Great Mysteries of Übel Staal

 Credits 
Author
Theodore Bergqvist

Additional Writers and Helpers

Magnus Malmberg, Dan Slottner,
Mattias Berglin and Luca Cherstich.

Translation
Wilhelm Hoffstedt

Editing
John Marron

Art Direction
Theodore Bergqvist

Layout and Typesetting

Magnus Malmberg

Cover Art
2 Peter Bergting

Interior Art
Peter Bergting

Additional Kudos
Thanks to all the Kickstarter pledgers and to all the backers
who made this project come to life.

Our style is to use “they” as a singular gender-neutral pronoun when

possible. This usage continues to gain m
­ ainstream acceptance, including
among major style guides such as The Associated Press Stylebook
and The Chicago Manual of Style. We believe it is appropriate and
practical, not just to reflect common usage but to accommodate a more
inclusive view of gender identity. The LexOccultum books also use
“he” or “she” when helpful for added clarity.

isbn: 978-91-984759-2-0
3
4
 Table of Contents
Table of Contents
PREPARATIONS 6 The Town That Cried Wolf............................................................40
Background...........................................................................................6
INTRODUCTION 9
Enter the Characters......................................................................... 11
KOBLENSTADT 13
Map of Koblenstadt...........................................................................15
1. Manfred’s Gasthaus......................................................................15
2. Übel Staal’s house......................................................................... 17
3. The Mayor’s Estate....................................................................... 21
4. The scene of Übel Staal’s accident............................................23
5. The Vagabond Camp....................................................................24
6. The doctor’s office.........................................................................26
7. The Office of the Imperial administrator................................28
8. The Circus......................................................................................29
9. The Women’ Stairs.......................................................................30
10. The Wine Shop Visbaum.......................................................... 31
11. Town Jail and the Town Guard............................................... 31
12. The Church and the Cemetery................................................ 31
13. Übel’s Family Grave...................................................................32
14. The Lion Relief and the Sewer System..................................34
16. The Thieves’ Guild Gideout.....................................................36
17. The Vicarage................................................................................36
18. Herbert Herberger’s House.......................................................36
ENCOUNTERS AND EVENTS 38
A Warning..........................................................................................38
Werewolf Rumours...........................................................................39
The Drunk Who Cried Wolf..........................................................39
Stalked in the Night..........................................................................40
Encounter With the Wisdom.........................................................41
Emma is Found Dead.......................................................................43
Visit at Johann Elk’s, in Koblenz...................................................43
The Legless Beggar..........................................................................45
THE CONCLUSION AND NPC’S 46
Back at Madam Holbach’s establishment.....................................46
The Settlement...................................................................................47
Reward and Adventure Points........................................................48
What Comes Next?...........................................................................48
The mayor, Herr Herman Blück....................................................49
Kirsten Blück......................................................................................50
5
The Captain of the Guard, Hans Blück......................................... 51
Herr Jarman Felde, the Official......................................................52
Regina Felde.......................................................................................53
Doctor Stefan von Hertzenblach....................................................54
Katarina von Hertzenblach..............................................................55
Klara von Hertzenblach...................................................................55
Edmundo.............................................................................................56
Emma...................................................................................................58
Kristian Dragel..................................................................................59
The Military Students, Luc, Mano and Julius............................60
Nikolaj Volkov....................................................................................62
Nina Volkov........................................................................................62
Johan Karlsdorf, the Priest..............................................................64
Herbert Herberger.............................................................................64
Professor Johann Elk........................................................................65
Père Immanuel Lavotte....................................................................66
Herr Carl-Johan Grecke..................................................................67
Monsieur Laurent Burgont.............................................................68
Monsieur Xavier du Palles..............................................................69
Thieves Guild Members..................................................................69
  Preparations
“Great Mysteries of Übel Staal” is the
name of this story. It is the first official
adventure for LexOccultum, and is
designed to be beginner-friendly, for
3-5 characters. If the players are more
experienced, the mission can be easily
modified to accommodate them, the
game master, however, must be ready to
read up on the different sections before
they start rearranging.
Certain situations will have a specific
Fear Factor to be used against the
characters, inflicting mental damage.
The Game Master is off course
encouraged to use assign Fear Factor to
other situations as he sees fit.
The mission is mainly constructed
around encounters and people the
characters meet, who they will have to
get to know and extract information
from. It is, therefore, important that
the game master has read through the
material more than once. Familiarization
with, and knowing how, the various
non-player characters behave and
think is the key to making the players’
experience a good one.
The mission takes place by the end of
1743, but the game master may alter the
date with a few minor changes.
Background
Six months ago, Übel Staal decided to
sell an object he acquired almost twenty
years ago and had kept secret until now.
He knew from the beginning that the
item could endanger his life. The seller
had been an old Jew and Kabbalist who
had to flee the Palatinate and was in dire
need of money. At first, Übel did not
believe the Jew when he told him that
the object in his possession actually
existed. He had heard of it, several
times, but the general consensus was
that it was a myth. In exchange for a
large sum of ducats, Übel had received
the little wooden box which contained
a coin, but not a normal one. This is the
Coin of Judas.

The object’s current buyer is
Antonio Calvino, an old friend of
Übel’s who lived in Rome, willing to
pay a hefty sum for it. Übel Staal and
Antonio Calvino, his friend, had been
corresponding about the deal but the
Church of Rome intercepted several
of their letters. Monsignor Angelo
Quirini, cardinal and chief librarian
of the Vatican, had sent his agents to
spy Calvino for ten years due to his
dealings with the occult, and now he
had enough information to bring him
down, circumstantial evidence was not
enough for a man of his stature. Since
the letters never mentioned what kind
of item was involved in the transaction,
Monsignor Quirini sent three men to
Koblenstadt to find out.
Unfortunately for Monsignor
Quirini, he too had been observed by
members of a secret society called
“SAPIENTIA”, and who passed on this
information to their own organization.
Sebastien Aigion, a high-ranking
7
 member of the Sapientia order, had
long suspected the Coin of Judas to be
in the Palatinate and the possession of
Übel, although, he was not sure enough
to send his men to claim it. When he
heard of the correspondence between
Übel Staal and Antonio Calvino, he
was convinced and sent the disfigured
Edmundo to acquire the Coin.
Edmundo got to Koblenstadt before
the Church agents and followed and
attacked Übel. It is important to
know that Edmundo is not a normal
scoundrel, but rather somebody
bearing a terrible curse who makes him
8
more beast than man. He tortured and
mutilated Übel Staal to learn where
he kept the Coin of Judas, but to no
avail as Übel died without revealing its
location. In his anger, Edmundo turned
into a werewolf and tore the body to
pieces. The men of the Church arrived
in the city at about the same time as
Edmundo, but were not able to make
contact with Übel. The three of them
became frustrated as they could not
interrogate him about the item, but
they understood that they were dealing
with a powerful artefact, as there were
more parties invested in the search, and
artefacts like that are best kept safe,
deep in the domains of the Vatican.
The Coin of Judas is controversial,
since it is rumoured to be a key to a
well-kept secret about Jesus. He was said
to have revealed a truth to Judas, a truth
so hard for him to bear that it caused
the disciple to reject him and ultimately
betray him. With that, Judas was the first
Gnostician. The truth Jesus had told him,
Judas wrote down it the so-called Letters
of Rejection. The letters have been hidden
since the First Crusade, when they were
last mentioned. Since then, no one has any
idea of where they might be.
  Introduction 

The characters are, for one reason
or another, at Madame Holbach’s
establishment in the French town of
Farschviller, on the Palatine border.
The exact reason is for the game
master to decide, and it is not required
for the characters to know each other
beforehand. Instead, they will be chosen
“at random” (see below).
Madame Holbach’s establishment
for ideas and pleasure is located in the
French town of Farschviller, at the
Palatine border. While not as renowned
as Madame Geoffrin’s in Paris, which is
frequented by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
and Jean Baptiste Le Rond d’Alembert,
it is still a centre for important
and successful aristocrats, mystics
and literary critics. A salon where
conversation is practised as a fine art and
when the night comes, one may indulge
oneself with fleshly pleasures. This is an
arena for not-yet-famous philosophers,
scientists, theologians, administrators,
and members of orders which Paris does
not yet know the existence of. In an
atmosphere of exhilarated madness, the
most remarkable and noteworthy ideas
are bandied about, eagerly accompanied
by shrill laughter and false accusations.
It is here, at, or around, Madame
Holbach’s establishment, that the
characters find themselves at the
beginning of this story. They are
surrounded by men and women who
all see conversation as an art form, and
amusement in itself a reward for an
evening’s worth of eloquence.
Those who wish may completely
avoid the, often drawn-out, discussions
and instead withdraw to the more
secluded rooms, that smell of soap,
perfume, oils and French pomade, to
sate their aching hunger for love.
This very weekend the establishment
has some rather distinguished guests,
a trio of gentlemen who have time and
again sat at the same table, duelling
verbally, for almost a decade. They have
made a career out of convincing each
other, with rhetorical experiments and
philosophical word-plays, while also
trying to maintain their popularity with
talent and unblemished judgement.
The three duellists are no less than:
Père Immanuel Lavotte, the
preacher, whose life has been plagued
with constant adversity but bolstered
with the tireless conviction of God’s
greatness and power. He argues that
every attempt to alter that which God
has created is an abomination. Père
Lavotte despises the scientists and all
they stand for and claims that everybody,
even the nobility, must submit to God’s
divine power.
The enlightened philosopher Herr
Carl-Johan Grecke, whose ideas, that
God’s sanction of absolute ruler ship
has been fabricated by those hungry
for power, have been gathering some
attention in Paris itself. Accused of
having donated large sums to alchemists
and supporting their experiments, he
has gathered quite a crowd of enemies,
 especially from the Church. Belief
in God is ridiculous, he says, and he
believes that even the aristocrats are
more reasonable than the men of the
Church.
Former wealthy official and aristocrat
Monsieur Laurent Burgont, who saw his
life’s work demolished by the common
people who had risen from the shit-filled
gutters. Monsieur Burgont believes that
God had granted power to a select few
and that the common masses should
know their place in society.
Tonight, the discussion at Madame
Holbach’s establishment, is neither
about the aristocracy’s right to
power, God’s grace, nor is it about
the progression of science, but
the conversations are nonetheless
condescending and fascinating, same
as always. The philosopher Herr
Carl-Johan Grecke, in his eagerness
to debate and gesticulate, has put his
wig aslant, which inevitably leads to
bubbling laughter and jollification.
The preacher Père Immanuel Lavotte,
10 who is by his side, has a bible in
his hand and claims, with absolute
seriousness, that he can produce facts
that werewolves, demons and vampires
are the Devil’s work, and not natural
in any way. That they exist is as
obvious as God the Father is almighty,
he says. If possible, the aristocrat
Monsieur Laurent Burgont is even
more upset and claims with certainty
that this is the alchemists’ work, they
are the creators of these beasts! Herr
Grecke counters that Père Lavotte’s
argument is based on postulates that
are not believable to begin with, and
while he, with great scepticism may
agree to their existence, they are no
more than unfortunate freaks and
human monsters, products of nature’s sweeps over the billowy silk sea of Suddenly, Monsieur Xavier du Palles,
capriciousness. That they would belong women with sinful desires to figure out a famous explorer whose travels to
to a specific race, or breed as claimed who will be his company for the night, Africa are both talked and written
by Mr Burgont’s friends, is laughable. when the armistice sets in at twelve. about, joins the discussion. In his hand,
As is customary, Ms Burgont and Père With a nod and a smile, he lets one of he waves a brown envelope with a
Immanuel have joined up against the the ladies know that she may be his broken seal and claims to have followed
philosopher Ms. Grecke, who keeps mistress tonight. Herr Gecke pursues the trio’s struggle for quite a while
them at bay with his brilliant intellect, hard the thesis that “reason is the sole now. He asks if they would take part in
complicated, and sometimes, fabricated measure of all things, and with its help, a small test, entirely funded by him, of
arguments. At the same time, his gaze all problems can be solved”. course, to once and for all end this trial
of strength and maybe select a winner.
Off course only with Madame Holbach’s
blessing.
Ms. Xavier du Palles gathers the
three combatants along with Madame
Holbach and explains that he has
received a letter from a close friend of
his. A friend who, by the way, met a
sudden and unexpected death in Rome.
In the letter, he mentions a man
named “Übel Staal”, and that Monsieur
du Palles’ friend paid for something he
bought from this Übel Staal, something
he has not received yet. After some
research, Monsieur du Palles has just
found out that this Übel Staal also died
in a sudden manner, some time ago.
He suspects that these two deaths are
connected. It is rumoured that Übel
Staal was murdered by a monstrous
beast, and that the solution of the
murder would possibly also be the
solution to the discussion. Monsieur
du Palles also says that, should the
gentlemen be so inclined as to choose
a person each at, or around, the
establishment to find out what actually
happened to Herr Staal and whether or
not it was some monstrous beast which
killed him, he would finance the entire
endeavour. But, he says, only if the trio
would accept the appointees’ findings
and announce the one closest to the
truth the winner of their eight-year-
long dispute.
Additionally, he may show the
characters the letter he received, if they
so wish.
My dear Xavier,
I am pleased to hear You are back
in civilized lands again. It is my
sincerest hops that You have not
brought with You the habits of the
African savage, for I have heard
they are all cannibals.
My friend, I want to mention
to You that I am involved in a
great project. A dear old friend of
mine, who lives in the Palatinate,
has finally convinced me to buy
from him an object that I know
will make me very successful and
powerful. I have paid for the item,
but have yet to receive it. The
friend’s name is Herr Übel Staal,
and if Your journeys would take
you to Koblenstadt, outside of
Koblenz, please see if You could
visit him. Send him my regards.
Since what I will soon possess
will draw unwanted attention,
especially here in Rome, I will
have to be careful about what I
say and write. I will tell You more
when next we meet, which will be
soon, I hope.
Your friend, Antonio Calvino
Enter the characters
How the three combatants will
choose their representatives is up
to the game master to decide. Two
options are presented here that
take into consideration whether the
characters know each other from
before, or not. Characters from the
upper classes may have been accepted
into the salon, possibly because
they are frequent guests of Madame
Holbach,especially if they are French
or German. Characters from most
distant lands, (e.g. England, Spain,
Scandinavia, Russia, Italy, etc..) may
be occasional guests which travel
for their own reasons, maybe even
as part of the Grand Tour. On the
other hand characters hailing from
the lower classes will not have been
admitted to the establishment on
their own but they need a Patron. The
perfect candidate for such a role is
Monsieur Xavier du Palles, who will
have dressed them up and brought
them in as his companions. For their
troubles, they have received a small
sum of money. The money as well
as the food, booze, and women, that
they know are of utmost quality,
ought to entice them to agree to what
Monsieur du Palles asks of them. He
has told them he wants to pull a little
prank on some friends and prove that
even folk of their class can fit it very
well at a place like Madame Holbach’
salon. The following two options can
be chosen to start the story.
Option 1: The characters do
not know each other
The three bickering combatants will
each point out their representatives “at
random” from the audience. The chosen
ones are, naturally, the characters,
and if there are more characters than
three, the others will be chosen too, as
if in their company, and are offered the
option to join in as well.
Option 2: The characters
know each other
The three bickering combatants sweep
their gaze across the audience for
someone who may represent them and
their answer to the issue. When they
do not find what they are looking for,
Monsieur Xavier du Palles will point
out the characters for them, who sit or
stand on the side-lines.
Unless the game master decides so,
No mention of rumours and beasts will
officially be made, Monsieur du Palles
will instead ask them if they would like 11
to investigate the death of an occultist
of Koblenstadt and, if possible, also find
out what kind of object Antonio Calvino
paid for but never received.
Upon the mission’s success, he is
ready to pay each character a hundred
ducats and, for the object and proof of
its origins, another hundred, for a total
of two hundred ducats to each character.
He makes sure to mention, however, that
this is a private matter and that they
will not be able to expect any assistance
from the local guards. He also asks them
to not reveal his involvement.
From Farschviller to
Koblenstadt
The route between Farschviller and
Koblenstadt is about 136 miles and will
take approximately five days of travel
with horse and carriage, which could be
cut down to four days if the characters
are ready to arrive tired and with aching
limbs.
Since time is of great importance, if
not for the mission itself then due to
 his impatience, Xavier du Palles insists
that they travel by horse or carriage. If
they say that they will travel by foot, he
will quickly intervene and say that the
matter is too pressing and walking is
not an option.
Should they ask, he is more than
willing to pay for a coachman to drive
them. If anyone in the party knows how
to drive a carriage or a stagecoach, he
may rent them one instead, and if they
have horses on their own and want to
ride for the entire tiresome trip, that is
also an alternative.
12
There are, of course, plenty of other
ways to get to Koblenstadt, but it is
suggested that the characters cross the
Moselle, go to Saarbrucken and onwards
to Koblenz via Neunkirchen, Nohfelden,
Idar-Oberstein, Kirn and Kastellaun,
and then from Koblenz north-eastward
to Koblenstadt. If all goes well during
the trip, the characters may spend the
nights in Neunkirchen, Idar-Oberstein,
Kastellaun and Koblenz to arrive at
Koblenstadt on the fifth day.
Nothing of importance will happen
during the trip but, in case one wants to
lengthen the number of gaming sessions,
a creative game master may very well
add events that occur along the road or at
some of the overnight accommodations.
Maybe a wheel will break on the cart, the
drunk coachman takes a wrong turn and
they end up in Kaiserslautern late during
the second night, one of the characters
ends up in a fight at an inn and has to
spend the night in jail, or perhaps rain
turns the roads to mud forcing the
characters to spend the night in the
carriage, if they cannot find a helpful soul
that lets them spend the night in a barn.
  Koblenstadt
A little more than a hundred and twenty
miles from the French border and a
swift ride northeast of Koblenz lies a
sleepy town, whose history has never
been written down in either atlases
nor history books, and whose treasures
were all too small to attract raiders
and conquerors. The name of the town
is Koblenstadt, and it is here that the
majority of the story will take place.
Koblenstadt is run by a small
administration that consists of Herr
Herman Blück (the mayor), Herr Hans
Blück (the Captain of the Town Guard
and son of the mayor) and Herr Jarman
Felde (the Prince-Elector’s official and
treasurer ). Additionally, there is a
village council in which, among others,
Doctor Stefan von Hertzenblach sits, as
did the priest Johan Karlsdorf before he
left town.
Koblenstadt has around 6,000
inhabitants, with most of its workforce
employed at the town’s foundry. It is
built along the river Glib, a tranquil

13
little river that flows from the Rhine and the game master is free to come up
to the small lake of Glibsee. To the with their own.
northeast and northwest are two large First and foremost, the development
and beautiful deciduous forests where of the story is ruled by how the
people hunt. The road that goes along characters behave and who they make
the river down to Koblenz is lined contact with.
with magnificent ash trees that form a The characters will, naturally, start
beautiful avenue, a source of great pride gathering information and get both
for the citizens. good, and less good, ideas of what they
There will not be a detailed, should do next. One thing is certain;
comprehensive guide of the city, instead, everyone will say that the doctor ruled
a briefer overview will be presented, that Übel Staal died from falling off his
as well as a few in-depth guides of the horse and hitting his head on a rock.
places, people, and events that will be
important to the characters.
The places covered below are
locations that the characters may visit
and that contain vital information for
the mission. Important events that are
tied to these places are also presented.
Encounters and events are a little
less fixed and are meant as tools for the
game master to add extra spice to the
story, depending on how the characters
act. It is not necessary to use all of them
14
Map of Koblenstadt he does. Since he knows he will one day a baby, to take care of instead of dealing
Place take over the inn, he has great plans for with a whole lot of guests. Despite her
1. Manfred’s Gasthaus
it, thus performing his duties with the age, she is in full search of someone who
same care as his mother. would want to marry her. Her sometimes
2. Übel Staal’s house
Miriam is fourteen years old and childish attempts at seduction can lead
3. The mayor’s estate not at all as pleased with her life as her to great embarrassment for the guests,
4. The scene of Übel’s accident mother and brother. She dreams, like especially because she does not care if
5. The vagabond camp many other girls her age, of marrying anyone, not even Matilda, understands
6. The doctor’s office
someone rich and having a family, and or sees what she does.
7. Herr Jarman Felde’s office
8. The circus
9. The Women’ Stairs
10. The wine shop Visbaum
11. Town jail and the Town Guard
12. The church and the cemetery
13. Übel’s family grave
14. The lion relief and sewer system
15. Tibelda Rhoos’ house
16. The thieves’ guild hideout
17. The vicarage
18. Herbert Herberger’s house
W. Where the werewolf was sighted

15
1. Manfred’s Gasthaus
Manfred’s Gasthaus is a cosy, three-story
tavern. On the ground floor is a nice dining
hall, a reception area and a small beer and
wine shop.. A wide, impressive staircase
leads up to the first floor where the private
guest rooms are located. Two great
dormitories are located on the second floor
and offer accommodations for those who
cannot afford their own room.
Manfred, who built the inn, died eight
years ago and today his wife Matilda
runs the place. Her children, Karl and
Miriam, help her out together with
several employees that work under her
watchful eyes.

