An enigmatic and feared character, who is rumoured to run a spy service for the King, rivalling the Cardinal's service...
Our heroes were of assistance to him, and in turn have been rewarded, one way or another...
A blog about our All For One campaign.
Sunday, May 30, 2021
Chapitre V: l'Homme derrière le Masque. pt II
The trip from Marseilles to Florence is one of about three hundred miles and takes the characters through the Principalities of Savoy, Milan, and Genoa. When entering each city-state there is a wait, while the party's papers are thoroughly checked by local officials. It will normally take six days to get to Florence, but Gerard's diplomatic skills spped things up a bit and they make it in 5.
When they arrive in Florence, they have no trouble finding the red-tiled villa of Count Del Ferro. When they present themselves at his door, they are shown in by a French speaking servant who seems to have expected them. He leads them to an inner courtyard with a fountain, where the Count is sitting on a comfortable couch.
He invites the characters to join him for wine. When given the coin, he calls several servants to bring in the items for the Archduke, adding 'you realize, these objects have not been taken legally, and any mention of my name in this business would be embarrassing...'
The items include: a marble bust of some mythical character (by Michelangelo, but our heroes are art-illiterates and have no clue), a group of historic documents from old Florence, three small portraits by an unknown artist, and an untitled scrolled document.
When they leave, they hide the items in the carriage.
The Journey back to the French border is quicker than the journey from Marseilles to Florence, only about three days long. However, danger seems to await at every step.
Upon leaving Florence, they notice that their carriage is closely tailed by a large, gilded carriage driven by a six horse team. As they cross into Milan, this carriage pulls close to them and they observe that there are several well-armed men inside. One, apparently an Italian gentleman of high rank, leans out and requests a conference with the party.
The conference takes place the Archduke's carriage. The man introduces himself as Nicolo Brandi, ambassador from Savoy to Florence, He offers the party 1000 L for the scrolled document. The heroes,not wanting to risk the Archduke's wrath, decline...
Refused, he draws his pistol (a double-barrelled, finely-made wheellock duelling pistol) and threatens to call his guards. Pendu starts the coach, while Gerard shoots one of the Ambassador's horses, causing chaos among the diplomat's bodyguards.
Inside the coach, Jean and Henr are quickly able to overpower the ambassador. A few miles down the road, they stop and unceremoniously leave the poor man in the middle of the dusty road, after having releaved him of his funds.
The journey goes without trouble until the party comes to inspection on the border of Savoy and France. The inspection point is a small village on a hill, with a medium sized tower overlooking the border. Behind the tower, hidden from the party view, a carriage filled with 6 soldiers is hidden, and 6 light cavalrymen, armed with sabres and flintlock carbines.
These are Savoyan soldiers waiting to attack the party before they reach France. The inspection officials attempt to stall the group, but the heroes realize something is amiss and notice one of the border guards signal someone up on the hill. As the party urges Pendu on to leave immediately, the carriage and horsemen bear down on them, from behind. A shootout follows during which the group is able to dispatch or wound the six horsemen. The troop in the coach realize they are no match for these veterans and decide to break off.
At this stage, they decide to have a good look at the scrolled document. It is found to be another manuscript by Da Vinci . The inside is planned as a great interlocking series of watch-gears, each representing a small piece of information. The outside bears turning numeral gears and a vast array of buttons and levers.
At Nice, they receive a messenger on the day of their arrival from the City Mayor, requesting their audience. They are shown to the mayorie (town hall) and into a large, finely decorated drawing room. Their audience turns out to be with Monsieur Le Colonel St. Giron, the regimental commander of the Royal Dragoons. He offers each member of the party 150 L and a Captaincy in the Dragoons for the document. Refused, St. Giron comments that the party's return to Paris may be very perilous indeed...
The carriage ride back will take four days. On the first day, the party is travelling along through the open countryside, quite near the ruins of an old chateau, a little bit north of Grenoble. They notice behind them a large cloud of dust, rapidly approaching. A look reveala that they are pursued by twelve mounted men (light dragoons of the Royal Dragoons regiment). They have just enough time to get within the old chateau for defence before the horsemen are close upon them.
They hide themselves among the ruined walls, sending Roger up into the crumbling tower with their muskets. From there he shoots at their pursuers, fooling them into thinking they are all holed up in the tower. Once the Dragoons make their way into the castle, the group jumps them. A short but bloody fight ensues, resulting in a few of the surviving Dragoons to call it a day and make their retreat.
