IC Tavern Thread

[TinCow]

*The Duke of Bavaria breaks into a hearty laught.*

You stand for a united Reich?! Was that your purpose when you rebelled against your own brother, Kaiser Siegfried, and marched to attack Constantinople? Was that your purpose when you spoke about the crimes that Siegfried and Elberhard had committed, and which Hans was complicit to by enforcing them? Was that your purpose when you swore vengeance against Elberhard and Hans while still in prison in Rome? Tell me Péter, was it the bribe of Prince that corrupted you or was your weak spirit simply broken by the experience of being imprisoned for a short while?

Bah, I feel like I am dealing with amateurs here this evening. Is there no one who can properly criticize me without revealing himself to be a hypocrite?

[Zim]

Andreas stands and clears his throat. He looks a bit nervous, as if unsure of what he's about say.

Well, Duke Steffen, while I am unsure of my ability to criticize you effectively, I believe I can do so without being a hypocrite, as my short period of service to the Reich has been nothing but honorable. You may feel that the criticism of mein Duke von Salza loses it's value because in a moment of weakness he thought Dietrich von Dassel might be the right man to unite his Duchy, but his sin does not wipe yours clean.

While Prinz Peter eventually came around and supported the rightful heir to the Swabian Duchy, you aided von Dassel, prolonging the war. Then, when von Dassel died you shifted to another rebel, Hummel against Hans' appointed heir. Were it not for these actions, the Loyalists would have won the Civil War far sooner, perhaps without unneeded bloodshed. Yes, I am aware that Hummel's man Jan von der Pfalz did save my hometown of Bruges, but it was the senseless Civil War that placed it in such danger to begin with, and resulted in the deaths of so many good Germans at Bern and elsewhere, nearly draining the Duchy of soldiers, and placing it in peril.

[flyd]

Having ignored the argument so far, Lukas Godwinson looks up.

I was not going to say anything, Duke Steffen, but if you insist on being criticized, I will point out that you are distrubing this place, where people come to relax and get away from the tiresome bickering. There is a Diet building right over there, you know.

[Warluster]

With the reading of the letter Duke von Salza laughs

So Lothar, you couldn't think of anything regarding your betrayal, but had to attack. Unfortunely, you pull forth a letter which dates back before 1320, I was still in decision who to follow then.

Next time, update your sources. I am sure I could find something about you from 40 years ago.

Athalwolf sips his wine, and draws forth a long sheet of apper which trails to the floor, where he mutters and starts writing.

[Privateerkev]

Dieter just sits and watches the "Duke fight" with great interest. He is amazed as grown men keep reaching into their tunics... in order to grab letters to read at each other. Shaking his head, Dieter looks at his cup and wonders if Horst spiked it with absinthe again.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC: Basically, picture a coffin in Edessa shaking as Jan von Hamburg attempts to return to this mortal coil in order to participate in this debate.

[AussieGiant]

Arnold and his retinue file into the tavern...observing the heated debate for sometime the Duke nods in either direction. On command Grom heads in one direction and Bane in another. As the rest of his retinue fans out following the two men, Arnold places a hand on his fathers sword and moves closer to the three Dukes.

Well, well, well, what have we here then??

Raising one eyebrow Arnold takes a long moment to make eye contact with each of the men.

Do we need to settle this on the field gentlemen?

I'm up for some sword practise, lets say this afternoon at four...first blood wins the day, or shall we make it a little more interesting?

Or, someone could threaten me with something and then I'd feel included a little more. Seeing three of four Duke's hammering out some history lessons has me feeling a little left out!!

Glancing at Lothar.

Perhaps I should have a go at you Lothar. I'm sure I could dish out some shiet without being a hypocrite!

[TinCow]

Is that the best you can come up with, Athalwolf? A claim that it occurred a long time ago and that it is thus not reflective of your character? That letter was written in the mid 1320s, well after the previous Diet session would have occurred, had we had one. Are you honestly saying that no one should expect you to keep the same opinion for the period of one entire Chancellorship term? If so, to whom are you going to switch your loyalties by the next Diet session?

Ah, this is growing tiresom and Elector Godwinson is indeed correct. *Lothar nods his head respectfully to Lukas Godwinson.* I am indeed disturbing the peace, though I did not begin this fracas. Elector von Salzgitter is also correct that I have not answered Athalwolf's question. Since I am an honest man, I will not shrink from such a query. I will give you your answer, because I am not ashamed of it, nor do I have any desire to hide it. Perhaps two more letters will clarify my position.

