Lohner
The man who keeps the world from ending—one tankard, one mission, one muttered curse at a time.
Franz Lohner is the grizzled, pragmatic innkeeper who serves as the quest-giver and base-of-operations manager for the Ubersreik Five in the Warhammer Vermintide series. A former Imperial sergeant with a voice like gravel and a past he'd rather forget, he runs the Red Moon Inn in Helmgart—a leak-roofed sanctuary where the heroes patch their wounds, sharpen their blades, and swallow his bitter advice along with his ale. Though he rarely steps beyond the threshold, his gruff wisdom and dry humor make him the iron hinge on which the war against the Skaven and Chaos hordes swings.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Innkeeper
- Quest-Giver
- Quartermaster
- Affiliation
- The Ubersreik Five, The Red Moon Inn
- First appears
- Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide
- Status
- Alive (as of Vermintide 2)
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.
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.
- 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.
More in Heroes & Characters
Elsewhere in Warhammer Vermintide
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