LogTorments of the Righteous-Jason-24

Game log for the 2019/09/22 session of AW: Torments of the Righteous, as taken by Jason

So Carl's at the top of the well, and everyone else is at the bottom, and the demon's been driven away from wagon, but it's not gone. Tendahl helpfully warns Carl that the baby-monster is out there and he really needs to avoid it. Carl looks around for it and discovers it climbing the tor, virtually on top of him. He flees. A lot. It's good to be small sometimes. He does lose a little flesh to the disgusting thing, but that beats getting devoured, right? He leaps over the ring of fire surrounding the wagon and delivers the silver coins to Tendahl. The smith goes directly to manufacturing without passing go.

Carl grabs some random trash, wipes his blood on it, and chucks it far away. Then he takes a weapon (kindly offered by Himmler) and stands near the circle to help keep the babies away. He's running around all over the place, keeping the fire going, stabbing anything crazy enough to try to get through, and nobody he seen anything like it. It's an open question how long Carl and the Dammerung can keep it up, though. Himmler demonstrates an interesting technique where he skewers a baby and puts it right into the fire, which makes them pop and sizzle.

Eventually, Tendahl has a few loaded rounds, which he hands off to Carl. He also advises Carl to remove the choke for maximum spread, since they're fighting at close range. Himmler actually opens a small gap in the fire, to force the demons into a small space. Carl empties the shotgun into the demons as they come throgh that spot. He gets chewed on by babies quite a bit, leaving him disfigured, but the Dammerung ammo does the job proper, exploding the babies into chunks. Tendahl's only contribution is to stab a baby that's got its teeth embedded in Carl's face, but presumably the lad appreciates the favor. The moor is now minus one demon, huzzah. Tendahl gets back to work on the standing stones, while Carl pops into nowhereland to heal some harm. When he returns, he and Lisel go looking for more healing supplies out on the moor.

Back in Schwarzhoele, after the end of the working day, Elias Thornburg comes back to Inga. He's eager to finish yesterday's work, and he's also figured out how to open the old lock. He's got a chain and padlock so that they can relock the gate. The chain can't prevent the door from being opened a little bit. but the gap is only six inches or so, so it's safe against most humans. Baby demons will have no trouble getting in. (Joe: "They're like squirrels.") Inga tells the locksmith she's grateful, and he's expecting a kiss. She offers him some more absinthe.

Hike, upstairs, is playing cards with the crew when the Dammerung Champion walks in. All eyes switch to him. Marko is helplessly torn between thinking he ought to do something and being far to chicken to do a damn thing. It takes everyone a moment to notice that he's not alone - there's a grizzled old Dammerung who says, "Champion, take a seat, I'll get us a repast." The Champion obediently sits down. Hike goes to the new guy, Brother Silas, and introduces herself as "the heavy." The Dammerung need a meal and travel supplies, nothing more, having come from beyond the Capitol. The Torchbearer knows of only one Dmamerung facility out that way, Der Hackentor. She's super not excited to see this level of trouble on town, especially when they say that they're bound for Nachtburg. Hike walks Silas to the bar and signals the barkeep to pour one, and then goes to explain the bad news about poor old Nachtburg. She also mentions that Barbarossa went crazy. At the mention of the name, the Champion stands up and bows in the direction of the monastary. Hike explains to the Dammerung that their brother-in-arms fell into a well. Silas asks how Hike knew Barbarossa, and she explains that he used to be one of hers. Hike tries to warn Silas off, saying that all the Dammerung in Nachtburg are dead, but Silas is content to start anew.

Inga appears, and Hike makes some introductions, after a fashion. Realizing that she's the owner, the Champion stands up, bows to her, and sits back down. She asks his name. He explains that he is the Champion of the Dammerung Order, and has neither name nor face. Somewhere in all this, ol' Elias slinks out, with a wink for Inga. Inga transacts with Silas as Hike walks back into the kitchen.

Deacon Flaubert summons Egon, who appears promptly. The Deacon relays Schmitto's intelligence that a couple Dammerung have come to town. Egon assumes they're just passing through, but Flaubert says that the Lord wants to know what they're up to, and assigns Egon to find out. It takes Egon about five minutes to find out that the newcomers are at Der Flammenkamber. He goes over and it's not hard to see which people in the bar might just maybe be from the demon-hunting order. Egon goes to the bar and looks for Inga, but it's actually Heidi serving, because (as Heidi explains it) Inga's attending to some business. Egon's right there to see Hike come downstairs in arms and armor and go into the kitchen. The church spy asks for a drink and tries to sneak into the kitchen while the barmaid pours, but he walks right into Hike.

