Lukas glanced at Gunther for a moment, before turning back to quartet from 'The Bawdy Goblin' and nodding.

"Yes Gunther, these are the people I told you about."

He turned back to Edgar, Harkrin, Jocelin and Fyodor.  "This is Gunther and his friends.  They saved my life and in turn I'm helping them with a bit of local escort duty of my own to Grimminhagen.  I can vouch for them, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for them."

"Um," the olive complexioned woman says, her accent Tilean. "I tink we are actually going near Grimminhagen-" she slowly and carefully pronouces the Reikspiel. "Not in it. Si Gunther?"

She looks at Gunther. The red haired man does not look happy at this sharing of information but nods in assent.

Fyodor warned the foreigners "Grimminhagen danger place. Big beastman roam. And mutants. Beat shit out Lukas. No army, no go."

for a moment Edgar was at a loss and allowed the others to talk over each other at Lukas then he stepped forward " You big human loaf of stale bread.... you gave me a near heart attack when you went over the bridge. I dived down the back and searched the river bank for your body I was even going to ride nibbles down river to at least find your body and give it a proper burial......" for a moment there was a stern anger in the halfling's voice but soon it dropped away and a smile spread across his face

 " don't you ever do that to me again ....you hear if you intend to die do it on land so I can morn over your body" he then huffed and held out his hand ....as his dad used to say a handshake resolved all issue between friends

Jocelin brightened at the olive-skinned woman's accent. "Oh, charming! Ah..." She attempted a halting phrase in a foreign tongue.  "Ha, sorry... I'm rusty, it's been so long since I've done more than read that language!"

---

OOC:
DM, would you set up language groups for us?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:27, Wed 05 May 2021.

For a few moments Pieter let the others handle the introductions, his learned wariness helping him fade into the background, but their clear begrudging  delight at being reacquainted with Lukas prompted him to step for, “Pieter. Lukas has said much of the Defenders of … the town”
This message was last edited by the player at 04:43, Thu 06 May 2021.

Lukas smiled at the halfling's words and felt rather embarrassed at his feelings of anger and abandonment.  He had jumped to conclusions but he had no reason to dispute the words of Jocelin and Edgar.  Lukas shook Edgar's hand warmly and returned the smile, "I promise I will die on land next time," he laughed.  He pretended not to hear Luciana's comments about where they were going.  He felt he could not speak on behalf of Gunther and his plan even though Luciana had let slip Grimminhagen wasn't their final destination.

He caught Luciana's eye and raised his own eyebrow in interest.  It was a curious position, he had loyalty to Gunther and his group - what Luciana did for him he would never forget and yet he was but a guide for them.  He also had a kinship with the people of Untergard and this band of individuals who he lived with in the aftermath of the assault on time.  Both in and out, he was both alone and the conduit to these groups.  He had advised Gunther, passing on both his recommendation and caution.  His sense of loyalty though prevented him from speaking further.

Pieter forced a smile at Lukas' attempt at banter, though it seemed warm enough, "Luciana is right, our errand is close by the town, not in Grimminhagen. We should be in and out before the beastherd catches our scent..."

His own eyebrow unconsciously mirrored that of the charcoal burner, raised at Luciana, "Can we let Lukas discharge his debt, let him and his friends continue on with the ... people .. of Untegard? Or do we need him a little longer?"

As he asked, his eyes flicked to the man's companions, a steady bunch, useful in a pinch, and hoped she received the interfence

"We are near Grimminhagen." the dwarf pointed out to the strangers. "I assume you are looking for some other near?"

Harkrin was not particularly happy about their presence and their talk was difficult to follow. Sure, they were looking for something around the town, but the way they put it... well, it sounded like they tried to hide something. And that made him distrust them. At least for now.

The Tilean woman's eyebrows shot up as Jocelin spoke, and she turned an amused looking smile and wink at the wizardess. [Language unknown: "Era p enck Finell. Was Traoutlatere? T Whiromhas ll Andmenest."]

Gunther snorted at this but said nothing.