Matilda, Karl and Miriam

Matilda is a hoary woman in her fifties
who lives to run the inn with the
same energy as her husband did. She
is ingratiating and goes by the “the
customer is always right” motto .
Karl is a twenty-years-old young
man who helps his mother run the inn.
He is the right-hand man and likes what
 Ground Floor
1. The entrance
A reception area is opposite the
entrance and welcomes whoever enters
the inn. Behind the counter is a door
that leads to an office. To the right, an
open doorway leads to the dining area.
To the left, a grand staircase leads up to
the second floor. Behind the staircase,
another open doorway leads the guests
into the inn’s beer and wine shop.
2. The dining hall
A small passage, built so that the guests
will not be disturbed by new arrivals,
leads to the dining hall that opens up
behind a piece of thick drapery. Some ten
tables of various sizes provide seats for
the hungry guests. In one corner, there
is a small stage where musicians and
other entertainers sometimes perform,
and in front of it, a small area has been
cleared for people to dance. A swing
door leads onwards to the kitchen.
16 3. Beer and wine shop
Upon entering, one can see decades
worth of hunting trophies that decorate
the walls in the dark and sultry room,
in which comfortable leather armchairs
and sofas offer a pleasant stay.
4. The office
Here is kept all sorts of administrative
documents, and all the ducats the inn
makes are in a safe, built into the wall
under the stairs. The stairs lead up to
the family’s rooms, where Matilda lives
together with her son and daughter.
5. The kitchen
This is the domain of Wigert Schröder.
Those who enter the kitchen soon meet
a raging giant, with a shaved head and
face, who will curse and force out the
uninvited. Even Matilda sometimes
hesitates before going in there. His
cooking skills, however, more than
outweigh his otherwise rough ways,
without his food, their profits would
soon plummet.
First Floor
1. Room, class 1
A top-quality room for two, that costs
three ducats per night, and a room for one
costs two ducats. The room has two large
and very comfortable beds, a bathtub, a
large storage locker, a desk with a chair and
a coffee table with two fancy armchairs. A
hot bath per day is included in the price.
2. Room, class 2
A high-quality room for two, that costs
two ducats per night, and a room for one
costs one to three ducats. The room has
two comfortable beds, a large storage
locker, a desk with a chair and a coffee
table with two armchairs.
3. Room, class 3
Basic rooms cost one ducat per night for
two people, and sixty-five pieces for one.
The room has two comfortable beds and
a storage locker.
4. Room, class 4
Low-quality rooms without windows
that cost thirty pieces per night and
person, and have two uncomfortable
beds and a storage locker.
5. Bathroom
The bathroom is, apart from the food, the
inn’s pride. Guests can come here for a hot
bath, a shave or haircut, and a massage. An
opening in the floor in the left corner lets
a bucket of hot water be pulled up from
the kitchen with a rope, that otherwise is
covered to keep out the smell of cooking.
The room has four bathtubs, two massage
tables and a chair for shaving and haircuts.
A hot bath costs eight pieces, a shave
or a haircut costs five pieces, half an
hour of massage costs ten pieces and an
hour costs fifteen pieces. A set of one
bath, shave, haircut and half an hour of
massage costs twenty-two pieces.
6. The owner’s rooms
This is where the family lives. Room 6
is the common room that is also used as
a storeroom (10) for bed linen and the
like. Room 9 is Matilda’s chambers, Karl
lives in room 8 and Miriam in room 9.
Second Floor
1. Storage
Chairs, tables, beds, couches and
everything else that is needed to run an
inn is found here.
2 & 3. Dormitory
Simple accommodation for twenty
pieces per night. In front of every bed
is a chest nailed to the floor, where
belongings may be put. The key to the
chest is rented out for the entire stay, for
an item left as a pledge and five pieces.
The performance Magneticus
Fludiculus
One night, when the characters gather
to eat in the dining hall, they find the
place crowded for the first time during
their stay at the inn. People from the
working class are gently, albeit firmly,
pushed aside to make room for paying
guests. Judging from the number of
people, something out of the ordinary is
planned for tonight. It is not until some
ten minutes have passed, and a table has
been arranged for the characters, that
they are allowed to enter the dining hall.
When they pull the drapery aside,
they are led to a table next to the
kitchen. They notice that it is mostly
people from higher social classes that
are present. At a table right next to the
stage, the mayor sits with his family,
and Jarman Felde and doctor Stefan
von Hertzenblach can be seen with their
families as well. Employees are at the
moment putting a claw foot bathtub on
the stage. Miriam runs back and forth
to the kitchen with buckets of water that
she carefully pours into the bathtub.
A heavy man in his fifties, with short,
brown hair, dressed in a white robe
observes the customers with great care
from the corner of the stage. By his side
are two trunks equipped with two heavy
padlocks.
As guests are pouring into the hall,
and the characters get their food, the
man opens his trunks and starts to
carefully take out whatever is in there.
The rattle of metal pieces and pipes of
different kinds and sizes can be heard,
and he, with utmost care, puts together
a strange apparatus. A rusty metal plate,
which is the last object he pulls out, he
places at the bottom of the bathtub while
he slowly dips one finger in the water. He
calls for Miriam, who, startled, runs into
the kitchen and soon comes back with
a bucket of scalding hot water of which
the man pours some into the tub. He
then calls for Karl, who helps him lift his
construction of pipes and metal pieces
and puts it in the tub as well. The man
then goes to the corner, and lets Karl
stay on the stage for the presentation.
- second hand grips the frame, her body
‘Ladies and gentlemen! Let me proudly
present, a man who with the powers of the
universe may cure the incurable,’ Karl says,
obviously not used to speaking in front
of people. With shaking voice, he adds:
‘Ladies and gentlemen, let me present to
you: Herr Mesmer of Swabia.’
The man steps forward with his
hands behind his back, bows in an
experienced manner towards the mayor
and the others in the front row before he
begins to speak:
‘Honoured guests. Before I begin, let
me erase these looks of disbelief that I see
mirrored in your faces.’
‘Anton!’ He then yells, loudly, and a
ten-year-old boy runs up on the stage.
‘Behold the powers of the universe,’ Herr
Mesmer says and moves a gloved hand
over the boy’s head and hair (what no
one sees is that the man has a large piece
of amber in his cupped hand that he had
just rubbed long and hard against the
skin of a cat). The hair immediately
stands up and the audience gasps as
they see it.
‘My honoured guests, for only seventy-five
pieces, I will let the universe’s Fluidum, the
rays of the healing powers, wander through
your sick bodies. This installation is built to
collect the Fluidum that is present around
us, and when somebody stands in its centre,
the immense power of the universe will
travel from the feet, through the body, and up
through the head. On its way, the energy will
synchronize with that which resides within
us, for it is when our own energy does not
work correctly that we become ill and sore.’
Three men and four women raise
their hands. Anton runs up to them and
asks for payment before he leads them
one by one to the stage. Meanwhile,
Mesmer speaks excitedly of the powers
of the universe, the so-called Fluidum,
that will soon enter the sick and
rebalance their force fields. The speech
is long and some of the audience look
visibly convinced.
The first to stand in the bathtub is
a woman, some forty years old. Slowly
and carefully, she grips the frame, as
instructed by Herr Mesmer, first with
one and then the other hand. As the
starts to shake. She screams.
‘Behold the healing power of the
universe!’ Mesmer yells before he leads
the woman from the tub and to her seat.
The others go through the same
procedure, but they do not make such
a scene as the first woman. The last of
the men even threatens Herr Mesmer
with a beating unless he gets his money
back. Mesmer, however, claims that his
ailments should be cured and that the
effects might not be immediate. He asks
the man to wait a few days to make sure.
Doctor van Hertzenblach mocks the
charlatan openly and gets up, along
with his wife and daughter, and leaves.
- There is also an elevated, wooden
If they want, the characters may pay
and get in the tub as well, to be radiated
by the Fluidum. Naturally, it is all an
invention, but those who got into the tub
may have experienced placebo effects
and actually thought that energy ran
through them. When everyone who paid
has had their turn in the bathtub, Herr
Mesmer and his son thank everyone for
their time and ask Karl to help them
dismantle the expensive frame.
Dance
One night, there will be a dance in
the dining hall. The day the mayor
took office is annually celebrated and
everyone from the cream of society are
invited to attend. The characters too
are invited for a bite and to dance a
little. During this evening, it would be
appropriate to have the mayor invite the
characters for dinner (see “The mayor’s
estate” and “Dinner at the mayor’s”).
Nothing out of the ordinary happens
during the night.
The characters, although, get the
opportunity to speak to the town’s
elite about everything from rumours of
werewolves to Übel Staal’s death and
the Prince-Elector’s visit next summer.
2. Übel Staal’s House
The grey house consists of a cellar,
bottom floor, and a top floor. A 2-meter
tall wall surrounds the house from all
sides but the front, while the back is
almost completely camouflaged by thick
shrubbery. The ground floor is a little
higher than street level, and three steps
lead up from the street to a gate in the
middle of the wall, on the front of the
house. The gate is never locked and
opens inwards to the yard that is only
a few-meters wide and goes around the
house. A gravel path connects the gate
to the house. 17
Behind the house, the backyard is
significantly larger, with a few bushes
and trees planted on the lawn. In the
northern corner, there is a small gazebo
and some furniture.
terrace on the back of the house. In one
corner of the terrace, there is an exotic
tree in a large pot, and in the other
corner, next to a big window, there is a
door that leads into the house.
A visit to Übel Staal’s house
Sooner or later, the characters will
probably want to visit Übel Staal’s
house. It is, naturally, in the game
master’s hands how they want to play
out the first encounter with Nikolaj and
Nina. A suggestion, however, is that
Nina opens the door, surprised to see
guests as the characters knock on the
door (conversation is in either Russian
or German).
A woman in her forties opens the
door and looks seemingly surprised
at the arrival of guests. She makes a
 gloomy impression and looks haunted by
something. Her dark eyes are sunken into
her Slavic face and she has her mouse-
coloured hair tied into a thick braid.
She introduces herself as Nina, Herr
Übel Staal’s maid. Before you have time
to introduce yourselves, she regretfully
tells you that Herr Staal died in a riding
accident, a little more than twenty days
ago, and then begins to close the door.
If they ask if they may enter, or to
whom they may speak to about matters
concerning Herr Übel Staal, Nina
eventually directs them to Nikolaj
(after passing a Communication skill
roll with the Persuasion specialization
or the Rhetoric discipline, if the game
master deems it necessary). Nikolaj can
be found in the backyard. When the
conversation is over, Nina quickly shuts
the door and bolts it.
If they go to the back, they will find
Nikolaj stoking a fire. As they come
closer, they see that he is burning books
and parchments, in accordance with
Übel’s will.
18 Just before you round the corner
of the old building, you smell smoke.
Behind it, you see a tall man, almost two
meters, stripped to the waist with long,
black hair in a pony-tail, with his back
toward you, poking a long stick in a
fire, the cause of the smell and the black
smoke that snakes its way to the sky.
The man lets go of the stick, picks up
a stack of books from a pile of probably
a hundred more that await their fate.
One by one, he tosses them into the fire
without even looking at the title. The
crackling sound from the fire seems to
drown the sound of your arrival and you
realize that you must somehow call for
the man’s attention.
When the characters have managed
to get his attention, he will turn towards
them (conversation is in either Russian
or German).
The man is around seventy years old,
and just like Nina, he seems surprised
to see you. He is fit, despite his age, and
sports a waxed, large, bushy moustache
and almost as bushy eye-brows,
covering most of his brown eyes. The
nose is crooked as if once broken and
improperly healed. He takes a few steps
back and stands beside the fire, still
tossing books into it, one by one, before
he asks what you are doing here.
Nikolaj is also surprised to see the
characters and treats them with great
scepticism. It appears as if he does
not want to answer any question. If
they insist, however, they may learn
the following from him (after passing
a Communication skill roll with the
Rhetoric discipline or the Persuasion
specialization, if the game master deems
it necessary):
He tells them that Nina and he have
worked for Herr Übel Staal for almost
20 years, and his sudden departure came
as a great shock to both of them. Should
anyone ask why he burns the books, he
will say that he carries out one of Herr
Staal’s last wishes by burning all of his
books, according to his will. He will
also say that they are packing up Übel
Staal’s belongings that are to be sent to
his sister Gretchen Staal, in Neuwied,
also according to his will. If asked about
Herr Übel Staal’s death, he will, just as
everyone else has, that it had to do with
some kind of accident further up in the
forest and that Herr Übel fell from his
horse and died.
Apart from these answers, he has
nothing else to add and asks the
characters to leave so that he may
continue with his duties.
The ground floor
The ground floor is the centre of the
house, consisting of an impressive
stairway that leads up to the top floor,
three large living rooms, a dining room,
and a kitchen worthy of a noble. Most
impressive are Übel Staal’s library and
study, that would have been even more
impressive a few weeks ago, before his
servants began to put away most of the
books. Two shelves remain, however,
stacked with thick volumes with their
spines towards the visitor. The library is
covered in oak panelling and a wooden
throne rises up behind a huge desk. A
secret trapdoor in the floor leads down
to Übel Staal’s basement.
1. The hallway
An impressive staircase, that leads up to
the first floor is the first thing you see
when you enter the gate. On its left and
right, two archways open up.
2. Lounge
The room is mostly made up of a
table, covered in white sheets, with
accompanying chairs. Two empty
shelves are placed on either side of the
door that leads on to the next room. A
few boxes are stacked upon each other
on the floor, labelled ‘tea and coffee set’,
‘cutlery’, and so on.
3. Drawing-room
Four sheet-covered, comfortable leather
armchairs, each with a small table by
their side, surround a well-polished
table, also covered in a white sheet. A
wall full of liquor and wine tells of
another interest of Übel Staal, apart
from his occult delving’s, he collected
spirits from all around the world that he
sampled here in this room. Empty boxes
are placed in front of the shelf. A door
leads to the terrace.
4. Reading room
Two comfortable armchairs and a sofa
are placed around an oblong table, upon
which a few books lie.
5. Library
A large chair is placed by the wall,
between the two windows of the room.
In front of the chair is a large, oak desk.
The walls are made up of bookshelves.
By pressing down a plank in one of
the corners (which is found by actively
searching for hidden objects, and
passing a Stealth skill roll with the
Detect Hidden specialization), a well-
hidden trapdoor opens in the floor. The
opening reveals stairs leading down to
the basement.
6. Kitchen
A kitchen worktop is placed below a
giant window. A pantry, cupboards with
household utensils, and a stove are also
in the room.
7. Dining hall
Underneath three white sheets is a table
with eight chairs. A large but empty
shelf stands against one wall. Boxes
are stacked upon each other with Übel
Staal’s belongings, that are to be sent
to his sister in Neuwied, labelled in
the fashion of ‘porcelain’, ‘clothes’ and
‘cutlery’.
8. Terrace
A table and some metal chairs stand on
a large terrace. In the corner towards
the yard, there is a large pot with an
exotic tree.
The first floor
The top floor consists of one large
and two smaller bedrooms. Today, the
large room, that was once Übel Staal’s
bedroom, is completely empty. The
smaller rooms belong to Nikolaj and
Nina, which, if searched, contain only
their belongings. The rest of the rooms
are used as storage rooms.
1. Guest room
The only things in this room are a
double bed, a small table, a chair and a
wardrobe.
2 & 3. Storage
Everything from winter and summer
clothes to old furniture is stored here.
4. Nina’s bedroom
This is where Nina lives and where she
keeps her things.
5. Nikolaj’s bedroom
This is where Nikolaj lives and where he
keeps his things.
6. Übel’s bedroom
The only thing remaining in this room
is a bed, the rest is packed up waiting to
be sent to Neuwied and his sister.
Breaking into Übel Staal’s
house
The only way to get access to Übel
Staal’s house is by breaking into it when
Nina and Nikolaj are either asleep or
are away (assuming they do not use
some kind of violence to get inside). It
is rare, however, that the two servants
are away at the same time, something
the characters will soon find out if they
choose to observe their daily routines.
The characters ought to reach the
conclusion that the easiest way to get
inside is by breaking in, under cover of
darkness, when the servants have gone
to bed.
Since no windows are open, they
should try to come through one of the
two doors. The door at the back of the
house requires 4 passed Stealth skills
rolls with the Lock picking specialization
(the lock has a difficulty level of -4 to
the SV) to be opened, and the one on the
front required 5 (difficulty level -6 to the
SV). Should they decide to break one of
the windows, there is a 60% chance that 19
they wake someone on the top floor.
Roll 1d10 but hide the result from the
players’ eyes: 1-2 Nikolaj heard them,
3-4 Nina Heard them, 5-6 both servants
heard them, 7-10 nobody heard them.
The black cat
If no one in the party knows that the
black cat is, in fact, Edmundo, you, as
the game master, may let the cat follow
them all the way through the city to the
house.
As they set off for Übel Staal’s house,
they soon notice a black cat that seems
to be following them. It always keeps
a respectful distance, but none of the
characters can shake the feeling that
something is odd about its behaviour.
The way it studies the party sends chills
through their spines. However, even if
they may try, they cannot get the cat to
leave them for more than a few minutes,
before it comes back. Edmundo is very
curious as to what the characters might
find in the house, and does not want
to miss anything. Just like the military
students and the characters, Edmundo
 is also interested in all information that
might lead him to the Coin of Judas.
Because of this uncanny feeling, the
party must face a minor Fear Factor
which inflicts only 1 point without
rolling the damage. Remember that his
is an age of superstition and darkness.
The vision of such a smart black cat
following them could maybe even
bother more rational characters. When
they get to Übel Staal’s house, the cat
climbs up the exotic tree to get a better
vantage point, and to have an escape
route over the rail of the terrace if the
party tries to shoo it away.
(see “The Women’ Stairs” and “Emma”,
the non-player character), who says she
has seen Übel Staal hide an object in it.
When you reach the basement,
you are met with a sulphurous tang,
hanging in the air. By a large and heavy
table, filled with vessels, sieves, flasks,
and distilling-apparatuses, someone
has navigated through a sea of occult
sunken rocks. The room conveys an
image of someone who, with the aid
of bold wizardry, chloroauric incense,
bittersweet extracts, and calculations
of the planetary conjunctions, tried to
lure something out, something trapped
in the ocean of time, or maniacally
sought to demand truths from a God
not even he believed existed.
Übel wrote a letter to Antonio
Calvino he never got to send. Still
sealed, it rests against a candle on the
table.

Inside the house

Once inside, the characters may move
relatively freely, as long as they keep
quiet and do not make too much noise.
To add some feeling of suspense,
Nikolaj may choose to grab something
to eat during the night. If so, one of
the characters will hear the creaking
of a door from the floor above,
followed by the shuffling of feet down
20 the stairs. They have about 10 seconds
to hide, or get out of the house if they
so wish. Being very tired, Nikolaj is
almost sleep walking and will only
notice their presence if somebody
actually hid in the pantry (which may
be avoided by blocking the door from
the inside with a chair). The situation,
however, bothers the characters to
such a degree that they must face a
minor Fear Factor inflicting 1 point of
mental damage.
The cat may very well be used as a
tool to scare the party inside the house
as well. Let Edmundo jump out in front
of one or several of the characters as if
they had just frightened him. Normally,
a startled cat would have made a sound,
but the black cat only shows its fangs
in a threatening grimace before it jumps
past their heads (1 point of mental
damage to whomever is involved).

The basement
From the outside, there is no telling that
the house has a basement, and the only
way the party may know of its existence
is if they have talked to Emma, the harlot

