Session 1: The Flight Of The Dragon Report
General Summary
31st Day of Pflugzeit, 2512 IC
Time: Late Afternoon
Weather: (Bright) A Bright Spring Day
Having dispatched Ehrmann Praunheim with the note revealing his location to the Elven compound Amris completes the packing of his personal possessions ready to abandon the Drakenhof and follow Eilwyn to a new secret hideout.
Meanwhile, Moli Brandysnap is making last-minute preparations for her mission to recover The Dragon Ring of Ascension, whilst the rest of her family get organised to attend the promised halfling feast at the Drakenhof.
"I've delivered the note, so, it's up to you now. Hope you know what you're doing," Ehrmann says looking concerned. "I'm going back to me boat. The gov. says to meet me when you're done and let me know if you have the ring. He's going to let me know where you need to deliver it. Don't go back to the house because it will probably be swarming with angry elves. I'll either be at the Beloved of Manann Pier or in The Broken Barrel. Fingers Crossed!" He says giving Moli the traditional Ranaldian blessing.
"I forgot to ask you, I was in some kind of rush. This is all so exiting, isn't it?" Ehrmann senses the nervous tension in Moli's voice and isn't sure if she is asking him or trying to convince herself. But she doesn't wait for an answer. Instead she suddenly asks ernestly "I don't know the broken barrel, where is it?"
Ehrmann tries to smile reassuringly though in truth he's glad its her and not him "The Broken Barrel is just a short walk from The Beloved of Manann pier where I usually keep my boat. It's on the wagon road of The Old Dock you really can't miss it." he adds hoping that Moli is taking it all in, she looks really distracted
"Do I need too know anthing else to find you?"
Ehrmann ponders the halflings question but can't think of anything to add and shakes his head before turning to walk away.
"Do you have any advice for me?" Moli blurts out suddenly reluctant to let him go.
Ehrmann stops and turns back to face the halfling "Just don't go back to the Elf's house, because if his plan works it will be swarming with hostile elves in a few minutes." he grins trying to make light of the warning "Fingers crossed and I'll see you later." he turns once more to head off to the Mourners Pier where he left his boat.
Moli calls after him again and Ehrmann stops once more to look at the nervous little halfling "It feels like fate let our ways cross again, so I don't want to waste my opportunity this time" Moli says smiling nervously him "You seem like a nice guy after all"
Ehrmann smiles at the nervous little halfling "Bit different to rowing back and forth across the Reik all day, but I'm glad I haven't got your job." he admits trying to think of something reassuring to add but failing to come up with anything useful. There is a long pause and then Ehrmann simply crosses his fingers and walks away.
As Prawn walks away Moli ponders the best approach she can take to access the Elven Compound. Whilst it's tempting to repeat the same con she used the last time the elven craft market might not be the best place to wait.
Whilst she could easily hide amongst the shoppers in the craft market for hours by pretending to be interested in the crafts and chatting to the craftsmen, the gate through the craft market is unlikely to be the one used by any guards to head for the Drakenhof. So, she would probably not see them leave.
However, Moli makes her way to the junction of Hexenstrasse and Reikmarktstrasse and settles down in the shadows of a doorway to watch the activity at the main gate into the elven compound. Soon after her arrival one of the guards on the gate is relieved and wanders off on some errand within the compound only to return about fifteen minutes later to resume his duties.
A while passes and Moli watches life going on as normal until finally Mi-Mi appears on the Reikmarktstrasse leading a gaggle of very excited 'Flower Girls' on their way to the party at the Drakenhof. Poppy is practising her dance steps whilst Hyacinth is clutching the fiddle that is her one and only valuable possession. Mi-Mi notices Moli hiding in the doorway and gives her the crossed fingers sign as they approach.
Moli nods at Mi-Mi as she watches the 'Flower Girls' pass by. She feels proud of her sisters and a bit jealous that they are heading for a feast whilst she is about to head into danger. But she has a job to do. Her gaze wanders back to the guards on the main gate but so far nothing is happening. Perhaps the ruse has not worked and the note delivered by Ehrmann has been ignored?
Time seems to drag and Moli becomes impatient as nothing seems to be happening. She decides not to wait any longer but to to get into the compound as soon as she can rather than wait for the elves to leave for the Drakenhof. If they do leave, then she'll be in position and ready to enter the Goldcrest Manse for the second time. She could always try the lost cat trick again. It was a simple plan but it worked last time.
Moli chooses a nearby cat and chases it towards the main gate. As she hoped it ran straight past the guards and through the gate. Moli chases after it shouting for it to stop. The guards make a half-hearted attempt to catch the cat but not surprisingly it avoids them easily and Moli follows it into the compound still calling for it to stop.
The guards find it amusing but don't try to help and soon Moli is out of sight amongst the buildings in the Embassy compound and working her way cautiously towards the Goldcrest Manse again, though this time from the opposite direction. Moli finds a hidden spot amongst some bushes and settles down to watch the entrance to the tunnel that she knows leads to the beach and the island in the centre of the house.
About ten minutes after she settles a young female elf emerges from the tunnel with a note in her hand and rushes off in the direction of the gate to the craft market. Moli notices that she is wearing a robe bearing the same Goldcrest motif that hangs over the entrance to the building, a messenger perhaps.
Upstairs the Servant girl knocks politely on the door to the elves sleeping chamber and informs Amris that his guests have arrived and are in the dining room.
"My dear halflings, good day to you. My name is Amris Emberfell and I am very pleased to meet you. Please do avail yourself of the feast that has been laid in honour of Moli, I am indebted to your... sister(?)... and I hope this meal signals the beginning of a fruitful relationship for all of us. I am unfortunately unable to remain with you, however, please do me the honour of enjoying the feast, and do ensure that a sizeable portion goes to Moli for her hard work. If you could advise the staff when you have finished before you leave, and with that I bid you goodnight."
The halflings give Amris a cheer and clap their hands excitedly before descending upon the table of food with an appetite and enthusiasm that only halflings can manage. At first, everything is concentrated upon eating but as their bellies become full the need for 'Second Wind' causes them to pause and Hyacinth takes out her fiddle and begins to play a merry tune as Poppy and Daffodil dance around the room.
Satisfied that he has fulfilled his duty as a host Amris excuses himself and returns to his room to ready himself to leave with his new Elven compatriot.
Eilwyn can tell that the Prince is nervous "Very well your highness if you are ready to leave we shall do so immediately." She signals Waynn to put the pies down and prepare to leave.
Eilwyn allows Armis to pick up his belongings from his room and then leads him out of the Darkenhof via the kitchen door and out into the street via the tradesmen's entrance at the back. "My apologies for the indignity your highness, but it's best. They may be watching the gate. The longer they think we are still inside the better."
Eilwyn, Waynn and the Prince make their way quickly through the backstreets of the Oberhausen to emerge eventually on the Reiklandweg. The main street that leads north towards the Great Temple and Cathedral of Sigmar. It's clear that Eilwyn has had this route planned for some time and she sets a fast pace through the crowds confident of her path.
"It's possible that the Goldcrests are using a Star Gazer to track our movements, your highness. So the sooner we can disguise our aura's the better. The Celestial College is not far from here hopefully it will blind them and confuse any trackers." The Great Temple of Sigmar dominates the skyline ahead looking like a huge fortress with its high walls and massive gates and the domed roof of the main temple complex beyond.
Mindful of the urgency of the situation Amris moves at pace and whilst doing so asks Eilwyn, in a muted voice..."My friend, this is truly quite an adventure we are upon together, and I do thank-you for your assistance, indeed I look forward to understanding the culture of your kin with real interest, and, to that end, will you be alongside me for a while when we arrive at our destination, will others know of my situation, or will I also be hidden for a while there too?"
"That's really up to Master Illyruis, though my guess is that he will want me to continue to act as a distraction for your enemies Star Gazers. Unfortunately, the two of use in close proximity merely increases the power of our aura and makes us easier to track." Eilwyn leads you around the edge of Temple complex to the left pausing at a point close to the Templeplatz Watch Station. "We should be hidden here if you need to rest your highness. The wards of the Celestial College of Magic should be enough to confuse anyone trying to track us."
Instinctively Amris looks around and at first, can see nothing other than a swirling mist of magical energy that dances around them like a thin fog. Then as if emerging from the clouds he looks up and see's a whole cluster of tall slender white towers reaching up into the sky above, far above the dome of the cathedral, or the Imperial Palace, shimmering in a haze of magical energy that seems to make them harder to see the longer he looks at them.
Waynn notices Amris looking at the sky and tries to work out what the elf is looking at but all he can see is a flock of birds.
"Eilwyn, I appreciate both your assistance and your candor. May I ask then, who will be with me whilst I am ensconced here? Do I have a private place set aside for me?"
Eilwyn looks puzzled for a minute "(Tar-Eltharin) We thought you had servants, your highness. But if not then I can spare Waynn for a while. He's not much company but he can be trusted with basic errands."
"I would appreciate the gesture, I could do with having assistance whilst I continue to hide from my pursuers, I do hope I can repay your assistance in due course."
"(Tar-Eltharin) I shall see what can be arranged. The difficulty is that as a breed men are greedy and not naturally trustworthy or loyal to their masters. It would be a shame if we hired you some servants and they betrayed you to your enemies." She looks around as if waiting for something. "(Tar-Eltharin) Ideally I would like to wait for some sort of mass exodus from college to mask the next stage of our journey."
"(Tar-Eltharin) I agree, it would make sense to wait to camouflage our movement, and indeed, involving more manlings of unknown quantity would create more risk than is wise. I will reside here whilst I must, do you know if any preparations have been made at all for lodgings?"
"(Tar-Eltharin) We have rented a house from a merchant just off the Westernstrasse. It's reasonably comfortable but more to the point it is masked by the dark energy emanating from the nearby Amethyst College which the Star Gazers will hopefully find it difficult to penetrate." Eilwyn looks up as the doors to the Celestial College open and small procession emerges. "(Reikspiel) This looks promising, Waynn get ready to move." she says as a small column of soldiers emerges from the gate. They are closely followed by what looks like three coffins on small carts draw by a dozen men and before each cart is a human dressed in flowing robes of midnight blue adorned with silver stars and moons and wearing all manner of pendants, rings, earrings and brooches in the same design. They look like eccentric merchants from some far off land like Araby the one in the centre of the three has a slightly lighter robe almost bordering on the Royal Blue of the Elven Court whilst their heads are shaved and covered with an embroidered skull caps of match blue and silver.
Behind them marches another small squad of soldiers dressed in blue and silver like their masters. "Let's move your highness, stay as close to the column as you can but don't anger the guards they tend to get nervous." with that she heads towards the small procession and follows closely behind it as it heads towards the Imperial Palace. Amris can see the swirl of blue energy emanating from the boxes and the humans leading them that engulfs the whole column mixing with the whiter energy surrounding Eilwyn and himself to become merged into a slightly lighter hue.
Amris follows Eilwyn's lead and walks within the vicinity of the procession so as to appear part of the ceremony, but not so close as to impinge upon the group itself. Eilwyn leads Amris in the wake of the procession across the Kaiserplatz to the main entrance of the Imperial Palace and then as the column disappears through the palace gate she quickly turns away and follows the street that leads northwards around the palace wall.
"If they are quick they might spot us now, but I doubt they will catch us before we cross the bridge." The three of fugitives hurry northwards dodging through the crowds towards the Karl-Franz Bridge but there is no interception and they safely cross the bridge, paying the tuppeny toll, and entering Westernstrasse. Amris can see now why Eilwyn choose this area as their destination because the street ahead is shrouded in a dense fog of dark purple and yellow aetheric energy.
The sources of this magical fog straddle the road with yellow energy emanating from a complex of buildings on the right hidden behind the shops and offices. Amris can see several tall chimneys belching dirty coloured smoke into the air above their roofs. Whilst to the left the purple energy rises from a grim sepulchral building that looks more like a necropolis than a college. The building is built out of dark stone in an elaborate gothic style. Windows and doors are in pointed arches, gargoyles and statues adorn the architecture, and narrow, balconied towers rise from the building. The main doors are open but decorated with symbols of death and hardly seem to welcome anyone to enter.
The energy from both these buildings flows up and over the road but like oil on water, it seems unable to mix. Instead, the two sources seem to be in a constant state of conflict over dominance of the area between the two buildings with only the wind itself able to provide any advantage to either.
However, the most important realisation for Amris was that once under this conflict the white energy of Eilwyn and himself was completely absorbed in the swirling mass around them.
Eilwyn grinned "Now we should be safe." she said leading you down a side street and into a smart well maintained three-storey townhouse. Eilwyn leads you up to the first-floor reception room "You can relax now your highness. Nobody knows you are here and the star-gazers cannot see us."
Waynn flops into a chair and stretches his legs giving the Prince a self-satisfied grin. Eilwyn gives him a stern look and he adjusts his posture to sit upright. Amris is reminded of an obedient puppy and clearly, Eilwyn has him well trained. The thought reminds him that he needs to inform his own minions of his new location.
"(Tar-Eltharin) Eilwyn, I am hopeful that a halfling will this evening procure a family heirloom of great import, I will need Waynn to travel to the waters edge to meet with the boatman who was at the Drakenhof earlier and await a halfling called Moli and then bring her here. The boatman is call Ehrmann and Waynn should take care not to tell him of our whereabouts lest he be traced as a contact of mine. I would appreciate it if Waynn could wait with Ehrmann until the halfling appears as it is very important I recover the heirloom as soon as possible."
Eilwyn nods "(Tar-Eltharin) Where will Waynn find this boatman and how will he recognise him when he does?"
