Chapter 45 - Heralds of Prophecy
General Summary
As morning approaches, Dietmar calls upon Gaal to bear them away from the army of the dead, and is sent owls for this purpose. Franz, Nit and Eliyahu cover the group with a cloak of invisibility, and Franz gives Carrot the power of flight. Nit conjures up a vision to distract the dead, but the host looks up at the departing owls, though they take no action.
The owls bear the travelers toward Rotz and over its wall, to alight in Cathedral Square. By the time they arrive, the invisibility cloak has begun to slip, and the defenders of the besieged city, panicked by the approach of the owls, take a shot at Dietmar, who appears as the group's leader. Mercifully, the bolt whistles by harmlessly, and the friar implores the shooters to desist, as his companions have come to help defend the city from the Totentanz. The defenders let the owls land, and listen as Dietmar tells them that they have been following in Death's train, and wish to save Rotz from the fate that has befallen other cities in Markwald. He asks where records are kept here, for he believes that learning about the ancient plague that struck these lands 1000 years ago may be key in turning back the riders. Franz says that he wants to help shore up the city's defenses, and asks whether the arsenal possesses silver weapons for fighting off the wererats. The travelers also inquire whether there are books inside the walls that may reveal how to defeat the Four Riders. The defenders and priests assembled on the square say that the riders are likely sent as punishment by God, as predicted in the Writ, but they say that it is likely that someone within the city is aiding the forces of the Sensenmann through dark magic - most likely, Augurs, the Fogarma, or the dwarfs. Eliyahu asks whether there is a Fogarma quarter in the city, and the residents indicate that there is. They are initially distrustful of the scholar and his intentions, as it is clear that he is Fogarma himself, but as Ingrid offers to accompany him into the district, they relent, so long as she is with him. As they arrive, the Fogarma inside the compound are reticent to admit the Gaalite warrior if she is to come armed, and the guards outside the compound warn her against entering unarmed, lest she falls to the magic of the sorcerers inside. She and Eliyahu eventually convince them to let her go unarmed, and convince the Fogarma to open their gates. They enter, and disappear into the Fogarma Quarter.
In the meantime, Franz, Nit, Erich, Johann and Carrot proceed to the city gates, to inspect the defenses. They see that the walls are sturdy, but there are few engines of war that might decimate the attackers as they approach. Erich and Johann are sent to requisition some beer to raise morale, while Carrot goes off in search of some pitch. Nit toys with the idea of putting on a show for orphans. But as she gazes out onto the plain before the gates, she sees the Sensenmann (or the one they assume to be him) raise his hands. The skies darken, and thunder begins to rumble. The mood upon the wall darkens, and the subsequent efforts to find an orphanage that would open its doors to the new arrivals are in vain. The people are scared.
Stymied, Nit and Franz return to Cathedral Square, where they left Dietmar with Dmitri. The two of them were left there in hopes of being allowed into the scriptorium to access old tomes, which Dmitri, unlike his companion, can actually read. But the keepers of the tomes guard them jealously, as they are few. Eventually, they return, after consulting their records. The riders, they say, are well-detailed in the Writ, but as they are ultimately called by God, they cannot be stopped, save through God's grace. There are scant records of the ancient plague, but what records there are suggest that it was turned back because of the victory of the Church, which allowed cities and bishoprics in the region to be established, and various heathen fae to be banished. However, the leader of the scriptorium keepers, one Peter the Chaplain, suggests that researching the old plague may be time ill-spent, because more recent history may offer better clues to pursue. Rotz, he suggests, prospered while other cities fell into ruin - and it may be prudent to discover why its blessings came to an end. Perhaps it was through harmful magics of the Fogarma or others, which Eliyahu and Ingrid are now looking into. But perhaps there was some sort of dark deal made by the city's rulers (whom Peter does not name) to make it seem like Rotz was spared, only to give it over to an even more horrible fate. No one knows where the money to hire all the men at arms who are now patrolling the city, came from. In response to questions about the Landgrave's whereabouts, he says that Detlev is at his castle (where, incidentally, more books are kept), but he kept a mansion in town, where, rumor has it, he engaged in dissolute pleasures. The mansion is currently guarded by men-at-arms, but Peter says he will enlist the services of the city guard to get them to step aside.
Armed with local support, the companions proceed to the mansion, which is indeed guarded by various landless knights and mercenaries, who refuse to step aside. After being harangued by Franz, and seeing that they are outnumbered by the Watch, they agree to step aside in exchange for being able to partake of the beer which Johann and Erich have wheeled onto the premises. The door is locked, so, led by Johann and Erich, the guards proceed to break it down. Inside, the mansion is found to be empty, though well furnished and decorated. Inevitably, some looting ensues, but the most significant find is one without monetary value. In a locked (and then, smashed) chest in the bedroom is a coffer filled with letters penned by the Landgrave himself. Most are to various mistresses, but they do contain passages that express hate for his wife, the Countess Kunigunde, whom he tolerates only because her magic has allowed him to keep control of the city.
A door to the basement is then broken down, and at the bottom of a dark staircase, a torture chamber is discovered...
Rewards Granted
- Items from the Landgrave's mansion (?)
Missions/Quests Completed
- shocking intelligence about the Gryphon Countess is discovered
Character(s) interacted with
- Rotz defenders and priests
- Landgrave's men-at-arms
- Peter the Chaplain
Report Date
14 Sep 2021
Primary Location
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