During the months after the onset of the winter's snows there is little hard, honest labour to be done beyond the clearing of snow from the streets in front of a person's dwelling. Every householder is required by town law to keep the ways clear on the frontage of their building. Ironically this is one time when those who toil and strive well, and gather the earthly rewards that the Lord grants as marks of favour on their industry, find they toil the harder for it - for they will no doubt reside within good properties in spacious streets where the snow can fall all the thicker, while the indigent poor and feckless inhabit crowded hovels often so overhanging the back streets that top storeys are separated by barely an arm's length so that little snow enters and when divided up between the multitude who claim (or rather, are allocated to clear by the Guard in such areas) the frontage represents the work of but a moment to brush aside. Indeed is the Lord's subtlety great, for can His intention be but to thus dissuade the worthless from exerting themselves in improvement of their station to the detriment of the more deserving?
The period of enforced physical idleness does not leave the pious and conscientious with nothing to do. During the few hours of pale grey daylight and by the yellow flickerings of lamps be they rich and bright, or merely a smoking tallowed rush dip, now is the time for study of the Testaments, the composition of new tracts, and other usages leading to spiritual improvement.
Unfortunately not all are pious and conscientious. And there is a well known saying concerning the propensity of the Fallen to take advantage of such. But the close proximity in which winter holds people often reveals the schemes and mischiefs much earlier than would otherwise be the case. Many enquiries that later lead to the cleansing flames roaring and crackling in Temple Court are started by hints and whispers in the dark months.
The early signs of troubles were soon to appear in the fresh year - the third daughter of Gunter Weiss, a landholder of moderate estate, fell into fits and frenzies whenever the name of God was spoken during family prayers. An obvious case of possession which was quickly dealt with by Heinz Stein, priest of the Westgate Church within whose parish the Weiss household lies. The victim was brought to the church with the assistance of the Calvinists, for the devil within her struggled mightily, where Stein conducted a service of exorcism driving the fiend forth in the shape of a large and grotesquely twisted rat with a cat's head so all present attested. As the creature attempted to escape the House of the Lord, Anders Grasse, one of the Calvinists present was favoured enough of the Lord to be the one that struck it down, crushing the abomination with a mighty throw of the great iron-bound Bible which was close to hand. An unusual way of utilising the Word of the Lord against His enemies, but as efficacious as more normal methods.
When so just a reward will find the black one who did by the devilish and wicked arts of witchcraft struck blind a common Guardsman of the City, one Werner Pfifer, yet remains to be seen. However in the last days before the thaw in early March did the brave guardsman lose the sight of his eyes while standing his duty in one of the rooftop posts which guard the airs of New Jerusalem from v the intrusions of the flying minions of the Devil. It was a fine clear day, with sunlight sparkling off the snow covered wastes as though in imitation of the dazzling glory of Heaven itself, when those in the streets and houses below the guard station heard the shrieks and piteous cries for assistance of the stricken guardsman. Once an inspection by the duty Sergeant of the Guard did not uncover any signs of overindulgence in cold-combatting schnapps it was realised that the man was stricken by no ordinary affliction and he was hurriedly taken to the Temple. After a week's prayer and several attempts at exorcising the malicious principle which had taken up residence in the Guardsman's eyes the Divine Providence granted a degree of success and partially restored the gift of sight.
No sooner had the snow started to yield to the sun's renascent warmth than fools must be gathering together, girding themselves for battle and walking out into the wilderness as if they knew neither care nor proper fear of the dark things that lurk outside the elect domain of New Jerusalem.
The first to venture forth were much the same party as had been driven back into town at the commencement of the snows, after their rash and hurried departure in search of their ex-comrade the miscreant Gerdson. So once more Alexeivitch Razhabriekov, Beren Gerhardt and a few other persons anxious to lose their good names by associating with them passed beyond sight of the town. Within a few days they returned, bearing the almost traditional giants' heads and ungodly treasures looted from the corpses.
