In which the group reaches the mighty city of Altdorf, capital of the Empire, having overcome an ambush by the corrupted spawn of chaos. Click Read more to expand this entry. WEEKEND AT KASTOR'S Before leaving the scene of the ambush, Cornelius made an attempt to purchase the keep of the corpse of Kastor Lieberung, which looked exactly like him. The superstitious Roadwarden's objections were overcome by their Sargeant, Altus, who was more interested in the solid nature of the coin than the abstract disfavor of Morr. The deal fell through however as the logistics of keeping a corpse semi-frozen for the 5 or so days it would take to reach Bogenhafen, in addition to the costs of bribing other Imperial representatives, became clear to the ambitious Wizard. With the mutant corpse fire blazing, the corpses were loaded onto the Four Seasons coach with the roadwardens horse's attached. Similarly, no attempt was made to find the lost horses from the Red Line coach the heroes rode in - instead, the roadwardens lashed their horses to the frame. When the party reached the Silver Spokes Inn, the final stop on the way to Altdorf, Hugo and Drake together with the Roadwardens began to bury the corpses of the slain. Cornelius could only watch himself by buried. Baroon said a prayer to Sigmar over the corpses. With that business attended to they headed inside, where Dronk and Cornelius were already well into their cups. Lady Isolde's entourage had made their war upstairs, and there was no-one but themselves in the common room, other than the bartender and a curious physician who claimed he could cure madness - through the application of red-hot irons to the affected persons head. None of the heroes were mad enough to try. IN THE CITY In the morning, following a light meal, the party, accompanied by Lady Isolde and the other passengers, reached the city of Altdorf. The first city of the Empire, Altdorf sits at the turgid confluence of the river Reik and the river Talabec, where the slow, wide waters of the two rivers flow in channels between broad mud flats. The docks lining the downstream fringe of the city known as the Reiksport are the last navigable point on the Reik for seafaring vessels, and the city attracts sailors and merchants from the furthest reaches of the world. Foreign traders, adventurers and fortune seekers and the presence of the Imperial court ensure that the streets of Altdorf bustle with diverse activity; Merchants peddle their wares including various sundries, weaponry, “rat on a stick” snacks, apothecary leeches, and anything else that will fetch a price, all supporting a flourishing economy. The party quickly disembarked in the Konigsplatz, surrounded by the sights and smells of the greatest city of the Empire. Immediately, they were mobbed by a horde of touts, each offering their services in leading the group to the 'best taverns in town'. During the chaos a thief attempted to steal Dronk's backpack but abandoned the attempt quickly when realizing the Dwarf's strength (and distinct sobriety). Two strange men approached Cornelius. One seemed to be watching the crowd, while the other pulled on his nose while rubbing the inside of his left ear with his right small finger. He looked confused when Cornelius asked him what he was doing, then seemed to recognize someone else and went inside a building. Baroon and Drake headed to the Cathedral of Sigmar, seat of the Cult in the Empire, to meet their respective patrons. Aldred Fellblade, a reknowned knight of the Firey Heart, was being asked to head north with a wizardling to purge some chaos cultists in Nordsca. As a result, his squire Drake was to take new orders, accompyaning the Initiate of Sigmar in any and all duties until given new orders. Baroon himself received instruction directly from his Lictor and was instructed to travel to the town of Bogenhafen, to the south-west. Overnight, Drake undertook the Rite of Purification, and was scourged with whip, flame and stone before being bathed in oil and welcomed into the Order of the Firey Knight as a full Initiate. ENTER THE BOATMAN Meanwhile, the rest of the part awaiting the return of their companions at the Golden Horn - a rather expensive establishment near the better part of town. In the morning, they rejoined and went on a shopping trip, gathering provisions and other needed items. It was then that they met Josef Albresct, an old acquaintance of Hugo's from his younger days. Josef, an independent merchant and operator of the Berebeli, a river barge, had lost his crew to a drunken rampage and was looking to hire some on for a journey to Bogenhafen to sell some wine for a tidy profit. The heroes were intrigued and joined Josef at the Boatman Inn where they proceeded to drink and talk loudly. During the evening and night, some well-dressed and obnxiously drunk nobles, accompanied by 4 dour-looking and very sober and well armed bodyguards, entered the Boatman. They proceeded to start a game of drinking as much as possible then throwing it up, and the closest unfortunate happened to be Dronk, who was covered head to toe (and beard) in a thick coating of foul-smelling vomit. The nobles laughed hysterically at this and were preparing to do it again when Drake arose to stop them, attempting to reason with them. At this, a dark figure sitting alone in the corner stood up and began threatening Drake. After a brief exchange, Drake slapped the man on the side of his face with his greatsword, causing blood to bubble from his ears. In a furious rage the man struck Drake directly in the nose with his metal-bound bar, then tried to follow-up with a punch that missed. THE BAR FIGHT Hugo stood and tried to batter the thug attacking Drake but instead demolished the table stool, collapsing it under Dronk, who ran forward and grabbed one of the nobles. The bodyguards swung menacingly and produced their weapons. One grabbed at Dronk who avoided their clutches while the other tried to pull the nobleman from their grasp. Meanwhile, Hugo had recovered and again swung at Max, the local thug, and broke his leg clean in two, with the bone jutting out just above the knee. After a shriek of pain the thug collapsed unconcious, and the bar erupted in cheers. It turns out Max had few friends, but it was suggested the heroes leave through the back exit. Meanwhile, Dronk was still holding the nobleman who had puked all over him hostage. A standoff ensued, until Dronk suggested the nobles pay if they wanted to keep their lives. Dozens of gold crowns were thrown contemtpuously at the foul-smelling dwarf, and he eventually released the noble, kicking him as he did so. The nobles and their bodyguards scurried out of the building after that, and the corpse of Max was quickly disposed of by the other bar patrons. It would be as if Max Ernst had never existed. Leaving the Boatman Inn, the group followed Josef to his river barge the Berebeli so they could continue drinking into the wee hours of the night...they had a distinct sense of being followed, but the trip to the barge was uneventful. The stars above seemed unfamiliar, even to Cornelius - there was something strange in their movement, or perhaps it was all the strong wine..
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The WizardIn time, you will come to know the tragic extent of my failings... Past Journals
September 2017
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