The rain poured as it had continuously for the last three days. Through it trudged a bedraggled group of five, heads bent low under the rain's constant oppression.
Cintoria lifted her head to look along the road ahead of them as her dog, Haali, whined softly beside her. Distracted, Cintoria ruffled the top of Haali's head before returning her attention to the road.
Through the gap in the trees cut by the road, she could make out a stone wall, behind which stood a large building. "We've reached the inn," she murmured to her companions. The two Dwarfs and the wizard looked up as one to see for themselves and the wave of relief that swept them all was palpable. Feet lifted higher, shoulders were unconsciously straightened and even Bax, perched on top of Thargrad's pack, began to wag her tail gently.
As was to be expected during the hours of daylight, the inn's gate was open and almost before they realised it, the group was in the warm atmosphere of the inn's barroom being greeted by its effusive landlord.
"Welcome, welcome! I am Gustav and welcome to the Coach and Horses, very pleased for you to be here! Ale and warm food all round?" he asked looking at each of the people in turn.
"That would be wonderful Gustav," replied Cintoria. "Can we also have two ales in bowls for the dogs and plates of scraps if you have them please?"
"Certainly, certainly," he replied, "I'll go and get it all now. Hang your coats by the fire - over there," he pointed out the pegs, "and take the table nearest the fire to warm your bones," pointing to a table close by the fire.
They did as instructed putting their coats on the pegs, then seating themselves at the table. Haali flopped down across the front of the fire, almost blocking it, while Bax jumped over him and laid down even closer to the fire.
Cintoria reached down to ruffle Haali's ears affectionately as she looked around the bar. Two coachmen were clearly deep in their cups, laughing drunkenly at some joke. Over there sat a young, thin man topped by an incredibly pronounced bowl haircut with his long nose buried in a book; an obvious nobewoman was demonstrably ignoring the new arrivals as her bodyguard calculated them as possible threats and the maid sat in subdued silence. At the bar stood a man dressed as a fop, who looked away as soon as he realised Cintoria was looking at him - a professional gambler she thought ... trouble waiting to happen, she was sure. A thin, bored-looking, barman was the last of the occupants until Gustav bustled in carrying a large tray with the promised vittles and was greeted by a loud "caw!" from a crow on a perch up by the ceiling near the bar.
"Fire by the Seat!" called the crow as Gustav handed out the contents of the tray. "Fresh chicken to drink!"
"Never you mind Blackie," Gustav said. "Sounds mad as a hatter sometimes! Anyway, have you travelled far? You're all soaked to the bone so must've been walking a while? Let me give these plates to your dogs," he put the tray on the table and picked up the plates of scraps.
"No Gustav, let me" Cintoria interrupted Gustav's flow. "Haali doesn't like to be fed by strangers." Gustav looked at the Geisthund and realised it was staring intently at him with the beginnings of a growl coming from his half-open, long-fanged mouth.
"Err ... certainly Priestess," he said as he put the plates onto the table. "I'll leave you to your food. Just call if you need anything else." He backed away, nervously eyeing Haali. As far as Haali was concerned though, Gustav had vanished and his attention was fixed on the plate and bowl that Cintoria was placing in front of him.
There was silence at the table for several minutes as the thick, tasty, but most importantly hot, stew was devoured.
"Gustav is sharper than he seems," she said in a voice pitched just for the table. "He realised I'm a Priestess just from my clothes." Nods from the others acknowledged they had realised it too. "Thargrad," Cintoria continued, "Speak to the coachmen - if they're going to Altdorf get us on their coach and see what you can learn about their passengers." Thargrad nodded, stood, drained his stein and headed for the bar for a refill. "I'll arrange our rooms for the night and talk to the gambler at the bar - we aren't interested and don't want any trouble ..."
Time for some rolls; first Thargrad will make an Average (+20) Gossip test and rolls a 24. His target was 60 (skill 40+20) so that's 4 Success Levels (SL) and he learns what he wants plus a couple of rumours.
Cintoria will try to Charm the Fop to leave them alone, sweetening the suggestion by buying him a bottle of wine. This is an opposed Charm/Cool test of Cintoria's skill of 40 against the Fop's Cool of 60. Cintoria rolls a 15 - 3 SLs - against the Fop's 72 - a Fail - 4 SLs to Cintoria - she achieves her goal, convincing the Fop - who she learns is named Phillipe Descartes - that her group was no target for him. She also picks up a couple of rumours from him and during their conversation she pays Gustav 10/- for two rooms.
The Fop dissuaded, Cintoria returned to Kanna and Hatto at the table as Thargrad and the coachmen launched into a song as they crashed their steins together.
