Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Campaign: The Cold Light Of Morning
Having not as yet settled in what action to take, the night catches up to the party and they settle down in their beds to sleep. The next morning, Monday morning May 5th, finds a gentle falling rain. The Pig tavern quickly empties, as those who spent the night pull out before sunrise for their homes and small mills outside of town, leaving the party to awake alone. As your board has been paid up until the end of May, Helmunt has a breakfast prepared for you: duck's eggs, boiled sausage and porridge. While there is an awning over the outside tables, it leaks; so you find yourselves inside, finishing your breakfast and wondering if the rain will end before the morning.
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Paid through 'til May! Then we're in no rush - I thought that we were in much more dire straits than this!
ReplyDeleteOK guys, what to do today?
I'll apologize to Helmunt for my arbitrariness the night before.
(argh, my post was eaten....)
ReplyDeleteAnshelm only takes a bit of porridge to break his fast, as the cotters' meal from the night before has left him uncomfortable.
"It would appear the locals are in a state of agitation. That might be a situation we could use to our advantage; of course, it could also mean our heads...from either side! P'raps we should see what Tiberius' friend has to offer us in the way of work and wage."
Delfig, being the late sleeper, will grumble and groan, stand and stretch, nod appreciatively at Helmut.
ReplyDelete"I agree, we should see what becomes of Tiberius's friend."
Apparently, Tiberius is still asleep.
ReplyDeleteis Dachau divided into "quarters" - are low/high class areas of the town physically seperate? And if such sections exist, which are we in?
ReplyDeleteAfter waiting for awhile, I comment to Anshelm:
ReplyDeletePerhaps we should put our knowledge together, as we have had bits and pieces of conversations. Although we've been here awhile, we've just now learned that the merchants are squeezing the locals, and perhaps enforcing old grudges to clear them out of the way. This may be leading to some unknown end, as I overheard some of the higher class speaking of an unknown purpose to the building, perhaps for more soldiers. This leads me to believe that there will be a period of unrest coming. Tiberius and the cotters both spoke of the merchants looking for more soldiers.
Anshelm, I noticed you were asking questions that seemed to annoy the patrons. Do you wish to share something that you've learned? You didn't say much last night after the performance.
And Josef... have you anything to add?"
Tiberius agrees to go visit Johann at the guild hall once he has broken his fast.
ReplyDeleteJosef,
ReplyDeleteThere would be "quarters" of the town--specifically, there would be four quarters:
The wealthier, merchants/nobles' quarter, which would include several walled estates, the mayor's hall, the arsenal and the town bath; imagine it as being shaped as an enlongated, wide triangle, with the fat angle pointed at the Cathedral and culminating in the Merchant's Hall across the square from the Pig. Between the Merchant's hall and the larger city buildings would be a series of larger merchant's houses, with artisan's shops on the main floor and living quarters above, some of them four floors high, and half-timbered houses possessed by private clerks, city officials and independently wealthy persons.
Moving around the clock with the cathedral at its center, with the wealthy quarter at Noon, would be the impoverished quarter. From one to two o'clock would be the fortress, occupied rarely by the Duke of Bavaria, usually held by the Duke's steward and occupied chiefly by soldiers and those townmembers who serve the soldiers: cooks, lamplighters, servers, stablers and so on. As you swing in a circle towards six o'clock on the town plan, the poverty increases, from those living near and working in the castle, to strong laborers, to rat catchers and gong farmers, to beggars.
Between six and eight o'clock would be the Jew's Quarter, strictly separated from the rest of the town by a wall built within the city; for the most part, free passage is not denied to the majority of the city, but the Jews are not permitted to freely roam into the remainder of the city.
Finally, between eight o'clock and Noon is the foreigner's corner, which is not as deep as the other quarters of the city, though it is an enlongated neighborhood extending a third of the town's circumference. It includes the largest monastery in the town, and the customs house.
Thus, from your place at the Pig Tavern, the foreigner's quarter extends quite a long way to your right, and a little distance to your left, where it meets the wealthy quarter. The North Gate would pass between the Castle and the poor district, at about 2:30 on our clock. The south gate would come at the end of the avenue dividing the wealthy quarter from the foreigner's quarter, at about 10:00 on our clock (remembering the merchant's quarter widens as you move away from the Cathedral).
All,
ReplyDeleteIn light of Tiberius' last remark, let us presume his fast is broken and the meal is done. Rain continues to fall, steady and drearily, a bit more than light and less than heavy.
Anshelm agrees with Delfig. "You have good sense for a mummer," he says while reaching for his snuff.
ReplyDelete"I wasn't able to glean all that much from the locals; they're a suspicious lot and didn't like me prying, asking about the recent unpleastantness around here. I, for one, am curious about these murders...."
(whoops...Tiberius and Alexis posted while I was posting....)
ReplyDeleteAny who wish to come with Tiberius to meet with Johann may do so. Otherwise, Tiberius will go out into the rain, cloak pulled tight around him, and see if Johann is in the guild hall.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the activities of the merchants and leaders of the town are common and will be the case in most of the market towns we come across in the Empire - and just as likely were to go west...
ReplyDeleteIf the issue came to, I know which side I would favor - but I fear that the merchant-lords and bishop-brokers have the upper hand. They have the means to declare their will and then enforce it and
however the commons resist - the money is entrenched. Now, we've agreed we would like to have more money - presumably to take advantage of our time in this market-town.
If I were a but a few miles outside of this town today, I would be soaked!
Perhaps there is a smaller village nearby that we could base ourselves from - and come back here once we've
somehow aquired some wealth...
Let me think about the area around Dachau for a minute or two...
