Tale of the Equinox Phantom

"To completely grip a nation, a crime need not be a murder."

What a beautiful ball it was! What a beautiful night! The music was excellent, the company exquisite. I was thoroughly enjoying myself, getting closer to the Lady of Furnsteyn when suddenly - all the music stopped all the lights went dark and it was as if someone drew a bag over my head. I heard muffled voices of shock, some weird rumbling and then.. it was over. I could see and hear again - and above the many confused heads, I saw that blank spot on the wall, where just moments before this priceless work of art hung. The Equinox Phantom had struck again!

Excerpt from eyewitness report
Count von Mylnquell in 1606 AR
About the theft of "An Outermost Forest Or Hamster"

The Equinox Phantom is the most famous and illustrious art thief with his fame rooted in him never being caught or detained, as well as his chosen targets and his habits on demanding a ransom. The Phantom always struck twice a year for several decades, exactly on the day of the equinox. His targets always were of nobility or in positions of power, usually known for mistreating or neglecting their subjects in some way. Each time the Phantom stole some priceless artwork, he would demand a ransom from the victim within a few days, demanding to do good towards their subjects in a specific way. If the ransom was met, the artwork was returned before the next equinox undamaged. Were the demands not met, the artwork was in some way irreparably damaged.

The Phantom was mostly active within the Kingdoms of Sevelang during the years 1604 AR till 1619 AR and gained a lot of notoriety as well as adoration among the population.
The common people saw the Equinox Phantom as their hero, fighting for them against the whims and cruelty of some nobles.
The Nobles, on the other hand, were fascinated as much as enraged by his actions - since the thefts were often carried out in a dramatic way and often against all possible odds. It became a challenge to bait and trap the Phantom without ever actually succeeding. Due to this, the tradition of the Equinox Ball was started. This colossally backfired, as these balls gave the multiple suspects within the nobility of Sevelang the perfect cover to operate under the disguise of the festivities.

We have observed a typical behavior of the phantom over the years - each time the artwork will be returned at the latest two months after the theft. While this was apparently always tied to the fulfillment of the given ransom conditions, the last victim was adamant not to comply. The following incident on the spring equinox of 1606 AR led to a reassessment of our prior assumption.
Due to the insistence of the baron to focus on the manhunt for the thief, there was only a small guard detail present, when the artwork "Light Aquamarine Bear to Dance" reappeared. The guards witnessed a blinding lightning spectacle, blocking their sight form the main fountaint of the victim's house. Afterward, the artwork was found soaked with water on the bottom of the fountain.
We had to reprimand Lieutenant Quellbach for several insensitive slurs against the victim he apparently offered as the devastated victim pulled the artwork out of the basin, watching the paint dissolve almost completely.

The full list of stolen articles

The full list of all stolen artwork

• The Painting "Offering to Sing" created 943 AR was stolen from Galant Goldlord of Drochten during the autumn equinox of 1604 AR in the deep of Night.
  The demand to make peace with the clerus was fullfilled.
• The Scripture "Improvement to Distinguish" created 1145 AR was stolen from Markcountess Holzhaas of Drochten during the spring equinox of 1605 AR during a Masked Ball.
  The demand to make peace with a neighbour was fullfilled.
• The Engraving "Green Swamp's Praise" created 633 AR was stolen from Archduchess Erzschmied of Lachsen during the autumn equinox of 1605 AR while a Hunt was going on.
  The demand to lower taxes on food was fullfilled.
• The Painting "Light Aquamarine Bear to Dance" created 1233 AR was stolen from Grand Duchess Milnstedt of Forellstett during the spring equinox of 1606 AR during a Theater Showing.
  The demand to make peace with the clerus was not fullfilled.
• The Painting "An Outermost Forest Or Hamster " created 1065 AR was stolen from Markcountess Kleinmiln of Bartonland during the autumn equinox of 1606 AR during a Dinnerparty.
  The demand to make peace with a neighbour was fullfilled.
• The Painting "The Giving" created 1076 AR was stolen from Lord Weißrahn of Forellstett during the spring equinox of 1607 AR during a revolt.
  The demand to make peace with a neighbour was not fullfilled.


• The Painting "Alliance's Reveal" created 767 AR was stolen from Vicecount Prinsstatt of Lachsen during the spring equinox of 1608 AR during Fireworks for the Equinox Ball.
  The demand to make peace with a neighbour was fullfilled.
• The Painting "Primordial Dark Maroon City with Ordinary Grey Alliance" created 936 AR was stolen from Prince Bartonstett of Bartonland during the autumn equinox of 1608 AR complicating concurrent diplomatic negotiations.
  The demand to free an innocent woman was fullfilled.
• The Painting "The Halting" created 1012 AR was stolen from Duke Drochtermaier of Quellreich during the spring equinox of 1609 AR while the object was heavily Guarded.
  The demand to lower taxes on goods was not fullfilled.
• The Sculpture "Virgin Hearing" created 665 AR was stolen from Knight Quellmister of Bartonland during the autumn equinox of 1609 AR during Equinox Ball.
  The demand to feed the poor was fullfilled.
• The Scripture "Ordinary Manifest Shaping The Raven" created 1528 AR was stolen from Galante Hochdorsch of Milnreich during the spring equinox of 1610 AR while a Hunt was going on.
  The demand to lower taxes on livingroom was fullfilled.
• The Scripture "The Disordering" created 1134 AR was stolen from Galante Weißprins of Holzen during the autumn equinox of 1610 AR during Equinox Ball.
  The demand to feed the poor was fullfilled.
• The Painting "Mediocre Scepter to Present" created 693 AR was stolen from Knight Schwarzstutt of Ethoressi during the spring equinox of 1611 AR during the Equinox Ball.
  The demand to make peace with a neighbour was fullfilled.