*Lothar rummages through his box for a while, muttering about misplacing something. Eventually he pulls out two more sheets of parchment.*

Ah, here we are. A correspondence between Ehrhart Ruppel and myself a few years ago. I believe this explains my position adequately.

*Lothar clears his throat and begins to read.*

Duke Lothar of Bavaria,

You may not have heard of me, and although I am not a Count, I shall introduce myself as Ehrhart Ruppel, vassal of Duke Atahwolf von Salza of Swabia.

If I am assuming correctly, Friecih Karolinger is one of your vassal Counts? It may not be my place to openly condemn him, but I would like to inform you, that he is feeding the fires of rebellion in Swabia by sending Bavarian coin to the traitor and ursurper Wolfgang Hummel.

I will hope that you will honor the emperor's edict and stop your vassal from continuing this madness of spending florins on a lost cause and focus spending them to keep the Bavarian border safe instead.

Yours,

Ehrhart Ruppel

Ehrhart Ruppel,

I will do no such thing, as Count Karolinger acted directly in response to a request I made of him. Wolfgang Hummel contacted me directly to request aid, I discussed the matter with Count Karolinger, and the result is now public knowledge.

I will not apologize for my actions, past or present. I firmly believe that Hans was a traitor to the Reich and I am glad that he is dead. I supported Dietrich von Dassel's claim to the Duchy for two reason: First, I wanted a rational man in command of Swabia. A man who would put the interests of the Reich first, no matter the costs to himself. Dietrich proved he was such a man by moving against the puppet Pope who was supporting Siegfried's insanity. Hans was a sycophant who would lead the Reich to its doom, so long as the Emperor pointed the way. Second, I wanted a united Swabia. Wolfgang Hummel originally sought to split from Swabia and create a new Duchy. I do not, and will never, support such a thing. It will damage the Reich greatly to have such a division.

With Dietrich's death, I was, simply put, out of options. I have suspicions that Athalwolf von Salza was not quite the loyal and dedicated follower of Hans that he always claimed to be, but that is now irrelevant. He is Duke and knows his power is based in the loyalist camp. He will not be friendly to me as Duke of Swabia due to my support of Dietrich. I will not insult your intelligence by explaining why I do not think you will be friend to Bavaria in the near future as well. So, Wolfgang Hummel is now my only option for ensuring that Swabia is a loyal and integral part of the Reich and that it works with the Reich's best interests at heart. It is not ideal by any means, but it is the situation that is before me.

That said, this interminable Civil War is dragging on to ungodly lengths. I may have thought twice about backing Dietrich if I had known the chain of events that would follow it. If this situation can be resolved by diplomacy instead of arms, I will support such a move, so long as it results in a single united Swabia. A successful negotiation, if one is even possible, will certainly require concessions on both sides. Do not fool yourself into thinking that you can simply demand that the rebels bend knee to Athalwolf and fall back in-line. They are at least your equals on the field of battle, if not superior. The reality is that some power and influence will have to be ceded to them in order to end this peacefully.

As a gesture of my commitment to such a deal, I will swear to uphold any agreement by force of Bavarian arms. If a deal is reached between the rebels and the loyalists, whatever it is, I will personally lead the combined armies of Bavaria against any man who breaks it. Hells, I am so tiring of this war that I may even do so if you do not reach an agreement. I am sure that will cost me much in the Diet, but I frankly don't care anymore. I will continue to do what I think must be done for the betterment of the Reich. If I must march to Staufen myself and spank all Swabians like the naughty little children that they are, I may just do so.

Do not think that I am afraid to express any of this in public. You may freely distribute my words through the Imperial Messenger Service if you think that is of some advantage to you. I will not deny my involvement, my motives, or my beliefs. Indeed, I am proud of them. I serve the Reich above all else every waking day, even when that means risking my own life to do so. Whom do you serve? You follow a man who is Duke by chance and who is fighting a Civil War out of habit, not necessity. Put down your arms, put aside your bias, accept reality, and negotiate with Wolfgang.

Lothar Steffen
Duke of Bavaria

*Lothar finishes reading and puts down the letters.*

For the record, my intention in reading these is not to slander Ehrhart Ruppel. Of all the men in Swabia, he has the best record. He was nothing but loyal to both Hans and Athalwolf and he fought because it was his duty to do so. He did not waver or falter and for that he should be commended. It is a shame that he does not rule the Duchy, for I think it would be well-off under his guidance.

