Rumours

Gossip and Scandal

The Baroness

Although the Baroness keeps herself to herself, there are a series of rumours concerning her night time callers. Captain Leo Strotmann was said to be one of these callers, although now it is common knowledge he is courting Lady Frederica Zell. Marshal Eichhorn has been rumoured to have had an affair with the Baroness too, mainly due to the fact he often accompanies her everywhere, even if not strictly necessary. However, this rumour is also disputed by the contrary rumour relating to their falling out. Apparently Marshal Eichhorn was seen leaving her town mansion in a hurry, chased by his own men of the Baroness’s body guard

The Baroness is also said to have a problem concerning her love for the Sonnefurt wine, regularly consuming a bottle a night. This source has dubious backgrounds, but records show that a lot of wine is produced, and hardly any of it reaches further than the Villa. The source is also backed up by the Baroness' role in the Cult of Deanosus.

The Baroness’ regular disputes with the Countess Liebewitz are common knowledge. Sonnefurt has had many embargoes placed on it as the result of constant bitter and petty fights between the second cousins. The Baroness often refuses to appear at the Countess Court when she is summoned and the tensions escalate every year. It would be easy to convince the Countess to do more to restrict Sonnefurt prior to a takeover, crippling its economy and will to fight.

Marshall Eichhorn

I have already mentioned the Marshall’s alleged affair with the Baroness but other scandal surrounds the Marshall. The main rumour that is heard is a long established one. Many believe that Marshall Eichhorn was behind the mysterious death of former Marshal Kurt Salzemund. Of course, many dispute this rumour, claiming that it was the magic of Morr’s Chasm or even rat shaped humans who dwell in that area. These people are often however widely criticised and denounced as madmen and it is more commonly believed that the Marshall was behind the assassination. The Marshall stands firm on his stance it must have been rat men, but nothing has been done to section nor punish him.

General Rumours

The Solland Resistance

Solland Resistance plotters meet regularly in the basement of the Despot's Head Tavern and plot to take down the Baroness. Foiled attempts in the past have included a barrel of gunpowder somehow smuggled under the Baroness’ bed and trying to kill the Baroness as she rode in the Martinswald, slaying only one of her bodyguards. Despite these attempts the town watch have not yet located the key members, and this leads to belief they are being paid off by the richer rebels.

The insurrectionists came to their prominence during the war against Kroppenleben where street fighting broke out as many thought it was wise to take over Sonnefurt themselves and hand it to Kroppenleben, hoping to negotiate their own terms. The insurrection was lead by many of the Solland rebels.

The Sonnefurt Gentleman’s Club

The Gentleman’s Club is a publically known organisation in Sonnefurt but the rumour that surrounds it is its true business. The men of families of merchants and nobles join the Club which is now taking on a cult status within the town. Between them they own the vast majority of the town, rivalling Marius Blech for control of the town’s business. Membership is publically stated, and the most prominent members include Miengot Elzacher, Aldred Guttmann, Lord Herwin Augustus, Prince Lank and Lord Zell, father of Lady Frederica, meaning they have considerable sway on the town’s Council.

The Gentleman’s Club are fighting a secret war against Marius Blech for total control of the town, and they often utilise the courts to close down some of Blech’s enterprises. Crossing the interests of the Gentleman’s Club for anyone without considerable legal or physical protection is an incredibly dangerous undertaking, and many wrongdoers in the town have experienced the rich men’s vigilante style justice.

Marius Blech’s Underworld

Marius Blech definitely is a hot topic on the lips of the gossips in Sonnefurt. His meteoric rise in riches is not only reputed, but well known to be the doing of his criminal connections within the Dockyards. He owns The Cardinal’s Inn and is said to be its greatest customer. The brothel is apparently the base of his operations, but raids by the town watch have found nothing to prove his connection other than ownership.

Blech is a loan shark, involved in racketeering and money laundering, runs protection rackets and owns most of the homes in the Dockyards. He operates a smuggling business which brings in all manner of people from the Border Princes to Nuln and further on. His boats are never checked by the Dock Watch for fear of what they might find. His reputation comes mainly from the fear of his minions, particularly his Ogre bodyguards, who do more than just break legs in order to get money back or ensure Blech’s interests.

Local Myths and Legends

Morr’s Chasm

Morr’s Chasm opened in 1804, and reports all over south Wissenland, and from Karak Hirn tell of the ‘Witch Lights’ an unnatural green light that came from the Martinswald that night and glowed for weeks on end as Morrslieb neared the Old World. The Chasm itself no longer glows green but looks like a black abyss. Residents of Martinskorf are wary of the Chasm and venerate it with great suspicion.

There are several interpretations of the Chasm. As the name suggests, locals believed it to be an entrance to Morr’s Underworld, linking its opening to the nearing of his moon. Certain mad men claim it is an entrance to underground rat men caves and Dwarf records, which are incredibly hard to obtain, are said to corroborate with this view. Morr’s Chasm has been linked to the death of the former Marshal Kurt Salzemund and many others, but still no one knows the real reasons.

The Hermit of the Aschen Hills

The Hermit of the Aschen Hills is a folk figure in Thalfang and the entire region. No one knows his origins but many claim he is a sorcerer of dark orientation. The fact that no one can remember a time without the hermit adds to the claim he is not mortal. Anything bad that happens in Thalfang, the failure of the harvest, the failed childbirths, birth defects, disease and a myriad of ill omens, is blamed on the hermit. The Hermit is used to convince children to behave, claiming he will eat their soul if they do not obey their elders.

Scholars from Nuln studying the folk history of the Empire believe the hermit may be just one of a series of cult leaders and magisters of the many dark cults that penetrate the Empire. They also believe that his power extends further than just failed harvests, and believe the various hermits have chosen the Aschen Hills for a reason, perhaps for summoning foul demons. Attempts to hunt down any of the hermits have proved fruitless and have since been stopped to avoid unnecessary danger.

The Ghosts of the Dieten Hills

The eastern side of the Dieten Hills houses an ancient barrow of a former tribal chieftain. Residents of Ertingen and Strazen have always been wary of the hills, and wives tales warn anyone from wandering across the mountains alone. Howls of wolves and whistles of unnatural winds on the hills terrify any travellers and as such the Ertingen-Strazen Road skirts the Dieten Hills.

Reports from the Soll River Patrol of battles against the undead near the Dieten Hills are massively disputed by all but the madmen of the region. Although superstitions regarding the undead exist in the region, no one believes the dead will walk to the extent they do further north.