Session 10 - The City Without Walls

General Summary

After the party arrives in Silberbad, Klein sets up camp. As there is a caravan of Augurs also set up outside the city, the group heads over to speak to them. From the Augurs, they received information on the whereabouts of the Riese, who seem to be camping in the woods nearby. During the conversation, Belak makes friends by offering to make shoes for the children, many of whom go barefoot.
Back at camp for the night, the party discusses what to do about the book at camp. Klein contributes remaining funds for buying writing supplies in the city so that Chlothar can begin copying it.
The following day, Klein and Clothar head off in search of the Riese, while Belak and the two Bertrands decide to have a look around town. On the way in, they notice the walls have recently been knocked down. Once inside, they look for a chancery where they could procure the writing supplies, and are directed to the notary at the town Rathaus. They also learn from the townsfolk that the Sensenmann swept through two years ago and tore down the walls. Every year, he returns to claim a maiden. He informs the local burgomeister of his choice prior to his arrival. This year, the selected maiden is Elsa, daughter of the notary.
In the chancery of Karl Schreiner, they learn about the town's economy. Key here are the hot springs, which reputedly have curative properties, and attract pilgrims from far and wide, and the silver mines, which have apparently run dry recently. Schreiner also tells them that it was the Dwarfs in town who poisoned the wells to initiate the plague, and who opened the gates to the Sensenmann and his minions. For their troubles, they were driven out with the Sensenmann's approval, apparently. It is likely, in his telling, that the vengeful dwarfs caused the mines to run dry. When asked about his daughter, he seems resigned to the fact, and adds that on the day after she will be taken away, he will also die. He also tells them to speak to Heinrich Todbrück, the burgomeister, who is likely dining in the Rathskeller within the hour. The burgomeister has a son bearing the same name who is also involved in the city's administration.
In the woods, Klein and Chlothar look for the book at Riese camp and come upon a severed head. They meet the priest Ernst from the church in Reisenhein and discuss his travels and findings on the book. Ernst tells them that the Riese instituted a massacre in Dünkelsburg, and slaughtered all the inhabitants. Some parts, like the head, were taken along for food or sport. However, Ernst, who is staying with the Riese to read the book (which only he, apparently, can handle safely) shares with Chlothar some of the material he was able to read in the book. Ernst insists that the work is not at all controversial, though it does discuss the questionable idea about the Three Ages, and when they are predicted to start and end. However, Chlothar, who has learned to absorb the book's power better, actually sees something very different in the book - for him, it is primarily of book on rhetoric.
As Chlothar pores over the book, Klein goes to talk to Mutti Gunde. She says that he can make himself useful by going into town to negotiate tribute from the townspeople (including wives for the Riese) so as to avoid violence.
Klein heads into town, where he finds his companions, freshly emerged from their meeting with the notary. As he does not run a chancery shop, he was able to supply them with limited amounts of paper, and now, Belak, aided by Totengraber, are in the process of stealing bills from the walls of the Rathaus (so someone can write on the other side). Klein and Bertrand converse with the citizens, and inspect a large statute of the Sensenmann that stands in the main square. An inscription on the statue reads "ET IN ARCADIA EGO". It means "Even in Arcadia, here am I."
Having met up with Klein, the four head down to the Rathskeller to meet with the burgomeister.

Report Date

17 Dec 2024