A Knight's Tale
On their day of rest on the 15th the dwarven miners share with the party news that they learned on their way here - that the Graf issued an arrest warrant for his son Baron Toddbringer on the 8th, for crimes of treason and conspiring with the enemies of Middenheim. They also hear that Weissbruck, where they met Blitzen and stayed in his tower has fallen to the Guardians of the Empire and declared itself a free town.
After breakfast on the 16th they say their goodbyes and make for Dunfurter Castle. Farfordda apologizes to Gaffer Mulderbrook for alarming him, then impresses upon him that he must lead his people through the terrible challenges to come.
They arrive at Dunfurter in the afternoon. Meyer is still absent, and its not known when he'll return. Ada joins them in the feasting hall - she's glad to see Magdalena but she's doesn't like her governess, Frau Martinez has a low opinion of her aunt and smells apparently. She's become friends with the cook Beth who has taken her under her wing and excitedly shows Magdalena a mirror that belonged to her Aunt Elena when she was a child, inscribed with her initials.
They ask around the castle for news of Holzbek and hear from Captain Nietz that Steward Meyer has got things under control in the town but at the cost of hanging Ulrican zealots and firebrands from Middenheim. The captain has been sending egular patrols to Unterfraus ensure that nothing malignant takes root in the desolate village. Magdalena asks him to provide martial instruction to Ada, saying she had begun such and it's good for a growing girl to have the exercise. The Captain looks skeptical but does not outright contradict her.
Ullman the huntsman returns, Carny, Norgrim's dog is with his pack - Ada having abandoned her dog training duties. Ullman says she had been pestering him but he has no time for looking after a high born child - the party are dismayed, it would be good for Ada to spend time hunting for him. Its dangerous out there, the Holzbek heir cannot have her life risked in mountain hikes - he saw a giant yesterday, a 20' tall monstrosity, 10 miles NE of here in the Taubertaal!
Since they were last here Ullman has been back to Unterfraus. He found barrel fragments in the demolished mine bearing the Karzburdger coat of arms, odd given that these are Holzbek lands...
Farfordda asks if he'd take him out hunting and the pair of them along with Amos head out to see what they can bag before dark. They manage to take down a stag which Ullman and Amos return with leaving Farfordda to spend the night trying to learn another spell and consulting the Tarot.
Back at the castle, just after sunset Magdalena and Norgrim are sat in the kitchen chatting with Ada and the staff when the captain interrupts and bids Magdalena follow him. In the stables stands a pale and weary looking Von Reiter, uncharacteristically dressed in muted traveling clothes rather than his Holzbek livery.
He is glad to see Magdalena but says Steward Meyer sent him incognito with difficult tidings - yesterday Meyer received a letter from the Graf of Middenheim saying that it was known Holzbek harboured a fugitive and enemy of the crown, that if Meyer did not arrive with Magdalena within the week to answer for this iniquity then this combined with the recent dynastic contestation would lead to conflict. Von Reiter stresses how much the whole Barony of Holzbelk owes Magdalena but they cannot confront the might of Middenheim, at least not yet.
Meyer must remain in Holzbek while he waits to treat with various envoys bound there, ideally Magdalena should wait here till he returns, but he understands she may not wish to do that. This being the case they must make out as though she escaped from here, so Meyer can play for time with Middenheim.
Magdalena confers with the dwarves and they decide they will resupply and leave in the morning, then she will seemingly flee the castle an hour later and join them on the trail. Von Reiter says they will sound the castle bell and make a show of her flight, Magdalena tells him to thank Meyer for his discretion and leaves a letter with him to be sent on to her family. She is doubtful that their mountain adventure would grant her the luxury to face Middenheim anyway.
She puts Ada down to bed, knowing this is likely the last time she'll see her and that tomorrow Ada will hear that Magdalena is a fugitive, a criminal feeling the Graf's retribution. She tells the girl a story about a Knight who spent her life fighting for good and justice, and kept on doing so even when others accused her of ill and spread lies about her.
Shortly after dawn on the 17th the Dwarves leave the castle with 2 mules laden with tents, rope and their barrel of gunpowder. They meet Farfordda a mile or so out from the castle, and together they wait in the forest for Magdalena to join them, galloping from the castle to the sounds of alarm.
They begin their journey up the great valley of the Taubertaal. Farfordda tells them he consulted the Tarot last night; whatever the Skaven are up to does not involve the chaos gate, but if they are not stopped a terrible doom will befall the land, many will die. Hi ho, hi ho, they march on through a stormy day, it is not cold, but they are soaked several times before they make a fireless camp close by where they killed the goblins and rescued Ada. They mark the trees around with the sign of Taal in the hopes of meeting with Ingrid the hermit.
On the morning of the 18th they reach the river Tauber, and begin to follow it up into the mountains. Farfordda remembers Ingrid telling him it is only navigable on the west bank as far as the ford which is close to both Karak Kazarak, home of the Red Tusk orcs and near her cave. The smart thing would be to break their travels early and find a concealed spot to camp and set as a base while they try find Ingrid and navigate Orc country.
Mid afternoon, not far past the lake, just as they set about finding a camp-spot in earnest they happen upon a half dozen orcs. Farfordda spots them first, but as they are a mere 50 yards away and hiding with the mules, dog and horse would be a stretch at best, they bring their missile weapons to bear...