"(Tar-Eltharin) The name of the boatman is Ehrmann Praunheim , he is a wherryman and I found him at the the Old Docks. If Waynn could seek him out, he will be well known I am sure. Ehrmann is waiting to be contacted by a halfling with the heirloom and understands that I will pass a message to him to enable the halfling to visit me here. Physically, Ehrmann is a young human, thin, with light brown hair. He has visited with me at the Drakenhof, it would make sense for Waynn to avoid describing me as an Elf, and instead as your friend from the Drakenhof?"
Eilwyn nods and turns to Waynn "Waynn, you are to go to a place called 'The Old Docks' and seek out a boatman called Ehrmann Praunheim. It sounds like he owns a boat that he keeps in that area. Once you find him you will wait with him for a halfling to appear and escort the halfling back here. Is that understood?"
Waynn scratches his head thoughtfully "I guess so," he says dubiously "Wasn't that guy with the pasties we met at the big house, 'e was called Ehrmann or something like that. Is that im?"
"How should I know?" snaps Eilwyn "Just go to this place find the man and wait for the halfling."
She sighs when Waynn gets up slowly to leave "And bring the halfling back here. Don't get lost and no stopping for food, drink or anything else."
"The Old Docks, Ehrmann Praunheim, Get the halfling back 'ere." Waynn repeats gathering his possessions and sorting himself out for the trip. "No stoppin." he adds as an afterthought. He finishes gathering his possessions adjusts his jerkin and heads for the door on his new mission.
Eilwyn watches Waynn leave with growing impatience, he seems to take an age to do everything. But eventually, he steps through the door and disappears on his errand. She turns to Amris "(Tar-Eltharin) I should also leave your highness. I need to maintain the impression that there is still a presence at the Drakenhof and find out what has befallen your guests and servants. You may receive a visit from the landlord in my absence. If so, you should know that I have told him that you are visiting a merchant prince seeking fresh markets for your wares. Unfortunately, that may have been a mistake as it has merely made him even more determined to meet with you. But is probably preferable to the truth as I'm not sure how trustworthy he would be if he knew. Hopefully, Waynn will not be gone long, but that largely depends on your halfling thief."
Amris gives Eilwyn a slightly quizzical glance, taken aback that the landlord has been informed he is a merchant prince!
A fact that might be too close to the truth for comfort! (Tar Eltharin) "Hmmm, Eilwyn, might I ask, would the landlord be able to tell the difference between a sea-elf and a wood-elf? I only ask as I would like to hide my background where possible. I wonder if you might be aware of the likelihood of such a subterfuge being successful in this particular situation?"
Eilwyn laughs (Tar Eltharin)"Your highness, Like most men he just sees the pointed ears. Even if he met a Druchi I suspect he would simply assume it was an elf having a bad hair day." Eilwyn calms herself and becomes more serious "Your highness, I was told by Lord Illyrius that you were posing as a Merchant Prince. My apologies if I was misinformed."
Amris visibly relaxes and smiles reassuringly at Eilwyn "Indeed, maybe I overestimate the minds of men, I have an interest in them that clearly affects my judgement! I thank-you for your assistance, and I do hope you will return from time to time, I would appreciate one of my own kind assisting me in my meditations and I hope to learn more from you of yourself and your kin."
"I understand your highness. It is difficult being isolated from one's kin like this." She laughs "I did try using Waynn as a memory keeper but found that he remembered less of what I told him than I did. I have forgotten much of my former life but have found the best solution is to keep a journal of key information and people. It requires certain diligence but is more reliable than a man."
With that final piece of advice Eilwyn takes her leave and heads back through the city to the Drakenhof intent on laying a false trail for the Goldcrest's agents to follow. Amris bolts the door and now alone in the Oldenhaller House he takes the time to sit and write down his most important thoughts and memories of the recent days. He will write the names of the individuals he has spoken to, and the promises he has made, and the information he has been provided with, it has been a very intense time and near enough all events are recorded. Amris will make clear notes in his journal about the next steps he wishes to take should he receive the ring in the coming days. When the above steps are completed, Amris will prepare to meditate, pending a trusted friend to arrive to assist. Eilwyn meanwhile arrives at the Drakenhof only to discover that the halfling party has been disrupted by the unexpected appearance of a bounty hunter looking for the Prince. Fortunately, Eilwyn had got the Prince away before he arrived and all the servants and halflings could tell him was that the Prince had left the house and that they didn;t know where he had gone. Nevertheless, Eilwyn hurried back to the Oldenhaller House with the news that the Goldcrests had hired human agents to supplement their star-gazers."By Esmeralda!" Moli whispers to herself as she closely passes by a catastrophe. Silently, she slips out of the pond and dries her bare feet in her cloak. A small skinny black cat watches Moli climb out of the pool and dry her feet. It looks at her quizzically perhaps hoping for a fish or simply puzzled by the halflings strange antics. Moli ignores it as it continues to watch her climb back up the stairs carrying the trident.
Moli climbs back up to her former position level with the statues neck leaving a trail of wet pootprints behind her and reaches out with the trident hoping to snag the necklace bearing the ring on one of the tridents prongs.
[Dexterity+Strength Test = PASSED] Moli reaches across and carefully hooks the necklace holding the ring. Carefully Moli tries to lift the ring over the statues head. It is a bit fiddly because of the enormous headdress but she prefers to do it this way rather than breaking the necklace. She reasons that Ranald knows where the ring might drop if she did and she doesn't want to waste a lot of time searching for it. Having snagged the chain securely with a tine of the trident Moli carefully lifts it up over the head of the statue and quickly draws in the length of the tridents shaft until she can release it into her hands. The skinny black cat watches her intently it's green eyes fixated by the bright shiny ring dangling from the thin silver necklace. Moli takes the necklace and puts it over her own head, leaving the ring under her shirt. She takes a look around her, to see if there's something else small and valuable, that she might take. [Quick Search: FAILED] Moli scans the area around the shrine in the hope of finding something else of value small enough to add to the reward for all her efforts but discovers nothing obvious. She wonders if the fish are made of real gold but decides that trying to catch one would prove time-consuming without at least a net and somehow she thinks it unlikely that Fat Mathilda would be that interested in buying a golden fish anyway. However, she quickly removes the ring from the necklace and tucks it in her belt pouch. The necklace looks valuable and the elf said nothing about needing the necklace, only the ring. She decides to take the necklace to Fat Matilda and see how much its worth. But first she has to get out of this manse. She sneaks back to the beach sticking to the shadows under the balcony below the room where all the voices are coming from and quickly exits the building. The green-eyed cat shadows her movements but keeps its distance. [Risk Test = PASSED]
Then she swiftly sneaks back to the tunnel, to leave the mansion as soon as possible. [Risk Test = PASSED]
The black cat continues to shadow her movements and Moli feels the hairs on the back of her neck rise up as it stares at her with its big green eyes. Stopping in a shadow, she turns around and tries to shoo the strange cat away, concerned that it might somehow give away her position. But it seems determined to follow her and after expressing her small irritation to the animal, she decides to ignore it and continues on her way and sneaking back towards the gate. Almost all the elves are gathered around the table in the large room on the first floor that Moli had visited last time she was here having some sort of meeting and even the children were absent from the garden area. So, compared to her last visit the exit of the elven manse and compound was simplicity itself and the black cat followed her doggedly all the way to the compound gate and sat and watched her leave. Moli steps through the compound gate and back out into the street and as she makes her way quickly out of sight of the guards her walk turns into something like a half dance, half walk. A little victory dance to celebrate how very happy and proud she is about her latest coup. Moli decides to get rid of the stuff she has stolen first, before heading to Ehrmann. No point tempting fate by hanging onto it longer than necessary. A girl has expenses after all and Fat Mathilda was always a good contact for getting rid of "borrowed" goods. So Moli decides to make a little detour to Matilda's Barkery before she heads to the harbour.
Time: Early Evening
Weather (Sunny) A Warm Sunny Spring Evening
As the shadows lengthen in the streets of Altdorf Moli makes her way happily through the crowds heading back to the Sindelfingen District and the relative safety of the tenements. It was the end of a perfect day and even the daunting prospect of having to meet with Fat Matilda seemed a minor challenge compared to her recent exploits. She makes her way quickly through the poor quarter of town and eventually arrives at Mathilda's Bakery just as Matilda was sweeping the floor in preparation for locking up.
Fat Mathilda looks up as she hears the door to the bakery open. "Sold out" she roars "Come back tomorrow." then realises its Moli. "Where've you been, not seen you all day?" a shadow of a smile crosses her face, which quickly gets murdered by an accusatory scowl.
Moli is always a bit daunted by the fierce appearance of Fat Mathilda. "Greetings Mathilda. I... I've been here and there, you know. Was promenading the city. Nothing special. But while I was here and there, I found some stuff, that I thought, you might want to buy..." Moli approaches the counter. "Have a look."
Moli opens her bag and shows Mathilda the necklace, the comb, the hook and the contents of the tailors kit.
While Mathilda looks into her bag, Moli closely observes her face and scans for reactions. Maybe this will already tell her a bit about the value of the items and if Mathilda tries to put her over the barrel.
Mathilda glances in the bag and quickly marches over to the street door and bolts it.
"You'd better come through the back. Don't want any nosey characters knowing our business do we." She quickly removes her hat and wipes her hands on her apron as she leads Moli into the backroom out of sight of the street.
"Ok! Let's see what you've got then," she says sitting down at a table on a chair that creaks ominously under the strain and gesturing Moli to take a seat opposite.
Moli takes a seat, curious how Mathilda will rate the stash.
She watches Mathildas reactions...[Observation Test: PASSED +5 SL]Mathilda lays out a muslin baking cloth on the table and Moli begins to empty the items from her bag and lay them out neatly across it whilst trying to gauge Matilda's reaction to each item. Mathilda looks at the growing line of bric-a-brac with hardly any interest except for the occasional dismissive grunt. Even the fancy comb doesn't really grab her interest.
Then Moli produces the long silver elven chain and even before she lays it on the table she sees Mathilda's eyes fixated upon it. As Moli lays it neatly on the muslin cloth she can see Mathilda's eyes dilating as she stares at it and she seems to be having an internal battle with herself like a poker player with a winning hand trying to appear nonchalant.
Matilda's fingers wander inevitably across the table desperate to touch it, to hold it in her grasp. She looks up at Moli suspiciously "Where did you get this?" she asks accusingly.
Moli defiantly looks into Mathildas eyes "Fell off the back of a coach. Why?"
Mathilda guffaws sarcastically "Cut the fannel Moli. We know each other. If this fell off the back of a coach then I'm sure you arranged for it to drop." She finally gives in to temptation and reaches over to pick up the necklace, weighing it in her hand and toying with it between her fat fingers. "Looks elven to me." she mutters "Do you mind if I take a closer look?"
"Sure" Moli agree's but is careful not to let the necklace out of her sight.
Mathilda wanders over to a bureau and opening a small draw comes back to the table with a jewellers loupe which she proceeds to hold to her eye and study the necklace.
"This is definitely elven and very high quality." she frowns looking up at Moli as if for some sort of explanation.
"You do realise that the elves weave magic into their work. This could easily be cursed or bound with a tracking spell." Matilda frowns then stares across the table at Moli. "Are you sure you don't want to tell me where you 'Found' it?"
The words are clearly intended to provide Moli with a warning, but she notices Mathilda's greedy fingers continue to play with the chain even though she thinks it could be cursed. "How much were you hoping to get for it?" she asks.
Moli feels some serious trust issues growing in her. "Well, what would you be willing to pay for it?"
She really isn't very keen to tell her where it is from and considers Matilda's story about the tracking spells somewhat dubious...
Mathilda screws up her face as she wrestles with the complex question. "Elven stuff is always magical and often cursed. I'd be doing you a favour just taking it off your hands." She replies staring intensely at Moli's face to gauge her reaction and seeing the doubt in her eyes.
"But!" and she shrugs displaying her open hands to Moli in what she hopes will be accepted as a gesture of openness and honesty "This is a very nice piece and I would love to offer you what it's worth."
She picks it up again and stares at it lovingly weighing it in her hands and wondering at its lightness. "Unfortunately, I don't think there is anyone in Sindleflingen who can give you a fair price. In fact, I suspect this is priceless." She admits letting the chain run through her fingers like liquid metal.
"Supposing I was to offer you sixteen Karl's. That'd be enough for your family to get out of the tenements and rent a nice little homestead in the Moot and spend the rest of your lives selling turnips." Mathilda looks at Moli's face to gauge her interest. "Or perhaps rent a tavern in some nice rural village somewhere away from the stink. Brewing and selling ale and pies?"
"Whadya say?"Moli thinks over her situation. She can take what Mathilda herself admits is far too low a price, but still a lot of money. Or she can hope to get more somewhere else, with the danger of being tracked, assuming Mathilda isn't lying about the tracking spell. It's a tough decision.
"I can't go to some jeweller with this, it will be damn hard to find another buyer..." she thinks to herself. "But 16 Karls sounds far too low for a "priceless" item. Then again Mathilda probably won't have a lot gold to offer anyway...
"You know what, Mathilda?"
"We have been good friends for many years now, and I know this is a very special and valuable item, and I understand that you won't be able to pay me hundrets of Karls for it. But 16 is a bit low. I always liked you and you've been a good friend. So here's my suggestion."
"Make it 20 Karls plus a big favor, that me or my sisters can ask you for in the future. I'm not gonna go any lower. Take it now and make a fortune with it, or I'll take it with me and leave." Moli sits back and folds her arms trying to look like she means what she says.Fat Mathilda frowns "What sort of favour?" she asks suspiciously.
"I don't know yet. Just something, where you can help. I think that's only fair as an addition, if I give it to you for this price. What do you think?" Moli smiles reassuringly at Matilda.
Fat Mathilda pondered Moli's rather vague bargain.
