Marie joined the gathering, for once bereft of her plate armor and colorful surcoat. Having been so long on the road and in such rough company, the noblewoman had taken to wearing protective gear at almost all times, so it was rather shocking to see her in normal clothing. For she wore a simple white tunic, with tan breeches and simple but rugged knee-high boots covering them. If it wasn't for Lumière D'Argent sheathed at her side, her unusual pursuit of being a knight might not have been apparent in any fashion. As it was, with her hair up in a simple bun, some might mistake her for a androgynous looking academy youth, until they looked closer and noticed her more feminine features, which she took no pains to hide. And despite her injuries and slow recovery, all of you know that she was more than willing to settle matters with those that assaulted her with accusations of cross-dressing.

"Merci mon amour," Marie said to Etain with a smile, sitting with her and taking the ale that she had gotten for her.

She listened to Konrad intently, but did not say much at the moment. Perhaps her injuries were draining her initiative, or she was simply tired, but she couldn't think of anything constructive to add at the moment. Knowing the group, they would more than likely look into the matter. So she might as well enjoy as much downtime with Etain as possible in the short term.

The quite tall man that was sitting in the middle of room got up and approached the colorful group that was seated near the window at the far end of the Inn.

"Bonsoir and please accept my apologies for stumbling in on your affairs, but I could not withstand the sound of Bretonnian being spoken. It has been quite some time that I heard someone talking it." Gille spoke when nearing, both hands open towards them, both as a informal gesture and to ensure that he did not have a weapon at hand.

"But I'm unpolite, my name is Gille." He then made a little bow towards Marie and addressed her personally. "Mademoiselle, I take you are from Bretonnia as well? Or like we say in Bretonnia: Oruvaq zr ng gur bgure raq bs gur Vaa ner gjb zra qerffrq va qnex teborf jvgu n fpne ehaavat npebff gurve snpr. Gurl unir orra sbyybjvat lbh gb gur jngpu ubhfr rneyvre guvf qnl naq ner abj gelvat gb rnirfqebc ba lbhe pbairefngvba."
Gille offered a polite smile to the others. "Yes I know, we Brettons tend to use too much words."




As language groups are not setup I inserted a private line to Marie. Unless the group already agreed to put everything in the open, then I'll edit this message.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:26, Tue 18 Oct 2022.

"Bloody hell, sounds to me like we should be melting that damned ring."
 Jareik shook his head and took a sip. He could understand the captain wanting to do anything he could to help his sister but it all sounded like a wild goose chase and he was no smith or mage.

"Ain't gonna lie, seems to me like a shot in the dark and i'd say this is outside my field of expertise but as it happens..." He pointed towards the exotic group around him. "might actually know the right people for the job."

Granted they would have to actually agree first. Or most of them anyways. "So what say you lot? Up for another job? Miss Milly we would need you for sure , and if either of you smiths are in then I'd say we are sorted."

Failing that, other opportunities presented themselves.
"I'm liking the sound of those special jobs." An assignment few could handle equalled higher coin.

A tall man came up to their table, after his introduction Jareik looked at Marie then at the man and tipped his hat whilst offering a polite "Well hope you're enjoying your evening mate."

Figuring that the breton was just trying to flirt with his country woman, he wondered if he should say anything? Bah, Marie's a big girl and she already has a bodyguard.

It was a lot to take in with a single sitting but it wasn't anything too far outside of what she had been taught and learned at the old longbeard's feet. Not here or back home, for that matter. Still, her expression was a particularly grim kind of thoughtful as the questions started to burn like well stoked coals about this ring and everything surrounding it. It had already lingered from everything she gathered in a damned dark place for more than was healthy for anything or anybody. As seemed habit, more than anything, the Dwarfess toyed with the thick braid of copper hair that she seemed rather proud of before the newcommer, babbling in Breton, who seemed to be playing a dangerous game barging in and making overtures alongside Jareik's own pointed question managed to draw her out of her thoughts.

"I'm not one for letting mischief have it's way if you're asking for how I feel about lending a further hand. You may want to thank your ancestors though as while I ain't the master of all such things... I know a thing or three about runes. You wouldn't happen to have a rubbing or anything of what you're looking to untangle?" Cecla concluded with a note in her tone that suggested she found something deeply amusing despite the gravity of the moment and it managed to set a sparkle to her eyes... and cut through the typical dour nature of the mountain folk.