Also noticeable was the amount of powder returned to the Town Powderstore by the proprietor of the Giant's Head Inn, Beren Gerhardt. The idle conversation of members of his entourage indicated that the great quantities he carried were to supply some form of small cannon which he now carries with him - several stated that they would rather not be standing close to the man should he ever suffer a serious misfire. No doubt the truth of the matter is somewhat exaggerated, but such stories can only help the Giant's Head maintain its reputation as the most orderly inn within the Wallside, and possibly out of it.
It was still March when the true dangers of the wastelands to life, limb, and more importantly, soul were vividly brought home by the return of (once more) Razhabriekov and his minion Ragnar Fischer in a state of considerable distress. Despite the latter's broken leg they went directly to the Temple and prayed there for some time before seeking treatment. Blackest sorcery was indicated by the fact that the afflicted leg was cleanly snapped without any other mark of either struggle or fall on Fischer's body, according to those who tended him. Those two who knew would speak to none but priests upon the matter.
At much the same time the another group of armoured vagabonds promenaded for several days beyond the sight of more sensible persons. The husband and wife team of the Volgers with the strangely self-named Ibn bin Hamad (the armour hirer, a scion of the Wolf family, the dyers), Dethorm Muller, partner of Beren Gerhardt at the Giant's Head, and a few people of little consequence. Their first trip bringing them little reward in the south lands they passed through town again on their way north into the forest which is much favoured of their class. v This did not bring them better fortune - upon their eventual return, a newcomer to the company, Adolf Wallenstein by name, was gone to meet his reward after falling from a tree, while the others appeared most disgruntled at having achieved nothing in their travels, save slaughtering a wild goat and gathering bundles of firewood, presumably so as to be able to cook it. They were heard to be discussing whether these goods would offset the expenditure of powder they had made, presumably whilst goat hunting.
With all those who wander abroad from the town currently discouraged or disabled April looks set to be a quiet month. It is to be hoped that more of these people will follow the example of Ragnar Fischer who, while always a more devout man than the majority of his fellows, after his experiences of the unholy forces outside has turned even more closely to the Lord for guidance, and is now applying himself to studying scripture whilst his bones mend. It is thought likely that he is intending to request and Examination of Orthodoxy in the near future.
In early May the Calvinists saved the town from a diabolical plot when five people were brought to trial on charges of heresy - one being a priest of the accursed and corrupt so-called "Catholic" church the others being secret traitors to the town, plotting to subvert our True Church by holding secret idolatrous meetings and seducing the weak in faith from the paths of righteousness. The evidence presented by the Calvinists to the Council of the Faith was incontrovertible, consisting of idols of the corrupt faith, the sacred texts hidden from the gaze of the true believer by cloaking in the old language, that only the trusted servants of the repressor of true belief may be allowed to (mis)interpret it, and the gaudy robes of the Mass, intended to distract the minds of worshippers from consideration of the Truth. It was also shown how the worm in the ointment gained access to the town disguised as a guard of a merchant train - trade with the outside having been long regarded as a potential threat to the spiritual integrity of the town. The Town Council will be considering measures to improve the physical safety of the town and control over such individuals.
In the face of the evidence presented no defence was possible and the prisoners were instructed to plead their guilt and throw themselves upon the mercy of the Lord (as if he would have any on such corrupt souls). The heretics Casper Schwekenfeld, Georg Defflinger, Allart Everdingen, Philip Hainhoffer, all of Landholder stock and Lazarus von Schwendi a so-called priest departed this life in the manner fit for all their kind, at the stake on Temple Court Sunday 14th May 1636
The Devil was not slow to take revenge for this setback, by going about the town at night in June, making false cries of "Fire" to the great and natural distress of all who heard them. Having thus terrorised the town for several days he cunningly relented that people should relax their guard, and bided his time.
