LogTorments of the Righteous-Jason-27

Game log for the 2019/11/03 session of AW: Torments of the Righteous, as taken by Jason

All PCs have gathered together and headed to the capital, accompanied by most of the people from Der Flammenkammer. After a day and a half or so, the beam of light from over Nachtburg way starts to die down. People are starting to settle down, but Hike still had no trouble getting a bit of a caravan together, once people heard that there were Torchbearers headed to Nachtburg. The interaction of these people with Hike's gang starts a lot of rumors about what might have started the light. Some say that the Damerrung have struck a blow against the demons. Others say that such a thing would be heresy. There's a loudmouth named Noah who claims that the Damerrung are all heretics who have orgies with demons. The Champion takes mild exception, and asks Noah to pray with him. Noah will not, but Egon steps forward and offers to pray with the Champion. They do, with some, but by no means all, of the other travellers with them.

Hike finds Carl and asks where he's been. They discuss Tendahl, and Carl confirms that Tendahl went through and isn't coming back. Carl also explains that a decent number of the people of Nachtburg where at the well when it opened, and that he double-checked and confirmed that Tendahl really did went through. Hike asks how well-armed they are, which doesn't bode well for them.

Hike sets a fast pace for the caravan and gets everyone there. The Champion leaves Noah alone. The Torchbearers go to the Post Haus. Hike, Egon, Inga, and the Champion go to Archbishop Kreuzmann's office. Hike has the Champion diverted to the nave, since he's not with her in this context. They're let in almost immediately, which is not typical, and the Archbishop enters wearing slippers and a smoking jacket. He looks older, skinnier, and impatient, and he immediately asks about events in Nachtburg. Hike tells him what she learned from Carl, including that Tendahl went to the other side. The Archimandrix recommends that the Church should gather its strength and seize control of the well, to keep the Damerrung at bay, if nothing else. Egon mentions that the Damerrung Champion is right outside in the Nave. When the Archbishop asks Hike about her sources, and she says that she has an eyewitness, he points out that there's no time for anyone to have made the trip from Nachtburg to Schwarzhoele. Hike can't explain that and doesn't care. How is not important, what comes next is important.

When the Archbishop expresses interest in happenings in Schwaztshoele, Hike introduces Inga and Egon, who describe recent events there. Egon admits his role as a spy, of sorts. The Archbishop is concerned about the way things are going in Schwarzhoele, because they can't march to Nachtburg without going through Schwarzhoele. The Archimandrix strongly advises him to march anyway, because the situation is unstable and time-critical. The Archbishop muses that he might need a two-pronged strategy, with a small force, quick-moving, prepared for violence, preceding the main body, which would perforce travel more slowly. Archimandrite Tamiloff is also nearby. Hike knows that he's senior to her, and even if the Archbishop gives her the command, she'll need to deal with this guy somehow, or he'll never accept her authority. She points out that she knows the town, the players, and the situation. Kreuzmann decides to have Tamiloff recalled immediately, and decides to go see the King and begin making preparations.

There's a kid poking the Champion's armor. He's called Timothy, and has questions about how people poop in armor. Champion responds kindly. He invites Timothy ti pray with him, but the lad would prefer not to. They only exchange a few sentences before someone drags Timothy away.

The Champion tries to get Hike to hire him. She doesn't like the idea, but, as he points out, he's an elite Damerrung soldier, temporarily willing to work for nthing more than road rations, and she's not going to find a better deal. She reluctantly accedes and says she'll talk to the Archbishop.

Someone is following Carl, and it's making him nervous. This someone is moving in and out of market stalls, and now they're close enough that if he just tried to leg in, it would be entirely a test of speed. He tries to lose this person by slipping in and out of the stalls. He eludes them, but he has a distinct sense that someone was targeting him personally. He heads off to the Post Haus. He was hoping to find stone in the market, suitable to the need in Nachtburg, but failed.

Inga's dealing absinthe again in the Post Haus, and Rutger's happy to take her absinthe in trade. She tries to manipulate things so she can pour for him, but he's not real interested.

