Austronaut

Blood, Steel, and Gunpowder (Austronaut & POOHEAD189)

Strickland flashed his easy smile, the corner of his neat mustache turning up.

"I am afraid to say, my previous activities in the city caused a great deal of embarrassment, I'd rather that an official protest not be sent to someone higher up in the order." Stickland coughed into his hand, making a show of his own embarrassment at whatever event he was alluding to.

"But it is just as true that secrecy will prevent our foe from fleeing. He is a crafty one and rarely takes risks," the witch hunter sighed.

"Give me the megalomaniac who cannot be stopped any day," he declared ironically. Hilde's mouth twitched into a smile, amused by the witchunter inspite of her own best efforts. Isolde relaxed at Strickland's 'he' but remained reserved.

"Tell us more about this wizard Herr Strickland," Hilde asked draining her own tankard. Strickland snapped his fingers and another round was bought. He waited till the barmaid drew away before continuing.

"Johan please, and I hope you wont be offended if I address you as Hilde?" he asked. Hilde nodded her assent. Johan smiled clearly warming to his would be confederates. He drew a roll of parchment from his jacket and unrolled a stained charcoal portrait of a skeletal looking man in his late forties. The pictures cheeks were almost cadeverous and a long aqualine nose protruded promiently.

"This is Claus Wiermier, a former Amythest wizard, now a fugitive from imperial justice. I met him in Altdorf and uncovered evidence that someone was corrupting our watchers on the Amythest tower. When I began investigating he fled and I have hunted him across the empire since."

Ologies: A Study of Arcane Specialists {Paranormal Investigations and more}

Ok, I'll have something up later today or tomorrow other party goers can arrive on the next boat if they care too

Blood, Steel, and Gunpowder (Austronaut & POOHEAD189)

Strickland arched an inquisitive eyebrow at the two women while gesturing for another tankard to be produced for Cedric. Both Hilde and Isolde shifted uncomfortably. No one liked witch hunters much and after their recent experiences neither woman was keen to spend more time in their company. Turning down a request for aid wasn't likely to be viewed positively either. Still there was something different about Strickland. His eyes were intense but they didn't burn with zealous fire, nor did he exude the touchy aristocratic honor that the Brothers of the Crimson Flame had embodied. His clothes were dirty and his weapons looked well used, more suited to a back alley than a parade ground.

"I'm Hilde Von Strashiem," Hilde volunteered, earning herself an arched eyebrow from the witch hunter for the 'von'.

"And you may call me Isolde," the mage said with a slight chill to her voice. If Strickland noticed he again chose not to comment. Instead he emptied his tankard and called for another.

"I'm sure you know that the enemies of the Empire are everywhere, you will excuse me if I spare you the hysterical version," he began with a smile.

"I have come to Nuln chasing a particular heretic, a renegade wizard who was once a noble in this very city," he cleared his throat.

"Unfortunately I have... irritated certain elements here and neither the nobility nor the city guard is much inclined to help me. Worse were I to kick up a stink about it my prey might be spooked. I need men, or in this case, women who can discretely help me."

"I can offer you the blessing of Sigmar for your aid."

He looked around hopefully before adding a little sullenly.

"I have gold also of course."

@POOHEAD189

Blood, Steel, and Gunpowder (Austronaut & POOHEAD189)

Hilde smiled at Cedric's display and at Isolde's obvious awe. Small town thugs were rarely a match for professional soldiers as the giant Hochlander had just learned. The problem was that they put so much effort into bluster and by the time the realised their opponent wasn't blustering it was too late.

The hubub in the tavern was dying quickly, and Hilde was about to suggest they retire to their rooms, days on the road had done little to ease the weariness she had earned in the fighting in the Riekswald, when a bar maid placed two tankards of ale down on the table top.

"Curtesy of the gentleman across the way," the barmaid simpered with something between jealousy and excitement in her voice. Isolde and Hilde both looked up at a lean looking man with a sly grin on his face. Hilde guessed he was in his late 20s though he might easily have been a decade older. His clothing was faded silk which must once have been fine and he wore a utilitarian grey cloak. A sword and a pistol hung at his belt. Hilde smiled more at the pistol than at the drink but the stranger took it as an invitation and slid over to the table.

"Good afternoon Frauline," he greeted with a gravely voice.

"What brings two such beauties into this poor house this day?"

Isolde immediately bristled.

"We aren't whores if that is what you mean," she snapped hotly. If the man was shocked he didn't show it, merely held up his empty palms as bar.

"No no I don't imagine that," he added good humoredly, "In fact that is why I approached you. Both of you and knuckles over there," he inclined his head towards the triumphant Cedric.