[Willpower Test: FAILED]
On the one hand, promises cost nothing but at the same time, a commitment to help without knowing what it would entail was a risk. She toyed with the silver chain letting it run through her fingers a few more times. "Alright! twenty it is, but you pay the 10% Guild Tax." She shouts for her husband Bertie to bring the cash box and after the timid little halfling finally arrives carrying the small strongbox she counts out twenty golden crowns slowly and carefully onto the Muslin cloth in front of Moli.
"That's it then, we done?" Matilda asks looking at the pile of golden coins sadly. "Just don't forget to pay your guild fee's to Herr Cross or you'll be floating in the Reikpool before supper. You know how he gets about not paying your dues.""Alright Mathilda. I'll do that. Thank you and may you make a fortune with this!" Before the surprised Mathilda can react, Moli steps to her and gives her a firm hug. "I'm going on an adventure soon, so we won't meet for a while. May Esmaralda bless your ways! Farewell!"
Moli puts all but two crowns into a little pouch that she slips inside her underpants, while noone is looking. Then she heads off to Herr Cross to pay her taxes with the two crowns. She avoids the narrow and dark alleys and uses the main roads instead.
Then she heads to the nearest market to look for some more leather armor. Moli heard, that it's better to be safe when travelling the big wide old world. And maybe somethin more sturdy for her torso...
[Availability Test: PASSED]
Amris stands with his back to the window to silhouette himself to his visitor before confidently addressing the person knocking “Do come in”
There is the sound of a key being turned in the lock of the door and the door eventually opens to reveal a rather elegant grey haired man wearing a flamboyant tall feathered hat. "I hope I'm not intruding," he says politely bowing slightly and removing his hat to reveal a bald head. "Eilwyn said it would be acceptable for me to call and I usually like to make the acquaintance of my new tenants. My name is Albrecht Oldenhaller, Councillor to Her Serenity Emmanuelle von Liebwitz, Elector Countess of Nuln, Grand Countess of Wissenland, Beloved of Shallya and Duchess of Meissen." he says with a somewhat smug air of self-satisfaction.
Amris raises his eyebrows and nods his head in polite acknowledgment without giving the impression of being particularly impressed by the visitor’s statement "A pleasure I'm sure. My name is Hectorin Tideson of clan Ulliogtha and we are well met, might I enquire about the nature of your business so that I might understand if we might be of benefit to one each other?”
Oldenhaller shrugs apologetically "Oh! Nothing special mostly internal trade between the Nuln Markets and Central Reikland. Metals downstream and grain and foodstuffs up. It's steady and profitable but not very exciting."
Amris gives Albrecht a collegiate smile “Are not all markets are the same when coin meets purse my friend?!" Amris takes on a more serious, businesslike demeanour “I must say, I was not aware I would have the opportunity to meet a potential associate during my stay here." Amris pauses as if considering a complex set of circumstances “I wonder sir, if I could rely on your discretion regarding my stay, I hope to conclude some business here that would lead to an increase in local trade to which I’m sure you could profit. However, if my presence were to become known the deal is unlikely to be concluded. Purely due to some petty jealousies you understand. If you can allow me to remain here for a while in secret, I will ensure that you see your share of gold from the trade to come”
Oldenhaller laughs at what he perceives to be elven humour, but quickly becomes serious as Hectorin Tideson mentions the prospect of a mutually beneficial business arrangement. "My dear Hectorin I would gratefully welcome such an opportunity and I can assure you my lips are sealed," he adds touching his nose and winking in a conspiratorial manner. "Is there anything I can do to assist you further?" He pauses as if trying to think of something he could offer to sweeten the pot "I have a lot of contacts," he boasts "both here and in Her Serenty's court. Not to mention the Merchants Guilds of course."
Amris smiles graciously "Excellent, it appears we will have much business to discuss in the coming weeks... Other than fresh food and water, I hope I will need little else before the conclusion of my business here. Aside from that, might I enquire, as a visitor here, could you brief me on both the political state of the city, and are there any particular marvels of mankinds engineering I might seek out when I have the time, I have a great interest in such things."
Oldenhaller rolls his eyes as he tries to formulate a response to the elf's question. "Err! Well the city of Altdorf is arguably the greatest city in the Empire. Her Serenity would probably disagree but as Seigfreid said 'When one is tired of Altdorf, one is tired of life.''' he announces the final statement with a dramatic flourish of his arms.
Then realising that the elf has probably never heard of Seigfreid and wouldn't understand the quote he clears his throat and takes a more inquisitorial tone "Is there something specific you are interested in?" "Architecture perhaps?", "Altdorf has many fine buildings." "Or culture?" "We have some of the finest theatres and playhouses in the Empire." "Or Cuisine?" "There are many fine eateries and many renowned chef's" "Or perhaps more exotic pursuits?"
"I'm sure you could find any number of distractions if you had such a mind." He trails off, not really sure what else an elf might take an interest in. Then changes the subject "The political state?" "Well, quite honestly the political state is not good at the moment. Indeed part of the reason I am here is to try and clarify the facts for Her Serenity the Elector Countess. Unfortunately, the situation in the Reikland is what one might call unstable. Most importantly trade along the Central Reikland Estuary has all but dried up." he pauses and tries to suppress his own amusement at his inadvertent pun. "The unrest along the Teufel valley has reduced the trade in raw metal and coal from the Grey Mountains to little more than a trickle and the forges of Nuln are being forced to seek alternative sources mostly from the dwarves who as always are proving both stubborn and greedy in their expectations. They seem able to smell our desperation and are determined to use it to maximise the flow of our gold into their pockets" Not only that but the dwarves as always refuse to deal with honest traders like myself and insist not only on solid gold in advance but in delivering their own shipments on foot because they don't trust our wooden boats to travel safely over water." It is clear that Oldenhaller feels strongly about this subject and he has to bite his tongue not to bore the elf even more with his personal troubles. "Also," he adds pointing a finger to emphasise his words "the gossip in the taverns is less than inspiring and I fear that the situation may get much worse before it gets better. In truth, this is not the best time to visit the Reikland."
Amris finds all this talk of gold rather amusing, but it is a useful tool for making others take your side of things "Well sir, what a surprise, the dwarves are a particular bunch indeed are they not?!" he grins at the merchant.
"I understand then, that if you could receive a direct supply of coal and raw metal by other means this would allow the situation to improve, and also see an upturn in trade for both of us?" Oldenhakker nods ethusiastically.
"I will see what I can do, and if I can improve the supply, I would have you and some of my associates handle the influx of materials on my behalf... Amris pauses "Could you clarify what you mean by the situation may get worse before it gets better, would that be the supply of coal and metal, or the unrest in the general populace?" Amris asks.
Also, at times such as these there tends to be unrest in the political circles, might I enquire, if there are any particular allegations of corruption or manouvring that may be taking place? I only ask as it is good to ensure that any business we enact does not ruffle the wrong feathers."
Oldenhaller gives the elf a somewhat quizzical look "Are you leading me to believe that you can place your hands on a large supply of coal and raw metal?"
"If you can then I'm sure the forges of Nuln would pay readily for it given the alternatives and I would be happy to assist in any way I can....for an entirely reasonable commission of course. I fear that the military situation in the Teufel Valley is far from stable. From what I've heard General von Dabernick whilst no doubt an able soldier and hero of the Empire has no skill at administering an estate and prefers to chase seditionists through the streets of Ubersreik to actually managing its trade." Oldenhaller begins to pace irritably as he continues.
"Lady Nacht is little better. She sees chaos cultists under every bed but has no interest in Ubersreik at all and would rather be back in Altdorf."
"As for the rest of the nobility and good burgomeisters of the area well they circle like vultures around a fresh corpse and each has their own ambitions for its future under their personal control but none seem interested in lending a hand without being given the keys of the city and that's for sure." He stops and turns to Amris to make his final point "The simple fact is that nobody really knows what is in the Emperors mind at the moment. There are strange rumours circulating of insanity and the taint of chaos corruption in the Imperial household and when the hand is light on the tiller then it is inevitable that the boat itself becomes an easy victim to the forces of nature upon it. The state of trade along the Teufel Valley is but one such consequence there are rumours of mutants in the woods, pirates on the river and bandits on our roads. All trying to make hay whilst the sun shines no doubt."
He thumps a fist into his own hand in a gesture of determination "But Her Serenity the Elector Countess stands firm against the madness in the Reikland and if we can find a more reliable source of trade for Nuln she will no doubt be very grateful."
"The situation appears dire, and may become grave should things not improve, I will finish my business here then see if there is anyway we might come to the aid of the Reikland by feeding the forges." Amris gives Oldenhaller what he hopes is an earnest and open look. "I believe you and I may do good business together, I must urge your discretion in my being here, there are many opportunities for myself and my associates, and my very presence might tip others to the fact that moves are being made and they might steal in before us and I would hate to see their purses bulging at a cost to our own!"
Oldenhaller grins and repeats the odd nose touching gesture he made earlier "If that means I have full and exclusive rights to act as your agent in the Reikland then you can rely on me not to mention our arrangement to anyone else. Doesn't do to invite competition after all." he gives the elf a conspiratorial wink.
Amris laughs in a friendly manner "Indeed I do travel very light, in fact, in this instance I may have gone a little too far. If you could make some arrangements to provide some basic furniture and items during my stay I would be much obliged, I like to move fast but that doesn't always leave room for the more mundane issues to be catered for!"
Oldenhaller looks a bit doubtful "Unless you were planning on staying for a long period I would not go spending a fortune on furniture." he advises "But if you give me a list I'll be happy to rent you a few items to tide you over for the duration of your visit."
"Ah indeed, if you do not have stock then please do not go to any trouble, my colleagues will return soon and make arrangements in due course, but many thanks for the offer"
"Good! Good!" says Oldenhaller distractedly "So, do we have an understanding then?" he adds "You supply me with as much coal and ore as you can lay your hands on and I shall act as your sole agent for the Central Reikland Estuary, Kemperbad Enclave and Nuln Market Sector and that's just between ourselves. I shall have my lawyers draw up the paperwork immediately." He holds out his hand to seal the deal.
"And if you should lay your hands on anything more exotic and exciting please let me know."
"Well, I would appreciate it if you hold off mentioning any of this business to anyone else at all at this time, my competitors have eyes and ears in all sorts of places and I am very reluctant to allow the careless whispers of ourselves or our agents to draw their attention to me." Amris places his hand upon Abrecht's shoulder "You have done me a service in renting me this space for a short while, I am most appreciative. Please do not worry that we need formalise our agreement, let me first ascertain how much of a supply I can provide and we can discuss the finer details then, I am more than confident that you can manage the logistics when the time comes." Amris looks at Albrecht in a confident manner.
"I hope to remain here a short while in secret, it would do us both a great benefit in the long term should my presence go unheeded, I have a few members of my retinue who will be visiting, including a Halfling known as Moli and a boatman named Ehrmann, but I do not expect my business to cause you any great disruption. If I can count on your silence now, you can count on my business in due course. What say you?"
Albrecht shrugs "That's somewhat irregular, but if it's really that important to you that nobody knows of our arrangement then I'm happy to oblige."
"Was there anything else I can assist you with?"
"My thanks sir, these are tumultuous times requiring clandestine measures to avoid competitors gaining an edge. My compatriots have clearly chosen my dwelling well, I do look forward to working with you."
Sensing that the meeting with the elf is over Oldenhaller bows politely and leaves making sure to hand a carte with his name and business address in the city to Hectorus and urging him to contact him as soon as he has secured the goods he promised and is ready to sell, or if there was anything else he would like to trade.
Time: Evening;
Weather (Hot) A hot sultry evening.
With the twenty gold crowns weighing heavily in her purse Moli heads across the river to the Werksviertel District to look for some leather armour. Moli knows the place to go and is soon standing in Kurtens Lederei just off the Hammerstrasse. They had everything she wanted except the Leather Jack and the fact that she had hard cash meant she was able to drive the prices down quite heavily. After some hard bargaining the deals on the table are as follows.
In the end, Moli decides to limit her purchases to the Leggings and the cap.
Time: Late Evening
Weather: (Hot) A hot sultry evening.
Moli makes her way back across the Eastender Bridge over the Talabec River and then turns south down the wagonway to The Beloved of Manaan Pier where Praunheim had told her he kept his boat. He wasn't there and after wandering about a while in case he was out on the river delivering a customer she began to worry realising that he was her only link back to the elven prince. Perhaps someone on the dock would know where he had gone. Moli looks around to find a stevedore or someone who works here, who maybe has a minute of time to help her. Maybe someone who is having a break at the moment. Moli begins to walk back along pier towards the wagon way again hoping to spot the pier master or some other local character who might know where to find Ehrmann Praunheim. Unfortunately, who she bumped into instead was probably the person she least wanted to meet this far from her home territory and without any back-up as out of the crowd emerged three of the Burdock gang distinctive in their green and brown caps led by no other than Taragon Burdock in person.
Tarragon spots Moli almost immediately "Well! Well! Well! What 'ave we 'ere boys. Little Moli Brandysnap all alone and trespassing on our turf."
he puffs out his chest and hooks his thumbs in his pockets striking what he imagines is a swagging pose.
"Where are yer little sisters Moli?"
"'Had a fallin out 'ave yer. Arguing over who gets to sniff that elf's arse the longest no doubt. Was that it?"
"What you doing here on our pier then?"
Moli knows exactly what will happen next, since she remembers her scar from the last time. She decides quickly that maximum aggression is her only chance. "Oh, nothing. I'm searching for my friend... Oh there he is!" Moli waves enthusiastically in a direction diagonally behind the three Burdocks. As soon as the one standing in front of her is distracted and looks behind him, she does something which she has learned in certain ball games is called "A Kickoff."
