Present: Montgomery (James), George (Gaz), Joey (Dave), Frederik (Ben), Thomas (Matt)
Another adventurer, Thomas, seeks shelter from the rain at the Incontinent Vicar. The inn-keep, Cameron Fiddlesticks, makes the same offer of shelter and drink as to the rest of the party.
He also shares some gossip, including:
- Some of the guests are merchants selling metal spoons
- Karlstadt has been taken over by sorcerers
- Some of the guests have even suggested that the Bishop-prince of Wurzburg may be spreading rumours of these sorcerers to distract the invading Swedes
Fiddlesticks comes downstairs in his nightclothes, only Fiddlesticks is sat behind the bar chatting with the party… The two Fiddlesticks shout accusations of witchcraft before each grabbing makeshift weapons and heading to attack the other.
Frederik tackles the new Fiddlesticks whilst Thomas points his pistol at the one behind the bar. Thomas suggests torture is the only way to find which is the real Fiddlesticks. Montgomery suggests less violent tactics but Joey and George are also advocates of using techniques from the witch trials which are rife in the area.
As a first measure Thomas forces both Fiddlesticks to strip to see if they bear any obvious marks of the devil and Frederik forces them to put silver coins in their mouths. The one who came down in night clothes runs naked into the coachouse. Frederik tries to prevent Thomas killing the Fiddlesticks behind the bar.
George makes chase into the coach house and after some back and forth thrusts a spear through Fiddlesticks. Joey shoots the Fiddlesticks in the taproom through the skull after Thomas missed with both pistol and shortsword. Thomas takes the innkeep’s coin purse.
The taverns guests, ten armed men, come downstairs in their nightclothes and after some back and forth with Thomas suggesting they should be grateful the lord’s work has been done and a witch slain, the party are disarmed. Thomas threatened violence and resisted being disarmed and so was bound to a chair.
After surveying things the group of older guests want nothing to do with this situation and intend to leave. Accusations are cast at the party of being thieves and murderers. Montgomery suggests that the guests can learn they aren’t thieves by checking the inn keep still has his coin, however Thomas already lifted his purse…
The group of younger guests resolve to head to Argyle in the morning and fetch the vicar, they want the party to stay put until the vicar can assess the situation and determine whether they are murderers or not.
A young woman comes in and heads to the kitchen, seemingly not noticing the occurrences in the taproom. She is brought into the taproom by one of the younger men and upon seeing the corpse of Fiddlesticks screams. George seizes the opportunity and rushes to retrieve his spear. Frederik heads upstairs to retrieve his sword, Montgomery eventually flees out the front door and Joey out of the back. Thomas is bound and later restrained. Joey flees through the coach house and observes a second version of the same girl entering the inn. He takes a horse and rides to a safe distance as she enters.
The other guests decide enough is enough and it’s time to leave. They won’t arm the party but won’t prevent them retrieving their weapons, all but Thomas’ gun which is taken by a younger man. Frederik throws first one girl out and then begins to wrestle the other before it turns into Frederik… One Frederik is wrestled out of the front door and sets off for Argyle.
The Frederik inside the tavern settles down to rest and has his neck opened by Thomas whilst he sleeps. Thomas then drags George and what equipment remains out through the now empty coach house before throwing alcohol all over the tap room and lighting the inn on fire.
Whether the real Frederik lives is yet to be learned…