War Council Heuriger Aug 11

Summary

The international coalition assembled at the Heuriger Zum Rebstock under cover of a private dinner hosted by Major Andrei Volkonsky to finalize the assault plan against the University of Vienna. The council was interrupted by a Wächter attack.

Context

Every thread from Sessions 7-11 converged at this table. The party had assembled Russian military commitment (Session 11), Sardinian mercenaries (Session 12), university reconnaissance intelligence (Session 12), prisoner interrogation data (Session 12), and counter-ritual research (Session 12).

Participants

Investigators: Katherine Ward, Varrio Harrowmont, Georgiana Wentworth, Adrien de Montferrand, Emma Wentworth, Freddy Cavendish

Allies: Thomas Wyndham, Nell Coker, Major Volkonsky, Nikolai Volkonsky, two other Russian soldiers, Ferrante and his second-in-command + two men, Major Thurner, Fischbein (contract formalization), Pemberton (designated lookout)

Outcome & Consequences

Intelligence consolidated:

• Thurner confirmed Baron von Kaunitz fled Vienna two days prior, carriage tracked south toward Graz
• Katherine and Nell’s guard patterns and timeline shift laid on the table
• Bauer’s university map and interior intelligence reviewed

Assault plan:

1. Bauer dismisses the five external guards with pay and a story about changed orders
2. Rescue team (service entrance): Ferrante’s men and Adrien retrieve Caroline from the south corridor ground floor
3. Herzfeld team (main approach): Russian soldiers and remaining investigators secure Herzfeld’s office and push to the cellar
4. Pemberton outside as lookout and hostage receiver
5. Georgiana proposed a counter-ritual using the tuning fork: Russians accepted, Sardinians skeptical

Contract: Fischbein formalized the mercenary contract with indemnity clauses under Austrian civil law.

Assault timing: Pre-dawn, 12 August 1814.

Interrupted by a Wächter crashing through the pergola. See Wachter Ambush Heuriger Aug 11.