[WFRP] The Bloody Crown IV

[LCP]

At Krucke's

Taking Aisha aside Adelbert explained to her about the terrible nature of the orcish threat, giving a watered down account of the massacare he had seen. He also admitted that despite everything Elsa was a complete idiot who would no doubt get herself killed at the first opportunity. Then he kissed her (Aisha not Elsa). "As soon as I get back we're moving somewhere nicer... maybe Sermena or Isolici. A fresh start for both of us."

Aisha seemed a little dubious of Adelbert's plan. "What would you do in Isolici?" she asked. "You're not a farmer. Not a miner either." She took his hand and turned it over, touching the ink-stains from the ongoing task of copying Elsa's tome. Adelbert's attention was drawn again to the two fingertips Aisha was missing herself. "She's paying you more than you could ever make off the people out there."

"Things won't be this way forever," she said, softly. "The Captain's going to war. Anything could happen to him." She paused. "You might not need to come back to Last Water at all."

[RossN]

Adelbert Schreiber

Adelbert reflexively raised her hand and kissed the back of it. "True enough Verena willing... Aisha, I want you to come with me. You said yourself you've never been beyond Last Water. It will be dangerous I won't lie but you're smart and tough. We can see what happens out there."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"The baggage train?" Sieghard asked. The thought of staying back with the baggage train hadn't even crossed his mind. "Yeah, it'll be guarded. No money to be made there though. Not for the likes of us anyways. And I guarantee you Sforza isn't going to bring Elsa along just to have her hide with the supplies and camp followers."

[Northern Lad]

Viggo Hirtzel

Viggo shook his head, "We can stay with the baggage train and keep an eye on Elsa Sieghard though eh?" That seemed like a wholly sensible idea to the young minstrel. "If it get's attacked and we're overrun by greenskins I'll be sure to throw a few coins at your feet so you can fight back."

Viggo turned at least one of his eyes in Ludo's direction. "Safe as a babe in a cot we'll be Ludo," He hoped he sounded believable, he was trying to convince himself as much as his friend, "Hopefully we can keep Adelbert from getting his fools head lopped off at the same time too! Either way, Elsa will know we're there, she'll know we didn't let her ride off without us and she'll remember us when it comes the time." Viggo punctuated his assertion with a vigorous nod.

[LCP]

At Krucke's

Adelbert reflexively raised her hand and kissed the back of it. "True enough Verena willing... Aisha, I want you to come with me. You said yourself you've never been beyond Last Water. It will be dangerous I won't lie but you're smart and tough. We can see what happens out there."

Aisha said nothing, but quietly nodded. It was how she'd been since Adelbert got back - seemingly accepting of Adelbert's advances, but somehow distant, reserved. Adelbert couldn't puzzle it out - she still seemed ferociously loyal to him, tending to his wounds, fetching and carrying supplies, and single-handedly carrying out most of the tasks that kept Krucke's house from collapsing under the weight of its own dust. She was just... uncommunicative.

"We should take it all with us," she said, rising from her chair. "Your writing things. The old man will rob you blind if you leave him with no-one watching." Her dislike for Krucke was the only thing she was always willing to talk about.

A horrendous growling, squealing din erupted outside - a sign that one of the local dogs had made the mistake of looking too long at Mannfred. Seizing up the sparse-bristled broom that was leaning against the near wall, Aisha rushed outside to break up the fight before anyone lost an eye.

[RossN]

Adelbert Schreiber

Troubled Adelbert watched Aisha depart. Had he misjudged the situation? Maybe she was just grateful for his taking her in. That was a distressing thought and with an unhappy sigh he turned his attention bak to writing.

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo frowned, but grudgingly accepted it. "If we'll be okay... then I suppose it might be good. Better than waiting here, I suppose. It'll be nice to be on the open road again."

He smiled wanly. "Another adventure, right?"

[LCP]

The next three days seemed to pass in a blur. Adelbert spent them torn between work on Elsa's commission, and assembling the pieces of his disguise. He found some clothes in Krucke's rag pile that looked old-fashioned enough to pass for Bretonnian. Once they had been boiled free of lice they patched up nicely, with Krucke only charging him a schilling for the privilege. Aisha procured enough cheap wine from Marek to pass as a travelling pedlar's stock; she also shaved his beard and washed his hair with limewater, bleaching it a pale, washed-out blond.

