Judenburg

It was a Thursday morning in the village as the villagers started to prepare for the annual village festival. They hoped that people would be less likely to disappear if everyone was outside and had an eye on each other.

Overall the weather was clear and it was warm as it was early summer. In the village plaza, the Rebbe and a couple others were looking over plans where the stands should be and that food and drink were all there. "Any idea where the beer is? And is someone making those tasty pastries again this year?" The Rebbe asked. Then one of the men said: "You mean the rugelakh with the poppy mixed into the cream cheese? Those were delicious. I bet someone will make it this year again. The beer should be in the shpaykhler (storehouse) near the Rubin elder's home." The Rebbe then nodded.

Meanwhile in the outskirts of the forest a woman in an outfit more suited for work there went slowly sneaking towards a grazing buck. She then took her rifle and aimed carefully. Then a shot rang through the forest. It was a good hit. The woman, named Tzaitel Mandelbaum, then dragged the dead buck to a hand cart nearby and loaded it onto the cart. Then she headed back to the village. She came down the hill and the Rebbe took notice. "Caught another big one? You never let your family or the village down." He said. Tzaitel then answered: "This one is for the butcher for the sausages for the festival opening this evening." A smile grew on the Rebbe's face and he said: "I look forward to them."

Early summers are delightful in Judenburg. The days are pleasantly warm, while vast blue skies reminds one of the oceans without end. The delicate scent of fragrant rose gardens are carried by the soft breeze around the village. The grass is still green enough from spring, giving the lawns and meadows a lushness about them.

It's been a long standing tradition that the Tannenbaum family bring their kasterd pirog and Milbenkäse kez to the village festival. The kasterd pirog is a these rather extravagant food, that the Tannenbaums would have to save their tsuker all year long for. They did not mind this, because this was a gesture of friendship to their beloved village family. No one loved the village festival more than Kezia. At the young age of 8, Kezia decided that her sisters and her should make the kasterd pirog instead of the servants. In their teens it became a competition to see who could make the most pirogs. Year after year Kezia would out do her sisters, making it well known she was the best.

This year as Kezia hurried about the kitchen, she couldn't help but think of the enchanted forest and those lost girls. Kezia was never afraid of the enchanted forest. She often dared to venture along the edge when she was young. Unfortunately, the tongue lashing she got for such a stunt only keep her safe by the edge for a few months. Eventually, she would finally succumb to her curiosity and test the limits again. When she got older, Kezia no longer stayed along the edge. but would sneak away into the enchanted forest. She could get as far as the sunshine would let her before the darkness became too eerie. Retreating quickly back to the safe edge, where she would kick herself for not being brave enough to go further. She vowed to herself that one day she would explore all the enchanted forest and see if the folklore about the trolls, bears, fairies, goblins, golems and witches were true. As of today, all she's ever seen is a hirsh and her two fons.

Aldrik huffed and wiped the sweat off his forehead with his glove covered wrist. Before the dawn he had set out into one of the many parts of the forest which man dared to enter and claim in pursuit of resources. With mighty swings Aldrik had chopped logs from the dawn into daylight. He feared nothing that had been said to roam the forest, and fearlessly he ventured in the early hours to get his work done quicker so that he would be able to fully enjoy the nearing festivities which Judenburg had to offer that very evening. Speaking of, Aldrik could already smell the epl pirog his mother would be be baking. The simple thought of it made his mouth water like a crazed animal. Sadly he knew the truth was it would probably be gone by the time he could get even a bite, but on the other hand there would be buckets full of other foods. Knowing that filled him with excitement.

While loading the last pile of firewood onto the back of a wagon, Aldrik couldn't stop his thought from flowing in the direction of those poor girls. While many would be busy having a good time, Strauss knew that he must keep a watchful eye and stay near the perimeter of the village in the chance that he could stop another girl from going missing. With the help of his fellow logger, Aldrik tied the stacked wood to the bed of the mobile with a rope while a third man got onto the seat. Climbing onto the back, Aldrik wedged his axe safely in between the woodpile and the sideboards. The man sitting at the front of Aldrik gave a little whistle and with the movement of the reins, the horses started to head back in the direction of their village.

As Tzaitel was about to go home, a hysterical woman came running into the village plaza. "My Lisel went missing! I was tending to my garden with my daughter when she suddenly disappeared! In one moment, I was talking to her and then I only turned away for a couple seconds and she was gone! If she had gone somewhere, she normally would have said something!" The woman said. Tzaitel and the Rebbe were shocked. A child went missing in broad daylight. Usually they went missing around sunset.

