Reprot: Ulm Excursion

It has been written in the red book of destiny that on the five and twentieth day of the first month of the year 2012 a group of fifteen individuals originating from the south of the continent of Africa shall travel from their sanctuary of Tübingen to the city of Ulm in a quest to scale the greatest and tallest spire of Those Whom Does Protest.

And thus it came to pass that on this destined day Barbara the Great led the members of TSAP2012, an intrepid crew of which fifteen were the ones spoken of in the red book of destiny, to the eastern reaches of Baden-Württemberg where the city of Ulm is located.

To carry them on their journey a mighty steed of steel was given to them, named bus.
Bus was great in size and formidable in power, and could carry upon its back a great many men with ease. And so they mounted their mighty steed of steel and rode forth into the morning, starting their great quest.

But they did not get far before their resolve was tested, for when they reached the mountains they encountered that which the men and women of Barbara the Great’s intrepid crew craved greatly and that which have been denied them until this moment. What they saw covering the ground as far as their eyes could see was snow.

Seeing their desire Barbara said to the intrepid crew: “Five minutes I shall give thee, and five minutes you shall spend frolicking in the snow, but then we must continue on our quest, for the spire of Ulm awaits.”

With much glee those of TSAP descended upon the snow. Immediately certain ones commenced the construction of an ice golem, which they named Snowman. Upon its completion it made for a truly awesome sight, but alas it could not move. To commemorate this man of snow the various artists of the intrepid crew crafted pictures of Snowman, depicting it among its creators.

But alas! The five minutes was spent and with hearts heavy to leave the snow, but eager to continue their quest Barbara the Great and her intrepid crew once again mounted their mighty steed and continued onward toward Ulm.

Finally they arrived at the city of Ulm, but before they could take on their quest first they had another task to complete, the attendance of the council of the Südwest Presse, but that is a tale for another to tell.

Having finished their council with the leader of the Südwest Presse, Barbara lead her intrepid crew into the heart of the city, toward Ulm’s spire of Those Whom Does Protest. Along the way they did encounter a small monument, a bust of a great magus who was born in Ulm and whose studies of his arts forever changed man’s understanding of the realm in which he exist. This magus was known as Albertus Einsteinium.

At last Barabara and her intrepid crew reached the base of the spire, where there was constructed a large hall of gathering for Those Whom Does Protest.

Camp was made and much time was spent admiring and studying the art that could be found upon the walls of the great hall to learn of what may lie ahead on the journey to the top of the spire. They learnt that to complete their quest they shall have to face three as yet unknown foes.
As there was a mist in the air their camp needed a watcher, so Barbara the Great did say: “Go forth my intrepid crew, I shall guard our camp alone, so that all fifteen of you who have their names written in the red book may complete this quest. I leave you know in the hands of my second in command, the mighty Llewellyn.”

Inspired by her selfless words and led by he who is called Llewellyn, they stormed the spire. The first of the three foes they faced was a great warrior named Vertigo, who wielded the mighty blade Vertikal. A great struggle ensued. Vertigo, holding the sword Vertikal high above his head and striking down with thundering force! The intrepid crew who took each blow, but never wavering. Finally Vertigo lied defeated upon the steps of the spire!

The second foe was simply known as The Wielder of Fatigue. Too cunning she was to face the intrepid crew directly in battle, so she cast her spell upon the group, turning their limbs into lead. Many times did some members of the intrepid crew need to stop to rest, but always only for short whiles, for they knew there was a quest to be completed! Thus they continued up the spire!
The third and final foe they faced was a fiend of the abyss named Acrophobia!

Being cowardly by nature he refused to face the intrepid crew directly, opting instead to engage them from the shadows. He warped their senses and caused great fear in certain members of the intrepid crew, but eventually he was rooted out and defeated.

At last the intrepid crew reached their destination, the top of the spire!
At the top they could see vast distances, Ulm and beyond lying at their feet. Also in the tower was a horizontal window. The members of the intrepid crew did peer through the window and they could see the bells of time keeping.

They have travelled great distances and faced three mighty foes to complete their quest. Their euphoria was great, and with hearts filled with the pride that comes from the completion of an epic quest the intrepid crew descended the spire where they where reunited with Barbara. In celebration they go forth into the city of Ulm where they partook in the consumption of delicious foods and drinks and the acquiring of new garments. So great was their joy that when they once again came upon the place of snow on the journey back to the sanctuary of Tübingen, they once again dismounted and in thanks to the beast tamer Franz, under whose hand Bus, the mighty steed of steel, was tamed, they sang the song of their homelands. And they did sing mightily!

Claud Steyn