"Well," Cintoria began; "That is Phillipe Descarte, a Bretonnian, and he got the message. He also claimed that 'This year's Schaffenfest will the biggest, most profitable, most entertaining ever' and that he'd heard 'Strange lights have been seen in the sky to the east which 'looked like fire Daemons dancing among the stars', but that sounds like rubbish to me."
"I reckon you're probably right," agreed Kanna. "About the daemons I mean; the Schaffenfest news is good though - we should be able to get some decent horses."
"True. Did you get the rooms?" said Hatto asking Cintoria in his cultured Reiklander tones and when she nodded, he stood, saying "Then I'll retire as I'm exhausted. Please ask Thargrad to try and be quiet when he comes up." He looked over to where Thargrad was laughing and singing with the coachmen.
"Good night," said Cintoria and Kanna together. Hatto went over to Gustav, learnt where his room was and went off to it.
Before long, Thargrad left the coachmen with genial goodbyes and came back to Cintoria and Kanna.
"Their coach is full, but they'll let us travel on the roof. I got them down to a dozen shillings in all to do that." Thargrad reported. "They also told me that the roads are getting worse as - they claim - the Emperor isn't bothering to maintain them any more. He's too busy spending money on the State Army to fix other problems - like the mess in Ubersreik. Also, Altdorf Zoo's been shut for weeks as they reckon Deathclaw, the Emperor’s Griffon, went on a rampage because the Emperor hasn’t been to see him for months. Sounds like we won't be visiting there! The student over there is Ernst Heidlemann, allegedly a Physician's Apprentice, but to me, that doesn't really fit ... I don't know what it is, but I was a Physician's Apprentice and there's just something wrong with him being that ..." Thargrad paused, obviously considering what he had just said. "Anyway, the noblewoman is Lady Isolde von Strudeldorf with her bodyguard Marie, and maid Janna."
"Well done, Thargrad. Keep an eye on the student - something may reveal more to you," instructed Cintoria. "Let's list what we need to do in Altdorf," she continued, "Thargrad, you need to present your papers at the Physician's Guild and pay off the Rat Catcher." Thargrad nodded. "Hatto wants to check in with his College and I need to report to the Temple on our success with the Dire Wolves at Grosslin. Anything I've missed? Kanna do you have anything that you want to do?"
"Well, I want to go with Thargad to settle his grudge," said Kanna thoughtfully, "Other than that - not really."
"Very well. We'll sort out the exact details when we arrive. We should be able to stay at The Raven and Portal as we have before, so we'll go there first to confirm that," Cintoria declared, "And now I'm off to bed."
"Morr guide your dreams," said Kanna as Thargrad echoed her remark and Haali followed his mistress from the room.
* * * *
The next morning, the party was enjoying porridge with bacon for breakfast, expecting an early start. The other passengers were breakfasting as well, but there was no sign of the coachmen. As the clock behind the bar chimed nine bells, there was still no sign of them.
"Kanna, would you please go and find our coachmen?" Cintoria asked.
"My pleasure,"responded Kanna with a grin spreading across her face as she rose and left the room.
This will be an Intimidate test by Kanna, opposed by the coachmen's Cool. Kanna rolls 34 against her skill of 40 and the coachmen get 55 against 30, so Kanna wins with a total of 3SLs.
The sounds of struggling drew closer and the barroom's door opened as Kanna came in half-dragging the protesting coachmen.
"Had to kick them awake," she said. "Bastards are still drunk!"
"Can we have some buckets of water Gustav?" Cintoria called out.
"Of course," called Gustav, "Good idea!", disgust evident in his voice.
Kanna dumped the coachmen in the middle of the room as Gustav and his barman came in with buckets.
"You're a disgrace to Ratchett Lines!" called Gustav as the coachmen were thoroughly doused. "Now get out there and get your damned coach ready for these good people!"Blustering protests, the coachmen dragged themselves from the room and out to the courtyard.
"Thargrad, would you go and help them please?" asked Cintoria. "And Kanna, please keep them moving." The Dwarfs followed the coachmen, pushing them along as they stumbled out with Bax yapping at the coachmen as she bounced at Thargrad's feet.
"Thank-you Gustav," Cintoria said. "Hatto, can you give me a hand with their packs? Haali, follow," she finished.
Cintoria and Hatto shouldered the Dwarfs' packs and headed out to the courtyard, Haali devotedly following his mistress.
Out in the yard, Thargrad was harnessing the horses as Kanna stood over the coachmen bullying them to carry on with their tasks. Cintoria and Hatto helped get the other passengers' luggage onto the coach before adding the party's own packs, making sure there was room for them too - luckily it was a big coach so they managed - just.It took a half-bell, but eventually everything was ready and the coach left the inn, taking the road toward Altdorf as Raark flew down and landed on Hatto's shoulder ...
End of this post.
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