Events in the Grünberg

[Dr.Tesla]

The ground just dropped from underneath him as he approached the North Reik Bridge. The bridge itself was less than 10 years old and was built in the late 76XXs as part of an initiative of a former Anführer. The bridge was a replacement of the former stone bridge of the Südreich, the former name of Helreich in the times of the first Stoldavic Empire, that was deemed not as productive as the needs required, and was quickly put out of industrial, state use. The North Reik bridge itself wasn’t much farther north than Grünberg and linked the predominantly industrial south to the vast resources of the north and further connected the industrial south to the great industrial city of Grünberg and onwards into the lands to the north within the Reik Basin, Stoldish Mörenburg.

*Knock, knock, knock*

The Anführer was caught off guard, ripping his attention from the train car window and back into the minimalistic cabin and the officer that had opened the hall door.

“My Anfüher, Matthias Reisenburg, we are fast approaching Grünberg, we are approximately six minutes ahead of schedule and we have been radioed.” After a slight pause, the officer continued, “Apparently there is a Mr. Franz Hölber that is waiting for you at the station and needs to speak with you.”

“Mr. Franz Hölber? Then radio back that I will speak with him. Have him guided to my motor caravan and in particular, into my vehicle.”

“Yes my Anführer, that will be done right away.”


Franz Hölber sat uncomfortably inside the Anführer’s automobile within the caravan. After waiting a bit, Anführer Reisenburg’s silhouette appeared out of the station. His personal guards have already secured the station, so Franz wasn’t surprised to see him walking alone to the automobile.

As he entered the automobile, the typical greetings one does when addressing the Anführer takes place, nothing too particular such as those of Monarchs or Royalty. After the greetings, the Anführer got comfortable and made the first word.

“So what honor do I owe to see you, Mr. Hölber? The last time I remember, you were ordered to stay within Vittmark and handle your post of Ambassador to the peoples of Vittmark.”

“Don’t worry my Anführer, I have made this journey for good cause. Progress in Vittmark is slow but moving, we have a few Häverist schools open to children from 5-12 and a couple more planned or being planned. We have representatives of Häverism in practically every major town along with traveling representatives who travel to all places worth being visited. We have hit a major roadblock with the construction of the Northern Stoldavic University. They aren’t taking the idea of Häverist education forcing its way into their new and fragile nation. Queen Anna av Kulla knows of the constantly growing influence of Häverism within her new country. But on the other hand she also knows that the spread of Häverist missions opens up citizens to proper education, something that Vittmark lacks dearly. Mostly in the south, the lands within the Reik Basin.” He ended his progress report in an awkward pause.

“And what of the Queen? Ha…” He was cut off by a flash of light and a sudden motion. The automobile stopped as the front end of the car hit the ground. There was nothing left of the front end of the Anführer’s automobile.

Ringing, loud ringing brought a sense of silence to the panic that ensued. Dazzled, Franz tried to focus, he was noticing blood, and the driver body wasn’t in the seat two seats in front of him. Looking to his right, he could see the Anführer regaining his posture and pulling out a handgun. I should probably do the same… Franz thought, but realized he was disarmed when he was escorted to the Anführer’s automobile. Then he saw it: Two men in full combat gear running towards him. Just as they approached other side of the street, gunfire could be heard. An automatic weapon opened up on the caravan.

Taking cover became the first priority as bullets started to puncture everything that wasn’t thick metal. Franz looked to his right and noticed that the Anführer was no longer there: the door was open. The Anführer took cover outside of the car and was returning fire with his personal guard. His handgun let loose round after round. Franz, weaponless, picked up a revolver by the Anführer. Within a second of getting a hold of the revolver, he turned towards the oncoming attackers. Within two minutes of firefighting, local Enforcers approached from the rear, giving the Anführer's caravan the necessary support to take down the attackers. In less than 3 minutes, it was over. The Anführer lived through an attempt on his life. 7 casualties were tallied.

[Dr.Tesla]

The events that occurred in Grünberg did not help the Anführer’s security detail’s mood. Matthias Reisenburg made it out unscathed, but it did rattle the entire security detail. An investigation from the train station clerks, to the automobile drivers, to the man on the side of the street who was watering his garden began. But as three weeks passed, they were only able to identify the shooters and track where their firearms were manufactured. Of the seven bodies were found, six were unidentifiable in the Commonhold’s records. These men had no connection with the distribution apparatus, so had no access to foods and supplies within the Commonhold, the mystery of the attackers grew. The seventh body was simply a 17-year old boy from Grünberg. He was chosen to be processed into the Commonhold Army when he reached the age of 18, take his vows as a citizen soldier of the Commonhold’s Army. Interviews from friends and family confirmed what the investigators thought. The boy was a capitalist sympathizer.

On the other six men, their records were found but incomplete in New Stoldavian records. They appeared to be six random people from all across the Commonhold of New Stoldavia, New Sündentor, and occupied Dhonowlgos. After close analysis, they were all discovered to be forgeries. Nothing more could be found. The men just “appeared” into the records with false names. Even their weapons led to confusion.

On the weapons found by the attackers, no weapon was of the same make or manufacturer, but all were cleverly modified to carry the same caliber rounds. Masterly crafted and carried-out modifications. Of the weapons, two were Antaran, one was of a small Vittmark weapons manufacturer near Skara, two Hellish made firearms that could be found anywhere within the Commonwealth, an Istanian firearm, and oddly a Yan machine gun.

None made sense to the investigators. The coordinated attack was clearly of foreign origins, and were cleverly covered-up so that they couldn’t be traced…