Viggo and Ludo spent the time training, though Sieghard became harder to pin down as he searched for some way to make the journey profitable. As it turned out, in the end it wasn't that difficult - while the Captain's regiments had no interest in a man who hadn't drilled in their particular methods of warfare, Abdul Al-Makir was assembling a truly impressive baggage train, one that needed handling and guarding from all the hangers-on that would no doubt try to pilfer from the army's supplies. Sieghard managed to find himself easy work as a wagon guard for a schilling a day and a soldier's share of the victuals. All he had to do was sit around and look discouraging, with a bit of occasional lifting and carrying.

By the night of the 17th, the yard inside Sforza's palisade was packed with carts and animals - more than Sieghard would have thought necessary even for a force the size of the Captain's. Elsa spent an irritated evening in her hut, her attempts at concentration disrupted by the constant sounds of livestock.

~

The sun rose on the 18th to the gleam of steel, as the full strength of the Iron Company filed out into the Winding Pass. They marched to the martial sound of pipes and drums, Sforza's black and gold banner at the head of a forest of pike-shafts. With them marched the ahosi, the Arabyans, even the unblooded Sermena Gamecocks. By the time the rumbling baggage train followed after, the cloud of dust raised by the marching column was higher than the gates of Sforza's palace.

Riding high on Magnus, Viggo saw Natasa among a crowd of spectators watching from the rocky slopes above the pass. Waving to her, he saw her grin and wave back, blowing a kiss. Magnus played his part splendidly, tossing his mane and trotting forwards past the wagon where Sieghard sat scowling on a sack of grain.

At the very back of the column, past even the over-laden cart that Filomena had commissioned as a travelling version of the Serpent, two drab figures trailed discreetly after. Aisha wore a grey headscarf and walked with a travelling stick she had made from a fallen branch, while Adelbert was almost unrecognisable with his bleached hair and peasant's hood. His pack clinked with the bottles he was forced to carry, its straps digging into his shoulders. So far he'd seen neither hide nor hair of Sforza, who was presumably up somewhere near the head of the column. He prayed to Verena it would stay that way.

It took the rest of the day for the army to thread its way down through the pass, and another day to cross the baking hills to Caerfort. Spring was turning to summer, and the column marched under relentless heat. To Elsa and Adelbert, sweating in the sun, the cheerfulness of the Tileans and Southlanders in their armour seemed positively unfair.

~

Elsa was at with the Captain at the head of the column on the evening of the 20th, when the tower of Caerfort hove into view. The banners of the Brotherhood of Magritta were already flying from its broken top.

Esteban and his advance force had secured the village three days before, and the villagers were clearly beginning to tire of their guests - particularly Gorg's ogres, who looked to have been eating them out of house and home. The arrival of hundreds more of the Captain's soldiers didn't seem to fill them with joy.

Of Evatt's men, there was no sign. Elsa stayed with the Captain and his lieutenants as Esteban produced Orderic, making the old man recite all he knew about where Bernhard's force had last been seen. Signs of a bloody defeat in the southern hills had apparently sent the sentries Bernhard had posted riding hard back to Manann's keep, but the villagers had yet to locate the site of the battle - they hadn't wanted to bring the greenskins down on themselves too. Afterwards, Doctor Bianco took the village elder aside, holding a quiet conversation in the Breton tongue. Elsa had been a little surprised to see the esteemed physician following them to war - she had half-expected him to remain behind with Irene, who had always seemed his closest ally at court.

Keeping inside the defensive earthworks the villagers had erected around Caerfort, the army settled down to make camp. Under the directions of Abdul and Bianco, a large portion of the food wagons were split off and taken down to the northern edge of the village, by the banks of the Mere; Sieghard saw many of the other wagon guards being posted there, to keep thieving fingers away from the supplies the contained.

Meanwhile, the Estalians were rotated off watch duty, and a scouting detail drawn up out of Abdul's Arabyan retinue to search the hills to the south for the site of Bernhard's fateful encounter with the orcs. Moving among the Estalians, Elsa found them a little less jocular than she had last seen them, a few of them still wearing haunted expressions from their long watch at Kheneb-Ptra-Urush. The scuttlebutt in the camp was that they had taken a whole chest of gold out of the catacombs - but not without cost. All Esteban would say was that both entrances to the ruins were now sealed.

OOC:

Spoiler

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The army spends two nights camped at Caerfort. If there's anything you want your characters to get up to, feel free.

