Durak on A Spot of Time in the Port, Part I

We left Dunkelburg without further event and picked up Kultzmann en route from wherever it was he was hiding out. Then we headed east to Nuln. Nuln, from a distance, is quite a sight: bigger than most other human cities and dominated by the dark forms of the gun manufactories belching out smoke.

When we arrived at the docks, Lord Roland gathered us for a meeting and told Albert that he was to go round the city stopping at the homes of Kultzmann’s childhood fosterers. He was to ask each for support. We were also to obtain an audience with the city’s ruler, the Countess. Halldor and I were to accompany him. It seemed like an easy enough proposition.

I set up shifts for the armsmen: Ada’s Wolf Patrol would guard during the day and Carlotta’s Bear Patrol would be on duty at night. (The Wolf and Bear names were Albert’s idea – I suppose you need some way to distinguish them.) I told Herpin to stop bickering with Carlotta, and to help him do this I put him in charge of the recruits’ training. I also took Leo and Feuer with us whe we left.

The visit to the first noble went well, Albert did a good job of outlining what Roland wanted and would offer in return. He invited Roland to accompany him to Chez Louis to see a Tilean singer perform, and also said he could get our lord an audience with the Countess.

On our way to our second port of call Halldor decided he needed a latrine break. We followed him into a tavern to get a drink. Shortly afterwards we heard shouts coming from the back. Haldor had been attacked by three men, who ran off when they saw the rest of us. It turns out our Norscan friend is a wanted man – wanted for the killing of his own chief, no less. He claims it was an accident, but at least it proves he can give the killing blow when it comes to it. Halldor was wounded in the attack and ended up falling through the latrine floor and soaking himself in piss and shit. We had to spend an hour or so waiting for him to clean himself up. Last time I let someone have a toilet break on duty.

The trip to second lord also paid off, with Albert really getting into the swing of things. On our way to the third stop – who was reputed by some to be a witch, a fact that had Albert on edge – we encountered a group of townsfolk outside a inn. They all had dead dogs and were demanding the innkeeper turn over some called Zimmermann. I would rather have not learnt any of this and detoured round them, but Albert insisted on talking to them. All this negotiating with lords must have gone to his head.

To give the halfling his due, he was charming and commanding by turns and made the crowd listen to him. They eventually dispersed when they heard the city guards coming. We passed by, none to wiser as to who this Zimmermann was or where he was.

Frau Oppenheim lived in a run-down house in a nice neighbourhood. She answered the door herself and seemed to be descending into her dotage. She said she would support Kultzmann only if we found her missing earings. Albert assured her this would be done – don’t ask me how – and we left for the last of the lords.

This latter had been mentioned as the least likely to support, and when we met him his words were vague. He wanted Albert to return at midday the following day for a more definite answer.

We returned to the barge and reported all this to Kultzmann. I suppose he was happy with the positive report, but it’s difficult to tell.

After that I let Ada’s patrol leave the boat for a couple of hours, but I told Ada no to let them get too drunk – we had work to do that night. In the early hours, we took Felix’s mutants ashore. I don’t know what Carlotta thought of this as she watched us leave the barge – I hope she assumed we were on Kultzmann’s business.

Felix directed us to a butcher’s shop, where we went down into the cellar. I told the men to find a room and sleep. In the meantime Ada was taken into another room and came out hours later looking pale and weak. Then it was my turn.

The patch of scales on my side hadn’t grown that much since I’d first noticed it, but if this was the best option for getting rid of it completely, then I had to take it. I was given some herbs to chew on, which made me woozy. Then I had to endure the pain of being cut open. Fortunately, this surgeon or butcher or whoever she is seemed to have a sure touch and sharp blades. She stitched me up and brought me round. When I stood up I saw this red flap of skin with serpentine tendrils curling from it. I grabbed my armour and left.

We roused the men and returned to the boat. Unfortunately, it was well after dawn by this point and when we got there, Carlotta and her men were on deck looking thoroughly pissed off.