Stream of Corruption


Yesterday on the road between Angbar and Gratenfels.

Early in the morning the silence of the forest was disturbed by the sound of a richly decorated carriage riding like Tzeentch was after it himself. Inside the carriage Thorn Grabutin was talking anxious to both of his sons, Knut and Thorn. Ela, Thorn youngest child, was still sleeping and hadn’t waken up from the disturbance outside.

“What do you think they wanted?” Knut the youngest brother said anxious.
“I think they where robbers.” His father replied while he looked out his window, and saw the men where still on there tail. “But don’t worry our coachmen has bought the fastest horses in the whole Empire.”
“Father you really believe that our carriage can go faster...”

Knut stopped his sentence when he heard the coachmen, scream out in pain. A second later they heard a thump and the carriage left wheel was send flying into the air causing the carriage to crash sidewards on the road. The sound of the breaking of wood and glass where lost in the horrific screams of the dieing horses.
Ela was the first to crawl out of the carriage, confused about what had hapened and covered with bruises and cuts. She heard the mumbling of her older brother inside but before she could understand the words he spoke she was grabbed by two rough hands and dragged away from the carriage. She witnessed how three men armed with crossbows walked over to the carriage and shot her brothers and father at point blank before her throat was cut by the man whom had dragged her away from the carriage. A minute later the men had disappeared without further plundering and the silence inside forest returned.



Today
Klaus’s glanced at the door of The Riverfiend when he suddenly heard the sound from inside as a dwarf with a long brown beard opened it and walked in. The name of the inn was a little upsetting, it was painted on the wall in large red letters. But as far as Klaus could tell the inn was harmless as a newborn chick. The priest had arived in Ferdok early in the afternoon and had been sitting across the inn againsed a broken cart for several hours now, most of the villagers had ignored his presence as they did with any other beggar. But some had given him some coins when they had passed him.

Inside the Riverfiend it was very crowded, on several tables there where men playing with dice and carts. The room was filled with sounds of laughter and the smell of beer, smoke and the sweat of 30 men. Nex to the bar there where several men having a knife throwing contest.
The only chair that was still unoccupied was on a table next to the door on the right, there was already a man sitting on the table. Skot knew by seeing the sabre and the way he was sitting that he was a born fighter, but Skot didn’t mind and sat himself down next to the man whom gave him a polite bow with his head and then continued eating his meal.
The dwarf hadn’t had the chance to relax when a bony barmaid aproached him. And he noticedfrom the look in her eyes that she was not used in serving his kind in the inn.
“Wha-at can i ge-et you master Zwergy?” She asked with a stutter while she tried not to stare at his beard and his dwarf nose.

Kasper whom was siting next to the dwarf supressed a smile and continued eating his meal. He had difficulty understanding why people always feared that what they did not know.

Ooc: What hapened yesterday your characters don’t know, it’s yust the intro to set the mood of SOC.
Klaus is still outside and Skot and Kasper are sitting next to eachother in the inn (ofcorse they do not know eachother yet.) Kasper’s horse is in the stables behind the inn.

Kaspar put his cutlery down and wiped his mouth before turning to the newcomer.

"Well met, Herr Dwarf," he greeted him. "My name is Kaspar, Kaspar Fortannascere." Turning to the barmaid, he said "Another ale for me, if you would be so kind. And yourself," to the dwarf again, "can I get you anything?"

Klaus was thirsty. He hated the Riverfiend (always too crowded to his liking), but he just needed to buy an ale and get out. He would certainly not sit with all those smelly people when he could find his own quiet spot in the woods near the village.

When he entered, he noted the way many men in the tavern scowled at him. "The Grey Vagabond", they called him around here. People in this village did not seem to like strangers and beggars, and Klaus happened to belong to both categories. But he could not care less about what other people thought of him.