Now, clearly I placed higher faith in Wolfgang's abilities than was warranted, but I continue to stand by my statements. You will also notice that I sought to end the Swabian Civil War before more violence erupted at Staufen. I will also point out that you are now sitting in an Imperial Diet in a Bavarian province because I chose to be humble and donate it to the Kaiser for the greater good of the Reich. I have done much to put aside these conflicts that have torn apart the Reich and move on towards a united future. While I am actively attempting to heal these rifts, my fellow Dukes, Peter and Athalwolf, appear happy to reopen old wounds and possibly spark another schism within the Reich.

Ask yourselves, gentlemen, who is the real sinner here? The honest and honorable man who constantly sought only to do what he believed was in the best interests of the entire Reich, or the duplicitous and cowardly men who change their colors at the merest sign of hardship, and then attack others for not doing the same?

Hmph. I will say no more on this matter unless others continue to provoke me. If you all wish to drink your ale in peace, then simply keep your mouths shut, except as required to admit the passage of the requisite liquid.

[AussieGiant]

Having been entirely ignored by the three men in question, Arnold tries a different tact.

Right then...can I buy anyone a drink now all that's been taken care of?

Looking around the room.

Anyone?

[gibsonsg91921]

Lothar, I must leave as I have more important manners to attend to than bickering with a murderer.

However, when I went to Constantinople, I did not finance fratricide.

[AussieGiant]

Scowling hard at Peter as he departs.

You've made the right move to leave after that final comment Peter!!

Leaving is prudent lest we spill some blood here in this tavern!!

[Ramses II CP]

Gentlemen, gentlemen, please be at peace! We all know what goes unspoken beneath these troubling quarrels. The true problem at the heart of these disagreements is weak leadership! My brother, bless his soul, was not a well chosen Kaiser and fell rapidly into the trap of the Byzantines. Elberhard then willingly took up the torch of his folly and drove us all headlong into the maelstrom. If not for the failings at the top none of these disputes need have arisen.

And let me stress the 'arisen' part because it places the matters in their proper perspective, the past. I will be sure to pass these words on to my brother, but let me say here that it is clear to me that Peter feels as desperately as do I the failures that we, as brothers, both felt when little Siegfried was dragged down by our vicious enemies. We don't want to know who killed him, we need to know. Blood calls to blood. That being said, now is not the time to seek foes within the Reich!

The enemies are at the gates! Our Kaiser is, to put it politely, ineffectual and even complicit in many of the problems that plague our nation! Now is the time when united Duchies are most needed, not the time to squabble over old letters and discarded friendships with dead rebels.

Prinz Peter, my brother, I am certain Duke Steffen had nothing to do with the death of Siegfried! His past attempts to rectify the failings of our leadership through support of dissidents are just that, past. Leave them there.

Duke Steffen, your dusty old boxes of letters do you a disservice here in alienating men you need as allies! I would not have you as an enemy, but you are the source of this vile fighting and I ask you to stand aside and, as you yourself said earlier, do not harm the 'locals'.

Duke von Salza, taunting the Duke of Bavaria pointlessly invites bickering and reprisals! We all have done and said things we regret, do not let them continue to harm you or the Reich by fighting over them!

Duke Arnold, it might appear to some that you were egging on the dispute, but I'll take your suggestion as one soldier to another; better to get the poison out with a little blood and be friends afterward. I am happy to accept your offer of a duel to first blood.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

(Command stars as a skill modifier on a weighted dice roll? Say three passes, you need a 20 or above to score a hit on a D20? We've both got ample hit points and skill with a sword, we're not going to kill each other by accident. We'll have a referee roll twice and then a fourth party pick which of us gets the first roll and which the second before they're revealed.)

edit:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

(Now that I think of it, that would make it too easy to score a hit when our skill should probably make that less likely rather than more. A D12? I think I have 9 command so I'd need an 11 to hit. Count yours above 10 too, if present, but not any additions like attack/defense/infantry, etc.)

[OverKnight]

Matthias, who has quietly sat through the long debate, sips his coffee and then mutters something to himself.

In the land of the blind. . .

The rest cannot be heard, but he laughs to himself and goes back to studying the latest reports from Outremer.

[Warluster]

Duke von Salza waits quietly after these last few words, then speaks

Lothar, this argumenet is going nowhere, and getting nothing. We both followed decisions we made of our own, and both have led to good, and bad. I am willing to put it all behind us. We are both loyal to the Reich now, and both do what is best of the Reich. All our accusations are wrong. Let us listen to Count Fritz, and unite the Reich again.

