(originally posted 11 Sep 2018)
Captain's Log: Bezahltag, the 4th of Pflugzeit, 2512.
The Devil May Care (great name, Werner suggested it) has proven herself to be a sturdy and reliable riverboat. It is not the largest vessel a captain could ask for, it's only middling in terms of size compared to others of its ilk, but it has served us well on our journey thus far. We have had no need to repair the hull despite its assault by the river-borne mutants, and I hope that this protective blessing from Sigmar continues. I have appointed myself captain due to my understanding of the rivers flowing through our great land as well as my experience working on barges. I have also given roles to my companions and fellow crew based on their skill sets and a basic agreement. Werner the mercenary is our marine, Wanda the wizard settled on being our navigator and Harbull the physician is the ship's doctor. The survivor of the mutant raid, Renata, is a deckhand and, er, naval haggler until I realize a better word for it.
We reached Weissbruck and was surprised by the relatively small population of the town. Harbull immediately set off to find his mentor Elvyra Kleinstun as soon as we reached the docks. Now that I reflect upon it, there are towns and hamlets of a similar size but it was the large quantity of warehouses that at a distance gave the impression of a bustling settlement. Harbull, mark these words: I need a spyglass from Altdorf as soon as possible. It was not the wealthiest of settlements but it was renowned for its local mining business and trading was supposedly both large and very accessible. This is where our pursuing misfortune rears its ugly head. I may not have mentioned it in Bogenhafen, it was troubling times after all, but the Sheep Festival was celebrated. That meant that everyone had enough wool to clothe their entire extended family and their little dog Ulf as-well. People were coughing up wool at this point, so they weren't exactly desperate for more. We had a ship full of the stuff.
Shite.
We couldn't find a buyer, predictably. I saw Harbull running towards the boat as soon as I declared that we set sail towards Altdorf. He looked shocked, the colour was drained from his face. He didn't find her at her home, and didn't want to break-in without consulting us first. Smart plan, who knows what the hell could be lurking there? Wanda decided to stay behind to look after the ship, Werner and I prepared ourselves for any prowling demons and we then set off. It was dark by then but Harbull had his lantern at the ready. Kleinstun's home left us no doubts about what had happened. A window inside had been smashed, not cleanly mind you. Whoever did it clearly realized it too late as I found some thread snagged onto it. Common wool, nothing too fancy. I could rule out nobles and their Chaos-laden intrigue for a night, at least. I finished smashing our way inside with the pointed end of my shield. Harbull entered first and I had to warn him to not explore, just open the front door and let Werner inside. I admire your curiosity Harbull but I was frightened something would happen.
We found a fresh blood stain and a note on the floor. Harbull told me it was something to do with meeting at a red barn by sundown. Cultists. Why can't they get actual professions instead of breaking into houses during the night an- well, erm, damn them anyway. We thoroughly searched the house, both the lower and upper floors, and found nothing. The only place we didn't search was the kitchen, which Harbull had a hunch about. His suspicions were well founded. Behind a cabinet was a secret compartment which opened a door to a set of stairs leading down. It was sort of like the mechanism in the Valantina gang's hideout back in Nuln. Werner took the lantern and, with each careful step, entered the darkness.
"Who goes there? Show yourself!"
He had seen something move at the bottom of the stairs, I froze right behind him and tightened my sword grip. After a few cold, quiet seconds he ventured further down the stairs. He guided us over the occasional gap and soon we were in the cellar. We saw many crates and a small, shivering child in the corner. I felt a presence right behind me but assumed it was Harbull. I then looked to my left and realized Harbull was by my side. I felt a chill. Eyes closed, breath held, muscles tensed, I was ready to swing my sword one last time at this foul abomination in the dark. A thing of the abyss that had lured us with its living bait and now was going to try to take our souls. I turned to face this damned creature and it...
Was just Wanda. She told us she had gotten bored on the ship and decided to see what transpired here. I was deeply embarrassed about my earlier fear but can you blame me? Why are you smiling? Anyway. The child leapt into Wanda's arms immediately like a long-lost daughter. They spoke briefly and we learned that her name was Liza, an orphan under the care of Elvyra. She had been placed in the cellar by Elvyra for trying to tinker with ingredients and fancy powders. She recently heard a commotion upstairs and then Elvyra was gone. Dammit, we didn't have much time. To be frank I thought she was dead but I didn't want to upset the child so I quietly whispered my grim thought to Werner. Wanda began to lead Liza out but then paused, tapped the west wall a few times and amazingly it shifted the wall to reveal a room absolutely packed with herbs. I recognized one used for light wounds and bruises, the rest I swear I saw once in the country but never fully learned their true name and use. Our wizard has an incredibly sharp set of eyes. Thank Sigmar she's our navigator.
