While Hemlock has "retired to bed" (is visiting Chastity) a young boy (one of Father Helsing's altar boys) arrives from the Midden Barony with a message from the priest for Hasimir. The knight pays the child for his trouble and reads the message. Tarquin excuses himself and bumps into Sir Hemlock running from his room. Shortly after a high pitched scream of "Hemlock!" is heard. Hasimir & Virssu go to investigate and find Hemlock curled up in a corridor hugging a tattered cuddly toy. He regains some of his composure and explains that this is "Keats" one of the few things to survive the fire that torched the mansion, claimed the life of Hemlock's sister, Tiger-lily, and caused him to be shuttled off into the care of the Charioteers.
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| Above: The various prop letters and message packs I made for the session. |
After taking some time to calm down Hemlock returns to his room to find Chastity awake and waiting for him. She apologises for her conduct and explains that she was brought up to treat sex as a non-comittal, pleasurable act, but she over stepped a mark. She didn't mean to cause offence as she values Hemlock as a friend (and nothing more). he accepts the apology and apologises for his hasty and sudden departure and the matter is settled and the air between them cleared.
After breakfast the following day Hasimir, Hemlock and Mal get involved in a length discussion about what to do about Sir Tarquin and The Midden Barony. Mal is concerned that supporting the "revolution" could lead to greater loss of life while Sir Hasimir outlines his current plan to implicate Tarquin in the revolution, remove Baron Christopher after his wedding and rule as regent for Lady Stephanie (the grieving widow). Hemlock is concerned as to why The Folly has closed it's borders to The Midden Barony and wants to learn for himself to identify how it impacts on any plans they wish to make. Hasimir decides that word needs to be sent to Father Helsing, from Sir Tarquin and goes to draft a letter.
During this time Hemlock receives a letter indicating that a new guest, Sir As Salih Ishmael Al-Malik (a cousin on Hemlock's mother's side and fellow guest at the St Gavin's Day Tournament) is coming to visit, having heard of how welcoming Hemlock has been to others.
Sir Mal and Sir Hemlock visit Baron Turmeric, ruler of The Folly and find him to be a welcoming host. He is reluctant to have Mal (as a Hawkwood) in his home but Mal convinces him of his good intentions (and how he is considered a renegade by his own House). The Baron tells them of how the Hawkwood army under Baron Christopher has grown and how he hears word that they are planning to invade, therefore he has taken action to defend his borders. He is a non-traditionalist Justinian and feels that he is not listened to by the established and traditional Earl and barons and that they are ignoring his warnings. He is seriously considering a pre-emptive strike on the Hawkwoods in order to provoke a reaction and make the other Justinian barons rally around him, as there is nothing that can pull Justinians together more than an attack on one of their own.
While Hemlock and Mal are out a Scraver visits with a packet for Hasimir. It is a delivery from Lawrence, updating Hasimir on what he has found out so far (with supporting evidence) and word that he is going to follow the lead to try to identify the Decados responsible for the theft of their ship. Lawrence believes that this is a dangerous task and it may be possible that this is the last Hasimir will hear of him.
Mal and Hemlock return from The Folly and update Sir Hasimir. They recommence their debate over what to do next when a sudden explosion rocks the mansion.
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| Above: Unwelcome Hawkwood visitors... |
A group of Hawkwoods troops arrive, regular marines and heavily armoured Marauders, led by Sir Bedevere (who appears wounded). They have come, he announces, to arrest Hasimir for "Conspiracy to conduct Piracy and aiding and abetting a known Traitor to the Crown". He alleges that Hasimir's ship "The Questionable Intent" has resurfaced and has been striking at Hawkwood shipping and that Bedevere was caught in such an attack on his waty back from an assault on SOE/8807. The pirate ship appears to be captained by non other than Dame Arcadia. Bedevere accuses Hasimir of being party to faking her death and being in league with her.
We then jump to a short epilogue in the Midden Barony. It appears that the Marquis de Havilland has been captured for "spying" by the Hawkwood troops and is brought, beaten and bound as a prisoner before Baron Christopher...
And that's where we'll leave it over the holiday period....we shall return with new sessions in the new year...Lux Splendour, children of the Pancreator.
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