Franz Von Falkenhyn

**Franz Von Falkenhyn** is a Human Bard/Warlock (*subclass*) and Player Character. Franz uses a combination of Bardic knowledge and unknown magic to augment his swordsmanship, using magic to position himself in better positions and strike high value enemies. His aristocratic sensibilities often cause problems for the party and land him in difficult situations when flexibility is called for. Franz's stratified views of social value and cutthroat approach to problem solving present many issues both moral and practical when facing a far more complicated world than Sirex noble circles trained him for. While his attitudes towards the party have softened, Franz is still hard headed in clinging to this way of making sense of the world and his own behavior.

## Franz Von Falkenhyn

https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Ibram\_Gaunt

### Relatives

Ludwig Von Falkenhyn, Bertrice Von Falkenhyn, Charles Von Falkenhyn (deceased), Frederic Von Falkenhyn

### Occupation

Noble, Intelligence Agent, Brigadier-General

## Current Status

Franz is currently a member of the party.

### Lingering Injuries

* **Arachnophobia** - Franz's encounter with Delphine's sorceress has led Franz to have a debilitating fear of spiders. No effect outside of roleplay.
* **Minor Neuralgia** - Developed from missile barrage. Resolved on its own in ten days. He has residual cosmetic burns.

## Background

Franz Von Falkenhyn is a Human Sirex native aged 40 (aged 35 pre magical attacks). When the Great Protectorate War broke out, the Von Falkenhyn family had maneuvered itself into top government posts by closely allying with the Oddleifus administration. During this period Franz studied at the Sirex Bard College and frequently attended the debauched parties hosted by Sirex political elites.

When Shahd ousted Oddleifus, the status of the Von Falkenhyn family deteriorated and their wealth slowly dwindled as lucrative government posts were denied and their beneficial tax deals were disbanded. Franz showed promise at the magics programs of the Sirex bard college and was earmarked for recruitment to the BMD, but his career was stalled by the change in administration and subsequent "disbanding" of the bureau.

As the war continued and the protectorate lost ground, Franz, denied any prestigious government posting, instead travelled to Nymeria where he had heard of strange magic and riches to be had. Arasaka put a premium on noble hires from Sirex, and offered him a place at their "mergers and acquisitions" division. This meant enforcing the Arasaka monopoly on goods deemed essential and squashing competition wherever it rose. Franz was dissatisfied with the room for advancement in the company after several years and concluded it was just another high society he had been outcast in. Subsequently he left Arasaka and sought power that couldn't be taken away by the whims of high society.

Franz eventually traveled back to Sirex and pestered cabinet member Mechiel Blankenspoor for a government position but instead was recruited by Shahd's intelligence agency in order to track down reports of a terrorist organization known as the Court of Owls. In return, Franz would be granted government positions and possible land suzerainty. This is where he was first introduced to the party.

## As An Adventurer

### Joining the Party

Franz was first contracted by Vigilance in order to keep tabs on the connection between the Court of Owls and Soleste. The intelligence Bureau needed eyes on the Church of Dol Arrah after unconfirmed reports of the terrorist cell infiltrating the Church. Using a cover identity as a liaison between the Church and the Noble faction of the city, Franz joined the party and ventured with them to an abandoned Court of Owls base.

### The Court of Owls Base

The court of owls investigation led to the deaths and presumed deaths of multiple party members. It ended in a large bomb going off in the warehouse district of Sirex and the eventual calling of martial law in the city. After the bomb went off, the party was attacked and only narrowly escaped from a Sigil construct that was hunting the abyssal blight present in Yazmin.

### The Crime Families of Sirex

Members of the criminal underground in Sirex were implicated in the Court of Owls terrorist plots, The party investigated Delphine, and learned a great deal about the criminal underground (and Franz acquired her black book so that Vigilance could make high profile arrests).

The party was captured by the gangs and tortured ( Franz was stabbed by an aging dagger). This backfired for the criminal families since Yazmin Vaughn's amulet, once confiscated, no longer had any effect on her werewolf blight, turning her into an abysmal monster that massacred the mafia group. The court of owls also targeted several crime family heads during the same event and an all out gang war ensued out of the power vacuum. The party ended up cooperated with the Shadow's hand gang, of which Eli was a member, against Delphine,

### Martial Law & Abducting Rengad

Franz continued to accompany the party as a cell of the Sirex intelligence agency, even going so far as to grant amnesty to Barnabus & Aelis and debrief members with Vigilance in order to build trust. This plan ended up backfiring as his cell was compromised by Sarovar Arland , a Tarrin intelligence agent working alongside the court of owls to destabilize the Protectorate. Vigilance and Franz's servant Bertram were subsequently murdered by Damian Rourke.