"You there," he called to a barmaid, none too politely —his social skills were virtually non-existent. "Get me an ale. Quickly."
The barmaid whirled, probably with the intent to shoot him a cold glare, but she decided not to do it when she saw who he was. People did not only dislike beggars and strangers; they also feared them, almost unconsciously.

"You can pay, can't you?" the barmaid asked suspiciously.
"Yar," Klaus answered with a nod, taking a small silver coin from his pocket and showing it to her. He was annoyed, but could hardly blame her for her caution. "And make it quick," he added, perhaps a bit more harshly than he intended.

"A-I'm fine how it is thank you."

Even after all these years, I can't help but try to say ale He wrapped his pelt around with his right hand.

Skot Sunnur turned to the man on his right, Kaspar was it? "Skot Sannur," and with that he brought his left hand out onto the table from where he was keeping it under.

"Well met Kaspar."

If it was possible the eyes of the girl would've became even largerwhen she saw that the dwarfs hand was missing, but instead she quickly turned around and left the table to get Kasper his ale. In her quick retreat she bumbed hard againsed the grey vagabond, whom was standing in the middle of the room waiting for his ale, causing her to drop her plate full of empty classes.
The sudden noise of breaking glass silenced the entire inn and all eyes turned to the barmaid and Klaus. For a few moments the silence was deafening and Klaus felt very uncomfortable. But then a drunken laughter of gamblers, sailors and peasants filled the inn and everybody turned back around and picked up their games and conversations.

Ooc: The barmaid is now cleaning up the mess on the ground and klaus can see tears run down her face.

It was an awkward moment. Klaus Bürgin knew the barmaid's shame and could guess her resentment, but he found himself stuck between his bluntness and his duty to help people in need. No one needed any charisma to save a village from a rampaging troll, to give a loaf of bread to a starving child or to show the way to a lost traveler, but comforting a weeping woman was quite another thing —and it was a thing Klaus was virtually incapable to do. Yet he had to do it: his oath commanded it.

Trying to soften his voice, he said:
"I'm sorry m'lady, it's my fault. Take this money, it should cover the cost of the drinks and the broken glasses, plus a compensation for your trouble."

He discreetly handed the woman eight silver marks, but made sure no one saw him, for such wealth coming from the pocket of a beggar would arouse suspicion.

Kaspar nodded to Skot and, after a moment looking at his arm, brought his own hand up and shook it. At this point there was the clatter of the barmaid dropping her tray. Kaspar turned to look at the girl and the man in grey, and as the noise rose again he pushed his chair back and stood up.

"Just a moment," he said to Skot as he made his way over to the girl who was picking up the shards of glass. Bending over, he began to help, catching Klaus's eye as he did so.

The barmaid took the money Klaus gave her with a faint smile, and preceded cleaning the pieces of glass. He could tell she wasn’t used to such kindness and certainly not form a stranger. At the same moment Kasper had kneeled down to help pick up the pieces of broken glass. It only took several seconds and when they where finished she quickly left the room her cheeks as red as tomatoes.

Kaspar straightened up as the barmaid moved away, again meeting the newcomer's eye. He gave a courteous nod before moving back to where the dwarf was sitting and picking up his cutlery again.

"Sorry about that," he said to Skot. "Well, Herr Sannur, what brings you to Ferdok?"

Klaus was tempted to get out of the tavern, but he decided to wait for his ale after all: he was thirsty. There was no place to sit, so he just leaned against a wall and listened to the conversations. He knew eavesdropping was a bad habit, but his adventurous way of life had instilled in him a constant vigilance. Though he was discreet to the point of being almost invisible, almost nothing escaped him.

At the nearest table, the man who had just helped the waitress to clean up the mess was getting acquainted with some one-handed Dwarf...

The human was still trying to talk with Skot.

It wasn't that Skot didn't like the man, he saw that he atleast pretended to be a good person. Helping the barmaid was competely uncessary, yet he did it.

It was just that Skot was a Dwarf, and a Mercenary Dwarf at that. When your a Bounty Hunter you never know who you can be friends with one day, and who you will be hunting down the next.

