The Good Doctor

The heroes are thrust into an intriguing and dangerous setting. They are called upon to track down the creator of a number of flesh golems using the parts of local missing people. The only thing that connects them is where they appear.

Plot points/Scenes

Setting the Stage:
The heroes are summoned from all over Frankia to the city of Wien at behest of Ewald Odila, the local Burgomeister. They are called up as he has a task for them to do and heard it is something that they can do in their own unique way. Cutting through the red tape of such a sensitive matter he informs them that it has came to light that someone is messing around with the dead in & around Saltsburg. Around three quite dead flesh golems have been found in the region around it. One in a salt mine, one in a cemetery, and one in an alleyway leading to the market square of Salzburg. Recently one living golem was killed as well, when it broke into the local count's mansion grounds, being brought down by his guards who used lit torches & oil to do it.
Odila wants them to travel to Salzburg and find out what is going on there.

Arrival at Salzburg:
When they arrive a few hours later at Salzburg, the heroes will discover the city in full running order with little to rise any suspicions. The local militia are active and wary of strangers at this point due to the flesh golem incidents. When asked, they will point to an officer, Jarl de Lanie. From there they have to travel to the the grounds of the local count who belongs to the de Ath family. de Lanie will welcome them in expecting help to arrive of some sort from Wien.
He will fill them in again about the flesh golems, and point out that they were found mainly in the northern end or outside the city. Also, there are rumours that another has been sighted around the same place where there are caves in a small mountainous pass that leads to the country estate of the Mengele family and the fort on the border with Saxony. There a Viktor Mengele is currently in residence, after retiring there for the winter months and due back sometime in his regular rounds of the region.
de Lanie will point out that it may be worth talking to Mengele but not to be fooled too much by the charming manner of the physician. He finds the man just too charming for his own good. He has heard rumours that Mengele has been querying the authorities (but never himself) about the golems and has offered money to any that can supply him the remains. Said to be skilled doctor, his interest has sparked questions about his intents as many of the body parts are said by locals having came from his own patients. de Lanie is of two minds here, as:

• on one hand, the physician may just be curious and may actually help. The locals looking answers and many still practising the old ways of medicine, may find him a perfect scapegoat.
• on the other, there may be a ring of truth, as at times Mengele's patients, especially in the southern end bordering Saxony, may be real. The ongoing Saxon War may help cover up any crimes.

The Investigation:
The heroes are given access to to any records of the golems. Each was perfectly crafted from recently deceased humans. They are of different ages, and levels of society it appears, with some parts thought to be of Saxon origins. No names of the persons who discovered the three dead golems are supplied as they are afraid they may be next. All appeared to have came from the northern pass, by what tracks that are found and possible sightings. Little rot or other damage had took root in them and all had a strange mark like a smooth bent Y shape was on the forehead near the base of the hairline, no bigger than the pinkie finger's nail.
They can examine the scenes discovering the following:

• the cemetery golem seemed to have started digging up a grave where a man called Jacob was buried. He had been a military man who had recently fallen in battle against the Saxons and the family had been told that his head had been taken by them.
• the golem in the mine had hands that showed it had callouses on it similar to many of the miners, and the area it was found in was caved in after loose rock had fallen in killing & injuring 3 men.
• the final golem had been found in an alleyway were an assault had took place and was bad enough to have resulted in the attacker being executed by decapitation.

One thing does appear is that the pass needs to be looked at. So off they should go to examine it.
When they arrive, within an hour or two they are likely to run into a flesh golem that is close to a cave at the north end on the left. It has the same strange Y shape on it's forehead and likely leaving or going into the cave. If they spot the golem first they can maybe hide, sneak past or avoid the golem if they are crafty or lucky enough.
Any examination of the cave will yield the following:

• The cave itself is well maintained and not that visible from the major road through.
• The end of it is about two miles in and the cave runs deep enough & curved enough to point in the direction of north to have it face the Mengele holdings in the region.
• The end of it is of smooth local basalt stone, and looks as if it can be moved (potentially from the other side).

The Final Chapter:
At this point, with any amount of luck the heroes will realise that there is something suspicious about the Mengele grounds (and the fort) and go there. Also, they will find that there is local militia there defending, and a few guests are present. Viktor is present amongst them and the rest is minor dignitaries.
The heroes have to find a way to either find the actual culprit or if it is the charming Mengele. To do this they may have to steal the keys to locked basements where the surgery is. Exactly where this is and the key is another matter. Mengele carries the key and is hard to charm.
A quick & sneaky character might prowl down and find it, pickpocket Mengele or feign illness / injury to get access.
If entered they will see all the grisly details of the experiments of Mengele's work, and they can search further for a hidden tunnel to the caverns. Writings on a desk will point to Mengele and his reasonings behind it. Not wanting to ever die or age if at all possible, he is trying to find a path to immortality. Also, he has been dealing with necromancers far to the north east. His experiments have been noted and passed to them to as well.
If found, a flesh golem and Mengele will attack, both savagely. If confronted, he can possibly be physically subdued and handed over to the local authorities with little fuss, and the distain of the nobles & dignitaries. Some will side with the heroes, others with the Mengele family.

Related Characters

• Ewald Odila
• Viktor Mengele

Related Organizations

• Franks

Related Locations

• Wien