"Call our best men and women together. We need to establish a search party and best a group that will look into what happened with the other children." The Rebbe said. "Tzaitel, I want you to be part of the group. You are one of the people who knows the enchanted forest well and can survive it. One of the loggers should also be part of the group. Let the rest of the village know that we are looking for volunteers."

The men dispersed. "My grandmother can help too. She lives in the forest and knows it well since she formerly was a you know..." Tzaitel said. The Rebbe then said quietly: "A witch?" "Yes. Luckily she isnt one anymore." Tzaitel said. "But I should be able to best many of the men in terms of strength though and can watch the others backs." The Rebbe then giggled: "I can believe that, seeing you carry a buck on your back all the way down from the forest when you were 18 was quite the surprise. Meanwhile I bet you can rip the head off of a witch or a goblin." "I have in fact actually torn a hostile goblins head off before." Tzaitel said.

The Rebbe took a step back. "Oh my. That is somehow terrifying and disturbing. Well anyways let us wait for the others. They should be in good hands."

For festivals, Heinrich would usually be dragged out to the plaza by his overenthusiastic daughter, but she wasn't here. What was the point of going without his Ghissie? He stared listlessly at his hands. Heinrich was expected to be there. It was his responsibility. He repeated those two phrases to himself, and slowly, he got ready and left the house.

A few villagers greeted him as he went down the street, but he only gave a slight nod or blank look in response. It was rude, he knew, but none of the others took offense. Instead, they gave him pitying looks, which was worse than the anger they normally would have expressed.

He reached the plaza just as a woman started screaming about her missing child. Lisel. She'd been Ghissie's sometime playmate, and they'd often get dirty jumping in puddles. Slowly, Heinrich approached her and murmured a few consoling worlds. From anyone else, they'd sound condescending, but he knew. And that was why he couldn't stand by anymore.

"I volunteer to join the search," Heinrich said, low but clearly to the Rebbe. "I have a rifle, maps, and some experience with this sort of thing."

As much as he had hated leaving the village for his apprenticeship, Heinrich had to admit that he'd picked up his fair share of survival skills (and trouble) along the way. For once, he was grateful. He'd do anything to get his daughter back.

From the estate the alphorn was barely audio, but Kezia could pick out the familiar melody. Kezia hummed along, while she saddled her stallion. Outside the cart was being loaded with the family's kasterd pirog and Milbenkäse kez for their annual contribution to the festival. There was a hustle and bustle on the estate as all were preparing to leave for this much anticipated event. Kezia however, loved to ride into town first and check out the sights and smells before her family demanded all her time.

Reaching down to brush some hay off her trouser before she mounted Clove.Oh, how mother hates the fact that I am so independent. Touching her trouser once again, when she found the dress (I made these trousers from) wadded up in under my bed, she was furious.I didn't apologize. I simply stated I wanted to be a lady by not letting my nikkers hang out. If only she understood that a woman is so much more than a pretty trophy for a man to have. Hopping on her horse.....besides when I ride side-saddle I feel like I am going to fall of the horse. Cracking the whip she galloped off toward the village below.

As Kezia approached the village she stopped along the creek to let her horse drink. The alphorn was clear now and playing a song she used to dance to as a child. The low notes encircling her as she drifted from reality into a dream like state, reinacting the dance in her mind. Slowly swaying to the rhythm... when suddenly the alphorn stopped mid chorus, jolting her back to her reality. There was a low rumble in the village with a few high streaks of terror. Kezia could sense something was terrible wrong. No! It couldn't of happened again!!Whistling for her horse, she quickly mounted and galloped toward the village.

The plaza was a scurry of commotion. An uncontrollable woman was being consoled by other village women. Along the cobblestone road the preteen boys gathered rocks together, while planning their attack against the monster. To the side the Rebbe was talking to a group of people. Behind Kezia a voice low but purposeful voice startled her, "I volunteer to join the search," Heinrich said, low but clearly to the Rebbe. "I have a rifle, maps, and some experience with this sort of thing." That is the map maker, Heinrich, whose chatty daughter, Ghissie, was one of the first to disappear. I always liked Heinrich, but felt sorry for him. Raising his daughter alone must've been so hard. It was then that Kezia decided her life would be so incomplete without her family. She was luck. Poor Heinrich, had his only family ripped away from him."Rebbe are you taking volunteers? I can leave within the hour."

