University of Vienna

Educational Institution; Cult HeadquartersAcademic, public-facing; beneath, secretive and horrifying

Overview

The University of Vienna, established in the 15th century, occupies the Jesuit College complex in Vienna’s city center. To the public, it is a prestigious academic institution undergoing recent restoration following the Jesuit suppression. To the Brotherhood of the Open Measure, it is the perfect cover for unspeakable work.

Beneath the respectable academic façade lies the sealed anatomical theatre — the Engine’s chamber, hidden for twenty years and now the site of systematic atrocity.

Historical Context

The University occupied the Jesuit College complex at Ignaz-Seipel-Platz (historically Universitätsplatz). Following the Jesuit order’s suppression in 1773 and the Austrian Empire’s administrative reorganization, the University underwent restoration in 1814. This reorganization created opportunity: buildings were being accessed, keys were being redistributed, old spaces were being inventoried.

The sealed anatomical theatre was among the “rediscovered” spaces — locked and abandoned since 1794 when it was sealed following “unfortunate incidents.” In 1812, Professor Herzfeld obtained access and began preparations.

Physical Layout

The Main Complex (Public Facing)

Central Quadrangle (Innenhof): A large inner courtyard surrounded by three stories of arched galleries. The sound of student conversation in Latin and German echoes off stone walls. The courtyard features a medieval well (no longer used) and serves as the primary circulation space.

Lecture Halls (East Wing, Ground & First Floors):

• Auditorium Principale (seats 70)
• Auditorium Minor (specialized instruction)
• Seminar Room (advanced study)
• All open during lecture hours (8 AM–noon, 2–4 PM)
• A porter stationed nearby prevents interruptions

Library (West Wing, First & Second Floors): A magnificent space of floor-to-ceiling wooden shelves. Contains theology and philosophy primarily, but substantial medical/anatomical section at the rear (recently reorganized). The library is protective of restricted texts.

Faculty Offices (Second & Third Floors): A warren of offices reflecting occupants’ personalities. Rector’s ceremonial office occupies prestigious third-floor position.

The Medical Faculty Wing (South Extension)

Ground Floor: Public Medical Spaces Well-lit teaching rooms for dissection courses. Smell of preservative chemicals, clinical atmosphere. Students in leather aprons study cadavers under supervision.

Basement Level: The Labyrinth Medieval cellars, Roman-era foundations, passages that no longer make architectural sense. Damp pervasive; mold blooms on older stonework. Navigation requires guide or map; getting lost is possible.

The Sealed Anatomical Theatre

See Sealed Anatomical Theatre for complete description.

Access Routes

Main Door (Front Entrance)

• Heavy oak reinforced with iron banding
• Recently forced and repaired by Herzfeld’s locksmith
• Lockpicking: Hard difficulty
• Who Has Keys: Herzfeld, Wolfgang Staufer (Master Porter)

Service Corridor (Servant’s Passage)

• Narrow crawlway connecting medical wing basement to main university cellars
• Originally used for water/waste removal
• Flooded in winter; passable in summer
• Terminates at ventilation grate in theatre back wall
• Finding It: Requires old architectural records, information from porter, or careful exploration
• Using It: Uncomfortable but possible; grate can be widened (leaves evidence)

Ventilation Grates

• Barred but not locked
• Observable without difficulty
• Forcing them takes effort but leaves evidence

Key University NPCs

Wolfgang Staufer, Master Porter (Age 68)

The senior porter. Forty-three years in position. Knows every secret passage. Wary, shrewd, can be bribed (5+ gulden for information, 20+ gulden for silence). Nervous, drinking heavily. Recently seen at odd hours in medical wing.

What He Knows: Everything about the sealed theatre and Herzfeld’s recent activities.

Herr Benedikt Kuscher, Head Librarian (Age 60)

Precise, territorial. Knows every volume. Suspicious of irregular requests. Medical section has been accessed repeatedly; someone requesting old anatomical texts at unusual hours.

Professor Leopold Karwinsky, Rector (Age 58)

Natural philosopher, administrator. Cooperative with authority, suspicious of unsanctioned inquiry. Not aware of basement activities but will investigate if forced to.

Johann Moeller, Medical Student (Age 24)

Thin, nervous, witnessed something two weeks ago. Followed Staufer into cellars; glimpsed Herzfeld and another man bent over dissection table in sealed theatre. Terrified; thinks he witnessed necromancy. Afraid of Herzfeld’s influence over his academic future.

Investigation Opportunities

Daytime Investigation

• University is open and busy
• Students, porters, professors visible
• Investigators with credentials can move freely
• Investigators without credentials will be stopped and directed to Rector’s office

Records Research

• Old architectural blueprints in library
• Building renovation records in administrative offices
• Personnel records showing who works in medical wing
• Historical notes about 1794 incidents

Interview Opportunities

• Students about Herzfeld’s lectures and seminars
• Porters about basement access and night activities
• Medical faculty about unusual chemical orders
• Custodial staff about strange sounds from sealed areas

Observation Points

• From medical wing courtyard, can watch deliveries to basement
• Library windows overlook faculty entrances
• Lecture hall schedule published; can predict when basement is least staffed

Atmosphere

Above Ground: Respectable academic atmosphere. Stone walls and arches. Smell of old books, chalk dust, leather bindings. Voices of students echoing. Sense of tradition and legitimacy.

Below Ground: Cold, damp, disorienting. Mold and chemical smell. Darkness requiring lanterns. Sense of being underground, isolated. The further from main building, the more oppressive the feeling becomes.

Key Information

Running Scenes at the University

Daytime Exploration

• Academic atmosphere; public areas accessible
• Basement exploration requires either credential cover or stealth
• Investigation of records possible but time-consuming
• NPCs cooperative if approached with proper etiquette

Night Infiltration

• Reduced staff but increased security awareness
• Cult likely working on Engine at night (calibration, victim integration)
• Silence crucial; any noise attracts attention
• Darkness requires lanterns or familiarity with layout

Confrontation at Theatre

• If party reaches sealed theatre, prepared for potential cult defense
• Herzfeld and/or Adler may be present during late-stage preparation
• Engine itself is a mechanical/biological horror; description crucial
• Multiple exit routes necessary if escape needed

Session 12 Update — Reconnaissance and Assault Planning (10-11 August 1814)

Reconnaissance: Night of 10 August

Katherine and Nell conducted night reconnaissance of the University perimeter on 10 August, recorded in University Reconnaissance Aug 10.

Findings confirmed in play:

• Five external guards on rotating shifts. Positions noted. Rotation timing observed. These are the guards Werner Bauer will be tasked with dismissing.
• Timeline shift evidence observed. Activity levels inside the University are inconsistent with the August 15 ritual date; the pace of movement and the hours being kept suggest an earlier date. Bauer’s interrogation subsequently confirmed the shift to August 13.

Bauer Intelligence: Layout Confirmed

Werner Bauer’s interrogation on 11 August added interior detail:

• Medical wing, south corridor, ground floor: This is where Caroline Hartley is being held.
• Anatomy theatre access: Through the cellar via the service corridor. This is the route for the assault’s main entry and the rescue team.

Assault Plan

The assault is planned for pre-dawn 12 August, decided at War Council Heuriger Aug 11. Entry via the service entrance. Bauer dismisses the five external guards with a cover story. Ferrante and Adrien take the service entrance rescue team. Other assault elements proceed to the sealed theatre.

Updated Key Information Table