Except that instead of kicking one ball, as they would in that game, she kicks two balls -- right between the goalposts!
Moli tries to execute a kick to remember... [Attack Roll: Weapon Skill - Aimed Kick - Successful]Tarragon Burdock spins around expecting to see Moli's fictional friend bearing down on him from behind.
As soon as his back is turned Moli rushes at him and with as much strength as she can muster aims a kick right between his legs. Her foot misses the intended target but is close enough to inflict a nasty shock and some pain on Tarragon who instinctively doubles over and clasps his groin area.
"You little......" he growls between clenched teeth.
Moli runs. Adrenaline pumps through her veins. She knows that the Burdocks are angry now, but a discussion would have lead to basically the same result. She painfully regrets not finding the time to give her sisters their share of Mathildas crowns. Maybe she can find another way to distract the other two Burdocks or somewhere to hide.
As Tarragon doubles over in pain grasping his groin Moli makes a dash past him heading back down the pier towards the Wagon Way ducking and weaving between the boatmen and their passengers intent on putting as much distance as she can between herself and the Burdocks. The other two Burdock boys make a half-hearted attempt to grab her but are more concerned with whats happened to their brother.
As she disappears into the crowd Moli hears Tarragon's voice rise above the general hubbub of the crowd. "I'll get you Molrella Brandysnap. I know where you live."
However, as she reaches the wagonway at the end of the pier it doesn't look as though she is being pursued obviously that kick she landed was enough to dissuade Tarragon from starting a chase and as he says he knows where she lives so chasing her around the tenements is a waste of energy.
Moli feels guilty for making the Burdocks angry, but she really couldn't risk to be robbed right now. The sisters have to be warned. At last, she felt her streak of luck this day was going to end. On the other hand, she managed to escape, which is good. Moli runs straight home to warn her sisters and to tell them they're gonna leave town.
Time: Dusk
Weather: (Hot) The end of a hot spring day.
Moli hurries back to the tenement district and makes her way quickly up the stairs to the apartment she shares with her family bursting through the door breathless and excited to find the room empty. She quickly knocks on the door of the small private bedroom her parents share, little more than a cupboard really and her current father Fartomeous answers scratching his head and looking sleepy.
"What's the matter?" he asks
Before she can answer Moli's father is yanked out of the way and the rather red face of her mother appears in the doorway her hair looks dishevelled as though she has just woken up. "Moli dear." she says with a disarming smile "Your home early?"
We thought you would be ages yet, what happened did they run out of food?"Everything bursts out of breathless Moli: "Mommy, I think we should move. Now. I've made a small fortune by selling some necklace I've found. I have like 16 Gold crowns or so with me, I'll explain later. Unfortunately the Burdocks intercepted me and I had to fight my way out. They're pretty angry now and threatened me that they'll come here. Soooo... Let's get outta here! Let's head to the sisters at the feast and we gather them. With the money you can move back to the Moot and have a good life!"
Moli's mother smiles condescendingly at her daughter, always the drama queen and ever the dreamer.
"Really dear you do come up with some strange idea's. Why don't you go back to the party and we can talk about this in the morning when you're less excited."
"But... But... Mommy, the Burdocks are really mean! Don't you fear their revenge?" Moli tries to calm down but she still thinks they're in danger.
Halarnella laughs "You do love to dramatise everything Moli. Why would the Burdock boys want to cause us any trouble?"
"We've lived in the same street for years and I know their parents. Have you done something to upset them again?""Uhmm.... They tried to rob me and I kicked Tarragon in the crotch. He said he will get me and knows where I live and so on." Moli knows they didn't actually try to rob her, but she is convinced, they would've, If she would've given them the chance.
"Look." Moli makes sure, that noone is behind the door to come in right in this moment, then shows her mother the money and quickly puts it back. "I didn't exaggerate. We should use this to get the hell out of this."Moli's mother leans over and looks into the purse Moli is holding out and her eyes widen "Esmeralda's sacred spoon where on earth did get that?"
"Farti!" she says sharply kicking Moli's father awake again "Come and look at what Moli's brought home."
I've sold some stuff I found. I'll explain it later. Can we move out now? I'm expecting a mob of angry Burdocks to show up in the next few minutes!"
Moli's parents begin to pack. Moli is a bit desperate over their slowlyness, though she already expected this to be a challenge. "We should meet the sisters at the feast, gather them and then you take them to the moot. There's nothing so important here that we need to take with us, is it?"Moli's parents eventually rouse themselves and gather as much of their belongings as they can carry before following Moli down the stairs and out into the street. "What on earth did you find that was worth that much gold?" asks Halarnella clearly dazed by the sudden turn of events in their lives.
"Stop asking the girl questions you don't want to know the answers to." snaps Fartomeous "Something of that value doesn't just get lost and found. But if it's our chance to get out of here then who cares where Moli found it."
The light is fading fast as Moli and her parents make their way southwards out of the tenement district and across the Sigmar Bridge towards the Reikmarkt and Reikmarktstrasse. The streets are beginning to come alive with the nighttime activities of the city as lamplighters go about their business and the people make their way towards their after-dark entertainment or work. Moli's senses are on high alert aware that they are not only approaching the elven quarter but that Sigmar's Bridge is the main thoroughfare out of the poor quarter into the richer area of the city and thus crowded with thieves and pickpockets heading out to begin their own night time business. Moli leads her parents to the Drakenhof. It's a dangerous decision, but she doesn't know what else she could do. When they arrive, she'll first try to observe the building for a minute, in case there's a fight going on inside. If it's quiet, she tells her parents to wait at the corner and enters, in search for her sisters.
Moli makes her way south along the Reikmarktstrasse that runs alongside the elven compound towards the Ulthuan Embassy. Despite the growing darkness, the elven compound seems brightly lit and more active than it was even during the day when she was wandering around inside it. She can hear shouts and commands and the rush of feet back and forth beyond the compound wall. Moli and her parents reach the junction with Hexenstrasse where the Ulthuan Embassy is located and can now see a large number of elven guards gathered at the main gate to the compound and more surprisingly a whole squad of Imperial soldiers from the city militia formed up in tight ranks along the Hexenstrasse.
Moli keeps her head down and reminds herself that nobody knows what she looks like, she doubts if even the guards who allowed her into the compound to search for her cat would be able to recognise one halfling from another in the darkness of the street. Nevertheless, she hurries past, trying to avoid catching anyone's eye as she does. She decides to avoid the Hexenstrasse and instead turns off into one of the side streets leading to the Drakenhof further down Reikmarktstrasse. As soon as she does so things become quieter, it appears that these rich long-legged nobility don't like walking the streets at night and the roads are pretty deserted once off the main thoroughfares. Only the gatekeepers pay them any attention as they walk past one mansion after another her mother staring open-mouthed at the size of them and the beauty of some of their gardens. Eventually, they turn into the street where Moli remembers the Drakenhof being located. As they approach the gate Moli can hear the sound of music drifting out onto the street and recognises it as one of Dandelion and Poppy's favourite dancing tunes.
As you approach the gate the old gatekeeper stirs himself from his hut and greets you. "Ah! I remember you from earlier, you're a bit late. I hope the others have left you something to eat." Moli greets Karl who confirms that the other six halflings are still inside the DrakenHof enjoying their party. But that the elf has left. In fact, both the elves have left, although the female did come back briefly and left again a short time ago.
Moli leads her parents into the house and enters the ballroom where the party is still in full swing. Poppy, Marigold and Daisy are dancing around a table which despite their best efforts still has a few pies on display, whilst Dandelion provides the music and Hyacinth is slouched in a chair far too big for her with her feet on a small table and her nose buried in one of several large books she has managed to obtain from somewhere.
"You're back!" Mi-Mi squeals excitedly "How did it go?"
"Did you get it?"
"The elf's gone. Well both of them went actually."
"Then the female one came back but didn't stay long after we told her about the Bounty Hunter."
"He came looking for the Elf but he'd already gone, so he went too, then the elf came back, and then she went again."
"What does it look like?"
"Have you given it too the elf or do you still have it?"
"Why are Mum and Dad here?"
Moli is relieved to see Mi-Mi: "Mi-mi! There you are, thank Esmeralda! Now listen we got to leave the town. I was at the docks to meet this prawn guy and I bumped into the Burdocks. No wait, let's start somewhere else."
"I went to the compond again and yes...I got the ring! But it had an elven necklace on it so I sold the necklace to Fat Mathilda! Then I wanted to meet the prawn man at the docks but the Burdocks tried to rob me! I kicked this ugly asshat Tarragon into the nuts so hard, they came out of his mouth!" she grinned.
"I escaped but the Burdocks where furious and threatened to come to our house!" "So I ran there and got mom and pops together with some stuff. I told them we should leave town, you know I got like 15 crowns and more with me. The Burdocks would have robbed me, you know, Mi-Mi? I had to get ahead of them." "Are the flower girls still inside?" "Let's gather them and leave this City, actually I'm done with it so far. And with the money the familiy can start off new in the moot. Can you lead them there? I wanna search the elf, I promised to bring him his ring..."Mi-Mi tries to keep up with Moli's garbled story but only manages to grasp two key pieces of information.
"You have fifteen gold crowns?" she grasps her eyes wide with shock "And we're going to The Moot?"
There is general panic at this point as the flower girls frantically try to stuff as many of the remaining pies into their pockets as possible and Hyacinth tries to find space for both pies and books in what few pockets she has available.
Moli grabs Halamina's arm "Mi-Mi, I will not come with you. I have some things to do here. My new master probably needs me. And the prawn man also vabished." Moli looks Mi-Mi in the eyes. "Can you lead the family safely back to the moot? I will give you the money." Moli hands Mi-Mi 15 crowns.
"I hope I'll see you soon, sister" Moli gives the surprised Mi-Mi a firm hug. "Now let's go"
Mi-Mi holds out her hand and takes the purse peering curiously inside at the golden contents. As she looks up her eyes brimming with tears "You trust me with this much gold?" she asks her voice cracking with emotion.
Time: Night
Weather: (Spring Breeze) Darkness has fallen a breeze has picked up. Darkness has fallen by the time the halflings have accumulated everything they want to take with them and are ready to leave the Drakenhof. Moli and Mi-Mi herd them out of the house and into the courtyard heading for the main gate only to discover that the stranger who had accompanied the female elf earlier has returned and is talking anxiously to the gatekeeper.Waynn looks up as he hears the chatter of excited halflings heading towards the main gate.
"Have you seen Eilwyn?" he asks clearly concerned and a little out of breath "She was supposed to be here with you."
"She was but she went away again." answers Mi-Mi.
Waynn stares at the heavens "Shallya's tits, now what do I do?" he wails scratching his head under his helmet and staring at the excited halfling faces looking up at him "There's more of you than I remember the last time." he muses wondering where all the extra's have come from. Then his eyes suddenly widen as he spots Moli standing at the back "Hang on a minute you're the one I'm looking for, what on the holy balls of Sigmar are you doing here. Ehrmann and me 'ave bin waitin fer you at The Broken Barrel. Quick we 'ave to get goin or Eilwyn will kill me."
Moli is a bit overwhelmed by the intenseness of Waynns speech: "Oh yes... well there was some distraction, I have been mugged. Couldn't get through. I'll coem with you, just a moment" Moli tells her family farewell. She has tears In her eyes, while Waynn impatiently waits for her to get ready. "Mom, dad, I'm going on an adventure, whish me luck. I love you all!" She makes a stirring guesture with her right hand to symbolize Esmeralda's cauldron of luck. The others do the same to her. She gives every single one a good hug and some kisses. "Mi-Mi, lead them safe to the moot. Stick together, slings and pans ready!"
"Actually, you ain't getting rid of us that easily Moli Brandysnap. This sore-head here says you're heading for 'The Broken Barrel' and we need a boat to take us south. The Broken Barrel is where all the boatmen hang out at this time of day, so that's where we're going too." she announces firmly.
"Lead On Slim. We're right behind you" she says confidently to Waynn.Waynn looks a bit confused but eventually realizes that everyone is going to follow him and so leads the way back out onto Reikmarktstrasse and turns left towards the Sigmar Bridge. "Sommat serious going on in the elf town this evening, soldiers everywhere," he comments.
He was not exaggerating and as the party nears the Ulthuan Embassy there is a sharp shout of command and a whole squad of Imperial Halberdiers march noisily out of Hexenstrasse onto the street ahead of you bearing lanterns and halberds and wearing the blue and red uniforms of the city guard. But what catches Moli's eye as they wheel into the street ahead and head off towards the bridge is that buried in their midst is a group of tall sinister-looking elves wearing dark blue-black hooded cloaks lined and decorated with silver each holding a strange sphere ahead of them that glows pale blue in the gathering darkness. Inevitably the appearance of the squad of soldiers from the Hexenstrasse creates even more excitement amongst Moli's sisters. This adventure just keeps getting better and better. The flower girls automatically add themselves to the end of the column and begin marching resolutely down the street high-stepping and twirling as Dandelion strikes up a halfling marching tune on her fiddle. The column marches down the Reikmarktstrasse at a steady pace the blue glow from the strange spheres carried by the elves casting giant shadows on the white walls of the Elven Compound to their left. Waynn and the halflings march along behind until suddenly there is a disturbance amongst the elves in the center of the column. One of them looks back and appears to be checking their sphere and consulting with the others. It calls out to the officer in charge and the column suddenly halts the flower girls nearly marching into the back of the rearmost soldiers. With the column now halted and blocking the street the three elves move rapidly back down the column heading for the rear and the halflings, still comparing what they can see with something in the spheres they carry.Moli's heart leaps as she realizes they could be after her. "Mi-Mi, come with me. Flower girls, cover us, we meet at the tavern!" Moli ducks and hides behind the mob of Halflings that is with her. She steps to the side and plunges into the passing by crowd. "Maybe they're searching for the ring, let's take some side alleys!" She whispers to Mi-Mi.