In the meanwhile various parties of rogues set forth to seek their earthly fortunes by the sword and gun rather than engage in honest labour building rewards in Heaven rather than earth. Mostly v their travels in the wastes availed them naught though in mid-June the Volgers and Beren Gerhardt (half master of the Giant's Head) with others returned weary and begrimed after a forced march from the depths of the grim northern forests, warning the Town Guard of two they thought might follow them and speedily then passing on to the Temple where certain objects were subjected to a full exorcism having come from the hand of the of the Greater Imp himself. Later that day and through the night the works of the Altenburg printing shop resounded to the sounds of urgent labour and in the morning a selection of posters bearing the names of the Town and Calvinist Guards gave the descriptions of two men witnessed by Gerhardt and companions involved in the rite of summoning with a master sorcerer - his demonic power was not enough to hold his soul back from the torments of hell when his head was split by the two musket bullets fired by Volger and Gerhardt and doubtlessly guided by the hand of Providence. All were warned to ceaseless vigilance least these unsalvebly corrupt souls should attempt to regain safety in New Jerusalem, having fled into the wilderness abandoning all their belongings upon the volley of musketry that announced Divine Vengeance to be at hand!
It was on the 28th June that the opportunity the Master of Hellfire awaited occurred. In the Westgate an untended pot on the hearth of one Manfred Weiss, a labourer of the fields, was discovered by the Mischievous One who with his fiery breath heated it to bursting point so that hot coals scattered across the room, igniting it and contents. The Hand of the Lord however protects his humble servants from evil, and caused a window shutter on the street side of the burning room to be slightly open and a party of Town Guardsmen to be passing, who promptly raised the true cry of "Fire!" and organised bucket chains. As this was being done Ulrid Wiskemann, apprentice with the Wiskemann family firm of Scriveners most courageously plunged into the smoke to search the building's upper levels for any injured or trapped - though there were none and with the prompt action of the bucket chain the fire was rapidly extinguished, these facts in no way diminish the importance of his action for to chance one's own life for the benefit of one's fellows brings great rewards in Heaven. It seems a shame that he has been an adventurer and has thus rendered himself extremely unlikely to claim such rewards.
The fire rather overshadowed the return a few days later of the Volgers (husband and wife) with companions from an unusually long stay out of town. Gustav Volger then spent several days assembling a strong party of irredeemably committed adventurers, for some great act of plunder in the far north. Arrangements being completed the group of the Volgers, Beren Gerhardt, Assam Blucher, his servant Graft, and Zebedee Drebbel set out to the north in the first week of July. It was the mark of Heaven's disfavour upon this venture that no sooner had they set out than a long series of summer thunderstorms drenched town, countryside, and adventurers' powder. They straggled into town after almost two weeks trying to maintain a charge of dry powder in steaming midsummer forest, as a mark of their disgust each bore a bundle of firewood to make some slight profit of their journey.
At much the same time as that party set out two ragged figures staggered from the wilderness to immediate arrest and trial on the basis of the evidence given the previous month by the Volgers, v Gerhardt and allies after the destruction of the sorcerer. Meyer Vandbach and Kraft Lauter, strangers for the west went to meet their master amid the smoke and fire that prepares sinners and heretics for their next world.
Early in the month the forces of the Volgers, Jacob Graft and some companions returned to town telling of deeds done in the Lord's work, to whit the destruction of a nest of devils somewhere to the north. While unable to slay all, by their resolution in allowing neither slingshot nor sword blow to turn them from their purpose despite wounds, especially amongst the less experienced campaigners of the party (Zebedee Drebbel being particularly troubled) they succeeded in slaying the chiefest of the demons and driving forth the lesser doing much execution amongst them, finally putting to the torch and otherwise destroying certain blasphemous devices found in the fortress of evil.
