Albert on A Spot of Time in the Port, II

One more entry without beastmen but sadly with a black magic practitioner so while it isn’t all good it isn’t terrible. I woke up in the larder without a really clear recollection of how I had gotten there but for some reason I had dreams of being mauled a hairy she‐bear during the night. Apparently Durak was missing and everyone seemed to think I would know where he was. I had no idea but Kultzman ordered me to both find Durak and escort Zane Leopold to the ferries. Oh and Kultzman did something odd, he pushed the issue of my allegiance. Kultzman quite correctly assumed that my bond to Durak is stronger than my bond to him and made it clear that he wants me to closer to him. For a man who hadn’t exchanged more than a handful of orders and no clear incentive to continue my service beyond vague promises of wealth if we succeeded it was desperate.
On the docks where our barge had been moored someone had seen fit to drop dead dogs. I ordered them dumped into the river and allowed Chungle to eat a couple. What I didn’t know was that it was illegal to dump dead animals into the river and the Harbormaster fined us 20 gold crowns for having done so. I promptly paid and impressed the Harbormaster’s Halfling servant. The dogs were probably left by a lowlife called Diedler or his men, something to do with the riot I averted I think.
Luckily it was easy to find Durak who had been in the wars and was badly hurt. He wouldn’t explain why but I didn’t push it, he is my best mate. Felix took care of Durak and Ada while I ran around like a blue arsed fly running messages back and forth. Durak recruited a new dwarf and I got to meet a few of the others, normally I don’t talk to them much.
I grabbed Durak, injured though he was, and raced over Lord Walder’s house to hear his offer of rejection. Or so we thought. After a long wait and an unusual manservant, whom Durak took a dislike to, the Lord offered his daughter’s hand in marriage and economic support. He also told us that the Quintus barge was in town and that they were looking for Durak. I have no idea why.
Then the search was on for Frau Oppenheimer’s missing earrings. Damn that bloody bridge toll. We spoke to a guard investigator but he didn’t seem to know all that much about the crime and didn’t care too much about it as it was no really hurting anyone. Outside Chez Louis we spoke to some Halflings operating a pie cart. They didn’t know much about the thefts but offered us the services as cooks.
I had a moment of courage and I am not sure if I regret it or not. While at the pie cart I noticed a uni student stumbling towards Durak and, without thinking too much, stepped between them and put my hand on the would‐be assassin’s chest! He stabbed me for interfering with a poisoned knife, fuck it hurt! I think having power over masses has given me a false sense of security. While I was being tended to Durak disposed of the man and robbed him. I am still pissed that Durak gave the 12 gold to that whore Maglyn rather than give it to me. According to the uni student’s belongings the Quintus family want Durak dead and aren’t worried about spending huge sums of money to see it happen.
Leo and Faustus came back from delivering a letter to one of the Lords and mentioned that they had run into Lenora, a former prostitute who is now a big time chaos black magic wielder after reading a an evil soul destroying book. She knew everything about us but hasn’t made any moves yet. No one else seemed to find this as scary as I did!
Patched up and back at the Chez Louis (I have to find a way around that bloody bridge toll) I bribed a servant to tell us about the robberies. He pointed us at a former employee who left mysteriously and could be found drinking at the bars on the dockfront. When confronted and suitably recompensed for her information she let me know that the earrings were being held by a fence named Yuri who worked for Diedler and we could have them for 85 gold crowns. She also told us that if we went to the Chez Louis to plug our ears and not listen to the Tilean singer. A damn important bit of information as it turned out!
I decided to report in with Zane Leopold but couldn’t remember what he had told me. Unfazed and cutting myself some slack, it had been a big day and I had been stabbed, I simply asked around until I found a tavern I thought was the right one and smooth talked the innkeeper into telling me where I could find the guy who met Zane’s description. Unfortunately Lord Leopold was about as much use as a Stirlander with a book. He offered no insights beyond run from Lenora, sink the Quintus barge and beware of our own shadows. He gave me no protection from things ripping my soul out through my anus or the invisible demons chewing my face off. Somewhat stupidly he suggested I study as a priest on the grounds that it might give me some protection but added that it would definitely make me more of a target!
At the Oberhaultzman house Durak and I were dressed in our finest clothes. We reported to Kultzman with Oberhaultzman listening. Kultzman seemed pleased with our progress but Oberhaultzman was shocked at my knowledge of the seedier side of life. He doesn’t realize that as a Herald I am still pretty raw and new at my job. So far my natural charm has allowed me to sail through everything but beyond that I have not much in the way of training. Josi was being passed off as rural gentry to avoid questions.
At the Chez Louis Durak set up our guards to keep watch out front with several plugged up while we took watch at the back and plugged our own ears for good measure. It was a long boring wait. Then we missed the action. The Countess’ guards suddenly went in and we followed. Standing over the corpses of three would‐be assassins and a very shocked Countess was Josi. I took charge of an entire room of some of the most powerful people in Nuln with little more than a snap in my voice and some imperious commands. I ordered soldiers after the Tilean and the rest of the assassins who had taken the guard captain before helping the Countess to her feet, securing her safety and introducing Josi Neumann to the Countess. The Countess was impressed, as was Oberhaultzman, and invited us to her estate to dine the following night. I felt justified in asking for a raise!
Back at the boat two rival gangs had mysteriously gathered on the docks in front of our barge. I knew one of our enemies had whipped the gangs up into a frenzy and was hoping that they hadn’t paid anyone to ventilate me as I stepped out of the carriage into the space between the gangs. Once again I had a moment of courage and I think I am coming dangerously close to growing a backbone! Standing firm against the hundreds of dock rats and murderous scum with nothing to defend me except my own wits I did battle in the only way I know how. My voice rang like a bell and my charm shone brighter than the midday sun as I talked those men down. As if spellbound the ugly mass of humanity listened to my words and turned aside from the path of violence.
As I led my Lord and friends through the parted sea of unwashed bodies I felt a real moment of triumph. This was my victory. Durak, even with all his training and weapons, couldn’t hope to defeat a hundred armed combatants. As I turned to watch the crowd disperse I saw more of the robed figures waiting to move in, assassins.
Then reality re‐asserted itself. Josi was to be ennobled and I was given a small pay rise to match Durak’s. For all my service she was the one who was rewarded with nobility for little more than thuggishness. It wasn’t fair. Then to further grind my nose into the dirt Kultzman sent me out into the night once again. After everything I have done I am more of a target than he is now! Add Durak to the equation and every bounty hunter from Nuln to Marrianburg is looking for us.
Durak and I went back into the darkness and searched for Yuri. Unfortunately he was too elusive to hunt down ourselves so we had to go to Diedler’s. I swear the only thing that saved my neck was that Diedler never expected in a million years that I would show up, unarmed and unguarded, at his establishment on the very night he had tried to have me killed. Durak proved most cunning and wove a story of despair and desperation that was quite devious. Diedler bought it hook, line and sinker and told us where to find Yuri. Once there it was easy to purchase back Frau Oppenheimer’s earrings and finally return back to the boat for a well deserved rest.
Now we just have to survive another day in this town and hopefully escape.