The sudden halt of the column seems to have caused as much confusion amongst the soldiers as the halflings and those at the rear turn to scan the crowd following them trying to see some explanation for the elves' sudden interest. The three elves push their way back through the ranks together with a human officer who seems equally confused "Make way! Clear a path!" he growls trying to sound as though he understands what's going on.
The elves emerge from the rear of the column alternating their attention between the strange glowing spheres and the crowd of following folk, a strong smell of cinnamon wharf's over the crowd their faces pale blue in the reflection of the globes in their hands.
"That one." a tall dark-haired female elf finally confirms pointing an elegant finger directly at Waynn.
The officer steps forward and takes charge 'Stay right where you are."he orders Waynn then turns to the soldiers and adds "Cordon the area, keep the others back."
With swift precision, the halberds drop and the soldiers move forward linking the shafts to form a barrier and pushing the crowd back against the buildings to create a cordon isolating Waynn and the three elves.
Moli allows herself to be pushed back placing her sisters between her and the soldiers and forcing her way further into the crowd of strangers behind her putting as much distance as possible between her and the soldiers.
Poppy squeals as the soldiers push her backwards and deftly ducks under the halberds to throw herself into the open space beyond where she grabs Waynn arm and tries to drag him away."Leave I'm alone," she screams at the elves "'e never did nuffin."
Mi-Mi rolls her eyes and glances over her shoulder at Moli whilst grabbing Dandelion and Hyancyth by the collar and dragging them back before they join their sister.
"Stand where you are and identify yourself, citizen." Demands the officer as the three elves position themselves in a circle around Waynn and Poppy.
Waynn looks as bemused, half-witted, and innocent as possible. "Me names Waynn Dakath, boatman from Nuln your excellency." He looks down a Poppy still protectively hugging his leg "an I've really no idea who this little thing is."
He glances down and tries to shake Poppy free of his leg but she hangs on defiantly. Waynn grins at the Officer "I may 'ave slipped 'er a penny or two in the tavern earlier." he shrugs innocently "They do tend to get attached don't they." he gives the officer a meaningful wink.
The female elf is getting awfully close now making it hard for Waynn to concentrate. She is the same height as Waynn and as she leans forward her piercing blue eyes seem to burn into his mind making it hard to look away. For a brief moment Waynn imagines she is going to kiss him, he really wants her to kiss him. The elf looks amused, she knows, she is mocking him. Under her midnight blue cloak, her slim body is clad in dark leather her skin is pale but her hair almost jet black.
"What's your business in the city boatman?" snaps the officer trying to ignore the annoying behaviour of both the halfling and the bloody female elf. What in the name of Sigmar does she think she is doing?
She is making this very difficult "and what is your purpose so far from the docks and so close to Elf Town?"
Waynn dragged his eyes from the elf and glanced over at the officer "We docked a few hours ago with a shipment fer Councilor Oldenhaller. I was sent to let him know we had arrived and I'm on my way back to the boat." Waynn winced. That sounded too confident, but it was proving hard to focus with the elf so close she was touching him now her hand pressed firmly over his heart he could feel her warmth even through her glove and his jerkin. Would the officer notice?
Talisaati pressed her hand against the male human's chest, she could feel the beat of his heart like a trapped bird fluttering in futility beneath her fingers. She smiled, so gullible these savages. The tingle of aetheric energy was weak but it was there nevertheless just under the human's clothing.
She kept her eyes locked on the humans making sure she had his full attention and spoke softly and soothingly to her two companions without breaking eye contact. [Tar-Elthárin]"There is definitely something here round its neck, but the aura is weak. It may not be the necklace," she said as she began slowly to unlace the mans jerkin with her fingers.
Waynn gulped and he felt his cheeks flush red as the elf began to undress him. She smiled seeing his embarrassment but still pulled open the top of jerkin and reaching inside his undershirt. Surely not here in the street.
Talisaati reached into the savage's shirt and found the necklace laying close to where its heart was beating madly. She quickly withdrew it and studied it closely. It was definitely of elven craftsmanship probably of Asraien origin but it was not the necklace stolen from the shrine of Senparae.
Waynn watched as the elf reached inside his shirt and extracted the good luck charm that his sister Walibearn had given him when he left on his adventures. She studied it briefly holding it in the palm of her hand and turning it over with her long fingers. Then she spoke again her voice like the sound of water trickling along cool mountain stream, Waynn had no idea what she was saying and really didn't care.
Then suddenly she turned away "This is not the one we look for." she said bruskly to the Officer "We go!"
Mi-Mi rushed over "What in Esmeralda's name was all that about, we thought you was a gonna then?"
"Dunno" admitted Waynn still staring at the column as it disappeared down the street "But we'd better keep going. Where's Moli?."
"I'm here." Moli steps out of her hideout behind a barrel at the side of the street.
"I... I thought, they... Well I dunno what I thought..." Moli doesn't plan to tell Waynn the whole necklace story. But she is impressed and scared by the things that just happened. "They're searching for it! Damn, it seems to be more important to them, than I thought!" She goes back to her sisters. "Poppy, I think it's OK now." She looks severely to her sister. "Could you release him? We need to go!"
Waynn breathes a sigh of relief "Grandfather Reik be praised for a minute I thought we'd lost you again."
He glances quickly along Reikmarktstrasse where the column of troops is rapidly disappearing towards the Sigmar Bridge "If we're quick we can catch them up." he muses gesturing for Moli and the others to keep together as he moves off after the elves.
Poppy is clearly excited and proud of herself "Did you see me Moli, I saved him from that nasty elf?"
"I shouted at her 'No you can't take him' 'an she didn't. Reckon she was scared of me." she quickly takes station alongside Waynn and assumes her new role as protector "Do you think that means I'm a hero now like you?" The party forms up again behind the boatman and heads off at a fast pace towards the bridge. The halflings almost having to run to keep up with the long-legged boatman."Most likely they're busy kicking the door of our flat in at the moment." she thinks. "I guess they won't expect us here again so soon."Moli doesn't want to encourage her sister but then gives up, as she will be convinced of her new role anyway. "Yeah not bad, Poppy, I think he owes you something!"
Poppy grins at Moli "Don't worry." she says smugly "he's already paid me. He just doesn't know it yet." she grins at Moli and opens her hand to reveal a small purse full of coins.
"Hang on!" says Mi-Mi "I recognize that long-leg. He was the one who gate-crashed our party earlier looking for the Elven Lord. Your friend didn't seem pleased when we told her," she says looking up at Waynn.
"Really?" Waynn replies turning his attention to the three humans rather than the elves "They look like bounty hunters to me." he admits "I can see why Eilwyn would be worried. But they seem to have given up on your elven lord. It looks like they have captured two halflings instead."
"That's Fat Matilda" she suddenly exclaims having caught a glimpse of the large halfing through the crowd "An they got Little Bertie too."
One of the bounty hunters is arguing with the elves his voice raised in anger "Well is the necklace yer looking fer in there or not?" he demands then adds "It were everything they had in the shop, we turned it over thorough like. Don't mess us about elf if it's there we want the reward."
The elf reaches into the hunter's bag and pulls out a shimmering necklace "This is what we are looking for." she confirms,
"Good! Then hand it back an' we can take it to your master and claim our reward." replied the bounty hunter holding out the bag.
"Eer! 'old on a minute." interrupted Matilda "If there's any reward it should come to me. I was the one who found it and I was going to take it into the Elf Embassay first thing tomorrow and claim my finders fee."
The bounty hunter scoffed "Yeah! Sure that's why you 'ad it hidden under the floorboard then."
"Can't be too careful. Lots of thieves in this city."Mathilda snapped back in an accusatorial tone.
"Where did you find it?" interjected the elf.
"It was just laying in the street outside my shop. I reckon that elf must have dropped it, so I was planning to return it tomorrow morning."
The mention of an elf immediately got Talisaati's attention "What elf?" she demanded "and where was this?"
Realising that she had the elf's attention and Matilda smirked "Well now that would be telling, wouldn't it?" she replied, "How much do you think that sort of information might be worth to your master?"
"This is ridiculous. I know this halfling and she's a fence. Give me ten minutes and I'll tell you where she got that necklace and where your elf is."
Moli feels guilty. "Looks like Altdorf is pretty much burned earth for my family and me now..." She turns to Mi-Mi and shares her thoughs with her and tells her: "You see, that's why you really need to lead them out of the city. Ranald smiled down upon us so far. But we need to get straight outta Altdorf before the fury of this elven god - whatever is it's name - will reach us!" Waynn and the Brandysnaps reach the pier "Girls, weapons ready. If the Burdocks appear, make sure to be ready for a fight, they might be a little upset about the circumstances of our last meeting."
"Most likely they're busy kicking the door of our flat in at the moment." she thinks. "I guess they won't expect us here again so soon."
Time: Night
Weather: (Spring Breeze) Darkness has fallen a breeze has picked up.Eilwyn returns to the Oldenhaller House just after nightfall in a highly agitated state. "Your Highness?" she calls as she climbs the stairs to the upper floor having found nobody in the ground floor rooms "Have you heard anything from the Waynn or the halfling?" She begins to check the first-floor rooms still calling out her news "According to the halflings at the party a bounty hunter turned up just before I arrived looking for you. He was told you had already left, so I saw no point trying to deceive them any further they clearly know you are in the city. Fortunately, we told no one where, only Waynn knows of this address. I pray that Morai-heg preserves him or at least keeps his mouth shut."
"There you are your highness." says Eilwyn when she finally discovers Amris sitting cross-legged and serene on an elegant Chaise Longues in the corner of one of the bedrooms. "I don't suppose you have seen any sign of Waynn or the halfling have you. They should have been back ages ago certainly before dark, Waynn has no night vision and never took a lantern." she seems genuinely worried.
Amris rises to his feet "Unfortunately I have heard nothing and I am not aware of anyone seeking an audience with me. However, I was visited by a gentleman, Oldenhaller, I understand he is the proprietor?"
Eilwyn brightens slightly "Oh! Councillor Oldenhaller has already paid you a visit. No doubt he was keen to find out all about your business and tell you all about his. He seems to be a man of considerable wealth and influence if his own testimonials are anything to go by, he also has some ambitious idea's to improve his own situation and that of mankind in general. No doubt he was keen to explain his long terms goals for the harnessing of aetheric energy." Then her mood darkens again "However, none of that resolves the problem of where that stupid boatman has wandered off to and why he isn't back here with the missing halfling. You don't suppose your cousin caught them do you, that could be really awkward?"
....Amris turns to Eilwyn. "And so, we find ourselves waiting for the boatman. Might I take this opportunity to converse with you regarding yourself and your kin?"
Eilwyn looks surprised "Of course your highness. what is it you wish to know?" she replies "I should warn you though that I have been wandering the Empire of man for some time without a memory keeper so some of my memories may have faded."
"I might suggest that we serve each-other and each enter a state of Bran Wa Shin? It seems we have the time to share our memories and experiences and help each other at the same time?"
Eilwyn looks a bit dubious "Normally your highness such a role is only shared with one's most intimate family and friends. I must admit I did ty to get Waynn to act as a memory keeper for a while but he has the memory retention of Laurenlorn squirrel."
"Indeed, however, our circumstances are quite exceptional, and whilst we share little history, I have entrusted you with both my life and the honor of my family, so I will trust you with my thoughts. I also wish to learn more of you and your kin, and if our friendship can lead to a connection between our peoples then it will be a great gesture on both our parts"
"I am honoured indeed, your majesty. What memories do you wish to entrust to my care?"
Amris recounts the events of recent days including the location of the Drackenhof, the location of Ehrmann Praunheim and where he met Moli, also the individuals he has met, being Ehrmann, Moli, Halamina, the Elderley Watchman and the Female Servant, Eilwyn and Waynne, and Oldenhaller. He records the important exchanges he has had with Oldenhaller, Eilwyn, Illyrus, Ehrmann and Moli.
Eilwyn listens carefully as the Prince tries to recall everything of value that has happened to him. She interrupts at various points to clarify that she understands. "Do you not remember the names of the watchman or the servant girl, your majesty. I think I know who you mean but obviously, I have no way of reminding you what they look like. I would have to point them out to you?"
Amris leans back, closes his eyes and draws his hands across his face as he slows his breathing and begins to organize his thoughts ahead of his meditation. "Unfortunately I think the watchman and the servant girl will be lost to time for me, that is at it will be with such trifling matters. Moli will be rewarded by becoming a member of my closest retinue, she will become a trusted aid. Capital reward will follow by her station. Indeed, there is a letter from my mother detailing the issues with my family."
Amris goes into detail regarding the reasoning behind his stepfamily's actions and the fact he must be cautious of their efforts to rid themselves of him before entering his meditation.
Eilwyn lets Amris think only interrupting to him when he raises an issue. "You may be right about the human servants at the Drakenhof but in my experience, I find I often remember faces better than I do names and as you never knew their names there is little to lose. Anyway, they are just servants, and remembering them is hardly that important. I was always forgetting the name of the smelly little dwarf that followed us about in Nuln but Waynn or the other man usually mentioned it at some point so it didn't really notice."
Time: Late Night
Weather: (Spring Breeze) The sky has cleared and moonlight bathes the city.
Mi-Mi laughs as she walks alongside Moli "You know for someone who clearly has the luck of Ranald, you sure are paranoid most of the time. You should have a little more faith in your benefactor he's obviously got your back." She sticks her nose in the air proudly and gives Moli a wink "As for the Burdocks, well they're just males. In fact, I intend to get them to help find us a boat out of the city. They will probably know most of the boat owners along the old dock."