We took a sackful of herbs and brought Liza to the Devil May Care for safety. Now all we had to do was to get to that red barn and make sure they don't come back for the child. We asked around Weissbruck. People were puzzled and just stated that many barns are red. Eventually we spoke to a fellow in The Happy Man tavern who told us to speak to old Otto regarding the red barn. Sure enough, he was happy to give us the information once I handed him a gold crown. He told us he saw three men with a wheelbarrow and a sack go towards the red barn across the canal at the northern point of the town.
The front of the old barn was red, sure enough. The rest of the paint was faded and chipped. Grass was taller than I liked. Weeds. My younger self, working with my parents on the farm, would've had a fit at this lack of care this place had. It was quiet and Werner took advantage of this by opening the back door and creeping inside. Wanda and Harbull waited outside. I peeked from the left side of the back door and, sure enough, he already had one of the three thugs knocked unconscious. I loaded my crossbow, walked inside and hid behind a nearby horse cart, watching Werner flit from each horse stable to the next. Halfway up the hayloft stairs, he paused and gestured towards me. I wasn't completely sure what he meant but I got the part where he mouthed "wait". I looked up and saw a lady tied to a chair, right next to two sleeping men. Sigmar bless us, she wasn't murdered by cultists! This great fortune continued. With a sort of snicker-snack of Werner's blade the first goon was
left bleeding messily on the floor. I held my crossbow towards the other startled man. He foolishly tried to flee through the top of the barn but was swiftly tripped by our marine. Werner was immensely pleased with this and took much relish in interrogating the man after we freed Elvyra.
Harbull was ecstatic and spoke to her at length about the art of physick. Werner and I had learned from the thug that he was hired by a man in Altdorf who had not been given what Elvyra owed him. We turned the fellow over to the watch soon after that, despite Wanda's argument that he would make a good deckhand. I refuse to let a mutinous sort onto my vessel, such as this opportunistic scoundrel. We returned to our boat and set course for Altdorf. I never saw Liza after that, so I assume Wanda returned her to her home safely. On an unrelated note, I keep hearing something small, the size of a young child, moving around the ship at night...
Harbull, why are you so restless?
Signed, Captain Johann Dasbuut.
The Devil May Care (great name, Werner suggested it) has proven herself to be a sturdy and reliable riverboat. It is not the largest vessel a captain could ask for, it's only middling in terms of size compared to others of its ilk, but it has served us well on our journey thus far. We have had no need to repair the hull despite its assault by the river-borne mutants, and I hope that this protective blessing from Sigmar continues. I have appointed myself captain due to my understanding of the rivers flowing through our great land as well as my experience working on barges. I have also given roles to my companions and fellow crew based on their skill sets and a basic agreement. Werner the mercenary is our marine, Wanda the wizard settled on being our navigator and Harbull the physician is the ship's doctor. The survivor of the mutant raid, Renata, is a deckhand and, er, naval haggler until I realize a better word for it.
We reached Weissbruck and was surprised by the relatively small population of the town. Harbull immediately set off to find his mentor Elvyra Kleinstun as soon as we reached the docks. Now that I reflect upon it, there are towns and hamlets of a similar size but it was the large quantity of warehouses that at a distance gave the impression of a bustling settlement. Harbull, mark these words: I need a spyglass from Altdorf as soon as possible. It was not the wealthiest of settlements but it was renowned for its local mining business and trading was supposedly both large and very accessible. This is where our pursuing misfortune rears its ugly head. I may not have mentioned it in Bogenhafen, it was troubling times after all, but the Sheep Festival was celebrated. That meant that everyone had enough wool to clothe their entire extended family and their little dog Ulf as-well. People were coughing up wool at this point, so they weren't exactly desperate for more. We had a ship full of the stuff.
Shite.
We couldn't find a buyer, predictably. I saw Harbull running towards the boat as soon as I declared that we set sail towards Altdorf. He looked shocked, the colour was drained from his face. He didn't find her at her home, and didn't want to break-in without consulting us first. Smart plan, who knows what the hell could be lurking there? Wanda decided to stay behind to look after the ship, Werner and I prepared ourselves for any prowling demons and we then set off. It was dark by then but Harbull had his lantern at the ready. Kleinstun's home left us no doubts about what had happened. A window inside had been smashed, not cleanly mind you. Whoever did it clearly realized it too late as I found some thread snagged onto it. Common wool, nothing too fancy. I could rule out nobles and their Chaos-laden intrigue for a night, at least. I finished smashing our way inside with the pointed end of my shield. Harbull entered first and I had to warn him to not explore, just open the front door and let Werner inside. I admire your curiosity Harbull but I was frightened something would happen.
