146: Looking for Wolfgang

While the engineers tried to work out a way to remove the steam tank, Greta suggested to me that a dwarf version of a steam tank would be much more reliable, which was very astute of her.

Then there was a parade of cannon which was just as boring as the sort of cannon parade they have back in Zhufbar. I didn’t come half way round the world just to watch another cannon roll by.

Then we heard the chimes from the various temples to signify five o’clock, and the cannons began firing every ten seconds for about three quarters of an hour which was extremely boring and loud. But at least the incessant noise gave people cover to have a gossip about the various parties in the tent. We saw Holzkrug talking to the emperor, and realised that Wolfgang wasn’t here.

We were a bit concerned about the crown prince’s absence so asked Blume to ask Zimperlich where Wolfgang was but she got distracted by getting a drink for Katarina. And then everyone assumed Blume was a servant and handed her their empties.

Katarina and Emmanuelle were having a chat and Blume interrupted them to point out how she had rescued Katarina, but Emma taunted her for running away, and Blume said that was only because her brain was quicker than Emmanuelle's. When Blume reminded Katarina that she had saved her life, Katarina said that might have been a bit of an over reaction, and Blume suggested next time she might under react and see what happened.

Greta introduced herself to Colonel Sievers and asked him about the parade and the number of accidents that seemed to be happening around it. Sievers suggested the magic colleges were a double edged sword, and seemed to think it was all down to them. Greta said that Erina was a competent wizard and told him the story of how she had made everyone’s swords fiery at Shining Rock.

Sievers said he was here to get support for his regiment down in the mountains to the south, which were hard pressed with the rising orcs, but when he had approached the emperor, he got the impression the emperor hadn’t recognised him, which he thought was very odd.

Meanwhile Erina was watching the emperor talking to Holzkrug under the cover of the cannon fire, and read their lips. She said, ‘I can’t keep this up. The countess knows. Todbringer suspects.’ Holzkrug replied, ‘What are we supposed to do? Karl-Franz gets worse every day. Doctor Kappelmuller may need to up the dosage.’ And we took that as confirmation of our suspicions that the emperor was really being played by a double.

Then there was a parade of regiments which was just as boring as the cannon parade. But we did see the Fighting Cocks and Blume said something about Dreamy, and mentioned how she used to hang out with a bunch of halflings, but now they had all left her or died.

Erina got Katarina to introduce her to the emperor, and after complementing him on the festivities mentioned all the strange supernatural things that had been going on in Altdorf. The emperor tried to play them down and said that this sort of thing always happened but the times meant people paid more attention to them. And Erina mentioned the Colleges weren’t attending the parade. And the emperor told her they generally stayed out of politics.

Erina then asked the emperor where Wolfgang was but got an elbow in the ribs from Katarina. Then she corrected herself and called him the crown prince, and the emperor said nothing was up he had just been delayed en route. And eventually the embarrassed Katarina pulled Blume away.

And eventually we headed back to Helstein. Greta wondered if anyone else had got an odd feeling about the emperor and she told us he hadn’t recognised Sievers. Katarina told us to keep this under out hats, and to do the secret investigating we usually do. She said we were very skilled at it, so that just goes to show what sort of judge of character she is.

And we wondered about the crown prince and decided we needed to find someone who knew the crown prince well so we could ask about the ‘eyes’ in the city. And Blume said she could ask Emmanuelle because they were now best friends.

Then we saw the Baron and Blume rushed over to talk to him. And she asked him if he had seen the crown prince. And she wondered whether he had got cold feet. She asked if he would help us find him, but he retorted that that was why his father employed us. He had a point. He said that was why we were being paid, and Blume replied that we weren’t actually being paid, and so the Baron suggested she send our expenses to Chancellor Bruegel.

So we decided to try to find the crown prince. Blume asked the baron and he said he had definitely arrived in the city and was supposed to be at the palace, but wasn’t there. Then she flirted with him a bit.

Erina tried to find Elvyra, and went to see if she was with the Grand Theogonist’s retinue, but was turned away from there. But was told she might be at her home in Zwillingsgrab. Erina went there but couldn’t find her, but after asking around, found some character with three brown teeth, who said he knew Elvyra Kleinestun when she was called Gisel Schader and had half of Reikerbahn hooked on her dodgy medications.

A bit later, Erina spotted her walking up to a Reiksguard Knight guarding the palace, and giving him something, and telling him to make sure Doctor Kappelmuller got it as soon as possible.

So then Erina went up to the guard and asked to see the Doctor. But he wouldn’t let her in, and she insisted on waiting. But after waiting ages the doctor was not forthcoming.

Meanwhile Greta went to the palace to see if she could find the crown prince, and after trying to intimidate a servant into letting him in, she gave up. Then she went to the temple of Verena and spoke to Fassbinder. She mentioned some of the comments he had made in his book, and he said he would be pleased to discuss it, but was a bit busy, and Fassbinder offered to meet again the day after tomorrow, which was the day of the wedding.

Greta tried to make it the next day but Fassbinder said he had important work to do on behalf of the cult of Verena. Greta said he was on important work on behalf of the Grand Inquisitor, but Fassbinder insisted and said he had also done work for the Grand Inquisitor. In the end they agreed to meet in the morning before the wedding.

And Greta revealed that the crown prince had gone missing. Fassbinder suggested contacting his tutors. Greta didn’t know where to find them, but Fassbinder knew there was one in the library and so they found Gislind Ursin, the tutor of philosophy and culture, and Fassbinder left her with Greta.

Meanwhile Blume went to Emmanuelle’s town house in Mauerblumchen but found herself being directed to the back of a long queue of young nobles all hoping to find favour with the countess and bringing her gifts. Blume skipped to the front of the crew but the Nulner Halberdier guards wouldn’t let her in. In the end Blume managed to convince them to let her speak to one of the countess’ closest maids, Margarethe, and gloated as she was let in in front of the long queue.

Blume asked Margarethe whether she thought there was anything strange about the emperor, and they managed to agree that he might be using a double although neither of them were explicit about it. And when Blume asked about the crown prince, Margarethe told her she knew where he was. But before she would tell her, she wanted to know how long Blume had been working for the graf. Blume said forever, and Margarethe asked about the rest of our group. Blume was happy enough to answer the questions but she denied we were spies, just saying we solved little problems for him.

And they ended up gossiping about a number of the nobles, and Blume’s chances with the Baron. Margarethe told Blume that the crown prince was at the temple of Shallya, and on her way out Blume asked to take one of the countess’ gifts. Margarethe said she could and she put one of the countess’ calling cards in the gift basket.

Meanwhile I was drinking with Fred in the Street of One Hundred Taverns. We were looking for the crown prince of ocurse, and decided he was as likely to be here, as anywhere else. And for all the notoriety of the street, I have to say it was a bit shit and so was most of the beer.

Greta asked Ursin about the crown prince. She mentioned the nine eyes and said that seemed a lot of tutors for one student. She replied that he was a very keen learner. They discussed the sort of things he was learning, and also about how important it was to have strong leaders in the Empire. And she said that our current emperor was a fine specimen.

Greta brought up Ubersreik, and Ursin conceded that the crown prince thought that this might have been over reach. They had a discussion about Ubersreik, and then Ursin said that the crown prince might be at the temple of Shallya as he was always keen to give his time to those less fortunate than himself.