As for the Breton, the Dwarf offered a bob of her head in greeting. The gesture downright cheerful in it's way. "Long as the words mean something, no such thing." Cecla added by way of acceptance of anyone being a little too wordy here and there. Ancestors knew she'd gotten off on a tangent when it came to one topic or another.

Like Marie, Etain had changed, leaving her dirty clothes in a bag, waiting to be washed, she has her kilt, scandalously short by Empire standards but of a traditional length for her people, a thick shirt on top and she places the coat on the back of the chair. Upon giving the mug of ale she says "Sláinte" before kissing her on the forehead and taking her seat.

Listening to the job off she nodded and said "We could definitely do this while we recuperate, and the extra pay can't hurt. Spend some time forging and getting our equipment in order"

As the man talks she takes the opportunity to look past the newcomer and at the men in question Etain tries to see if one of them was the person she saw following them earlier before looking at the new arrival and Marie "I had a suspicion that we were being followed once we left the watch house but I wanted to make sure before I brought it up." If she sees Marie shift to move or get up she will put a hand on her leg and slightly shake her head.

Gille noticed Etain looking pass him to the two shadowy figures and raised an eyebrow. He mentality noted that the red haired woman could understand Bretonnian as well.

20:42, Today: Gille Milroy rolled 46 -- 1 degree of success using the Warhammer Test system with a target number of 58.  easy perception.

When the tall man approached their table, Marie had readied herself for either a drunken comment, or a chastisement from a conservative soul who did not approve of her manner of dress, or company. So she was pleasantly surprised when not only was in none of those things, but it was clear that this person was a fellow countrymen. And while Etain spoke the Breton tongue beautifully, her accent was not of Bretonnia, so it was nice to hear it after being so long from her homeland.

But then his words caught up with her exhausted and injured brain. And it was a good thing that Etain's restraining and reassuring hand held her back. For even in her current condition, her first instinct was to draw steel and call out the two men that Gille had indicated. She didn't know exactly why the fiery-haired woman had stopped her, but the noblewoman trusted the woman's instincts. Instead, she simply addressed Gille in her native tongue in order to not raise suspicion.

[Language unknown: "Ntialleve alon ch ei allnteshe Oveillyinble Maatnc. Atee st. Ac eies ad Outmenven Ineainstaess, notaitit'leel n Betrtoel Nimoespe, Mecafo u Latoutthaone. Sanardion, Of ho plut an herck, lihe hasul elany ei lool linainsti ouilul unetul rehiee, dayno olpo liesou out seic o nibe wilntehasounwhe?"] the Bretonnian noblewoman asked with a cocked eyebrow.

Gille looked surprised at Marie's introduction, it took some seconds to digest that revelation and to make up his mind if he should answer in Breton or in Reikspiel. He chose the latter as there was nothing to be said that would alarm the other men.

"Ha, Lady Arceneaux, that would make you the knight I saw at the watch house, what a surprise. The lady hails from Carcassonne, I myself was a Shepperd there before I decided to try and sell my service in this land." Gille ended his introduction before answering the question Marie had asked.

"What was I doing at the watch house you ask? I arrived today as an escort for a trade caravan from Null and was looking at the mercenary guild for another job. Nothing much to find there, if I might add, nothing with honor that is. And then I noticed a Knight of the Lady which I must say, triggered my curiosity. And as such I noticed other things as well. So for my motivations, one should always try to do the right thin. And as I am seeking coin, an eccentric group of adventures seems more likely to be able to offer it than the mercenary guild."

The two men behind, as Gille quickly discover - eye around and are alert. Suddenly one gentle nudges the other, and with a mutual nod, rises calmly, to exit the door without fuss. They make little ruckus or even spare you a look for the time being. Just focused on the door.
As Gille eye them, he notices, just above their hand a small mark, about the size of a small coin.
A small, partial circle - like a moon, with a line through it. They both have it.
They leave coin on the table and head out, the drinks however only half empty.

"It seems our friends will find out it is time to leave." Gille stated.

"Say, does a mark the size of a penny that looks like a moon with a strike through it means something to you? Both men have it." he added, looking back to the table and then to the men heading for the door.

"Smashing." Jareik nodded at the affirmations received.
Well Konrad, looks like we might be able to give a hand. The gates then, we'll meet you there."

The man he previously dismissed as trying his luck with Marie spoke to the table as a whole. Hearing him mentioning Marie being the one knight he saw previously at some previous occurence only cemented that impression.

