08/04/2018 – Steinhager’s House (17)

Thursday, 27 April 1702

Johanna proposes to go to see the City Guard to ask the identity of the dead body they found mutilated in the sewers. Gerhart is “volunteered” to go with her, as he spent a lot of time with the City Guards.

Gerhart is welcomed by the guards and they are co-operative. Johanna asks about the militated corpse. Apparently someone from the Merchant’s Guild identified him as one of their members, but someone from out of town and did not have any family here.

His name was Sven. From Scandinavia. The guard tells them the face was militated beyond recognition, but somehow someone from the Merchant’s Guild was able to identify him. He did not quite believe that.

G Teugen identified the body.

They return to the house and they are discussing what to do next.

Xavious and Adolphus discuss using Steinhager as their evidence against the others.

Bart proposes kidnapping more members of the cult and this consider which ones are the best. Xavious points out one of their members missed a meeting and has disappeared. They will be more suspicious.

Leon suggests writing a letter from Steinhager suggesting he has had to leave town for a few days to allay their suspicions.

They consider going after the lawyer. They get from Steinhager that his practice is Goldstein, Langsdan and Burger.

Leon has Adolphus write a letter to Councillor Teugen telling him he has had to go to Weissbruk on urgent family business.

They are interrupted by two members of the Merchants Guild who use keys to enter the house. They are surprised and told to enter the house. They say they are on Merchant Guild business, their supervisor told them to come here to prep the cellar as it is going to be used.

Their claims that others are following soon are recognised as lies. They are held in Hamish’s custody and Bart intimidates them into sitting still and silent.

They start to pack up and prepare to leave.

Bart proposes to drug the two Merchant Guild members with Laudanum and Schnapps. They will sleep for hours and they will be found unconscious, with cards and empty Schnapps bottles lying around on the table.

They consider what to do with Steinhager. They roll out the cart that they brought him in with and put him back on it, covering him with a blanket. He complains, but complies.

Leon suggests they go to Steinhager’s house and stay there, keeping the whole family under arrest.

They enter the house. Steinhager’s wife and daughter are pleased to see him. He asks to be taken to his room, he is not well.

Bart instructs the dower Frau Blucher that no work should be given that the Master has returned. She questions who he is, but agrees to comply.

Xavious orders Hamish to guard Steinhager and not let anyone in. His wife complaints, but Xavious tells her it is for him very soul and he will explain later.

Xavious arranges for Steinhager to confront his family. He shows them the contract that was around his neck and Steinhager confesses to his crimes. His family are distraught.

This confrontation lasts late into the night.

End of Episode Seventeen.