After the incident with the dragoons, alI goes well with the journey, and the road is clear to return to the Archduke's estate and receive rewards. The Archduke receives the party politely, as before, with a manner as if nothing has happened since the last interview. He requests the Da Vinci document, and after it is given to him, he will look it over intently for a few moments and then, ever so casually, throw it into a roaring fireplace and say 'it is an idea whose time has not come... '
As a reward to the heroes, he offers each money, position, or a favour. Jean chooses a position and is told that they all can be expected to be awarded full rank of Musketeer. Jean however, will be immediately promoted to Corporal. The others choose a favour. De Mainz hints that he may be able to assist Henri with his search for the elusive Abbe, and indictates to Gerard that he should remain in Paris for a while, as he wants to introduce him to a few people...
Returning to the garrison, they are debriefed by de Treville, who seems to be in very good spirits hearing that all went well. On his desk are three blue tabards with white crosses and Fleur-de-Lis. He smiles... "Welcome to the King's Musketeers, gentlemen!"
TO BE CONTINUED
Chapitre V: l'Homme derrière le Masque. pt I
Our friends are spending a night in their usual hangout, joined by Roger Dupin, for an evening of revelry. As they get up, grabbing their bits and pieces to call it a night, they notice a note stuck under the bottom of Roger’s last pitcher of wine.
The envelope is sealed with a stamp picturing two crossed swords, either sabres or cutlasses. Roger turns pale, excuses himself and leaves with the unopened note.
Henri and Gerard vaguely recognize the seal belonging to the Archduke De Mainz D'Einartzhausen.
De Mainz, apparently a German by birth, rose to be Archduke sometime near the end of the rule of Henry IV. His early history is not known, but it is rumoured to have been quite bloody. Some say he was a mercenary Captain in the French Army who performed some great service for the King. Others claim he was a seaman. It is known that he is quite wealthy, however, and influential. For reasons unknown, perhaps because of scars or burns, the Archduke perpetually wears a thin, beautiful mask of gold. This also makes it difficult to ascertain his age.
The next morning, the heroes are summoned. De Treville greets them, informs them that he has kept a close eye on them since their arrival, and thanks them for their assistance in the matter of Maitre St Pierre, and old friend of his.
Now, he needs them to assist Roger Dupin in a matter of extreme importance
He shows them the note that Roger received:
'I have the pleasure of desiring your assistance It would please me for you to await my carriage at the Pont du Louvre at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning I anticipate in advance the pleasure of our meeting
Destroy this note after you have read it
By my own hand,
De Mainz"
They set out immediately to the Pont de Louvre. At precisely 10 o'clock, a fancy carriage bearing the Archduke's Coat-of-Arms, and his curious crossed swords device, stops at the Pont du Louvre, driven by a tall silent man, lean and thin, clean-shaven, and dressed as a gentleman, but somehow sinister. Inside, it is guarded by a rough looking man, missing several teeth, with a cutlass. The cutlass armed man introduces himself now, in accented, but passable French, as Johnny Coppers, and Englishman in the special service of the Archduke. Coppers is nearly fifty years old. Asked about his companion, the silent driver, he laughs and explains that his friend Pendu is silent as he had his tongue cut out by the Turks.
The carriage rides out of Paris and on to the nearby country estate of the Archduke. The ride takes nearly half an hour.
The Archduke's estate near Paris, his hunting lodge, is centred around a massive stone villa. The group is shown in by Johnny Coppers, led through a series of dazzling and luxurious rooms, and finally to a rather Spartan study. Coppers takes his leave and they are left alone.
In the study they find a chess set, sitting on a marble table top, apparently hand carved from wood. The white pieces are in the form of European soldiery and the black pieces are detailed like Moors or Turks. There appears to be a game in progress and both players are apparently quite good. The bookcase is filled with volumes on every imaginable subject, including texts on military and naval strategy, theology, law, fencing, and history. The most interesting of all the books is on a pedestal next to the bookcase.
The pages are quite old and yellowed, but the binding appears new. It is filled with fantastic diagrams and pictures in an early Italian style. Henri recognizes the book as being made up of documents by Leonardo DaVinci, the great Italian artist, sculptor, and inventor. The text cannot be easily read as it is in old Italian and is written backwards (as was DaVinci's habit). It seems to contain designs for numerous wild and incredible inventions, including an air ship and a submarine vessel.
The Archduke enters after fifteen minutes. He is dressed in contrasting garments of white and black, surmounted by his emotionless golden face-mask. He courteously greets the characters and thanks them for coming, asking them for their assistance in a problem of his. Politely, he requests that the party do him a service, for which he feels they are well prepared due to the diversity of talents found among its members. He indicates he knows who they are and make reference to some of their less known parts of their background and more recent history.
