"Ahh Mayer brothers. Mother from Kislev. Dad imperial trader. Father big fan of Kislev. Brother must be sons." Fyodor shared after emptying his mug of beer in one draught and it did not take him long to get it refilled.

"Yes, those are the fellows", affirmed Pieter, pleased that someone else had an inkling of the situation, "Question is... Do we want to poke our head in that hornet's nest? I'm game, I think there's an opportunity with their situation beign precarious and all... but it will be precarious..."

"Why nest of hornets?" he asked curiously.

[Language unknown: "Traearbutrut, Icaurerut Venastlar"] Harkrin said with a smile.[Language unknown: "Areectlatrea receom tratol il latndeons on P tr ver Ckcktaek ntiro icaessate plwite atisomomestiera eve. Ne me theionine comproith erero ut rommannot, trilac aintss wh poho hastioers on out aisaad Ie ch ul plioho tinureort U sassei capema wasearreales. Manoerred, sa anei prli namess u ome oulereest fohe po sheectvor ca tin ofwh si u ratticing a il she wilicapre ureconvir."] he smiled at the memory of their recent travels and dangers they had encountered.

"It doesn't hurt to ask what work they have in mind," suggested Lukas, "though, if I have understood you rightly, the work will carry a certain element of risk?  Both in terms of us getting paid because of their situation, and that the trading company is a cover for more illegitimate interests."

Lukas wanted to say that he didn't want to get involved with anything immoral or illegal, but he had also learnt that the most honest men in the big cities of the Empire were those starving in the streets.

More directly, he asked Pieter, "Do you think the Mayer Brothers have an interest one way or another in the missing charlatan Schafer?"

Harkrin 'Klinka'

Njal doesn't seem offended that Klinka probably can't afford his prices. [Language unknown: "Thiel, iv stfoho ek om comre se pois oerss oer... whec He ver arany maosho sonma ithavesta t tholi mi wheounwit thipe A ei alou mibe. Tio i we alsick beomnd i hina ivut nti ai u conhourat u Laranyatethi Sanoneatewhi Sefi enc anto pl ofll iv histmo naus pockng onepreone rounth ad ta. Weho ecofleai be ver ca nder rente lome thncll est ta asti Ome Ntehatromrom toave res reomin ainer Iouartine Eveforwasent ere ek nc chel time is ssera vorno herallica wheoutnot Ect osonal i Unddertha le Earst hitrst n der re sontiotho p red niut pre fiany re reaourvir ith ticreswit. Peart arinon ri ble i ceulos ivli his era wh presos."]

He smiles, spits on his hand and offers it to Klinka to shake: [Language unknown: "Stius?"]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:57, Thu 08 Dec 2022.

Thinking he had an inkling of what the others were implying, Magnus stroked his chin for a moment before saying, "Perhaps working while quietly uncovering ill-legitimate activities underneath could put us in the good graces of the law. It could also net us a reward and allow better jobs and contracts with the Empire."

Taking a sip of his drink he gave a small shrug and added, "There will be the element of risk, ofcourse, but no one every got rich or powerful by playing it safe."

Fyodor emptied the 2nd beer. "Da! Fun work. 4 more beers then we go see them." he exlaims with a big grin on his face.

Harkrin smiled, not the first time this day. [Language unknown: "M preatiort son ro tachmout ai, any T ectameout and rocale ouai se ereoutoer of Oushatineson, Tiointore Heelma. M ovepl, Al se siur mewa rehi ic toove sonoveear ek ou! O hatce p ou!"] the dwarf spat on his hand and shook Ormson's hand.

[Language unknown:
"Areoutter elun ckha ee korre heek andai hosino. U alnttr onosee icore whllha I esel ame ul stilarare."]

Harkrin 'Klinka'

Njal Ormson nods in appreciation. [Language unknown: "Isder hou enugh."]

He returns to his work leaving Klinka to his own devices.

---

OOC: Where to now?

OOC: Harkrin will look for an armourer to get himself a breastplate or a chainmail, and probably a helmet as well, depending on the prices there.

Harkrin 'Klinka'

Klinka finds it relatively easy to find an armourer who specialised in dwarf sizes - though after hearing the prices he almost wishes he hasn't. A leather skullcap costs 2 gold crowns, a leather jerkin that protects the body 6 gold crowns, a leather jack which covers both body and arms 12 gold crowns and leather leggings cost 10 gold crowns. A full set of leather armour would cost 25 gold.

"Best prices I can manage," explains the armourmer, a stout dwarf with an explosion of a black beard. "I have a cousin who works with metal armour but if you want any of that you'll need a lot of gold."

"Bloody hell, I should have trained as a smith rather than a miner." Harkrin grumbled and fished 12gc from his pocket to get a leather jack. After some consideration, he added 2gc more for a skullcap. "Maybe not today, but it would be good to know where to find your cousin. One never knows when that extra gold may appear in his pocket."

Fyodor, Lukas, Magnus and Pieter

Altmarket is not far by foot but it is clearly a different world from Neumarket. There is the same sense of hustle and bustle and the cry of vendors and the chatter of customers but the buildings are older, the clothes shabbier and the cobbles of the platz more worn. The Altmarket more commonly deals in food and animals and pots and pans and as Fyodor, Lukas, Magnus and Pieter enter the great irregular square that is the market proper they are greeted by the warm and rich aroma of cattle, horses, pigs and goats.

Still there are a few stately buildings around and a little off the market itself lies Nordenulricstrasse and on it a tall, narrow building with dark wooden beams and a shingled roof with a painted wooden sign reading 'Mayer Brothers Trading Company'.

The heavy oak door has a small brass bell hanging beside it and Lukas rings it. After several moments the door creaks open to reveal a tired looking halfling who looks like servant in dark clothing. He eyes everyone with un-halfling like mournfulness for a moment before saying: "May I help you?"