(in game time that is)
(captcha word: spshoot!)
Tiberius,
ReplyDeleteYou are somewhat damp when you (and your companions, if there be) poke in the closed front door of the Merchant's Hall. It is quite different. While there lingers a bit of the barnyard odor, you can also detect the strong smell of vinegar and lye that has been used to scrub the Hall's floor and some of the walls and pillars. The hall is quite empty, except for a long, narrow table where sits a single gentleman, the insignia on his cloak identifying him as a clerk of the guild. An open book showing pages partly covered with signatures waits in front of him.
Is Kasimir awake?
ReplyDeleteI will stay at the Pig but appreciate the offer. I'm afraid I don't make a good impression on the upper-class.
Tiberius steps up to the clerk and asks politely if Johann Mizer is available.
ReplyDelete(blogger hates me today!)
ReplyDeleteAnshelm will accompany Tiberius.
The clerk asks, "You are Herr Volkmann?"
ReplyDelete"Yes. These are my companions." Tiberius motions over to any who might have come.
ReplyDeleteThe clerk produces a bell from his tunic and a boy appears from behind a pillar; the boy then runs to fetch Mizer.
ReplyDeleteWhen Johann appears, he will seem somewhat rushed. But he will reach out for your hand and greet you warmly. He asks after your companion(s) and you introduce them (I presume). “I did think we would get together, Adelbert,” says Mizer, “but not in the day. Tonight perhaps? I know an excellent beer garden near the baths.”
Kazimir will stay at the Pig with Josef, having no desire to go out in the rain when there's sausage to be had.
ReplyDelete"We'll let Delfig do the talking, hey?" he says to Josef.
(Ack, go get lunch and miss alot)
ReplyDeleteI am with Tiberius.
It's Tiberius over at the guildhall - i've just now started getting the names straight
ReplyDeleteTho Delfig certain seems to have some things percolating in there...what are your thoughts Delfig? Should we help the peasants? Hunt boar in the woods?
Certainly there might be more we could see here in town (quietly)than they can, since they can't come in...
But what do we do with our knowledge?
(ha ha)
ReplyDelete...huh?...no nothing. Talking to the ghosts again...
Tiberius returns Johann's warm greeting.
ReplyDelete"Yes, that's fine. We can meet with you later tonight." Tiberius gets the name and location of the beer garden and leaves with his companions.
OOC: Delfig pointed out to me that Anshelm didn't mention overhearing the news on the murder. Anshelm did mention this at breakfast, but I forgot to include that detail when I re-typed my first reply to this post. My first attempt was swallowed by blogger.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the story with these murders?
ReplyDeleteShould the rain lighten, I would like to go wander the Foriegn Quarter looking for vendors, bars, etc, looking perhaps toward Bohemian, Polish 'social points' (I don;t know how to describe this more accurately...), assuming there would be no such Silesian locales (if any such locales are even to be found...), and would be glad for company.
Not wanting to catch pneumonia, Tiberius will stay out of the rain for most of the day, taking the time to dry out at the Pig.
ReplyDeleteJosef,
ReplyDeleteThis being a weekday, the only thing available for purchase would be that included on the "Innkeeper" table. You do see a sign hanging in front of a building showing the name, "Gospoda"...a common description in Silesia for a tavern which caters to soldiers.
Tiberius,
Then, I presume that I'll pick this up at the beer garden in the evening. (Sure, make me produce yet ANOTHER setting...)
All,
Is there anyone with Josef? Who will be going to the beer garden with Tiberius? I'll give you until midnight EST to reply, or else I will assume you are at the Pig (you know, I really should have called it the "Swine." damn my short sightenedness)
Josef, you may assume that for the moment your walk through the foreign quarter continues to be an open thread for the present.
Anshelm will go with Tiberius. Delfig's words have him curious about a possible connection.
ReplyDelete(Sorry for erratic posting today; many phone calls coming in)
So Delfig - would you share your thoughts?
ReplyDeleteAre you of a mind to see the countryside?
The road south to Bamburg and Nuremburg are likely filled with the oppressed. I don't mean to be too cynical...it is a genuinly sad thing, and one I too would like to somehow allieviate.
(i speak quietly now)
Do you think we should watch the town fathers and notables? Looking for an opprotunity to even the odds for the peasants? Perhaps if we knew what was in store, we could warn them - but what much would a warning serve them? They already see the inevitable approaching...
(hmmm...my posting is probably going to stop in an hour or so...or at least become really sporadic...real world...ugh)
ReplyDeleteAs it is early in the day, would consider coming back to the gospoda in the later evening - perhaps when others go to the bathhouse? And would again welcome company on that venture...
(And - I've just realized that dachau IS in that map! Ha ha! Gotta re-study that map....)
ReplyDeleteI will be with Tiberius when he goes to the baths.
ReplyDeleteJosef - I don't know enough - the lay of the land feels quite treacherous with the murder of the innkeeper and now talk of other murders. We don't have a good source of coins yet, so my belly tells me to take care of local business before I consider travelling abroad.
I'm not going to get involved in fomenting rebellion unless there's a damn good reason for me to risk my neck doing so.
[OOC - From 4pm CST till about 10pm CST, I will be away from a computer. I have a regular class every Tues. ]
How about you Kasimir? Anshelm?
ReplyDeleteNo - I'm in no condition to travel - I am just asking as it is a concern of mine also.
As said, Anshelm will be accompanying Tiberius to the beergarden.
ReplyDeleteKazimir will go with Josef to the Foreign Quarter, if he does indeed go. If not, he will likely remain in the Pig. Perhaps someone will be up for a game of dice or a friendly arm-wrestling match.
ReplyDelete