Antonio, my friend!
I am glad You want to buy from
me the burden that has deprived
me of my sleep for more than
ten years. Unfortunately, I am
afraid it was not some lowly letter
carrier that opened the letter, I
fear it is worse than that. It seems
that others know of our secret,
plenty of people have been turning
up in the town, most with harmless
intentions, probably, but the others
I’m not sure about.
You know that I mentioned
the “Progenitorum Sepulchrum”,
there You will find the key to
“the king’s guardian”, in case
something would happen to me.
Übel Staal
PS: What do You know of
SAPIENTIA? I think I will ask
our friend Johann Elk, in Koblenz.
Maybe he knows something too.
Underneath the letter, there is a note
written by Übel. It says:
Do not forget the wolf powder.
Clean the pistols.
Tell Nikolaj to get the coat from
Madam Braun.
The answers to the questions
from Übel’s basement
Sapientia
A successful Communication skill roll
with the Languages Discipline or the
Foreign Language (Latin) specialization
with a modification +2 is required to
know that “Sapientia” means “Wisdom”
in Latin.
If any of the characters would
succeed in a Esotericism skill roll with
the De Sodalociorum discipline and the
Sub Rosa Doctus specialization, they
may learn the following information.
The less is the result compared to the
SV (difference = SV - dice result), the
more information are remembered:
Sapentia
Diff. Result
0 The character recognize the word
to have esoteric meanings, but he is
not sure what they may be.
1-12 The character recognizes the word
and connects it to a society with
the same name.
>12: The character knows that
SAPIENTIA is a society whose
members are known for their
ruthlessness and fanaticism. They
have sworn to destroy the Church.
They are rumoured to be based in
France.
Progenitorum Sepulchrum
“Progenitorum Sepulchrum” is Latin for
“Grave of the Ancestors.” A successful
Communication skill roll with the
Languages Discipline or the Foreign
Language (Latin) specialization is
required to realize that he is talking
about his family grave. If they ask
around town for progenitorum
sepulchrum, most will shake their heads
indifferently. Someone will say that they
believe they saw the word “sepulchrum”
over by the church. There is no one else
in Koblenstadt who knows Latin, thus,
the party will have to travel to Koblenz
to find somebody who can help them,
Johann Elk, for instance. If they ask
about Übel Staal’ s family grave, they
will be directed to the old ruins in the
forest and be told that:
Übel, the loony, claimed to be the
descendant of some old knight and that
his ancestors were buried somewhere
near the ruin.
The king’s guardian
By “the king’s guardian”, Übel means
the relief that can be seen opposite
the baker’s store (see “The lion relief ”
and “sewer system”). This is a hard
nut for the party to crack, and it may
take several hours of playing before
the characters go to the relief to find
answers. A successful Culture skill roll
with the Heraldry specialization let
them know that it might entail a lion.
If the roll fails, the characters may
seek the help of someone else. This will
take, however, at least three days, and
the game master must take this into
consideration when they decide what
Edmundo or the three Church agents
will do.
The military students break
into Übel Staal’s house
Sometime during the mission, the
three military students (which are secret
Church agents), Luc, Mano and Julius,
will attempt to break into Übel Staal’s
house to hunt for information that will
lead them to the Coin of Judas. It is
entirely up to the game master to decide
when this happens. It may happen either
before or after the characters have tried
to break in, it may even happen at the
same time. If it does, the characters
may either hear whispers from within
the house as they sneak past an open
window, or see shadows moving inside
that warn them that they are not the
first to arrive. If it has just happened,
they may see shadows moving from the
house to the bushes and disappearing.
Regardless of when it happens, the 21
military students will not find anything
to help them on their way.
3. The Mayor’s Estate
The mayor and his son, the Captain
of the Town Guard, have much to
lose as the vicious rumours start
circulating in the town. They do not
want Koblenstadt’s reputation to be
soiled, since they have just learned that
the Prince-Elector of the Palatinate has
decided to spend the next summer in
town. The mayor Herman Blück has
no plans to let some weird occultist
ruin this. If the characters do not tread
carefully, they may incur Herman’s
wrath as he believes that the well-being
of his citizens is more important than
Übel Staal’s “accident”.
Dinner at the Mayor’s
If the party has not already made
enemies with the mayor in an earlier
stage of the mission, he will invite them
for dinner at his estate (most probably
 on the anniversary of him taking
office, see Manfred’s Gasthaus, Dance).
Jarman Felde, as well as the doctor, will
also be present, along with their wives.
Additionally, the doctor will bring his
very beautiful daughter Klara, who is
fifteen years old.
The mayor is interested in inviting
elegant, well-educated strangers whose
company seem decent, although the
game master is encouraged to find
personal reasons which fit with the
nature of every character. Noble or rich
characters (Businessmen, Officials) will
be invited, as also those who clearly
appear as intellectuals, scholars or
religious (Clergy, Scientists). Should
any of the characters be a Vagabond
or Malefactor, or in any other way give
the impression of being less fortunate,
uncomfortable, or lacking in manners,
they will not be invited. They will have
to stay at home.
The dinner is divided into three
parts: reception, dinner, and socializing.
22
Reception
The guests are taken to the estate’s
grand drawing room. There a servant
offers drinks and the characters are
introduced to the other guests. Now
the characters have the opportunity to
make an impression. The non-player
characters will give, among others, the
following impression (please read about
each respective non-player character for
additional impressions):
The doctor will give a resolute but
reserved impression, as will his wife.
Klara will give a flirtatious
impression. Her eyes say she wants
more than that.
The mayor will give a welcoming and
caring impression.
The mayor’s son and captain of the
Town Guard, Hans, will give an eager
and unintelligent impression.
Jarman Felde will give a reserved and
proud impression.
During the reception, the characters
will get to tell the others why they are
visiting Koblenstadt and for how long
they intend to stay.
The Dinner
The party will head up to the top floor,
to the great dining hall. Cut-glass
chandeliers hang from the ceiling over a
table almost ten meters long, lined with
beautiful chairs. At one end, there is an
open fireplace, where a fire is crackling.
Above the fireplace hangs a portrait of
a man in beautiful attire. The picture is
from the first half of the 17th century,
and a golden plaque notifies the reader
that it portrays Count Christian III
of the Pfalz-Birkenfeld dynasty. The
mayor claims kinship with the Count.
Should the characters ask him about the
painting, Herman will be very proud
and happy.
The dinner is wildly excessive.
Characters other than those of higher
status have never seen so much food
all at once, and are almost paralysed
by sucha vision. To eat in the proper
order, a successful Communication
roll is required, but only if one has the
Etiquette discipline. Those who fail, or
do not possess the Etiquette discipline,
will give an uncouth and slovenly
impression. If there is any consolation,
Hans, the mayor’s son and captain of the
Town Guard, does not seem to have any
manners either.
The guests are served swan, a whole
lamb, venison, five kinds of fish, pâtés,
sausages, cheese, leek soup, fruit, berries,
and a wide array of accompaniments
and sauces. Five kinds of wine in great
abundance complement the food.
Two things are vividly discussed
during the dinner:
That Adolf Frederick has been elected
heir to the Swedish throne by the
Riksdag in June, under the pression
of Empress Elizabeth of Russia. What
do the characters think of this? Is
this a good thing for Sweden? Adolf
Frederick was born in Lübeck, and
the mayor, who is a devoted supporter
of a greater German empire ruled by
Prussia, naturally sees that the Swedes
should have a German king. Everybody
knows, the mayor says, that Sweden has
lost its former glory and power, and
ought to join the German community.
Furthermore, the Battle of Dettingen
(27th May 1743) is discussed, during
which an alliance of Austrians and
British, led by King George II, defeated
a French army. What do the characters
think of a British ruler leading his
troops in battle? Being a Palatine, the
mayor thinks that everything that is
bad for France is good for him. Besides,
he believes that a ruler should focus on
ruling and let the warriors command
the troops.
The discussions may very well be
roleplayed, but should require some
dice rolling to see how well-versed the
characters are in politics, war, and the
art of making conversation. The game
master decides which skills are involved
according to how the conversation
evolve, although disciplines of the
Communication and Culture skills are
those who should be most probably
used.
Socializing
After the dinner, the mayor’s wife
Kirsten will play a few piano pieces.
This is when Klara contacts one of the
characters. With a look, she lets the
character who best behaved during
dinner know that she wants to speak
outside, in private. The one who manages
to speak with her on the terrace outside,
and also tells her what she wants to
know about the big cities, will be able
to get some information from her. This,
of course, requires the character to ask
some questions themselves.
Klara knows that the priest left town
after Übel had been buried. The priest
had believed that a crime had been
committed, that ought to have be sorted
out, and opposed a funeral. When the
mayor and his son refused his request,
he promptly left the town. She says that
it was her father who examined the body
and the belongings found on it. Klara
also mentions that a bundle with Übel’s
clothes is still at the doctor’s house.
What she does not know is that
the Captain of the Town Guard, Hans
Blück, threatened to kill the priest if
he did not leave Koblenstadt, which he
quickly did.
4. The scene of Übel
Staal’s Accident
The road that winds through the forest
slowly climbs a hill, covered in thickets
and trees. The characters soon find the
large stump on the left side of the road,
provided that they come from the town.
On the right side the hillside rises, and
on the left it slopes abruptly downwards.
It is here that Übel Staal is said to have
fallen off his horse and down the slope,
to meet his death against a rock or tree
further down.
A visit to the site of the
accident
Most of the citizens will be able to point
out the place where Übel Staal was
found.
The accident happened up by the
forest to the north, just by the side of
the road, right where the great oak fell
some time ago and left a giant stump.
If the characters search the place, they
may find the following after passing a
Stealth skill roll with the Detection
discipline. The less one rolls compared
to the total SV (difference = SV - dice
result), the more discoveries one finds.
If the party is unable to find anything,
or chooses not to look for, the game
master may let them hear a twig snap
somewhere uphill. Should the party
choose to investigate the sound, they
will soon catch Michail spying on them
from up on the hill. Michail is the son
of a vagabond who has set up camp
a few hundred meters up in the forest
(see below “The Vagabond Camp”). If
Michail is confronted, he will not be
DISCOVERIES AT THE SITE
Diff. Result
0-2 The character finds blood on a
rock by the side of the road.
3-7 A bit further up the hillside, on the
right, it seems that something, or
someone, spent some time as the
grass is somewhat flattened. If
they keep searching, they will find
(after another passed Stealth skill
roll with the Detection discipline)
tracks that lead further up the hill
and to the vagabond camp.
>7 The character finds a broken claw
by one of the tree trunks next to
the scene of the “accident”. The
claw seems to have belonged to a
rather large predator. Anything
more than that is hard to tell.
able to speak to them, unless someone
speaks Polish. If someone does, and asks
him questions, he will still not answer
them but will instead lead them to speak
with his father. If no one speaks Polish,
Michail will point to the hill and gesture
to follow him. 23
 5. The Vagabond Camp
A gathering of vagabonds and vagrants
have set up camp a little further up in
the forest. Their temporary settlement
has turned into a tent village where
canvas covers protect them from wind
and weather. They can tell from all the
rubbish that is scattered around that the
six tents have been here for some time.
In the outskirts there is a wagon which
is close to falling apart and a donkey
grazing on the lush grass.
The camp’s inhabitants are seven
rootless individuals whose souls do
not seem to belong anywhere but on
the constant, open roads, on their
way to new horizons. There are three
Germans, two Poles (father and son),
two Frenchmen and a Frenchwoman,
and a Swede, all of whom have for
various reasons beyond comprehension
managed to come across each other at
this very spot. For some time, they have
stayed together to share stories from
distant lands and warned each other
of places to avoid. Everyone, except for
24 Camille, the Frenchwoman, travel by
foot, and it is her wagon and donkey
that the characters can see behind the
camp.
After crossing paths on an afternoon
fifteen days ago, and a few pleasant
evenings of story-telling, they soon took
a liking to each other as only wandering
tramps may. One night, when Ludwig,
the German vagabond, sat by the side
of the road, right where Übel Staal had
died, and waited for Lech (the Polish
vagabond) who had mustered up the
courage to head over to the town to buy
something to drink, he encountered the
Captain of the Town Guard Hans Blück.
The Captain of the Town Guard,
Herr Hans Blück, who naturally
thought the vagabond Ludvwig
was examining the scene, took the
opportunity, as defender of the town, to
take all of his anger towards everything
out on the poor bastard. After being
so badly beaten by the Captain of the
Town Guard, the last thing Ludwig
remembers is Herr Blück telling him
that examining the place was not a
vagabond’ business. When Lech found
him, Ludwig was nearly dead. Camille
let her injured friend sleep in her cart
where he has been lying ever since. The
vagabonds have chosen to stay to keep
their battered friend company until
they believe he is well enough to keep
travelling.
Visit to the camp
Depending on how the characters
arrive at the camp, there are two
courses of events (see “To the Camp”,
with and without Michail) that are
later interwoven (see “At the camp”).
The characters’ language proficiencies
will matter, too, since the vagabonds
constantly shift between languages. This
is clarified in the text below by adding
the spoken language in parentheses. If
the characters cannot understand what
is being said, you will have to describe
how they interpret the speakers’ tones
and gestures.
To the camp, with Michail
If the characters arrive in Michail’s
company, read the following:
As Michail leads you over the top
of the hill, you hear mirthful voices
and laughter, echoing between the
trees to your right. Surprised, you
look to the forest to find the source; in
between the trees, two patched canvas
tarpaulins hang stretched out between
the trunks. Michail smiles and points
in the direction of the tents. After
passing by them, you see a large fire
around which four men and a woman
sit in ragged clothes, conversing.
Behind them, you see four additional
tents arranged in the same manner
as the first two. You soon notice that
the camp, which you thought had
been a temporary rest stop for weary
vagabonds, have been in this place for
quite some time.
(German) ‘Well, look what Michail
brought back,’ one of the men says.
Lech, Michail’s father, speaks
German, but if anyone in the party
speaks German too, they immediately
hear that he is not very used to it. The
other four look curiously at the guests,
and Michail turns to his father:
(Polish) ‘I found them snooping about
by the road, and they asked me a bunch of
questions I couldn’t understand. I thought it
might be best if you answered them.’
When the father translates this
to broken German, it becomes quiet
around the fire and something painful
washes over the previously merry faces.
(Passing a successful Stealth skill roll
with the Detection discipline allows one
of the characters to notice that one of
the men worriedly looks over towards
the wagon, and passing another check
lets them notice that Michail’s father
seems uneasy in a way that neither his
face nor his words show. The father’s
words become harsh, and he tells the
boy in their mother tongue:
(Polish) ‘What have we told you
about that place? You promised not to go
there again, that place is evil. Look what
happened to Ludwig. Now, off with you. Go
get some wood for the fire, Ludwig needs to
stay warm.’ After he sends his son away,
he turns smiling towards the character
and asks:
(German) ‘My name is Lech, and what
may a simple vagabond like myself and my
friends here by the fire do for you?’
(The chain of events continues below.)
To the camp, without Michail
If the characters arrive at the camp
without Michail, read the following:
As you reach the top of the hill,
you hear mirthful voices and laughter,
echoing between the trees to your
right. Surprised, you look to the forest
to find the source; in between the
trees, two patched canvas tarpaulins
hang stretched out between the
trunks. After passing by them, you
see a large fire around which four men
and a woman sit in ragged clothes,
conversing. You soon notice that the
camp, which you thought had been
a temporary rest stop for weary
vagabonds, have been in this place for
quite some time.
A tall man turns around and looks in
surprise towards to as he gets up.
 (Passing a successful Stealth skill roll
with the Detection discipline allows one
of the characters to notice that one of
the men worriedly looks over towards
the wagon, and passing another check
lets them notice that the man seems
uneasy in a way that neither his face nor
his broken German show.
(German) ‘Well, my friends, look what
we have here! What a marvellous place
this is. First, our paths cross without any
reasonable or logical cause, and now our
numbers are bolstered yet again. It’s peculiar,
think of how mystical this place must be for
wanderers like us. My name is Lech, and
what may a simple vagabond like myself
and my friends here by the fire do for you?’
(The chain of events continues down
below.)
At the camp
During a possible visit to the tent
camp, the vagabonds will try to act
like nothing has happened. They are
too afraid of being subject to another
investigation by the town guards, which
is why they act as if they were unaware
of anything. Depending on how the
characters play out their meeting with
the vagabonds, the events that follow
might be a little different. To be able to
get anything useful out of the meeting,
the characters have to make clear
that their investigation of the scene
by the road is not at all on behalf of
Koblenstadt’s town guard.
If they manage to convince them that
they are there on their own mission,
the vagabonds are cooperative, and
for 1 ducat each, and 5 pieces extra
for Michail, Lech will tell them of
something strange that happened a few
days ago.
To convince the vagabonds of their
intentions, the characters must pass
an Impression check, based on their
knowledge in Rhetoric, modified by
their social class (see table below).
SOCIAL CLASS MODIFIERS
Social class Modifier
High nobility -14
Nobility -10
Low nobility -5
Middle class ±0
Lower class +2
Pauper +4
Drifter +6
To give the right impression, at least
half of the characters must pass their
Impression roll.
If any of the characters is a vagabond
themselves, they automatically convince
the vagabonds by the fire that their
thirst for information is theirs and
theirs alone, and no Impression checks
are necessary.
If the characters do not state their
business Lech will just say that they
came to the place about a week ago and
have not seen a thing. Not even a purse
full of ducats will change his statement.
If the characters make a good
impression, the following will happen.
The vagabonds seem content with
your answers, and Lech takes Camille
away from the fire. You see that they are
discussing something, before both appear
to be in agreement. Lech turns and sits
down by the fire and Camille walks over
to the wagon and enters. Lech looks over
to the wagon before sadness overcomes
his face and says to you:
(German) ‘Please, sit.’ He does not seem
to want to continue until you do. ‘It was
about a week and a half ago, maybe even
two weeks, that I went down to town to get
something to drink. Ludwig, who doesn’t
think much of towns, chose to stay behind at
the spot you’re talking about.’
(German) ‘When I came back, I found
him bleeding by the side of the road. He
was almost beaten to death, and if it hadn’t
been for Camille’s care, he would’ve died
then and there. We tucked him in Camille’s
wagon over there, where he still is.’
He turns over and points towards the
wagon, then takes a large swig from the
bottle that he passes on. After everyone
around the fire has had their share, he
now offers it to the characters. Just like
he insisted you sit down by the fire, he
now insists you take a swig each from
the bottle.
The vagabonds only pretend to drink
from the bottle, which is laced with a
hallucinogenic drug (this only applies
if all characters drink from the bottle).
Should not all characters drink, the
bottle then only contains spirits and
Lech tosses another piece of wood onto
the fire. As he does this, he also tosses
a small bag of a similar hallucinogenic
drug onto the fire as well, in order to
make the victim inhale the hallucinogen.
The vagabonds will then drink an
antidote the next time the bottle is
passed, which is right after Lech tosses
the bag onto the fire.
There are two reasons why the
vagabonds want to drug the characters.
One is that Camille is a clairvoyant,
and the vagabonds want revenge on
the one that almost killed their friend
by delivering a message from the spirit
world, something that can only be done
if the characters are drugged. What Lech 25
and Camille were discussing was whether
or not to tell the characters about the
drug, something they did not think the
characters would agree to. Additionally,
they came to the second conclusion that
made them agree on that. They realised
that things are becoming complicated and
that it might not take long before the town
guard find out about the camp through
the characters. By drugging them, they
can break camp without having to answer
to where they are going.
After being handed the bottle back
and tossing another piece of wood into
the fire, Lech continues.
(German) ‘Camille watched over him
constantly, and several times it appeared as
if Ludwig had given up. We didn’t know
what had happened, or if we too were in
danger. In spite of that, we chose to stay
until Ludwig had recovered. As you can see,
we haven’t come very far...’
With those words, the world around
you seem to disappear. The colourful
forest is suddenly filled with dark
shadows. You cannot really understand
what is happening to you, but your hearts
 suddenly pound in your chests, as panic
fills your bodies. You gasp in terror but
soon you cannot muster any resistance
and feel as if you are enveloped by a
heavy, warm calm. You are content with
what you have accomplished in your
lives and are ready for the next.
What happens next is that Camille
contacts them in the dream world. As
the game master, you can choose which
characters that receive the message: it
may be one, several, or all. Those who are
not contacted will wake up the same as the
others, but will not remember anything.
Just as you think you are dying, your
eyes flicker open and you find yourselves
in a dream. You are alone, walking along
a road. It does not take long before you
realise where you are, and a horrible roar
confirms your suspicions. You take a
step into the forest, but the man quickly
comes for you, with a cudgel in his fist.
You immediately recognize him as the
captain of the guard Hans Blück. Fear
courses through your veins and you turn
to run. Before you manage to take a step
26 something heavy hits you in the back and
you fall to the ground in terrible pain.
Herman kicks you on your back and pulls
your head up by the hair.
‘Look who’s snooping about! This is
no place for snooping. I’ll show you what
happens when you snoop about where you
shouldn’t.’
After spitting out the last words,
Hans begins to beat you in the face with
his fists. It does not take long before
everything turns black and you are on
your way to what has to be the afterlife.
Somewhere from inside you, you hear
a woman’s voice:
‘The lily is not what you think.’
‘Two more hide in what killed the
occultist. The black cat is one of the two.’
‘She who saw will float in the river.’
‘Now sleep, my curious friends. Rest,
for the road you’ve chosen is not easy, and
dangers lurk where you least expect them.’
It is Camille who is speaking through
the veil of dreams. She is unaware of
what she has told them, but she is dearly
hoping that it is something that can
make whoever hurt her friend answer
for their crimes.
What the spirit world message means
is the following.
‘The lily is not what you think.’
Refers to the fleur-de-lis symbol and
that it actually symbolizes a bee.
‘Two more hide in what killed the
occultist. The black cat is one of the two.’
Refers to Edmundo, the werebeast
sent by the Sapientia secret society.
‘She who saw will float in the river.’
Refers to Emma, the harlot (see
Non-Player characters below), and that
she will die unless something stops the
chain of events.
How the characters interpret what
they heard, and how they use the
information that Camille gave them is for
them to decide. Maybe they manage to
figure out that Camille refers to Emma,
and in some way convince her to run for
her life before she is murdered. There
are many ways to use the information.
Eventually, all falls silent and you
lose all track of time. A day, a minute, a
year, or an eternity seems to pass before
you open your eyes again. The morning
sun sparkles in the dew. The fire you
sat around has gone out, but not too
long ago, as the ashes are still warm.
You get up, still dazed from what has
just happened, but you realise that you
are alone. The tents and the wagon are
gone, as are the vagabonds.
Regardless of when they arrived at
the vagabond camp, it is the morning of
the day after when they wake up.
6. The Doctor’s Office
The doctor’s office and home is on
the outskirts of the town. The doctor,
Stefan von Hertzenblach, has much
to do at the moment, since many of
the town’s inhabitants have caught a
cold and a fever recently. Additionally,
he tends to sick animals. In the little
spare time that he has, he locks himself
in his study and delves deeply into the
mysteries of science. The doctor has Floor 1
a small, but relatively well-stocked
library. While there are no secret books 1. Reception
that hide hidden truths, he has spent a A long bench is placed against the outer
small fortune on books from Paris with wall, and is the only furniture in the
the latest scientific discoveries. room.
2. The secretary’s room
Here sits Sabine, the nurse, behind a
desk, and registers and charges those
who require the doctor’s services.
3. Examination room
In the room’s centre is a bench and in
shelves along the walls are flasks and
boxes of all sorts, together with some
strange instruments.
4. Office
This is the doctor’s office. A large oak
desk with a chair, and two shelves
stocked with folders and medical
literature comprise the furniture.
5. Hallway
A hallway that leads to the kitchen,
dining room, drawing-room, and the
reception.
6. Kitchen
A simple kitchen with a worktop,
pantry, and shelves with kitchen
utensils.
7. Dining room
A beautiful table with chairs provides
room for twelve guests. Against one
wall, there is a shelf filled with sets of
plates and utensils for different meals.
8. Drawing-room
Six comfortable armchairs are placed
around a round table. Fancy bottles, an
assortment of glasses, and tea and coffee
sets are found on a shelf.
9. Entrance
This is the family’s private entrance. A
staircase can be found here, that leads to
the second floor, along with wardrobes.
Floor 2
If the characters insist on going to the
second floor (albeit, without the doctor’s
permission), they will find the following
rooms: 1. Library, 2 & 3. Storage, 4.
Doctor von Hertzenblach’s and his wife
Katarina’s bedroom, 5. The bedroom of
Klara (the doctor’s daughter), 6. Guest
room.
Visit at the doctor’s
The doctor is a very busy man. When
he is not working, he wants to take it
easy in his library, with a glass of wine
or sometimes even spirits. Depending
on when they try to arrange a meeting,
the characters will be treated differently.
If the characters should choose to
visit him via the private entrance during
daytime, a servant will answer the door
and tell them that the doctor is working
and, if they want a meeting, they will
have to go around and enter through
the reception.
If the characters should choose to
visit the doctor via the private entrance
during night hours, a servant will answer
the door and tell them that the doctor is
tired and does not want to receive any
guest. If, however, the characters have
made a good impression, Doctor von
Hertzenblach can be bothered to answer
a few of their questions. In either case,
the servant will take some convincing to
call for the doctor.
If the characters choose to visit the
doctor’s office (and not the private
entrance) during the day, they will have
to make a good case to get to meet Doctor
von Hertzenblach, unless they really are
injured or seriously ill. He simply does
not have the time to meet with them. In
the reception area, there are a number
of people, both children and adults,
waiting to be examined by the doctor.
An old woman sits in the corner of the
room with a lamb in her lap, petting it
constantly. Sabine, the nurse, will ask
the characters what ailments they suffer
from. If they say that they have to meet
with Doctor von Hertzenblach, she will
tell them that the doctor does not have
time for personal meetings, since all his
time is devoted to patients.
Concerning Übel Staal
It does not matter how much the
characters ask about Übel Staal’s death,
Doctor von Hertzenblach will not
deviate from the story he, the mayor,
and the mayor’s son have come up with.
Passing a Stealth skill roll with the
Detection discipline modified by -4 will
let a character notice that the doctor is
hiding something, but not what.
If they manage to make a good
impression on Doctor von Hertzenblach,
he will give them whatever belongings
Übel Staal had with him when he died.
Übel Staal’s belongings
The belongings Übel Staal kept with him
when he was attacked in the forest and
subsequently killed are at the moment
in doctor Stefan von Hertzenblach’s
possession. In a bloodied diary, missing
a few pages, two things of importance
can be found. The night before Übel was
murdered, there is a note in the diary that
Übel met with Emma (see “the Women’
Stairs”, below), which can lead the
characters to her. The second is two letters
from a man called “Antonio Calvino”, the
supposed buyer of the Coin of Judas.
The letters
Dear Herr Übel.
27
I’d like to thank You for Your last
letter that I received today.
I understand now that it may
very well be as You say, and
that Your sources must be highly
trustworthy. What I mean is, it is
not often, nowadays, that stories
of this magnitude leak out from
God’s library. If it is like that, the
truth is all the more frightening,
and might explain many of the
rumours that have reached me
from elsewhere.
Well then, after considering
Your offer relating to Matthew
26:15, I have decided that I want
to purchase It.
I finish this letter wishing You
and our brothers all the best, and
yet again urge You to be careful.
Faithfully, Your friend Antonio
Calvino.