Harkrin 'Klinka'

Painful as it was parting with his hard won coin Klinka at least has to admit his skullcap and leather jack feel well made and secure. It might not fully stop a beastman's axe but it couldn't hurt.

Partially retracing his steps the dwarf makes his way to the Neumarket district - even as a stranger to the city it is impossible to get lost en-route simply because the market makes that much noise.

There is still a heavy crowd around the statue of the Emperor Magnus in the southern half of the square but Klinka manages to squeeze through. He doesn't see his companions but he does here someone reading out the various notices for their illiterate friends:

"Hello," said Lukas rather confidently and cheerily to the halfling at the door.  "Are either of the Mayer brothers home?
 We're here to enquire about offering our services."  With his clean face and big city swagger Lukas tried to give the air of one potentially offering to work for the Mayers rather than begging for work.  With the rest of their group at the door he was sure the surprisingly dour halfling would hurry to his masters at such a fine body of men for the kind of work the Mayers may need.

In his new leather jack and skullcap Klinka looked almost presentable (or maybe it was because the cap covered some of the scars on his head). He seemed in a better mood than in the morning and followed his companions to the Meyers whistling quietly and playing with his chisel.

He nodded to the halfling and added "We've got plenty of experience with all sorts of jobs. We fought beastmen, mutants, wolves and gobbos. And humans, of course, but they were the easiest ones."

The mournful halfling doesn't raise a smile but simply nods. "This way gentlemen."

Entering the building the party is led through a long wood panelled entry hall and up a flight of stairs. The immediate impression speaks of wealth - the marbled Tlean tiles of the floor, the rich dark wood of the hall, the ornately carved bannister, the fine quality window work allowing light into the interior. However it quickly becomes apparent that there are things missing. Here the slightly different colouring of the wood suggests a now missing painting hung on that wall. There there is a neat bronze clasp that presumably once held a lamp or candle.

The halfling reaches a door on the landing and raps his knuckles on it. A second later a masculine voice echoes out:

"Come in!"

The haling reaches up and opens the door. Inside is what obviously an office, as every square shelf and space of desk is buried beneath scrolls of parchment. A man is seated at the desk who was obviously in the middle of writing something in a leather bound book - the quill it's nib wet with ink is still in his right hand.

"Ah, I assume you are here about the job? I'm Kasmir Mayer. Welcome to Mayer Brothers Trading Company - let me get a better look at you!"

Kasmir stands up and walks over. His expression and tone are welcoming but there are also traces of dark circles under his eyes and his fine clothes look like they've been slept in. He's probably under thirty yet already there are the hint of lines in what is probably normally a handsome and youthful face.

[Language unknown: "Hesiatmaev Ersredpre. Ar ted st Oneandion whi stiourine stll un bleatethu, Ouispa, Ichthinti ioat Ofstli. Nc fo infice e errut om ratnotove earout'menticlin, ncith acfiho atvir conterect ponc st m ent preestiveredher."] Fyodor says loudly and laughs.


Switching to Reikspiel he continues "We see your note at market. We interested in work. "

"We don't always look like this, you know." Klinka explained. "It's just happened to be our yearly bath day yesterday and we didn't want to miss it. Even if it means we are looking a bit less respectable for this particular job. Speaking of which - what is it about?"

Magnus glided in silently behind the others, calmly viewing the interior of the building as he moved inside.

While following the others he noted that there were items missing from the otherwise richly designed interior. If his suspicions were correct it would appear the trading company was not doing so well, which could put their payment for any work done in jeopardy.

"Well met ser Kasmir," Magnus replied softly as the man walked over to them, noting his slept in cloths and circles under his eyes. "You seem...tired. Are the Mayer Brothers not doing too well at the moment?"

For now, Pieter is happy for Lukas and Magnus to take the lead; indeed, he keeps to the back of their group as they enter the Mayer Brother's richly appointed room. It seems his informant was correct - the brothers, previously swimming in wealth, have hit upon a moment of crisis. At the back, he offers a wan smile

Kasmir looks at Fyodor in surprise, before answering in Kiselvarian: [Language unknown: "Ore toore oerom It ng!"]

Switching back to Reikspiel he continues. "Well met, and don't worry master dwarf I shan't hold your bath against you," Kasmir says, a faint smile appearing on his face. "And yes I can't deny business is not quite as it was but we are far from done yet. My brother and I are looking to hire people of various talents to act as guards, agents, scouts and so on. Quite bluntly we are not currently in the position to retain dozens of specialists in our business so better gentlemen who can handle themselves in any situation."

He walks over to a shelf and retries a bottle of what Fyodor immediately recognises as vodka as well as several shot glasses which he proceeds to fill. As Kasmir is doing so he continues speaking. "Tradtionally my brother and I and our father before us imported goods from the North. At least we did before the Chaos invasion... I don't suppose you had experience of the war itself did you?"

Leaning on his staff with both hands Magnus studied Kasmir intently for a few moments as he poured the vodka before replying, "I cannot claim to speak for my companions, but I have no direct experience in the war. I do have other talents, not the least of which is letters and words, which I can use to good effect...if the pay is worthwhile."

Raising a hand he declined the proffered drink. "I prefer to keep my mind clear, especially when doing business," he explained politely.

Fyodor's face grew dark and his usual jovial demeanor disappeared as the war was mentioned. He looked lost in thought for a bit and then grabbed one of the filled shot glass, said something in Kislev [Language unknown: "Ie eibe aretheandrat ic ssei Ortvirredcon."] and emptied the glass.


Signaling to Kasmir for a refill he also leaned over and grabbed Magnus shot. Pointing at the vodka "See clear. Clear mind too." he says with a grin that has become one of the large mans characteristics.