Chapter 13 - Research and Diplomacy

General Summary

The following day, Dietmar, Cilly and Reinhard head into town to try to do some research on the lycanthropy affliction, before it is too late. They first pay a visit to the bishop of Wunschau to get access to the scriptorium. He seems somewhat more relaxed, now that the margrave's men have reimposed control over the town, and immediate threat of a coup has passed, and happily grants them access. Through diligent prayer, Dietmar's eyes are opened to the mysteries of letters, and he is able to read some tomes on lycanthropy and its relationship to the Plague, and gathers some information about herbs that are noxious to the wererats. Though these herbs will not put an end to the disease, they may temporarily stop the process of transformation. Reinhard leafs through some bestiaries, and becomes acquainted with a theory that it is possible to put an end to the outbreak by killing the source of the outbreak. The companions in consultation determine that that likely means Matilda. However, the textual discussion is inconclusive - some scholars do not agree that this sort of approach is effective. Cilly, for her part, is mostly interested in following up on yesterday's meeting with Edelweiss, and would like to leave town as soon as possible to meet her at the cairn where the entrance to Albenheim is located. Unfortunately, she is not able to locate much information on elves, aside from the usual accusations about child theft, and some rather sterile debates about whether fee are demons or not. She ends up helping Dietmar work through the medicinal literature, and compiling recipes for anti-lycanthropy infusions.
Eddi spends the morning trying to talk to Friedrich, and convincing him to salvage their marriage. Initially, his brother's relatives tell her that he doesn't want to see her, but eventually, she gains entrance, and begs him to reconsider, which he tells her he will do if she agrees to stay home to raise their child, ceasing to wander off on various wild goose chases, and expelling the "guests" (i.e. the party) who have been staying at their house for the better part of two months. Eddi agrees in principle on all counts, but says she must first make a short trek to meet Edelweiss, who is likely her mother, in order to learn about her past. She then heads into town to wait for the researchers to emerge from the scriptorium.
Franz, for his part, spends the first half of the day shoring up his standing with the city watch, and exploring his prospects. He first speaks to Hilda and confirms his loyalty to her, and undertakes the mission of speaking to Wolff the Miller, and getting him to step down. Then, however, he meets with Herr Armin, who is on guard duty in the square, to glean the Margrave's position on the control of the watch, and tells him of Hilda's likely insubordination. Armin responds by telling Franz to speak to Herr Burckhardt, who is over by Wolff's compound.  Franz then heads off to one of the watchtowers, and speaks to a pair of subordinates who are watching the South Gate. One, named Marcus, seems like he is a pretty straight shooter, and commits to little aside from saying that the margrave's order must be maintained. The other, Klaus, known to be one of the most corrupt members of the Watch, makes plans for meeting Franz for a drink and a more intimate discussion later in the day. Before that, he heads off toward Wolff's compound in Kleinsumpf. The entrance is still watched by the knights, and Burckhardt accompanies him inside to meets with the Vogt, and there, tells him that the margrave is considering him as Hilda's replacement provided he can restore order and get the city watch on his side. Wolff feels much more secure now that he is being protected by the margrave's men, and he tells Franz that he is ready to throw his support behind him if he gets the Wunschau Rat to strip Hilda of her authority. He hands Franz a purse containing 1000 gulden to spread it around the council (or the Watch) to help change hearts and minds. Justus, present the whole time, says that he is not aware of any money having changed hands.
Back in town, the researchers have finished their work for the day. They meet Eddi on the Mondhausplatz, and discuss plans for making a foray out of town to meet Edelweiss, before it is too late. Cilly presses for leaving, too. But they must wait for Franz to return, and also, they don't know where to go. Eddi wonders if a forester can be found to lead them to the right location. The place Eddi knows best is the confluence of the Blau and the Glowa, a little ways south of Hegenburg, and she swears Edelweiss told her that the cairn is near the place she knows, so Reinhard sends out his owl to scout out the location, before the group retires to Ulrich's shop to wait for its return, and the return of Franz. The owl does eventually come back, not having seen any fields of flowers, or a cairn, but reporting the presence of a fort two or three miles southwest of the confluence.
Meanwhile, Franz returns with money, and heads directly back to the arsenal, where Hilda awaits. He tells her that Wolff is frightened, and making plans to flee, as the knights seem to be leaving. The watch commander seems to take his story at face value, and thanks him for a job well done. She then says she will now head to the Rathaus, to get the council to vote on a replacement candidate for Wolff, so that his name can be submitted to the margrave for approval. Franz heads to meet his companions to share his news. After he finds them, Reinhard voices his concern that Hilda has captured the initiative, and that the Council is now acting at her behest. Cilly and Eddi have little interest in the town politics, and want to head out of town to look for the cairn as soon as possible. Franz is unsure about what to do: does he try to assume the leadership of the Watch, have Hilda arrested, or just drop everything and head off into the woods? And what to do with that bag of money?

Rewards Granted

• Bag of money from Wolff the Miller 

Character(s) interacted with

• Udo of Plewa, Bishop of Wunschau
• Bedrzich, the bishop's assistant
• Fr. Moritz, attendant of the scriptorium
• Herr Burckhardt
• Eddi's husband Friedrich
• Hilda, commander of the City Watch
• Marcus and Klaus, two city guards
• Wolff the Miller
• Justus and Adam, two more members of the city watch
• Armin, a knight in the margrave's service

Report Date

22 Dec 2021

Primary Location

Wunschau