Dear Herr Übel.
I must start off by saying how
awful our mail service is. Not only
does it take long for the letters to
arrive but Your last letter was
opened as well! It was probably
just some lowly letter carrier who
couldn’t keep their hands in their
pockets.
I also regret that I have delayed
answering Your last letter. I
must say that Your friend’s thesis
concerning the werewolves is
indeed interesting, but let me
tell You of something, perhaps
even more sensational, that I got
to hear about only a week ago.
Jewish Kabbalists, who lived
in and around the Temple of
Jerusalem at the time of Jesus’
birth, had spent a hundred years
taking notes of this oral tradition
that descended from Merkavan
mysticism. They collected this oral
28 tradition in something that came
to be called “Sefer Yetzira”, the
“Book of Creation”. In reality,
this was simply an enormous
key to the knowledge God had
given Moses and was not meant
for any other human being. The
decrypted version was called “Al
Cosheck Merkava” , “The Dark
Chariot”. As You may already
know, the Hasidism took root in
parts of Europe around this time,
and can be, in many regards, tied
to this tradition, even though I
highly doubt that they managed to
decrypt the Sefer Yetzira.
The Al Cosheck Merkava gave
these Kabbalists the power to
create and awaken creatures that
weren’t meant to walk upon this
Earth. In the writings I have
come across, there are mentions of
blood-suckers with eternal life, of
men in the shape of wolves, and of
ghosts, filled with wrath. Rumour
has it, however, that Jesus and
some of his followers managed to
break into the temple grounds and
steal many of the writings, which
they later hid. Considering all of
this, this information that I have
acquired from an independent
source, I am more than obsessed
with buying this item from You.
The price is steep but, as You
know, I have managed to collect
a fair amount of wealth over the
years.
Faithfully,
Your friend Antonio Calvino.
In one of the pockets of Übel Staal’s
bloody coat, there is a little bundle of
paper. A red powder can be found inside,
so-called “wolf powder”. Consuming it
will render the affected forever invisible
to wolves and werewolves. Should the
characters show the powder to Johann
Elk, he will tell them what it is and how
it works. He will also ask them if he
could buy it from them, for five hundred
ducats.
Proper equipment and a successful
Science skill roll with the Alchemy
specialization, modified by -10, are
required to understand the powder’s
properties.
Concerning the werewolf ’s second
victim (The town that cried wolf)
If the characters choose to visit
the doctor and inquire about the
second bestial werewolf murder,
Doctor von Hertzenblach will be
more forthcoming than if they come
inquiring into Übel Staal’s death. The
doctor and the mayor are keen on
having as many as possible see that it
is not the work of a werewolf, but of
a bestial, savage man, something they
were less reasonable with regarding
Übel Staal’s death.
The characters will see, if they ask
to examine the body, obvious signs that
they are dealing with a human murderer.
Choke marks from fingers and knuckle-
shaped bruises can be seen all over the
body, and the characters cannot help
but wonder what kind of deranged
individual may have committed this
heinous act.
7. The Office of the
Imperial Administrator
Herr Jarman Felde, the Emperor’s local
administrator, has become a good friend
of the Mayor, Herr Herman Blück’s,
despite the fact that he hates the town
of Koblenstadt and its inhabitants.
Herr Felde has spent time in all of the
greatest cities of Europe, and even
managed an incredible tour across
various Spanish and English colonies in
America, something which makes him
an unusual and well-travelled man. In
comparison to what he has experienced,
he thinks of Koblenstadt as a miserable
place. The only thing to put him in a
good mood is news from the big cities.
Visit at Herr Jarman Felde’s
office
Should the characters visit Herr Felde’s
office and tell him they can provide
evidence that Übel Staal was killed in an
unnatural way, he will answer that they
will have to return the day after, as he is
just on his way to meet with the mayor. A
representative from the Prince-Elector
is supposed to have arrived at the town
to discuss the Prince-Elector’s visit the
next summer. A successful Stealth skill
roll with the Detection discipline lets
a character notice that Herr Felde is
discernibly concerned with their claim
and that the meeting must be made up
since Herr Felde’s words did not seem
believable.
If the characters, despite their
suspicions, decide to return the next
day, one of the party may notice
(following a successful Stealth skill roll
with the Detection discipline) a shadow
of something that could be a rifle behind
the pulled-down curtain in Herr Felde’s
office window. It is the Captain of the
Town Guard, Herr Hans Blück, that
they see. Herr Felde went straight to
the mayor to tell him that the characters
have discovered the truth about what
happened to Übel Staal. Thus, the mayor
is there, together with Hans and a few
men from the town guard to make sure
the characters have meddled enough
in their businesses and that they never
return to Koblenstadt again, if they
want to live to see the next day. Hans
Blück will then convince the characters,
with fists and kicks, that these are not
empty threats.
If the characters choose not to
return, or if they spot the shadow
before it is too late, they will now be
hunted. The mayor will declare that one
of the characters is now wanted, under
suspicion of being a werewolf. All tips
that may lead to their arrest will be
rewarded with 5 ducats. This ought to
start a witch-hunt and will make it very
difficult to move around town.
8. The Circus
South of town, by the little lake of Glibsee,
a small circus has made camp, waiting for
winter to pass. This is the official version,
at least. Edmundo, the freak werewolf,
who is sent by the Sapientia Order
joined the circus as it headed for Paris.
He hypnotized and poisoned the director
and made him dance to his tune, and
they set off for Koblenstadt. Now, he acts
in the dark and uses all of his power to
blend in and make others do his bidding.
The director is still under the freak’s
spell and no decisions are made without
Edmundo’s influence.
Visit at the circus
If the characters decide to visit the
circus and ask to meet the director,
they will be told to come back the next
day, as the director is a little under the
weather. This is an instruction given
by Edmundo to the director that he
tells everyone who wants to meet with
him. The circus people that receive the
characters will ask them about their
names and reason for the meeting.
That way, Edmundo can prepare. If the
characters refuse to state their names or
business, they will not be granted the
meeting.
29
 When they return the following day,
they will be greeted by August, the
Swedish strongman, who leads them
through cages and carts to the director’s
wagon, where the director waits with
Edmundo by his side.
In front of you is a small, pale
gentleman in a tight coat and worn
hat. His eyes are dim and blank.
Behind this little creature there is a
giant freak whose hunched posture can
almost be likened to that of a gorilla’s.
The arms are so long that he could use
them as an extra pair of legs. The most
grotesque part of his body, however,
is his back; an enormous hump juts
like a tower behind his malformed
head. You can clearly see a deformed
spine which, like a cockscomb, is still
visible through the grey woollen
sweater. The face is as misshapen as
the body. It is covered with boils and
open wounds, the lips are cracked and
lacerated, one eye is on its way out of
the socket and looks largely unusable.
The man moans something, to which
30 the director hums calmingly.
The director does not say much, he
does not have much to say at all, since
Edmundo is completely in charge. He
will repeat that their only business here
is to await springtime and that they
will leave as soon as it arrives. Should
the party become too pushy, he will back street that runs between the market services. To deny them, or to not
ask them if they would like a tour and and the bath houses, Koblenstadt’s five offer any compensation can drastically
to see the animals. If so, he will ask prostitutes spend their days. During reduce their chances of getting
one of the zookeepers to show them daytime, the street is quiet and dim, anything useful out of them (see the
around. They can see lions and a few during the nights, the women stand in non-player character Emma below).
monkeys in different cages, and chained the middle of the stair outside Visbaum, If they arrive sometimes during the
behind a cart is an elephant. All these the wine shop, and tempt the guests night, when the girls are working, the
beasts are very unusual visions for with their bodies. The women are poor game master may read the following text:
most Europeans in the 18th century. and neglected, and have to endure scorn
Please make the players understand and derision from most of Koblenstadt’s The narrow alley, with its cracked
how looking at such animals should citizens. The few customers they have cobblestones, is wedged between two
be a very unusual experience for most are shady characters. buildings with facades that ought to have
of their characters, unless they have been repaired ages ago. Far from the finer
very unusual backgrounds, linked with establishments’ linen and pearl necklaces, a
Africa or Asia. Visit at The Women’ Stairs group of women stands beneath the rough
One of the women is 16-year-old oil lamps. They are looking for buyers of
Emma. If the characters visit the their questionable services. You quickly see,
9. The Women’ Stairs prostitutes and meet with Emma, or that since the foundation of the town, apart
The nickname “the Women’ Stairs” if they in some other way have found from the gonorrhoea, this type of woman has
refers to one of the less respectable out that the harlots may have some been the most stationary element in this part
places in this small town. On a narrow information, they will offer their of Koblenstadt.
10. The Wine Shop Visbaum
Visbaum is the hub for Koblenstadt’s
less fortunate people. It is a filthy,
run-down wine shop right in the middle
of what is called “the Women’s Stairs”
(see “the Women’s Stairs”, above).
A simple bar, six tables with chairs, and
a bench along one of the walls make up
the furnishing. A wooden stair leads up to
the top floor, where there are three rooms
that may be rented by the hour, and a
dormitory where the harlots live together.
The only person of interest at the
establishment, apart from Emma
the harlot, is Kristian Dragel. If the
characters are curious to find someone
who can help them with their mission,
and ask around town or the owner of the
wine shop, Herr Lars Hanner, they will
be directed to Kristian Dragel (see the
non-player characters).
Visit at the wine shop
A visit at the wine shop would imply
unpleasantries for any character who
does not belong to the lower social strata,
as a fight will break out soon after the
characters have arrived. The fight does
not directly involve the characters and
seems to be about a quarrels between two
local bullies. However, since the characters
are clearly possible targets for local
thieves and thugs, they may risk to get
involved into the fight. Maybe the local
bullies are just pretending to quarrel, in
order to bump into a character and maybe
rob them. This is an excellent moment to
introduce Kristian who, having noticed
the character’s discomfort, will step in
between the belligerents to stop the
brawl, for a few ducats, of course.
On the other hand, if most of the
characters clearly belong to lower
social classes, , the risk of stepping on
someone’s toes is not that great. All
tables will be full, except for one, where
Kristian Dragel sits alone.
11. Town Jail and the
Town Guard
At the town jail, the characters may
find the captain of the town guard, Herr
Hans Blück, and his six armed guards.
Eight lamplighters, two gravediggers
and one executioner round out the force.
The executioner is a man feared by most
citizens and therefore lives a distance
from the town, and only appears
whenever he imposes a sentence. The
six guards often patrol the town streets
in pairs, during both night and day, on
a schedule. If the characters are out
during the nights, there is a great risk
that they run into a pair of patrolmen.
The guards are suspicious of those who
spend the nights outside and ask what
the characters’ business is. If they are
caught several times, they will become
so suspicious that they will inform their
Captain, Herr Hans Blück, that the
strangers are probably up to no good.
The town jail itself has three parts:
the prison cells; the spinning mill,
where six convicted women spend their
days and nights chained to the spinning
wheels; and the office itself, where Hans
Blück and his guards can be found.
Visit at the town jail
If, for any reason, the characters would
like to visit the town jail on their own
accord, they will find Captain Hans Blück
in the middle of prying a confession out
of a man. The armed guards stand on
each side of a chair on which a bloodied
man sits, crying, stripped to the waist,
arms bound. On his back, large bruises
can be seen. The captain of the town
guard stands, dribbling from the side of
his mouth, in front of the man and calmly
asks the man if, by any happenstance, he
was not guilty of the crime. When he
denies the fact once again, the captain
clenches his already bloody fist and beats
the man a couple of times about the body
and face before he wipes his mouth with
the other hand and asks the question
again. This procedure is repeated twice
more before the man finally confesses to
the crime, which he most probably did
not commit. The man is taken away to
a prison cell by the two guardsmen to be
sentenced.
Hans Blück will then wipe his hands
and mouth clean, before he asks the
characters of what service he might be;
maybe there is a crime that needs to be
taken care of, he says. The characters
can clearly see that the captain is excited
and finds pleasure in torturing people.
12. The Church and the
Cemetery
A fashionably simple church building,
with an adjoining cemetery, is situated
right outside the town. Nowadays the
church is empty, and characters who
want to attend Sunday Mass will realize
this. Depending on who the characters
ask about the church (whether or not
they know it is empty or not), they will
get different answers.
If they ask anyone involved (that is to
say, the people of high status) they will
say that the priest’s period of service
was over and that they chose to not
prolong it, since the priest could not
keep himself from the holy wine. A new
priest from Bonn is to arrive any day
now.
If the characters ask someone from 31
among the ordinary citizens, they will
cross themselves and say:
‘We live in a town of sin, and that is why
the church stands empty.’
To live without a priest is something
the citizens are very worried about. A
town without a priest and God’s allies
will not make it long before something
bad happens to it. If anyone asks for
how long this has been, the answer
will seem to correspond with the days
around Übel Staal’s accident.
The priest’s last words
The church offers two hints that the
priest, Johan, planted before he left.
In the left corner, behind the altar, is a
statue of Moses carrying the two tablets
upon which the ten commandments can
be read. One of these commandments,
Thou shalt not bear false witness against
thy neighbour, is faintly filled with red
paint.
On the great crucifix, Johan has
bound Jesus’ eyes to keep him from
seeing the congregation living in sin.
 A visit to the cemetery
The cemetery is set apart from the rest of
the church grounds with a stone wall, a
meter tall. There are two entrances, one
with an iron gate. Above the gate, the
word “Sepulchrum” can be read. Naturally,
there should be a ghostly atmosphere over
the cemetery, if the characters visit during
the night. The full moon shines its bleak
light. Sounds can be heard that would not
have been picked up during the day, that
now seem to be caused by both ghosts
and werewolves (causing 1 single point
of mental damage when heard). Übel
Staal’s body is buried on the outskirts of
the cemetery. He lies between two smaller
crypts and the only indication is a simple,
wooden cross saying ‘Here lies Herr Übel
Staal, the occultist’, Born in AD 1690, Dead
in AD 1743.’
Exhuming the corpse is a criminal
offence that may lead to severe
punishment. The patrolling town guard
visit the cemetery at 2-hour intervals,
and if they notice a light source, they
will most probably sound their whistles
32 for reinforcements before they go to
investigate what is going on.
If the characters manage to exhume
the body, they will see that it has been
violently maimed and is in very poor
shape. Both the smell and the sight of the
mutilated body should pose a frightening
experience (treat is as a Fear Factor of
1d10). The decomposition is already
started but most of the damage of the
body is rather clearly linked with the
violent way in which Übel Staal died. One
eye seems to have been punctured, he has
suffered two large bites to the stomach
and one to the leg, and the right arm is
torn straight off and lies beside the body.
This proves that Übel Staal was killed in
a very different manner than by hitting
his head on a rock. A successful Science
skill roll with the Healthcare discipline
lets the character notice that the body has
been tortured, too. Someone has pushed
an awl-like object in its back several times.
The black cat
If no one in the party knows that the black
cat in fact is Edmundo the werebeast,
the game master may let the cat visit the
party as they are busy digging up the
corpse or anytime during their visit at
the cemetery. Edmundo wants to make
sure that the coin or any lead to where
it may have gone is not buried with Übel
Staal. The cat sits atop a crypt near the
party and observes them with weirdly
intelligent eyes. As they notice the cat,
the characters cannot shake the feeling
that something is not right. The notion
that a large predator is in the vicinity
and the increasingly threatening sounds
of the night impose 1 point of mental
damage on each character. Should
anyone try to shoo the cat away, with
means that usually would scare off a
cat, they see that their efforts have no
apparent effect on the animal, which
calmly stays where it is, observing. It
only moves if the characters come too
close, or start shooting at it and, even
then, it only moves to a safe distance,
from where it continues its observations.
The military students
If the characters chose to examine Übel
Staal’s body, they will be visited by the
military students after they are done.
They have snuck up on the party as
they were busy filling the grave. The
military students will threaten the
party one last time: if they have not left
the city by noon tomorrow, there will
be open war between them. A fight will
break out during their next encounter
(if this happens, the students will flee as
soon as one of them becomes injured, as
they are important elements in the final
scene down in the sewers).
13. Übel’s Family Grave
Übel Staal was the descendant of a
German knight, who erected a smaller
castle in the woods north of Koblenstadt.
A glade makes way for something that
appears to be an old ruin. The only thing
that seems intact, but roughly treated
by time, is a small crypt with its gate
open, leading down into the darkness.
By its side lie boulders covered in moss
that seem to have been the foundation
of a larger building that has been
demolished a long time ago to provide
material for other constructions. Over
toward the north-east, there is a wall
covered in vines, shrubbery and trees.
The wall reveals that it might have been
a larger building, maybe even a castle.
A successful Stealth skill roll with
the Detection discipline, modified by
-5, lets a character notice the black cat,
following them from a safe distance.
The crypt
Stairs down, covered with leaves and
dirt, lead into the dark where the smell
of old, damp earth becomes stronger
with every step. At the bottom, they
find a tunnel whose floor is covered
with rotten twigs, dirt, and leaves.
Cobwebs stick to their faces as they
move onwards. The tunnel leads some
ten steps forward into the underground
before they arrive at a square room with
a sarcophagus in its center. By pulling
the giant stone lid aside, they will find
the key to the sewer system that lies on
the ribcage of a skeleton inside.
The key is made of iron, approximately
twenty centimetres long, with one side
looking like a branding iron with a loop
and the other looking like the letter “R”.
The loop is the bow while the letter “R”
is the blade (see “The lion relief and the
sewer system” for its use).
Encounter with Edmundo,
the werewolf
If they have not yet been confronted
by Edmundo, the werewolf, they will
encounter him here. Edmundo has
followed the party and, when they exit
the crypt, he will be waiting behind a
rock with a musket. He tells them to
toss him “the item”. Edmundo is not
sure of what, exactly, they have found in
the crypt, but he thinks it is a key that
leads somewhere. Best case scenario is
that they have found the Coin of Judas.
Edmundo will not leave without it and
will become aggressive should they not
hand the item over. If a fight breaks out,
he will fire his musket and then, against
33
 his will, turn into a werewolf. He will
not fight to the death, but will flee if
he is taken to the Vulnus Grave status
(Health Level 3).
To hide his identity, the game
master may already have let Edmundo
transform and attack the characters as
they leave the crypt.
14. The Lion Relief and
the S ewer S ystem
Opposite the baker’s shop, in the western
parts of the town, there is a giant relief
on the gable of a building. The building
is one of the oldest in all of Koblenstadt,
and the relief is impressive, to say the
least. It is of a lion that rests on top of a
pile of bones and skulls. Above the lion
is a family crest that is hard to discern.
A successful Culture skill roll with
the Civics discipline (the Heraldry
specialization is advantageous) modified
by -5, reveals that it has to be a French
family crest. Anything more than that
is hard to tell since the characters
34 knowledge of local history should be
limited. Below the lion relief, at eye
level, the inscription:
- Rex Regis - (meaning “King of a
King” in Latin) is carved directly on a
wall.
A successful Stealth skill roll with the
Detection discipline, modified by -5, lets
them see that the letter “R” in “Regis”
is somewhat more worn out than the
other letters. Naturally, a crafty player
who wants to try to insert the key in the
letter does not have to roll.
By inserting the key found in Übel
Staal’s family grave into the letter “R” of
the word “Regis”, the hidden door below
the relief is unlocked. If the characters
(or someone else, for that matter) do
this, they will hear a loud click and then
the sound of two heavy stones that are
pulled against each other. A crack in the
foundation of the house becomes visible,
and by pushing aside a 10-centimetres
thick stone slab, a stair is revealed, that
leads down into the darkness.
The sewer system
Long ago, a mayor who lived in town got
the idea that if everybody threw their
sewage down a hole in their basements,
you would avoid the smell that was in
the town’s streets. Additionally, you
could walk down the streets without
the risk of having someone’s garbage
or excrement poured over you. Two
long tunnels make up the system, that
was dug out below what was then the
town’s ten to twenty houses. After a lot
of bother, the tunnels were completed.
One was situated slightly above the
other as to create a natural drop. Water
from the river was fed into both tunnels
to allow water to run through the
sewer and wash away the filth. Initially,
another tunnel was planned that would
draw off the sewage, but fortunately,
this would not be necessary as a natural,
underground stream was found.
Even though the sewer system still
works, it has been a long since it was
used. Water has been flowing through
the system ever since, but after a fire
that ravaged the town, the system
was forgotten as new buildings were
constructed on top of the old ruins. The
only building still connected to the old
sewers is the one with the lion relief.
1. The hidden entrance
A stair leads down to what was once a
clever attempt at something as modern
as a sewer system. The stairs are steep,
and great care is necessary to not fall
down them.
2. The landing with the warning
The stairs end at a small landing, where
a door leads to the sewers. On the
door, Übel Staal has carved a warning
in Greek. Everyone who passes a
Communication skill roll with the
Reading and Writing (Greek) discipline,
modified by +6, can read the following:
“Death awaits between the second and
third ramp.”
Übel has set a trap here, and since he
knew Antonio Calvino knew Greek, he
left a warning for him there.
3. The sewers
The smell of damp earth and mould
hits the visitors when they step into
one of the two tunnels that together
make up the sewers. The tunnels are
some 4-meters tall and almost 1 and
a half meters wide, and in the far end
water can be heard running down to the
sewer floor. A rickety bridge, that time
has left even more rickety, is built some
2 meters above the floor. In the lower
sewer, between the second and third
ramp, there is a trap that Übel has set.
The characters can see the basic
trapdoor with a successful Stealth
skill roll with the Detection discipline,
modified by -10 (mostly because of the
lack of light, but also because of Übel’s
handiwork),.
If someone sets off the trap, the
trapdoor opens and everyone who is
within 5 meters of the one who set off
the trap fall to the floor where Übel has
placed sharpened stakes. The fall inflicts
1d10 (OR 10) Health Points of damage
and there is a chance of being impaled.
Roll a d20 for each character which fell.
If someone is unfortunate enough to
roll 1-5 on a d20, they will be impaled
by one or several stakes that together
cause 1d10 (OP 8-10) Health Points of
damage in addition to the damage dealt
by the fall.
4 & 5. Ramps
Wooden ramps are placed across the
water that runs from one level to the
next. These are in very bad condition
from the constant flow of water. The
characters will notice this as soon as
they take the first step and ought to
cross them with great care. Roll 1d20
for any group of persons which is
crossing the ramps at the same time. If
one person crosses at a time, the ramp
will break on a result of 1-2. For every
additional person, the risk increases by
a factor of 2. If two people try to cross at
the same time, the ramps will break on a
result of 1-4; if three people try to cross
the breakage will happen at a result of
1-6, and so on.
6. Underground stream
The underground stream rapidly flows
under an arched ceiling and to swim or
wade across is impossible. There is a
shelf carved out on the far side along the
stream, allowing for passage back and
forth. To access the shelf, two planks are
laid across the stream from the tunnel
to the shelf, with a rope tied between the
walls for stability.
Returning with the Coin of Judas
When the characters have found the
Coin of Judas in the control room,
the three military students will try
to coerce the characters into handing
over the Coin. They have followed the
characters and awaited the opportune
moment, which, obviously, is here (if
the characters have posted guards,
the game master will have to choose
another, fitting, place for the ambush).
They have removed the planks and cut
down the rope that now is only fastened
on the characters’ side. They promise,
and swear by the cross of Jesus Christ,
that if the characters toss the Coin over,
they will tell someone in the town that
they are down here. If the characters do
not toss it over, they are willing to wait
them out. The characters lack food, and
will soon starve, and the students are in
no hurry. The only thing the characters
may threaten with is to throw the Coin
into the water, to which the students
will answer:
‘Please do; you will only be doing us
a favour. The Coin’s destiny is to be put
somewhere far from ordinary people, never
to be found again. If you cast it into the
water, it will never surface, and you will
only give the Coin the fate it deserves.’
7. The path
A path leads to a massive iron door,
that is locked with a heavy padlock.
The lock requires 5 successful Stealth
skill rolls with the Lock Picking
specialization in a row or may be
destroyed by causing it 100 points of
damage.
8. The control room
The original idea was that this was
supposed to be where the flow of
the sewers could be controlled. The
underground stream that was discovered
was meant to be used for more sewer
systems under the town. Unfortunately,
the mayor and the big driver behind this
project died in the fire, and with him the
plans for the larger sewer system.
A ladder leads up through a hole in the
ceiling. Above, the way is blocked, but if
a character succeeds with a Situation roll
with a Situation value of 7 (± possible
modifiers from the Constitution trait),
they manage to break through the
trapdoor that has been placed there when
the new house was built.
In the middle of the room, placed on a
table, is a cloth bundle. In it is a beautiful
wooden box of the highest quality. The
lid opens smoothly, and on a bed of blue
silk lies a shining golden coin: the Coin
of Judas.
15. Tibelda Rhoos’ house
The widow Tibelda Rhoos’ house is a
basic, two-storey building. To help with
her poor finances, she has had a stair 35
built that goes to the second floor, which
she rents out. Right now, she rents it
to the three military students, who she
really likes, despite the fact that they are
out carousing during the nights. She has
warned them that nothing good ever
comes from a place like the Women’
Stairs, and that the three should find
their sweethearts in any other place than
the “desire alley”, as the widow calls it.
Two rooms make up the top floor: a
living room with a couch, armchairs and
a table, and a bedroom with two beds
and a mattress on the floor.
When the characters get here, the
three military students have already
left, since they have heard that they are
being sought after, and have set up camp
in the woods. If, against all odds, the
characters find the flat before they have
moved out, the party will find coats and
weapons in the room, but nothing that
will tell them who they are or whom
they work for.
16. The Thieves’ Guild

Hideout
36 The local thieves’ guild has its hideout
in an abandoned building north-east of
the town. The surroundings are under
constant watch. The characters will be
immediately discovered if they come
closer than 50 meters (or 10 meters
during the night).
In the town, there are a group of less
fortunate juveniles that make a living off
of pickpocketing and burglaries. They
have their seat in an abandoned building
right outside Koblenstadt, and consist of
fourteen boys and nine girls whose ages
are between seven to eighteen. It is a
fairly peaceful guild that seldom resorts
to violence. Sometimes, however, a guild
member has been cornered and found
themselves forced to pull out a knife, but it
is usually only as a threat. The guild finds
it necessary to exclude members who do
so, albeit unwillingly, as the town guard
does not seem to care much about them as
long as they refrain from violence.
That the town guard does not care
is due to the fact that captain Hans
Blück has been ordered by his father,
the mayor Herman Blück, not to do so
unless any violent crimes have been
committed. The reason is that Herman
is the natural father of one of the guild’s
younger members. Naturally, he would
deny it fervently, if the truth came out.
The boy is now 11 years old and has no
idea of who his father is. The mother was
an unfortunate soul who spent her days
at the Women’ Stairs and disappeared
under mysterious circumstances shortly
after the boy turned 6. No one knows
that the disappearance has to do with a
letter the mayor received. In the letter,
Herman read that the small amount of
money the woman had received to keep
quiet had run out and that she and the
son needed more to survive.
Depending on how much time you
have to spare, the game master may
make use of the thieves’ guild. If you do
so, please read the part called “Theft”
below.
17. The Vicarage
The vicarage lies deserted on the
outskirts of the town. Furniture awaits a
new owner under white sheets. The priest
could only take with him his personal
belongings, since the rest belonged to
the vicarage. A beaten path leads from
the vicarage down to the church.
If the characters break into the house
to see if the priest had something to
hide, they will find a bunch of keys on
one of the sheet-covered tables next
to an open bible. The keys are for
the church, and in the open bible the
following can be read (assuming the
reader passes a Communication skill roll
with the Reading and writing (Latin)
specialization, modified by +6):
✦✦ Exodus 23:1 - You must not give a
false report. Do not join your hand
with the wicked to be a malicious
witness.
✦✦ Exodus 23:2 - You must not follow
the masses to do evil, and do not
testify in a dispute that agrees with
the crowd to pervert justice.
✦✦ Exodus 23:3 - You must not show
partiality to a poor man in his dispute.
✦✦ Exodus 23:4 - If you meet your
enemy’s ox or his donkey going
astray, you shall surely return it to
him.
✦✦ Exodus 23:5 - If you see the donkey
of someone who hates you lying
under its burden, you must not ignore
it; you must surely help with him.
✦✦ Exodus 23:6 - You shall not turn
justice away from your poor in his
dispute.
✦✦ Exodus 23:7 - Keep far away from
a false charge, and do not kill the
innocent and the righteous, for I will
not justify the wicked.
✦✦ Exodus 23:8 - You shall not take
a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who
see and subverts the words of the
righteous.
18. Herbert Herberger’s
House
A simple and ramshackle house in which
Herbert Herberger, the drunkard, lives.
Herbert’s life and greatest passion lies
in a stable next to the house, which is
kept considerably better than the house
itself, the man loves horses and is more
friends with them than he is with people.
If the characters have horses of
their own, and need to house them
somewhere, this is where they are
taken. Herbert charges 20 pieces per
horse per day. Included in the price is
a little exercise for the horse, as well as
food and care. Herbert might, however,
accept 15 pieces per day and horse for
the entire stay if he is offered two bottles
of schnapps. Any character who clearly
seems to belong to the aristocracy, will
instead be charged 30 pieces per day.
Herbert and the rumours
about a werewolf.
If the characters visit Herbert while
inquiring into the werewolf rumours,
they will find him grooming a large,
black horse (unless, of course, they
visit him late at night or early in the
morning). He seems hesitant to answer,
at first, and blames what he saw that
night on too many bottles of too strong
liquor in his saddlebags. The reasoning
behind this charade is that the mayor has
personally threatened to put Herbert
behind bars in he continues to spread
these kinds of lies. ‘Do you really think
Prince-Elector Charles Theodore will visit
Koblenstadt if he hears of such rumours?,’
he had told Herbert with his son Hans
in the background.
To convince Herbert, a successful
Communication skill roll with the
Rhetoric discipline is required. The skill
value is modified by +2 for every ducat
they slip him, and if the deal includes
a jug of schnapps, it is modified by an
additional +1.
Herbert does not like the aristocracy,
especially not after the mayor’s threat,
or anyone from the higher social classes,
that is to say, anyone who is richer than
an honest worker. If anyone from these
social classes is present during the
questioning, the roll is modified by -4.
If the characters manage to convince
Herbert, in any way, to tell them what
he saw, he will tell them the following:
‘It came quickly over the fence by
Wilmert’s house and stopped as it saw
me (marked with a W on the map if
asked where this happened). It stared at
me with wrathful eyes and I felt terror
paralyze me.’
He spits in the straw.
‘Fortunately, I was on Sorrel, a very
fast horse,’ he says as he pats the giant
horse on the neck, ‘and when I came to
my senses again, I rode as fast as I could
to the market. Despite my fear, I couldn’t
help but look over my shoulder, and to my
great relief, I saw the monster pass into the
woods beyond the farmyard. That was the
last I saw of it. I could swear by my stable
and all of the horses inside that it wore
grey wolf ’s fur and the scornful eyes that
stared at me sat in a wolf ’s skull, with
fangs and all. But what really sent shivers
down my spine was that it stood on two
legs as if it was human. I can still scarcely
believe it, to see this beast in a man’s
shape, so bestial yet still so humanlike.
Mark my words,’ he adds in a warning
and takes a swig from a bottle, hidden
in the straw. 37
For some extra coin or liquor, he will
also tell them that the mayor threatened
him.
  Encounters and Events
38
Events that happen during the
characters’ stay at Koblenstadt are
found below. The game master is invited
to consider them all and organize them
according to how the story goes with
the characters and which actions they
do, before choosing if and when all of
these events and encounters happen.
A warning
It does not take many days before
the military students learn that
the characters are in town to solve
Übel Staal’s murder. As soon as the
opportunity arises, they will confront
the characters, preferably during the
night, in a narrow, dark alley, to warn
them.
The darkness envelops the night
and covers the town with its cold
coat. The light of the few oil lamps
flickers ominously in the heavy wind.
Momentarily, it seems as though they
will die out, only to come back to life and
light the street anew. You walk slumped,
watching the ground to not step in
someone’s trash or the excrement that
runs between the cobbles. A shadow
breaks off from one of the buildings.
From a dark gate, a silhouette takes a
few hurried steps out onto the street,
blocking your path. He hides his arms
under a long coat and most of his face
is covered by a black mask. Soon after,
another man comes up from behind you.
The man in the front says:
‘Brothers, we don’t intend to scare you,
but we wish for you to leave town as soon
as possible. Leave now, and leave the past
behind. Don’t dig deeper for the truth; you
won’t be any wiser. If you haven’t left by
noon tomorrow, we will take action.’
After that, the men disappear into the
darkness.
The third military student has hidden
himself on a roof nearby. He has an
excellent vantage point and can easily
fire at any of the characters without
hitting his friends. The two down on the

street carry weapons, too, that they hide
under their coats. Luc is the one who
confronts the characters, Mano stands
behind them, and Julius lies on the roof.
If the party does not leave town, the
military students will try to capture one
of the characters as soon as they are alone.
If they succeed, they will cut a large gash
in the character’s right cheek (1 point
of physical damage) and tell them that
next time, it will be their throat. Should
no opportunity arise to kidnap anyone,
they will instead set an ambush and fire a
warning shot, or rather, they will try to
shoot one of the characters in the leg, but
the shot narrowly misses and instead hits
the gutter, thereafter they will escape
over the rooftops to their hideout. This
will only happen sometimes at night,
never during the day.
If the characters manage to discover
the identities of the three military
students (they will cover their faces
during the confrontation, or try to
escape if they believe they might get
unmasked) there will be open war. In that
case, they will return to their shelter,
recover all their weapons, and try to
kill the characters. Still, they will never
make such an attempt during daytime,
only under the cover of darkness.

