Artur shares his inheritance news with the party. Fritz nearly loses his job. They discover they are being tracked by a bounty hunter. The party fulfils their promise to bring Johann Gespent’s bones safely home. The Berebeli is attacked on the way to Bögenhafen.
Where the wind falls
- On the journey to Weissbruck Artur shares details of the inheritance with his companions.
- The party speculates about whether the attack in Altdorf may have been prompted by his new fortune.
- It is suggested that Professor Schubert – who was keen to hold onto the affidavit at the Boatman Inn – may have hired someone to pursue Artur that night to steal the documents.
- Fritz recognises the men killed near the preacher were also present at the Konigplatz when they arrived in Altdorf.
- They were gesturing in Artur’s direction before being distracted by something – Artur was oblivious.
- Describing the outfits, it is clear the men killed are not affiliated with the university.
- Artur rules out Schubert’s direct involvement, but feels like the relationship with Schubert is definitely colder.
- He offers an equal share to his companions to see him safely secure the inheritance.
- The party members agree to continue on to Bögenhafen after returning Johann Gespent’s bones to do so.
Welcome to Weissbruck
- As the Berebeli rolls into Weissbruck, Falken notices that their arrival is being closely watched by a man standing in the doorway to the Black Gold Inn, a dockside tavern.
- He waves at the man, who on seeing that he has been spotted, turns to duck inside. On his back is a crossbow.
- The party chooses to jump out where they are and follow him to ask some questions.
Conflict of interest
- The docks are busy, so Josef can let them off but has to head further south to moor.
- Josef expects Fritz – as crew – to stay back and help them get settled.
- Fritz tries to persuade Josef to let him join his companions but does more to vex his employer, who suggests that if he leaves now he shouldn’t bother coming back.
- Already shaken by recent events, but interpreting them as part of his new destiny, and especially keen to make a good fist of his new career, Fritz backpedals and stays back to do his job.
Not from around here
- Falken and Artur grab their bags, including the bones, and agree to meet Fritz at the Black Gold later.
- They disembark and head into the tavern.
- There is no sign of the Man with Crossbow.
- Artur enquires at the bar, tossing a coin at the barman and asking in an affected Altdorf ascent if they know where their mark may have gone.
- The burly barman is offended by his treatment, ignores their questioning but swipes the coin before taking their orders.
- Falken asks around about “odd customers” – and a large club-faced man turns around to stare him down, clearly also offended and happy to settle the matter with docker brawn.
- Pulling back his hood, Falken reveals his missing ear.
- The large man – Ranulf – and his friends ask how the disfigurement came about.
Brags and bags
- An evening of banter and storytelling unfolds – with increasingly outlandish brags – as the party befriends the small group while awaiting Fritz’s return.
- Over a couple of rounds, they discover that the Man with Crossbow is a bounty hunter, who arrived the night before from Altdorf.
- He is staying at the Trumpet Inn – the same establishment that Johann Gespent’s sister runs.
- As the party gathers their things to head onwards, they notice that the bag of bones has started to change colour, turning purple since leaving Altdorf.
Close Encounters at The Trumpet Inn
- The group makes their way through Weissbruck to the Trumpet Inn.
- As they arrive it sounds busy and there is a throng of drinkers lolling outside.
- The party steps past towards the door, which pulls open as a small weasly looking man hurries out.
- He stops in his tracks as the much taller Artur and Falken stand in his path. He stares closely at them as they tower over him. He hesitates, almost going back in, but pushes by and hastens round the corner.
- The bar room is quite busy, and scanning around they quickly spot the Man with Crossbow talking to a couple of strong-arm looking associates at a table by the window.
- Artur strains to overhear their conversation over the noise in the tavern.
- A knock on the window distracts the group at the table. They stop their conversation and turn to the party, staring expectantly.
- Falken steps forward to offer to buy them a drink. They coolly stand up and back out through the back door.
- The Man with Crossbow threatens back “another time” and winks at Artur, as he shuts the door behind him.
To rest in peace
- The group head to the bar, enquiring after Greta, who is gaily perched on a stool overseeing operations and flirting cheekily with customers.
- When they tell her they have information about her brother she takes them round the back for some privacy.
- They sympathetically break the news about her brother, and hand over the bones for a proper burial.
- She is keen to know the circumstances of the death, and that it wasn;t at the hands of mutants.
- Greta heads upstairs and returns shortly, pressing a gold coin into each of their hands and thanking them for their kindness.
- She offers a drink on the house and suggests they are welcome to return to stay next time they are in Weissbruck, but perhaps not tonight as their presence would be too uncomfortable for her.
- The party enjoy their drink before staggering back to the Berebeli via the Black Gold, hearing more gossip in all places about the Emperor’s Mutant Edict.
Exit Weissbruck
- In the morning the party takes Josef to one side and tells him about the bounty hunter who seems to be following them.
- Josef curses and tells them there were some unsavoury looking people hanging around the previous night. They hasten exit preparations.
- As they set off, the barge master spots that they are being watched from the side.
- He confirms with the party that it is the same Man with Crossbow, just before they become enshrouded in the fog on the Bogen.
- Progress is slow but steady in the conditions, and generally uneventful over the day.
Hook and Line
- Evening falls as the Berebeli pulls up towards its first stopover, the Hook and Line, a modest riverside tavern in the vicinity of a small hamlet called Angledorf.
- The party decides to get a room at the local tavern, to try and steer any repercussions away from the boat.
- They secure a private room on the first floor, to the side of the building.
- After dinner with their travelling companions, Josef returns to the boat with his crew.
- The party finishes up about half an hour later and heads to their room, anxious about their safety.
- Falken sets a chair up against the door handle to secure it.
- Artur goes round to pull the window shutters closed, and realises there is a commotion outside.
- They decide to investigate – with Falken staying in the room to safeguard their belongings.
- Within a few moments, the room starts to fill with the smell of burning and a whiff of smoke.
- Fearing the tavern is aflame, Falken grabs his chattels and heads out.
Smoke on the water
- Falken sees that the bar room is largely vacated, but there is no sign of a fire.
- He heads out to where the noise is louder.
- The river glows through the fog from a fiery light towards the wharf.
- Falken runs towards it and sees Fritz and Artur desperately trying to help Josef and some locals put out flames on the Berebeli.
- Leaping aboard Falken sees that the rest of the crew are lying prone under the cloud of smoke.
- Quickly the flames are put out, but Wolmer and Gilda are dead.
Precautions
- On closer inspection the crew have been cut down with swords, and Josef is bleeding heavily from a crossbow bolt attack. In the night fog, there is no sign of the assailants.
- Josef insists they take his crew’s bodies to Morr’s Garden when they land at Bögenhafen.
- The party takes care to stow the bodies respectfully.
- Nervous about another attack, they set up a watch pattern for the night, to follow for the rest of the journey to Bögenhafen.
- Meg and Ernst return to the tavern to rest for the night hopefully in safety.