Topic: Shadows over Bogenhafen: game thread [players only please!]

[rufus sparkfire]

Schmidt coughs nervously. "I'm terribly sorry, Count, but that won't be possible. Law Lord Ehrlich is ill, as I said before, and is not receiving visitors. Even if I were to give you his home address - and I am not authorized to do so - you would not be admitted. Is there anything I can help you with instead?"

[Fandir Nightshade]

Klaus will lean closer to the man and look him into the eyes. " Herr Schmidt we are not talking about a chat regarding the weather but state affairs." Klaus will look conspiratevely over his shoulder checking that nobody is eavesdropping on them. He is sure that sparsam will back up his story if it came to the worst. "The chancellor would have come himself but is bound by duties but as i said the business is urgent. We have to speak with the Law Lord today...best right away."

[Cannonofdoom]

Heinrich dismisses Admund's concern. "Perhaps the clerk even believes that himself, but it was not Law Lord Holfich who was here gleefully leaning on the watch captain to flog us. A man has to be held responsible for his own actions. You nearly got yourself killed rather than follow orders you knew were wrong. You should understand that better than anyone."

[rufus sparkfire]

[Klaus and Julian]

"My lord," Schmidt says, removing his spectacles and polishing them with his sleeve, "please understand that I would like nothing better than to accede to your request. I am not trying to keep you away from the Law Lord. I am following a strict command that I was given. The Law Lord will speak to no one until further notice - no one at all! Even I am not permitted to see him. Even the Chancellor may not. All I can do is deliver any written message you may have."

Klaus can tell that the man really means what he says, and that he is gravely worried about Ehrlich.

[Fandir Nightshade]

"Well....in that case I will write a letter for you to deliver....I will deliver it to you this noon. Schmid you are a good man but you too realize that something odd is going on here. This sickness.....the law lord unable to receive anyone, these strange taxes. It is obvious that you are trustworthy...so I can tell you that we are investigating the whole business and already have found out horrible details, if there is anything else you can tell us about the "sickness" of the lord you can tell us them...honour to your loyalty but it may be over your head what is going on right now."

[rufus sparkfire]

"I will certainly deliver your letter, Count... I am very sorry about this situation. Of course I know that something is badly wrong with Law Lord Ehrlich. He is such a dedicated man - all he does is work to improve the lives of the disadvantaged. And yet this 'illness' of his is obviously an excuse to hide away from his duties. It is completely out of character." He shakes his head despairingly. "I wonder if he is hiding because he feels guilty about the new tax laws. Of course he must realize how awful they are for struggling dwarf families. But why didn't he do more to prevent them coming into law?"

Schmidt suddenly realizes that he is talking too freely. "There is nothing more I can tell you, my lord. I hope... I hope that you can find out what is wrong with the Law Lord... and help him, if you can."

[rufus sparkfire]

[Admund]

After finishing his conversation with Heinrich, Admund heads off to the South Gate watch station. He goes inside and reports to the desk sergeant... who he recognizes at once as one of the men who flogged him the other day. "Ah, you're Admund, right? I was told to expect you. The new captain will see you in his office right away... uh, I hope your back isn't too bad. No hard feelings about that? I was just doing my duty. And you took it well - very dignified." He smiles, offering his hand to Admund. "Name's Konrad, by the way. Good to have you with us. Don't keep the captain waiting!"


Admund goes into the captain's office. Kratz is sat behind the desk, looking uncomfortable. He jumps up when Admund enters. "Admund! Good to see you again! Can you believe they made me acting captain? Captain Braun is on leave, so to speak... word is, the Commander summoned him to his office and whipped him right then and there! So now I'm in charge, for the moment anyway, and you're here on a secret mission."

His tone turns serious. "I've been told that you're to investigate Gotthard Brandt, while pretending to be a temporary watchman. No one else at the station knows, so make sure you don't say anything. You'll be treated as a normal watchman, which means you have to take the oath, wear the uniform, and follow orders. You'll get paid too, of course, so it's not all bad. Now, what I haven't been told is how to go about investigating Brandt. Do you have any ideas?"

[Karl Voss of Averland]

Admund shakes Konrad's hand "No hard feelings at all, Konrad. My back feel great. Little tender, but not bothersome. It was a shit situation, but you did the right thing - your duty." Admund adds jokingly with a wink, "You're forgiven, as long as I get to flog you when you get caught doing something right. Deal?"


Admund is pleased to see Kratz again. "Captain Kratz has a nice ring to it." He shakes the man's hand genially. "Schutzmann, went to work on Captain Braun, did he? Well, that's what you get for letting the Law Lords overstep their bounds I guess. When I met with Commander Schutzmann, I told him that you seemed like the only man with any sense that day. I guess he agreed, eh?" Admund smiles and glances at the papers on Kratz's desk, "Though i'm sure you're enjoying the new found paperwork that comes with the position?"

