| “ | Rounded, redder cheeks, certainly, but the sad, cow-like eyes were the same. | ” |
–Passepartout's journal, upon meeting Danzer a second time. | ||
Herr Danzer is a character in 80 Days. He is a Musiksolder under the Imperial Kriegorchester.
Background[]
As a young man, Danzer wished to be a member of the Artificers' Guild, but as an Austro-Hungarian (sworn enemies of the Guild), it could not be.
Instead, he joined the ranks of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's military as a member of the Imperial Kriegorchester, a director of war automata using a device named a Zauberflote.
Role[]
Danzer approaches Passepartout on the streets of Vienna if he arrived on the Orient Express from Paris. The two talk, and Danzer is agitated enough to reveal several secrets about himself and the Austro-Hungarian Empire: the Empire is a sworn mutual enemy of the Artificers' Guild, he is made deeply uncomfortable by their inventions, and their automaton army is controlled by 'Mozart-Haydn devices" inside them which are in turn controlled by flutes wielded by the Musikersoldaten. Danzer begins to weep, at which point Passepartout takes his leave. At several points in the conversation, Passepartout may secretly steal Danzer's Zauberflote, which can later be used to turn the tides of the war with Serbia.
If Danzer's flute was stolen, Passepartout can meet him again in Lisbon, furious and drunk. He claims he was put on trial for the loss of his flute and escaped the country at the last moment. He tried to fulfil his childhood ambition of becoming an Artificer, but the Guild would not take an Austro-Hungarian. Should Passepartout try to offer him any advice, he will reject it with a wounded howl and run away down the street.
Character[]
Danzer is clearly deeply disturbed and emotionally fragile, haunted by the power of the Kriegorchester and their potential to destroy. He has an alcoholism problem which worsens should he lose his job, but since he will spill precious secrets to Passepartout in Vienna even while sober, he is desperate to get his problems off his chest regardless. He becomes even more tortured should Passepartout take his flute, not even taking up any offered opportunities to try and make something of his life again.
Trivia[]
- Danzer's name bears a resemblance to the English word 'dancer' and the German word 'tanzer', perhaps chosen deliberately because it is related to music.