---

Aubentag, 22nd Sigmarzeit

It was early in the morning when the scouts returned with news of the battlefield - it had been found within striking distance of Caerfort, somewhere to the south-east. The order was soon circulated for the army to begin striking camp, while Sforza and a small escort of guards and advisers headed out into the hills to view the site. Twenty to thirty minutes later, a few of the camp followers began to follow after, perhaps looking to see what they could loot from the bodies of Evatt's dead.

OOC:

Spoiler

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You can decide whether your PCs go with Sforza/the camp followers or stay behind with the army.

[RossN]

Adelbert Schreiber

Constrained by his disguise Adelbert dared not venture in to speak with the native Caerfort people, even if he sympathised with their plight. He was shaken to see Evatt's men had evidently been entirely routed; he'd presumed a rear guard, maybe wounded survivors but no one? Then again he reflected that the poor soldiers had not been Imperial State troops, just peasants drafted into battle.

Feeling very guilty he whispered a prayer to Morr for poor Bernard and Gunther. Not long after they reached Caerfort he slipped away towards the old shrine. It felt like a place he needed to be.

He tried to peddle some of his wares to the Estalians on the 21st (for obvious reasons he dared not speak to Tileans!) In an uncharacteristic moment of optimism he figured men who had seen what they had seen might be willing to pay a Bretonnian wine merchant a good rate.

OOC:

Spoiler

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Untrained Haggle: (1d100)[67] vs. 22
FP re-roll if needed: (1d100)[75] vs. 22

Adelbert will try and get 2 shillings per bottle but he'll drop his price to 1 shilling 6 pence if he must.

On the 22nd as his curiosity and dread mounted he decided to risk matters and follow the other baggage followers. It was fantastically unlikely but if anyone had survived his skills might make all the difference.

[-Sentinel-]

During daytime, Elsa hovered around Sforza and his advisors whenever she was not expected to be with the Iron Company. After nightfall, he returned to her regiment and made awkward attempts at small talk with the men around the campfire. She barely exchanged ten words with her old friends during the whole trip to Caerfort, but did acknowledge them with nods and waves whenever she met them. She was aware that Adelbert was somewhere in this crowd, but she had not seen him yet, and did not seek him out; she did not even know what his disguise looked like.

In Caerfort, she was curious about the Brotherhood's experiences in Kheneb-Ptra-Urush, but having been there herself, decided it would be unseemly to ask the shaken-looking soldiers for details (though she kept an ear to the ground in case any of the Estalians volunteered some information after a few goblets of wine). She did ask Esteban one question, in the businesslike tone of an officer to another:

"I remember they were under some kind of commander. Looked dangerous. Do you know if your men... took him down?"

---

The next day, Elsa elected to follow Sforza to the site of the battle, in case her magical expertise was needed. If the greenskins had shamans with them, it was better to know it now than when confonted with a live one.


OOC

Spoiler

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Are we on foot? If we're riding, Elsa will commandeer a horse.

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo spent his time at Caerfort and on the march mostly trying not to be underfoot, and upon arrival helping Adelbert as needed. He slept fitfully, and on the third day found himself climbing a rock outside of town to see if he could see his way back to Mirino. Had it been safe to return, he would have done so.

But it was an adventure, at least! And they hadn't seen any Orcs yet. His interest in Kheneb-ptra-Urush lead him to join Elsa's conversation with the Estalians, overcoming awkwardness in order to sit wide-eyed and await Esteban's answer.

Aubentag, 22nd Sigmarzeit

Ludo went with the camp followers to the battlefield. He was still distinctly on edge, but a few days of no orcs was encouraging, and he was curious to see if the same weaponry existed in the hands of the orcs on this field.

[Northern Lad]

Viggo Hirtzel

Viggo swore harshly as he hauled himself up Magnus and into his saddle, none of Sieghards' warnings had prepared him for the relentless torture that was his new mail shirt. He'd thought his leather armour was uncomfortable, he now dreamed of wearing that alone. The heat of the sun and the weight of the damn thing served to make the young lad feel as if he were being boiled alive. I'm just glad I'm not sodding walking, how do they even bloody manage? He wondered as a formation of Pikemen marched passed him.

