Its been days, long hours on the roads.
Sun, rain, clouds all passing by, with all of you in various stages of anguish, pain and fatigue. The hamlet of damnation, of Juno's tireless grip on it and it's cursed end to Bianca, the druidess and maiden of the woods, Karl who left behind family and friends, most notably those whom hired you, sister and the guard captain both seeking his return, only to likely be faced with a horrid story, a grim tale of loss, fear and demise.

Life in the realms of the empire was at it's core. Hard.
Brutally hard.
Words could not entail it better.

In the distance, you noticed an outline, gates - walls, tall and impressive, with guards on top. The signature gates into the city of Altdorf were unmistaken to anyone who had set foot here.

At the gates you were, briefly, questioned and led in, mentioning the call as per the watch captain - it seems he had left open words with them to let you in if mentioned.

The streets inside remained bustling and every nook and cranny had a sight to behold.
Wandering rascals, thugs, citizens - merchant stalls high and low and storefronts littered throughout.
Coming in southwards, the place of initial interest, the watch headquarters, lay north of your, through two bridges and some of the most busy streets the city held.
Along part of the Reik, that in standard fashion reeked of waste and what else could hide beneath.

You had arrived. Alive, for some more than others, and with scars on your mind.
Juno had fled, the mutants dead, the civilians from Faltdorf either cursed to return and or freed to rebuild. Witch Hunters would, inevitably find the place, and turn it to cinders unless something was rectified.

The city was overwhelming - going from silence and fresh air for weeks, to being confined in organized chaos and a constant noise - it was at best tolerable, although for some, it allowed for them to truly grow and find cause. Ranald blessed everyone differently and the way used made all the difference.

Before you lay many choices.
Would the route, through busy streets to the Captain Hartesel be the first call? You knew 40 gold crowns awaited you which could be helpful for next steps.
Would departing to find Karl's sister, Frau Helena Magnussen, be of relevance?
Perhaps the wounds, and dire need of resourceful aid would be of key to some.
Whatever choices you made, you had for once, and for a moment - air to choose actions that refer to you and no one else and to gather ones bearings. What would happen next? No one knew....


OOC:
Vague, but with lots of things to do, XP to spend, healing to be done, see this as a brief interlude to handle whatever is likely needed post one long trip before new matters could rear it's ugly head.

The journey back to Altdorf had been a long, lonely, and difficult road, especially for the two wounded women. Indeed, despite being a fearless, tenacious warrior, Marie had only awoken from her wounds in the past day. Despite that, she was already sitting high and proud on Josette, despite the look of exhaustion on her face. For her part, the Bretonnian Charger was in a much better mood now that her rider was ambulatory, and the fine steed actually looked a bit more confident in the aftermath of their last battle, if such a thing was possible for a horse. Marie might enjoy the company of these Imperials, and Albioni lover, but she was still of Bretonnia. She had buffed and polished her plate armor as best she could, and tried to wring as much blood and mud from her surcoat, but that would take a professional launderer to revive.

Still, despite the lingering wounds, the filth from the road, and the horror of their recent battles, things could have gone so much worse. The young noblewoman had prayed hard to the Lady of the Lake for their deliverance, even if they had only been delivered to the shit-filled streets of the Imperial capitol.

"Should we not seek out Captain Hartesel before all other business?" she asked weakly after they had passed through the guards and their questioning.

She was a woman of duty and honor, so it was unsurprising that she would suggest the completion of their agreement before all else.

OOC Mechanics
Wounds: 1/15
FP    : 4/4

Etain spent most of their travel time fretting over Marie, fussing about her state, how she felt and trying to make sure she got enough rest and didn't over exert herself. One night after Marie had fallen asleep, Etain took her surcoat and went to a nearby creek and tries to wash it a bit better than the Knight had done and tried polishing her armour but it ended up being too noisy.

From the cart as they walked into the city she helped guide the cart aside and out of the way and said "Agreed, we should meet the Captain but I think after that we need to find lodgings and perhaps a doctor for you and Milly. I would also like to find a forge I can work at and some materials."

