The Funeral of Matthias Veyr
Second Town: Vauclerc — Social Investigation Encounter. A somber, grounded fantasy funeral; adapt all religious symbols and rites to the Game Master’s setting. No specific deity, doctrine, or Christian imagery is assumed.
1. Arrival During the Funeral Procession
The characters enter Vauclerc in the late morning. Unlike Stahlburg, there are no dancers staggering through the streets. The market is quiet, most shops are shuttered, and the only sounds are footsteps, distant bells, and occasional muffled sobs. A funeral procession moves slowly toward the burial ground.
Four pallbearers carry a dark wooden coffin draped with a cloth bearing the insignia of the local faith. Keeper Othmar Bell walks ahead with temple attendants. Behind them follow town officials, members of Matthias Veyr’s household, and several dozen villagers. Some mourners are visibly recovering from the dancing sickness: one has bandaged feet, another uses a cane, and a young woman still trembles.
If questioned, a villager might say: “The dancing stopped when they sealed the old well. But not everyone lived long enough to see it.” The party may follow the procession, approach bystanders, or explore while the town attends the burial.
2. The Funeral Itself
The procession ends at a modest burial ground beside the temple. The grave is freshly dug; wet earth lies in a mound beside it, and several neighboring graves are recent. Keeper Bell speaks of Veyr’s service, his influence within the faith, and the suffering the town has endured. He alludes to responsibilities beyond Vauclerc without explaining them.
Keeper Bell says: “Matthias Veyr served faithfully, though much of his work was known only to those who shared his burdens. May his deeds be remembered, and may those who remain find peace.”
The coffin is lowered and mourners scatter earth upon it. There is no supernatural spectacle. Veyr genuinely died from poisoned water, as other townspeople did. The funeral is real. GM truth: Konrad deliberately targeted Veyr through that water; the murder is hidden among the outbreak’s other victims. Afterward the mourners disperse toward the temple hall, homes, infirmary, and sealed well.
3. Roster of NPCs
Keeper Othmar Bell — Senior Cleric
Where: Procession, burial ground, temple hall. Disposition: Respectful, cautious, protective of the faith’s reputation. Knows: Veyr corresponded with Brother Aldren in Stahlburg and occasionally attended private religious meetings. Does not know the full purpose of the Order of the Sacred Vigil or the circumstances of Elias’s death.
Marta Eber — Town Physician
Where: Funeral, then infirmary. Disposition: Exhausted, methodical, skeptical of supernatural explanations. Knows: Veyr showed the same symptoms as other afflicted people; new cases diminished after the old well was closed. Can provide patient records, a timeline, and observations about the water.
Reeve Tomas Grell — Town Administrator
Where: Burial ground, town hall. Disposition: Wary of outsiders and concerned with restoring order and trade. Knows: When the outbreak began, how the well was identified, and when it was sealed. Can provide official records and permission to inspect the well.
Elsbeth Kruger — Veyr’s Household Steward
Where: Funeral, Veyr’s residence. Disposition: Loyal, grieving, protective of Veyr’s privacy. Knows: Veyr received sealed correspondence, including letters associated with Brother Aldren, and sometimes met visitors privately. With sufficient trust she may allow inspection of remaining correspondence. She does not know the underlying conspiracy.
Jakob Fenn — Recovering Afflicted Townsman
Where: Burial ground, sealed well. Disposition: Nervous, outspoken, bitter about the authorities’ slow response. Knows: His household used the old well; several nearby households fell ill at roughly the same time, while those using other water sources were less affected.
4. Reaction-Based Information
Use the chosen game’s normal reaction or social rules. The characters’ writ from Prelate Anselm Rott provides legitimacy but not automatic trust. Respectful conduct at the burial, aid to survivors, and credible explanations may improve reactions; disrupting the ceremony, threats, or public accusations may worsen them.
| Reaction | Behavior | Information offered |
| Hostile | Refuses questioning; may summon the reeve | Only public facts about the funeral and recovery |
| Unfriendly | Reluctant and guarded | The well was sealed before the sickness ended |
| Neutral | Answers ordinary questions | Witnesses, Veyr’s public position, and the town’s recovery |
| Friendly | Shares personal recollections | Veyr’s private meetings and correspondence with Aldren |
| Very friendly | Provides introductions, records, or access | Assistance examining correspondence and investigating Veyr’s connections |
A favorable reaction never gives an NPC knowledge they do not possess. Essential evidence should remain discoverable through alternate means, including the sealed well and public records.
5. Locations and Possible Encounters
| Location | Encounter or opportunity |
| Burial ground | Witness the funeral, meet Keeper Bell, hear villagers discuss Veyr |
| Temple hall | Attend the modest funeral meal, speak with mourners, learn about Veyr’s associates |
| Infirmary | Examine records and confirm Veyr died from the same affliction |
| Sealed well | Inspect the water source and question survivors |
| Veyr’s residence | Speak with Elsbeth, explore private correspondence and visitors |
| Town hall | Obtain outbreak records, well-closure dates, and official testimony |
6. Important Clues
The poisoned water: Vauclerc recovered after its contaminated well was sealed. This may confirm suspicions about Stahlburg or provide the party with a reason to investigate its water supply.
Matthias Veyr: He died of the sickness, but was an influential religious official with responsibilities and connections beyond the town.
Brother Aldren: Several witnesses know that Veyr corresponded with Aldren in Stahlburg. He is a plausible person to question about Veyr’s private religious affairs. The party should not yet learn about Canon Severin Kessler, Elias, or the true purpose of the Order.
7. Possible Outcomes
| Outcome | What the characters gain | Where it leads |
| Thorough investigation | Water evidence, medical records, Aldren’s name, correspondence | Return to Stahlburg with multiple leads |
| Partial investigation | Confirmation that closing the well ended the outbreak | Return to act on the water discovery |
| Strong social success | Cooperation from Keeper Bell and Elsbeth; possible records | A stronger reason to seek Aldren |
| Hostile reception | Limited testimony, but public records and the well remain accessible | Further investigation or return to Stahlburg |
| Early departure | Basic account of the recovery and funeral | Their original commission remains unfinished |
8. How the Chapter Ends
The party should have a practical reason to return to Stahlburg: deliver evidence about how the outbreak ended in Vauclerc, investigate Stahlburg’s wells, and continue their original commission. They may also wish to speak with Brother Aldren about Veyr’s private religious connections.
On the return road, the party will discover that someone is prepared to use professional mercenaries to stop their investigation. The next chapter plays out the ambush and its possible consequences.