He'd spent most of the march riding somewhere between the baggage train and the Iron Company, in an attempt to keep a discreet eye on Elsa. He wasn't sure he was being discreet enough though, every time he thought he was being subtle she seemed to spot him and offer him a wave or a nod. "Some sort of bloody finger waving sorcery no doubt!" He'd grumbled and griped to Ludo one evening over supper.

Trotting Magnus after the camp followers, Viggo slowed down beside Ludo before leaning down and offering the Halfling an arm to help pull him up behind him, the weight of his shirt nearly toppled him out of his saddle. Hoping Ludo hadn't noticed he coughed. "I wonder what we'll find out here, I've never seen a battlefield before have you Ludo?" He couldn't imagine that his friend had but one just never knew.

OOC

Spoiler: OOC

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Couple of rolls Magnus Training & a Gossip once in Caerfort RE: any sign of battle survivors, specifically any of Evatt's knights.

Weekly Animal Training Test: (passed 1 week already for knee commands)
INT 31 - (1d100)[49]
RE-ROLL - (1d100)[76]

Gossip Test:
FEL 43 - (1d100)[13]
RE-ROLL - (1d100)[50]

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"I wonder what we'll find out here"

"Corpses," Sieghard interjected, completely deadpan. "Remember Redemund's farm? It'll be like that, but the smell will be worse."

Spoiler

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Sieghard is probably expected to stay with the wagons. If there's some convenient reason he'd be allowed to (someone else's turn to watch or something), he'll come with. Otherwise he'll sit this one out and do his job.

[Northern Lad]

Viggo Hirtzel

Viggo paled as he recalled the scene of butchery that they had witnessed, How can the smell be any bloody worse than that?

"You know, we can always rely on you to cheer things right up can't we Sieghard?" Viggo replied sourly, "If it's so bloody bad why are all these folk heading out there?" Viggo shifted uncomfortably, thanks to Sieghards' premonition a nervous tightness had settled in around his shoulders. Well... it's either that or this sodding shirt!

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"They're scavengers," Sieghard explained. "If they can find a sword or two in good enough shape, they can sell them for a nice pile of coins. If one of them is really lucky, they'll find one of the knights whose armor hasn't been battered beyond use. Could be worth more than everything they own."

[LCP]

Adelbert found it all too easy to shift his stock of bottles, though he had to lower his prices to undercut the booze Sforza's men could get off their own supply wagons. At a rate of a schilling and six pfennigs a bottle he managed to offload them all over the course of the two days.

In Caerfort, Elsa was curious about the Brotherhood's experiences in Kheneb-Ptra-Urush, but having been there herself, decided it would be unseemly to ask the shaken-looking soldiers for details (though she kept an ear to the ground in case any of the Estalians volunteered some information after a few goblets of wine). She did ask Esteban one question, in the businesslike tone of an officer to another:

"I remember they were under some kind of commander. Looked dangerous. Do you know if your men... took him down?"

“No,” said Esteban. “We got the gold, we got out. We shut the way behind us.” He took a swig from his own flask – whether it was water or something more alcoholic Elsa couldn't tell. “Who knows if those things can even really die.”

Viggo meanwhile had to skirt around the edge of the hive of activity that was the main camp to find some of the actual people of Caerfort. A few of them seemed to be engaged in strenuous negotiations around the supply wagons that had been moved down to the waterside – avoiding them, Viggo asked villagers who seemed less busy whether they'd seen any sign of Evatt's men. Their Reikspiel was poor to nonexistent, and he had a little difficulty getting his question across – but when he did, the answer he got was in the negative. Smoke had been seen to the south, and a few wandering animals had been recovered, but no survivors had reached the village. Bernhard's rearguard had returned to Manann's Keep rather than stick around to find out if Caerfort would be next.

---

The site of the battle was about four hours' journey from the village, in a dry gully between two ridges. Sforza and his retinue were the first to arrive, Elsa trotting up to the edge of the rise on a pack horse she had commandeered from one of the carters.

Bodies littered the valley floor, lying where they had fallen. Carrion birds had gathered in their scores to feed, and rose up in a black-feathered flock as the Tileans descended from the ridge, croaking their displeasure.

It looked as if Bernhard's men had come across a greenskin encampment at the head of the gully. Crude tents had been torn down and burnt, the ground around them scattered with the bodies of goblins. Perhaps it had been a trap, the goblins sacrificed to lure Bernhard's men in, or perhaps the sound of the battle had drawn unwanted attention. Either way, the army of Manann's Keep had never left the valley.

