Welcome to the second installment in the article series on Miranbrück, about a fictious German town as a setting for Changeling the Lost. For those of you only now joining the party, a look at the first part might be worth it.
This time, I am going to talk about places of interest in Miranbrück. If you come across some unfamiliar names, you should not feel confused. Some of the places are intertwined with specific NPCs and the next article will be your chance to learn more about them.
Apart from the places described below, Miranbrück obviously offers much more to the visitor. These are just the locations that have gained prominence with the community of the Lost for one reason or another. If you look carefully enough, you’ll find some story hooks contained in the descriptions, some rather obvious, others better hidden.
Locations in Miranbrück:
The Apollo Hotel was opened 1972 in Miranbrück and has gained a reputation for excellent quality and service since then. The guests get their money’s worth in over 120 rooms and suites. The hotel got its fourth star around the turn of the millennium, proving beyond a doubt that a stay here would always be worthwhile. The hotel’s restaurant “L’épicurien” offers the finest French cuisine – better than any other place in the region. Not for the least part, the renown of the Apollo is founded on its wellness area, though. gründet sich nicht zuletzt jedoch im Wellness Bereich. Apart from the saunas (pine wood, Finnish, steam), the high class massage parlor and the movie theater, hotel guests also get exclusive us of the lavish parkland with the picturesque lake adjoining the hotel grounds. The parkland is also home to tennis courts, well designed trails, and boats can be taken out on the lake. Even if the hotel does not offer something as part of their regular fare, the staff will be all too happy to oblige guests and arrange for exotic wishes.
The Apollo Hotel was largely ignored in the Freehold. That is, until some years ago, when the Freehold’s leader noticed just that. None of the Lost had ever set foot in the Apollo. After some ridicule, the remark that nobody seemed willing to visit the hotel was taken more seriously. Then, two years ago, the strange “curse” unexplainedly lifted, though older members of the Freedhold still refuse to set foot inside the hotel out of fear.
Inspiration: Dorint Wiesbaden
The Cathedral of St. George is amongst the oldest surviving churches in northern Germany. Building started in the 12th century, even though the building contracts are dated nearly a century later. The cathedral was partially rebuilt several times over the centuries following damage and so took today’s familiar shape only in 1832. The Cathedral of St. George is especially well known for its priceless historic furnishings: The baroque organ, the baptismal font hailing from the 14th century and the renderings of the saints, some of which are found nowhere else in the world in similar style and execution, make the cathedral a place to be remembered.
Due to ongoing major renovation and reconstruction work, the cathedral can seldom be viewed in all its considerable glory, though. Parts of the cathedral’s crypts are off limits since nearly ten years, for example, for danger of collapse. Currently, the side aisle is also closed.
At least one of the priests at the cathedral knows about the society of the Lost. It’s unclear how he got by his knowledge, but on two prior occasions he offered asylum to Lost on the verge of being overcome by their memories. Both times, the changelings returned from the care of the priest with renewed strength and vigor. Since then the cathedral is known as a place protected by Summer.
Inspiration: Cathedral in Magdeburg
The Mira Boarding School was originally founded in 1920 as a church sponsored school for boys. It survived more than one catastrophe – the great fire of 1932, closing by the Nazis, extensive water damage and partial collapse in 1989 – and each time emerged with new strength, rising like phoenix from the ashes. Since this last catastrophe the buildings have been completely redesigned and renovated and now shine in new splendor. “New“ is the general watchword for the boarding school. Over the last few decades, the school has been transformed into an extremely progressive institution of learning. State of the art media equipment is just the most obvious element, but modern teaching methods or dormitories conforming to hotel standards are also part of the phenomenon. Directly adjacent to the large school grounds is the school library, rivaling most university libraries.
The boarding school takes in children as early as elementary school and prepares them for a prestigious school leaving exam, guaranteed to land them a good trainee position or a place at almost any German university.
It is common knowledge that the Autumn Court has its official center at the boarding school. There are no big meetings there, but Srell, leader of the court, is the psychological councilor of the boarding school. By making appointments for parental counseling, small meetings are easily arranged for. Many members of the Freehold go to Srell to consult with the experienced Oracle.
Inspiration: St. Affra
The H2O is one of the few communal baths which developed into a true water park and thus turn a profit for the owning community instead of incurring costs. The multi-level structure is quite remarkable for a bath. From giant slides to rapids, the H2O offers a perfect swimming experience to the adventurous on two floors.
Apart from the obligatory sports pools and diving platforms, the bath also contains a tidal pool, sauna and a small but well equipped wellness area. Qualified staff is always available to take care of children ages 5-10, who then may pursue their own games and activities in the “pirate cove”. There is also a good bistro and a shop for bathing articles, in case you forgot something. In the summer months, an outdoor area with additional pools and beach volleyball courts is opened.