"Have the look of people who can handle themselves, and im looking for people who can handle themselves."

"What are you looking for such people for Herr...?" Hilde asked, cautiously sipping her ale.

"Strickland, Johan Strickland," he responded, "and im looking for people willing to do Sigmar's work for you see ladies, I have the honor to be a Witch Hunter."

@POOHEAD189

Ologies: A Study of Arcane Specialists {Paranormal Investigations and more}

I refuse to accept defeat!

Black Velvet Sky [Hard SF | Politics/Exploration | Character-Driven]

Don't let it die before it starts @Whist

Warhammer 40K: Beyond the Law - A Mercenary Adventure [MATURE] (Open for business, apply within.)

Thanks guys, looking at a weeks solid travel starting tomorrow :(

Warhammer 40K: Beyond the Law - A Mercenary Adventure [MATURE] (Open for business, apply within.)

I'm in the process of moving to America I'll hopefully have a post up later today but I'll be on plane's and such for the next week

Blood, Steel, and Gunpowder (Austronaut & POOHEAD189)

@POOHEAD189
“This isn’t going to work,” Hilde declared dejectedly, sinking gratefully into a seat as Isolde slide aside for her. The Guilded Flaggon wasn’t the diviest bar she had ever been in, but on those other occasions she has Captain Hollerman and his company with her.

“I’ve been invited on several burglaries, a couple of escort jobs and more solicitations than I care to count, but nothing that will help particularly,” she glumly summarized her search for work so far. She sipped the cloudy ale Isolde had somehow provided before taking a longer swallow.

“Maybe we should just march up to the palace, if you could make a display of magic to get their attention…” before Hilde finished speaking Isolde was already shaking her head vigorously.

“They tend to shoot first and ask questions later when you unexpectedly perform sorcery near the most important woman in the city.” It was a frustratingly good point. Isolde dipped a finger into her own ale and sketched idly on the dirty tabletop.

“We could find an alchemist of some note, im sure any one of them would give his mothers tongue to see that powder. Maybe even arrange an introduction for us?”

Hilde considered it for a long moment.

“Maybe… but he would probably blab word of it all over town too. A number of horrible things have happened to me since this flask came into my life. It would be a shame to be knifed in an alley this close to delivering it.”


It wasn’t the worst idea though, if they could keep the man quiet. Cedric was muscling his way through the crowd, his grim face unreadable. Hilde hoped he had better options than they did.

Blood, Steel, and Gunpowder (Austronaut & POOHEAD189)

Chapter II

The cart clattered along the dusty road. The merchant, a sun beaten and pinch faced man named Albrecht, smiled in evident relief. Before him rose the great city of Nuln, with it’s fluttering banners and the smoke of hundreds of forges drifting skyward. In the back of the wagon he had two dozen casks of wine. Not quality stuff but suitable for the taprooms of any inn in the city. Albrecht made his living taking cheap pots, knives, needles and other such goods to the outlying villages where he sold them or traded them for a variety of food products.

Atop the casks sat three figures, two of whom were heavily armed. One was a hard faced soldier, familiar across the length of the Empire, the other two were women, though one of the women carried pistols and a short sword. They had emerged from the forest in front of his wagon a week ago and requested passage to Nuln. Albrecht, relieved beyond words that they weren’t bandits or highwaymen, had agreed. They had their own rations, talked little, and didn’t trouble him. Still they were unexpected an in Albrecht’s world the unexpected was the dangerous.

The guards paid no attention to the wagon as it clattered through the city gates. Their eyes lingered on the women, in the manner of bored men but flicked back to duty quickly enough. Albrecht cocked an eyebrow at the three and the brown haired woman nodded and rose, working the kinks out of muscles made tight by sitting.

“Leaving me now girlie?” he asked. They had given him names but he didn’t remember them.

“Yes Master Clausman,” she responded before hopping nimbly to the ground, her face wincing with pain at the impact for all her grace.

“Thank you for the ride.”

“Enjoy Nuln missy,” he responded as the remaining passengers hoped to the ground, but she had already vanished into the crowd.


“So where first?” Hilde asked Cedric. In the week since they had emerged from the bolt hole beneath the templar’s keep their wounds had began to heal. Hilde checked them every night, cleaned them and said her prayers to Shallya. So far so good.

“We have no money, and I doubt that they will let us near the countess dressed like rag pickers.”

Their clothes were torn and dirty. Hilde had washed her clothing in a stream but it still stank of smoke and burned hair. She had no money and no powder or shot for her pistols.

“Any ideas?”