He didn't want a replay of what happened during the start of his carrer. He felt the scar on his face as he thought some more.

It was clear enough that the boy was a mercenary. Skot had been at it probably longer then the boy had been alive.

Still, against all his better judgement, the Dwarf found him self talking. Besides, speaking couldn't kill.

"Looking for a job Herr, sorry what was it, Fortescere?"

It's just a little talk, nothing more

Shamelessly listening to the conversations in the tavern, Klaus Bürgin overheard a few words from two men who were leaving... something about a traveling family getting killed and robbed. The men left quickly, before Klaus had the time to hear much, but his natural curiosity encouraged him to inquire further with his natural discretion. Besides, dealing with that kind of trouble wherever there was no solid law enforcement (like in this village) was his duty as a monk of the Grey Brotherhood.

Trying to look casual, he asked to the barmaid:
"Are the roads safe around here? I've been to the village of Keinhelm, some fifteen leagues north of here, and there were quite a lot of brigands."


OOC: LordKjarl has PM'd me about this conversation I overheard.

"They're as safe as any other road in the empire." The barmaid gave an ale to klaus. "But me mother said there was a murder on the road between Angbar and Gratenfels yesterday or the day before that."

"but if you'll excuse me i have to get back to work" She Walked away before Klaus could ask something else.

Klaus raised an eyebrow. Now this was interesting. It would need to be investigated further. There must surely be in this village some kind of militia sergeant who knew more about this kind of event...

The grey-cloaked monk decided to stay inside the tavern and hopefully get a seat. He needed to hear more about all of this...

Lupin cheered as the knife flew smacked into the target, the men at the table around him raising their steins to the man who had made the throw. Stepping back with a theatrical bow, he let the next human in line take the stand – clearly on the other side of several pints of ale, the man went horribly wide, nearly taking off the barman’s head. This, if anything, gathered even more cheers: the contest’s audience were sailing south of sober as fast as they could. Not Lupin, though. Oh no. Lupin wasn’t drunk. He might have had a couple of beers, but that was normal… he was definitely keeping his wits about him tonight.

Drinking from his tankard, trying not to splash his face from the over-large container, he cast his eyes around the room. There were the heroes in the corner, the two who had helped the serving-wench clean up the mess she made: tough-looking cullies, the both of them. The dwarf with the missing hand looked particularly mean.

He looked again as he caught the flash of gold – trying not to look like he was staring, he glanced repeatedly at the foreign-looking man’s hand. Could be polished brass, but he’d developed an eye for the real stuff, and the way the ring twinkled suggested it was a lot more valuable than any of the tinker’s jewellery the rest of the peasants in the inn had on them. Even if it was only gold leaf, it would still be worth a shiny penny.

He shook his head. The man was armed. It didn’t pay to mess with armed men. Trying to keep his eyes from being drawn back to the ring, he scanned the common hall with a nonchalant air for the man Kruper had told him about – he guessed he was looking for a big, fat man, if rich merchants these days were playing fair. Funny thing was, he seemed to be having trouble focussing…

He definitely wasn’t drunk. Definitely.

"No it's Fortannascere, Kaspar Fortannascere but please yust call me Kasper." The mercenary answered with a smile. "And I'm indeed looking for work, I was told there was a boat captain looking for some hired swords to gaurd some wealthy passengers on his ship, the pay isn't alot but it is something. But the captain is still on his ship, he'll be here soon."


Lupin had guessed wrong, the merchant was a thin man with a small black beard, he looked like a man whom always got what he wanted. The nasty looking short sword at the merchants belt looked old and used but dangeres, but that meant that the merchant was probably to greedy to hire mercenary's and that meant more money! The barman was nagotiating with him about for bottles of wine and brandy, and by the looks of it the merchant will have the best deal.

Klaus found himself a stool by the bar a sat down to sip from his ale and listen to conversations that people are having.


ooc: I've replied in Thragka's place.

