Ruodolieb der Gebissene, Ghost of Watzmann

Ruodolieb is the oldest of MA´s house-ghosts, refering to the years he spent as a "have-been" as he likes to state it. He died in 1274, at a time Merseburg was a quite well-known town, vistited by reigns and gaining city-rights.

Ruodolieb was a well-educated, very intelligent young man. He was a salesman, trading with rare objects from far away countries, as well magical as non-magical ones. Knowing his business he became very rich and started one of the most astonishing collections of shrinkig heads which unfortunately was destroyed in one of Merseburg´s big fires after the 12th century.

As strange as this hobby are the circumstances of Ruodolieb´s death. His name "der Gebissene" makes obvious that he died after having recieved a bite. Ruodolieb had bought several very rare items from Asia, some to sell and some for his own collections. They arrived in late 1274 and Ruodolieb himself helped to unpack the carriage. One of the most valuable things was a jaden goblet with two rising cobras made of ebony carrying the bowl. It was cursed, a fact Ruodolieb didn´t know. Or if he knew, he didn´t care about it. It was an old Indian spell, casted on the beautiful goblet nearly a thousand years ago for an unknown reason. What exactly the curse brings about is not known as well, but it is known that Rudolieb lived for exactly three more days after he got the goblet. In the morning of day four his servant found him dead on the floor of his bedroom, with open eyes and a look of big surprise on his face, the goblet lying beside him. He was nearly bloodless, but showed no signs of serious injury. Only a very small bite-mark at both his wrists was to be seen.

Ruodolieb der Gebissene lived 19 mortal years and about 55 ghostly years in the city of Merseburg, haunting the house he lived in and delighting in disturbing the services at the cathedral. Then he was invited to move to the area of MA which he accepted in 1362.

When the school was separated into houses, Ruodolieb was asked to be one of the house-ghosts. Not exactly for showing responsibility, but for his cleverness, smartness and sense of beauty. He accepted at once and became house-ghost of Watzmann, turning the house into the home of Merseburg´s most famous charms specalists. Watzmanns points of main effort are charms, and transfigurations, the "classic" wizardry arts, and they achieve high skills there. The Watzmanns are great musicians and singers also, for Ruodolieb won´t allow off-key singing or false music in his area.

Graf Tulpin der Frömmelnde - Ghost of Matterhorn

Graf Tulpin, also called "Gräfchen" by the Matterhorns (and only they are allowed to), is the second in line of the house-ghosts. He died in 1323 after a very busy and hard life of impressive 27 years.

From his childhood on, Graf Tulpin felt a deep devotion to the Christian religion. He delighted in studying the bible and attending the services in both his father´s castle and the monastery nearby. Being the oldest son he inhertited the title and the county, but gave it to his younger brother for he felt he had a higher call to follow. It was quite a scandal at this time, but Graf Tulpin didn´t care about lower people´s talk. He was convinced that he had to serve The Lord and to find the best way, he travelled and learned about the world. He always wanted to understand the essence and meaning of The Lord´s creation. So he finally came to Merseburg, attracted by the Merseburger Dom (Merseburg Cathedral) and its famous library, to study and to pray. In fact, he prayed a lot, sometimes staying in the Merseburger Dom for hours or even days without eating or sleeping. Lucky for the cathedral and lucky for Merseburg.

For in 1323 right in the middle of the night, Graf Tulpin was there in the Merseburger Dom as ususal, praying and thinking, when he suddenly noticed a strange sound and a nose-biting smell: Merseburg was on fire. He ran up to cathedral´s tower where the huge bells were and started to ring them. The sound of the bells thundered through the night and woke the citizens, calling them to fight the fire and save their lives and properties. Thanks to that, most parts of the city, the impressive Merseburger Dom and the precious collections of books and artworks were saved.

Lucky for Graf Tulpin he became a ghost, for otherwise he wouldn´t have known that he is a hero - he died because of the smoke gathering in the tower, still ringing the bells.

After his dead, Graf Tulpin became aware of MA (and its library) and was found there most of the time. He also became a protector of the dome, stopping Rudolieb den Gebissenen from messing up the services.

He was very honoured when asked to become one of the house-ghosts and since then is the protector of Matterhorn. He delights in talking to his students and can be found often in scientific discussions with the most intelligent ones. In fact, Matterhorn is the home of the ones focusing their interests on science of all kinds, trying to learn about and understand the world.

Brünhilde von Bienenstich - Ghost of Zugspitze

Third in line of MA´s house-ghosts, having died in 1495 at the age of 25, is Brünhilde von Bienenstich, the only female house-ghost.

