Noone has a good night's sleep as you were all expecting something bad to happen. Still tired you make your way downstairs for your last breakfast cooked by Tiasmara.
Discussing where to go and what to, you decide to head to Marienburg, the greatest port city in the known world. Ravenclaw Darkwood is insistent that it is a mere 2 weeks walk from Middenheim, along the Great North Road though the rest of the group are dubious.
You bid farewell to the Templar's Arms and it's delicious food and head to the coaching station. Already the bunting is coming down and the city is returning to it’s normal dour grey. The people also seem less jolly now that the carnival is over.
There’s one coach going to Marienburg and the driver is asking for 80GC each
An old man is sitting in a wheeled chair. Behind him stands a bored looking young man. The man in the chair is dressed in old-fashioned scholars robes.
“Excuse me “he calls over with a clear voice that doesn’t sound like it should come from the man in the chair.
“Are you people taking this stage coach to Marienburg?”
You reply in the affirmative and he says, "Excellent. I have a request. My name is
Viet Pogner. There is a man in Marienburg, a very old friend of mine. For my current research there is a book I need, it describes the wonderous properties of
quetzal feathers. I have not been able to procure this- it’s 600 years old, you know and if there's one man who wold know how to lay his hands on such a book its my friend
Kunz Vogelgesang!
I have no idea how he does it, but he hasn’t failed me yet.
"Obviously I don't expect you to d othis for free and I’ll give you 150 Gold coins each to cover travel expenses and when you come back I’ll again meet your expenses and pay 100 GC each. I have here, a
letter of introduction you can give to Kunz which also has all the information about the book I’m looking for.”
Between yourselves you discuss the risks of procuring ancient books for ancient scholars such as
Undead,
Skaven especially if the book happens to be covered in flayed human skin. But, the lure of some cash and to cover your travel costs is too great to resist, and you accept.
"Excellent once more!" says Viet. "We were students together, in Altdorf, many, many, many years ago. But we have not seen each other in many, many, many years. Kunz was a talented boy. A little strange, but undeniably talented. They threw him out of the university for suggesting that the world goes round the sun, not the other way around. Then he wrote a brilliant book about the motions of the planets that didn’t find favour in Altdorf, which is why he’s outside the Empire these days.”
You board the coach and it sets off out of the west gate and down the mile long ramp to the valley floor below. At the bottom the coach stops and a militiaman bids you step out for the tax assessment.
Thrumir Bhakdram decides he would rather flaunt his wealth than plead penury and ends up paying a full tax rate, while
Corrobreth, in very un-druid like fashion hides his gold with Ravenclaw.
You bid farewell to the city of MIdenheim and begin to head west along the Great North Road. There’s not much great about it and you’re treated to the usual journey though thick forest over bumpy roads. However, you make reasonable progress as there is not much other traffic on the road and reach the first coaching inn in good time.
