Immanuel Kalbfleisch

### Aliases

Commander of the Hexenjägers, Equerry, Chief Instructor of the Training Corps, Colonel, Constable

## Witchcraft is like a tree...

*"Witchcraft is like a tree, its roots lie in the darkness whilst its leaves wave in the sun and to those who suspect nought, it has an attractive and pleasing appearance. Truly, you can prune away its branches, or even cut the tree to the ground, but it will grow up again ever the stronger and ever more comely. Yet all awhile the root grows thick and black, gnawing at the bitter soil, drawing its nourishment from the darkness, and growing even greater and more deeply entrenched. Such is the nature of witchcraft , and this is why it is so hard to destroy, for it must be eradicated leaf, branch, trunk and root. It must be exorcised utterly or it will return all the stronger, time and time again, until it is too great to destroy. Then we are doomed."*

-Immanuel Kalbfleisch

## History

Older then the Reich he serves, Immanuel Kalbfleisch was born in the hardscrabble rural mountains in the Reich Nördlich. Joining the Hexenjägers was a way out of a life of miserable poverty for him. He served amongst the Hunter-Killer Auxiliary for many years, earning the respect of his fellow Hexenjägers for his knowledge of the wilderness and single-minded zeal. He was promoted to the rank of Constable by Wolfram Panzer, where he led the infamous Kalbfleisch Squad, which was known for its relentless pursuit of targets across long distances, and was known for ruthlessness and brutality even by the standards of the Hexenjägers.

Kalbfleisch has a rapport among animals, who he trains to spy for him. His closest guarded secret is that he was from a family of Shifters, human descended from lycanthropes. None of his relatives are still alive, and he can pass for human. Nonetheless, he would prefer for the truth to remain burred.

In his heyday, Kalbfleisch was one of the finest warriors in the Hexenjägers, and without doubt their greatest explorer. In old age, he is a pale shadow of who he once was, having lost many of his old skills. Nonetheless he still has a warrior's instincts, and is an unparalleled hunter.

## Personality

A mind too small for doubt. A man who has never questioned his own beliefs. Kalbfleisch is more old-fashioned than his predecessors, and conservative in his beliefs. Merciless regarding witches, he distrusts the New Arendurians, and does not think they have given up their old ways. He particularly thinks the Church is hiding something, and thinks the priests of the King are wielders of the arcane. His correct opinions should not be mistaken for real knowledge. Reise Forrawyn is quick to remind him that Scaevola and his priests have brought them fifty years of peace, but Kalbfleisch is contemptuous of the Kaiserin and of peace on false terms.

## War of the Philosopher-Kings

Constable Kalbfleisch and his squad were patrolling too far from Hauptstadt to respond to the muster-at-arms. Kalbfleisch would forever bear the shame of having not fallen in battle alongside Franz Forrawyn at the Northern Dome.

## After the War

*"There are those amongst the Hexenjägers who say that I seek advancement for my own purposes, and they are correct. My purpose is to destroy the witch and if I must rise to command the entire Corps to do so, then so be it. I am a servant of the Kaiserin and only those who consort with the arcane need fear my ambition."*

-Immanuel Kalbfleisch

Kalbfleisch was later transferred to the main branch as a Colonel by Hermann Shriver, and was later promoted to Chief Instructor of the Training Corps. He later became Equerry to Hermann Shriver, and was chosen by Reise Forrawyn to succeed him as Commander of the Hexenjägers.

## The Great Awakening

Immanuel Kalbfleisch would follow Mareike Maus into exile. He would perish aboard the *IMS Franz Forrawyn* during their suicidal attack against the Windwalker.

## Kalbfleisch Squad

The Kalbfleisch Squad, a squad of Hunter-Hunter Auxiliary led by Kalbfleisch when he was only a Constable, had dwindled to only four surviving members, as the others have perished to age, illness, or battle. They are all elderly now, and Immanuel Kalbfleisch keeps them close at hand, making sure they are comfortable in their retirement, and occasionally calling upon them for their company and advise.

The squad has three survivors now, a barbarian, a rogue, and a fighter. They once had a monk and a paladin named Arndt Ebner and Ludolf Bäcker, but they are long dead.

* Urs Andres: "The Savage Beast," a truly crazed berserker.
* Eugen Kappel: "The Bounty Hunter," an information gatherer.
* Sven von Grimmelshausen: "The Huntsman," the best tracker in the Hexenjägers.

## Potential Successors

* Alexander Braband, Field Marshal of the Golem Division - technological visionary
* Gereon Weigand, Grand Master of the Order of the Imperial Eagle - the favorite of the nobility
* Roger Adler, Gauleiter of Nadezhda - the favorite of the political class
* Ivo von Ingersleben, Special Agent General - considered the best strategist and investigator
* Colonel Sepp Keller - stellar military record
* Colonel Rolf Southers - well-liked in Guilddon with many merchant connections
* Colonel Lothar Strohkirch, Equerry to the Commander - hardliner favored by Kalbfleisch