Duke von Salza nods respectfully at Duke Lothar, nods at the barman and leaves, as he leaves he says
That was excellent wine by the way.

[AussieGiant]

As von Salza leaves, Arnold nods to his retinue to resume their seats.

Handing Lothar a mug of ale the two of them move to the tables by the hearth.

Grom takes one last look at the front door to ensure von Salza has left then moves over to Dread Knight.

"By god Bane, I thought it was going to come to blows there for a few moments. I've never seen all four Duke's in one place at one time until now...and I pray to god I never see that again."

"I believe you are correct my friend, we should try and ensure they only meet in the Diet where the unwritten laws of the Chamber keep things at least vaguely in order. I saw the Reich crumbling before my eyes when some of those accusations were made."

Nodding towards Lothar and Arnold Bane continues

"Lets get a drink and make sure those two forget this ever happened."

[Northnovas]

Johann Zirn enters the Tavern it is deathly quiet. The young noble enjoyed a good drink. His late father also enjoyed a social drink but would never enter such a premises. Johann didn't care he was lonely....

Hey! About some service tavern owner!" No response he shouted again and heard something in the back room.

From the back of the room he heard a voice shout;
"Stay away we are closed! We have not contracted the sickness and we don't want strangers here!"

Johann was relieved to hear a voice possible some conversation.
"I have no sickness I am healthy like an ox I just want some drink and conversation. Now some service!"

A head popped around the door and the owner was shocked to see he was not talking to a commoner but a Knight of the Reich;
"My lord, My apologies for my rudeness I thought you were some traveler with the clergy or merchant. As you can understand I fear for my family that we make contract this sickness we have been blessed so far."

Johann took sympathy and could empathize his situation. He had also been blessed but was also very lonely. It was hard to find a place to stay or eat because owners were sick and dying or did not want to catch the sickness;
"No need to apologize my friend, I understand your concerns. I am just an isolated noble also avoiding the sickness. I just want some drink and something to eat and will be on my way."

The owner could also feel for the youngman's situation of isolation but he still had his family;
"Yes, It is very trying times and what vengeance the Lord has put upon on the nations of Europe. I hear the sickness goes beyond the Reich. I will offer you drink and some meagre rations of bread and cheese. There has been a shortage of some basic staples to make a good soup. The farms that are left have few men to work them."

Johann was elated at the offer;
"Very good a strong drink is all I really need and I will be on my way. I don't want to be in the city too long."

The owner prepared a drink and meal;
"Stay has long has you need and tell me where you have come from and what news you can tell me"

The two men chatted for some time. Johann was glad to have the company and the tavern owner was dying to hear any gossip that he could have for conversation when the customers eventually return. If they do return God willing........

[OverKnight]

Awaiting news of the Trial, Matthias enters the Tavern. Moving slowly, perhaps from the wound that has sidelined him for the past few years or from the worries weighing him down, he approaches the bar. Ordering a coffee he mutters, "You can thank me and Andreas for getting that back on the menu, barkeep."

Turning with his mug, he leans against the bar, surveying the room in front of him. His appearance is stern, but with a tinge of wistfullness. Blowing on the rim, he takes a sip and then sighs contentedly. He almost appears to be savoring the mundane scene in front of him as much as his drink.

[gibsonsg91921]

Peter walks into the bar. Someone is listening to that newfangled guitar music. The song is entitled "Unity" by the traveling minstrel group Betriebefeu, or Operation Ivy.

"Stop this
WAR!

Unity! As one as together!
Unity! Evolution's gonna come!"\

"Will someone turn off that @#$%ing racket and get me a @#$%ing beer?"

[AussieGiant]

The leather reins of a giant twenty four hand war horse seem to magically loop themselves over the rail. The page boy can only look up in shock at such a casual but nearly impossible action as the familiar figure of the Dread Knight Bane and his companion Grom the Barbarian head towards the Tavern doors.

"Did you see that?!" The filthy stable boy slapped his fellow apprentice on the arm.

"I did, but I'm still not sure it really happened. He threw the reins underhand behind him without looking and they looped around three times...right?"

"Yep, that's what I saw....."

Both boy's stared at the backs of the two men as they pushed through the tavern front doors, sound and light spilled out onto the stables briefly before they swung shut casting the two boy's back into the gloom of the fading dusk light.

Finally one of them broke his reverie.

"So where's the Dread Duke then?"