"Hmm? Ah afraid, not mate" he said with a shrug and reasoning this was some sort of setup where he will mime looking for some moon mark only to find it on one of the women's bosoms and make some salacious joke.
Neither Etain or Marie seemed to be reacting negatively so he can only assume whatever the brettonian was doing, it was working.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:07, Wed 26 Oct 2022.

Etain shakes her head when the new Bretonnian asks about the tattoos and says "Not that I know of, but Imperial customs often elude me."

"Kept mostly to Clan and the Colleges here... So can't say it's stuck in memory if I had." Cecla offered after a moment of ruminating over the thought, fingers drumming against her chin as if to try and pry or shake something lose. Being followed wasn't a new turn of the gear but at least this time it was something, hopefully, a little recognizable. Easier to put steel and fire to it if you knew what it was and how it made about the work of a fight, after all.

At Gille's explanation of how and why he had followed them, Marie had to admit that one of her first instincts was to question whether the man had gotten proper permission from his lord to leave his service and lands, but she had to push that down for the urgency of the moment.

"You may have come to the right place for coin and adventure, Monsieur," she replied to the former shepherd.

"And these potential thieves and spies now break for the cover of night as all cowards do, please tell me why we did not accost them and demand answers right this very moment?" the noblewoman asked, looking around the table with a cocked eyebrow.

As she looked, the Knight of the Realm racked her brain for knowledge of the symbol that her countryman had noticed. She had traveled far, and seen many things in her time.

OOC Mechanics
16:29, Today: Marie Arceneaux rolled 23 -- 2 degrees of success using the Warhammer Test system with a target number of 49. Common Knowledge - The Empire.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:34, Sun 30 Oct 2022.

Marie racks her mind and a few things spring up from her travels.
Morrslieb - the green moon, and partner to Mannslieb, is the two moons orbiting the world and the empire itself. Believers are many, both those in the rows of Morrs but also Skaven, Beastmen and deprave chaos cults who idolize the moons symbolic nature.
One place and thought comes to mind - and that points to a whole new concern.
The mark of slaanesh - A round sphere, with a long rod on it ending in a moon. Behind it, another moon, and through the back moon the front rod passes.
You saw but a glimmer of their hand, but focusing on the rod and backmoon alone, could well, signal a breaker cult whom are clever enough to twist their mark to be less than ideal - and this logic has been seen more than once..Marie can count several encounters in her past where she, has met cults whom were born out of other cults, but shared the same ideoligy.
Its a wild guess but makes dreaful sense held against her experience.

While musing Konrad got up and nodded at Jareik, and the rest. Commenting to Gilles also, he stated calmly.
"I will be waiting there. Come at any time, and you sir seem capable and a perfect fit for this also. Bring your fervor and will and we will find much use for all. I must go, good night to you all until we meet again.."
He drank up, gathered his things and ventured unceremoniously out the door.

"Eh, did I miss something?" said Jareik with a head turn and a raised eyebrow, although he had tried his best to ignore what he assumed was a private conversation, he caught the last bit of marie's words and gathered that maybe the tall man wasn't just doing smooth talk to get into someone's pants. Konrad seemed to second that impression by suggesting the man tag along with them.

"Allright, have a good one." said Jareik raising his tankard in goodbye. Well that's a shame, and here he had been looking forward to some fun tonight but seems there was no rest for the wicked, if they were on a job the next day he couldn't exactly spend the rest of the night getting hammered. He would have to console himself with the weight of a heavier purse instead.

"So what's all this about spies and thieves and moon shaped marks then?" he asked, focusing back on Marie and the unknown man.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:01, Mon 31 Oct 2022.

There was much happening at once and yet nothing at all as Marie suggested. Gille had not expected to be drafted into this group by Konrad, but the job offered seemed promising and well payed.

He nodded in acknowledgement at Konrad when the man got up and out of the tavern. Gille then addressed Jareik: "My apologies Herr, there were just two men leaving that I've found spying on you today and eavesdropping on your conversation this evening. They both had that strange marking I just described."

Gilles waited to see if there was something new to be added to the conversation by someone, for he needed to secure lodging for the night, be it in this place or another.

Jareik's brow furrowed. "That right? Curious, we just came back from a little trip outside Altdorf so no idea what makes us so damned fascinating. Well other then being a colorful bunch I guess but this is Altdorf, all sorts pass here all the time."

