Franz Lohner's Chronicle - An Unexpected Letter

An absent-minded man of mysteries, Franz Lohner relies on his bulging journal to keep track of occurrences, intrigues and arguments around Taal's Horn Keep. Sometimes his notes are even useful, believe it or not. The Franz Lohner Chronicles are extracts from that journal.

I find myself with what you might call a conundrum. 

One of my lads brought me a letter this morning. Not an unusual occurrence in itself, of course. Folk like writing to me. Others write to me because it’s the only way I’ll sign off on their expenses. And still more drop me the occasional line with interesting titbits out of hope it’ll stop me exposing their gross financial irregularities to the Imperial court. But I digress.

Suffice to say, I wasn’t expecting this particular letter, which purports to be from one Sofia Fuegonasus, our own Sienna Fuegonasus’ twin sister. Hard to tell whether that part’s true. By all accounts, Sofia’s dead and gone – at Sienna’s hand no less – but necromancers have a way of floating to the surface of the spiritual mire, don’t they? 

Now, I hear you ask, why would Sofia Fuegonasus – if Sofia Fuegonasus she truly is – be writing to Franz Lohner, innkeeper, raconteur and journeyman poet? Surely she’d be writing to her sister? Well, leaving aside the whole “incineration” incident, Sofia’s more interested in twisting the arm of yours truly. Specifically, she wants an assurance of my cooperation in some future deed. No details, not as yet, but you can bet it involves Sienna. There’s also an implicit promise that if I don’t do exactly as she asks, then some of my secrets will mysteriously come to light.

Which secrets? Well, the letter was a bit vague on that score and all, but there are certainly plenty to choose from, and more than a few that wouldn’t exactly endear me to current associates. Might get a bit ugly, you might say. The real question – and I speak as something of an expert in the field of arm twisting – is whether Sofia really knows anything, or whether this is a bit of a bluff on her part. Trouble is, there’s no way to know without actually calling said bluff. 

Only thing I know for certain is that I’m not going to talk to Sienna about this. At least, not yet. There’s still every possibility that it’s one of the lads playing a prank on their Uncle Franz, and I’ve got me pride – I don’t want to be thought a complete muggins. Yes, maybe it’s that. I’ll keep my ear to the ground.

If it isn’t, and this really is Sofia Fuegonasus, back from the dead and looking to involve me in something I’d rather be no part of? Well, that’s going to require a bit of careful consideration. I’ve a few tricks in me yet. Could be I manage to resolve this without anyone else finding out about it. That’d be nice. A man’s secrets are sacred.

Related note: I should probably hide this journal better.