Mi-Mi turns to Moli and her voice takes on a more serious tone "You know you were a bit mean to poor Tarragon kicking him in the danglers like that" she scolds "But I'm sure he will forgive you if you're nice to him. You know he fancies you right, that's why he always acts so tough when you're around."
Moli looks baffled "Y... you think so?" She didn't expect that. She blushes as her mind goes through the last times she met Tarragon. "Naaaah! He's just an asshole." But a little voice somewhere in a corner of her head tells her, it could be true...as they reach the Manann pier, Moli straightens her back and looks around nervously.
Mi-Mi shrugs "If you say so, sister." she replies "But you've been through three husbands already. Perhaps it needs an asshole like Tarragon to put up with you." she adds impishly.
Waynn leads the party past the 'Beloved of Manann Pier' and along the wagonway a short distance further before entering a tall six-storey dockside tavern with a broken wine barrel hanging precariously over the door. He ushers you all through the door into a large taproom with a fireplace at each end and a bar counter directly opposite. The furniture consists mostly of disused wine and beer barrels cut to form seats and tables whilst the walls, doors, and shutters appear to have been subject to numerous shoddy repairs and are clearly subject to regular damage.
Spotting Ehrmann sitting at a corner table Waynn raises a hand in greeting and heads over to join him.
"Thank Sigmar, I was beginning to think you'd got lost." Prawn exclaims when Waynn reaches the table "But why the gaggle of halflings, couldn't you remember what she looked like?"
Waynn looked hurt "Course I remember what she looks like" he replies defensively scanning the group of halflings and suddenly realizing he isn't sure which Moli is. It's that one in the hat with the yeller feather." he finally remembers.
Moli meanwhile has become painfully aware that the rest of the bar is heavily populated by off-duty docker workers wearing the same green and brown caps and clothing worn by the dockers on the 'Beloved of Manann Pier' including Tarragon Burdock.
She spots him almost at the same moment he spots her.
Tarragon immediately puts down his stein and getting somewhat painfully to his feet weaves his way through the tables towards her. "Well! Well! Moli Brandysnap tresspassing on my turf again I see. Brought yer entire family for protection this time have you?" he adds his hands instinctively held over his crotch for protection.
Mi-Mi wags her finger at him "Now don't you start that Tarragon Burdock or I'll let Moli give you another kicking. Besides we need your help."
Tarragon looks intrigued "Since when have the Brandysnaps needed help from a Burdock?" he asks dubiously.
"Since about an hour ago. Fat Matilda has been arrested and we need to get out of Altdorf fast. We need a boat and we need it fast. Can you help?"
Tarragon scratches his head under his cap "Might know someone who can help, but what's in it for me?"
"Depends what you want?" replies Mi-Mi glancing over a Moli to make sure she's following.
Moli blushes as Tarragon looks at her. "Erm, yeah... Sorry 'bout the crotch kicking and all..." she stammers.
"Could you help us here?" The initial reason why she wanted to leave Altdorf stands right before her. But things have changed and now the elven delegation who caught Fat Mathilda is more scary than this halfling, who is afraid to get another one into the balls.
Tarragon tries to look dignified "Yeah! Well, wouldn't have happened if I'd been expecting it you know. You girls are just downright sneaky and underhand. Anyway I may know someone with a boat but where do you want it to take you, do you just need a wherry or a barge?"
Moli just realizes, that she has no clue where on a map the Moot is. "Well, to the Moot. With this whole family here. Do you know someone who could do that?" She's sightly distracted from him still having one hand over his groin. Like if that would help. If she goes for another "kick-off", the next one will hit Bullseye!
Tarragon's eyes widen and his hand leaves it's protective position over his grion to once more scratch his head under his cap. "The Moot?" he mutters "That's right up the Aver beyond Nuln, that is. Yer going to want a barge then. I'll see if anyone I know is heading up that way though you might need to change boats at Nuln. It'll cost though I hope you have the coin?"
"What's going on?" asks Ehrmann homing in on Moli through the crowd.
"Halfling business Prawn. No need to stick your nose in, nothing to do with you." snarls Tarragon.
"Actually Tarragon it is my business. I've been paid to make sure that Moli gets safely to her next appointment and she's already late Are you ready Moli we need to go?"
Tarragon looks confused "Hang on whose going to the Moot then?"
"Yup, coming. In a minute, I gotta say goodbye to my family. Moli says to Ehrmann. She then makes a guesture over her family "Everyone except me. " she says to Tarragon. "How much will the journey cost?"
"It'll take at least thirty days by barge, upriver all the way yer see. Much slower. The usual fare is a shilling a day but I'll see if I can knock it down a bit seeing as there are eight of you."
Moli tries to maintain a poker face and to reflect concern of the costs. Even if she doesn't have to, she doesn't want to start burning money before they even left Altdorf. "I see. Well that would be great!" She replies and flutteres her eyes in a hopefully convincing way. She then turns to her family, gives everyone a hug and says goodbye. She takes Mi-Mi by the side and tells her "I'm counting on you on this. Bring them to the Moot. Save the money! Don't tell anyone how much you have. Put it down you pants on the travel and just have the change ready for the day. Don't trust anyone... Oh and save the money! Don't spend it on unnecessary things! The sisters will need it to have a good start in the Moot. Now come here..." she hugs Mi-Mi and turns to Prawn.
"Let's go." she says with a pitiful voice, and tries not to cry. Her heart feels heavy and she feels that this is a big leap in her life for her.
"I'm an adventurerer now." she says silently to herself, half proud, half fearful.
"Let's do this." a bit louder.Mi-Mi nods seriously to all Moli's advice and assures her that she will make sure they get to the Moot safely and with as much of the money in place as possible. "Make sure you let us know where you end up. Send us a note to The Lodge in Moot Land. There must be one and I'll write back and let you know how we get on." She starts welling up as they hug farewell.
Ehrmann leads Moli out of 'The Broken Barrel' and together with Waynn the three of them head smartly off to 'The Beloved of Manann' pier where Ehrmann helps Moli down into a wherry. Waynn steps down after her and they cast off. Waynn takes up the oars, whilst Ehrmann stands in the stern and skulls the wherry through the water and out into the river.
"Safer and faster on the water" explains Ehrmann as the wherry shoots through one of the arches of the Old Kaiser Bridge and out into the Reikspool.
Time: Midnight
Weather: (Spring Breeze) Moonlight bathes the city.
There was a sudden knock on the door and Eilwyn jumped to her feet. "Let us hope its them, your highness, and that the thief you hired has been successful."
Amris closes his eyes and his mind focuses on the gravity of the situation, if the ring has been acquired his mother's legacy -and that of his family- is safe. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Amris relaxes, and rises and looks over to Eilwyn. "My friend, please can you go and meet our visitors, I am loathe to treat you as an underling but I am best not approaching an outer door in my current predicament!"
Eilwyn makes her way down to the door and slides open the blots before opening it to the darkened alleyway. "Thank Loec you are safe, what took you so long?" but her relief is quickly forgotten when she realizes that there are three faces reflected in the light from the doorway. "Who is this?" she snaps at Waynn "I told you to collect the halfling and bring her here nobody else. Can't you be trusted to follow even simple instructions?"
Waynn looks crestfallen under the elfs glare but Ehrmann answers for him "We just thought it would save time and be much safer if we escorted Moli here by boat. As you can see the streets are dark and it safer on the water."
"Safer for whom?" demands Eilwyn "The idea was that only Waynn, the halfling and I would know where the Prince was hiding. But now you know and how can you be trusted?" She ushers them all into the house and quickly slams the door before bolting it tight.
Moli is once again impressed how shiny those elves are and her mouth stands open, while Eilwyn angryly drags them in. "I.. I am here for Lord Hectorin." She stutters "Is he here?"
Eilwyn stares at the halfling in silence for what seems like a long time but was probably only a second whilst she calmed herself and gathered her thoughts. "Yes! He is." she finally answers "You will find him in the room above overlooking the square."
Amris hears the commotion downstairs and Eilwyn's raised voice (now becoming a common occurrence!) and hopes that the displeasure he hears therein is not due the failure of the mission to acquire the ring...
Moli nods to Eilwyn, and tries to calm herself. She then carefully takes every step upstairs, her heart begins to pound stronger. "Hectorin?" She asks with a nearly whispered voice.
Time: Late Afternoon
Weather: (Bright) A Bright Spring Day
Last Minute Preparations
Having explained the plan to Mi-Mi, Moli heads back towards the elven compound to wait for an opportunity to sneak in and recover the ring. However, as she is crossing the Reikmarkt towards the Elven Craft Market where she and Mi-Mi had gained access to the Elven Compound the last time, she is hailed and looking up she see's Ehrmann Praunheim waving to her and heading in her direction.
Once More Into the Breech
The other gate into the elven compound is located next to the Elven Embassy on the corner of Hexenstrasse and Reikmarktstrasse and is a much more direct route to the Drakenhof. So, Moli reasons that anyone sent to the Drakenhof would almost certainly use that gate to exit the compound. Reikmarkstrasse also happens to be the obvious route that Mi-Mi and 'The Flower Girls' will use to get to the party, so Moli would see them walk past. It's just a bit harder to remain inconspicuous when hanging about on a public street.Lets Get This Party Started
Meanwhile, Mi-Mi and the flower girls arrive at the Drakenhof and are shown in through the kitchen door and into the large dining room where the table has been laid with mountains of pies of fruit and bread accompanied by flagons of cider. The room is bigger than a whole floor of their tenement house and there is more food on the table than the girls have ever seen outside of 'Fat Mathilda's Bakery'. They just stand their with their mouths open staring at it unsure what to do next.Amris thanks the servant girl and enters the dining room to address his guests.
The Long Wait.
In the Elven Compound Moli continues croach in the bushes and watch the entrance of the tunnel into the Goldcrest Manse. It must be a good thirty minutes now and there has been no further sign of movement. Moli begins to wonder if she has missed them leaving. Then just as she was giving up hope the Elven maidservant reappears from the direction of the craft market. This time she has three thuggish looking Tallies (Men) with her and leads them into the Goldcrest Manse. Her sixth sense tells her something isn't going according to plan. Moli is stressed about the change of events and strains her eyes to identify the three humans. Do they look familar? [Perception Test] Moli doesn't recognise any of the three men, but after a few minutes inside all three of them emerge again and head straight for the main exit from the compound where Moli had entered. There is still no sign of the elves sending out any guards and Moli must decide whether to continue waiting or go in anyway. Another age seems to pass in the Elven compound and then three elven servants emerge from the tunnel and rush off through the main compound gate taken by the three men earlier. Moli is getting nervous now as something is clearly not going according to plan and the longer she hangs around inside the compound the more likely she is to get spotted by a curious guard. Moli has some trouble deciding what to do now, because she was expecting to see a rush of elves leaving to head for the Drakenhof. The fact that nothing seems to be happening is worrying and for a while she just couldn't decide what to do and continued to wait in the hope that the elves would eventually do what was expected. But considering how low Sol already sits in the sky, she finally decided that she would have to act now or never. Swiftly she scurries to the entrance of the mansion and peeks into the tunnel. After making sure, nobody is around, she prepares to enter the miraculous building again.The Dragon Takes Flight.
It was soon after the dancing began that the Wood Elf returned with her human companion. The elf was amused to find a party in full swing in the dining room and even allowed herself to be dragged around the dance floor by Poppy as she waited for the Prince to make an appearance. Her companion Waynn still hungry from earlier quickly grabbed a couple of pies from the table, whilst the servant girl made her way upstairs to announce the arrival of the additional guests to Amris. Amris appears in the dining room again with the maid and trying to appear casual approaches Eilwyn as if to greet her to the party. However, his message is far from calm and he confirms that it is best that they leave now as it is highly possible that he will be sought here this very evening and perhaps in short order."If Waynn could wait near the Old Docks having met with Ehrmann, await the halfling known as Moli who will approach Ehrmann, then bring Moli here that would be most appreciated. Please do give Waynn an appropriate amount of cash to give a silver to Ehrmann for his trust and time, and to cover money for his own food whilst he waits. Finally, if you could ask Waynn to avoid drinking strong alcohol whilst he waits, he must be at least near sober to avoid being followed when he retrieves the halfling and brings her here!"
With that final piece of advice Eilwyn takes her leave and heads back through the city to the Drakenhof intent on laying a false trail for the Goldcrest's agents to follow. Amris bolts the door and now alone in the Oldenhaller House he takes the time to sit and write down his most important thoughts and memories of the recent days. He will write the names of the individuals he has spoken to, and the promises he has made, and the information he has been provided with, it has been a very intense time and near enough all events are recorded. Amris will make clear notes in his journal about the next steps he wishes to take should he receive the ring in the coming days. When the above steps are completed, Amris will prepare to meditate, pending a trusted friend to arrive to assist. Eilwyn meanwhile arrives at the Drakenhof only to discover that the halfling party has been disrupted by the unexpected appearance of a bounty hunter looking for the Prince. Fortunately, Eilwyn had got the Prince away before he arrived and all the servants and halflings could tell him was that the Prince had left the house and that they didn;t know where he had gone. Nevertheless, Eilwyn hurried back to the Oldenhaller House with the news that the Goldcrests had hired human agents to supplement their star-gazers.
Second Time Lucky
Moli peers around the corner but the tunnel appears clear and holding her breath she quietly sneaks into the elven mansion for the second time today.
[Risk Test: PASSED]She pauses at the beach and studies the island and the fountain. It seems empty, but she can hear a lot of talking from above her on the balcony where she went last time she was here. It sounds like the elves are having some sort of meeting but she can't understand a word they are saying.