Egon goes in search of his flock. He finds Emmaline Kunstler, who gives him a very hard time. Apparently Lady Cordelia has written to tell her that Egon is a very bad boy. Then they talk about the light, and how it means that the road to the bright place is open. Emmaline really wants to go to the bright place, and she says she'll let Duchess Chloe know as well.

Hike briefs her gang on the plan, including the part where there will hopefully be an army behind them. Magnus warns the Archimandrix that she'll need to stand her ground with Tamiloff, and be ready to march within a day and a half.

Inga looks into the bright place to see what she should do next. She finds herself thinking about Otto, and wondering whether he's in the bright place.

Archimandrite Tamiloff and his troop roll in late the next day, and Hike goes with him to the Archbishop's office, briefing him on the way. She makes it clear that she was the one who handled the excommunication, and this is her rodeo. The streets are bustling. Preparations are underway. They find the Archbishop dressed in all of his finery, and he keeps them waiting some fair time, and when he's ready for them, he enters from the outside. Kreuzmann lays the mission out for Tamiloff. They must go and establish order. Hike asks for some sort of proclamation, and the Archbishop hands it to her. Hike mentions that she may be able to hire more strength on the way, and Kreuzmann's open to it, though he frankly advises her to bypass Schwarzhoele entirely. The Archimandrix says they'll leave tomorrow afternoon. The Archbishop nods and says that once they establish control in Nachtburg, they are to await his instructions, and only his instructions, which may include holding Nachtburg. As they return to the Post Haus, Hike and Tamiloff trade stories about how mixed up and insane Schwarzhoele is. Tamiloff asks Hike for reassurance that Hike has his back, and he gets it.

Back at the Post Haus, Hike sees Egon dining with a cloaked figure. She tells him and everyone else in the caravan that they leave tomorrow. Hike's not delighted to find that Egon's bringing his flock along, especially when this cloaked woman calls her a simpleton. Egon tries to smooth things over, and Inga comes over to sing Hike's praises too. The woman in the robe will back down, if Egon shows that he's in charge here. She actually says, "Egon, dismiss your servants." He sort of fudges it by telling the Archmandrix when they're leaving, but nobody's fooled, including the cloaked woman, who is of course Duchess Chloe. He focuses on making sure she's ready to travel.

The Archbishop assigns a spiritual advisor, one Abbot Matthias, bearing Kreuzmann's personal seal. Egon hastens to grovel before his beneficence and introduce himself. He leads the Abbot to conclude that Egon is one of the Archbishop's spies, which is of course false, but it works for Egon.

In the morning, Duchess Chloe has a sedan chair and a travelling party, but no armed men. Emmaline is riding a goat.

Carl is getting ready (he's travelling as a goatherd) when he gets that feeling of being followed again. At some point, he notices a kid about his age, with an empty lidded bucket, maneuvering closer to him. He senses that the kid wants to give him something in the bucket. The kid seems frustrated and a little scared. Carl lets him get close, and when he gets close, and asks if Carl is indeed Carl, Carl says yes, and asks whether the kid has something for him. The kid is surprised to be recognized, but opens the bucket, and says that this is to be with Mistress Inga at all times. He shows Carl a wicker figure, like the ones that used to hang outside Hegge's cottage.

The Torchbearers and hangers-on depart for Schwarzhoele, accompanied by the inevitable impromptu caravan. It's two and a half days of herding cats, but the Torchbearers know the work. Then, they get to the point where the Torchbearers are going to bypass Schwarzhoele, and the caravan begins to freak out. They expect to be escorted to town. Reality falls short of their expectations, as the team stick to the road and bypass Schwarzhoele.

Carl goes to sneak the wicker figure into Inga's packs late at night. He manages to sneak it in, but when she wakes up again and gets ready to move, she notices that someone's messed with her stuff, and sees the wicker figure. Inga recognizes it as the sort of thing Hegge made, which means it might be good mojo, so she's not thinking about getting rid of it. She opens her brain and gets the feeling that this might be for her protection.