At this the other boy snapped out of his thoughts. "Good question!! I'll run to the east gate and check with the Captain of the watch, you go and tell the master Duke Arnold is somewhere close and he should get the usual things prepared!!"

With that both boys sprinted in different directions, one to find the Dread Duke, the other to warn of his impending arrival.

[Northnovas]

A young nobleman walks into the tavern dressed like a soldier but his age reveals his inexperience in such a profession. He looks around and is surprised to see some of senior nobles of the Reich including the Kaiser.... he heads for the bar with plunking a bag of coins on the bar...

The barkeep smiles " Aye my young liege here for another party? What would be the occasion this time?"

"I am not sure but the mood appears a little morbid around the city. To the Reich! Drinks for all my friends!" Max waves his arms in a wide motion to invite the room for a drink.

[TinCow]

*A piece of parchment has been nailed to the door of the Tavern.*

Electors and Citizens of the Reich,

The Holy Roman Empire was born from the ashes of the Caesars. We are the heirs of Augustus, Trajan, Hadrian, and Constantine. In the mold of these great Emperors was our society built, yet we strove for more. We looked to the past and saw that we were also the heirs of Caligula, Nero, Domitian, and Commodus. For every beneficent Emperor, there were two cruel and ignorant counterparts. The Caesars created the Old Roman Empire, but they also destroyed it.

So it was that our wise and noble ancestors determined that they would create a New Empire, a Holy Empire, in a manner that would harness the good of the Caesars, while preventing the harm from that same source. They chose to prevent evil and negligent men from becoming King of the Romans, by requiring an election by the prominent nobleman of the various lands of the Empire. Thus were the Electors born.

For many years this system was used, and the Empire was ruled magnanimously. Our peoples prospered, justice was upheld, Christ's word was preached, and governance was fair and reasonable. Yet, as with the Old Empire, the Reich lost its way. No man alive today can remember the last time a Kaiser was elected in the proper manner. This law, designed to protect the people, has been taken from us. Whether by coup or bureaucracy, we have returned to the chaotic days of the ancient Romans.

This is seen in our very history and cannot be disputed. For every good Kaiser, we have seen an evil counterpart. Kaiser Heinrich exploited the law for the sake of a personal vendetta against Pope Gregory. With near unanimous opposition to his actions, Heinrich forced the Reich into excommunication and a period of immense hardship for nobility and commoner alike. The Diet was so outraged by his actions, that they immediately passed new laws to prevent such an act from occurring. Even then, it took a mighty Crusade to remove the stain of Heinrich's actions. The great bulwark of Christian Outremer was created to redeem the Reich for the sins of Heinrich.

Fortunately for us all, Kaiser Henry did not follow in his father's footsteps. He was a good and wise ruler, and the Reich benefited from his leadership. It is possible that Kaiser Jobst would have been such a man as well, but he was cut down on the field of battle before he could prove himself.

From that field of battle, a new Kaiser rose. Siegfried. Even today, that name brings bile into the throats of women and children across the Reich. Many still believe that it was Siegfried himself who killed Kaiser Jobst, and then used bribery and forgery to gain the throne. Still, even if true, that would be the least of Siegfried's crimes. We all know of the horrors that the Unification brought upon us. It was un-asked for and un-wanted. When proposed before the Diet, it was violently protested by nearly every Elector in the Reich. Yet he proceeded anyway, handing away countless territories bought with German blood to the corrupt Byzantines. Most outrageous of all, he attempted to systematically dismantle Christendom itself. His unification of the Church with the Eastern Blasphemers was nothing of the sort. It was a full-scale absorption of Christendom by Orthodox devils. Holy Outremer itself, the beacon of light in a world of darkness, was dismantled and given over to blasphemers without so much as a mourning prayer to mark its passing. Even today, over sixty years after Siegfried's death, we have yet to restore what his actions took from us. We will never be able to restore the lives of the hundreds of thousands of Germans who perished in the resulting Cataclysm. Nero may have fiddled while Rome burned, but Siegfried put a torch to the entire Empire.

Would that Siegfried's successors had compensated for his wickedness. Kaiser Elberhard was not an evil man, but he was a feeble ruler. When the Reich needed strength, he brought weakness. In such a time of need, that was the worst possible result. And so to Kaiser Péter the Hypocrite. Imprisoned for rebellion against his own brother, Péter passes judgment on those of us who also risked all to save the Reich. Péter was content to prevent the Unification with the slaughter of thousands and a war that cost many times that number, and continues to this day. Yet he proclaims as traitors those who sought to stop such tragedies with the death of a single traitor. With the cataclysmic period behind us, the situation in Swabia settled, he once again forces us into Civil War for the sake of a personal vendetta.

