Continuing from the last session we begin in the drawing room of Hemlock's family mansion. Baron Christopher Hawkwood is determined to gain some form of restitution or compensation from the Marquis De Havilland whom he holds responsible for the conduct of his cohort, Tonbei vo Khaan.
Hemlock takes a stand against the Baron telling him that he is on his family's land and should act as a guest, not an invader. They trade words and things get quite heated ending with Sir Hemlock challenging the Baron to a duel. It is arranged for dawn the following day. With Hemlock's "offence" dealt with, or at least postponed until the duel, the baron is calmed a little. Sir Hasimir Fenrig Torenson steps in to try to further placate the Baron stressing the appropriate etiquette in this situation and the legality of claiming that the Marquis is to blame. However Christopher still demands restitution or compensation.
The Baron is also aggrieved by the presence of Sir Mal, who he does not deign to acknowledge and questions why Hemlock would allow such a renegade into his home.
Possibly due to shock or taking time to take stock of what he has heard, De Havilland finally speaks. He takes the opportunity to review all their dealings with Tonbei, from how he first met and served with him, when the other characters first met him at the Tournament of St Gavin, how he acted on De Havilland's behalf (see the previous interludes) and how his actions may now be viewed in a different light. He also questions the phrase that he spoke as he died which Christopher confirms as "Eokésmen ma Dohlenni". The Baron is also aware that it is the name of a Ur-Obun, in his opinion some sort of priest or prophet from folklore. De Havilland continues, focusing now on the hit list itself. The assembled nobles discuss connections between the people listed and also the fact that the Baron is referred to with his previous title of Baronet. They think that the connection could be Dame Arcadia, but why, and why are Hemlock and De Havilland not on the list?
The Baron still demands restitution or compensation from the Marquis but has had an idea. The Phoenix Knight is well placed and empowered to conduct an enquiry of this nature. Christopher suggests that once De Havilland has found out who is behind the murders he is to bring the perpetrator to him for punishment (as a crime was committed on the lands he stewards). They shake hands on the matter, the Baron apologies to Hemlock for his earlier rudeness and says he will meet him on the field in the morning. He turns to leave. Before he does so Sir Hasimir begs leave of him to help De Havilland with the investigation and it is granted, but he is commanded not to leave Deepcore 104 as the Baron will have need of his services.
After the Baron leaves Lady Chastity (who had been silently sat in the Drawing Room all this time) excuses herself and retires to her room. She apologises to Hemlock as she does not feel like a tour of the fief now as the arguments and tension have taken much out of her.
Mal takes time to go and meditate to restore his occult energies while Sir Hasimir and the Marquis De Havilland withdraw in private to discuss matters and share their thoughts. Amongst other things Hasimir confides in De Havilland that he is a psychic and suggests that if the Marquis focuses his thoughts on Tonbei he might be able to read something in them that the Marquis has missed. He agrees and Hasimir is able to glean a sense of Tonbei's possible resentment towards humanity and his status as an outsider from society. De Havilland also confesses that he suspects that Baron Christopher may know, or at least suspect who had created the hit list and is attempting to put the Marquis in a position where he will have to hand someone over he doesn't want to.
Sir Hemlock has taken to his father's study to write a letter of introduction to Baron Samuel Justinian of Quentin's Retreat, a noted scholar and archivist to seek his help in researching Tonbei's final words. Coincidentally he is then interrupted by a knight, Sir Jutland Justinian, arriving to deliver news to Hemlock's father. He serves Baron Samuel and offers to take Hemlock's letter back to his lord. Hemlock, having checked with Sir Jutland that the notice he delivers is not private, reads the report and discovers that it is news of the Austrum War:
Your Lordship,
The battles are frequently stalemates but the forces of Austrum West are gaining ground, and momentum. The conflict is waged on land and sea with some air power in the form of Trusnikron Urroc knights fighting on behalf of Austrum East.
The Westerners have greater resources and better strategic planning and tactical leadership.
The nations are fighting the war on two fronts, on either coast of the islands. But while the Easterners are dug in on the Western isle the Westerners have broken the first line of defenders and are moving inland.
War on the East isle is becoming a front line of dug in units with attempts at guerrilla raids behind their lines while they send saboteurs forwards to harry the Easterners by disrupting logistics (including aqueducts and transport routes) behind the front.
Naval picket lines are still in effect with convoys passing through the straits at risk of being caught in skirmishes and patrols between the two forces. As in the early stages of the war this still lends weight to the Guild and Church claims to bring a swift end to the conflict.
The two nations' navies are also being used to pound the invading lines with cannon from the sea, a tactic which is proving less effective for the Easterners now that their enemies have made inroads inland. Instead the Eastern ships are supporting their invasion force to the West but rumours circulate that they may be mobilizing the fleet en mass to strike at the Western Naval command base.