[Risk Test: PASSED]Adrenaline rushes through Moli's veins as she sneaks through the building. This time, she'll try to act more systematic. At first, she searches the first floor completely for doors to other rooms.
[Quick Search Test: PASSED]Moli sneaks around the edge of the island keeping to the shadows cast by the balcony above where she can hear the voices. There are no obvious doors from the garden island under the balcony merely what look like grilled windows perhaps providing light to rooms beyond.
[Risk Test: PASSED] Eventually, she makes her way to the far side of the island where two wide flights of steps lead up to the first and second floors of the manse. Between these two flight of stairs, a third disappears down into what must be another level under the house glowing crystals set into the walls light the way. Above this tunnel leading down below the house Moli can see what looks like a large shrine nestled between the two rising stairs on the first floor. The shrine is dominated by a tall thin statue depicting an elf wearing a tall shell-shaped headdress and wearing a cloak of running water. In its left hand, it holds a trident, in its right, a large hook and its feet stand in a large blue marble bowl of clear water in which golden fish can be seen swimming. But what catches Moli's attention is that hanging around its neck by a silver cord she can see The Dragon Ring of Ascension. Just as the elf had told her the ring was on display for everyone to see. The only problem Moli had was how to reach it without getting her feet wet. Molis stands open-mouthed before the statue, amazed by it's beauty. After a few seconds, she decides to climb the stairs on the right in order to get a closer look at the ring. Hopefully, from there she will find a way to reach the neck of the statue so that she can retrieve it.Having climbed to a point on the stairs almost level with the statues neck Moli reaches out over the edge but even stretching as far as she can her fingers can only just touch the tip of the trident held in its left hand.
A single drip of sweat falls into the pool below her as she stretches over towards the statue. But there's absolutely no chance. Frustrated, Moli turns her head around to search either for a fitting tool to hook the ring or for a better position. Maybe she can junp onto the statue instead.
[Quick Search: FAILED]As Moli withdraws her hand from stretching to reach the statue the cuff of her sleeve catches on one of the prongs of the trident and gets caught. She pulls it annoyed at her clumsiness and as she does so she notices the trident spin in the grip of the statues hand. It seems the trident is a separately crafted item merely held in place by the grip of the hands fingers.
Moli reaches for the trident hoping to use it as a tool to get the necklace with the ring. She feels a bit uncertain about grabbing such a large and heavy weapon whilst leaning precariously over the edge of the stairs, but decides to try it anyway. That's why she's here after all. [Dexterity+Strength Test: FAILED]Moli reaches for the shaft of the trident but even as she grasps it she feels herself losing her balance on the steps and despite everything she tries to do to stop herself she slides gracefully over the edge of the stairs and still grasping the trident slips feet first into the pond at the statue's feet. Her only positive thought was that at least she managed to avoid making a loud splash, and that she still had hold of the trident.
[Dexterity+Strength Test = PASSED] Moli reaches across and carefully hooks the necklace holding the ring. Carefully Moli tries to lift the ring over the statues head. It is a bit fiddly because of the enormous headdress but she prefers to do it this way rather than breaking the necklace. She reasons that Ranald knows where the ring might drop if she did and she doesn't want to waste a lot of time searching for it. Having snagged the chain securely with a tine of the trident Moli carefully lifts it up over the head of the statue and quickly draws in the length of the tridents shaft until she can release it into her hands. The skinny black cat watches her intently it's green eyes fixated by the bright shiny ring dangling from the thin silver necklace. Moli takes the necklace and puts it over her own head, leaving the ring under her shirt. She takes a look around her, to see if there's something else small and valuable, that she might take. [Quick Search: FAILED] Moli scans the area around the shrine in the hope of finding something else of value small enough to add to the reward for all her efforts but discovers nothing obvious. She wonders if the fish are made of real gold but decides that trying to catch one would prove time-consuming without at least a net and somehow she thinks it unlikely that Fat Mathilda would be that interested in buying a golden fish anyway. However, she quickly removes the ring from the necklace and tucks it in her belt pouch. The necklace looks valuable and the elf said nothing about needing the necklace, only the ring. She decides to take the necklace to Fat Matilda and see how much its worth. But first she has to get out of this manse. She sneaks back to the beach sticking to the shadows under the balcony below the room where all the voices are coming from and quickly exits the building. The green-eyed cat shadows her movements but keeps its distance. [Risk Test = PASSED]
Then she swiftly sneaks back to the tunnel, to leave the mansion as soon as possible. [Risk Test = PASSED]
The black cat continues to shadow her movements and Moli feels the hairs on the back of her neck rise up as it stares at her with its big green eyes. Stopping in a shadow, she turns around and tries to shoo the strange cat away, concerned that it might somehow give away her position. But it seems determined to follow her and after expressing her small irritation to the animal, she decides to ignore it and continues on her way and sneaking back towards the gate. Almost all the elves are gathered around the table in the large room on the first floor that Moli had visited last time she was here having some sort of meeting and even the children were absent from the garden area. So, compared to her last visit the exit of the elven manse and compound was simplicity itself and the black cat followed her doggedly all the way to the compound gate and sat and watched her leave. Moli steps through the compound gate and back out into the street and as she makes her way quickly out of sight of the guards her walk turns into something like a half dance, half walk. A little victory dance to celebrate how very happy and proud she is about her latest coup. Moli decides to get rid of the stuff she has stolen first, before heading to Ehrmann. No point tempting fate by hanging onto it longer than necessary. A girl has expenses after all and Fat Mathilda was always a good contact for getting rid of "borrowed" goods. So Moli decides to make a little detour to Matilda's Barkery before she heads to the harbour.
A Trip to the Bakery
31st Day of Pflugzeit, 2512 ICTime: Early Evening
Weather (Sunny) A Warm Sunny Spring Evening
As the shadows lengthen in the streets of Altdorf Moli makes her way happily through the crowds heading back to the Sindelfingen District and the relative safety of the tenements. It was the end of a perfect day and even the daunting prospect of having to meet with Fat Matilda seemed a minor challenge compared to her recent exploits. She makes her way quickly through the poor quarter of town and eventually arrives at Mathilda's Bakery just as Matilda was sweeping the floor in preparation for locking up.
Moli opens her bag and shows Mathilda the necklace, the comb, the hook and the contents of the tailors kit.
While Mathilda looks into her bag, Moli closely observes her face and scans for reactions. Maybe this will already tell her a bit about the value of the items and if Mathilda tries to put her over the barrel.
"You'd better come through the back. Don't want any nosey characters knowing our business do we." She quickly removes her hat and wipes her hands on her apron as she leads Moli into the backroom out of sight of the street.
"Ok! Let's see what you've got then," she says sitting down at a table on a chair that creaks ominously under the strain and gesturing Moli to take a seat opposite.
She watches Mathildas reactions...[Observation Test: PASSED +5 SL]
"This is definitely elven and very high quality." she frowns looking up at Moli as if for some sort of explanation.
"You do realise that the elves weave magic into their work. This could easily be cursed or bound with a tracking spell." Matilda frowns then stares across the table at Moli. "Are you sure you don't want to tell me where you 'Found' it?"
The words are clearly intended to provide Moli with a warning, but she notices Mathilda's greedy fingers continue to play with the chain even though she thinks it could be cursed. "How much were you hoping to get for it?" she asks.
"But!" and she shrugs displaying her open hands to Moli in what she hopes will be accepted as a gesture of openness and honesty "This is a very nice piece and I would love to offer you what it's worth."
She picks it up again and stares at it lovingly weighing it in her hands and wondering at its lightness. "Unfortunately, I don't think there is anyone in Sindleflingen who can give you a fair price. In fact, I suspect this is priceless." She admits letting the chain run through her fingers like liquid metal.
"Supposing I was to offer you sixteen Karl's. That'd be enough for your family to get out of the tenements and rent a nice little homestead in the Moot and spend the rest of your lives selling turnips." Mathilda looks at Moli's face to gauge her interest. "Or perhaps rent a tavern in some nice rural village somewhere away from the stink. Brewing and selling ale and pies?"
"Whadya say?"
"I can't go to some jeweller with this, it will be damn hard to find another buyer..." she thinks to herself. "But 16 Karls sounds far too low for a "priceless" item. Then again Mathilda probably won't have a lot gold to offer anyway...
"You know what, Mathilda?"
"We have been good friends for many years now, and I know this is a very special and valuable item, and I understand that you won't be able to pay me hundrets of Karls for it. But 16 is a bit low. I always liked you and you've been a good friend. So here's my suggestion."
"Make it 20 Karls plus a big favor, that me or my sisters can ask you for in the future. I'm not gonna go any lower. Take it now and make a fortune with it, or I'll take it with me and leave." Moli sits back and folds her arms trying to look like she means what she says.
"That's it then, we done?" Matilda asks looking at the pile of golden coins sadly. "Just don't forget to pay your guild fee's to Herr Cross or you'll be floating in the Reikpool before supper. You know how he gets about not paying your dues."
A Visitor.
Meanwhile, back in the house off the Westernstrasse, Amris was now alone as Eilwyn had wandered off to create distractions for Goldcrests Stargazers near the Drakenhof again and Waynn was yet to return with Moli. So, Amris had been abandoned again, the only difference this time was that this building was practically empty with only the basic furniture scattered about the rooms and the view out of the grimy windows was heavily obscured by the dense clouds of aetheric energies from the nearby human magic colleges. There were no books that Amris could see, so he didn't even have the distraction of reading some crude human prose or ill-conceived scientific text. Even that annoying human girl with her weird nervous bobbing behaviour was missing. He was wandering back and forth aimlessly like a caged lion when suddenly there was a loud knock at the door."I also happen to be a rather successful member of the local merchant guilds, though I say so myself and so I was particularly keen to meet a fellow merchant from the land of our good friends and allies the elves," he bows again sweeping the floor with the feathers of his hat.
"But what about you I always imagine that Elven Merchants have a much more exciting portfolio," He lowers his voice to a more conspiratorial tone "I don't suppose you have access to the more exotic markets such as Lustria or Cathay?"
Then realising that the elf has probably never heard of Seigfreid and wouldn't understand the quote he clears his throat and takes a more inquisitorial tone "Is there something specific you are interested in?" "Architecture perhaps?", "Altdorf has many fine buildings." "Or culture?" "We have some of the finest theatres and playhouses in the Empire." "Or Cuisine?" "There are many fine eateries and many renowned chef's" "Or perhaps more exotic pursuits?"
"I'm sure you could find any number of distractions if you had such a mind." He trails off, not really sure what else an elf might take an interest in. Then changes the subject "The political state?" "Well, quite honestly the political state is not good at the moment. Indeed part of the reason I am here is to try and clarify the facts for Her Serenity the Elector Countess. Unfortunately, the situation in the Reikland is what one might call unstable. Most importantly trade along the Central Reikland Estuary has all but dried up." he pauses and tries to suppress his own amusement at his inadvertent pun. "The unrest along the Teufel valley has reduced the trade in raw metal and coal from the Grey Mountains to little more than a trickle and the forges of Nuln are being forced to seek alternative sources mostly from the dwarves who as always are proving both stubborn and greedy in their expectations. They seem able to smell our desperation and are determined to use it to maximise the flow of our gold into their pockets" Not only that but the dwarves as always refuse to deal with honest traders like myself and insist not only on solid gold in advance but in delivering their own shipments on foot because they don't trust our wooden boats to travel safely over water." It is clear that Oldenhaller feels strongly about this subject and he has to bite his tongue not to bore the elf even more with his personal troubles. "Also," he adds pointing a finger to emphasise his words "the gossip in the taverns is less than inspiring and I fear that the situation may get much worse before it gets better. In truth, this is not the best time to visit the Reikland."
There is a pause in the conversation and Oldenhaller stands grinning for a while and then glances around the room. "You obviously travel light. Did you not have any furniture or luggage?" he finally asks.
Best Day Ever
31st Day of Pflugzeit, 2512 IC;Time: Evening;
Weather (Hot) A hot sultry evening.
With the twenty gold crowns weighing heavily in her purse Moli heads across the river to the Werksviertel District to look for some leather armour. Moli knows the place to go and is soon standing in Kurtens Lederei just off the Hammerstrasse. They had everything she wanted except the Leather Jack and the fact that she had hard cash meant she was able to drive the prices down quite heavily. After some hard bargaining the deals on the table are as follows.
Moli ponders the deals she has made and decides what she really wants to buy. Moli has heard a lot about heros wearing mail coats and since she will now go on an adventure, she assumes, She needs one, too. But as soon as she put on the heavy piece of armour, she realizes, that's a bad idea. Also the boiled leather plate seems to be too clunky.
- Leather Skull Cap (Enc 10) price 6/4d
- Leather Leggings (Enc 20) 7/-
- Mail Shirt* (Enc 60) 32/-
* 10% penalty to stealth when worn.- Boiled Leather Breastplate (Enc 50) 10/11d
In the end, Moli decides to limit her purchases to the Leggings and the cap.
Moli hands over 13/4d and heads straight to the meeting with the boatman.
- Leather Skull Cap (Enc 10) price 6/4d
- Leather Leggings (Enc 20) 7/-
The Missing Boatman
31st Day of Pflugzeit, 2512 ICTime: Late Evening
Weather: (Hot) A hot sultry evening.
Moli makes her way back across the Eastender Bridge over the Talabec River and then turns south down the wagonway to The Beloved of Manaan Pier where Praunheim had told her he kept his boat. He wasn't there and after wandering about a while in case he was out on the river delivering a customer she began to worry realising that he was her only link back to the elven prince. Perhaps someone on the dock would know where he had gone. Moli looks around to find a stevedore or someone who works here, who maybe has a minute of time to help her. Maybe someone who is having a break at the moment. Moli begins to walk back along pier towards the wagon way again hoping to spot the pier master or some other local character who might know where to find Ehrmann Praunheim. Unfortunately, who she bumped into instead was probably the person she least wanted to meet this far from her home territory and without any back-up as out of the crowd emerged three of the Burdock gang distinctive in their green and brown caps led by no other than Taragon Burdock in person.
he puffs out his chest and hooks his thumbs in his pockets striking what he imagines is a swagging pose.