Skot took another puff on his pipe. A chance for some real gold sounded good, but the bodyguarding not so much. And then there was the ship.

Skot had the same fear for boats as most other dwarfs did. His was almost doubled by the fact that he was a ranger, well merceneary now.

Still, it was going to be hard to let up some real gold.

"I'll talk to this man with you if thats all right, Kaspar."

Hiccuping, Lupin swung himself down from his stool – it was quite a long way to the ground for him. Steadying himself, he set off at a swift scamper towards the bar, curly-haired head bobbing at about waist height through the crowd that filled the Riverfiend. Brushing past an ugly-looking cove in a grey cloak, he looked up at where the merchant and the innkeeper were haggling. Time to go to work.

“’Scuse me, mister,” he said in his best innocent voice, tugging at the merchant’s tunic. “There’s some folks outside say they want to see you, sir.”

The merchant raised an eyebrow as he looked down to Lupin. "And whom would that be little man?" The man asked, his blue eyes focussed on those of Lupin.

"I dunno, mister. They just told me to ask you." Lupin shifted on one foot. "One of them had red hair."

"Red hair?" The man asked as he rubbed his beard with his hand. "I don't know anyone with red hair but I might as well go and have a look." turning back to the bartender he said, "we'll talk later Fred." And he turned and walked towards the door.

Lupin waited until the door had closed behind the merchant, then turned to the innkeeper. When he spoke, his Nulner accent had suddenly returned.
"You know you're getting shafted, right mister?"
"What?"
Lupin jerked his head towards where the merchant had just left. "Wanted to get him out of the way. He's diddling you. I saw the vintner's marks on his barrels - they're off the Gravid Fox. You know, the barge that ran aground a couple of weeks ago? Wreckers stole the cargo. He hasn't paid a penny for 'em."

"What? Dieter? Are you shure?" Asked the bartender, Lupin could see he was confused.

"Yes mister"

"I've bought wine from him last year and there where no problems, though i paid more then i normally do.... But the quallity," Lupin could see the man was struggling with himself. "The quallity was mutch better then what most other merchants had to offer. But that's still wrong." Turning to one of the girls he said. "Lilly dear can you go and get officer Gesche Gerrefan and tell her we have encountered some stolen goods. I know she's still mourning about her cousin and two nephews but it is important."

ooc:
The girl took the back door, it will probably take longer for the girl and Gesche to arive then the merchant.
@ztech, klaus could of heard this all.
Burro, I'm going to wait until Traghka is back before I'll let the boat captain appear

Lupin's eyes widened - this was not going to plan. He hadn't counted on the innkeeper being the insanely straight-laced type. Thinking fast, he waved his hands agitatedly at the leaving girl.
"Hey, hey, wait - I don't want to be involved with no 'Officer'. I was just giving you a friendly hint. I testify against him, his mates will come after me, most likely." He glanced from side to side. "Listen, is he staying the night?"

The bartender turned and shouted lilly back. "Lilly go back to work, I'll do it my self tomorrow." turning back to Lupin he said. "Uh, yes ofcorse he's staying here , this is the only inn in town you know." He paused for a few seconds as he tried to find words he wanted to say. "I wont mention you sir, I would feel awfull if something would happen to you because of this. But you must understand I have to report this, Officer Gesche is very stricked and if she founds out I knew the wine i bought where stolen goods she'll throw me into the cell for a week."

Lupin made a show of looking conflicted.
"Look... if that's the way it is, I'll stay 'til morning too. Your officer can come early, before he wakes up, and I can tell... her... what I know, and then be on my way before he sees my face." Lupin leaned forwards, a concerned look on his face. "What room is he in? I don't want to bump into him by mistake."

"He's in one of the back rooms, but if you don't go up you wont bump into him by mistake. If you're planning to stay the night you will have to sleep in the stables sir, the inn is totally full, I even had to put Dieter in one of the smaller rooms."

