Rain needles the outskirts as Frieda, Sir Eleutherius, and Marten push past ditch and hedge. The packet stays tucked safe against Sir Eleutherius’s chest. Ahead, a torch bobbles on the lane, then another, and a watch cry rises from the bend.
Marten
They are found us. That is the river man’s signal.
From the dark cart track, a cloaked rider spurs forward, not fast enough to charge, but fast enough to block. Two more shapes gather behind him, cutting the road to the magistrate’s way.
The Cloaked Man
Hand over the packet, and you walk free.
Sir Eleutherius
No. We bear it to the Inquisitor by lawful seal.
The rider’s horse stamps. Marten recoils. Frieda sees the truth at once, this is no local quarrel, but the Bishop’s reach trying to snatch the evidence before it leaves Schweinfurt.
Frieda
The road to the Inquisitor is blocked.
“The way is blocked, but God has shown us another way. "Fear not!" she tells the boatman, "I shall purge the water of these vile nixies!" Making the sigh of the cross, she says the words of exorcism: "I adjure you, O creature of water, by the Name of God the Father Almighty, by the Name of Jesus Christ his Son our Lord, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, that you become water exorcised for putting all the power of the enemy to flight." "It is done!" she cries, "You may now take us to the Inquisitor."”
SUCCESS (Fair Theology, rolled -1)
Frieda steps to the river edge and makes the sign of the cross over the black water. The rain keeps falling, but her voice cuts cleanly through it as she speaks the old words of exorcism.
Frieda
Fear not. I adjure you, O creature of water, by the Name of God the Father Almighty, by the Name of Jesus Christ his Son our Lord, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, that you become water exorcised for putting all the power of the enemy to flight.
The boatman stares, then grips his pole tighter as if the river itself has shifted under him. Sir Eleutherius keeps the packet high against his chest, watching the lane and the bank alike.
Frieda
It is done. You may now take us to the Inquisitor.
The boatman nods and shoves off at once, obedient and pale. But the exorcism carries a price, the chant rings across the water, and the torchlight on the far lane turns toward them.
Marten
They hear us now...
Behind them, the rider line tightens at the roadblock while the skiff noses into the current. Frieda has her passage, and the last easy chance to turn back is gone.
“Having left the Bishop's men on the other side of the river, Frieda now hurries to reach the Inquisitor before anyone else tries to stop her.”
SUCCESS (Great Agility, rolled +1)