The schloss grausbad affair
Gunter Von Hinterst
You are the oldest son and
heir to Reiter Sigismund Von Hinterst owner of the Schloss Hinterhorst and
attached family estates in Transylvania. Yours is a German speaking Saxon
family, one of many introduced to Rumania by the Kings of Hungary. Reiter
Dutwold Von Hinterst was given the Hinterhorst estate and built the Schloss
there which has been the family home ever since. The original Rumanian residents
have been reluctant to accept foreign rule from time to time. This resulted in
the formation of the Magyar enclave, an area settled almost entirely by
Hungarian speaking people to the West. During the fighting achieving this,
Dutwold seized the Grausbad estate and built the Schloss Grausbad there.
Unfortunately one of the Rumanian leaders was a warrior priest Festus Badamaru
with magic abilities. Any wound inflicted on him immediately healed! With him in
charge the Rumanians were very hard to beat. However Dutwolds men managed to
overpower him and carry him to the Heilig Tiech (Holy Pond). Realising that they
meant to drown him he laid a curse on Dutwold and all his family! But they threw
him in anyway and his armour sent him to the bottom. Uncaring Dutwold built the
Schloss. But he was killed there when it was taken in a surprise attack, four
years later by Vetwic Badamaru. Over the centuries the Von Hinterst family has
several times tried to regain the Schloss Grausbad but always failed. In return
the Badamaru family have often struck heavy blows against the Von Hinterst
family and its possessions. In particular around a century ago they wiped out a
whole cadet branch of the family who lived at Strain Castel a few leagues from
Grausbad! It is now a ruin surrounded by wastelands. Whilst it is true that they
had become infected with Vampiritis they were still Von Hintersts! Three years
ago as a diplomatic ploy, Kata Von Hinterst married the Magyar knight Gyorgy
Zrnyi who had been betrothed to Lady Leica Badamaru. Gyorgy died under the
wheels of a carriage on the streets of Sovata a fortnight later. Everyone there
believes that this was arranged by the Badamaru witch Griseldis. Her brother
Boris had recently inherited Schloss Grausbad from their brother Jan and sold it
to a Turk the Asa Abdul Abu. Because of the threatening rumours Boris sent
Griseldis and his niece Leica, Jans daughter abroad. Many members of the
Badamaru family have practised the black arts and used them to damage Von
Hinterst interests. It is believed that they have received their powers from the
Heilig Tiech. Hence your joy when Boris sold the castle and the pond with it.
However what the Turk Abdul has called a great Djinn, caused a lightning-bolt to
damage the Schloss killing three occupants and wounding three others. There have
also been rumours of ghosts haunting the place. Boris Badamaru is a property
speculator and Abdul thought that he was responsible, hoping to buy back the
Schloss at a reduced price. He had his relation the Pasha of Tirgu Mures throw
Boris into jail where he still is. Under the Turkish justice system, unless hard
evidence turns up one way or the other there he will stay uncharged. He has
suggested to the Pashas men that your brother Reiter Otto Von Hinterst employed
the Djinn. Otto is a member of the Christian Order of St. Bogo dedicated to
protecting the Orthodox Christian faith against all threats. Although you know
this not to be true, his idea is plausible because Abdul Abu built an Islamic
minaret on top of the Schloss! He also threw down a cross and damaged the shrine
of St. Festus on the island on the Heilig Tiech. The local peasants told Abdul
that it was more likely that Griseldis called up the Djinn even though she lives
in a foreign land. He has written to her suggesting that unless she comes and
reveals how the blow was struck, Boris will rot in jail. Of course you knew that
he might be freed on an amnesty when the Pasha dies but the Pasha is young and
fit so that will not be for a long while. Now however, you have heard word that
Griseldis Badamaru is in Transylvania! She is bringing an English Detective,
ostensibly to find out what killed those in the Schloss. More likely it is to
fabricate evidence against your family! Further she may well want to replenish
her evil powers by a visit to the Heilig Tiech. Your objective is to foil
whatever she is up to and to keep her brother Boris rotting in jail! Of course
your brother Reiter Otto Von Hinterst wishes to exterminate the Moslems
polluting what once was a Von Hinterst family property. If that could be
arranged with the blame falling on the Badamarus it would be good. He has had
for some time some devotees disguised as Moslem fanatics of the Kashin Order,
found down in the Levant. They have been unused for too long and are getting
restive. The idea is that they slay some Christians so the Moslems get the
blame. Of course if the Badamarus and the Moslems could be wiped out without
you getting the blame that would be best of all!