Lupin bit his lip. "You sure you need to tell the officer about this? You could just buy his barrels at a knock-down price and keep mum, y'know. No-one would know. I really don't want to get caught up in this. I thought I was doing you a favour."

He looked nervously back at the door.

"Which room is he in, exactly? And where are the stables?"

Apparently those who were killed by the brigands have at least one relative here, Klaus thought, his interest increasing. And the relative happens to be the officer in charge of law enforcement in this place. Maybe I won't be needed to take care of this affair after all. But I'll offer my assistance to this Gesche Gerrefan anyway, as soon as she comes.

"Well... his room is yust above the back door so up the stairs and the first door on the right but don't worry he wont see you through his window there's a big tree blocking the view. And the stables are through the back door and across the yard." The bartender glanced to the door aswell. "And sir, I'll have talk to lilly, if she can keep her mouth I'll do to..."

It seemed like he was about to say more but his eye fell upon an vagabond neer them. Lupin turned and saw that the man must of overheard every thing they had yust said. At the same moment the door opened and an angry merchant walked back in, but Lupin was already gone, his reflexes saved him, he had jumped behind some people by a table at the moment the door started to be opened.

The merchant quickly walked back to the bartender, looking around the room he said: "Where is he?"
"Who dieter?"
"The little b***ard that told me someone wanted to see me?"
"Oh him. I don't know, he left after he had told you that." the bartender said unintersted.
"There was nobody there!"
"Maybe it was somekind of joke?"
"Maybe it was..." The merchant said with an uncertain tone. "But let us get back to my wine. How do you feel about..." (and so on..)

Keeping both eyes on the merchant, Lupin began sidling towards the back door, moving behind the forest of legs the human crowd presented to keep out of sight. The sooner he could be out of the man's way, the better.

Lupin made it outside without being spotted by the merchant. Outside he saw the tree, it was an oak andvery easy to climb. The only problem was that it was twice his length away from the window.


Inside the inn the door opened again, a big man almost reaching 2 meters walked in. With his shoulders and arms as big as that of a smith he looked like a man that could crush a man's skull with one punch. "there he his, that's the Captain of 'The Star of Aldorf'" Kasper said to Skot while the man passed their table. He walked over to another table where a young women and an older man where sitting.

"All right then, lets go talk to him."

With out looking back to see if Kaspar was joining him, Skot headed over to the captains table, still puffing on his pipe.

The man hardly looked like someone who needed "help", his huge muscles were a testament to that.

Skot reached the table, and pulled himself onto one of the stools. Not even glancing at the other two people, he took another drag, and then addressed the man.

"Excuse me captain, but I understand you could use some," up came the stump onto the table, " assistance on your boat."

That should get the message across.

Kasper walked over next to Skot with a friendly smile on his face. "I would want to join to."

"Aye, i am indeed." A broad smile splitted the captains face into two. "Come with me to the bar." Turning his head towards the woman and the man he said. "A good night sir, madam."

At the bar he first ordered three ales, one for him and two for Kasper and Skot before he started to talk. "I normally don't need guards on my ship, but it's to reassure the passengers. They are scared of something, the old man said there's a curse on their familly... But that's yust horse crap. You know what i think it has to do with, the murder that took place yesterday. You see the red-head." he winked towards the woman on the table. "She looks like Gesche, the local officer of Ferdok, she's a good friend of mine. I was shocked when i heard her uncle and his sons and daughter where robbed and murdered yesterday." He bowed closer to the two. "But what i don't get is that Gesche hasn't spoken to them since they arived. She can be a little stuborn sometimes but she's a wonderfull woman..."

ooc:
Burro, Skot realizes that the captain will stay talking if you don't stop him. And you'll probbably be up all night listening to him. ^_^

@ztech, you heard this two.

"...You know what i think it has to do with, the murder that took place yesterday. You see that red..."

Skot drifted out of what was becoming a one sided conversation into his mind.