So, it is, good citizens of the Reich, that we look back on our history and see rot and decay where there should be glory and prosperity. The cause of this is obvious to all who care to look. Of the last six Kaisers, only two have benefited the Reich, and one of those reigned for only the briefest of moments. The fickle whims of the Emperors brought down the Old Empire. The fickle whims of the Kaisers are bringing down the Holy Empire.

Yet, not all is darkness. In the Reich there stands a beacon of light that shines the way. The Order of the Illuminati has aided the Reich for many years. We have brought stability where there was disorder, help to those in need, and religion to the blasphemers. All of this was done without regard for our own safety. Indeed, we consider it our duty to sacrifice for others. The Order of the Illuminati will fight for what is right and just, no matter the price we must pay.

The Brotherhood represents true egalitarianism in our very existence. Members are admitted on the basis of merit alone. Blood and hereditary title mean nothing to us. Every man who is a member of the Order has achieved that position through demonstrations of personal value. Such is the true measure of the worth of a leader. Yet, even with that monumental achievement in governance, we have gone further. The Order has titles and positions, but they are merely roles to help divide duties in an efficient manner. The Illuminati consider all members equal, to a man. The vote of the newest member carries as much weight as the vote of the Grand Master himself. A new member must receive unanimous approval before being admitted. When all members are wise, skilled, and worthy of esteem, there is no need for inequality and Lordship.

And so the Order stands today to make a public Proclamation. A new age is upon us. The ways of the Kaisers have failed. We summon all able-bodied men of the Reich to join us in the fight for a new Reich. We declare that we stand, not only for the toppling of Kaiser Péter von Kastilien, but for the toppling of ALL Kaisers. We unsheathe our swords in the name of equality and justice. We fight for a new Reich. We fight for a new Republic.

We declare that it be the Will of the Diet that the position of Kaiser be abolished for all time. We declare that henceforth, the Reich will be ruled by the Electors alone, free from the encumbrances of hereditary title. We declare that from this day forth, the Holy Roman Empire is no more. We declare that the birth of the Holy Roman Republic has begun.

Long Live Germany!
Long Live Rome!
Long Live the Electors!
Long Live the Holy Roman Republic!

Arnold	Lothar Steffen	Matthias Steffen	Herrmann Steffen
Elector of Austria	Elector of Bavaria	Elector of Bavaria	Elector of Bavaria
Duke of Austria	Duke of Bavaria	Viceroy of Outremer	Count of Bologna
Grand Master of the Illuminati	Voice of the Illuminati	Brother of the Illuminati	Brother of the Illuminati
Son of Rome	Son of Rome	Son of Rome	Son of Rome

[Privateerkev]

Alfgarda walks up to the tavern. Non-chalantly, she takes the parchment down from the door and walks inside. Max and the former queen of Outremer walk up to a table in the back corner and sit facing the door. A barmaid walks by and the lady orders tea while Max orders a beer. Sipping the tea, Alfgarda just sits and waits. If anyone is watching, they'll notice that she is using the parchment as a napkin to wipe any spilled tea from her face and the table.

[Privateerkev]

While Max and Alfgarda sit at the table, they order some stew. Half an hour later, a look of constipation can be seen on Max's face. Grabbing the parchment-turned-napkin, he rushes for the bathroom. 15 minutes later, Max emerges with a look of great relief. The parchment is nowhere to be found.

After getting back to the table, the two people leave the Tavern.

[Ferret]

OOC:lmao!

[AussieGiant]

After watching the entire display with seemingly mild interest, two men from opposite ends of the tavern stand as one, they confer briefly outside before they head in opposite directions.

One towards Trent, the other towards the Pleasure Palace. As their clocks billow out briefly in the breeze there is a very subtle black on black velvet insignia on their livery.

That of the All Seeing Eye.

[gibsonsg91921]

Lars, Ulrich, and the notorious berserker Sven (OOC: Still Waiting video, people) observe the two men leaving - they were sent to monitor this area for this very purpose.

"I wanna kill people! GOD! Why can't I be at the battle?" Sven shouted.

"Relax, Sven! You'll get us all killed! The mission will fail! Jonas and Schwarz have Péter in good hands" Lars and Ulrich yelled in unison.

The three men headed to Florence, to the Pleasure Palace.