• The Painting "An Extreme Deep Black Cloth" created 1492 AR was stolen from Galante Kleinsturm of Bartonland during the spring equinox of 1612 AR during the celebration of a Marriage.
  The demand to free an innocent man was fullfilled.
• The Painting "Short Writer's Giving" created 648 AR was stolen from Knight Kleinbücher of Forellstett during the autumn equinox of 1612 AR during a Theater Showing in celebration of Equinox Ball.
  The demand to make peace in a senseless conflict was fullfilled.


• The Painting "Plotting ways to the Finest Sculptor" created 970 AR was stolen from Baroness Schwarzgrab of Rhomedan during the spring equinox of 1613 AR during an opera Showing.
  The demand to feed the poor was fullfilled.
• The Painting "The Small Panther's Granting" created 954 AR was stolen from Vicecountess Schmiedburgen of Quellreich during the autumn equinox of 1613 AR during a Theater Showing.
  The demand to repair the bad streets was fullfilled.
• The Engraving "Forge From The Crown" created 657 AR was stolen from Vicecount Erzrahn of Erzlandt during the spring equinox of 1614 AR in the deep of Night.
  The demand to lower taxes on goods was not fullfilled.


• The Scripture"Trivial Peach's Project" created 665 AR was stolen from Galant Kleinmüller of Holzen during the spring equinox of 1615 AR during an opera Showing.
  The demand to repair the bad streets was fullfilled.


• The Painting "Invention of A Primitive Hero" created 1446 AR was stolen from Lord Unbarton of Quellreich during the spring equinox of 1616 AR while the object was heavily Guarded.
  The demand to free an innocent woman was fullfilled.


• The Painting "Chisel Searching The Oversized Peacock" created 992 AR was stolen from Lord Federstett of Quellreich during the autumn equinox of 1616 AR during the Equinox Ball.
  The demand to feed the poor was fullfilled.
• The Painting "Establishing Against An Outmost Warriorpeace" created 744 AR was stolen from Lady Mitterforell of Ethoressi during the spring equinox of 1617 AR while the object was heavily Guarded.
  The demand to free an innocent woman was fullfilled.
• The Painting "Deep Charcoal Oyster listening" created 1363 AR was stolen from Count Vorfischer of Rotreich during the autumn equinox of 1617 AR under the cover of Trade Negotiations.
  The demand to make peace in a trade conflict was fullfilled.
• The Painting "Charcoal Girl Freezing A Peacock" created 1141 AR was stolen from Markcountess Unlehme of Rhomedan during the spring equinox of 1618 AR during the celebration of a Marriage.
  The demand to lower taxes on crafts was fullfilled.
• The Painting "The Great Crimson Pen" created 1360 AR was stolen from Baroness Großlord of Bartonland during the autumn equinox of 1618 AR during the celebration of a Marriage.
  The demand to feed the poor was not fullfilled.
• The Sculpture "The Forming" created 1175 AR was stolen from Countess Schmiedstatt of Bartonland during the spring equinox of 1619 AR during a Theater Showing.
  The demand to feed the poor was fullfilled.
• The Painting "Looking Through The Glass" created 806 AR was stolen from King Rahnstedt of Rotreich during the autumn equinox of 1619 AR in the deep of Night.
  The demand to make peace in a senseless conflict was fullfilled.

The Suspects

Despite the phantom being active exactly on the day of the equinox, giving him his name, and the high profile targets, it was never possible to catch him.
The behavior over the years, as well as some gathered hints, point to the Phantom being a male of noble birth. He was at most twenty years old when he started his crimes and he must have been athletic as well as moderately magically gifted. There are however several suspects that fit these parameters. Even long after the activity of the phantom ended, three possible suspects remained, all of whom have died peacefully and without ever facing a direct accusation decades later.

Lord Johann von Stuttring

A passionate Luductus player and intelligent tactician. Always known to challenge the rules with his plans.

Count Alaric Forellstatten

Skilled gymnast and well trained soldier. As a child he showed a tendency to climb on everything.

Galant Gustav Erzesloh

Passionate alchemist and painter. Has a collection of small statuettes and a passion for art in general.

Chasing the Phantom

The main efforts to catch the Equinox Phantom were led by Constable Hermann von Unterbach. He spent several years building up a profile of the Phantom and narrowed the pool of suspects down to just three possible culprits. Due to the phantom being active in multiple kingdoms and the phantom most definitely being of noble birth, however, the case of the Equinox Phantom became deeply entangled with diplomacy. Ultimately, it was never possible for von Unterbach to formally accuse and question the suspects, thus never being able to solve this case.

Most unusually, however, is the steady contact and exchange of messages Hermann had with all three of his suspects. He was known to be on good terms with each of them and each contributed to his efforts to found the Sevelang Coalition of Crime Investigation in 1616 AR. It was certain the Phantom had a distinct type of humor.

Category

Art Theft

Status

Unsolved

Time of Activity

1604 AR till 1619 AR

Known Victims

27

Skipped Events

Autumn 1607 AR
Autumn 1611 AR
Autumn 1614 AR
Autumn 1615 AR

Suspects

Further Reading