Tactically the Trusnikron air cavalry are being deployed like light aircraft in other spheres of battle; reconnaissance, light bombing and, rather uniquely, in a manner akin to traditional Dragoons cavalry; flying swiftly to a battle objective then landing and skirmishing like infantry.
As I was leaving the withdrawal of many Justinian assets from the war was having a demoralising effect on the Eastern forces with particularly the Trusnikron forces calling out our nobles as traitors and fair weather allies. Considered thought would have it that as the Justinian forces involved were not front line combatants the practical strategic impact of those departing will be far less significant than the psychological one. That said some Justinian Knights have chosen to remain.
Knights and other young nobles also report anecdotally that the Orthodox Church has also been putting no small pressure on commanders and nobles to return home or even turn against Austrum East. There has been much talk of removal of sacraments from those who continue the fight and even additional pardons and indulgences if they change sides to support the West.
Sir Jutland Justinian
The group reconvenes over lunch and discuss a number of matters, including some of that morning's events. Hemlock asks why the Church would be getting involved in the war, Hasimir reminisces with Mal over the previous parties and hell raising they got up to and De Havilland seeks Mal's help with making contacts with the local Scravers. Lady Chastity does not attend and takes lunch in her rooms.
Sir Mal heads into the fief and manages to make the necessary connections to find a Scraver who can get in contact with Mr Lawrence in Suryada. He charges a significant fee (which Mal doubles when he goes back to De Havilland) and they arrange to contact Mr Lawrence later that day.
Sir Hemlock spends the afternoon training in his guards' practise field but soon notices he is being watched. Lady Chastity is observing him from her balcony.
De Havilland manages to get a crackly and broken line through to Mr Lawrence. He tells him that his name is one of those on the hit list and that as Tonbei has been foiled another assassin could come. He also arranges for Lawrence to send the Explorer ship to come and pick him up to take him to Suryada to continue his investigations. Lawrence also takes the chance to update the Marquis on his enquiries into the fate of the Galliot. He has already been able to track down the Reeve responsible for the contract with the Muster and has learnt:
A) There was a prior, conditional, contract in force. The key passage of which states:
The Contractors, and only the sanctioned and approved Muster contractors are to take contracts with Sir Hasimir Fenrig Torenson or his representatives. If a contractor fails to acquire a contract with the third parties this will result in the termination of this contract with that contractor and the payment of the termination fee in compensation. Should the Muster Guild permit any other party to enter into a contract with the third parties then the Guild will be liable for compensation to Lady Yelizaveta Knapp Decados to the amount of 2000fb/contractor.
The contractors will answer in all matters to the wishes, commands and requests of Sir Hasimir Fenrig Torenson or his representatives unless countermanded or expressly ordered by the Contractor, Lady Yelizaveta Knapp Decados.
B) Contract organised by the Muster Guild, filed by the Reeves Guild and signed by the contractor (Lady Yelizaveta Knapp Decados) and multiple contracting parties
C) The Reeve who drew up the conditional contract (Master Perry, Son of Samuel) also drew up the subsequent staff contracts for Sir Hasimir.
Meanwhile Hasimir and Virssu are returning to The Midden Barony and once within its borders they are accosted by Father Helsing, the priest Hasimir previously crossed over the case of the psychic peasant girl, Carrie. Hasimir agrees to accompany the priest to his chapel and once there and in private the Father speaks earnestly about the plight of the serfs under Baron Christopher's rule. He knows that Arcadia's mother, Baroness Helena, was no saint but she only had dragged away those who had committed crimes, the Baron's soldiers seem to raid homes indiscriminately on the pretence of finding supporters of and sympathisers for Dame Arcadia. Plus the Hawkwood patrols are fully armed and armoured soldiers, not militia men, guards or watchmen. The Father also mentions that there are those who seek to act against the Baron but they are not fearless or numerous enough to do so yet. He beseeches the noble to entreat on the behalf of the peasantry to try to get the Baron to stay his hand. He is also greatly concerned for the welfare of the two remaining Justinian heirs, Tarquin and Stephanie as he believes the baron intends Tarquin harm, and to marry Stephanie once she is of age (to attempt to lay legal claim to the barony via marriage). Hasimir takes all this on board and comforts the priest with platitudes but no promises.
Finally, back in Sector 42 Hemlock completes his work out to find Lady Chastity waiting for him, and for once without one of her guards. Shyly she explains she has a confession to make and wishes to walk with him outside for a while. Hemlock agrees and as they walk she confides in him that when asked if she had anything to add about Tonbei and his list earlier that day she had lied. She knows who commissioned the Slayers Guild to kill the five men on that list, it was her father, Count Innocence Decados. He ordered the death of Sir Selwyn immediately after the St Gavin's tournament and the other men later, after Sir Selwyn's death, when it was announced that Dame Arcadia was dead (after Beorn had claimed the bounty). She also confesses that her father doesn't know she is there and that "his" letter to Hemlock's father is a fake. She begs Hemlock for asylum and protection, which he grants.
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