Chapter 14 - The Masters of Wunschau
General Summary
A person dressed all in black enters the Mondhausplatz. The situation in the city has been precarious for the past several days, and rumors have swirled that Wolff, the town Vogt appointed by margrave is about to be removed by force. The mystery man thinks this may present an opportunity for him to learn about his true origins, and three of the people involved in the political chaos - Franz - a Wachtmeister in the City Watch, "Eddi" the Fisher, and Cilly - a recently arrived plague doctor who came to town to help stem the tide of the dread disease - are people he has been watching closely, in hopes that they will help him answers questions about his own origin. Today, Klawuhn is in luck - he sees all three huddled together near the Rathaus, together with Friar Dietmar of Hauswald and Reinhard der Schreiber. Klawuhn walks up and introduces himself as these five are putting the finishing touches on a plan of action regarding turning back an attempted power grab by Hilda - commander of the City Watch, and Franz's superior.
Skeptical of an obviously suspicious person slipping up to speak to them at a very sensitive moment, the group begins to disperse. Cilly offers that she is not particularly interested in politics to begin with, and worries about missing the upcoming appointment with Edelweiss, especially since no one knows where to go. She departs for Eddi's house in Kleinsumpf, leaving her companion and host to explain what she is talking about. Klawuhn is immediately excited, and takes off his headgear, revealing his distinctly elven ears for all to see. That makes two elves in two days, Eddi thinks, after a lifetime of seeing none, and knowing nothing about her own heritage. They are looking to make contact with someone who is possibly their mother and perhaps to enter her ancestral realm of Albenheim, she allows, but she is not prepared to say more at the moment, and makes plans to meet Klawuhn back here sometime during the next day. She then hurries home, wishing to stay out of the way of the brewing conflict, and to make sure Cilly doesn't make her domestic situation any worse.
Franz, wanting to throw off attention, goes and speaks to the real Burkhardt sitting on his horse at the entrance to the square, and asks him whether the margrave has ordered any action, to which the knight replies that he is waiting for him to make his move. Franz moves to set the plan in motion. He enters an alley by the side of the Rathaus, and changes himself to appear like Hilda - the commander of the Wunschau City Watch. He then enters the arsenal, where he finds two of his comrades, and tells them to report to the gatehouses along the wall to prevent the Flagellants from gaining entry. Confused (as they have heard nothing about this, they begin to make preparations, but Hilda suddenly enters downstairs, and Franz is just able to change himself to look like Herr Burckhardt - one of the margrave's knights. Hilda is surprised by his presence inside the arsenal, and asks what he is doing there, but the supposed knight replies that he is there to inform her that the council's actions to elect a new head will not go over well with his master. Now concerned, because she was previously given to understand that Wolff the Miller was fleeing, and that the knights were returning to Schloss Rabenwald, she leaves immediately, while Franz slips out the back, now disguised as an old pauper, and attempts to follow Hilda, after subtly tipping off Reinhard and Dietmar. They follow, but they are in turn followed by Klawuhn, who wants to learn more about the group. He is not used to tailing people in the city, and his black cloak quickly gives him away. His quarry quickly turns into an alley and wait for him to come to them, and demand to know what he wants. There, they confront him. In response to questioning, Klawuhn reveals that he lives and works at a house of ill-repute in Kleinsumpf. Reinhard asks him directly whether he is a whore, and Klawuhn replies in the affirmative. This gives Reinhard an idea, so he invites Klawuhn to return with them to the square.
By this time, Cilly has returned to Eddi's, where she has lived for the past month and a half. She finds Eddi's husband Friedrich sweeping the porch. When he sees his houseguest, he asks what she is doing there, and then proceeds to inform her that he's told Eddi to make all the guests leave - they are to have a child soon, and what they need is a normal family life. He then invites her to pack up all the alchemical equipment she had set up in their toolshed to distill spirits. Not one who appreciates being told what to do, Cilly begins to comply - very, very slowly. Soon, Eddi arrives, and assures Friedrich that all their visitors are indeed leaving. She convinces Cilly to pack the still into her magical bag, and to return to the square - if they are to go look for Albenheim, they may want to question Klawuhn further, because his sudden appearance is probably not a coincidence.
Back on the square, Franz finally makes his move. Along with Dietmar and Klawuhn, he enters the councilors's meeting chamber, while Reinhard stays on the square to keep track of Hilda's comings and goings. Once inside, Franz informs the syndics that he comes to them as the margrave's representative, and that the margrave is aware of their actions to remove his appointed Vogt, and demands that he be reinstated if the councillors do not want to risk being charged with treason. He then places Wolff's purse of coin upon the table (though he has conveniently removed 200 gulden from it, to later distribute it to the Watch). The syndics voice their confusion - they were given to understand that the margrave has accepted their recommendation of Jakob the Mason as the new Vogt, and that Wolff was fleeing town. Franz assures them that this was a lie told by Hilda in order to twist the Rat to her will, and to leave the city open to the predations of the Flagellants. The councillors hesitate, but Jakob, finally noticing Klawuhn, asks Dietmar and Franz what he is doing there. As if on cue, Klawuhn gives friendly helloes to more than half of of the council members - all regulars at his establishment. Dietmar says that the margrave would not be terribly happy to learn of their activities, and presses them to sign an official order for Hilda's arrest. Still they hesitate, telling Franz that they will do so after he speaks to his comrades, and after he sees to the bishop, who, they assure, is not to be trusted. Franz presses them, insisting that he cannot do anything for them without an official order, and finally, they break, and sign, attaching the Rat's official seal.
