Tassing's Early History

**Tassing's Early History** is an Act 3 quest in *Pentiment*.

## Stages

### Pagan Stories

Mother Illuminata's letter suggested that Martin Bauer - or his family - might have a book on Tassing's history. She also thought I should write to Mathieu, Kiersau's old sacristan, about the Christian history of the town. Ill Peter has been around forever. He might remember some of the old stories. Black Til's grandfather read a lot about Tassing's history. Maybe he's made it a family tradition. Smokey Köhler spends all his time in the forest. I think he might know something interesting about the ruins - or the mines.
### Black Til's Stories

Black Til told me that farmers in Tassing have found all sorts of tools and fragments of pottery from our pagan ancestors who once lived here. He said that he can bring them by the Rathaus if I want to illustrate them in the mural. It wouldn't make for a spectacular scene in the mural, but maybe just showing how our ancestors once lived would be a good thing.
### Ill Peter's Stories

Ill Peter told me a story about our ancestors and how they found Tassing. Raetus was a lord or a chieftain among our people. During a hunt, he found a wolf, but he noticed the wolf's paw was injured by a trap. He spared the wolf's life and the goddess Perchta used the wolf to guide Raetus and his people to Tassing's spring. The tribe settled in this valley and lived here until the Romans came. It's more myth than history, but it certainly makes for a nice story.
### Smokey's Stories

Smokey told me a story about the Romans. He said that the god Mars was hunting in the woods near Tassing when he heard a woman cry out. When he investigated, he found a satyr trying to have his way with a nymph. Mars took the form of a wolf and killed the satyr. The nymph rewarded him with her favors, and supposedly it... blessed the spring? Which blessed the lands around Tassing? It might be too carnal for the mural, but maybe I could use it.
### Into the Mines

I should find a way down into the salt mines. The people who used to work it may have left something behind.
### Use the Workshop at Home

I think I can make something to let me down into the mine safely. I just need to head home to use the workshop.
### Ask Baltas for Help

I'll need some tools to help me get down the mine shaft safely. I bet Baltas has something that can help me.
### Ask Apollo and Artemis for Help

Apollo and Artemis are always up to no good around the old salt mine. I should ask them if they know a safe way down the shaft.
### Into the Mines

I learned some interesting things from the pottery fragments I reassembled in the mines. I might be able to use this legend about Perchta in the mural. I also saw an ancient map of Tassing carved into the wall of the mine. There was a building on the map labeled "Mithraeum." I'm not sure what it means and I can't really figure out where it would be in our town today. Anyway, I can't use that part in the mural. It's just odd.
### Write to Mathieu

Now that I've decided how to portray Tassing's early history, I need to think about how to represent our early Christian history. Mother Illuminata suggested I should write to Mathieu Faucigny-Saux. He was Kiersau's sacrist and may be a good source of information.
### Write to Esther

I should write back to Esther to let her know all of the things that have been happening here.
### Go to Sleep

The letters are done. I should go to bed. I hope I hear back from Mathieu soon.
### Pagan Stories

Mother Illuminata's letter suggested that Martin Bauer - or his family - might have a book on Tassing's history. She also thought I should write to Mathieu, Kiersau's old sacristan, about the Christian history of the town. Black Til's grandfather read a lot about Tassing's history. Maybe he's made it a family tradition. Smokey Köhler spends all his time in the forest. I think he might know something interesting about the ruins - or the mines.
### Go to the Rathaus

I should head to the Rathaus and finalize my plans.