Hilde, the blonde watchwoman walks past you. "I hate to break up this friendly meeting but the rest of us are heading North," she gestures to the convoy of refugees which is indeed slowly pulling away from you.

Gunther glances at the others then comes to a decision. "Yes, we're heading north too, we'll join you for a while. I ah think our destination lies further along anyway." He looks to both Pieter and Lukas for your confirmation.

"Indeed, past the town and north for a while", nodded Pieter warily, though he pasted on a smile. His eyes flicked between Gunther and Luciana, then back to Lukas as well, "We're happy to keep the column moving and our eyes open, if there's a warm fire or some bread we might share, Frau Hilde"

"These people won't have much Pieter, but the folk of Untergard are nothing if not generous with what little they have," suggested Lukas.  He doubted there was enough to feed the convoy let alone others but he also knew that Schiller would be grateful for a few more eyes and blades covering the trek to Middenheim.  How close they would go is another matter.

"It's settled then, we'll bring up the rear of this column until our friends need to depart.  Hilde, we'll get word up to Captain Schiller that there are a few more joining us for a short while.  Ulric knows it will be needed, we narrowly escaped the attention of a band of beastmen just last night ourselves."

Lukas warily eyed Luciana.  He did not understand her words when she spoke in her native tongue, but he suspected she was glad to use it.  Neither Gunther nor Pieter seemed overly impressed with her at the moment but Lukas chose to trust her judgement, after all it wasn't really his business.

Agreeing that they had to move on Lukas began to walk.  He turned to the assembled group to ask how they had fared in Grimminhagen.  "Did you go to warn them of the incoming beastherd?  Were they as stubborn as mules?"

He suspected that before the people of Grimminhagen left they would count every brass penny less they drop one on the walk to Middenheim.

The big warrior shifted his on his feet and pointed at himself "Fyodor"

"We go. Herd be here soon." he said as the group seemed to have agreed on joining forces.

Edgar looked up a Lukas " yes I delivered the message myself....and yes they are as stubborn as a dead mule, sadly I doubt we will see any of them alive again" he fell silent at that sobering thought and continued to walk

Jocelin beamed at the foreigner. "[Language unknown: Traareati, Eauainven! Ticoreshe Eniole te iou un. N il thnone Ingint'entave ck etetee, anall astthaour houichbut eretus! Diil ndho one El? Ma! Amees pe atidintha inethatha, and estalllat. eiFor resshehat fo elch eenro werdayare usronc o wefoanat any m illstrpro ulatun was omleelss ntwer fois ilalha as ivof!n]"

She nodded at the prospect of traveling with Lukas' friends, and only tut-tutted the predicted fate of the Grimmenvolk at the halfling's dire prediction. "Oh this one is so dramatic. The volk have the right reverence for Sigmar: they'll pull together despite the hardships, though, yes, they will grieve for those lost for lack of help..."

Lukas smirked at Jocelyn's enthusiastic, hopeful yet perhaps naive remark.  He appreciated her force of nature and enthusiasm which was like a flash of colour on a grey day at times.

He did however share Edgar's assessment of the situation and nodded along with the halfling.

"I imagine that in your trade it is rarely good news you are carrying and it is messages of worry and sorrow you have to impart.  If you wish to enamour yourself with the people of Untergard and raise their spirits and speed to Middenheim I'd tell them what you told me.
There are a fair few here who would be glad to see the back of Grimminghagen!"

Perhaps it was inappropriate to jest about the sacking of a town after what befell his own home but these times brought the grimmest of humours....

"Aye, the locals are as stubborn as those damned dwarves of Karak Norn." Harkrin added.

"sadly my friend if I was going to speak the message aloud to the town it would cause more panic than would be advisable.." he looked back at the town as they left to rejoin the column sighed " this will be a town of the dead soon enough"

Pieter simply nodded, not wanting too much attention and seemingly pleased that Lukas had suggested they take the rearguard

Introductions having been made the expanded group finds itself part of the rearguard of the slowly moving column of refugees. Grimminhagen gradually falls behind, lost behind the dark green wall of the tree line.