1st April 1892
You have now heard that
Griseldis with her English detective and retinue had arrived at Sovata and is
this morning coming to Schloss Grausbad. The presence of the English detective
is a handicap, as you do not wish to cause a diplomatic incident. Causing
Rumanians or Magyars to disappear would excite little interest at the Ottoman
Court but the British have fought wars for as little as a pirates ear being
chopped off! Otto has a priest Gunter
Kette who thinks he can negate any spells cast by Griseldis. You have your
doubts about his abilities and think it better to deny Griseldis a chance of
renewing her powers. You have plenty of Dirham available for bribes. The dirty
Rumanians are likely to take your money without providing any service but the
Turks are reckoned more reliable. (Not a fact admitted by Otto! He prefers to
think any Christian more reliable than a Moslem.)
So you have your revolver
armed self, the derringer armed Priest Gunter Kette, Brother Otto and four
dagger and throwing knife armed fanatics. To conceal their real origin they each
carry a suicide pill they are supposed to take if threatened with capture.
It is a cloudy day with heavy April showers
likely. The action starts at 1100hrs.
The snows having only recently thawed the ground
is soft (-1 off the tracks)
Place flags indicating your concealed figures at
least 12 from other flags on the table. (Probably two or three groups)
Gunter
Von Hinterst
Lea, Activist, Mo
6, Fa 3/3/4, Ag +1, Me +2, revolver Bst 2.
Firing 3 4+ Pst 0,
6 5+ Pst 0, 11 6+ Pst 0, 18 7+ Pst 2 5+ 10 rounds
Bottle fire bomb 3+
5 (Bst -3), D6 -2 gives fire zone in inches
Class VII PI
Dubious M+1 F+1, Coercion +2. Speaks
German, Rumanian, Hungarian (P)
Has Map, Compass,
cord, 2 gags. MC D25- 5q- 1m
Priest
Gunter Kette
Activist, Mo 6, Fa
2/2/3, Ag 0, Me 0, Silver Dagger Pst 1, Deringer 2 silver bullets 3 4+ st 0,
6 5+, st 1, 11 6+ st 2 (10 lead bullets)
Class VI PI
Respectable Charm M -1 F+1, Coercion +1. Speaks German, Rumanian, Hungarian (P)
Latin. MC D5- 8q- 2m. Low & Counter spells D10 6+ (2 Fa Pt each.)
Reiter
Otto FV 2 Vle,
Activist, Mo 6, Fa 3/3/4, Ag +2, Me +2, revolver Bst 2.
Firing 3 4+ Pst 0,
6 5+ Pst 0, 11 6+ Pst 0, 18 7+ Pst 2 5+ 10 rounds
Class V, PI
Dubious,
Charm M -1, F +1, Coercion +3.
Compass, watch, cord, spare handkerchief, 2 sets
handcuffs,
Speaks German,
Rumanian (P), Latin (P) Turkish (P)MC D7- 6q- 4m.
Chirurg Einz
FV 1
Ac Mo 6, Fa 3/3/3,
Ag +1, Th +1, Me +2 Dagger Pst 1 Class III
2
throwing knives 3 4+ Pst -2, 6 5+ Pst 3. Suicide Pill
Unsavoury,
Charm M -2, F -2, Coercion +2, MC £0 0 0d Quiet mover.
Speaks German, Rumanian, Turkish (P)
Chirurg Zwei
FV 1
Ac Mo 6, Fa 3/3/3,
Ag +1, Th +1, Me +2 Dagger Pst 1 Class III
2
throwing knives 3 4+ Pst -2, 6 5+ Pst 3. Suicide Pill
Unsavoury,
Charm M -2, F -2, Coercion +2, MC £0 0 0d Quiet mover.
Speaks German, Rumanian, Turkish (P)
Chirurg Drie
FV 1
Ac Mo 6, Fa 3/3/3,
Ag +1, Th +1, Me +2 Dagger Pst 1 Class III
2
throwing knives 3 4+ Pst -2, 6 5+ Pst 3. Suicide Pill
Unsavoury,
Charm M -2, F -2, Coercion +2, MC £0 0 0d Quiet mover.
Speaks German, Rumanian, Turkish (P)
Chirurg Fier
FV 1
Ac Mo 6, Fa 3/3/3,
Ag +1, Th +1, Me +2 Dagger Pst 1 Class III
2
throwing knives 3 4+ Pst -2, 6 5+ Pst 3. Suicide Pill
Unsavoury,
Charm M -2, F -2, Coercion +2, MC £0 0 0d Quiet mover.
Speaks German, Rumanian, Turkish (P)