Murder! Now that's what just what I need. Some near and dear relatives die and its just like humans to start dishing out money, to make sure that it doesn't come after them too.

He started to pick up the mug of ale...

Not like a dwarf though. Something kills your uncle, you go kill it. And its brother. Then there is nothing to worry about.

It was now halfway to his mouth...

This should be some good money too. I still have a ways to go for the engineer, but I should be able to have a good amount of pay and a weeks lodging looking after these saps. I'm not complaining, its just that it isn't Dwar-

Just as he was about to put the glass on his mouth, one of the teeth on the wolf pelt pricked his skin.

Jerked to awareness, he pulled the cup from his mouth, and found the Captain still talking.

"...stuborn sometimes but she's a wonderfull woman..."

"I think we understand Captain, but I don't think we got your name. I'm Skot Sannur, and he is Herr Kaspar Fortescenne. Yours is what?

Klaus started inwardly at the captain's words.

Gesche? Officer Gesche Gerrefan? the grey monk thought, glancing at the red-haired woman who sat not ten feet from him.

He moved his stool and sat discreetly just beside her, wondering how he could start a conversation with the woman and get to the topic of the murders without offending her. Klaus was not exactly a diplomat, but even if he were one, he knew it would be very difficult for him to convince Gesche to accept his help: the officer probably considered her current investigation as a personal affair. She was likely to be driven by vengeance, and people who sought vengeance usually preferred to act on their own.

Lupin chuckled quietly to himself, tightening the straps of his pack and sizing up the tree in front of him. Ranald had smiled on him tonight.

Rolling up his sleeves, he began to climb...

"It's Fortannascere not Fortescenne Skot" Kapser sighted, but still with a friendly smile.

"Ulfaran, captain Ulfaran." The man answered. "I can pay you 2 gold a day and food and water untill we arive in Aldorf."

"Sounds good, but what do we have to do exactly?" Kasper asked.

"Well, I don't think we'll have troubles with pirats, this is the fasted ship on the river. It is your task to keep an eye out on the Passengers... But as I said it's all yust to reassure them."

"So you'll pay us yust to stand outside and pretend to be gaurding the ship?" Kasper asked while raising an eyebrow.

"Yes."

"I'm in," Kasper said. "I could use the trip to Aldorf, much more work there then in these hamlets."



The door of the inn opened once more, this being the only inn in the village it was to be expected every one with some money to spare would come here. This time it where 3 men and a woman who walked in. They where armoured with breastplates, engraved with the hammer of Sigmar. The most striking was the woman, though she looked as beautifull as the yound woman sitting on the table with the old man, there was something about her that made her look like she was in charge here. Maybe it is the eyepatch or the longsword on her hip, you don't know.


Klaus immediatly knew that was Gesche Gerrefan.


Lupin made himself comfortable on a branch close to the window and started to wait.

Ah. So this is most certainly Gesche Gerrefan, the vagrant monk thought, relieved he had not started a conversation with the wrong woman. His patience and his caution always served him well.

His eyes quickly noted her breastplate and her sword, as well as her watchful gaze, her poise and the way she moved. This was no country housewife. This woman was a warrior born and bred, and Klaus knew how to recognize one when he saw one.

He decided to wait for one more minute before talking to her: caution had never harmed anyone. Besides, a female warrior who managed to be feared and respected by all those men was certainly not someone you could mess with.

If Skot had taken a sip of his drink, he would have splurted it out all over the face of the man.

He had been expecting a real job for once, with some real money. Sure it was only watching these people on their little ride, and he was getting food and lodging, and it was getting him to Altdorf where the jobs were plenty, but 2 gold?

It was going to take a little more to get this Dwarf on water.

"I'm sorry, but we," gesturing to himself and Kaspar, "aren't willing to take the job for any less then 5 coins a day, and thats being generous he said forcefully."

Under his breath he added to Kaspar, "Don't worry lad, I'm doing you a favor."