Lohner

Lore & Background

Franz Lohner was once a sergeant in the Imperial Army, serving in the Stirland region before retiring to run the Red Moon Inn in the town of Ubersreik. His military background is evident in his no-nonsense attitude and his ability to coordinate the disparate heroes—from the elf Kerillian to the dwarf Bardin—into a cohesive force. He has a deep, weary understanding of the Skaven threat, having fought them in his younger days, and his network of contacts—shady merchants, retired soldiers, and one particularly chatty pigeon-handler—keeps him informed of the wider war against Chaos.

Lohner's inn becomes the central hub for the Ubersreik Five after the fall of Ubersreik itself, as the heroes base themselves in Helmgart during the events of Vermintide 2. He provides them with supplies, information, and a place to rest, all while maintaining a gruff facade that hides a genuine care for his charges. His relationship with the wizard Sienna is particularly testy—he once threatened to lock her in the cellar after she singed his best curtains—yet he never hesitates to defend her against outsiders, even if it means taking a swing at a suspicious Witch Hunter.

Despite his stationary role, Lohner is a key figure in the narrative, often receiving letters and reports that drive the heroes’ next mission. His past remains shrouded in mystery, with hints of lost comrades and a family left behind, but he never dwells on it. Instead, he focuses on the present crisis, using his experience to keep the inn running and the heroes alive—one cracked tankard at a time.

In Their Own Story

The fire crackled low in the hearth as Lohner wiped a tankard with a rag that had seen better days—and worse ale. Rain hammered the windows of the Red Moon Inn like a drumbeat of desperation, and the wind howled through a crack in the frame, rattling a dusty lantern. He grunted, setting the tankard down with a thud, and squinted at the door. 'They're late,' he muttered, though no one was there to hear but a snoozing cat on the bar. A sudden crash from the back room made him jump—his hand shot to the cudgel under the counter, heart hammering. But it was only a rat: fat, bold, and utterly unimpressed. He exhaled slow, his fingers trembling just a little. 'Getting old, Franz,' he rasped, pouring himself a finger of brandy from a bottle he kept for bad nights. The door burst open, and Bardin stumbled in, slick with gore and grinning like a maniac. 'Lohner! We've got news from the keep—and I found a shiny!' The innkeeper set down his drink, the weariness in his eyes hardening into something sharp. 'Then let's hear it, dwarf. The world's not going to save itself—and I've got a roof that needs patching.'

Reader's Guide

Franz Lohner is not a playable character in Vermintide 2, but he is the central non-player character who runs the hub area—the Red Moon Inn. As the quest-giver, he presents missions, manages the inventory of supplies, and provides the narrative context for each expedition. Players interact with him between missions to select their next objective, restock on healing items and ammunition, and listen to his gruff commentary on recent events. He also occasionally hands out optional challenges or lore tidbits if you linger near the bar long enough—so don't rush off. Lean in, and you might catch a story about the time he outran a pack of rat ogres through a sewer.

Did You Know?

• Lohner's voice actor also provides the voice for several enemy units in the game, including the Skaven Stormvermin.
• The Red Moon Inn in Helmgart is a rebuilt version of the original inn from Ubersreik, which was destroyed during the Skaven invasion.
• Lohner has a hidden stash of brandy that he only brings out when the heroes complete a particularly difficult mission.
• In the game files, Lohner is referred to by the internal codename 'innkeeper' and was one of the first characters designed for the original Vermintide.