The orc charge had clearly come down from the southern ridge. Many of Bernhard's halberdiers lay heaped together in the remains of a fighting formation, where they had tried to make a stand. Others had turned and run, and looked to have been ridden down along with the crossbowmen. Strung out along their right flank were the remains of Bernhard's mounted men at arms, the detritus of what looked to have been a running cavalry battle to break free of the gully. Dead goblins and dead wolves lay among them, while the way the horse carcasses had been gnawed at suggested a significant force of wolf riders had survived the encounter. The footmen seemed to have taken down pitifully few of their killers with them, the corpses of a handful of orcs lying among the dead. A great black boar, spitted with half a dozen snapped halberd-shafts, lay dead in the middle of the knot of bodies where the infantry had made their stand. Its hulking rider had died with his axe buried in his killer's chest.

The bodies had been ripening in the sun for perhaps a week, and the stink was nearly unbearable. Elsa held her hand over her nose and mouth as Sforza dismounted and began asking questions of Abdul's scouts. The dusty floor of the valley had been churned up with a great many tracks – it looked like the warband that had fallen on Bernhard and his men was one of considerable size.

OOC:

Spoiler

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Non-Elsas obviously rock up half an hour or so later. This is the initial description of the battlefield - if you want to search for the bodies of particular NPCs, look for particular signs of what happened, boots that are a nice fit, etc, then get to searching! Don't mind the crows, they're very friendly.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"I did warn you about the smell," Sieghard commented, wrapping his cloak around his nose and mouth to block as much of the stench as he could. He scanned the area, his eyes lingering near where the horsemen had fallen.

Spoiler

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Given that the last post wasn't spoilered, I'm going under the assumption that Sieghard's job isn't preventing him from tagging along. Let me know if that's wrong.

Sieghard is mainly concerned with trying to find anything that looks like it might be valuable. He had no particular attachment attachment to Bernhard or his men so he isn't going out of his way to look for them. He will, however keep an eye out while picking among the dead.

Can Sieghard find anything that looks like it's in good enough shape to be worth taking? Weapons, armor, a particularly nice pair of boots, etc. He'll mainly be looking among the human dead, though if he finds nothing there, he may try the greenskins as well on the off chance they have looted weapons like the ones from Redemund's farmstead. He already knows nothing of greenskin make is worth taking.
(1d100)[57] vs 36 search.
(1d100)[29] reroll if needed.

While searching, does Sieghard notice Bernhard or either of the squires who was with him? If he does, he'll prioritize searching them since they'd have had better equipment than anyone else. Gunther probably wouldn't have been in the battle, but Sieghard would also make a note of it if he was among the dead.
(1d100)[48] vs 36 perception.
I think perception is more appropriate than search since Sieghard really isn't going out of his way to look for them. It's against 36 either way so it really doesn't matter.

[RossN]

Adelbert Schreiber

Adelbert took one look at the horrible sight, shuddered, and turned back for Caerfort. There was obviously nothing he could do for these poor souls and he had no desire to watch the ghouls in the camp scour over every corpse for rings and boots.

[LCP]

Picking his way through the strewn bodies, Sieghard skirted around a particularly territorial group of crows, who set up a frenzy of cawing as he passed. Most of the human scavengers who had come this far were congregating somewhere further up the valley - they looked to have found the burned-out remains of Bernhard's supply carts. Either that or they were just trying to avoid drawing the attention of Sforza and his retinue.

The greenskins had clearly looted the dead before they had moved on. They had mainly taken the weapons - very few of the dead orcs had been left with theirs, and where a human blade had taken their fancy those too had been pried from the fingers from the dead. Many of the smaller items of armour like helmets and bucklers had been taken too, but the looters had clearly lacked the patience to strip their victims bare. Breastplates and quilted jackets had been left in place, though in many cases they were pierced and bloody. Among the dead orcs, Sieghard saw no small amount of good mail, human-made like his own tunic. Clearly the caravan raids had been paying off.

Making his way towards where the densest concentration of dead horses lay, Sieghard found a spot where it looked like a group of unhorsed men had made their last stand. Three had been split open by what looked like the blows of a huge axe; another had been gored through the stomach, the pecked remnants of his entrails smeared across the dry ground.

The fourth dead man was Bernhard. At least, Sieghard assumed it was Bernhard - the corpse was missing a head. Still, there couldn't have been many bodies on the battlefield clad in full plate, and the trident-and-chain design on his shattered shield was difficult to mistake...

