When they arrived at the location of the fourth monster, he decided to look around a bit. While the monster hunters were busy looking for the monster, he felt a part of his essence close by. A portrait of sorts. A golden goblet flashed before his mind’s eye. And really, when he looked up, he saw a row of portraits, furthest to the left, a familiar face popped up. Mind you, he thought they hadn’t quite managed to catch his likeness in the full, but it was close enough.
Now back to the more important search, the monster.
He remembered the Stock im Eisen clearly. Once a beautiful but frail tree had stood close by. After a vicious storm, one of its branches was close to breaking off, so a craftswoman had decided to mend its wounds by placing iron bandages across it, to support the branch.
And see there, it survived. A seemingly indestructible tree. Soon apprentices from all over hammered a nail into the tree, for luck, before they went on their wander-year. The tree, sturdy as it was, could hold their fear and provide safety. And thus the custom grew. And when do people need the feeling of safety, however frail it may be, the most? During a war.
It even got a name. Kriegsnagelung (War’s nailing). People were allowed to hammer a nail into a piece of wood after donating money to the war effort. A nail against the fear and money for the war. He remembered the Wehrmann im Eisen at the town hall, standing there stoically, full of nails. And he realised: someone had to do the hammering. A useful little thing. While everyone remembered the tree and the nails, the people too, everyone forgot the thing that diligently did the actual hard work: the hammer.
As soon as he’d thought it, the monster hunters were pointing upwards. There, on the corner, above the Stock im Eisen, did this man carry a hammer in his hand? It was hard to see. Perhaps one ought to zoom in a bit. Yes! There it was! A nifty little hammer, ready to be swung into action.
And when the hunters looked up, recognising it for its contribution it came to life, shedding all the negative energy off it. It had done the hard work, it had driven the nails in. Finally someone saw that.
Satisfied he followed the monster hunters onwards, but not before checking the map. Two points of interest caught his eye: the Roman Museum and another trace of him.
