Chapter 9 - New Scourges
General Summary
Back in Putzdorff , Cilly and Reinhard confer about the use of Ulrich's shop again. After Cilly heads out of the village to search for herbs for various elixirs she is thinking of brewing, Wilhelm pays a visit to the compound where Reinhard is guarding the prisoners. Wilhelm offers the doctor a deal: his horse in exchange for the release of four of the captured bandits . Reinhard is amenable, but says he must discuss this with the rest of his companions once they return.
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Back in Hegenburg, the party returns to the dormitory after tracking down a distracted Basil in the Rathskeller. As they return to eat a frugal meal, they speak about plans for the following day. Dietmar declares that after having met the rats, he feels that he cannot abandon the citizens of the town on All Soul's Eve, and that the witches and their sabbath on Bald Mountain are just going to have to wait. Dietmar also notices that many of the people at the dormitory have little bites on their hands and feet Edda "Eddi" the Fisher, for her part, voices her suspicions about Reimar - the only person in town who seems to be eating a decent diet. There is brief talk about getting supplies and defenders here from the Margrave, but those seem like a difficult undertakings. Eddi decides to sneak into the vestry to see if she can find any incriminating materials on Reimar, and succeeds only in breaking her pick in the lock. But Dietmar later mends it while he is helping the citizens mend their clothes and other implements, and after nightfall, she makes another attempt. While Reimar snores, she is able to see stashes of decent food (not the gruel that everyone else eats). Searching through the bureau, she finds a letter that says: "if you want to continue eating well, Reimar, you need to fall into line." It is signed "Matilda".
The following morning, the companions confer again. As Dietmar rose, who prayed to God for guidance, and it was revealed to him that both he and Eddi, along with most of the locals present, have contracted lycanthropy. The bites on the citizens start to make more sense, perhaps, but staying here does not. The best thing to do is to head back to Wunschau, and solicit the bishop's aid, after collecting the prisoners from Putzdorff. The party of six leaves Hegenburg early in the morning, and returns to the village, where they have a long consultation with Reinhard and Cilly regarding what to do next. Reinhard pushes for returning to the city, and lying low until after All Souls' Eve passes, and makes it safe to travel again, but Franz, Eddi and Basil don't seem particularly concerned about it. While they parlay, Wilhelm keeps appearing, and bringing more food (he gifts the party a small cask of ale, and a jar of honey). He is ultimately unsuccessful in convincing the party to take his offer in exchange for freeing his relatives and friends, but Franz promises to give them gainful employment and to put in a good word for them with the Margrave. Erich wants to hang all of the bandits, but is outvoted. Around noon, the party collects all the prisoners, and marches them to Wunschau, though some of the party members press for going directly to Schloss Rabenwald.
Arriving in Wunschau, Erich and Johann, enthused by what seems to have been a successful expedition, head out to carouse and brag. Franz finds Helga and attempts to deposit the prisoners in the Rathaus gaol, but he is rebuffed: this expedition is entirely the Margrave's business, she tells him, and she does not want the responsibility of housing, much less training, the Putzdorff bandits. Despite some grumbling, the party (minus the two militiamen) head to the Schloss, and are received by the Margrave and Florian the kastellan. They turn over the bandits, and the Margrave gratefully accepts them, ordering his servants to throw them all in the dungeon. They inform Konrad about their experiences in Hegenburg, and ask him whether he has heard of Matilda. The Margrave seems well-informed. He tells them that she was a sorceress who was condemned to be burned at the stake, but must have somehow slipped away during the chaos of the Totentanz, and she must have now returned to plague Hegenburg further. Toward the end of the audience, Reinhard offers that they should return to town before it is too late, but the Margrave tells them that travel is dangerous, and offers to put them up in the stables once again. Dietmar tells the Margrave that he and Eddi have been bitten by some of the wererats in Hegenburg, and asks if he can help in any way, but at this, Konrad's disposition suddenly changes. He moves back in his chair, and asks if it is contagious. Despite being assured that it is not, he orders the party to leave the castle - he is not taking any chances with another plague.
Dejected, the companions camp out within sight of the gates, so that the guards might come to their aid should anything happen. In the middle of the night, wailing is heard in the distance, and several ghostly shapes are seen floating over the trees in the distance. One heads straight toward them, screeching and wailing as it comes. Its visage is that of Ruprecht.Rewards Granted
- small cask of ale
- jar of fine-grade honey
Missions/Quests Completed
- Bandits delivered to the Margrave
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