STATS
W: 9/15
F: 3/3

"Aye, best to nip that particular business before anything else can get away from us. I'll have to see if my own master has made his way back home or is still visiting. Can probably find a nice enough forge for you though long as the greybeards aren't feeling too territorial." Cecla offered with a rueful grin at the thought of clan and the heat of a forge. Not that the men of the Empire knew how to build them proper but they were getting an idea as the years stretched on in her opinion.

She set her own measured pace with the journey back but did what she could to keep their camps in order and help with the wounded. She'd come off light and easy when it came to the brawls they had found themselves in and there was a thought to reviewing her own choice in equipment with one of the more martially minded of her kinfolk.


W: 9/15
FP: 2/3

"That would be appreciated, finding a forge space is generally hard enough for most, even more difficult for with those who these Imperials view as lesser" she tells the Dwarf before looking at the lengths of wood on the cart "It would be good to strike steel while we recuperate for a while.

A few days trip isn't that long but with the wounded in tow travelling back was a miserable slog.
Jareik kept expecting the forest beast men to chase and harass them during their retreat but no incident happened thankfully.

"Ah nice to be back at civilization." he said cheerfully as they arrived, oblivious to any of sights and smells that might offend some of his companions. After all as far as he was concerned, there was no place greater or grander then Altdorf.

"Sooner we give in our report, sooner we get paid and sooner witch hunters can be dispatched." he said agreeing with the others about visiting the captain first.

Hearing Etain bringing up the necessity to look for accomodations prompted him to make a suggestion:
"Can  always put in a good word at the merc's guild if ya want. They take a cut of the jobs but otherwise cover lodgings and basic supplies, can't ask for a fairer deal. Heck, they see so many foreigners coming and going all the time you lot probably wouldn't even be the oddest pair they've accepted."


Stats:
W: 2/16
F: 4/4

This message was last edited by the player at 23:06, Tue 27 Sept 2022.

Milly on her end didn't enjoy the journey back in the slightest, although the closer they got to their destination the more bearable it became. All in all, by the time they arrived to Altdorf, she still looked like the picture of misery. "I couldn't agree more, we were hired to report back too and that's what we ought to do. Besides, there is much more to do with a fuller pouch and no shortage of dues eager to make it light again." And on that she wasn't joking, the Orders were seldom known to suffer members skipping their payments.

"Should we then? It is only right that all of us go and I am as good as certain that the Captain will have no qualms about entitling you two with a share otherwise belonging to those who didn't make it." She reassured the dwarf and the knight.

---

Health: 1/12
Fortune: 2/2
This message was last edited by the player at 19:02, Wed 28 Sept 2022.

***Post meeting the captain and fining shelter***

With Cecla's help Etain finds a forge that is willing to accept her and allow her to work for a few days while the party heals up. She buys the metals she'll need start her work, the wood she will need she uses the fallen limbs of the Oak tree from the grove, carefully working the wood while the metals heat and allowing it to rest as she beats the metal, folding it in on itself and removing impurities with each strike and honing the shape to her desired work. Sometimes the metal moved with her and other times it did not, snapping as it overheat in one spot or refusing to form the way she wanted.

A small walk through the city, over the current of the Reik twice, and the maintained yet worn bridges you eye the large structure that the watch headquarter is, near the government of Altdorf itself.

You see patrols, guards and soldiers preparing and watchmen running shifts, and a large door stand open behind you.
A few nod at you, making no effort to halt you but quickly check you out, as you enter.

Within you are halted at the desk - and at your request, a clerk is summoned.
Asking for the paperwork originally made to align on the task at hand, but also to verify that the captain could be disturbed, he nods.
"This way please. He is busy with his sister, but this relates so I will lead you on. Stay close."

Walking into the large compound you are lead down and right, to a large guarded office.
The door is opened and upon entering you see the watch commander, look up. In the seat before him, his sister, Karl's wife.
They both look at you all and sigh in relief.
"You return. Alive. And I hope with some assurance and information on what happened? Sit, stand, but do share what you saw and know."