The Witchfinders

W itch-hunting is an up-and-coming trade within the Low Countries. While those suspected of being Witches have long been fined and warned, the Witchfinders prefer to take a more drastic approach. Preying on the anxieties of the common people, Johannes and his group of men travel through the land. They spread the word about the danger of Witches anywhere they go, uncovering suspected outings of magic and driving those they deem responsible away from their communities by cruel means. This investigation is to be paid for by its scared citizens, of course. Once they have deemed a place free of Witchcraft and sufficiently drained for its resources, they move on to the next.

Johannes is hellbent on ridding the land of any form of magic. No suspected effect of a spell is spared. To him, even the smallest, most insignificant outing of magic could grow to have disastrous consequences. His hatred for the “dark arts’’ flows deep. His men however follow in tow with less conviction. They’re mostly intimidated by their leader, as well as pleased with the comfortable life the Witch-hunting affords them. The bullying of suspected mages has gone over with little resistance. Some even believe no real magic is involved in their cases, though they are smart enough to hold their tongue around Johannes.

The sight of the Witchfinders is set on Utrecht, a wealthy province that hasn’t exactly been welcoming to them. There are little reports of magic. In the few cases that there are sightings, neither the citizens or the mayor don’t see the need for the Witchfinders - or trust them much for that matter. Johannes and his men are all agreed that the foolish public needs a showing of the danger they could land themselves in without their services. Thus, they hatch a scheme to convince not only the people, but also the mayor of Utrecht, that their Witch-hunting efforts should get funded. However, none of them expected to encounter a real Witch within the small town they target...