Description

In the post‑Reformation town of Quakenbrück, a preacher’s joke about the mayor’s rooster allegedly laying eggs sparks a curious panic. The outlandish claim spreads through taverns and workshops, prompting children to mock the mayor in the streets and stirring uneasy whispers among the guilds. As rumors turn to accusations of witchcraft, the city’s military commander steps in, demanding an explanation before the scandal threatens the town’s fragile peace.

The mayor, known as Tile Stint, is forced to confront both his officials and his elegantly dressed wife, Armida, while trying to keep the bizarre episode from spiraling into a full‑blown trial. Their uneasy negotiations reveal the tensions between reformist clergy, traditionalists, and a populace quick to believe the supernatural. The story satirically explores how a seemingly trivial oddity can expose deeper anxieties in a society still haunted by religious upheaval.

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