
<looking about and up to the inn>
"Vhat, before all dis; zee nordenman und de 'all; 'ee said der vas runnink on zee roof; see anything up zere?"
Oy; vere ist meine manners; I am called Willard.
Aye. I vill kom vith. Kan I grab my zhings virst zhough?
Vulpert paces the end of the hallway, his inherent cowardice somehow halted when he got out of the miasma of foul smelling fumes that erupted from the shattered orb.
Incredulous, putting his head in his hands, he struggles to come to grips with the fact that he is miraculously alive. The din of screaming Lawbringers and the awful wet retching sounds that Rikarus the Ferryman made before he perished still fill his ears. The whole freakish circumstance that just occurred seems so very surreal, he questions his own sanity for a moment.
...the mutton was rubbery...
This thought, unbidden, is the trigger, and the bonepicker begins wretching violently over the stairwell's bannister. The crowd of curious patrons below suddenly scatter in every direction. The fool ferryman gave his life to save them. Vulpert had fully expected him to die at some point because of his foolishness and naivete, but never in such a manner as he did. The moral implications on his worldview were mind-numbing. Why? Why would anyone ever do something like that? The dwarf, Korgidd, would likely find it hilarious that his erstwhile companion had his hollow conscience threatened by a simple act of selfless heroism. But that was not Vulpert's world. Even so, he now had doubts, dire doubts about everything he thought he firmly believed.
Seeing Kol speaking with the remaining Lawbringers, he staggers in their direction, wiping the filth from his face, eager to be led, to not have to think. Clearing his throat, he mumbles to the shaken dwarf constable,
"Where are you taking us?"
"What's your name sir..?"
I await the Lawgivers out in the street; looking about and leaning on my staff curious about this place.
"zee lawgivers zat lived; I am sure zey be along soon; ifn you vant to learn more; vait here a spell unt you vill zee zem zoon."
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Lucky and Willard see a procession of lawbringers escorting a dwarf and several men exit out of the main door of the inn. There are about ten of them in the group. They all show signs of physical stress.
Kol, Korgidd and Vulpert Perception Please
Vell, I musts join zem; but know not vhat I could add. I must trust in Holy Sigmar zat zey are not crazed vith maddness unt perhaps I kin help...unt zom money compensation might be nice...hehe dream big eh.
<I move to join the procession>
I halt
"Vat; you say come; you say halt; vhat is vith you? did you want me to come or not?"
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I halt
"Vat; you say come; you say halt; vhat is vith you? did you want me to come or not?"
"Wait! He's with these fools! Bring 'im along!"
"Get that short one too. He might be in on the conspiracy."
At this point, people have lined the streets to watch the procession. Additional lawbringers have arrived to secure the inn.
"Ah; Vhat luck; Prejudice for all; evenly plied like butter on bread."
<I chuckle and comply with thier orders and whisper to the one next to me>
"I guess ve vill get to zee who ist pulling zee strings eh?"
Lucky and Willard see a procession of lawbringers escorting a dwarf and several men exit out of the main door of the inn. There are about ten of them in the group. They all show signs of physical stress.
Kol, Korgidd and Vulpert Perception Please ** spoiler omitted **
Vulpert dons his shabby garb again, momentarily reaching up to adjust his hat. When his hand reaches his bare head, he pauses and releases a drawn out sigh. He looks at the wide-brimmed, blood and ichor-stained mess that lies next to Rikarus, the innkeeper and the fallen Lawbringers. Turning his back, he instead follows the others outside.
The night air refreshes Vulpert but he is distracted just the same. Trying to collect himself, he keeps his head down, watching the boots of the others in front of him as he walks. When he hears the lead Lawbringer shout, he looks up in surprise.
"By Sigmund, what's all this now? Conspiracy? Say what?"
shsh; just pay attention. someting dont zmell right 'ere.
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The lawbringers bring you to an imposing edifice in the heart of the Hold. It is called the Hall of the Ancestors and pillars in the shape of great dwarfen patriachs guard the entrance into it. Lawbringers line the both sides of the entrance as you arrive. Wordless communication pass between the parties as the lawbringers salute each other. Your journey may be at an end as each of you is lead inside into a cell. Dark and damp, you feel naked without any weapons.
"What's all this then..." quips Lucky, "I don't even know these people!!"
Vulpert considers his chances of fighting his way through a few score surly and obviously well-armed dwarf constables and thinks better of it. As he is led into his cell he notes that pot-bellied halfling for the first time and wonders how he draws these types to him like flies.
He hears the little man speak and his curiosity gets the better of him,
"Who or what are you then?"
"Whassat? You ne'er seen a halfling afore?, I know I'm big for me race, but c'mon, look at me feet."
"Lucius Brambleberry's me name, normally I be called "lucky" but sure'n not tonight."
Ach; neither do I; I vas only woken up by fighting sounds in der hallvay.