Egon asks Hike what she knows about the Dammerung. All she has to say is that it's weird, and then to strongly imply that Egon isn't welcome in the kitchen. Just then, Inga comes upstairs, and can tell right away that Hike's temper is turning against Egon. She decides she doesn't really mind if Hike hurts the town spy. Egon, for his part, tries to read Hike's emotions, but all he can tell is that she's just looking out for herself. Hike, for her part, figures that Egon is more curious than pushing an agenda here. All this passes in a flash. Hike narrows her eyes, Egon tries to look innocent, and finally Hike decides to tell Egon that the Dammerung are just passing through. Then she stands watch until Egon gets the hell out of the kitchen. Inga, meanwhile, is already back down in the cellar. Hike follows her a couple beats after Egon leaves, just to make sure he's not going to sneak back in.

Inga asks if Egon is following her, since "he's trouble." Inga points out that Otto would have been happy to knife Egon for her. Inga retorts that he was going to knife a lot of people, eventually including her. They move the body to the end of the tunnel, then exit outside the city walls. Hike and Inga agree on a secret knock that will let Inga know it's her and not a shapeshifting demon or something. Hike sneaks out to the nearest tar pit, trying to avoid being seen, and informed by Inga's local knowledge. She's dragging Otto by a rope, hammer in hand, and she wades thigh-deep into the muck. This is exhausting work. She hears shouting from one of the work gangs. At first, nothing seems to come of it, but then she hears a sucking-squelching sound, and something big and reeking of ammonia comes within three feet of her and then just keeps going. She dumps the body and goes back to town, using the proper secret knock of course.

Egon asks if he can sit with Silas and Champion, and then begins making conversation with Silas. Nobody ever talks to the Champion, poor guy. Egon asks about the Champion's armor, and Silas grows evasive. Egon begins to suspect that he might get better answers if he spoke to the Champion, who at least doesn't seem to be very evasive. Egon invites them to church, but Silas says they have no interest in Redeemer services. Egon asks if he can doing anything else to be of help, and Silas asks if he knows of any Torchbearers looking for work. Egon says he'll ask.

Egon goes back to the Deacon and tells the whole story. Flaubert does not like this business one little bit. Egon doesn't mention whatever Hike and Inga were up to.

Back at the inn, Inga helps Hike get the swamp off her.

Egon asks Flaubert if there are Torchbearers who can help the Dammerung. Flaubert doesn't want to help them, but Egon suggests that helping them will help them on their way, which is the more important thing: getting them out of town. Flaubert mutters that he'll think on this matter, by which one does not suspect he means he'll think of ways to be kind and helpful to them. He tells Egon to tell the Dammerung that their problem is being handled, and that they might meet someone in a day or two... but Egon can see the gears turning in the Deacon's head.

Egon strolls back to the Flammenkamber and delivers the message, which is easy, since the Dammerung haven't moved. They discuss the rumors from Nachtburg. Egon tells them he's at their service if they need anything.

Hike and Inga come back, accompanied by the ever-so-slight whiff of swamp. Just then, a young Torsten Entwiss comes in and hands Egon an envelope. He declines the offer to sit, saying that he'll wait for Egon's answer. It is, of course, a challenge to a duel from Lord Entwiss. Egon asks the lad how much influence he had in this matter. Torsten claims not to understand, so Egon spells out that he's quite sure Lady Entwiss never complained. Torsten explains that the family has heard rumors, and the Lord has determined that he will defend his wife's honor. He's in the middle of "wife" when Egon tries to throw a punch, but he's just totally whiffs, and having stepped into the punch, spins around and falls down. From his ass, he hands Torsten the envelope and says, "pistols." Hike looks at them both and says, "Out." When Torten calls her "madam," she retorts, "I'm no madam! Now get the fuck out." Marko gives Egon a little bit of help getting out of the bar. Just a bit, a touch, a nudge.

Champion asks Silas if this sort of thing is common in the towns. Inga injects that it's not common in her place.

Hike decides that she's curious, so she goes outside and tells Egon to wait. He does not wait, pretending not to hear her. She tells him that ignoring her won't help, as she speeds up. She tries to close while also yelling, "Halt!" When he stops, she asks for the details of the duel, so she can be a witness. Egon tells her to ask Lord Entwiss. She pushes him, he declines, she explains that she dislikes him and his face. She makes it clear that she'll hurt him if he doesn't talk. He turns and leaves, and she lets him, calling out, "Good luck dying tomorrow, I guess. Have you ever shot a pistol befor?" "As a matter of fact, no." Hike offers to maybe give him a little help in this matter, since, basically, she's bored and in need of barter, and maybe they'd have to spend some time together to figure out how he'd repay her. He's not super keen to get into this, but out of a desire to live a little longer, agrees that she'll be his champion. She goes back to her drinking.