The H20 attracts many people from the surrounding region. Amongst the Lost, though, there is sometimes talk of the weirder happenings there. More than once children have been reported as missing at the bath, only to reappear a scant hour later. The press never took notice, because the shocks were always momentary and quickly forgotten. Despite this, revenues went down over the last few months (nothing dramatic, but noticeable) as many of the missing children who previously were avid swimmers seem to have lost all interest in swimming.
Inspiration: Indor water park Calypso
The Museum of Early History is itself nearly historic, built as it was at the start of the last century. Only the extensive storerooms in the cellars remain of the original building core. Damage from the time of occupation following WW2 destroyed much of what was left. The exhibitions are focused on regional history, thus being far from breaking any new ground but still many interesting exhibits. Most of these do not belong to the museum, though, but are on loan from private collections and other museums. Because of this somewhat precarious situation, the museum depends more on visitors than many other institutes and maintains formal ties with local schools.
To present fresh material to those visitors, completely new exhibitions have to be arranged nearly bi-annually. Curator Jonathan Povres commented that the subterranean stores and the cabinets of the generous sponsors would still contain material for countless additional exhibitions.
Povres, a vital 80 years old historian, has been heading the museum for more than 30 years and is respected as an institution in his own right. With an open eye for even his little visitors, his Friday story sessions about the dangerous and exciting past have given goose bumps to more than one of his listeners.
Curator Povres is one of the Lost and a respected member of the Autumn Court. Even though the appearance of the Darkling might be forbidding, he seems to be fully committed to his duty as caretaker of tokens. The most important tokens of the Freehold are hidden in the catacombs of the museum under his guard. Depending on the token’s power and the given situation, Povres may either hand out the token himself or has to ask the Freehold’s leader for permission. Rumour has it, that he isn’t only skilled in keeping but also in collecting such tokens from the Hedge.
Inspiration: Museum of Prehistory of Lower Austria (only the last two from the interior)
The town hall of Miranbrück, located right in the center of town, is in a miserable condition. The building was already declared to be in need of renovation 25 years ago and almost nothing has happened since. The town hall cannot be demolished because it falls under protection as a historical monument, but it is badly kept. The old building is part of the historic town center and still projects a certain charm, but while idealists wrestle for the funds for a complete renovation, pragmatists are clamoring for a demolition or at the very least a move into a new building. Such a new building could serve as a sign of a general new beginning and would also be significantly cheaper than a renovation, but as even the chimes in the old town hall’s tower are considered a landmark of Miranbrück, decisions are emotionally charged to say the least. After the next election a decision has to be reached though if the old building is to be saved.
An oathbound woman with Fey vision works at the registration office. After unkown Lost showed up there more than once, the Freehold, then under Summer leadership, decided it was a good place to install another instance at this position, able to identify newcomers. Accordingly, the office is treated as a place protected by the Summer leader.
Inspiration: Old town hall in Celle (just in worse shape and still in use)
The Hues is Miranbrück’s largest and best known club. It has been more than half a century since the current nightclub district began to slowly but surely drive heavy industry out west and established the current mix of lust for life, loud music and a plethora of cultural offerings. Some years ago, a clever business woman transformed one of the last remaining factory buildings into a club that still seeks its equal in Miranbrück to this day.
On 3 main floors and 2 smaller floors carter to nearly every imaginable taste in music – from techno to oldies – as long as it can be played at sufficient volume. The indie scene and especially some small regional bands time and again get a chance at the Hues.
The Hues‘ proprietor is the lively Silke “Red” Kohler, leader of the Spring court. The club is pretty useless for confidential meetings, but at irregular intervals Silke closes one of the smaller rooms to get over with as many of the prosaic dealings as possible in one go.
Inspiration: Musicpark A2 (the Nostalgia especially for the indie scene)
Changeling the Lost and related names are the Intellectual Property of White Wolf and protected by Copyright. These items have been used unofficially and quoted exclusively as reference with no infringement on any associated rights intended and without implying endorsement by the copyright holder. Other contents of this article are published without permission or license.
Changeling the Lost und alle damit verbundenen Namen sind Geistiges Eigentum von White Wolf und urheberrechtlich geschützt. Diese Elemente wurden inoffiziell und ausschließlich als Referenz zitiert ohne die Absicht damit verbundene Rechte anzufechten und ohne eine Billigung durch den Rechteinhaber zu implizieren. Andere Inhalte dieses Artikels werden ohne Genehmigung oder Lizenz veröffentlicht.