As the wagon rolled down the street, Aldrik caught wind of the ongoing uproar. He commanded the driver, a fellow woodsman, to halt and as soon the horses came to a stop Aldrik got off the back with his axe in hand. Walking down the stone street, his eyebrows pressed together in annoyance; it was already so clear. With the chatter and the emotions painted on the faces of those around, it didn't take even a second for him to realize what this was all about. He grit his teeth. Aldrik was rattled to hear that another child had gone missing and he was no longer game to join the festivities. Under his breath the blue-eyed man growled angrily for the fear struck into the hearts of his small community made him sick to death. “These disappearances must be put to an end once and for all.” Aldrik spoke up in a huff as he stepped in. In front of him stood people he recognized yet never quite interacted with. He was terribly forgetful when it came to names, but standing there was Heinrich, Kezia, Tzaitel, and the Rebbe. Other than the Rebbe the only one Aldrik actually did remember by name was Heinrich; he remembered anyone who had become a victim in this mysterious event. It was a very unfortunate thing. Although he wasn't a father and probably never will be, Aldrik could still imagine what he must be going through. The love a parent has for it's child is something special and like no other; Ghissie, she had to have been Heinrich's world and so Aldrik kept him in his thoughts.

Knowing that if it were one of his sisters that went astray into the hands of some monster, Aldrik would go to the ends of the earth to see them home safe and sound. The thought of it alone drove him wild. Nothing infuriated Strauss more than families being torn apart like this. Without a doubt Aldrik was going to join them on this search.
He was more than qualified because he knew the forest like he knew the village, and neither was Aldrik afraid of anything which lived in that godforsaken place.

Volunteers began to gather. Good men and women were present to volunteer to investigate the disappearances. Aside from Tzaitel, Heinrich, Kezia and Aldrik appeared to help. "Do we have any more?" The Rebbe asked. Tzaitel then answered: "My grandmother is bound to help but otherwise I am not sure who else might be willing to help. Many people are afraid of the forest."

"I guess this is it then. All we know is that there are eight children missing in total. Nearly all of them girls. This quest might take days, even weeks. But don't leave any rock unturned. I'd prefer to raze that damned forest but we cannot do that. Bring back whichever surviving children you can find." The Rebbe said.

"You can definitely count on me to kill any dangers to the group, no matter if it is a witch or a troll." Tzaitel said. "I might be able to get better equip from goblin merchants on the way."

"Tzaitel is right. The goblins do have better equipment." Kezia nervously spoke to the crowd around. "We will need some items to trade or funds in order to get equipment that will actually help us save our children. May I suggest we all pool together our best and most valuable items to trade with the goblins." Turning to the Rebbe. " I have to get back to my family estate. I promise I will return as quickly as I can. I will meet the group at the edge of the forest. Since it is closer to my home." Kezia galloped off before the Rebbe could reply.

Kezia's heart was still in her throat. Never before had she gave a speech in front of people. She couldn't help herself. She kept thinking the laughter of little ones was dying in the village she loved. Normally, she would enlist her sisters for help, but she just wanted to protect her family from the risks of the unknown. To avoid passing them on the main road, she took a trail through the adjacent property on the other side of the hill.

Once home, she took two stairs at a time to her room, grabbed her leather satchel, then raced to her father's library. With careful precision, she unlocked his gun safe and took the Krieghoff Trumph Drilling. Frantically, looking behind books and through drawers she could not find the gelts she knew her father had. Then she remembered......as a child playing under his enormous desk and there was a secret drawer and there she found the sack of gelt. She laid her treasures in the hall, then hurried off to her parents room. The beautifully polished marble jewelry box was a wedding present to her mother from her father. As she set aside the lid, she carefully took gems and jewelry that had less sentimental value than others. Replacing the lid, she gingerly put the jewels in a velvet sack and cinched it closed. Kezia gathered her items in the hall and dashed to her last place, the kitchen. In the velvet lined cupboards she collected all the silver candlesticks, pitchers, vases and placed them in her satchel. Wrapped the Krieghoff Trumph Drilling in a fancy tablecloth.

Before leaving she gathered some dried fruit, meat and water. Loading her goods on Clove she galloped toward the forest edge......