As the day marches on the weather grows cooler even as the sky remains blue and clear, promising a morning frost. Luciana, hailing from sunny Tilea looks notably chilly and wraps a cloak ever harder around her frame but the Imperials are less affected - and to Klinka and the Kislevite Fyodor a little bite to the air still feels positively balmy.

As the evening approaches Captain Schiller passes word down the line that they intend to camp for the night by the side of the road.

---

OOC: If anyone wants to go up to talk to Captain Schiller (or Granny Moescher or Father Dietrich for that matter) they can easily do so - the refugees are moving at the rate of the slowest ox-drawn wagon.

Jocelin insists Luciana come with her to Granny Moescher, as she seems most likely to have (or know who would have) a thick northern shawl for her new acquaintance. She'll then suggest they visit with Father Dietrich as the other educated (and most cosmopolitan) member of the company.

A day's march would normally leave one weary but the pace of march and the threat of what lay behind them made him feel quite anxious.  It was right to camp for the night, carrying on would do the people no favours although he felt they were terribly exposed on the road. Soon he would make himself known to Schiller, he suspected he'd have already heard the news of his miraculous return from the dead but nevertheless he respected and owed the captain that news first hand.  He would also assure Schiller that he would take a watch at the rear of the group during the night.

But first he needed a moment's rest and sat down next to Pieter and rested his bones for a while.

Edgar sat next to Lukas please his friend had survived. From his backpack the halfling took out a small black pan and some potatoes which he peeled the skin off in long thin strips.
He then diced the potatoes up and added dried herbs and seasoning before adding some water and just a little ale from two bottles. while that bubbled away he took the skins and placed them on a small iron plate he also took out of his pack. to these he added a small cut of fat he kept wrapped in greased paper as they cooked he sat quietly tasting thing every now and then.

Finally he took out two wooden bowls and spooned a helping of spiced potatoes and crispy skins into them before handing one to Lukas " its not high fare but it is tasty and will keep you going perhaps tomorrow one of us can catch a hare and I can add meat to it."

With that he put a lid on the pan intending to offer a serving to the others when they turned up before sitting quietly and eating his supper

Lukas broke off his whispering to Pieter about the weather or whatever and smiled at Edgar.  He'd come to the assumption that the halfling was a decent fellow really and that was accentuated when he starting peeling potatoes and before sautéing then in his little pan.  It had mostly been mushrooms, berries, roots and small game since his dip in the river which had sustained him but hardly been fayre one would ever ask the town crier to yell about.

He wasn't going to ask for a share but he felt his eyes drawing to the diced potatoes simmering in the ale, and at one point he was embarrassed when his stomach rumbled.  When Edgar offered a share Lukas was genuinely grateful.

"That's very kind of you Edgar," he said warmly before spooning a mouthful.

His taste buds exploded.

Lukas didn't know what seasonings were used or how Edgar had turned simple potatoes into something heavenly.  He had heard the rumours about halfling food but couldn't ever remember trying any.  In fact, he could count on one hand the number of meals he had which neither his deceased father or himself had made.  For him, cooking was purely functional and for sustenance.  They were the best potatoes he had ever had.

"These are delicious Edgar," he cried in between mouthfuls (excitement had removed any table manners he may have had), and then he realised he may have just offended Edgar, who he imagined with a proper kitchen, time and ingredients would be able to rustle up any kind of wonders.

"I mean it, really," he said sincerely, "just what I needed, and yes tomorrow it will be easy enough for us to slip off and catch something for the pot," he added, before catching Pieter's eye at the inference of his words.

He looked at the bowl, the food already 'well started'.  He passed the bowl to Pieter , urging him to try the food.

"Here...try these, they're really good Pieter."

He turned back to Edgar and smiled, "I have to share 'em... no matter what life throws at us, having someone who can cook is a lifesaver!'

As lukas went to offer his bowl to Pieter the halfling stayed his hand before pulling out another bowl and filling it from the pot handing that one to Pieter instead.

"the pan of a halfling is there for all to share" he said with a warm smile. It was not in a halflings make up not to offer his food to others and has the host of the pan tonight he was going to be the best host he could in the situation they found themselves