Appeal smeal; ve have not even been charged wit a crime, vat could we appeal; dat some dwarf was a secret choas vorshipper und he owned an inn and ve as visitors just happend to take boarding there and exposed him. Vat are you all choas corrupted? An appeal to the corrupt only falls on deaf ears; only the noble and gut care for de plight of others; now which might you be?
<I try to see the names if there are any of the heroes and ancestors, and go into my cell and start examining it thoroughly>
are we in separate cells or all together?
I take the pen and paper, hehe.
The lawbringers bring you to an imposing edifice in the heart of the Hold. It is called the Hall of the Ancestors and pillars in the shape of great dwarfen patriachs guard the entrance into it. Lawbringers line the both sides of the entrance as you arrive. Wordless communication pass between the parties as the lawbringers salute each other. Your journey may be at an end as each of you is lead inside into a cell. Dark and damp, you feel naked without any weapons.
this is what I write down, in triplicate
To the office of the Dwarven Magistrate,
Dear Honorable Sir,
On the occasion of the night in question at the inn maintained as an open and business in good standing for patrons seeking a nights respite. There occurred an incident which revealed that the dwarven innkeeper was a chaos cultist and did in fact turn into some deamon spawn and did in fact cause the death of several lawgivers as well as several innocent bystanders in the general area with the use of some evil green artifact that emitted deadly green gas.
Thus; as we have been sorely pressed during this manner to, in effect, clean up the corruption in your not so fair so far city; we offer this as recompense for our troubles.
We each require a remittance of our gold given for our lodging and the return of our goods; as you probably will sieze this inn and our goods and monies.
We require the bounty for our services rendered in discovering and vanquishing a foul spawn of chaos and making this city a safer place.
We each require then a mug of beer and a meal for which we were denied by having been forcebly placed in a cell without any communication forthwith as to the whyfores.
We each then require the ability to go about our daily lives as for I, who came here seeking fame and fortune and whom thought to try my hand and vanquishing the ever problem of the greenskin threat. It would not be taken amiss if this hallowed hall of ancestors would look upon us with favor and provide for us some oppurtunity in this regard; for though we do not hold the vast grudges of the dwarven people; we too as allies in Sigmar's name and at his bequest; shall do our very best to help our Dwarven allies to create a safer working and trade environment for everyone.
With respect and asked in all humbleness,
with prayers for justice,
Willard Wastearl,
Citizen of the Empire.
I zheathed my veapons peaceably at zhe inn. I only ask zhat ve keep zhem. If ve vere going to use zhem on you. Zhen zhat vould have already been resolved at zhe inn. Ve lost one of our own az vell. It iz a black night vor us all. I vill vait in your kell. I only ask vor zhe means zo defend myself.
Reading as best he can over Willard's shoulder while he scribbles, Vulpert cannot help but be impressed by the oddly-accented little man. His letters are well-formed and from what he can decipher of it from his street-learning the actual plea makes some sense. For the first time since entering this Sigmar-forsaken settlement, Vulpert feels a bit better about his lot. An odd thing to feel while awaiting his fate in a cold, dank cell after a midnight run-in with a crazed chaos-dwarf-innkeeper who cooks lousy-tasting mutton.
To Willard,
"Hullo, I see that you are a man of letters and apprentice of the College. I've never had reason to hate wizards, if you indeed are one. I have not made your acquaintance yet, Vulpert Schwartzhahn at your service."
"Oi, 'ow'd I get mixed up wit' th'lot of you folks? I mean y'seem nice enough, but somethin' awful musta 'appened for'em t'bring in e'eryone includ'n yours truly...Last time I got caught fer anuff'n it were wif d'cards it were."
<I answer back loud enough to be clear and to be overheard by any dwarven guards who may be outside>
Greeting Vulpert,
Ach; if I only was a wizard I would zip us out of dees place. But alas, I have only mastered a few rudiments unt the ability to see such working as the Winds of Magic shall blow my way.
A wizard; no, not for all my posturing to scare zee choas fiend.
It takes money to be accepted into the Colleges; much money, a veritable fortune, but alas, I will be accepted into zee College if I kan obtain the funds. Zo, I kom 'ere to gamble for zee fortune in battle against zee Greenskins, but on zee other 'and; I zup pose zee chaos agents might be vell funded alzo.
If I kanst nicht gain zee funds; a sad life in the field of hedge wizardry awaits me; thus I kanst nicht go back to zee empire wit zee empty purse for I accept zee Imperial Laws und would nicht break zem. For you see, I favor Verena zee most, but forget not zee other Imperial Dieties in my prayers.
I believe vee 'ave need of Sigmar's 'elp; zo, ist zer anyone in here who ist in gut vith 'im?
If not; I zink vee should alls gather unt put our fist togeter unt call out to Sigmar to ease zee tension 'ere wit our beloved dwarven allies <little louder on this part hehe>.
dost anyvone know a Sigmar Prayer?