Werewolf Rumours
One night, soon after the characters
have arrived at Koblenstadt, they will
hear that a werebeast has been spotted
right outside of town.

The Drunk Who Cried

Wolf
The following episode takes place on an
evening when one or several characters
are at the reception of Manfred’s Gasthaus,
after the characters have stayed at the
inn a few nights. The language spoken
is German, and if none of the characters
speak German, the game master will
instead have to describe to the characters
what they see. Also, if no one is proficient
in German, Matilda will not mention 39
Herbert’s drinking habits.
The heavy wooden door is
suddenly slammed open, and Nina,
the innkeeper’s daughter, storms in.
Her voice is shrill and she sounds very
frightened as she, without regard for
the characters’ presence, begins to tell
her mother Matilda, who is behind the
desk, that a werewolf has been sighted
outside of town. Matilda replies quickly
that such a thing does not exist other
than in stories to scare small girls, and
that she shouldn’t pay any attention to
what the drunks in the square tell her.
Nina frowns and says that it’s the truth.
She says that she heard it from Herbert
Herberger who just came to the square,
loudly telling everyone what he saw.
Matilda explains to the characters (if
they understand German) that Herbert
usually brings with him a bottle or two
when he rides out to exercise the horses
left in his care. Nina sours and storms
up the stairs to her room.
If the characters decide to pay Herbert
a visit, see the “Herbert Herberger’s
house” part.
 The rumour’s effect
At first, people get suspicious after
Herbert’s announcement. Some believe
in the rumour, others do not. It is mostly
people from the lower classes that
believe the story, some from the upper
classes too, but they refrain from telling
anybody. People become more and more
careful, and stay indoors as soon as the
night comes knocking. To be out on the
streets at night is seen as foolish, even
by those who do not believe in Herbert’s
assertion.
Even so, it does not take long before
fear spreads through Koblenstadt like
a chain reaction as neighbour tells to
neighbour. Soon, several witnesses
claim to have sighted a hideous beast,
late at night. Its appearance varies
from case to case, and even the most
easily scared realise that the accounts
are nothing but make-believe, sprung
from someone’s desire to be heard. Even
though most rumours can be dismissed,
there is a tension, affecting everyone
in Koblenstadt. This tension will soon
40 escalate into a manifestation at the
Koblenstadt square (see “the town that
cried wolf ”).
The Town That Cried
Wolf
Late at night, three days after the
characters first hear of the werewolf
encounter, something happens that
will alter the lives of many a citizen
of Koblenstadt (the game master may
freely rearrange the time for this event,
so that it fits their game better). Many,
maybe even everyone, will blame what
happened on the werewolf. The only
one, however, that knows the truth is
Hans Blück, the captain of the guard.
After a night of carousing at
Visbaum, Hans had wobbled home in
a drunken stupor through the more
run-down districts when a man on a
similar mission, to get home and sleep
off his drink, happens to round the same
corner as Hans, whereupon they ran
into each other. Hans, in a haze, and
obviously influenced by all the stories,
begins to pummel the “werewolf ” that
had just attacked him. It is not until the
unfortunate soul is lying bleeding on
the ground with a cracked skull, that
Hans realises what he has done, and that
it does not have to do with a werewolf
attack at all. Hurriedly, he scrambles off
without looking back, letting the man
die from his injuries.
During the next day, when the
characters pass by the square
(sometimes during the afternoon), they
notice an angry mob, brandishing their
fists, yelling obscenities at the mayor
who desperately tries to calm them from
his carriage (if the characters do not
pass by the square, they hear the tumult
which ought to lure them there). By his
side, his son Hans firmly grips a musket,
threatening the mob with a look that
shows his displeasure.
If the characters close on the angry
mob, they hear men and women
shouting at the mayor. They will hear
the following, before Hans shoots his
gun into the air and tells the crowd
to disperse, now, and picks up another
cartridge from his cartridge box.
‘What will you do about this?’
‘How many more will have to die?’
‘You have to find it, and kill it!’
‘Herbert was right!’
‘The werewolf could be anyone in town!’
Hans pulls up his musket and shoots
into the sky, the shot echoing between
the buildings, which causes the crowd to
fall silent. He says, without raising his
voice, that it is time to go home lest the
next shot will be aimed at them.
Upon investigation, the characters
will find out that a man was found dead,
early this morning. His injuries were so
bad that at first, they could not tell who
it was. It was not until noon that they
found out, as a heartbroken wife came
looking for her husband. No one living
in the area has seen or heard anything
during the previous night.
The body is now waiting to be
examined at doctor Stefan von
Hertzenblach’s clinic. If the characters go
to visit the doctor, his assistant, Sabine,
will send them away since the doctor
is very busy with his work, and does
not want to be disturbed. The doctor is
currently examining the body and finds
no similarities between the wounds
and those on Übel’s body. Doctor von
Hertzenblach soon realises that the man
was beaten to death by a very natural,
human, monster. This is also what the
mayor half-heartedly tries to convey
to the citizens. Despite his attempts to
dismiss the werewolf rumours, there is
no longer any doubt among the town’s
inhabitants of what killed the man.
Further effects of the
werewolf rumours
The consequences of this bestial, albeit
human-committed, murder is that the
people are on the verge of total panic.
They dare not go outside after dark
and even during the days, people are
scarcely seen wandering on their own.
They stick to smaller groups, wherever
they are headed. People from the higher
social classes are hardly seen at all, and
when they are, they are accompanied by
armed bodyguards. Citizens, regardless
of social status, are more suspicious
towards strangers, and if the characters
are careless, they may very well be the
target of another angry mob, accused
of being man wolves, especially if they
have been seen out at night.
Stalked in T he N ight
Sometimes when the party is out, late
at night, wandering the streets, they
suddenly feel like someone is following
them. This will occur some three to four
times during the mission. The first two
or three times, the characters will not
be able to see who the stalker is. They
will only feel watched, and every time
it happens, they get the feeling that a
predator is eyeing its prey (The fear will
make the characters suffer 1 point of
mental damage for every occasion).
The last time it happens, it does not
take long before the stalker makes himself
known as Edmundo, the malformed
circus-worker. At the moment the
characters notice that they are yet again
being followed, Edmundo realises he
is discovered and quickly disappears
into an alley. This time, however, the
uneasy feeling, that of being stalked by
a predator, is absent. The reason for this
is that Edmundo, the previous times,
followed them in cat-shape. Arrogantly,
he chose to not to, which also led to him
being discovered. The characters do not
necessarily connect the previous times
with this one, since the eerie feeling was
not present this time.
If the party decides to hurry after
Edmundo to confront him, he has
disappeared into the alley. Judging by the
length of it, the malformed man cannot
have made it to the next junction, and
has to be hiding somewhere. The only
living things that seem to be around,
however, are the all-too-common rats
and a black cat (Edmundo) tripping
away in the opposite direction.
A few paces into the alley, next to
some rubbish, something glistens. It is
a brooch Edmundo dropped when he
had to quickly shift into a cat (for details
about what the brooch looks like see the
“Encounter with Wisdom” part below).
If they look behind the pile of garbage,
they will find Edmundo’s clothes, too.
It was too dark, however, to be sure
of what he wore when they saw him
slink into the alley. Only a thorough
examination of the clothing can hint
that they probably belong to an oddly
shaped individual, since the sleeves
seem too long and the fabric on the
back hangs loose. Normally Edmundo
would never shapeshift so hastily, but
he figured that the characters would
otherwise have been able to catch up
with him.
If the party does not choose to follow
Edmundo, next time they are out at
night, they will once more get the
feeling that something is after them.
The feeling that something is panting
down their necks gives each character 1
point of mental damage, but they cannot
find any pursuer. This will happen once
more, and again, they will discover
Edmundo trying to follow them. If
they do not follow him this time either,
they will not catch him off guard again,
and not be able to connect the cat to
the malformed man, or get their hands
on the SAPIENTIA brooch (the game
master has to find some other way for
them to acquire it).
Encounter With the
Wisdom
On a small plate, no bigger than a small
coin, a golden wasp is fastened. On the
back of the plate, it reads “SAPIENTIA”,
which is also the name of the secret order
the misshapen man belongs to. How the
characters treat this new information
will greatly influence the mission.
Any character who knows Latin
(Communication skill and the Reading
and Writing Latin specialization)
will automatically understand that
“Sapientia” means “Wisdom” in Latin.
The game master may automatically
give the information also to people who
have clerical backgrounds, especially
Catholics (since the word is quite spread
in Latin bibles) or to those whose
mother tongue still uses the same word
from the Latin roots (e.g. Italian which
say “Sapienza”).
If any of the characters would make
a successful Esotericism skill roll with
the De Sodaliciorum discipline, they
may learn the following information on
a successful roll.
If the character also possesses the
Esoteric Symbolism specialization, they
can put together the wasp with the
word, thus adding both modifiers on
their roll.
Information about societies. The
less one roll compared to the total SV
(Difference = SV – dice result), the more
information one gets:
INFORMATION
Diff. Result
0 - 12 The character recognizes the word
and connects it to a society with
the same name.
>12 The character knows that
SAPIENTIA is a society whose
members are known for their
ruthlessness and fanaticism. They
have sworn to destroy the Church.
They are rumoured to be based in
France.
Theft
At one occasion, as the characters
are strolling around the streets of
Koblenstadt, one of them will come
across one or several of the older and
more talented members of the thieves’
guild. You, as the game master, must
decide how this encounter will impact
the rest of the mission. The easiest
option is to let one of the characters
be robbed of a personal effect they
are carrying with them (for instance:
a purse, a snuff box, a ring, a dagger,
a pistol, or anything else of value). A
more advanced, and perhaps more
entertaining option is to let the thieves
get their hands on the SAPIENTIA
brooch (see the “stalked in the night”
part) that the party has found (granted,
of course, that they have already found
it). If they do not carry the brooch with
them, you can let someone from the
guild pay them a visit during the night
where they keep the brooch. Since
the thieves are quite skilled, they will
succeed in stealing it. To give them
some sort of hint, some characters 41
might catch a glimpse of the thieves
but be unable to stop them. The thieves
run down the street and will soon lose
any pursuer.
The characters will make a single
Stealth skill roll with the Detection
Discipline for the whole group, using
the rule below described.
The character with the highest
Stealth skill value may add their
friends’ highest modifiers from their
in the Detection discipline and the
Observation specialization.
If more than one player has Detection
and Observation modifier, only the
highest Detection and Observation
modifier will be added.
The others with Detection or
Observation modifier will only add just
a +1 per character.
Depending on the result of such a
single roll, they will see more or less
of the actual theft. The actual dice is
cast after they have lost the thieves,
and try to recall what they have seen.
The results are shown below according
to what the dice result was, compared
 to the total SV (Difference = SV – dice
result). Each lower result includes also
all the previous results.
WITNESSING THE THEFT
Diff. Result
0 The thief/thieves are 14 to 18
years old.
1-2 They are three thieves that work
together.
3-4 The character would recognize
one of their faces if they saw them
again.
5-6 The character would recognize
two of their faces if they saw them
again.
7-10 The character would recognize
all of their faces if they saw them
again.
11-15 One of the thieves had a tattoo on
one hand.
>15 At least two of the thieves had the
same tattoo on their hands.
In search of the thieves
42 Depending on what they do to find
the thieves, they will learn different
things. Some of the alternatives
below presuppose that the characters
have noticed some detail from their
observation.
The town guard
If the characters report the incident to
the town guard, they will receive no
help whatsoever. Hans blames it on the
fact that all their resources are allocated
to tone down the fallout from the
werewolf rumours. This is some truth
to that, but the chief reason is that one
of the younger guild members is Hans’
half-brother.
Kristian Dragel
Asking around Visbaum is their best
bet for getting back what was stolen.
They will, if they manage to make
a good impression on the clientele,
be introduced to Kristian Dragel.
Upon telling him that they were 14
to 18 years old, Kristian immediately
believes he knows who they are.
Without any information, it will take
Kristian three days before finding out
who the thieves are.
He knows that they have their
hideout outside of town, but no matter
how much they insist or offer to pay him
for the information, he will not disclose
its whereabouts. He might, however, be
able to mediate between the parties. It
all depends on what has been stolen.
If it is a purse, the characters have to
accept the loss, Kristian does not care
for that. If it is an item, the characters
are offered to buy it back for half of its
price. If it is the SAPIENTIA brooch,
the guild offers to sell it back to them
for 8 ducats.
Personal investigation
If the characters should choose to
personally go after the thieves, they
will have to be able to recognize at
least one of the thieves. For every day
the characters spend at least four hours
looking for the thieves, every character
which is actively looking for them for a
whole day may make a Stealth skill roll
with the Detection discipline and the
Observation specialization. Depending
on how many thieves the character
would be able to recognize, a Situational
Modifier is received, in accordance to
the table below:
SITUATION MODIFIERS
Number Modifier
1 thief -8
2 thieves -6
3 thieves -4
A successful roll means that the
character spots one of the thieves,
somewhere in the streets of Koblenstadt.
They may then decide if they want to
try to catch the thief or if they want to
follow them to their hideout.
To successfully sneak a thief, the
pursuing character needs to make three
successful Stealth skill rolls with the
Avoidance discipline and the Sneaking
specialization.
One failed roll means that the
thief discovers their stalker and will
do anything to get rid of them. The
pursuing character will then have
to make a Stealth skill roll with the
Detection discipline, modified by -4, to
not lose the trail.
If they succeed, they may continue
sneaking the thief. However, the thief is
now aware that they are being followed,
and the pursuing character only has
to make one Stealth skill roll with the
Avoidance discipline, albeit modified by
-6, to remain undiscovered.
The character will have found the
hideout after successfully make three
Stealth skill rolls with the Avoidance
discipline.
Visit at the guild’s hideout
As the characters come walking,
or sneaking, up to the house, a bell
suddenly sounds an alarm. A few
seconds later, four of the older thieves
appears on top of the stairs leading up
to the house. The characters recognize
one of them as one who stole from
them, and the one to the right begins
to speak:
‘Know this, that at this moment, three
muskets are pointed at you, ready to fire at
the slightest mistake from your end. But
enough with the speeches; who are you and
what are you doing here?’
It is the guild’s leader, Knut,
who is talking, and he is somewhat
exaggerating when he says there are
three guns pointed at the party. In
truth, there is only one, the other two
are simply decoys. If the characters,
without threatening the guild, tell
them about their problem, they will
agree to sell back the items for a third
of their original cost. If it is about the
SAPIENTIA brooch, they are willing
to part from it for 6 ducats. The reason
they are so generous (in comparison
to the prices they got from Kristian)
is that they do not want a fight to
break out between them. If a character
makes a successful Communication
skill roll with the Rhetoric discipline,
and succeeds rolling at least 10 points
less than the total SV (SV - dice result),
they manage to convince the thieves to
turn over the item without payment.
If, however, they would threaten
with violence or other threats, the
thieves will turn over the item for half
of its original cost, and 8 ducats for the
SAPIENTIA brooch.
In case a fight breaks out, the thief
on guard duty will immediately fire at
the characters. The four thieves on the
stairs are armed with daggers, and an
additional four will rush out from the
gate, also armed with daggers. It is
the eight oldest thieves that fight with
daggers and a 14-year-old who mans
the gun. They will give up as soon as
one of them dies and surrender the
stolen item. If the characters are not
satisfied and continue to fight, the
thieves will run out into the woods.
By doing so, the characters will have
created for themselves a powerful,
yet young, enemy, that will visit them
every night from here on out (the
thieves will not stop until at least two
of the characters have been killed). If
the characters enter the building, they
will soon stare down the muzzle of
a flintlock musket. It trembles in the
hands of a 14-year-old girl. She fires
a shot at them if they move closer,
after which she will toss the rifle aside
and huddle up in a corner, crying. All
around the house, they will find the
rest of the terrified children. They
will face no resistance if they confront
them.
Emma is F ound D ead
If the characters visit Emma (see
“the Women’ Stairs” part, above) and
if they get her to tell them what she
knows, the word will spread quickly.
Two days later, Emma is found dead
by the river.
The characters hear someone calling
for help and something about a woman
floating in the river. If they hurry,
they can see a woman’s body floating
downstream, with her face submerged.
A man wades out in the cold water to
bring her in.
As he turns the body around, the
party see that it is Emma, the harlot.
Someone has pierced her heart with a
dagger. People become more suspicious
towards the characters from now on,
and will be careful in their interactions
with them.
Emma was murdered by Hans Blück,
the mayor’s son and town guard captain,
as he feared that more rumour-spreading
would hurt the town. His father, mayor
Herman Blück, will not find out until
later on. He will get angry with his
son and send him off to Stockholm
indefinitely, or until he has calmed
down. Hans Blück leaves town four days
after the murder, and the mayor will do
all in his power to point fingers at either
the characters or someone at the circus.
Visit at Johann Elk’s, in
Koblenz
There are several reasons as to why the
characters would like to pay Professor
Johann Elk, the historian in Koblenz, a
visit. He will probably be the one to tell
them anything about the brooch with
the bee and the word SAPIENTIA.
When in Koblenz, Professor Johann
Elk is most easily found by asking
around libraries and establishments,
where people discuss anything from
engineering to literature and divinities.
Everyone who is even somewhat
interested in books and the occult
knows who Professor Elk is and where
he lives.
At the time the party arrives at
Professor Elk’s two-storeys building,
it is raining. Answering the door is
a man in his thirties, it is Professor
Elk’s servant, Heinz, and since there
is no scheduled appointment that day,
he is sceptical towards the characters,
even before they state their business.
Heinz is all too used to people who
come to disturb the most intelligent
man in Koblenz and being bawled for
letting in people he should not have.
To convince him that their matter is
important, they will have to mention
that it concerns a friend of Professor
Elk’s, a certain Übel Staal. Since Heinz
knows his master’s friends, he also
knows that Übel is a frequent visitor.
Thus, he will ask the characters to
wait outside while he asks his master
whether or not he has time to meet
with them. After some five minutes,
the door opens again and Heinz asks
them to come inside but to wait in the
hall, as his master does not want his
books to get wet.
Peeking inside, they can see a room
and stairs, and everywhere, books are
stacked in heaps. Everywhere they
would turn, they see books piled upon
books, on tables, shelves and the floor.
The only room that is less filled with
books is Heinz’ bedroom. If anyone tries
to find some kind of pattern in how the
books are strewn about, they would find
none. The books cover many different
subjects and are written in as many
languages. Professor Johann Elk knows
exactly where his books are, and could
without blinking walk over to the right
pile and find what he is looking for.
After a while, a small, slim, balding
man with long, thin hair and a clean- 43
shaven face appears. He asks, without
introducing himself or any noticeable
care for who they are, what they can tell
him about his friend, Übel Staal. Last he
heard, he was apparently in some sort
of trouble.
If they tell him that Übel Staal is
dead and that they are investigating
his death, Professor Elk will suddenly
become friendly and offers for them
to sit down in the drawing-room for a
cup of tea. He asks Heinz to take care
of their wet coats and put them in the
heating room to dry.
Professor Elk has no clue as to what
his friend had gotten himself into or
what powers may be responsible for
his death. Before they start asking him
questions, he wants them to account
for what they already know and what
they suspect might be going on.
Depending on how much they want
to tell him and which questions they
ask, they will receive different answers.
Two very important details that they
will have to tell him to learn anything
useful are the letter they found at the
 doctor’s clinic, that mentions Matthew
26:15 (see “The letters”, in “Visit at the
doctor’s”), and the assertion that “the
lily is not what you think” (see “at the
camp”).
If they only ask him about the brooch,
he will say that the bee symbolizes
wisdom. The word SAPIENTIA, on the
brooch’s back, also means wisdom in
Latin, but nothing else.
If all three important factors (that
the lily is something else, Matthew
26:15 and SAPIENTIA) are mentioned,
Johann asks them to give him one day
to investigate a few things. He is not
certain and does not want to provide
any false facts.
The next day, he will show them a
picture of the fleur-de-lis, the French
lily that is strongly connected to the
French royalty (at this time Professor
Elk only shows them the French lily,
not the transformation in the image
below). He asks the characters if
they know what it is, and provided
they successfully make a Culture skill
44 roll with the Civics discipline and
Heraldry Specialization, modified by
+10, they do.
If they are aware of the symbol, he
will tell them the following:
‘Yes, that’s correct, it’s the French lily.
However, it’s actually an optical illusion and
not a lily at all,’ Johann says and unfolds
the entire picture that transforms the
bee to the lily.
‘The bee is an old Gnostic symbol.’
He then takes a deep breath, before he
continues:
‘After putting together the clues you gave
me, I have come to the following conclusion.
The item that Übel sold was one of the
30 Judas’ coins. I realized this when he
mentioned Matthew 26:15 in his letter,
and you’re not alone in your quest for it;
the powerful SAPIENTIA Order is also
searching for it. Please, let me explain!
When the Romans occupied Jerusalem
around AD 20 they aimed to fortify
the defences of the Holy City. To avoid
quarrying new rocks, they combed the
area around Jerusalem for old building
material which can be reused for making
new structures. During this task, it is
believed that they came across Judas’ field,
where Judas was paid the blood-money
and where he had erected a polished rock,
engraved with a bee. The rock is supposed to
be his tombstone. The soldiers never found a
skeleton, however, but they did find a purse
containing thirty pieces of silver and a scroll
inside a goat skin roll. When a selected
number of Roman legionary officers read
what it said, they immediately returned to
Rome where they founded the SAPIENTIA
Order. The followers of SAPIENTIA
were among the worst persecutors of the
Christians during that period. Its power
diminished, however, as the power of the
Christians grew stronger. The hunters
became the hunted, and soon most followers
fled to Europe’s westernmost parts.
French king Hugo Capet was known
to be a grandmaster of the order and the
one who allowed it to grow powerful and
strong. Hugo Capet was initially deeply
religious and pious, in fact, he was an
amateur abbot and on good terms with the
Church. Something changed, however, and
it is believed that it was when he learned
of an ancient secret concerning Judas.
The bishop of Lyon, Odo of Blois, tried to
assassinate the king, in 993. Hugo Capet
turned against the Church, eventually
rejecting the Christian faith and swore to
do all in his power to destroy it. Contrary
to his final requests, he was buried among
the other French kings, in the Basilica of
Saint-Denis. The members of the Order
have sworn to someday recover the casket
and move it to a burial site of their own,
with no connection to the Christian religion.
Hugo Capet was the first who began to use
the stylized version of the bee. He had it on
his banners and shields. When the Capetian
dynasty lost the French crown, the flower had
become a symbol of the crown, and not just
of the SAPIENTIA order, which is why the
order used the original symbol again. This
didn’t mean, however, that the order lost
power. The Valois and Bourbon dynasties
had kings who were devout followers and
wore the symbol because of its connections to
the order. Sometimes after the middle of the
16th century, the order went underground
and began to act in the dark.
SAPIENTIA is a society whose members
are known for their ruthlessness and
fanaticism. They have sworn to destroy the
Church.
A rumour spread during the 16th century
that Hugo Capet hid the scroll that the first
members had brought back to Rome, and
later France, and that the key to the chamber
wherein it lies is a silver coin, one of the
Coins of Judas.’
Professor Elk does not know where
this place is, but he knows people that
he is sure have information of where it
might be.
He is puzzled and worried, and asks
the characters, honestly, to abort their
mission. If it is true, that SAPIENTIA
in one way or another has come back,
he says, they stand against a powerful
and merciless enemy. They cannot rule
out that someone of the French royalty
is involved, or worse, that they are
personally behind the hunt for the silver
coin.
If the characters ask about Übel
Staal’s cryptic reference to a “king’s
guardian” in the letter to Antonio
Calvino, he explains that it could mean
several things, but that most probably
Übel refers to a lion, since it has
always been a symbol for just that. He
encourages them to look for a lion.
After explaining the situation, he
tells them to be extremely careful if they
choose to continue their search. Their
best bet, he says, is to leave Koblenstadt
and forget about Übel Staal and his fate,
for the forces they are dealing with are
overpowering.
The legless beggar
Within a stone’s throw from Manfred’s
Gasthaus the legless beggar sits, collecting
alms from passers-by. He is dressed in rags
with one-leg trouser, strategically torn to
show his stump. What nobody knows is
that the beggar possesses a rare gift; he is
able to see a person’s future. Although, he
has no control whatsoever over his ability,
he does not even know he has it, and it
will only work once during the mission,
sometimes when he is in contact with the
characters. He will not be able to do it
again, no matter how much they beg him.
If a character should at any time choose
to put a coin in the beggar’s outstretched
hand as they pass him by, he will first
thank them and then take a hold of their
hand. His grip is firm, despite his slender
arms. The character can see how his eyes
roll back in their sockets, showing only
white. At the same time this is happening,
reality disappears around them and the
character is suddenly somewhere else (in
one of the visions written below).
The vision does not necessarily have to
reflect anything that has to happen. Fate is 45
not yet sealed, and the vision only shows a
version of what might happen. Everything Choose one, or let the dice decide, have already occurred, you may either not
depends on how the characters act and the which of the following events the beggar give them a vision at all, or make up your
vision may never come true. shows the character (if all events below own).