"Sorry I didn't see you at the Ale Festival the other day. I was in one of the minotaur fights, and I missed having a pint with you. Consider myself in debt to you for one pint of Carroburg's Falling Fish. That dwarf you met a few days ago, Julian's his name, is looking like he'll be the new judicial champion of the Graf! If we get off duty, we could all get a pint with him, and I can pay back my debt, eh?"



As the topic turns to Gotthard Brandt, Admund lets out a sigh, "Gotthard Brandt. He certainly seems to be the slimey fellow. From what I know, he has his fingers in many pies. People at the Komission for Commerce, Trade and Taxation tell me that he is never around doing his job or at his home on Schmutzige Strasse. No doubt having dual posts with the Komission and chairing the Merchant Guild gives him lots of power and influence."

"First off, there's this: One thing of note i've learned is that the Komission, which he the covenor of, had several big complaints against the Windhund Haulage Company but within a short period of time, the complaints vanished or were 'cleared'. I have a feeling Gotthard was behind this, or at least pulling strings to make it happen. Given that Commander Schutzmann suspects him of being involved in slaving, I wouldn't doubt if Windhund is fronting some illegal activities for him, or worse."

"Secondly, he never seems to be around both at home or his job. I know where Gotthard lives, just over on Schmutzige Strasse. Considering he never seems to be around, it my be worth poking around there to see if more information turns up. However, we need to be covert, as we can't have Gotthard Brant knowing that we're investigating him. It's at least helpful to know this if we can find a way to get the watch involved at his residence."

Admund folds his arms and thinks for a moment, "Well, what do you think, Kratz? You've been at this job a lot longer than I have."

[commandant]

Mortus is going to go to the inn where she knows the others are staying to see if any of them are still there.

[Fandir Nightshade]

"Schmidt....you have good instincts...and your trust in Lord Ehrlich is justified...from what I have learned so far he is a good man..and what is going on is not of his own device but because of threats...or even..." Klaus will make a dramatic pause..."blackmail. How about this...I write the letter right now if you can produce me some writing material and paper and you deliver the message right away. We will come with you and I promise to you that I won´t approach the building or try to talk directly to the Law Lord....this is very important and we should go right away if you can close the office for the short time we will need...that way Lord Ehrlich can directly react to what I have written and you can then give us a signal to approach him. You know I or one of my associates could just shadow you to the adress...but I am sure you are a loyal and trustworthy servant of the Empire so there is no need for that....I hope my honesty and trust in you is no mistake." 

[rufus sparkfire]

[Mortus]

Mortus finds the Templar's Arms without difficulty. Once inside, she asks after her friends at the bar. "They've all gone out already, miss," the barman says, "except for the ginger lad. He's still in his bed sleeping off a heavy night of drinking. I'm supposed to wake him with his breakfast in an hour or so."

[rufus sparkfire]

[Klaus and Julian]

"You really think it could be blackmail?" Schmidt says, horrified. "Who would dare do that to a Law Lord of Middenheim? It's almost unthinkable... but it does explain Law Lord Ehrlich's behaviour. If someone is forcing him to hide away like this, there must be lives at stake. The Law Lord would never put his own reputation - or even his own life - before the good of the city. Lady Verena! I am getting ahead of myself. I must be calm." He takes a deep breath, then another. Then he passes a sheet of paper and some writing equipment to Klaus. "Your suggestion is a good one, Count. I feel that my duty compels me to follow your plan, even though it may be against the instructions I have been given. Please, write your letter now."

[rufus sparkfire]

[Admund]

"Aye, that's fair enough," Konrad says, smiling at Admund's joke, "next time I'm caught taking bribes I'll ask for you to be the one holding the lash. Ha ha, seriously though, you're a good man for not holding a grudge. Let me buy you a drink sometime to make up for it."


[In the captain's office]

"It's only Acting Captain Kratz at the moment," Kratz says, "I'm on trial - if I do well enough, I might get to keep the job. The money's a lot better, but I'm not sure all the paperwork is worth it! Thanks for putting a good word in with the Commander. You must have really impressed him at that minotaur fight... the Commander doesn't impress easy, and he doesn't suffer failure either. I don't know if he really did whip Captain Braun right there in his office, but I can definitely believe he gave out the punishment personally. He was furious about that whole incident. And quite right too, because it was a travesty of justice. This city is better than that.

"I'm sorry I missed your minotaur fight, by the way! I'd have liked to have seen that. You can tell me all about it over that pint of Falling Fish. I'll be pleased to talk to your friend Julian too - he's already a bit of a legend for actually managing to defeat Dieter in a fair fight. Ulric's Beard though, it's going to be embarrassing if people find out the watch flogged the Graf's new champion! I hope Julian's the forgiving type."