Upon the night of Monday the 21st the Calvinist Guard mounted a raid in some force against certain houses about town, though there were no arrests on charges of heresy or blasphemy that normally follow such events. Privately the Guard admit that some, though not all, of the households visited were suspected in taking part in certain sinister rites at the time of the full moon (which night it was upon that date) in secret locations. The visitations by the Calvinists were not so much in hope of catching the celebrants in the corrupt acts, rather to determine if any should be absent from their beds without satisfactory explanation. Certainly there were those found whose activities upon the night were of questionable nature, though no more diabolical involvement was found than common immorality charges were needed to deal with. Anke Lutz and Karl Drebbel spent the rest of the week in (separate) stocks after a whipping to remind them that adultery is a sin in grave breach of the Commandments, and each thereafter in church to sit upon the sinners' stools immediately below the pulpit as being in greatest need to clearly hear the word of the Lord during the service and sermon.
In the aftermath of the raids little notice was taken of the activities of those who spend their time wandering hither and yon instead of spending it in beneficial tract-reading or improving prayer until it was realised that a party including Beren Gerhardt (of the Giant's Head) and Jacob Graft amongst others, was much overdue. Finally after a month's absence they reappeared from the east telling of their rescue from a pack of wild dogs of an old man found to be bereft of his wits. Upon clearing the dogs' cave wherein the prisoner was found the party set to work improving the natural fortification of the area with a blockhouse. The Lord of Hell soon reacted to this annexation of territory so recently his own, sending his servants to harass and confound their toils. As the four (Albrecht Durer and Henryk Wolff being present in addition to those two mentioned above) would not be turned aside from their purpose a pitched battle resulted on a night when much powder was burned and bloody work done by sword and shot. The power of the Enemy in this place was in the main part broken though they caused bloody wounds to the defenders of the redoubt and nearly overran them by weight of numbers, engagements being fought within the walls at which time the fool was deprived of his life in a cowardly act that might have been expected of the spawn of evil, he being in no ways able to defend himself. The building was then completed and left supplied against the next occasion that the builders or their fellows should happen that way. Despite earnest enquiries upon their return to town none could gather any clue as to the identity of the mazeling.
Soon after their return a vicious and bloody series of fights erupted in the Wallside district. While some blamed these on the four telling tales of gore to inflame the passions of feckless and idle spirits in that district the explanation more commonly accepted, most importantly by the Town Guard, was a settling of scores between criminal bands. Certainly the Guards are known to view the loss of certain lives as unregrettable, though they did of course investigate to the best of their abilities in attempts to bring the murderers to the gallows they found it impossible to do so - especially as several suspects to earlier killings appeared dead in the streets later in the week. In all fully half a dozen unlawful killings were accounted, it is thought that others will only come to light in the Lord's good time, as murder will always out.
Jacob Graft and friends gained much material reward for, they implied, little effort when they searched more thoroughly than their predecessors the ruined and haunted castle that is spoken of lying to the southwest, a frequent visiting place of the explorers. Rather than seeking out the normal dens of the abominations living thereabout thorough exploration was made, which careful work revealed an ancient stock of arms and armour. From this they selected those pieces in best condition and brought them back, the sight of such olden stuff causing much interest amongst the merchants who have out-town dealings, for while it of little practical use to the honest man such as resides in New Jerusalem, certain types of fools in the western lands are vainglorious and desire to have the appearance of lengthy and honourable antecedents such as might be implied by armour of the olden style. This being the case a tidy profit was made out of the foolishness of such people.
The deterioration of the weather towards the end of the year and the preparations in field and town for winter kept most too busy to turn their hands to idle mischief making though of course certain parties were to be seen heading forth into the dank and dismal confines of the northern forest, only to return, sometimes within the week, with little to show as might be expected: honest toil not vicarious adventure is what brings true reward.
The winter bit hard and deep in early December with a series of blizzards that prevented even the most faithful from reaching church and caused many to consider unstitching their clothing and applying another layer of goose grease against the extreme cold.