Brünhilde was born at a castle near Leipzig and spent her childhood the same way all noble girls do. She was taught to play music, to sing, to knit and to stitch and - most important - to cook and to lead a household. By the age of 11 she discovered that herbs and other ingredients she used for cooking were gifted with other powers than just making a meal delicious. She kept her knowlegde secret, but started to do research on her own, staying in the castle most of the time, refusing to go into the open or to participate in the fun her friends had.

Her parents were very worried about this development and started to search for a husband for Brünhilde quickly. They were afraid they would not be able to find her one if she was known to be "strange" once.

So at the age of 14, Brünhilde was married to Gustel Freiherr von Wellenbruch, a modest young man giving his wife all freedom she ever wanted. The couple didn´t love each other, but lived together in peace. In late 1494 Gustel was badly injured during a hunt the Duke of Leipzig helt. They brought him back to his castle to die, for no doctor could help him.

Brünhilde however didn´t want to accept this. She went through all the knowledge she earned over the years and found a way to keep her husband alive - at least to lengthen his life until she would be able to heal him. She searched eagerly for a medicine, without consideration of what people might think of her actions. She was often seen all on her own in the forests around the castle, even in the middle of the night, looking for certain plants. She never invited guests to the castle and never attended the celebrations of her subject, replacing her husband like it was her duty. The people became suspicious fast and soon Brünhilde was accused to be a witch.

She and Gustel were locked into his bedroom, where all windows and doors had been sealed. Then the executioner led a swarm of angry wild bees through the keyhole and plucked it. The bees stinged both Gustel and his wife to death, him screaming for hours, she not allowing herself the slightest sound of pain.

Brünhilde von Bienenstich, which she chose as name to remind of the injustice she suffered, appeard at MA in 1501 for the first time, being followed by a swarm of ghost bees, the ghost of exactly the bees that killed her - the bees had been killed with smoke after the executioner was sure that the couple was dead. Brünhilde is never seen without these bees, even though they don´t show any attempt to hurt her.

Being asked to become house-ghost of Zugspitze, Brünhilde gathered the students interested in potions and cooking and domestic arts around her. She loves to bring them into danger or trouble sometimes, to train them defending themselves and find ways out. She is very strict and all Zugspitzes treat her with great respect.

Note: In 1566, Gustel Freiherr von Wellenbruch appeard at MA in search for his wife. He was granted the permission to stay, took on the name Gustel von Bienenstich and he and Brünhilde seem to have found the love they never had in life.

Bishop Tilo von Trotha - Ghost of Brocken

MA is very proud to have Bishop Tilo von Trotha as one of the house-ghosts. He was one of Merseburg´s most important men, and still is the most famous one. He died in 1514, having been Bishop of Merseburg since 1466. So referred to his mortal years he is the oldest house-ghost of MA by far.

Tilo always was a man of great taste. He liked luxury, even if he was a priest, he liked power and he liked Merseburg. So he tried his best to make Merseburg a powerful place, full of beauty, while gathering more luxury for himself at the same time.

While he was Bishop, the old bishop residence was pulled down and the palace was built. The Gotthardteich (Gotthard-pond) was buildt to make the city more green and the palace was renovated and made more beautiful all the time. Today Merseburg owes him the most spledid one of its buildings.

Whenever he found time, Tilo delighted in a feud he had with the Counts of Mansfeld all his life. To him it was a challenge, a test to his power.

Tilo was a very strict ruler and an even stricter judge. The most famous legend about him is the one of the Raven of Merseburg: Tilo von Trotha, Bishop of Merseburg, kept ravens at his palace all his life. To him these birds represented intelligence, cleverness, strength and power. One day Tilo missed a very precious ring. Soon the thief seemed to be found: Tilo´s valet. The man claimed to be innocent but angry Tilo had him executed. Several years later the ring was found in the nest of one of Tilo´s ravens. Tilo regretted deeply what he had done to his valet. In memory of him and to remind himself to show more mercy in the future, he had a raven in a cage in the courtyard eversince. This one special raven was trained to shout the name of the innocent valet: Jacob. So during the years, "Jacob" became the name of the ravens in Tilo´s cage. Tilo also changed his coat of arms because of the incident. It shows a raven with a ring in its beak. Until today the crest of Merseburg shows a raven and until today the raven is the heraldic animal of the city.

As a ghost, Tilo stayed at his palace for several years, then he came to MA and asked for the permisson to stay on the school´s grounds. Of course the headmaster was very proud to have such a famous guest and gladly gave his permission. When it came to choosing the house-ghosts, Tilo´s name of course was the first one to be mentionend. He accepted the honour and now is the house-ghost of Brocken. Brocken is the house of philosophers and mental gifted, searching wisdom and answers in subjects like divination, magic of candleburning and handwriting analysis. Tilo is a passionate philosopher himself, but can also be seen at the Quidditch arena, cheering for his house-team.