Kratz listens carefully to Admund's thoughts on Brandt. "I don't know much about the man myself. He gained a lot of power very quickly, which means he's either very good at his job or he has a very deep wallet. He's been investigated before - quietly - and no one has been able to make anything stick. So that's why you're going to be investigating him without seeming to do anything of the sort." He winks.

"I'm sure Windhund Haulage is a front for some sort of crime, but again we haven't been able to prove it. I'm not sure there's enough to tie Brandt to it though - it could just as easily be one of van Ouwater's operations, or an independent gang. I think you should go directly after Brandt. His house sound like a good start." Kratz thinks for a moment. "What you need is an excuse to get in and have a look around. Now, if we were to get a report from a neighbour that a burglar had been seen breaking into the house last night, I could send a patrol to investigate. And maybe you'd just happen to be on that patrol. If Brandt isn't there, it should be easy enough to get the servants to let you in.

"I don't mind inventing the burglary report, but I'll have to send a full patrol if this is going to look legitimate. I can't put you in charge of it, and I also can't tell the rest of the patrol what you're really doing. You'll have to use your initiative. Reckon you can do that?"

[Karl Voss of Averland]

Admund grinds his teeth and thinks for a moment. "I've got a bad feeling about this, Kratz. The watch poking around Brandt's residence is sure to tip him off, or at least word of a burglary of his residence would get him acting more covert, no? Still, if this is the best way you think I can dig up anything on the guy, then I'll do it. It's going to be tricky not having anyone else in on this, but I think this could work."

[rufus sparkfire]

"I suppose you're right, Admund. I'm starting to wish the Commander had put someone else in charge - I don't have any experience of this sort of sneaky business. Have you got a better idea for getting into his house?"

[Karl Voss of Averland]

With his sallet helm under an arm, Admund runs a hand through his hair as he thinks. "I can't think of a way to get a closer look and what Brandt is doing without tipping him off that someone is on to him. I don't know the Middenheim that well, but I'll bet he didn't get to where he is without connections and money. I'm a sell-sword, not a spy, so your guesses are going to be as good as mine."

"I can only think of four places: Brandt's home, The Merchant Guild, His office at the Tax Komission, and Windhund. Investigating any of them is sure to get him defensive, right? I just don't quite see how he is connected to the taxes and slaving yet, but my gut tells me that he is pulling strings. If were looking for a connection between him and the taxes, his house or his office - neither of which he seems to frequent - will have some evidence somewhere. If the Marshals think this man is behind the taxes and slave trading, then I believe them. It looks like his house is going to be our best bet in turning up a clue."

[rufus sparkfire]

"I think we can rule out the Merchants' Guild and the Komission, at least for the moment. Both of those would draw too much attention. And like I said, we aren't sure Windhund is connected to Brandt. The house has got to be the best place to try first. Burglaries aren't that uncommon, so there's no reason for Brandt to think it's anything suspicious. Of course, the best thing would be if there really was a burglar... someone you could catch in the act. But we can't really pay someone to do it without risking discovery."

[Karl Voss of Averland]

"The fewer people that know about this the better. I don't think we can wait for an entrepreneurial burglar to go after Brandt, so we'll have to do it your way. You're right, his house is probably going to be our best bet for what we know. A watch patrol responding to a burglary report should be low key enough to not draw scruples from Brandt."

"There is something else Kratz." Admund reaches into his bag and pulls out a sealed scroll with Doktor Hegel's medical testimony to Dieter's Hypnotism. "I discovered that the former champion of the Graf was hypnotized into supporting the taxes. I took him to the physicians guild with Allavendrel Fanmaris to have him diagnosed and cured. This is the doctor's medical testimony to his hypnosis. See that this gets to the Midden Marshals as soon as possible."

Admund hands Kratz the sealed scroll, and fills him in on what he knows about the woman who hypnotized Dieter and Hultz. "Frau Kenner, Charlotte, Elise, or whatever her name is needs to be found. Apparently she's a master of disguise. However, we know that she pals around a scumbag sell-sword who frequents The Drowned Rat in Ostwald. He's tall, with long black hair, green eyes, and warts on his hands. If we can find him, we can find this woman, and then figure out who's behind the taxes. I'd put a warrant out for his arrest in case he ever wanders out of the Ostwald. Heinrich Kanone des Untergangs, who was flogged with me, is a bounty hunter. Any help The City can give him in finding the scumbag, the faster we'll know who's behind all this."

"Kratz, I don't know how this all fits, but this hypnotism is proof the Marshal's need that there are forces at court maliciously behind these new taxes. Whatever is going on here, it's big."

[commandant]

Mortus considers waking Max and then decides against it.   If that clucking hen has left him that he must be very unwell.   She will go to the merchants guild and ask after a Wind-dog carrying company.   If they tell her where it is she will go to their offices.