OOC:

Spoiler

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The plates of Bernhard's armour are still in good repair, as is the mail beneath. The padding is definitely ruined - it's been incubating a dead body inside a steel oven in summer for about a week. Removing the armour might therefore be a slightly icky task. Obviously there's no helmet.

Sieghard's search of the surrounding bodies yields small change and valuables adding up to (2d3)[5] gc. You can also collect up to 1d10 daggers, halberds, leather jacks, leather caps and pairs of boots from the dead (roll separately for each item) - the main limit there is how much you can carry and how happy you feel pulling boots off dead men's feet. All items of clothing and armour will need a good cleaning.

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa slid off her saddle with rather less grace than she was hoping for, and swore to learn to ride properly before too long to avoid making a fool of herself in front of the men. After surveying the battlefield from afar, she walked carefully among the corpses, looking for supernatural causes of death — such an incineration that seemed too sudden, or a cut that seemed too clean. She wished she had been here days earlier, before decomposition began.

She took a chance and opened her witch-sight, bracing herself for the strong wave of the purple wind that was sure to hit her.

OOC

Spoiler

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General observation test (not sure if Search or Perception, target 45 either way) (d100)[13]

Magical Sense 63: (d100)[1]

Edit: Nice.

[LCP]

Elsa Only

Spoiler

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Sure enough, the Amethyst Wind hung over the battlefield like fog over a lake. It would be some time before such a strong concentration of Shyish dispersed - it hung in the air, curling in eddies behind the wingbeats of the glutted crows.

Among the bodies, she could see no signs of battle magic being worked. The only fires had been among the goblin tents, and then later when Bernhard's supplies were put to the torch. Every corpse she examined seemed to have been killed by mundane means. She had heard the greenskins had strange and unnatural magic of their own - whether that was true or not, she could sense no signs of it having being worked here.

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa's gaze was distant for a moment. Then, with a look of grim satisfaction, she headed back towards Captain Sforza and his men.

"I'm fairly sure no spells were cast here," she reported, climbing back in her saddle. "Doesn't mean they don't have spellcasters, but that's a good sign."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

Sieghard grinned when he caught sight of Bernhard's breastplate. Then nearly gagged when he caught scent of Bernhard. He moved his cloak away from his mouth and called to the others. "Ludo, Viggo, come here!" He almost called for Elsa as well before remembering she had other business. He silently cursed Adelbert for wandering off... He'd have gladly traded his crossbow for another pair of trustworthy hands.

Spoiler

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Getting the plate armor free should be easy enough... Just a matter of undoing the straps, or cutting them if need be. Mail on the other hand would be far more difficult... And messier.

Assuming Sieghard can rope the two of them into helping, If we pile everything into the breastplate and have Sieghard and Viggo each take an end with Ludo supporting in the middle, we should be able to carry a fair bit.

Not saying we're taking it all, but I'll roll now for how much of the other stuff Sieghard was able to gather up.

(1d10)[3] Daggers
(1d10)[8] Halberds
(1d10)[1] Leather jacks
(1d10)[5] Leather caps
(1d10)[8] Pairs of boots

[RossN]

Adelbert Schreiber

Back in Caerfort Adelbert decided to risk seeking out and speaking to Orderic while Sforza and his officers were away. He went to the tower first, ready to head somewhere else in a hurry if he was spotted by someone he had no wish to meet.

[LCP]

At the Battlefield

"I'm fairly sure no spells were cast here," Elsa reported, climbing back in her saddle. "Doesn't mean they don't have spellcasters, but that's a good sign."

<Good,> said Sforza. <I don't want any surprises. Abdul's men say the orcs went east - they're already on the move.> He gave the nearest dead man a contemptuous look. <Evatt sent a raiding party to fight an army. They'll be looking for a better fight.>

Wheeling his horse around, he gestured to his other followers. <I've seen enough here. We go back to the village.> He cast a departing glance over the scattered figures of the camp followers picking over the dead. <Leave these vultures to their trade.>

---

Caerfort

Adelbert was less than halfway back to Caerfort when he was overtaken by Sforza's party. Keeping his head down, he watched the captain pass on his white horse. It was a fine animal but Adelbert thought it looked rather small in comparison to Magnus.