Perhaps the mistake was in assuming the entire group was being spied upon when more likely it's a particular individual that is being stalked.
"Don't suppose anyone has any enemies or feuds from home the rest of us should know about?"
Of course there was also the possibility it was linked to their recent assignment...? Nah it couldn't be, that witch would have to be insane to try her shenanigans in Altdorf of all places.

Likely the explanation was much more mundane and he was over thinking it.

"Well regardless, we'll keep an eye out but it's probably just a group of local pickpockets, we did just get paid after all so maybe they were gauging how easy of a mark we were."

Anyone trying to make off with his purse will have one less arm that's for sure.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:14, Wed 02 Nov 2022.

"Those men that followed us, and just made their escape...I think...I think they had tattoos reminiscent of some recent...eccentric local religions that we have recently become acquainted with. If that is the case, perhaps we should try to chase these rats to their nest?" Marie finally said after wracking her brain, and using euphemistic language so as not to start a panic among the goodly drunkards around them.

"Here in Altdorf? Sigmar give me strength." rued Jareik as Marie articulated his least favorite theory, taking a big gulp from his tankard to gain a measure of said strength.


"Well can't hurt to try at least, let's see if they were stupid enough to loiter around." he finished his tankard in one gulp and headed for the door as briskly as he could short of running people over.
"Scuse me, scuse me, passing through, sorry mate, scuse me, scuse me..."

Once outside he looked left and right in a vain attempt to catch any hint of a moon shaped tattoo.

Etain gave Marie a sour look when she suggests going after them and says  then as Jareik gets up and starts moving she sighs and looks back to Marie

Jareik can only sigh. Altdorf is in itself, and know to many, a glorified Rat nest.
Heavy streets, lots of crannies and roads between a plethora of housings, sewers spreading wide, and heavy degree of population around the clock.
The men are gone, at least out of sight - but could be far, close or anything in between.
Going after them right now would be a fruitless exercise right now. It's dark and no trails to be had. If they are an enemy, they have the upper hand for now.

Konrad gave a lead and the previous task sorted allowing for the group to pick up any tasks or rather rest and join Konrad in the morning.
The inn is calming down, few leaving - and in an hours time serving will halt. The upper floor has sufficient rooms for the lot of you.

Gilles looked at Marie after Etain remark and noticed what had slipped his eye the first time in the dim lights of the inn, Marie was battered and bruised. There must have been quite some fight and the fact that this group was sitting here, Gille wondered how those that had been on the other end of the knights steel had fare.

When Jareik rose and headed to the door he answered Etain, in Breton as well, reacting automaticcaly on his mother tongue and not to offend the others.
'[Language unknown: Ous ect di.]'.
But Gille did not notice the rest their reaction as he headed to the door as well.

Outside, his hand firmly gripped around the haft of his axe, but the weapon not out in the open. He looked around, peering into the dark streets that still were full of activity.
"No use in getting killed tonight." Gilles remarked, he hint of unease in his voice. He preferred the woods above the city, but one could find not that much coin in the latter.

Gille glanced over his shoulder to the door. Although he wished to go inside, he would not leave Jareik alone and would follow him should the man start a search.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:09, Wed 02 Nov 2022.

[Language unknown: "Pa whimo, se As llfind i ainainill ilives ss are hou, P ileick ceiohe er moreth m chhe hockat weout redwheman om erro u et trfimaanwi t onch nonepe nabeca. Aiisin, orech com ursiieti n rut, olbut wh Ansi conhasesssta a thebe, prean ne risiro iveareion er?"] she replied, smiling at the red-haired woman.

Placing a hand on the pommel of her Birth Sword, Marie followed the others to the exterior. As she feared, they had waited to long, and now their one known connection to these men was gone. Vanished into the hungry night of the grand city.

When they returned to the interior of the inn, Marie inquired as to whether they had baths on premises, and if she gave them a coin, would they summon a barber specializing in women's hair? The fact that they might also help with injuries was left unsaid.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:26, Wed 02 Nov 2022.

Jareik's eyes were sharper in the dark then most but it was a fruitless search.
"Ah bollocks. Well even if I did feel like chasing dodgy folk into back alleys, seems they didn't stick around." he said with a shrug and returned inside back to their table, ordering one last drink for himself on the way.

"No point worrying about it for now and we got a job to do tomorrow. So Gilles was it? I'm Jareik. Konrad vouches for you so that's good enough for me, but hope you at least know how to swing a sword, IF miss Marie was right about who those people were, chances are you will have to. "
This message was last edited by the player at 17:47, Wed 02 Nov 2022.