[rufus sparkfire]

[Admund]

"Aye, that'll have to be the plan then. It's not great, but it will have to do. Don't take any risks, and certainly don't let your sergeant see you doing anything suspicious."

Kratz is astonished by the medical testimony. "Hypnotized? Like you see at the carnival, when the conjurer makes people cluck like chickens? Can you really use that to make people say what you want them too? It's a frightening thought... I'll have this taken to the Commander at once. You've done well, Admund.

"This Kenner woman could be an agent of Brandt's maybe? Though if she's really that good at disguising herself it will be hard to prove the association. I'll make sure the sell-sword's description is circulated. I guess you know the watch don't go into Ostwald much." He frowns. "I'd like to change that, but I just don't have the manpower to fight the gangs. As it is, patrols that go there have been known not to come back. If your bounty hunter mate can find him, he'll be doing the city a big favour. Make sure he knows he'll get a decent bounty if he brings him in alive!

"I don't know if the hypnotism proves there's a big plot, Admund. Almost anyone could have paid the mystery woman to do that to Dieter. Even if Brandt did do it, he might have just been keen to push through a tax that doesn't hit merchants at all. That would be criminal, of course, but it's not some bid to take over the city. The Marshals are going to want a lot more before they take any serious action. So it's up to us to find them the proof they need.

"Lets get you sworn in - we'll do that in the courtyard, in front of the men. Don't forget, you'll have to call me 'sir' or 'captain' when we aren't alone! It's just basic discipline"

[rufus sparkfire]

[Mortus]

The Merchants' Guild [location 45] isn't too far from the Templar's Arms - it's only a couple of minutes away on Zellaut Strasse, not far from the Plague Memorial. The guild is an imposing building, decorated with elaborate stucco work in the Tilean style. Mortus goes inside and presents her credentials to the desk clerk. Her inquiry draws a blank look at first. "Wind Dog Carrying? That's rather an odd name, miss - are you sure that's correct? Yes? Excuse me a moment: Maria? Have you heard of a Wind Dog Carrying Company?"

"No, I can't say I... wait, maybe she means Windhund Haulage? It sounds like a bad translation to me."

"Ah, that must be it! Windhund Haulage [location 37], miss," the clerk tells Mortus, "is on Haupt Strasse, in the Wynd. They don't have an office in the guild."

Mortus leaves the Merchant's Guild and walks across town to the Wynd district. As she enters the district, she immediately notices that there are far more dwarfs here than there are elsewhere in the city. She turns onto Haupt Strasse, and soon finds Windhund Haulage: the company operate from an unassuming warehouse, with a walled yard attached.

[rufus sparkfire]

[Admund]

Kratz and Admund go out into the courtyard. Twenty or so watchmen are assembled there. Admund is uncomfortably reminded of the last time he was in this courtyard, and can't help but glance over at the whipping post. But, this time he's here for an entirely different reason.

"Admund Auerswalder," Captain Kratz says, "swear this oath on your sword. Repeat after me:

"I, Admund Auerswalder, do solemnly swear to uphold the laws of the great and glorious city-state of Middenheim at all times. I shall obey my superiors without question, and I shall lay down my life if necessary to preserve that of his most excellent highness, Graf Boris."

After Admund repeats the oath, Kratz says, "Then it is now my pleasure to welcome you into the watch!" The assembled watchmen cheer. Kratz hands Admund a blue and white surcoat with the city's arms embroidered on the breast.

[Fandir Nightshade]

Klaus will sit down and write the letter....it takes him a few moments to consider his options and how much he wants to tell the Law Lord...if he wouldn´t believe them it could mean trouble....even worse if he was playing false and part of the conspiracy.....but than he wouldn´t hide away cut off his seat of power. Well there wasn´t much choice finding out more what was going on.


Dear Law Lord Ehrlich,

my name is Klaus von Sternberg, myself and some other good people have been drawn by a chain of events into ...what we think is a conspiracy to harm the Empire. The new taxes here in Middenheim seem to be a part of this conspiracy. Other high members of the nobility have been blackmailed or hypnotized into supporting it. It seems similar pressure has been placed on. If you dare to discuss the matter with us I am sure together we can find a way out of the situation and prevent this dark scheme. Your trusty servant Herr Schmidt lead us to your villa, if you agree talking to us he can fetch us and we could talk about the situation.

Yours sincerely

Klaus von Sternberg

Klaus will hand the letter to Schmidt....."Ok then lets hurry."

[commandant]

Mortus will enter Windhund Haulage's warehouse, knocking on the door if need be and look around for some clerk or somebody to talk with.

[rufus sparkfire]

[Mortus]

Mortus goes into Windhund's office, and is met by a severe-looking middle-aged man. "I'm Theodore Gluckstein, the manager," he says, "what can I do for you?"