We began with the arrival of Sir Bedevere Hawkwood's Wayfarer Explorer with his two passengers; Sir Hasimir Fenrig Torenson and the Scraver, Mr Lawrence. The ship lands on the outskirts of Deepcore 104 to be met by a "welcoming committee" consisting of:
* The Phoenix Knight, Marquis Anton De Havilland Hawkwood and his Ur-Obun cohort, Tonbei vo Khaan
* Sir Mal Ware Hawkwood, a relation of the Marquis and current travelling companion
* Sir Hemlock Matsumoto Justinian, heir to the Justinian fief of Sector 42
* Virssu Lainis, a Torenson Householder, sent by his House to act as butler and aide for Sir Hasimir
* Ralph, Baron Christopher Hawkwood's major domo accompanied by Hawkwood men-at-arms
The wanderers return.
Hemlock speaks with Hasimir about recent events (essentially the fate of the ship and details of what happened in space) while Lawrence boards the waiting Explorer (the ship that had brought De Havilland and co. to Deep Core 104) to head to Suryada to investigate the details surrounding the loss of their Galliot.
Ralph approaches to introduce Virssu and advise that Baron Christopher is awaiting Hasimir's presence. Sir Bedevere advises the major domo to notify his brother that he is heading to Hawkwood Naval Command to help coordinate action against Dr Eva and SOE/8807. Hemlock decides to accompany Hasimir.
De Havilland and Sir Mal return to Hemlock's family fief, Sector 42, and find the mansion in a state of mild panic and furious industry. The head householder, Master Alfredo Garcia tells them that they have received word that they will soon be receiving another noble guest. He has a letter of introduction but hasn't read it as he intends to give it to Sir Hemlock (in his father's absence).
Hemlock and Hasimir find The Midden Barony to be very different from their last visit. The cowed and fearful people are obviously under oppression and scared eyes stare at them as they pass. They notice frequent, heavily armed, patrols of Hawkwood men-at-arms.
Baron Christopher leaves Hasimir waiting for a while but eventually summons him, saying that he's pleased to have him in his service. Hasimir is unsure of this but the Baron maintains that House Torenson made a contract with The Midden Barony for Hasimir's services and as regent and steward that means him (currently). They, and Hemlock, discuss the fate of Baroness and General Justinian and that the land is entitled to their eldest remaining child, Sir Tarquin, but that he is now a ward of the Planetary Duke. Christopher says that he, as a career military man, will have great need of Hasimir's expertise as an etiquette expert and advisor, especially now that he has ascended to the high station of Baron. Ralph escorts Hasimir and Virssu to the suite set aside for him (in fact the same suite he had when he last stayed at the mansion) and Sir Hemlock leaves to return home. Hasimir speaks with Virssu to find out why he is there. It appears that parties within House Torenson have heard of Hasimir's increased assets (owner of a military star ship) and notoriety and have sent him a personal valet and bodyguard. Both to protect him, and therefore the House's interests, and to prevent him from becoming a liability.
After passing through the borders of Sector 42 Hemlock is approached by an old peasant woman. She is reticent to come near and will not meet his gaze having never before dared to address "her betters" however knowing that the Young Master had returned, after all this time, she plucked up the courage to act. She presses into his hand a small package that she says she has kept safe for some twenty years. She trusts that he will know what to do with it and leaves. Hemlock tucks the parcel away with a view to opening it when he is safe at home.
The mysterious package...
Hasimir becomes aware of a commotion in the manor house and it looks like Baron Christopher has been brought news that he has been hoping for. He summons the Torenson and tells him they are going out into the city. The set out with Virssu and a number of guardsmen and are led to an extremely run down, decayed and abandoned area of the fief. This is a zone known to be home to the least desirable elements and many warning signs have been posted by the church (both warning of moral decay and physical dangers). They come to a structure guarded y Hawkwood men-at-arms and enter, being led inside to a body. Baron Christopher asks Hasimir to identify him (causing him to wonder if the Baron knows he is psychic) but he sees that it is the corpse of the Muster Guilder known as Beorn, an old associate of their group and the bounty hunter who claimed to have killed Arcadia and handed in a fake body to help set a false lead while the rest of the cadre fled to Deep Core 101. It appears Beorn has been killed in the same manner as Sir Selwyn Justinian (Arcadia's brother), with an Ukari dagger with a note tied to it bearing the sign of the Slayer's Guild. It also appears that Beorn has been dead for some months, possibly since the rest of the cadre were in Deep Core 101. The Baron asks for Hasimir's opinion and Hasimir suggests that the two murders are linked. He also appears to have a slight slip in alluding to the possibility that Beorn could have presented a fake Arcadia, but unbeknownst to Baron Christopher he is starting to manipulate the situation to his advantage. Christopher then presses him to suggest who might be behind the murders and why, causing Hasimir to speculate on who would gain from the current chain of events. He ends up pointing the finger at Sir Tarquin (as the heir apparent) and Christopher jumps on the idea. He suggests though that as regent and steward if he was to interrogate the young man it would constitute a conflict of interests so he charges Hasimir with the task.
When Hemlock reaches his family mansion he finds a similar state of frantic activity that confronted De Havilland. Master Alfredo advises him that they have guests imminently on the way and hands him the letter. Hemlock reads it and discovers that Count Innocence Decados, leading member of his House on Ravenna, is sending his eldest daughter, Lady Chastity to stay at Sector 42. She has been cloistered for most of her life and is late to being presented at court so he has apparently long considered who might treat her well and help educate her. "Prayers and meditation" led him to consider Hemlock's father as they met briefly once (but not to speak to) and he impressed the Count with his bearing and stature. The Count also makes suggestion that she might make a fine wife for Hemlock.
Hemlock finds De Havilland and company playing Billiards in the games room and discusses Hasimir and their pending new arrival. De Havilland is suspicious of the Count's intentions (as is Hemlock) but equally of Baron Christopher. He is surprised that he treated Hemlock well and explains that Christopher, like Sir Selwyn, was an ex-lover of Façade (being the reason why Selwyn approached him after her death). He may seek revenge on Hemlock as he is known to have killed her. At which point Lady Chastity arrives, earlier than expected.
The letter from Count Innocence Decados to Baron Tochiro Matsumoto Justinian, in the original Latin (yes, I did an English copy for the players too)
Her ladyship arrives with Kossack guards and all the pomp and ceremony one would expect from a scion of a royal house. Mal immediately uses his "All seeing eye" to see if she is an occultist of some type but detects that she is mundane. She graciously greets Sir Hemlock and thanks him for welcoming her into his home. She seems delightful...for now.
Her ladyship arrives...
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