THE VISIONS
1d10 Vision
1. The character finds themselves in a glade in the woods, where a huge beast, a werewolf, attacks them (see the “Übel Staal’s family
grave” part).
2. The character finds themselves in a street. They turn around to see a misshapen man who seems to follow them (see the “stalked in
the night” part). If the party has encountered Edmundo before, they recognize him).
3. The character finds themselves in a dimly lit street, where they are confronted by two masked men (see the “a warning” part).
4. The character finds themselves by a river, where they can see a woman’s body, floating face down in the water. A man walks out to
pull the dark-haired woman in (see the “Emma is found dead” part).
5. The character finds themselves in a dark alley. A black cat runs off to the far side of the alley (see the “stalked in the night” part).
6. The character finds themselves by a campfire in a small glade in the forest. A happy man takes a big swig from a bottle before he offers
them to do the same (see the “at the camp” part).
7. The character sees a dug-up grave in a cemetery (see the “visit at the cemetery” part).
8. The character finds themselves in a cemetery. Two men (the military students) threaten them with drawn pistols next to a dug-up
grave (see the “visit at the cemetery” part).
9. The character finds themselves sitting in a chair. Next to it are two guards, and in front, Hans Blück. Just as Hans is about to take a swing
at the character, the vision disappears (if the characters are not careful, they may very well end up at the town jail).
10. The character finds themselves in a house, late at night. Sounds from the floor above indicate that someone is on their way down (see
the “breaking into Übel Staal’s house” part).
  The Conclusion and NPC's
46
There are many ways to play this story.
It could be fast and painless or take
time and be arduous. The game master
may toss the players several clues that
will lead them in the wrong direction
as soon as they think they have found
something. In that way, they will feel
lost and suspicious to what is going on
in the town.
The mission itself is quite simple, but
since the characters will probably have
to commit some criminal acts (digging
up the body, breaking into Übel Staal’s
house, threatening the doctor, and so on)
to solve the riddle, it may prove difficult
after all. The game master should make it
clear whenever the characters are about
to commit a crime, or when they plan
to, just to make them more hesitant. If
the players seem to be non-conscious of
the severity of criminal acts, just remind
them that, unless they belong to very
specific character types (malefactors,
certain types of occultists, etc..) they
are probably doing something which
is against their characters’ morality or
sense of honour. Do not be afraid to
inflict them 1 point of mental damage,
if you see it fit, just to remind them how
stressful certain situations can be for
bourgeois or normal-type characters of
the 18th century.
Back at Madam
Holbach’s Establishment
If the characters manage to find
the Coin of Judas, they ought to ask
themselves what they should do with
such a powerful artefact. Are they going
to give the coin to Monsieur Xavier
du Palles, or keep it for themselves, or
maybe even try to find a buyer of their
own to sell it to? Whatever they choose
to do, they will be under scrutiny by
both the Vatican and the SAPIENTIA.
The party should also consider
what their verdict is going to be,
regarding the ten-year-old dispute.
Was it a werewolf they saw, and if

so, was it a creation of God or Satan,
or that of crazed alchemists? They
will not have received any answers to
these questions, and can only come
to their own conclusions. Sure, there
actually was a werewolf, so far they
have an answer, but who created it is
impossible to tell. If they never saw
Edmundo turn to a beast, they do not
know that werewolves are humans
either, even if many make that claim.
They also do not know whether or not
only misshapen individuals possess
that ability, or if anyone could become
a werewolf. It would greatly aid them
if they could present some sort of
evidence of the werewolf ’s existence. A
claw, perhaps, a tooth, or even a hairy
arm, which requires that they managed
to slay Edmundo in werewolf shape.
On the other hand the claw could have
been found by the scene of the ambush,
but whether it can believed to belong
to a monster, or just to an animal, it’s
totally up to the game master.
 The trip back to Farschviller could
easily be fast-forwarded, but there is an
opportunity to add mysterious people
who seem to follow them there to build
up an atmosphere for the next story.
The characters may have created some
powerful enemies for themselves. They
may also have spot some people who
seem to study them, some of which they
may even recognize from places they
have not been to for a while.
When they arrive at Madam
Holbach’s, they should tell the Madam
that they have just arrived and desire to
speak to Monsieur Xavier du Palles. She
has arranged rooms for each character,
stocked with fancy food and drink,
and tells them to get some rest, for
tomorrow is to be a celebration. Finally,
the dispute will be settled.
Monsieur Xavier du Palles
Later in the evening, the characters
will hear a knock on the door. A
servant will invite them over to a more
exclusive establishment. They are
brought upstairs to a giant room, where
Monsieur du Palles sits comfortably in
an armchair. In front of him is a table,
filled to the brim with food and wine.
Monsieur du Palles eats grapes straight
from the cluster. When the characters
enter, he asks them to sit down around
the table, and motions them to eat and
drink.
He is very eager and immediately asks
them if they acquired Antonio Calvino’s
item. If the characters give him the coin,
he will give it a look of disinterest while
he says something along the lines of ‘so
much trouble for something so small’,
upon which he puts it in his breast
pocket. He is then curious as to what
actually occurred in the town (he is still
curious even if they do not hand him
the coin) and whether there really was
a werewolf or not.
Monsieur du Palles always knew
what kind of item they were after, and
truth is, he actually killed Antonio
Calvino as soon as he heard about the
transaction between Übel Staal and him.
If the characters do not give him the
coin, Monsieur du Palles will become,
without it showing, suspicious towards
them. Afterwards, he will hire people to
dig out the truth about where the coin
actually is. If the characters are proven
guilty of lying to him, and kept the coin
for themselves, Monsieur du Palles will
do everything to get it.
When he is satisfied with the
answers, he lets the characters return to
their rooms. It is going to be a long day
tomorrow, he smiles.
The Settlement
Early the next morning, the
establishment at which the mission once
began is bustling with guests, food and
drinks are passed around, and people
are debating wildly who of the three
combatants has won the seemingly
unending argument. The day goes by in
an orgy of food and wine. The characters
are seated at a table of honour, right next
to the three desks behind which the three
intellectuals will soon stand together
for the last time, at least concerning
this issue. Monsieur Xavier du Palles
has already come by and said hello, but
nothing more than that.
Around ten o’clock, the three
combatants enter the stage: Père
Immanuel Lavotte, the preacher; Herr
Carl-Johan Grecke, the enlightened
philosopher; and Monsieur Laurent
Burgont, the aristocrat. Xavier also
enters the stage, and is the first to speak.
‘Ladies and gentlemen! It is with great
anticipation that we have followed these three
gentlemen’s verbal battle, for almost a decade.
I would lie if I said that it doesn’t bother me
much, tonight, it will be over! Tonight, we
will crown one of these gentlemen the winner
of this battle that they have fought against
each other. Like soldiers on the battlefield,
they have slashed and they have parried with
no other armament than their sharp wits and
cutting tongues.’
The three are seemingly nervous.
They believe that only one of them will
leave tonight with their honour intact.
They keep glancing over at you, as if
you were contagious.
Monsieur Xavier du Palles continues.
‘To keep this special event from ending
too soon, why don’t we let the three account
for each thesis again, so that we may,
without any semblance of a doubt, choose the
proper winner.
Père Lavotte stands, like so many
times before, with a bible in his hand,
and claims honestly that he can prove
that werewolves, demons, and vampires
are all spawn of the Devil, and not a
product of nature. That they exist is as
obvious as God the Father is almighty,
he says.
Monsieur Burgont, on the other hand,
is a firm believer that the alchemists
are the originators of such beasts. He
says that he, himself, has heard of how
these alchemists in their dark halls have
created everything from dogs with three
eyes to fish with fur. If they are capable
of such things, then surely everybody
must see that they are able create these
fearsome beasts, too.
Herr Grecke still refuses to believe
that they exist in the first place. But
if, and only if, such a beast exists, it
must be some sort of ill-fortuned, 47
malformed freak of a human wonder
that is only made possible through the
capriciousness of nature.
It does not take long before the three
have completely forgotten that their
dispute will soon be over. They wave
about and gesticulate with all their
extremities and it even comes to the
point that Père Lavotte and Herr Grecke
both lose their wigs, to the audience’s
great entertainment.
After some debating, Monsieur du
Palles enters the circle anew. He raises
his arms to silence the now agitated
gentlemen before he begins to speak.
‘There, my friends; now we know what
your beliefs are. Isn’t it time to learn what
really happened over in the small town of
Koblenstadt? Was it a werewolf created by
God, the Devil, mad alchemists, or was it
really a werewolf and not some product of a
truly lost individual? Only our friends here
by the table know the answer,’ he says, and
points to you. Would one of you please come
up here and tell us what your thoughts are
on the matter, and who you choose to be the
winner of this dispute?
 Space will be made behind a desk for
one of the characters to declare their
conclusions. This episode should also
be role-played, and should be justly
rewarded with Adventure Points if the
player can present a proper thesis and
a good answer. A winner may only be
crowned if the character chooses to lie
about the origins of the werewolf. The
only one that will feel like a loser is
Herr Grecke, who has been presented
with evidence of the existence of such
beasts. If the characters cannot produce
physical evidence, he will simply claim
that it is words against words, and no
one can be sure that the characters have
not been paid off. Even if they do have
proof, he will still try to defame them
as charlatans. As he does so, the debate
fires up again. The answers are deemed
too vague and since no evidence could
back up their claim, the battle between
the gentlemen is not over yet.
When the dust settles at last, anyone
who is outside of the establishment can
spot a figure come around the back of
48 the building. The figure wears a wide
hat that they take off before they enter a
waiting carriage that quickly disappears
out of town and into the night. It is
Monsieur du Palles that leaves. What
shady dealings he is up to, nobody
knows.
Since the characters may provide a
variety of answers, the game master has
to figure out some alternative endings.
Maybe the characters lie and make
one of the gentlemen the winner. It is
entirely up to the game master to decide
what happens.
Reward and Adventure
Points
Just as promised, the characters receive
100 ducats to share among each other
for accounting for what happened to
Übel Staal. They receive an additional
100 ducats if they turn over the coin and
the letters that Übel Staal and Antonio
Calvino sent to each other.
Depending on how well the
characters solved the various problems,
they receive different amounts of AP.
What comes next ?
Whatever happens next is up to the
game master to decide.
If the characters chose to keep the
coin for themselves, it will not take long
before Monsieur du Palles’s goons, the
men of the Vatican, or agents of the
SAPIENTIA Order, or maybe all at
once, in one way or another try to get in
contact with them to retrieve the coin.
If they chose to hand over the coin,
the SAPIENTIA Order or the Vatican
might hire their services to get it. They
might even be taken prisoner and get
locked up until their captors get the
answers they want.
Monsieur Xavier du Palles might
contact them again, when he has a
new mission, this time to retrieve
information on how to actually use the
coin.
It is easy to see that “Death and
precipitous secrets concerning the
occultist Übel Staal” is only the
beginning of something far larger.
Something for which the Coin of Judas
is a central part.

ADVENTURE POINTS
AP Description
40 For a correct account of Übel Staal’s death.
30 For saving Emma’s life.
25 For the recovery of the Coin of Judas.
10 For getting all the facts Professor Johann Elk was able to give them.
10 For learning the truth about the werewolf Edmundo.
10 For learning the truth about the three military students.
1-20 For great acting in general and for great immersion.
1-10 For the character who, in a good way, put forward the final appeal at Madam
Holbach’s establishment.
The mayor, Herr
Herman Blück
In his glorious days, Herman Blück had an
impressive persona, with an enlightened
intellect and pathos that made people
flock around him. With great effort,
this is something he strives to maintain,
however, with diminishing results.
Once, he was slender and rather good-
looking. After too many nice suppers and
too little exercise, his body bloated up
into less pleasant shapes. Three double-
chins and puffy cheeks now cover his
previously well-defined face.
The mayor has also suffered from
syphilis for a very long time, and will
most likely die within the year. He is,
of course, completely unaware of this.
His body, and large parts of his neck, is
mostly covered with lesions, something
Herman tries to cover up as well as
he can. The syphilis has rendered his
balance unreliable which causes him to
stagger when he walks, as if drunk. A
Science skill roll with the Healthcare
discipline modified by +4 reveals that
Herman is ill, probably with syphilis. 49
Herman is very impressed by HERMAN BLÜCK
administration and order and he Age: 56; PHP: 32; MHP: 33; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 10 m)
will think highly of those who make Physical Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
the impression of belonging to an Mental Damage levels: 1-13 (0) / 14-21 (-1) / 22-27 (-3) / 28-31 (-5) /32-33 (-7)
administrative institution. Character Traits: Constitution -2, Psyche +1
Herman will always try to suppress the Power Spheres: Administrative 42
characters’ investigation of Übel Staal’s
case. To propose that they would exhume Skills: Esotericism SV 1, Professions SV 2, Science SV 7, Theology SV 8
the body will cause Herman to flare up and Agility SV 7 Body Control 1, Horsemanship 2
declare that outsiders cannot, with neither Culture SV 8 Civics 3 (Administration 3, Bribery 1, Economics 2, Healdry 2, Law 3);
recommendations nor authorization, Humanities 2 (History 1)
come here and ask questions like that. Communication SV 8 Etiquette 2 (Social Intercourse: [Lower Nobility 2, Middle Class 1], Vogue
The characters that succeed in making a [Lower Nobility 2, Middle Class 1]), Languages 2 (Reading and Writing
good impression on several occasions can [Latin 3], Native Language [German 3]), Rethoric 3 (Bartering 2,
learn, however (off the record, of course), Persuasion 3)
that Übel must have been killed, or at least Entertainment SV 6 Acting and Dancing 2 (Dance [Lower Nobility 1, Middle Class 1],
attacked by a large wolf, and that the mayor Gambling 2
does not want them to dig deeper into it. Fighting SV 8 Battle Experience 1, Close-Combat Weapons 1 (1h Weapons [L] 2),
Unarmed Fighting 1, Ranged Weapons 1 (Pistols [L] 1, Rifles [2])
✦✦ Positive impressions on Herman: Stealth SV 7 Detection 2 (Observation 2)
✦✦ Knowledge in medicine Well-Travelled SV 8 Social Studies 2 (Geography [Europe 1, Germany 2], Knowledge of
✦✦ Administration and order Cultures/People [Germany 2], Power Spheres [Administrative 2])
✦✦ Urbanity
✦✦ Negative impressions on Herman: Clothing: Vogue 4 (F 2, Q 2); Equipment: Light Pistol (d), Rapier (d)
✦✦ Opportunists, thieves, and rabble Sample of Attacks: [Free CP 8+1]; Pistol [CP 9+3] SV12; Rifle [CP 9+5] SV 14; Close-
✦✦ Philosophers, poets, and other woolly Combat Weapons [CP 9+5] SV 14, Unarmed Fighting [CP 9+1] SV 10.
characters
 Kirsten Blück
Kirsten is originally from Holland,
and was married into the Blück family
to repay an old debt. Kirsten never
objected, however, and looked forward
to meeting her soon-to-be husband.
Herman was, back then, a great and
renowned man, and many claimed that
he was both tall and handsome. For
many years, they lived together in a
50 good relationship, but when Herman
got fed up with his wife and sought to
find more fleeting love in other places,
Kirsten chose to ignore his new-found
interests. Still, she moved into another
room and would never share her
husband’s bed again. KIRSTEN BLÜCK
Kirsten is a beautiful lady, with red Age: 44; PHP: 34; MHP: 34; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 11 m)
hair, who cares much for her, and others’, Physical Damage levels: 1-14 (0) / 15-22 (-1) / 23-28 (-3) / 29-32 (-5) /33-34 (-7)
appearances. Herman’s looks she has Mental Damage levels: 1-14 (0) / 15-22 (-1) / 23-28 (-3) / 29-32 (-5) /33-34 (-7)
long given up on, as she has on her only Character Traits: Dexterity +1, Intelligence +1
son’s. She has thought many times of Power Spheres: Entertainment 36
poisoning her husband, but when his
syphilis became apparent, she chose to Skills: Esotericism SV 1, Fighting SV 7, Professions SV 4, Science SV 5,
wait out his natural death instead. A year Stealth SV 8, Theology SV 8
or so, she could endure. Agility SV 8 Horsemanship 2
Kirsten loves music, and music has Culture SV 8 Humanities 2 (History 2, Literature & Arts 2, Philosophy 1)
helped her to survive. She is a very Communication SV 9 Etiquette 2 (Social Intercourse: [Lower Nobility 2], Vogue [Lower Nobility
skilled pianist who can sit for hours at 3]), Languages 2 (Reading and Writing [Latin 3], Foreign Language
her grand piano. [German 1], Native Language [Dutch 3]), Rethoric 3 (Persuasion 3)
Entertainment SV 10 Acting and Dancing 2 (Dance [Lower Nobility 2]), Music 3 (Playing
✦✦ Positive impressions on Kirsten: Instruments [Piano 4], Singing 3)
✦✦ People who care about their looks Theology SV 8 De Religionibus 2 (Iconography 2, Religious Literature [Christianity 1])
✦✦ Musicians Well-Travelled SV 8 Social Studies 2 (Geography [Europe 1, Netherlands 2])
✦✦ Negative impressions on Kirsten:
✦✦ People who cannot contain their Clothing: Vogue 4 (F 2, Q 2); Equipment: -
desires Sample of Attacks: -
✦✦ Vulgarity
The captain of the guard,
Hans Blück
Hans Blück is the son of Herman Blück,
and is in many regards much like his
father. They both have a dark side, with
desires for sex, spirits, and pain. The big
difference, however, is that Herman has
been able to control his needs, and in
many ways came to make positive use of
them, while Hans has been devoured by
them. He is unpredictable and impulsive
and his greatest joy is to torture the
prisoners that serve long sentences at the
town jail. He is also a regular customer at
the Women’ Stairs, often without paying.
His shifty eyes radiate emptiness, and
deep inside, he is scared and insecure.
Abandonment is his greatest fear. His
long, unshaven face is framed by almost
fiery-red hair. The greasy hair sticks to the
sides of his face, and he only washes when
his mother or father tells him. Wigs are
something he refuses to wear, and at finer
parties his mother insists on tying up his
hair in a queue with a black silk ribbon.
Herman and Kirsten tried early on to
educate their son in the natural philosophies HANS BLÜCK 51
and humanities. Even though Hans did Age: 28; PHP: 32; MHP: 32; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 10 m)
not show any signs of actually learning Physical Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
anything, his parents attempted to teach Mental Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
him for eight years before they gave up and Character Traits: Intelligence+1, Charisma -4
sent the teacher home. Over the years, he Power Spheres: Military 39, Lawless 26
had had many teachers to come and go,
since he found it more enjoyable to fight Skills: Esotericism SV 1, Science SV 7, Theology SV 6
them rather than listen to them. Agility SV 7 Body Control 2 (Evade 1, Parkour 2), Horsemanship 2 (Riding 2)
Hans has claimed several lives. Among Culture SV 8 Civics 1 (Administration 1, Bribery 1, Law 1); Humanities 1
these, we find the priest Johan Karlsdorf, Communication SV 7 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Lower Nobility 1, Middle Class 1], Vogue
and, during this story, also the drunk man [Lower Nobility 1, Middle Class 1]); Languages 1 (Reading and Writing
that will fall victim to Hans’ violence (see [Latin 1], Native Language [German 3]); Rethoric 1 (Persuasion 3)
“the town that cried wolf ”), and Emma Entertainment SV 8 Acting and Dancing 1, Gambling 2 (Cheating 2, Games [Cards 2, Dice 2],
too, most likely. A great many more Illicit Gaming 2)
lives will probably be cut off during this Fighting SV 10 Battle Experience 1 (Combat Actions 2), Close-Combat Weapons 2
sadistic man’s life. If a character in any way (1h Weapons [L] 4), Unarmed Fighting 1 (Brawling 3, Wrestling 1),
commits a crime, or get on Hans’ bad side, Ranged Weapons 2 (Pistols [L] 1, Rifles [2])
they will be taken care of at the town jail, Professions SV 7 Hunting and Fishing 2 (Hunting 1, Fishing 1, Tracking 1)
an experience far from pleasant. Here, they Stealth SV 9 Avoidance 2 (Disguises 1, Hide and Camouflague 2, Sneaking 2, Veild
will encounter Hans’ darkest side. Strike 2), Detection 2 (Detect Hidden 1, Observation 2); Sleight of Hand
(Arm/Disarm Traps 1, Concealing 2, Lock Picking 2)
✦✦ Positive impressions on Hans: Well-Travelled SV 8 Social Studies 2
✦✦ People who can provide him what he
likes the most: sex, spirits, and pain Clothing: Vogue 2 (F 1, Q 1); Equipment: Dagger (d), Light Pistol (d), Light Rifle (d), Rapier (d)
✦✦ Negative impressions on Hans: Sample of Attacks: [Free CP 10+1]; Pistol [CP 11+4] SV15; Rifle [CP 11+6] SV 17; Close-
✦✦ Grandeur Combat Weapons [CP 11+10] SV 14|7; Brawling [CP 11+7] SV 10|8; Wrestling [CP 11+3] SV 14.
✦✦ The poor, thieves, harlots, and vagabonds
 Herr Jarman Felde, the
official
Jarman is from Berlin, and schooled in
classical politics, economy, and law. He
is Prince-Elector Charles Theodore’s
representative in Koblenstadt. Jarman
has completed the Grand Tour and
has visited virtually all the great cities
52 around Europe. He has even found time
to visit Boston, in America.
Jarman dresses in the latest fashion and
this might be the most prominent feature
in his otherwise pretty bland appearance.
He does nothing to hide the little scar he
has on his cheek. Vain as he is, he gladly
explains that he got it from fighting
natives in America. In fact, he never was
involved in any fight with natives in
America, he got hurt falling off a cart.
Jarman is also a member of a
Freemason lodge in Koblenz, something
he likes to tell people “in confidence”. He
is not, however, a very influential member.
✦✦ Positive impressions on Jarman:
✦✦ Well-travelled people
✦✦ People who dress well
✦✦ People who care to listen to his
travel-stories
✦✦ Negative impressions on Jarman:
✦✦ People who brag about their
escapades (especially if they are
grander than his own)
✦✦ People who have no interest for his
travels
✦✦ People who cannot properly dress
JARMAN FELDE
Age: 49; PHP: 32; MHP: 32; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 10 m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Character Traits: Intelligence +4
Power Spheres: Administrative 38
Skills: Esotericism SV 4, Professions SV 6, Stealth SV 7,
Theology SV 7
Agility SV 8 Body Control 1, Horsemanship 1 (Riding 2)
Culture SV 9 Civics 3 (Administration 3, Bribery 2, Economics 2, Healdry 2, Law 1);
Humanities 2 (History 2, Literature and Arts 2, Philosophy 3)
Communication SV 8 Etiquette 2 (Social Intercourse: [Lower Nobility 3, Middle Class 2], Vogue
[Lower Nobility 3, Middle Class 2]), Languages 2 (Foreign Language
[Latin 1], Reading and Writing [Latin 3], Native Language [German 3]),
Rethoric 3 (Bartering 1, Persuasion 2)
Entertainment SV 7 Acting and Dancing 1 (Dance [Lower Nobility 2], Gambling 1 (Games
[cards 1, dice 1], Illicit Gaming 2)
Fighting SV 7 Close-Combat Weapons 1 (1h Weapons [R] 1), Unarmed Fighting 1
(Brawling 1), Ranged Weapons 1 (Pistols [R] 1)
Science SV 7 Applied Science 1, Natural Philosophy 2(Mathematics 2)
Well-Travelled SV 7 Social Studies 1 (Geography [Germany 2])
Clothing: Vogue 4 (F 2, Q 2); Equipment: Light Pistol (d), Rapier (d)
Sample of Attacks: [Free CP 7]; Pistol [CP 7+3] SV 10; Close-Combat Weapons [CP 7+3]
SV 10; Brawling [CP 7+3] SV 10.
Regina Felde
Regina is Jarman’s wife and companion
through life. They are still in love even
though they have been married for
almost 20 years. Just like Jarman, Regina
is from Berlin and loves to travel. When
Jarman had to follow the Prince-Elector’s
orders and move to Koblenstadt, she was
naturally disappointed. They both had
long dreamt of moving to Paris. But, as
the good wife she is, she was there for her
husband, not that there was any other
option, and did not want to let this come
between them.
Regina is short and cute, with
blonde, almost white, hair. Many men
believe she is seductive, something she
is absolutely not. Jarman knows this,
but lets them believe that as he enjoys
seeing her among the bachelors, as he is
certain of her loyalty.
✦✦ Positive impressions on Regina:
✦✦ Well-travelled people
✦✦ Beautiful people who dress well
✦✦ Negative impressions on Regina:
✦✦ People who take too much space
✦✦ Beautiful women
53
REGINA FELDE
Age: 36; PHP: 32; MHP: 32; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 12 m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Character Traits: Dexterity +2
Power Spheres: -
Skills: Esotericism SV 4, Figting SV 6, Professions SV 6, Theology SV 6,
Well-Travelled SV 3
Agility SV 9 Body Control 1, Horsemanship 1 (Riding 2)
Culture SV 6 Civics 1, Humanities 1 (History 2, Literature and Arts 2)
Communication SV 9 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Lower Nobility 1], Vogue [Lower Nobility
1]), Languages 1 (Reading and Writing [Latin 1], Native Language
[German 3]), Rethoric 2
Entertainment SV 8 Acting and Dancing 2 (Acting 1, Dance [Lower Nobility 2]), Music
(Singing 2, Play Intrument [Piano 2]),
Esotericism SV 5 Supernational Beings 1
Stealth SV 7 Avoidance 1, Detection 1(Detect hidden 1, Observation 2)
Clothing: Vogue 4 (F 2, Q 2) Equipment: -
Sample of Attacks: -
54

