Het Stoomhuis: De IJzeren Reus (1/2)

Amid the muggy streets of 1867 Aurangabad, a torn proclamation flutters from a crumbling bungalow wall, announcing a massive bounty for the capture of a shadowy rebel known only as Dandou‑Pant. The removal of the name by a lone fakir sparks a silent panic; whispers spread through bustling bazaars, palace courtyards and the soot‑stained alleys, each citizen wondering whether the act will spare the insurgent or mark a deeper conspiracy. As the city’s diverse inhabitants—soldiers, merchants, itinerant holy men, and restless youths—react, the torn notice becomes a catalyst, drawing the curious and the desperate toward a hidden world of steam‑powered contraptions and secret societies.

Against this volatile backdrop, a determined investigator slips into the enigmatic “Steam House,” a massive iron machine half‑concealed in the river’s fog. Within its clanking chambers, clues emerge about the fakir’s motives, the true identity of the wanted man, and a network of power that stretches far beyond the riverbanks. The first act sets a tense hunt in motion, promising intrigue, cultural clash, and the relentless clang of gears that echo through the city’s restless heart.