With his thick accent, Vulpert can make sense of only some of what the little man is yelling into his face. He does key in on one pertinent fact however, and impatiently waits for Willard to finish before pouncing upon the statement like a starving man on a crust of bread.
"Verena? Verena you said? Are you a magistrate then? Or a barrister?"
The bonepicker tries not to get his hopes up, but a lawyerly sort might well be their salvation should they be going before some dwarf-judge.
Neigh, Vulpert, only a student of zee truth, zee light, unt zee mysteries therin. Verena teaches scholarly pursuit of zee knowledge; a cool headed mind, und der sword az zee last resort but used vit skill and precision if necessary.
Vat is it zat you follow, other than youse nose?
Ach; levity aside, truly, zis idea'r zat vee pray unt come together as a single front is my best; are vee agreed?
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You languish inside your cell for a few hours until you are brought out of by several dour lawbringers. You are ushered into a room. The room has no windows nor furnishing. An ancient looking dwarf flanked on the left side by a lawbringer armed with a massive hammer. Golden runes flash in the torchlight.
"Leave us," the ancient one commands. The lawbringers leave you to their tender mercies.
"Are these the ones who discovered the chaos fiend?" The ancient asks the lawbringer. "Aye."
"Well, what do ye have to say fer yer selves?"
You languish inside your cell for a few hours until you are brought out of by several dour lawbringers. You are ushered into a room. The room has no windows nor furnishing. An ancient looking dwarf flanked on the left side by a lawbringer armed with a massive hammer. Golden runes flash in the torchlight.
"Leave us," the ancient one commands. The lawbringers leave you to their tender mercies.
"Are these the ones who discovered the chaos fiend?" The ancient asks the lawbringer. "Aye."
"Well, what do ye have to say fer yer selves?"
I am Kol, zon ov Einar ov zhe Skaelings. It vas our Vulpert here, und zhe late Rikarus vho first zaw zomething vas amiss vith zhe innkeeper. I did not zee vhat zhey zaw. Guess ve vill never know vhat kaused Rik to jump back vith alarm.
I zhought he vas just an irate innkeeper. It vasn't til he ztarted acting funny zhat I zhought zomething vas vrong. Never en my life did I ever zee a Dwarf weep before. Zhen vhen zhe order vas given for us all zo undress. He absolutely refused. Figured zhat vas not a zmart zhing konsidering he vas outnumber und had zeveral guns pointed at him. I admit I intimidiated him zome; zelling him to disrobe or I vould drop him. I did not expect him to pull out zhe orb und declare his alliegence zo zhe dark powers.
He vas going to kill us vor the glory of zhose powers. Zhat really zicked me off. In Norsca ve always fight zhe dark powers, und kreatures zwisted by Khaos. Last zhing I vas going zo do vas get killed by one of zhere pawns vith my zrousers hanging around my ankles. Zo I drew my zword und attacked. Vish my zword kut deeper zhan it did. I have no regrets ztabbing zhe Khaos zcum. Zhey are zhe enemy. My only regret iz zhat I did not kill him quick enough. Perhaps Rik, und zhe others vould ztill be alive.
"You was lucky weez waz der or the death toll at Morr's gates would be greater."
I hand him the note I wrote.
Vulpert watches Willard pass the small scrip of parchment.
When it is his turn to speak, he respectfully bows his head and utters,
"When he parted his robe, I saw eyes peering forth at me. Eyes where none should be, revered elder."
<points his thumb at Vulpert and nods agreement>
Lucky writes his statement:
"I don't know why I was brought in, I were coming back from a tavern when I heard a scream, I heard the deep booming voices of dwarves shouting, then a human crashed through the window above me, and moments later I was hauled in."
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Lucky writes his statement:
"I don't know why I was brought in, I were coming back from a tavern when I heard a scream, I heard the deep booming voices of dwarves shouting, then a human crashed through the window above me, and moments later I was hauled in."
"A likely story, yer kind are always up to yer eyeballs in mischief," mutters the elder dwarf.
"well, zee halflink vas not in zee Inn; when I crawled out zee window cauze of der green gas und der demon; I saw him just come out of zee tavern und called him over to give him zee warning; he vas not involved."
"A likely story, yer kind are always up to yer eyeballs in mischief," mutters the elder dwarf.Lucky writes his statement:
"I don't know why I was brought in, I were coming back from a tavern when I heard a scream, I heard the deep booming voices of dwarves shouting, then a human crashed through the window above me, and moments later I was hauled in."
"Oh yeah, of cour...oi now wait a minute!" Lucky backpedals as he realizes he's agreeing with the insult...
"Vhat now I vonder"
Vhat ist our status?
Still here Rad. Was just waiting for you to settle everything back home. Granted I forgot what my argument for my defense was going to be to the Dwarves.
Yep; court room drama; long time just like real life. Be good to get started again; hope the others check in soon.
Yah, we starting up again? I was the last to post for almost a month.