STEFAN VON HERTZENBLACH

Age: 42; PHP: 32; MHP: 32; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 10 m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Doctor Stefan von
Mental Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Hertzenblach Character Traits: Intelligence +1, Perception +1
Doctor Stefan was born and raised in Power Spheres: Scientific 42
Koblenstadt, but worked his first years
as a doctor in Koblenz. He is married Skills: Esotericism SV 4, Figting SV 8, Professions SV 6, Stealth SV 6,
to Katarina, and together they have a Theology SV 8, Well-Travelled SV 5
daughter, Klara. Stefan is the son of Agility SV 9 Body Control 1, Horsemanship 1 (Riding 2)
Hugo von Hertzenblach, who was once Culture SV 9 Civics 1 (Administration 2), Humanities 2 (History 1, Philiosophy 2)
the priest of Koblenstadt. He is deeply Communication SV 8 Etiquette 2 (Social Intercourse: [Lower Nobility 2], Vogue [Lower Nobility 2]),
religious, but still chose to help people Languages 2 (Foreign Languages [Latin 2], Reading and Writing [Latin 2],
through medicine. Stefan is an open and Native Language [German 3]), Rethoric 3
pleasant person who enjoys the simple, Entertainment SV 8 Acting and Dancing 1
calm life. Fighting SV 6 Close-Combat Weapons 1 (1h Weapons [R] 1), Unarmed Fighting 1,
Ranged Weapons 1 (Pistols [R] 1)
✦✦ Positive impressions on Stefan: Science SV 9 Applied Science 1 (Pharmaceutics 2), Healthcare 2 (Healing 3, Mental
✦✦ Scientific people Care 2)
✦✦ Calm and reserved people Well-Travelled SV 6 Social Studies 1 (Geography [Germany 1])
✦✦ The simple in life
✦✦ Negative impressions on Stefan: Clothing: Vogue 4 (F 2, Q 2); Equipment: Light Pistol (d), Rapier (d)
✦✦ Pushy people Sample of Attacks: [Free CP 6]; Pistol [CP 6+3] SV 9; Close-Combat Weapons [CP 6+3]
✦✦ Judgemental people SV 9; Unarmed Fighting [CP 6+1] SV 7.
✦✦ Threats and violence

Katarina von
Hertzenblach
Katarina is married to Stefan and
is from a small village outside of
Koblenstadt. Like Stefan’s, her father
was also a priest, and it was long
decided that as soon as she was
mature, the two would marry. She is
content with her life and her family’s
status in the town. She is a fairly
proud character who believes that the
different social classes should keep to
their own and not mix.
✦✦ Positive impressions on Katarina:
✦✦ People from the higher social classes
✦✦ People with great ambition
✦✦ Negative impressions on Katarina:
✦✦ People from the lower social classes
✦✦ People without ambition
Klara von she is Koblenstadt’s most beautiful
Hertzenblach woman, and she is not even 16 yet.
Klara dreams of the big cities, of the
salons, the shops, but most of all of the ✦✦ Positive impressions on Klara:
courts and the glamourous halls. She ✦✦ Well-travelled people who can tell
is 15 years old, but looks like she is her of their adventures
around 20, she has curves and is very ✦✦ French aristocrats
beautiful. The citizens of Koblenstadt ✦✦ Negative impressions on Klara:
say her face is like a doll’s, which fits ✦✦ The simple in life
her description. Without exaggeration, ✦✦ Senseless people without etiquette
KATARINA VON HERTZENBLACH
Age: 31; PHP: 32; MHP: 33; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 12 m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-13 (0) / 14-21 (-1) / 22-27 (-3) / 28-31 (-5) /32-33 (-7)
Character Traits: Dexterity +2, Psyche +1
Power Spheres: Administrative 49
Skills: Esotericisn SV 4, Figting SV 6, Professions SV 4, Well-Travelled
SV 3
Agility SV 9 Body Control 1, Horsemanship 1 (Riding 2)
Culture SV 8 Civics 1, Humanities 1 (Literature and Arts 1)
Communication SV 10 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Lower Nobility 2], Vogue [Lower Nobility 2]),
Languages 1 (Reading and Writing [Latin 1], Native Language [German 3]),
Rethoric 2
Entertainment SV 8 Acting and Dancing 2 (Acting 1, Dance [Lower Nobility 2]),
Science SV 5 Applied Science 1 55
Stealth SV 7 Avoidance 1, Detection 1(Detect hidden 1, Observation 2)
Theology SV 5 De Religionibus 1
Clothing: Vogue 3 (F 1, Q 2)Equipment: -
Sample of Attacks: -
KLARA VON HERTZENBLACH
Age: 15; PHP: 32; MHP: 32; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 11 m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Character Traits: Charisma +1, Dexterity +1, Perception +1
Power Spheres: -
Skills: Esotericisn SV 4, Figting SV 6, Professions SV 4, Science SV 3,
Theology SV 6, Well-Travelled SV 4
Agility SV 7 Body Control 1, Horsemanship 1 (Riding 1)
Culture SV 6 Civics 1, Humanities 1
Communication SV 7 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Lower Nobility 1], Vogue [Lower Nobility 1]),
Languages 1 (Reading and Writing [Latin 1], Native Language [German 3]),
Rethoric 1
Entertainment SV 8 Acting and Dancing 1 (Acting 1, Dance [Lower Nobility 2]),
Science SV 5 Applied Science 1
Stealth SV 7 Avoidance 1
Clothing: Vogue 4 (F 2, Q 2) Equipment: -
Sample of Attacks: -
 Edmundo
Edmundo is a lycanthrope with several
shapes and abilities. Most lycanthropes can
only turn into werewolves or man-beasts
in wolf ’s shape. Edmundo is more capable
than that, and may turn into a black cat,
as well. He hates his own werewolf shape,
and avoids turning as much as he can.
Sometimes, when angered or impatient,
he cannot hold it back however.
Edmundo was caught by a group of
French shepherds when he was only five
years old, after killing several sheep in
wolf ’s shape. The shepherds turned him
in to the town’s mayor and the guard,
and hoped that they would make short
work of him. However, instead of killing
him, the mayor trained and taught him,
and today he is a worthy servant of the
underground SAPIENTIA Order.
When Edmundo was tasked with
finding the Coin of Judas, he joined
up with a circus. Soon, he was able to
poison and hypnotize the director to
make him obey his every command.
On Edmundo’s request, the circus member of the SAPIENTIA Order, ✦✦ Positive impressions on Edmundo:
56 travelled to Koblenstadt to wait out Sebastien Aigion. While Edmundo ✦✦ Everything and everyone who does
the winter. Once in town, he found was indeed born with his supernatural not submit to the Catholic faith
Übel Staal’s house and began to stalk abilities, it was Sebastien who taught ✦✦ Perfection
him. Only a few days after his arrival, Edmundo how to use them in a more ✦✦ Negative impressions on Edmundo:
Edmundo found Übel riding in the controlled manner. ✦✦ Church power and Catholic priests
woods. He forced him off his horse In his human shape, Edmundo is a ✦✦ Everyone that keeps him from
and began torturing him with an awl. malformed creature, his body disfigured performing his duties
Übel refused to tell him where he had and tortured by nature. He has a giant
hidden the Coin of Judas, however. hunch on his back, and his spine is four
Edmundo became more and more times as thick as a normal person’s. Abilities and Powers
violent and eventually, Übel died His face completely lacks proportions. Since Edmundo is a gemino lycanthrope
without revealing anything of value. One eye is almost on its way out of the (a lycanthrope with several shapes), he
This made Edmundo so mad that in socket, and the other is crammed in may turn into both a werewolf and a cat.
his anger, he turned. Despite the fact behind a large callus that hangs in front He hates turning into a werewolf
that he was already dead, Edmundo of it. Between two meaty lips are three and will only do so if he is cornered, or
went wild on the body. He bit and tore rows of misshapen teeth in both upper made very angry. In the latter case, it
until he severed Übel’s right arm right and lower jaw. The roof of his mouth happens automatically, without control.
off the body, eventually giving up and was parted from birth and a hideous His werewolf shape does not follow
taking off into the forest. scar runs from his lip to the nose, the the phases of the moon, something
Edmundo wears a golden brooch. On nose being the one thing that is not Sebastien was able to train him to
its back, it says “SAPIENTIA”, which completely malformed. His arms are control. Shifting into werewolf shape
means wisdom in Latin. almost twice the length of an ordinary takes Edmundo five action rounds. He
Edmundo, or the “Phantom”, as human’s, covered in thick hair. On the can also turn into a cat, which he does
he is called by his kin in the order, is one hand, he has eight fingers and on considerably more often. This takes
the creation of an elder and esteemed the other, only three. him only two action rounds.
EDMUNDO
Age: 28; PHP: 36; MHP: 30; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 6 m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-16 (0) / 17-24 (-1) / 25-30 (-3) / 31-34 (-5) /35-36 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-10 (0) / 11-18 (-1) / 19-25 (-3) / 26-29 (-5) /30-31 (-7)
Character Traits: Constitution +4, Intelligence +1, Dexterity -4, Perception -1, Psyche -2
Power Spheres: Entertainment 12, Holy 25
Abilities and Powers: Gemino Lycanthrope

Skills: Agility SV 3, Culture SV 4, Esotericism SV 3, Professions SV 3,

Science SV 2, Well-Travelled SV 7
Communication SV 4 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Lower class 1, Middle Class 1]),
Languages 1 (Reading and Writing [Latin 1], Native Language [French 2])
Entertainment SV 5 Gambling 1
Fighting SV 8 Battle Experience 1, Close-Combat Weapons 1 (1h Weapons [R] 1),
Unarmed Fighting 2 (Brawling3, Wrestling 2), Ranged Weapons 1(Rifles [1])
Professions SV 3 Hunting and Fishing 2 (Hunting 1, Fishing 1, Tracking 1)
Stealth SV 8 Avoidance 2 (Disguises 1, Hide and Camouflague 3, Sneaking 2, Veild
Strike 1), Detection 1 (Detect Hidden 2, Observation 2)
Theology SV 7 De Religionibus 1 (De sub rosa religione [Sapientia 2]), Religious 57
Literature [Christianity 1])

Clothing: Vogue -5 (F -2, Q -3); Equipment: Dagger (d), Heavy Rifle (d)
Sample of Attacks: [Free CP 8+1]; Rifle [CP 8+3] SV 11; Close-Combat Weapons [CP
8+3] SV 11; Brawling [CP 8+8] SV 16; Wrestling [CP 8+6] SV 14.

EDMUNDO, THE WAREWOLF

PHP: 60; MHP: 32; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 14m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-20 (0) / 21-36 (-1) / 37-49 (-3) / 50-57 (-5) /58-80 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-10 (0) / 11-18 (-1) / 19-25 (-3) / 26-29 (-5) /30-31 (-7)
Character Traits: Constitution +4, Intelligence -4, Dexterity +4, Perception +2, Psyche -2

Skills:
Agility SV 10 Body Control 2 (Evade 2, Parkour 3)
Fighting SV 10 Battle Experience 1 (Combat Actions 3), Unarmed Fighting 3 (Brawling 4)

Sample of Attacks: [Free CP 10+1]; Brawling [CP 10+11] SV 14|7.

 Emma
Ill-fortunate, orphaned Emma is 16
years old and is one of the people the
characters can help significantly during
their search for the truth. There are
people in the town that believe Emma to
be the bastard child of Herman Blück,
but few dare say so out loud. It may
honestly be that way, but she has most
likely been fathered by someone else.
Behind the dirty exterior, a
malnourished body, and a pair of clear, blue
eyes, a young woman hides that would
have been beautiful to behold. Too much
alcohol, however, and the life she lives
have caused her to become weathered.

✦✦ Emma knows two important things:

✦✦ That Übel Staal had something in his
basement that he wanted sold.
58 ✦✦ That Übel Staal’s body was badly
mutilated, almost unidentifiable.

Emma was the one who found Übel

Staal’s body in the woods. Her silence
has been enforced by the captain of the
guard who has promised to send her
off to a madhouse if she tells anyone
what she has seen or heard. Officially,
Übel’s body was found in the woods and
the doctor says that he probably died
from hitting his head on a rock. Emma
can, however, reveal that his body was
mutilated and missing some parts.
She is doomed as soon as the
characters are seen talking to Emma.
Hans Blück will murder her in a few
days. If the characters realize that her
life is in danger, they may, with a couple
of ducats and some convincing words,
convince her to flee the town to start
a new life in Koblenz, or better yet, in
Bonn, or some other town far away from
Koblenstadt. Emma will tell them that
she is scared, and that Hans has already
visited and threatened her several times
with a knife, and next time he comes,
she thinks, he will kill her.
✦✦ Positive impressions on Emma: ✦✦ Negative impressions on Emma:
✦✦ Kind, generous people who ✦✦ Aristocrats and pride
understand her situation Threats and violence
✦✦ People in the same situation: thieves,
vagabonds, and paupers
EMMA
Age: 16; PHP: 32; MHP: 33; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 12m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-13 (0) / 14-21 (-1) / 22-27 (-3) / 28-31 (-5) /32-33 (-7)
Character Traits: Charisma +2, Psyche +1
Power Spheres: Entertainment 27
Skills: Agility SV 7, Culture SV 6, Esotericisn SV 2, Fighting SV 5,
Professions SV 4, Science SV 2, Theology SV 4, Well-Travelled SV 3
Communication SV 7 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Lower Class 2], Vogue [Lower Class 2]),
Languages 1 (Native Language [German 3]), Rethoric 1 (Persuasion 1)
Entertainment SV 8 Acting and Dancing 1 (Acting 1, Dance [Lower Class 2])
Stealth SV 7 Avoidance 1
Clothing: Vogue -3 (F -2, Q -2); Equipment: -
Sample of Attacks: -
Kristian Dragel
Kristian is a man with a dark past. After
having murdered a nobleman outside of
Paris, he is now a wanted man. Kristian,
who really does not care much that he
is wanted, is bothered that he let the
servant, who caught him, live. But as he
once again thinks back on that night, on
that unbelievably beautiful woman, who
in her almost transparent nightgown
stood there with a candle, watching him
as he ran the knife through the heart of
that fat nobleman, he knows why that is.
He had never laid eyes on a more beautiful
woman. That, when he got older, he
developed lovesick pangs of conscience
was odd to him. Before, he was ready to
kill the young, the old, the lovely, and
the unsightly just to get his hands on
something valuable or a fistful of ducats.
Today, Kristian is a changed man. He is
closing in on fifty years old and has long,
dark, greasy hair. Only his face reveals his
age, as his body is well-maintained and
could pass for a thirty-year-old’s. It has
been years since he killed someone; he has
realized that stealing is possible without
death. He lives in Koblenstadt, but he does
not work here. The town is too small for
his kind, and his line of work. It is better
to go to nearby towns and cities to practice
his craft. He does, however, know all the
ins and outs of the town’s underworld.
Thieves come often to Kristian to ask for
advice, whether it be about burglary or
dealing opium.
If the characters want to see Kristian
for some reason, they will have to be
ready to pay for his services.
✦✦ Kristian knows four important
things:
✦✦ That Übel met with Emma, the
harlot, on a regular basis. The last
time a day or so before he died
✦✦ That there was something to do with
Übel’s funeral that made the priest
leave town
✦✦ That three individuals posing as military
students have inquired a great deal about
Übel. They have been spotted snooping
around his house and the church
✦✦ He knows that they stay at Tibelda
Rhoos’
The characters have to wait about
two to four days before their questions
are answered, this entails things that
Kristian already knows. When they come
back to learn the answers, Kristian will
tell them that it was a tough nut to crack,
and that he had to spend some money
himself to get the information. Thus, he
will ask for some additional money to tell
them what he knows.
Since Kristian serves only himself, the
military students will soon learn that the
characters have asked about them, since
they too pay Kristian for his services.
What Kristian has not told them, however,
is that Emma might know something
about Übel Staal’s death, simply because
he does not like their supercilious attitude.
Koblenstadt’s underworld belongs to
Kristian, and no one else.
✦✦ Positive impressions on Kristian: ✦✦ Negative impressions on Kristian:
✦✦ Determination and straight- ✦✦ The authorities
forwardness ✦✦ Threats
✦✦ Vagabonds and ill-doers
59
KRISTIAN DRAGEL
Age: 52; PHP: 36; MHP: 34; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 11m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-16 (0) / 17-24 (-1) / 25-30 (-3) / 31-34 (-5) /35-36 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-14 (0) / 15-22 (-1) / 23-28 (-3) / 29-32 (-5) /33-34 (-7)
Character Traits: Constitution +4, Dexterity +1, Psyche +2
Power Spheres: Lawless 43
Skills: Culture SV 6, Esotericisn SV 4, Figting SV 6, Professions SV 6,
Science SV 4, Theology SV 5, Well-Travelled SV 3
Agility SV 9 Body Control 2 (Evade 2, Parkour 2), Horsemanship 1 (Driving
Wagon 2, Riding 2)
Communication SV 9 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Middle Class2, Lower Class 2], Vogue
[Middle Class 1, Lower Class 2]), Languages 1 (Native Language
[German 2]), Rethoric 1 (Bartering 3, Persuasion 3)
Entertainment SV 5 Acting and Dancing 1, Gambling (Cheating 1,Games 2 Illicit Gaming 2)
Fighting SV 10 Battle Experience 1 (Combat Action 1), Close-Combat Weapons 1 (1h
Weapons [R] 3), Unarmed Fighting 1 (Brawling 2, Wrestling 1), Ranged
Weapons 1 (Pistols [R] 2, Rifles 2, Throwing Weapons 1)
Stealth SV 10 Avoidance 1 (Disguises 2, Hiding and Camouflage 3, Sneaking 3, Veild Strike
2), Detection 2 (Detect hidden 3, Observation 3), Sleight of Hands 1 (Arm/
Disarm Traps 2, Concealing 1, Lockpicketing 2, Pick Pocketing 1, Thief
Signs 3)
Clothing: Vogue 3 (F 1, Q 2); Equipment: Dagger (d), Light Pistol (d)
Sample of Attacks: [Free CP 10+1]; Pistol [CP 11+5] SV16; Rifle [CP 11+5] SV 16; Close-
Combat Weapons [CP 11+7] SV 12|6; Brawling [CP 11+5] SV 16; Wrestling [CP 11+3] SV 14.
60
The military students,
Luc, Mano and Julius
Officially, the students arrived in
Koblenstadt a month ago to rest and
recover, to later return to Paris in the
spring. This is only a cover to spend
some time in the town, however. They
are actually sent by the Catholic Church
to investigate what kind of item Antonio
Calvino was so interested in buying.
The three have not been informed what
kind of item it is, but their orders are
clear: do not return until you have got it.
Their names are Luc, Mano and Julius.
They had just finished staking out
Übel’s house, and all the preparations
for a night-time visit were made. The
plan was to sneak inside one night
and first neutralize the two servants
and then have a serious talk with Herr
Staal. Serious talks are their speciality,
and they seldom leave without getting
to know what they want. This day,
however, Übel happened to be victim to
an accident. A riding accident, or so they
say, but the three soon realize that it did
not happen the way the town authorities
claim and it is suspicious indeed that the
priest refused to bury the body. When
the priest left town a couple of days
later, they followed. A few kilometers
from the town, they caught up with him,
who, since it appears that even priests
are in need of such worldly things as
money, told them that the body had been
viciously attacked and that a violent
crime had been committed. That the
authorities and village council seemed
to look the other way was too much for
the priest who immediately resigned
and was now on his way to Bonn.
The three have no idea of what caused
Übel’s death, or if the killer came across
the item that the Church seeks. During
their stay, they have done their research
and now, their suspicions are directed
towards the circus. They do not know
who may be behind all of this or why
a member of the circus would be so
interested in Übel Staal.
The students are boarded at the
home of the old widow Tibelda Rhoos.
They have the entire top floor to
themselves, and their own entrance via
an exterior stair.
Tibelda is very satisfied with her
new boarders, but she thinks there is an
awful lot of activity during the nights.
She believes that the three “boys” are
out visiting the Women’ Stairs.
Naturally, Luc, Mano, and Julius
have personalities and preferences of
their own, and like and dislike different
things, but during this mission, they act
professionally and their agenda is what
is most important to them. It is not very
likely that the characters will be able to
develop any close bonds with them. For
that reason, only their traits and skills
are listed here. How they act in different
situations is documented for each place
and encounter.
LUC
Age: 24; PHP: 33; MHP: 33; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 11m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-13 (0) / 14-21 (-1) / 22-27 (-3) / 28-31 (-5) /32-33 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-13 (0) / 14-21 (-1) / 22-27 (-3) / 28-31 (-5) /32-33 (-7)
Character Traits: Constitution +1, Dexterity +4, Psyche +1
Power Spheres: Military 31

MANU
Age: 29; PHP: 32; MHP: 32; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 12m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Character Traits: Dexterity +2
Power Spheres: Holy 31, Military 22

JULIUS
Age: 27; PHP: 33; MHP: 32; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 11m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-13 (0) / 14-21 (-1) / 22-27 (-3) / 28-31 (-5) /32-33 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7) 61
Character Traits: Constitution +1, Perception +1
Power Spheres: Military 35,

Skills: Esotericism SV 4, Culture SV 7, Professions SV 6, Science SV 4

Agility SV 9 Body Control 2 (Evade 1, Parkour 2), Horsemanship 1 (Riding 2)
Communication SV 8 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Middle Class 2], Vogue [Middle Class 1]),
Languages 1 (Foreign Language [French 1]), Reading and Writing
[Latin 1], Native Language [Iatlian 3]), Rethoric 2
Entertainment SV 8 Acting and Dancing 2 (Acting 1), Gambling 1 (Cheating 1, Games 1)
Fighting SV 10 Battle Experience 1 (Combat Action 2), Close-Combat Weapons 1 (1h
Weapons [R] 4), Unarmed Fighting 1 (Brawling 2, Wrestling 2), Ranged
Weapons (Pistols [R] 1, Rifles 2)
Stealth SV 8 Avoidance 1 (Disguises 2, Hide and Camouflague 2, Sneaking 3), Detection 1,
(Detect hidden 1, Observation 2)
Theology SV 9 De Religionibus 1 (De Sub Rosa Religione 1, Religious Literature
[Christianity 1], Religio [Christianity 2])
Well-Travelled SV 8 Social Studies 1 (Geography [Europe 2, Italy 2]), Survival 2 (Camping 2,
Travelling 2)

Clothing: Vogue 2 (F 1, Q 1); Equipment: Dagger (d), Light Pistol (d), Light Rifle (d), Rapier (d)
Sample of Attacks: [Free CP 10+1]; Pistol [CP 11+5] SV16; Rifle [CP 11+5] SV 16; Close-
Combat Weapons [CP 11+9] SV 12|8; Brawling [CP 11+5] SV 16; Wrestling [CP 11+5] SV 15.
62
Nikolaj Volkov
Nikolaj is 68 years old, and Übel Staal’s
servant and butler. He has been in
Übel’s service for almost 20 years, and is
originally from Saint Petersburg. He is
quiet and reserved, and thoroughly enjoys
the silent life in Übel’s service. Much like
him, Nikolaj likes to read, which is why
they have made such a good match. Even
though Nikolaj did not like Übel’s occult
interests much, he has never interfered in
his master’s dealings. Naturally, he knows
about the secret chamber underneath the
library, but he has never been down there.
Before Nikolaj was employed by
Übel, he was a promising young officer
in the Russian army, but after a schism
between him and a general, he decided
to desert and go west with his new-born
daughter Nina.
First impressions of Nikolaj is that the house. Like Nikolaj, she is quiet and
he is quiet and intelligent. He is very quite insignificant. Beneath the surface,
tall, over two meters, and quite fit for though, she is melancholic and sad due to
his age. He has a waxed, large, bushy never having met her mother. Nina does
moustache, and his black hair is tied not say much, and mostly lets her father
back in a pigtail. do the talking. She keeps to the house
most of the time and does not care much
✦✦ Positive impressions on Nikolaj: for the other residents of Koblenstadt.
✦✦ Order First impressions of Nina are that
✦✦ Authority she is quiet and sad. Her black eyes
✦✦ Negative impressions on Nikolaj: are sunken deep into the sockets, and
✦✦ Nosy people despite not looking past 40, she seems
✦✦ Russians, since he thinks they are worn down. She has Slavic features, and
after him her black hair is bound in a long braid.
✦✦ Positive impressions on Nina:
Nina Volkov ✦✦ Nice and pleasant people
Nina, 35 years old, is Nikolaj’s only ✦✦ Social and expressive people
child. She was Übel’s maid and was ✦✦ Negative impressions on Nina:
responsible for cooking and cleaning ✦✦ Quiet and sullen people
NIKOLAJ VOLKOV
Age: 68; PHP: 34; MHP: 32; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 10m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-14 (0) / 15-22 (-1) / 23-28 (-3) / 29-32 (-5) /33-34 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Character Traits: Constitution +2
Power Spheres: Military 41

Skills: Entertainment SV 8, Esotericism SV 3,

Agility SV 8 Body Control 1, Horsemanship 2 (Driving Wagon 2, Riding 1)
Culture SV 8 Civics 1; Humanities 1
Communication SV 9 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Lower Class 1], Vogue [Lower Class 1]);
Languages 1 (Foreign Language [French 1, German 2], Reading and
Writing [Latin 1, Cyrillic 2], Native Language [Russian 3]); Rethoric 2
Fighting SV 10 Battle Experience 2 (Combat Actions 2), Close-Combat Weapons 1 (1h
Weapons [L] 3), Unarmed Fighting 1 (Brawling 2), Ranged Weapons 1
(Rifles 2)
Professions SV 7 Hunting and Fishing 1 (Hunting 2, Fishing 1)
Science SV 5 Applied Science 1
Stealth SV 7 Avoidance 1 (Hide and Camouflague 1, Sneaking 2), Detection 1 (Detect
Hidden 1, Observation 2)
Theology SV 9 De Religionibus 1
Well-Travelled SV 8 Social Studies 1 (Geography [Russia 2, Europe 1, Germany 1])

Clothing: Vogue 0 (F 0, Q 0); Equipment: Dagger (d), Light Rifle (d) 63

Sample of Attacks: [Free CP 10+2]; Rifle [CP 12+5] SV 17; Close-Combat Weapons [CP 12+7]
SV 11|8; Brawling [CP 12+3] SV 15.