"Where are yer little sisters Moli?"
"'Had a fallin out 'ave yer. Arguing over who gets to sniff that elf's arse the longest no doubt. Was that it?"
"What you doing here on our pier then?"
Moli tries to execute a kick to remember... [Attack Roll: Weapon Skill - Aimed Kick - Successful]
Moli feels guilty for making the Burdocks angry, but she really couldn't risk to be robbed right now. The sisters have to be warned. At last, she felt her streak of luck this day was going to end. On the other hand, she managed to escape, which is good. Moli runs straight home to warn her sisters and to tell them they're gonna leave town.
The Brandysnap's On The Run
31st Day of Pflugzeit, 2512 ICTime: Dusk
Weather: (Hot) The end of a hot spring day.
Moli hurries back to the tenement district and makes her way quickly up the stairs to the apartment she shares with her family bursting through the door breathless and excited to find the room empty. She quickly knocks on the door of the small private bedroom her parents share, little more than a cupboard really and her current father Fartomeous answers scratching his head and looking sleepy.
We thought you would be ages yet, what happened did they run out of food?"
"We've lived in the same street for years and I know their parents. Have you done something to upset them again?"
"Look." Moli makes sure, that noone is behind the door to come in right in this moment, then shows her mother the money and quickly puts it back. "I didn't exaggerate. We should use this to get the hell out of this."
"Farti!" she says sharply kicking Moli's father awake again "Come and look at what Moli's brought home."
Moli's parents begin to pack. Moli is a bit desperate over their slowlyness, though she already expected this to be a challenge. "We should meet the sisters at the feast, gather them and then you take them to the moot. There's nothing so important here that we need to take with us, is it?"
The light is fading fast as Moli and her parents make their way southwards out of the tenement district and across the Sigmar Bridge towards the Reikmarkt and Reikmarktstrasse. The streets are beginning to come alive with the nighttime activities of the city as lamplighters go about their business and the people make their way towards their after-dark entertainment or work. Moli's senses are on high alert aware that they are not only approaching the elven quarter but that Sigmar's Bridge is the main thoroughfare out of the poor quarter into the richer area of the city and thus crowded with thieves and pickpockets heading out to begin their own night time business. Moli leads her parents to the Drakenhof. It's a dangerous decision, but she doesn't know what else she could do. When they arrive, she'll first try to observe the building for a minute, in case there's a fight going on inside. If it's quiet, she tells her parents to wait at the corner and enters, in search for her sisters.
Moli makes her way south along the Reikmarktstrasse that runs alongside the elven compound towards the Ulthuan Embassy. Despite the growing darkness, the elven compound seems brightly lit and more active than it was even during the day when she was wandering around inside it. She can hear shouts and commands and the rush of feet back and forth beyond the compound wall. Moli and her parents reach the junction with Hexenstrasse where the Ulthuan Embassy is located and can now see a large number of elven guards gathered at the main gate to the compound and more surprisingly a whole squad of Imperial soldiers from the city militia formed up in tight ranks along the Hexenstrasse.
Moli keeps her head down and reminds herself that nobody knows what she looks like, she doubts if even the guards who allowed her into the compound to search for her cat would be able to recognise one halfling from another in the darkness of the street. Nevertheless, she hurries past, trying to avoid catching anyone's eye as she does. She decides to avoid the Hexenstrasse and instead turns off into one of the side streets leading to the Drakenhof further down Reikmarktstrasse. As soon as she does so things become quieter, it appears that these rich long-legged nobility don't like walking the streets at night and the roads are pretty deserted once off the main thoroughfares. Only the gatekeepers pay them any attention as they walk past one mansion after another her mother staring open-mouthed at the size of them and the beauty of some of their gardens. Eventually, they turn into the street where Moli remembers the Drakenhof being located. As they approach the gate Moli can hear the sound of music drifting out onto the street and recognises it as one of Dandelion and Poppy's favourite dancing tunes.
"Did you get it?"
"The elf's gone. Well both of them went actually."
"Then the female one came back but didn't stay long after we told her about the Bounty Hunter."
"He came looking for the Elf but he'd already gone, so he went too, then the elf came back, and then she went again."
"What does it look like?"
"Have you given it too the elf or do you still have it?"
"Why are Mum and Dad here?"
"I went to the compond again and yes...I got the ring! But it had an elven necklace on it so I sold the necklace to Fat Mathilda! Then I wanted to meet the prawn man at the docks but the Burdocks tried to rob me! I kicked this ugly asshat Tarragon into the nuts so hard, they came out of his mouth!" she grinned.
"I escaped but the Burdocks where furious and threatened to come to our house!" "So I ran there and got mom and pops together with some stuff. I told them we should leave town, you know I got like 15 crowns and more with me. The Burdocks would have robbed me, you know, Mi-Mi? I had to get ahead of them." "Are the flower girls still inside?" "Let's gather them and leave this City, actually I'm done with it so far. And with the money the familiy can start off new in the moot. Can you lead them there? I wanna search the elf, I promised to bring him his ring..."
A Chance Meeting
31st Day of Pflugzeit, 2512 ICTime: Night
Weather: (Spring Breeze) Darkness has fallen a breeze has picked up. Darkness has fallen by the time the halflings have accumulated everything they want to take with them and are ready to leave the Drakenhof. Moli and Mi-Mi herd them out of the house and into the courtyard heading for the main gate only to discover that the stranger who had accompanied the female elf earlier has returned and is talking anxiously to the gatekeeper.
Just before Waynn is about to lose the last of his patience, scream, and go nuts, she turns to him. She pulls her vest smooth, looks up to him and says: "Fine. Lead the way, I'll come with you!"
"Lead On Slim. We're right behind you" she says confidently to Waynn.
He was not exaggerating and as the party nears the Ulthuan Embassy there is a sharp shout of command and a whole squad of Imperial Halberdiers march noisily out of Hexenstrasse onto the street ahead of you bearing lanterns and halberds and wearing the blue and red uniforms of the city guard. But what catches Moli's eye as they wheel into the street ahead and head off towards the bridge is that buried in their midst is a group of tall sinister-looking elves wearing dark blue-black hooded cloaks lined and decorated with silver each holding a strange sphere ahead of them that glows pale blue in the gathering darkness. Inevitably the appearance of the squad of soldiers from the Hexenstrasse creates even more excitement amongst Moli's sisters. This adventure just keeps getting better and better. The flower girls automatically add themselves to the end of the column and begin marching resolutely down the street high-stepping and twirling as Dandelion strikes up a halfling marching tune on her fiddle. The column marches down the Reikmarktstrasse at a steady pace the blue glow from the strange spheres carried by the elves casting giant shadows on the white walls of the Elven Compound to their left. Waynn and the halflings march along behind until suddenly there is a disturbance amongst the elves in the center of the column. One of them looks back and appears to be checking their sphere and consulting with the others. It calls out to the officer in charge and the column suddenly halts the flower girls nearly marching into the back of the rearmost soldiers. With the column now halted and blocking the street the three elves move rapidly back down the column heading for the rear and the halflings, still comparing what they can see with something in the spheres they carry.
Waynn has spent over a year as a companion to an elf, he thought he knew elves but this was like no elf he had ever met. This was exciting. She smelt of spice, she reminded him of spice wine, rich, hot, intoxicating. Eilwyn always smelt of flowers, jasmine, honeysuckle and Eilwyn never looked at him like that.
She released the necklace and let it drop back to the savage's chest wondering where it might have acquired such a trinket. If she had more time it might be interesting to find out but there were more pressing matters to deal with "It's not the necklace we seek," she admitted "let us press on." she announced to her companions. Before turning to the human escort leader and passing on her findings.
Waynn was heartbroken as the elf stalked off her cloak billowing behind her. The officer looked at him and shrugged. Before ordering the cordon lifted and the men back into their ranks. The column marched off again towards the Sigmar Bridge leaving Waynn abandoned in the street with Poppy still holding onto his leg.
Moli nods to Waynn "Please lead the way, but maybe make sure we don't bump into the elves again, even though you might want to."
"I shouted at her 'No you can't take him' 'an she didn't. Reckon she was scared of me." she quickly takes station alongside Waynn and assumes her new role as protector "Do you think that means I'm a hero now like you?" The party forms up again behind the boatman and heads off at a fast pace towards the bridge. The halflings almost having to run to keep up with the long-legged boatman.
Moli follows the group and looks back sometimes to check if they're followed. "That elf was quite disturbing, wasn't she?" Moli says staring up at Waynne as he strides along. "I think she must be some kind of Katyan witch or something! Ever heard of her before?" She adds deliberately not making it clear if she meant Katya or the elf...
The column makes its way into the Reikmarkt and continues to head towards the Sigmar Bridge with Waynn still hurrying to catch up and the Brandysnaps strung out like a daisy chain behind him struggling to match the pace on their shorter legs.
Then as the column reaches the bridge it suddenly stops again and Waynn quickly closes up behind them and begins working his way around their flank trying to get another sight of the exciting elf girl.
It looks as though the column has met with another party coming across the bridge from the direction of the tenement district. There are three humans in this group and they are clearly arguing with the elves in the middle of the column.
The Brandysnaps finally manage to catch up and cluster around Waynn on the edge of the column trying to work out what's going on.
The mention of halflings grabs the Brandysnaps attention and they try to peer between the long-legs to see who it is that the Bounty Hunters have captured.
Talisaati frowned "I think we have better ways to determine the truth human." she snapped. Then beckoning to the officer in charge of the escort she ordered the column to retrace its steps. "We shall return to the embassy hand in the sacred relic for safe keeping and I shall seek instructions."
The column turned about and marched off back the way it had come with Fat Matilda and Little Bertie still firmly held by the three bounty hunters. Waynn watched them go and then reluctantly gathered the Brandysnaps together again and headed off across the Sigmar Bridge.
On reaching the opposite bank he turned left heading towards the Old Docks. Moli suddenly realises that they are heading back towards The Beloved of Mannan Pier where she had her confrontation with Tarragon Burdock.
While following Waynn to the pier, Molis thoughts still circle around Fat Mathilda. "Sacred relic." she thinks. "That's not good. They will interrogate her with their shiny magic and Mathilda will tell them everything! Poor Mathilda!"
"Most likely they're busy kicking the door of our flat in at the moment." she thinks. "I guess they won't expect us here again so soon."
Worrying About Waynn.
31st Day of Pflugzeit, 2512 ICTime: Night
Weather: (Spring Breeze) Darkness has fallen a breeze has picked up.
"Also you say that Moli has agreed to recover The Dragon Ring of Ascension from the Goldcrest Manse and that you promised her a substantial reward. Did you not remember what that reward would be, she could ask for anything if you forget what it was?"
Eilwyn also makes a few other suggestions. "You should probably tell me about your stepfather and what you know of his plot to seize the throne of Caledor and steal your inheritance. It's doubtful that you would erase such vital information from your memory but then again as it is traumatic your mind may seek to protect you from it and if you forget you were being hunted by the Goldcrests it could be dangerous. It's probably best to cautious.""Do you still have the letter from Princess Imryth?"
Eilwyn Asks"It might be helpful as a reminder of your situation and I'll make a note of your promise to make Moli your personal servant."
The Broken Barrel
31st Day of Pflugzeit, 2512 ICTime: Late Night
Weather: (Spring Breeze) The sky has cleared and moonlight bathes the city.
Waynn leads the party quickly along the wagonway past the Isle of Eels and the Old Kaiser Bridge towards the Beloved of Manann Pier. Poppy trips along beside Waynn happy in her new role as heroic protector of the long-leg and pleased with her self-obtained protection fee.
"I'm an adventurerer now." she says silently to herself, half proud, half fearful.
"Let's do this." a bit louder.
Moli isn't so sure she agrees, sitting on the thwart in the middle of the boat she feels even smaller and more vulnerable than usual, even the streets and wharves tower above her now and she is painfully aware that she has no idea how to swim.
Ehrmann steers the boat downstream picking up speed with a stronger current. The Ilse of Eels skims by on the left its shoreline dotted with beacons lit by the locals to warn them of nosey river patrol boats.
Fork Wharf passes on the right the chains used to hang corrupt watchmen thankfully hanging empty tonight.
They shoot under the 'Three Toll Bridge' and past the strange dome-shaped tower of The Stienes Observatory, and finally, Ehrmann steers the boat in towards the shore and hooks up to the chains close to The Kaiser Franz Bridge
Ehrmann climbs up and helps Moli out of the boat before securing it and the three of them then head north into Westenstrasse and the grim facade of The Amethyst College. For a moment Moli thought they were actually heading there but just as they drew level with its darkened walls, Waynn ducked down a narrow side street on the right and led them to an imposing three-story house.
Waynn knocks loudly on the door.
A Harsh Greeting
31st Day of Pflugzeit, 2512 ICTime: Midnight
Weather: (Spring Breeze) Moonlight bathes the city.
SESSION CLOSED
The story will continue in Session 2: The Dragon Ring Returned Note: That from this point onwards all economic rules will be applied and everything must be paid for.Rewards Granted
Missions/Quests Completed
Recovery of The Dragon Ring
Escape Detection by the Goldcrests
Rescue of the Brandysnap Family
Escape Detection by the Goldcrests
Rescue of the Brandysnap Family
Character(s) interacted with
Created Content
Amris Emberfell
Molrella Brandysnap
Report Date
31 Jan 2022
Primary Location
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