We found a fresh blood stain and a note on the floor. Harbull told me it was something to do with meeting at a red barn by sundown. Cultists. Why can't they get actual professions instead of breaking into houses during the night an- well, erm, damn them anyway. We thoroughly searched the house, both the lower and upper floors, and found nothing. The only place we didn't search was the kitchen, which Harbull had a hunch about. His suspicions were well founded. Behind a cabinet was a secret compartment which opened a door to a set of stairs leading down. It was sort of like the mechanism in the Valantina gang's hideout back in Nuln. Werner took the lantern and, with each careful step, entered the darkness.
"Who goes there? Show yourself!"
He had seen something move at the bottom of the stairs, I froze right behind him and tightened my sword grip. After a few cold, quiet seconds he ventured further down the stairs. He guided us over the occasional gap and soon we were in the cellar. We saw many crates and a small, shivering child in the corner. I felt a presence right behind me but assumed it was Harbull. I then looked to my left and realized Harbull was by my side. I felt a chill. Eyes closed, breath held, muscles tensed, I was ready to swing my sword one last time at this foul abomination in the dark. A thing of the abyss that had lured us with its living bait and now was going to try to take our souls. I turned to face this damned creature and it...
Was just Wanda. She told us she had gotten bored on the ship and decided to see what transpired here. I was deeply embarrassed about my earlier fear but can you blame me? Why are you smiling? Anyway. The child leapt into Wanda's arms immediately like a long-lost daughter. They spoke briefly and we learned that her name was Liza, an orphan under the care of Elvyra. She had been placed in the cellar by Elvyra for trying to tinker with ingredients and fancy powders. She recently heard a commotion upstairs and then Elvyra was gone. Dammit, we didn't have much time. To be frank I thought she was dead but I didn't want to upset the child so I quietly whispered my grim thought to Werner. Wanda began to lead Liza out but then paused, tapped the west wall a few times and amazingly it shifted the wall to reveal a room absolutely packed with herbs. I recognized one used for light wounds and bruises, the rest I swear I saw once in the country but never fully learned their true name and use. Our wizard has an incredibly sharp set of eyes. Thank Sigmar she's our navigator.
We took a sackful of herbs and brought Liza to the Devil May Care for safety. Now all we had to do was to get to that red barn and make sure they don't come back for the child. We asked around Weissbruck. People were puzzled and just stated that many barns are red. Eventually we spoke to a fellow in The Happy Man tavern who told us to speak to old Otto regarding the red barn. Sure enough, he was happy to give us the information once I handed him a gold crown. He told us he saw three men with a wheelbarrow and a sack go towards the red barn across the canal at the northern point of the town.
The front of the old barn was red, sure enough. The rest of the paint was faded and chipped. Grass was taller than I liked. Weeds. My younger self, working with my parents on the farm, would've had a fit at this lack of care this place had. It was quiet and Werner took advantage of this by opening the back door and creeping inside. Wanda and Harbull waited outside. I peeked from the left side of the back door and, sure enough, he already had one of the three thugs knocked unconscious. I loaded my crossbow, walked inside and hid behind a nearby horse cart, watching Werner flit from each horse stable to the next. Halfway up the hayloft stairs, he paused and gestured towards me. I wasn't completely sure what he meant but I got the part where he mouthed "wait". I looked up and saw a lady tied to a chair, right next to two sleeping men. Sigmar bless us, she wasn't murdered by cultists! This great fortune continued. With a sort of snicker-snack of Werner's blade the first goon was
left bleeding messily on the floor. I held my crossbow towards the other startled man. He foolishly tried to flee through the top of the barn but was swiftly tripped by our marine. Werner was immensely pleased with this and took much relish in interrogating the man after we freed Elvyra.
Harbull was ecstatic and spoke to her at length about the art of physick. Werner and I had learned from the thug that he was hired by a man in Altdorf who had not been given what Elvyra owed him. We turned the fellow over to the watch soon after that, despite Wanda's argument that he would make a good deckhand. I refuse to let a mutinous sort onto my vessel, such as this opportunistic scoundrel. We returned to our boat and set course for Altdorf. I never saw Liza after that, so I assume Wanda returned her to her home safely. On an unrelated note, I keep hearing something small, the size of a young child, moving around the ship at night...
Harbull, why are you so restless?
Signed, Captain Johann Dasbuut.
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