In search of the Nibelungen, the heroes went up the Roth River to Freiburg. Upon arrival, they contacted Wilma Probst and she agreed to send a message to the Nibelungen. While they hung out in Freiburg waiting for an answer, they found some things much changed, especially the rising Cult of the Drachen funded (and founded) by Redmund Erhart's sole heir, Hartmutt. Ferdinand was haunted by the ghost of Natalie Fazetti, and received a dream from St. Gregor about a monster terrifying the inhabitants of the Verzweiflung at night, the Mörderin. He told Constanza, and she convinced everyone to go monster-hunting in the Verzweiflung that evening.
Melisandre invited Wilma Probst to dinner, Lucas renewed his acquaintance with the apothecary Cleo Bellini, and Constanza discovered with delight that Captain Allende was in Freiburg again. Everyone reconvened at ten that night to go monster-hunting -- except Constanza who was out on a date with Allende and forgot the whole thing. The monster hunt was fruitless and everyone returned to the inn disgruntled.
In the morning, Lucas had the surprise of being visited by Jacques Lévesque d'Aur and Duchess Thérèse Rois et Reines de Rogné. It transpired that Lévesque d'Aur's uncouth behaviour a few months earlier has displeased the Empereur (it was too gauche). Although a duel was not authorized by the Swordsmen's Guild, Duchess Thérèse informed Lucas that, should he be able to find a non-swordsman to challenge Lévesque d'Aur to a duel (but not to the death), he would be tolerated to champion that challenger.
Then Allende showed up at the inn to invite Constanza to a breakfast at Cafe Kaffe, to Lucas and Melisandre's amazement. The two spent a lovely day visiting Freiburg. Meanwhile, Lucas renewed his Vagos contacts and received the mission of breaking into the rectory of the Cathedral to steal documents from Inquisitor Bascalle's former office. That night, he accomplished his mission with complete success, including the instructions to "accidentally" drop a few of the papers to leave a trail, but was wounded by a poisoned blade hidden in a lock. Wounded and feeling increasingly ill, he dragged himself back to the inn, hoping Melisandre could help him.
That same evening, Ferdinand went monster hunting again but all alone. After long hours of stalking, he was finally attacked by a creature that resembled a cross between a gargoyle and a werewolf, with long claws and talons. His fight was made even more difficult by the curse of the dead Strega, but he finally killed the beast. He was however raked by the venomous claws and much worse for the wear. He too sought Melisandre's help, dragging the body of the dead monster back to the inn. Melisandre sent for Cleo Bellini to help with the two poison victims.
Meanwhile, Constanza and Allende ended their visit of Freiburg with dinner at Exquisite Tastes. The evening started pleasantly enough, but the food was drugged and the staff disappeared. Allende went unconscious and Constanza stayed awake just long enough to put up a good fight against Riant Gaucher and Gerald Höhne of the Crimson Rogers. She passed out just as Julius Caligari arrived and drew a pistol.
Later that night, she woke up in what looked like an abandoned house. She heard Julius Caligari speak with Lucius Malveck, but when she opened her eyes the latter was gone. Caligari delivered a message to stay away from his uncle Vincenzo's business, which was reinforced by Riant Gaucher smashing all the bones in Constanza's left hand with a mallet. Both departed, leaving their prisoner under the guard of Gerald Höhne.
Höhne asked Constanza some questions about her knowledge of mathematics, so she managed to get him interested by explaining to him the problem of the aether compasses from the previous year. Questioning him, she learned that he was supposed to leave her there at midnight. Malveck was currently sneaking on board the Maris Stella to steal something, and was then to set fire to the powder room. But Constanza's morale nevertheless improved when she learned that just as Caligari had been about to shoot Allende earlier that night, someone had shown up to his rescue. She recognized the description of Philip Gosse.
Questioned about his episodes of homicidal mania, Höhne revealed that they happened every six months and were due to the Syrneth mask he could not remove. Constanza told him how Juan had had his claw gauntlet removed by the Queen of the Sky, and Höhne became frantic. Constanza agreed to help him look for Bryn Bresail and he freed her.
They raced back to the Maris Stella where they discovered that Malveck had stolen Simeon Orduño's old sea log and had already barricaded himself in the powder room. The ship and its surroundings were being evacuated by Constanza's crew. While Johann and his marines struggled to break down the door (and to get Constanza off the ship), Malveck used Porté magic to bring a powder keg on deck and detonated it, killing two marines and starting a fire.
The sound of the explosion alerted Melisandre, Lucas and Ferdinand at the inn, and they spotted the flames on the Maris Stella. They all raced back to the dock to help, while Malveck continued his little circuits to bring a couple more powder kegs. When he saw Lucas, Malveck cackled insanely to demand the return of the (long gone) aether compasses. He threatened to blow up the powder room, but after Höhne broke down the door Lucas managed in a spectacular, left-handed strike to deflect the match thrown in the powder.
Meanwhile, the Freiburg city guard showed up and insisted on cutting the Maris Stella loose despite Constanza's explanation that the current would simply drag the ship to explode near the downstream bridge. In the end, the guards started cutting the ship free and Constanza ordered her crew to stop them. Ferdinand gleefully joined in and sent the guard sergeant in the river head first.
Martina the Nibelung, who had also shown up that night, gave Constanza a large sword which she said had been forged in Bryn Bresail by a Nibelung centuries ago. The sword, she said, was created to "slay legends". Once the fire was under control, everyone returned to the inn and Cleo Bellini took Ferdinand to her shop and laboratory because he was in dire condition. Melisandre (who, it turned out, had been impersonated by her look-alike the previous day while she was staying at Wilma Probst's), saw to Lucas and later to Constanza, but could not heal them. A second potion from Cleo Bellini later that night took care of Lucas's case of poisoning. Constanza refused Melisandre's offer of a sleeping draught and decided to go seek Allende.
Just at that point, a commotion broke out downstairs in the inn. The heroes discovered a general melee involving a good number of Freiburg guards, against a rag-tag mob of crewmen from the Maris Stella and the Falcon's Roost. Without hesitation Ferdinand joined in the fight against the law enforcement forces of Freiburg, while Constanza and Melisandre skirted the edges of the fight.
Reunited with Allende, Constanza kissed him enthusiastically and they quickly exchanged news. Philip Gosse and his much-reduced crew had left already, leaving a note of thanks. Upon learning the treament Constanza had received on Julius Caligari's orders, Allende matter-of-factly promised to kill the villain. He also returned to Constanza the present he had given her ealier, and which had been left at Exquisite Tastes after the attack.
All agreed that it was time to leave Freiburg before more guards showed up. Melisandre packed everyone's luggage then took with her an escort of Maris Stellas to go warn Lucas, who was still at Cleo Bellini's. Lucas received this warning twice! Apparently, Melisandre's lookalike was still at work. He promised to meet everyone back promptly at the dock, but received another visit before that: Jacques Lévesque d'Aur came to attack him. Lucas took Cleo out the back door and escorted her to safety (to Logan Sieger's office), then returned to the Maris Stella. Despite a thunderstorm, both the Falcon's Roost and the Maris Stella departed Freiburg.
