Exit Boatman
- The party leave the Boatman Inn, with egos and bodies slightly battered after a run-in with some arrogant nobles and their local bully stooge, a tough man in black leathers who goes by the name Max Ernst.
- Siggy and Artur are both a little worse for wear and are propped up mainly by the boatman Josef Quartjin as they stagger down the Street of a Thousand Taverns towards his boat moored in the docks.
- It’s reasonably late, but the famous thoroughfare still has groups of people hanging around outside inns and a few gangs of revellers crawling from one hostelry to the next.
- Against the background noise, Fritz notices a pattern of footsteps that matches their stop-start egress. Looking around, nobody particularly stands out, but he gets a strong sense of being watched.
Manic Street Preacher
- Towards the bottom end of the Street they approach a manic looking preacher lamenting under a torchlight.
- As the group pass, his gaze locks directly on them and his tone intensifies as he spouts his prophecy.
- Josef tunes the preacher out and presses on past with Siggy and Artur, urging the others to keep up.
- Fritz is enraptured as the preacher appears to speak directly to him. Already paranoid by the hostile and claustrophobic vibe of the capital, and a sense of being observed, the dire prophecy sends a shiver down his spine.
- At the climax of his speech, the preacher collapses, convulsing and frothing while onlookers ridicule the performance and a couple of drunk youths charge up to boot him in the ribs before jauntily continuing up the road.
- Fritz rushes over to revive the preacher, frantically asking what he meant.
- Falken also realises that the tone of the speech changed dramatically when the group passed, and rushes over to assist, as the preacher passes out.
- Quickly scanning his trappings, Falken scoops up 2 shillings 8 pennies from a begging cap next to the pitch.
Bolts in the Dark
- Anxious to find out the meaning of the prophecy, Fritz desperately scans around for someone who can help revive the preacher. The crowds are thinning slightly, and most passers-by are either quietly or raucously ignoring them.
- However, two men stand and watch them from back up the Street as he holds the preacher’s body in his arms. They look cautiously on, while also scanning past as if keeping a lookout.
- Dressed conspicuously identically, Fritz realises that he has seen the duo earlier that evening in the Konigplatz where they disembarked. He catches their attention.
- Nervously they make nonsensical gestures back to him. He beckons them over, and after a brief exchange between themselves they gather pace and start towards him.
- As they reach within a few yards, there is a subtle echo of dull ratcheting and thud, followed by nearly silent whimpers as each suddenly keel forward and faceplant the paving.
- A precisely placed crossbow bolt sticks out of the back of each man’s head and blood starts to pool around them, running through the cracks to where the preacher stood.
- There is no apparent assailant and the sight of bolts brings back the memory of the fight with the mutants in the forest a few days earlier.
- At this omen, Fritz and Falken jump up and run down the street to reunite with their companions.
- At the bottom of the road, they turn the corner and look around for Josef, Siggy and Artur.
- A boisterous crowd outside the Black Bull blocks the path, and they jostle past what seems like another fracas between dockland drinkers and drunk toffs, to catch up with their host.
Altdorf Feels You
- Fritz is especially agitated at the night’s proceedings, and shares his concerns with Josef as they hasten towards the boat.
- Josef agrees that the city is an unwelcoming place at the best of times. He dismisses the ravings of the preacher as typical of the sort of lunatic trying to excite citizens for a piece of silver. He suggests that they make an early start to Bogenhafen and get out of this accursed place.
- They soon arrive at the Berebeli, Josef’s boat, which he advises them to board quietly to avoid waking his crew Wolmar and Gilda.
- The lapping of the Reik rocks the boat gently and most of the party sleep soundly.
- Fritz seems more deeply affected by his first night in the capital. Though still intrigued by the prophecy, he feels fortunate at the opportunities that Altdorf presents, and particularly ready to embrace the first of these his new career as a Boat-hand.
Welcome to the Berebeli
- The travellers arise and are greeted by the friendly faces of Wolmar and Gilda when they emerge from their sleeping quarters above deck.
- A delicious breakfast of kippers, bean sauce and potato cakes is served and the party exchange news and pleasantries with their guests.
- Josef has already gotten up and set out to complete some final errands. He returns with a sense of urgency accompanied by two passengers.
- Ernst Heidlemann is a medical student who made contact with Josef at the Boatman Inn the night before, seeking passage to Bogenhafen.
- ‘Mystic’ Megret See is a slight woman in her 50s who tours the Empire telling fortunes. She often travels on the Berebeli and is presently also on her way to Bogenhafen for the Schaffenfest.
Exit Altdorf
- Josef takes the party to one side as the new passengers settle.
- The nobles they were goaded by the night before have been found murdered and the Watch are looking for the group, in particular Fritz and Artur who were reportedly seen fighting with the entourage.
- It is time to leave Altdorf.
- The crew, including Fritz, and with the help of the rest of the party set about readying the boat and within an hour are on their way.
To Weissbruck
- The Berebeli leaves Altdorf past a large Imperial fleet and heads towards the narrow Weissbruck Canal, passing a troop of Roadwardens travelling along the towpath.
- Over the coming days the party rest well, and become friendly with Josef and his crew.
- Heidlemann is content to keep to himself, and the group do not engage with him.
- Fritz quickly learns the basics of handling a boat under the tutelage of Wolmar, Gilda and Josef.
- Artur helps out with the cooking and takes the opportunity to paint the sights along the canal.
Feathery Friends
- Falken and Meg recognise they have a shared spirit, and they begin to develop a connection.
- He confides in her the fear of his power and the effect it had back home.
- She helps him build some confidence to develop his control, starting with befriending some of the birds that fly alongside them on the canal.
- Artur overhears the petty magic utterances, and acknowledges Falken’s nature to him.
- Meg offers to mentor Falken on the path to become a Mystic (starting off at Rank 1 as Fortune Teller, WFRP p82).
Fortunes Told
- Over the course of the journey, Meg reveals something to each of the party members.
- To Falken: “I see a dark man. He is not what he seems.”
- To Artur: “Beware of a big man, a rich man. He will bring much danger.”
- Fritz asks Meg about the prophecy. She is unable to comment on it, except to suggest it has the extravagance of a showpiece pronouncement. As she dismisses it though, her tone adjusts. She grips his arm, mutters “Death! I see a dark place. A narrow place, with water. There is death there,” and wretches.
Ahoy Weissbruck
- Early in the evening of the third day, the Berebeli reaches the bustling town of Weissbruck.