NINA VOLKOV
Age: 35; PHP: 32; MHP: 32; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 10m)
Physical Damage levels:1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Character Traits: Perception +2
Power Spheres: -

Skills: Entertainment SV 8, Esotericism SV 3, Fighting SV 6, Professions SV

5, Theology SV 6
Agility SV 8 Body Control 1, Horsemanship 2 (Driving Wagon 2, Riding 1)
Culture SV 8 Civics 1; Humanities 1
Communication SV 8 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Lower Class 1]; Languages 1 (Foreign
Language [German 2], Reading and Writing [Latin 1, Cyrillic 2], Native
Language [Russian 3]); Rethoric 2
Science SV 5 Healthcare 1 (Healing 1, Mental Care 1)
Stealth SV 7 Detection 1 (Detect Hidden 1, Observation 3)
Well-Travelled SV 8 Social Studies 1 (Geography [Russia 2, Germany 1])

Clothing: Vogue 0 (F 0, Q 0); Equipment: -

Sample of Attacks: -
 Johan Karlsdorf, the
priest
Only a few days after Übel Staal’s murder,
Johan lived in the town vicarage. He chose
to leave his congregation, however, since
he could not live with what the mayor and
the village council had made him do. The
council, led by the mayor, had let Übel’s
mutilated body be buried despite the fact,
which Johan had learned since he had
been a member of the council up until
then, that a crime had been committed,
and Johan refused to bury him before it
had been solved. Since the council did not
want an investigation, they had buried the
body themselves. Johan had then decided
to leave the sinful town.
The characters will not be able to meet
Johan, unfortunately, as he is dead. The
sadistic Hans Blück, on his own accord,
set after Johan as he fled the town, and
slew him some twenty kilometers outside
of town (after the priest has spoken with
the military students) where he buried
the body next to a tree.

64 ✦✦ Johan leaves a few clues behind:

✦✦ On a table in the vicarage lie the keys
to the church, next to an open bible
referencing the ten commandments:
“Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbour.”
✦✦ In the church, he has also lined the
same commandment with red paint,
as well as covered the eyes of Jesus on
the crucifix.
Herbert Herberger
Herbert is a man of few words, forty-five
years old and a life-long alcoholic. His
hair is long and greasy and his clothes
ragged. In the middle of his face sits a
big, red nose, stealing all attention.
Herbert is welcoming towards people
of the working class and cocky towards
the wealthy, albeit tactfully.
✦✦ Positive impressions on Herbert:
✦✦ People who can hold their drink
✦✦ People of the working class
✦✦ Negative impressions on Herbert:
✦✦ Aristocrats
✦✦ Threats
HERBERT HERBERGER
Age: 16; PHP: 31; MHP: 31; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 10m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-11 (0) / 12-19 (-1) / 20-25 (-3) / 26-29 (-5) /30-31 (-7))
Mental Damage levels: 1-11 (0) / 12-19 (-1) / 20-25 (-3) / 26-29 (-5) /30-31 (-7))
Character Traits: Constitution -1, Psyche -1
Power Spheres: -
Skills: Science SV 2, Theology SV 6, Well-Travelled SV 4
Agility SV 7 Body Control 2 (Evade 1, Parkour 2), Horsemanship 2 (Riding 2)
Culture SV 8 Civics 1 (Heraldry 2); Humanities 1 (History 1, Literature and Arts 2,
Philosophy 1)
Communication SV 7 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Lower Class 1], Languages 1 (Foreign
Languages Latin1], Reading and Writing [Latin 1], Native Language
[German 3]); Rethoric 1
Entertainment SV 5 Gambling 1 (Cheating 1, Games 1)
Esotericism SV 5 Supernational Beings 1
Fighting SV 8 Close-Combat Weapons 1 (1h Weapons [L] 2), Unarmed Fighting 1,
Ranged Weapons 1 (Rifles [2])
Professions SV 7 Animal Handling 1 (Animal Care 1, Animal Training [Horses 2, Dogs 2], Hunt
with Animals 2), Hunting and Fishing 1 (Hunting 2, Fishing 2, Tracking 2)
Stealth SV 9 Avoidance 1 (Hide and Camouflague 2, Sneaking 2,), Detection 1
Clothing: Vogue -4 (F -2, Q -2); Equipment: Dagger (d), Rifle (m)
Sample of Attacks: [Free CP 8]; Rifle [CP 8+5] SV 13; Close-Combat Weapons [CP 8+5] SV 13;
Unarmed Fighting [CP 8+1] SV 9.
Professor Johann Elk
Professor Johann Elk is an old librarian,
who one day came across a collection
of books that he was able to sell for a
small fortune to an affluent English
nobleman. Even though the collection
belonged to the library he worked for,
he has not yet regretted his crime. The
books were only collecting dust in the
basement, and he was not sure that
anyone even knew they were there.
Carefully, he smuggled them out, all
13 volumes, during the course of one
month. The books were about some
kind of Satanism, something that was
call the power of the All-Seeing Eye and
contained 13 rituals that would grant
influence and wealth. Even though it
might be a good read, Johann never
believed that sort of thing, to sell one’s
soul for power and might. For all he
cared, the rituals could actually work;
for him, the power was never worth the
sacrifice he would have to make.
Johann is a small man in his sixties,
the top of his head is bald and thin,
mouse-coloured hair runs long from
the sides and the back. He is a Gnostic
who lives to reveal as many truths as
possible. He seldom leaves the house
and instead lets his servant do all his
errands. He is also very absent-minded,
as if there is too much information in his
head and his mind easily wanders.
65
JOHANN ELK
Age: 64 PHP: 32; MHP: 33; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 10m)
Physical Damage levels:1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-13 (0) / 14-21 (-1) / 22-27 (-3) / 28-31 (-5) /32-33 (-7)
Character Traits: Intelligence +4, Psyche +1
Power Spheres: Scientific 52
Skills: Agility SV 7, Entertainment SV 7, Fighting SV 7, Professions SV 6,
Stealth SV 5
Culture SV 10 Civics 1 (Administration 2, Law 2); Humanities 1 (Archaeilogy 1, History 4,
Literature and Arts 4, Philiosophy 3)
Communication SV 7 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Lower Nobility 2, Middle Class 1], Vogue
[Lower Nobility 2, Middle Class 1]); Languages 1 (Foreign Language
[French 2, Greek 2, Latin 3], Reading and Writing [Greek 2, Latin 3],
Native Language [German 4]); Rethoric 2 (Bartering 2, Persuasion 3)
Esotericism SV 10 De Sodoliciorum 1 (Esoteric Symbols 4, Occult Literature 3, Sub Rosa
Doctus 2), Supernational Beings 1 (Beastiology 2)
Science SV 8 Applied Science 1 (Pharmaceutics 2), Health Care 1 (Healing 2,
Mental Care 3), Natural Philiosopy 1 (Biology 2, Chemistry 1, Geology 1,
Mathematics 2, Physics 2)
Theology SV 10 De Religionibus 1 (De Sub Rosa Religione 1, Iconography 2, Knowledge of
Miracles [Christianity 1], Religio [Christianity 1])
Well-Travelled SV 7 Social Studies 1
Clothing: Vogue 4 (F 2, Q 2); Equipment: -
Sample of Attacks: -
 Père Immanuel Lavotte
The entire life of Immanuel Lavotte
has been unfortunate. He lost his
parents, forced to live as an attendant
in the church his father brother
worked at. The priest who succeeded
his father’s brother was everything
but Christianly and lost to all sense of
shame. Immanuel was beaten at least
once a day, regardless of whether he
had been naughty or not. For ten years,
he lived in misery, until he turned 16,
when a servant girl killed the priest
after he had been too violent.
Immanuel’s adult life is also lined
with unpleasantness. If it was not for
his unwavering faith in God, he would
have ended his life long ago, if not
by immediate action, then through
unhealthy living. During all his life, he
has faced adversity with great courage.
He knows, after all, that it is all God’s
great test. When God realizes that his
faith is unyielding and strong, things
will change and if they do not, well,
then his reward is in Heaven, when he ✦✦ Positive impressions on Immanuel: ✦✦ Negative impressions on Immanuel:
66 finally gets there. ✦✦ Deeply religious people ✦✦ Scientists
As a 19-year-old, Immanuel saw ✦✦ People who overtly look down on ✦✦ Non-religious people or those who
science on the advance. He then set out science are not religious enough
on a mission of his own, to destroy all
science that opposed God. He despises
the scientists with all that entails and IMMANUEL LAVOTTE
claim that everybody, even the nobility, Age: 39; PHP: 32; MHP: 32; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 10m)
must submit to God’s divine power. Physical Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
For five years, he has worked hard to Mental Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
oppress and remove the life and work Character Traits: Intelligence +2, Perception +2
of all scientists. Letters to popes and Power Spheres: Holy 46
bishops caused the unlucky men, that
were investigated by Immanuel, to be Skills: Entertainment SV 5, Esotericism SV 7, Fighting SV 8, Professions SV 7
visited by holy men that interrogated Science SV 4, Stealth SV 6
them, and sometimes more than that. Agility SV 7 Horsemanship 1 (Riding 1)
Today, Immanuel is 39 years old, Culture SV 10 Civics 1 (Administration 2, Heraldry 3, Law 2); Humanities 1 (History 3,
and his life has started to become a Literature and Arts 3, Philiosophy 2)
little brighter. His call to bring down Communication SV 10 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Nobility 2] Vogue [Nobility 1]);
the scientists was soon noticed by the Languages 1 (Foreign Languages [Latin 3], Reading and Writing
Church, who then welcomed him into [Latin 3], Native Language [French 4]); Rethoric 1 (Persuasion 3)
their fold. He is now a member of a Theology SV 10 De Religionibus 1 (De Sub Rosa Religione 1, Religio 2, Knowledge of
secret organization within the Church, Miracles [Christianity 2], Religious Literature [Christianity 3])), Divine
who act in the dark and whose sole Arts 1 (Holy Power 1, Incite Courage 2, Mysticism 1, Pastoral Care 2)
mission is to cause irreparable damage Well-Travelled SV 8 Social Studies 1 (Geography [France 2]
to scientists all over Europe. His latest
task is to monitor Carl-Johan Grecke’s Clothing: Vogue 6 (F 2, Q 4); Equipment: -
activities, something that he has done Sample of Attacks: -
for the last 10 years.
Herr Carl-Johan Grecke ✦✦ Negative impressions on Carl-Johan:
The 34-year-old enlightened philosopher ✦✦ People who despise science
Carl-Johan Grecke, is an atheist to his ✦✦ People who speak of God’s power and
fingertips. Belief in God is ridiculous, strength
he says, and he believes that even the ✦✦ Religious people
aristocrats are more reasonable than
the men of the Church. He claims that
religion and the persistent harping on
an absolute God are but tools, created by
rulers, hungry for power. He is accused of
having donated large sums to alchemists
and of supporting their experiments.
Despite this, he continues to openly
criticise the Church and, maybe not so
openly, donate money to alchemists.
He sincerely hopes that his alchemist
friends will soon find proof that “God”
is just a made-up idea, by managing to
create matter by themselves, or even life.
If they manage to do so, it could prove
to the rest of humankind that God is
nothing but make-believe. In spite of his
open critique, no one has tried to silence
him. They know that if they did, the
spark would set aflame a much larger
fire. It is better, therefore, to control the
spark so that it does not spread, and that 67
is what Immanuel is trying to do.
Carl-Johan is clever, very clever. He
has already figured out the Church’s CARL-JOHAN GRECKE
attempt to control him. He knows Age: 34; PHP: 32; MHP: 32; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 10m)
he is watched, but not by Immanuel, Physical Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
and thus, he is very careful and keeps Mental Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
his dealings with scientists and Character Traits: Charisma +2, Intelligence +4
alchemists in utmost secrecy. Carl- Power Spheres: Scientific 46
Johan is involved in a great many
projects, everything from alchemical Skills: Esotericism SV 8, Stealth SV 5, Theology SV 9, Professions SV 6
experiments to turn lead to gold to Agility SV 6 Horsemanship 1 (Riding 3)
attempts to create, or even alter, a Culture SV 10 Civics 1 (Administration 3, Bribery 1, Heraldry 2, Law 2); Humanities 1
creature’s attributes and abilities. (Archaeology 2, History 4, Literature and Arts 3, Philiosophy 4)
He honestly believes that alchemy is Communication SV 7 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Nobility 3], Vogue [Nobility 2]);
man’s salvation. The great alchemical Languages 1 (Foreign Langurages [English 2, French 3, Latin 2]),Reading
breakthrough that is just around the and Writing [Latin 1], Native Language [German 4]); Rethoric 1
corner now, will make people open (Persuasion 4)
their eyes and see the world they live Entertainment SV 7 Acting and Dancing 1 (Acting 1)
in. Anyone can realize that a good Fighting SV 6 Close-Combat Weapons 1, Ranged Weapons 1
and omnipotent God would never Science SV 5 Applied Science 1 (Pharmaceutics 2), Health Care 1 (Healing 1, Mental
let their creations suffer as humans Care 2), Natural Philiosophy 1 (Biology 2, Chemistry 3, Mathematics 3),
suffer. Transmutation 2 (Alchemy 3)
Well-Travelled SV 8 Social Studies 1 (Geography [Europe 1, France 1, Germany 2])
✦✦ Positive impressions on Carl-Johan:
✦✦ People who openly criticize the Clothing: Vogue 6 (F 3, Q 3); Equipment: -
Church Sample of Attacks: -
✦✦ People thirsting for knowledge
 Monsieur Laurent
Burgont
It is now five years since 42-year-old
Laurent Burgont saw his and his father’s
life’s work demolished by common
people who had risen from the shit-
filled gutters. Ever since, Laurent has
rejected these individuals and compared
them to thralls who should know their
place, instead of taking for themselves
what was given to him by God. Laurent
believes that God had granted power to
a select few and that the common masses
should know their place in society.
Laurent Burgont is constantly seen,
in spite of his lack of money, at the fancy
parties around France. Many think and
claim that Laurent was able to tuck
away his fortune before his enterprise
blew up. Just as many claim that he, like
prostitutes, is paid to attend these parties,
to speak and be seen. His sarcasm and
unbelievable ability to converse attracts
many to the parties they know he will
attend. He is liked by many for openly
looking down upon those of lower status.
68 Since most people of noble birth think,
but might not dare express, exactly what
he says, he is a welcome man at their LAURENT BURGONT
parties. Some of his enemies claim that Age: 42; PHP: 34; MHP: 32; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 10m)
he is so poor, that he is forced to live in a Physical Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
two-room apartment together with two Mental Damage levels: 1-14 (0) / 15-22 (-1) / 23-28 (-3) / 29-32 (-5) /33-34 (-7)
thieves between the festivities. Character Traits: Intelligence +2, Psyche +2
Just like Immanuel, Laurent is deeply Power Spheres: Holy 46
religious, maybe not as much, but
almost. However, he does not despise
scientists, as he believes they are a part Skills: Agility SV 7, Entertainment SV 7, Fighting SV 7, Professions SV 6,
of God’s great plan to bring order to Stealth SV 5
the chaos that humankind has wrought Culture SV 10 Civics 2 (Administration 3, Law 2); Humanities 1 (Archaeilogy 2, History 3,
upon themselves. He does, however, Literature and Arts 4, Philiosophy 4)
hate alchemists, who he claims are the Communication SV 7 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Lower Nobility 3], Vogue [Lower Nobility 4]);
scientists of the Devil. He claims that Languages 1 (Foreign Language [German 2, Latin 3], Reading and
only worshippers of the Devil dare try to Writing [Latin 3], Native Language [French 4]); Rethoric 2 (Bartering 2,
change God’s creations with magic. Persuasion 3)
Esotericism SV 5 De Sodoliciorum 1 (Esoteric Symbols 1, Occult Literature 1, Sub Rosa
✦✦ Positive impressions on Laurent: Doctus 1)
✦✦ People who despise alchemy and Science SV 7 Natural Philiosopy 1 (Biology 1, Geology 1, Mathematics 2, Physics 1)
magic Theology SV 10 De Religionibus 1 (De Sub Rosa Religione 2, Iconography 2, Knowledge of
✦✦ People who like parties and luxury Miracles 2, Religio 3)
✦✦ People of noble birth and status Well-Travelled SV 7 Social Studies 1 (Geogrphy [Europa 1, Germany 2])
✦✦ Negative impressions on Laurent:
✦✦ Working-class people and paupers Clothing: Vogue 5 (F 2, Q 3); Equipment:
✦✦ People who think highly of alchemists Sample of Attacks:
and their doings
Monsieur Xavier du
Palles
The 27-year-old adventurer Xavier du
Palles is the son of a very wealthy family
from the south-west of France. Already
at 17, he went on his first expedition to
Constantinople to seek the mystery of the
Orient. Soon after, he travelled to North
Africa, and then kept traveling until now.
Xavier has really lived after the motto “the
world is my home”. He is arrogant and
proud, stuck-up and self-absorbed. People
hate him as much as they adore and envy
him. Everybody knows that everything he
says is based on truth, even though some
details are tweaked to tell a better story.
His rivals have delved deeply into his past
in search of lies or inconsistencies in his
stories, but have found nothing. Instead,
they have found themselves on the wrong
end of his rapier. Up until now, Xavier
has left these duels without as much as
a scratch, something that cannot be said
about his opponents.
Xavier is tall and always groomed
and well-dressed. He loves hats of all
kinds, and some nights, when he is in a
particularly good mood, he can be seen
wearing up to seven different hats. He
has long, deep-brown hair that when
untied flows beneath his hats.
In later years, Xavier has had other things
on his mind than long and exotic travels,
that with time actually have become rather
dull. He has found an interest in the occult.
Xavier reads all he can about the occult, it
does not matter what the subject is. He has
Antonio Calvino to thank for this. Their
ways crossed on one of Xavier’s travels
to Italy, and they both felt invigorated in
each other’s company. He was together
with Antonio Calvino, when the latter
was offered the chance to buy Übel’s Coin
of Judas, and after some research, Xavier
realized that this was a treasure too good
to pass up. When Übel did not reply, he
killed his new-found friend and set off for
Koblenstadt to fetch the coin himself. Xavier
was too late, however, as Übel had already
been killed. Since he now realized that the
players of this game were dangerous, he
continued on to Farschviller, where he got
the splendid idea to let someone else get him
the coin under false pretences.
✦✦ Positive impressions on Xavier:
✦✦ People who seek adventure and thrill
✦✦ People who look up to him
✦✦ Strong people who stand up for
themselves
✦✦ Negative impressions on Xavier:
✦✦ People who stand in his way
✦✦ People who do not look up to him
XAVIER DU PALLES
Age: 27; PHP: 33; MHP: 32; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 12m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-13 (0) / 14-21 (-1) / 22-27 (-3) / 28-31 (-5) /32-33 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Character Traits: Constitution +1, Dexterity +2, Intelligence +1,
Power Spheres: Scientific 49, Underworld 31
Skills: 69
Agility SV 7 Body Control 2 (Evade 1, Parkour 2), Horsemanship 2 (Riding 2)
Culture SV 10 Civics 1 (Administration 3, Bribery 3, Heraldry 1, Law 2); Humanities 1
(Archaeology 2, History 2, Literature and Arts 1, Philosophy 2)
Communication SV 10 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Nobility 2, Middle Class 1], Vogue
[Nobility 2, Middle Class 1]); Languages 1 (Foreign Languages [Latin 3,
German 2, Turkish 1],Reading and Writing [Latin 1], Native Language
[French 4]); Rethoric 1 (Bartering 2, Persuasion 4)
Entertainment SV 8 Acting and Dancing 1, Gambling 1 (Cheating 1, Games [Board Games 3,
Cards 2, Dice 1], Illicit Gaming 1)
Esotericism SV 6 Supernational Beings 1 (Beastiology 1)
Fighting SV 9 Combat Experience 1 (Combat Actions 2), Close-Combat Weapons 1 (1h
Weapons [L] 3), Unarmed Fighting 1 (Brawling 2), Ranged Weapons 2
(Pistols [L] 2, Rifles [1])
Professions SV 7 Hunting and Fishing 1 (Hunting 1, Fishing 1, Tracking 1)
Science SV 5 Applied Science 1 (Pharmaceutics 1), Health Care 1 (Healing 1, Mental
Care 1), Natural Philiosophy 1 (Biology 1, Chemistry 3, Mathematics 1,
Physics 1), Transmutation 1 (Alchemy 2)
Stealth SV 9 Avoidance 1 (Disguises 1, Hide and Camouflague 2, Sneaking 2), Detection 1
(Detect Hidden 1, Observation 2); Sleight of Hand (Arm/Disarm Traps 1,
Concealing 1, Lock Picking 1, Thief Signs 1)
Theology SV 8 De Religionibus 1 (Iconography 2, Religious Literature [Christianity 2])
Well-Travelled SV 8 Social Studies 1 (Geography [Europe 1, France 2, Ottoman Empire 2]
Clothing: Vogue 7 (F 3, Q 4); Equipment: Light Pistol (d), Light Rifle (d), Rapier (d)
Sample of Attacks: [Free CP 9+1]; Pistol [CP 10+6] SV16; Rifle [CP 10+4] SV 14; Close-Combat
Weapons [CP 9+7] SV 10|7; Brawling [CP 9+5] SV 14.
 Thieves Guild

THIEVES [OLDER ONES]

Age: 15+; PHP: 32; MHP: 32; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 10m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-12 (0) / 13-20 (-1) / 21-26 (-3) / 27-30 (-5) /31-32 (-7)
Character Traits: -
Power Spheres: Underworld 31

Skills: Culture SV 3, Entertainment SV 5, Esotericism SV 2, Professions SV 3,

Science SV 1, Theology SV 4. Well-Travelled SV 6
Communication SV 7 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Pauper 3], Languages 1 (Native Language
[German 2]); Rethoric 1 (Bartering 1)
Fighting SV 7 Close-Combat Weapons 1 (1h Weapons [R] 2), Unarmed Fighting 1
(Brawling 2, Wrestling 1), Ranged Weapons 1 (Rifles 1)
Stealth SV 8 Avoidance 1 (Disguises 1, Hide and Camouflague 2, Sneaking 3), Detection 1,
(Detect hidden 1, Observation 2), Sleight of Hands 1 (Arm/Disarm Traps 1,
Concealing 2, Lock Picking 2, Pickpocketing 3, Thief Signs 2)
70
Clothing: Vogue -5 (F -4, Q -2); Equipment: Dagger (d), Light Rifle (m)
Sample of Attacks: [Free CP 7]; Rifle [CP 7+3] SV 10; Close-Combat Weapons [CP 7+5] SV 12;
Brawling [CP 7+5] SV 12, Wrestling [CP 7+3] SV 10.

THIEVES [YOUNGER ONES]

Age: 7-15; PHP: 22; MHP: 22; Movement: 2 CP per 1 m (Max 8m)
Physical Damage levels: 1-7 (0) / 8-13 (-1) / 14-18 (-3) / 19-21 (-5) /22 (-7)
Mental Damage levels: 1-7 (0) / 8-13 (-1) / 14-18 (-3) / 19-21 (-5) /22 (-7)
Character Traits: -
Power Spheres: Underworld 18

Skills: Culture SV 1, Entertainment SV 3, Esotericism SV 1, Professions SV 2,

Science SV 1, Theology SV 2. Well-Travelled SV 2
Communication SV 4 Etiquette 1 (Social Intercourse: [Pauper 1], Languages 1 (Native Language
[German 1])
Fighting SV 5 Close-Combat Weapons 1, Unarmed Fighting 1, Ranged Weapons 1
Stealth SV 6 Avoidance 1 (Sneaking 1), Detection 1, Sleight of Hands 1 (Concealing 2,
Lock Picking 1, Pickpocketing 1, Thief Signs 1)

Clothing: Vogue -5 (F -4, Q -2); Equipment: Dagger (d), Light Rifle (m)
Sample of Attacks: [Free CP 5]; Rifle [CP 5+1] SV 6; Close-Combat Weapons [CP 5+1] SV 6;
Unarmed Fighting [CP 5+1] SV 6.
 Notes 
  Notes 

72