On the square, Reinhard awaits with news. Hilda has returned with a half dozen soldiers (including Erich), and has headed into the cathedral. Dietmar and Reinhard fear the worst - she has likely gone to deal with him because of his opposition to the Flagellants. Around this time, Eddi and Cilly also return, but while being pressed by Klawuhn about Albenheim, Hilda emerges with the bishop. Franz advances toward the other guards, and reads out the Rat's order, and promises each of the guards that they will receive a raise of 10 gulden. The knights arrayed on the square, and various gawkers, look on to see how the situation will resolve. Hilda responds by accusing Franz and his companions of witchery, and orders the men to arrest him. Confused about where their duty lies, the guards dither, as Erich loudly demands to know what is going on. Having seen enough, Hilda calls on the men to charge, draws her sword, and ploughs into Franz with a fury of blows. Fortunately, she is only joined by one of the men, and Franz manages to sidestep or block her flurry. He then responds with his scythe, conveniently disguised as a halberd. But then Udo the Bishop steps up, and recites an authoritative prayer in the Vallandan tongue, ordering Franz's companions to halt, though he only succeeds in fixing Dietmar's feet to the ground. Though shocked by this unexpected development, Reinhard urges his companions to not direct any attacks toward him. Eddi then attempts to snare Hilda in the net (to no avail), and Klawuhn suddenly pops out from behind Reinhard to pop her with a bolt, while Reinhard performs some subtle magic to constrict her chest, and Cilly rolls in her patented ball of acid. But Hilda shakes off the pain, and continues to press her attack. Worse, the bishop steps up and calls Hilda's assaulters up before divine judgment. Cilly is able to duck out of the way, but Reinhard's skin begins to break glow and break out in blisters, through which radiant light pours forth. The same happens to Franz, but the glow is suddenly extinguished, as if by some unseen force. Eddi yells for Dietmar to return the favor, and harries Hilda to allow Franz to find another opening, and the commander finally falls to the ground. The bishop looks physically pained. He releases Dietmar, tells the companions to take Hilda, as she is a terrible woman, but asks that she not be hurt. In response to Dietmar's insistent questioning, he tells him to meet him for a drink in the vestry.
While Franz distributes the guards' reward, Dietmar and Reinhard minister to the wounded. Reinhard then turns over the keys to Ulrich's shop to Eddi, so that she, Cilly and Klawuhn can retire there to discuss plans for the evening, out of earshot. Cilly continues to complain that the politics is delaying them from their real mission, and endangering Eddi's unborn child, though Reinhard counters that at least now, they will have a town to return to. He then accompanies Franz to the Rathskeller, where the Council Members also assemble, and breathe a sigh of relief at everything having been resolved with minimal violence. They inquire about who will replace Hilda, and Franz, surprisingly, tells them that he does not want the job, and proposes Johann. The councillors object that Johann is an idiot, and recommend Marcus instead. Franz agrees, saying that Marcus was second on his list, and that he is reliable, loyal, and dedicated to the Watch. Franz and Reinhard then go to the arsenal tower, where Hilda has been interred. Franz considers taking her breastplate, but it definitely will not fit him. Before leaving the tower, Reinhard pays a visit to Ulrich, and tells him that the town has been secured. Ulrich is happy at the news, and asks whether Reinhard might be able to obtain his release, but the ever careful plague doctor says that he wants to take things one step at a time. He also asks his old mentor whether he is aware of any portals to Albenheim, and the latter replies that speaking to the local forester might help. Reinhard then returns to the shop to give this information to his companions, while Franz proceeds to the miller's estate, to tell him of Hilda's arrest. The Vogt is happy with the outcome, and, though he cannot give the Wachtmeister any armor, he does present him with another coin purse for a job well done.
At the cathedral vestry, Dietmar meets with the bishop, and asks him why he was helping Hilda, considering she was undermining his authority, and trying to give Wunschau over to the Flagellants. Bishop Udo responds that he had no choice, as his soul is somehow linked to Hilda's, and that he lacks the power to resist her demands. Nevertheless, he wants her imprisoned, and will do everything he can to keep the Giessler outside the city gates.
Rewards Granted
- 300 gulden from Wolff
Missions/Quests Completed
- Hilda's insurrection crushed
Character(s) interacted with
Report Date
12 Jan 2021
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