When he reached the village, he found it a hive of activity. Makeda's warrior women had already marched out, and the rest of the army was making ready to do the same, though it was already well past noon. Avoiding the east side where Sforza was overseeing the movements of his troops, Adelbert found Orderic in the upper levels of the ruined tower, feeding the pigeons with the crumbs from a heel of black bread.

<M'sieur Schreiber,> exclaimed the old man, after peering at his face. <Taal's mercy, I didn't recognise you. You are marching with the Tilean too?>

[RossN]

Adelbert Schreiber

Adelbert smiled ruefully. <Alas yes my friend. Though certainly not for liking of him; hence my appearance. My friend is one of his officers. Besides I needed to see for myself the scale of the orc threat.> He sighed. <Those poor men... have your people been treated alright Orderic?>

[Northern Lad]

Viggo Hirtzel

Nothing had prepared Viggo for this, the stench and the zeal with which the scavengers set about their business both served to loosen his stomach. He leaned over Magnus's neck and dry retched, luckily far enough away from Elsa that she was unlikely to notice. Dismounting gingerly he followed Sieghard's example covering his mouth and nose with the edge of his cloak. It did little to nothing to block out the disgusting smell that hung over the corpse strewn battlefield.

He thought briefly about the coin that was to be made rummaging through the dead, "Let them bloody keep it!" He growled roughly, eyes watering as he watched the bone pickers go about their gruesome work. Is that woman sawing that poor sod's finger off!?

"Ludo, Viggo, come here!"

Viggo looked about for Rock Face, when he finally spotted him crouched over a body, he groaned miserably. "What is it?! Do I have too?!" Despite his reticence Viggo began to pick his way through the bodies, barely containing a cry of horror when he misstepped and slipped almost tripping over a particularly bloated corpse. Finally he came up along side the grizzled mercenary, "Is that... was that Bernhard?" He asked sheepishly, fighting the urge to vomit once more. "What are you doing Sieghard? Doesn't this feel a bit... wrong? You know... disrespectful?"

Viggo mouth still covered had a quick scan around to see if any sign could be seen of the two younger knights Fritz and Luther.

OOC

Spoiler: OOC

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Viggo will help Sieghard but only under duress!! That said if he does find / see a fancy sword anywhere he would man up and take it!

Not sure about tests so I've done perception for the knights and search for the sword?

Perception Test:
INT 31 - (1d100)[81]

Untrained Search:
INT 15 - (1d100)[26]

[LCP]

Battlefield

Viggo could see no sign of Bernhard's sword. It looked like the greenskins had made off with most of the blades longer than a knife but shorter than a spear. The knight's sword was probably adorning a goblin's saddle somewhere now.

Looking around, he couldn't make out what had become of Fritz and Luther either. A gleam of metal off towards the western end of the gully marked where one of their barded warhorses lay rotting - but several of the other looters were already clustered round it.

---

Caerfort

<Those poor men... have your people been treated alright Orderic?>

<As well as could be hoped,> Orderic said in his mild-mannered fashion, continuing to feed his birds. <Far better than they would be if he'd left us to the orcs, that's for certain.> With a whirring of wings, a pigeon landed briefly on Adelbert's shoulder, before descending to join the scrum pecking at Orderic's crumbs. <A little disruption is a small price to pay for the safety of the village. Some of the young ones are making a fair amount of money out of the Tilean too, I believe.>

[RossN]

Caerfort



<As well as could be hoped,> Orderic said in his mild-mannered fashion, continuing to feed his birds. <Far better than they would be if he'd left us to the orcs, that's for certain.> With a whirring of wings, a pigeon landed briefly on Adelbert's shoulder, before descending to join the scrum pecking at Orderic's crumbs. <A little disruption is a small price to pay for the safety of the village. Some of the young ones are making a fair amount of money out of the Tilean too, I believe.>

<Well, that is good,> Adelbert conceded, loathe though he was to admit any good on the part of Sforza. He tugged thoughtfully at his owl pendant. <Orderic, do you think your village would have room for a priest? As you can see I have taken to following the Lady Verena. It may not happen right away; I must see what becomes of this expedition but perhaps after...?>

[LCP]

Caerfort

Orderic scratched at his voluminous beard. <It has been a long time since we had a priest to tend the shrine.> he said. <But do you really think you would want to live here, Herr Schreiber? A learned man such as yourself. It is a hard, simple life in Caerfort. We only have one book, and you've read it already.>