Chapter 8 - The Rattenhaus of Hegenburg

General Summary

The victors bind the bandits - all the ones remaining still draw breath - and interrogate them (Thilo, however, rides away, though the Margrave's party is happy enough to let him go - he did his job by leading them here). The survivors cooperate by telling them where they are from (Putzdorff, Hegenburg, and other areas, especially on the Blau, to the west. They also indicate that they occasionally worked with other "survivors" - in Blauhorst, Hauswald, and other villages. None of the bands seems particularly large. On the whole, they were just locals trying to survive under trying conditions, and they have supporters back in the villages. The captives indicate that they have no idea where their leader Jutte went - they say they have no other haunts. When Eddi indicates that she knows this to be a lie, because there is a tavern nearby, the bandits say that it is just a place where they lie low and await unwary travelers - they do not stay or keep anything there. Jutte most likely went on to Hegenburg, they say. Ultimately, Franz tells them that they have two choices - execution, or joining the Margrave's task force to bring the area under control. As this means a pardon for past crimes, and good pay, the bandits readily agree.
The party sets up watches at night to ensure the prisoners do not escape, and the following morning, they escort them back to Putzdorff to leave them in the care of the villagers while they make a quick foray into Hegenburg. Upon arrival, they find the gate to the perimeter fence closed, and call on the residents to let them in. When the gate opens, they find the villagers assembled on the other side, brandishing pitchforks and axes. Seeing the bandits in bonds, some ask for them to be treated mercifully, while others call for their immediate execution. The party relays plans for them to be escorted to Wunschau upon their return, and the more violent villagers back down. Because the the Putzdorffers cannot be entirely trusted, Cilly and Reinhard are left behind to keep an eye on the prisoners (and, they apparently have some business to discuss in private).
Having made arrangements, the rest of the group departs. They make their way down the road past the fallen tree, and soon, come to an abandoned inn, where, according to some villagers, the bandits made their base. After searching the inn, they discover no signs of Jutte, so they continue on to Hegenburg, reaching the city in another two hours. Its gates are ajar, and aside from birds, there are no signs of life in the city. The gates are unguarded, and refuse lies in the city streets, but the air seems remarkably unpolluted by the usual smells of urban life. The group winds its way through back streets to avoid being noticed, and makes its way to the back of St. Margaret's Cathedral on the main square. Trying to stealthily enter the cathedral courtyard through a back gate, they come upon a woman, who is shocked to see them, and drops the chamberpot she is emptying onto the cobblestones. After recovering from her surprise, she tells them that her name is Klara, and that she is one of among 60 residents who are still in the city. All have taken refuge in the dormitory, and are surviving the best they can (though she herself looks thin and gaunt). The has been no sign of the Totentanz within Hegenburg since the first outbreak, when the majority of the citizens fled, though people are aware that the walking dead still prowl around the countryside, especially at night.
Klara takes the group back to the dormitory, where at least half of the 60 people she mentioned are present. She introduces them to Reimar , a paunchy man who acts as the head of the survivors. Reimar tells them that he used to be a member of the town council. The people who are still here, he avers, have no desire to leave, because traveling abroad is more dangerous than staying behind the protection of the city walls (the gates are closed at night, he insists). In addition, none of the refugees have returned, which indicates to the survivors that conditions aren't too good elsewhere. Also, people are scared to leave, because they think their property is likely to be seized in their absence. As for survival, the city does have stores of food, though these are running low. Using remaining funds and goods, they buy or trade for food when possible. He is not aware of any tunnels that would allow the walking dead to enter the city. Franz tells Reimar that they are in the process of transporting captured bandits to Wunschau to be retrained as a militia for the protection of local residents. Reimar responds that the locals have a wait-and-see attitude regarding any magnates coming to their protection, but he does confirm that several of the bandits do hail from Hegenburg. He expresses relief that the gang has been neutralized, but says that Jutte is not one of them, and that she has not turned up there today.
As it is growing late, the group requests shelter for the night, which Reimar grants - there are enough sleeping quarters in the dormitory. Before the sun sets, however, the group would like to search the Rathaus on the opposite side of the square - perhaps there are maps there that would allow them to have a clearer idea of where other villages and bands are located. After making their way to the Rathaus to the sounds of Basil's bagpipes, they discover the place largely abandoned. The council hall stands empty, as does the rathskeller in the basement. They ascend the stairs to inspect the chambers where records might be kept, and discover a room that might have been used for that purpose, though in the process, they lose track of Basil, who appears to have wandered off somewhere. As they open the drawers of a bureau in the room, there are sounds of scurrying, and a rat appears out of the darkness, and bites Eddi's hand. She immediately throws her fishing net over it, but inside, the rat begins to transform into a rat-headed being, roughly five feet tall, wearing women's clothes. Using a sword, it begins cutting its way out. Another such being appears, and bites Dietmar. Both flash ratty smiles, and taunt the party members, who fall upon them them. Aside from Franz's sword and Dietmar's hand, bloodied with stigmata, their attacks - even Erich's and Johann's halberds - do not make much of an impression on the creatures, whose wounds close as soon as they are made. The rats, however, fail to deliver bites that pierce the militiamen's armor. But squealing and laughing, they change back into rats, run through forests of legs, and into mouse holes along the floorboards.
As Dietmar ministers to the party's wounds, the conversation turns toward worries about having contracted the Plague.

Missions/Quests Completed

• Captured bandits interned in Putzdorff 
• Arrival in Hegenburg
• Two rat-people chased away

Character(s) interacted with

• Bandits in Jutte's gang 
• Villagers in Putzdorff 
• Klara 
• Survivors in Hegenburg 
• Reimar of Hegenburg, head of the Hegenburg survivors

Report Date

10 Nov 2020