The Archduke gives them an envelope, containing full instructions, to be taken to Marseilles (in the south of France) and opened there. He will lend the characters his carriage, a team of four good horses, the services of his best man (Pendu) who will accompany them, 50 L each for travelling expenses, and up to 300 L worth of any equipment they feel they may need.
The Archduke's carriage is fancy, but well-made and reinforced with bands of steel to make it fairly bullet-proof. It contains three secret compartments, one under each of the two rows of seats and one behind a panel at the back of the passenger section. There is room for two people on the driver's bench, one behind, and six inside the coach.
The journey from Paris to Marseilles is one of about four hundred miles, or about four days' carriage ride at a swift pace. The party notices on the first day, a red carriage, drawn by eight horses, just a little behind them, as if following. On the second night, when entering an inn, they are be informed that two people a Lord and Lady from Paris, arrived several hours before, asked about the Archduke's carriage, and then left.
When the characters get to Marseilles, they open the sealed envelope for further instructions. Inside is a gold coin, stamped on both sides with the Archduke's crossed swords insignia. An enclosed note reads as follows:
'Take this coin to the Roi des Voleurs. You may find him at the Tavern Trencavel on Rue Ste Marie You will receive further instructions from him
- DeMainz'
The party easily finds the Tavern Trencavel; it has the worst reputation of any place in the city. They are warned several times, as they ask directions that it is not a safe place for a gentleman to go and that even the City Guards are afraid of it.
When they arrive, they find it to be a large but dirty and unlit place. The sign above the tavern bears the symbol of a skull, wearing a crown, above a pair of crossed bones. Inside is the largest assortment of rogues, pirates, smugglers, thieves, beggars, bandits, and cutthroats ever assembled. They are all silent as the party enters and stand menacingly. The biggest three, one with a hook instead of a left hand, approaches the characters slowly.
Saying they are here to see the King of Thieves, the cutthroats laugh raucously. This turns into good natured slapping around and, finally, almost into physical violence. When they show the Archduke's coin, the ruffians back off in fear. The bartender motions the characters to follow him down a hidden flight of steps behind the bar, and everyone gives the party a wide berth.
In the cellar is a huge chamber, decorated as a royal courtroom, and dominated by a large table, at which sit more than 100 motley rogues and villains. At the head of the table, sitting on a throne, with a crown on his head, is the King of Thieves, an obese giant of a man with an eye-patch. Entertainment here in this 'royal court' consists mainly of boxing matches on the table top and knife-throwing at various targets on the walls. There are also numerous dice and card games going on, and a few dirty brawls. On the floor, by the foot of the stairs, lies a dead man. All around, also, are rats, ravens, and a couple of parrots.
The bartender leads the characters up to the throne and whispers into the King's ear. The 'King' welcomes the characters with all of the royal grace he can muster and invites them to sit at his table. When given the gold coin, he smiles and hand them another sealed envelope. He then invites them to stay at his court for a few days and join his royal festivities, which our heroes decline
The new envelope, sealed with the same crossed swords emblem, contains another gold coin, bearing the Archduke's insignia, and another note, which reads:
'Travel to the city of Florence, and present this coin to Count Del Ferro, of the Court of the Medicis. My friends that you have met in Marseille will make sure you aren’t followed.
Take the items he will give you, and hide them in the carriage, then return as quickly as possible to Paris - DeMainz'
The next day, the group leaves for Florence...
Sunday, May 2, 2021
Roger Dupin
Chapitre IV: Le Maître d'Escrime, pt I
- Student of Maitre St Pierre, who is very convincing when pretending to be drunk in order to fool his opponent.
Andre
Chapitre IV: Le Maître d'Escrime, pt I
- Street urchin, recruited by Gerard as his lackey.
- Old beyond his age, due to a hard life on the streets of Paris.
Signori Sapristi
Chapitre IV: Le Maître d'Escrime, pt I
- Villainous Italian of short stature, who ordered his students to kidnap Maitre St Pierre and kill and injure his students.
Viscount de Bouvard
- Noble student of Maitre St Pierre, who organized a demonstration of the Ecole de Position de Fer at his mansion outside of Paris
Chapitre IV: Le Maître d'Escrime, pt I
After their introduction and induction at the Musketeers barracks at the Hotel de Treville, the heroes are taking a few days to settle in to their new routine.
News travels around that Maitre St. Pierre, and several of his assistants and top fencers, are invited to perform a fencing demonstration at a garden party to be hold by the Viscount de Bouvard (one of his pupils). The assistants and fencers have not yet been chosen by M. St. Pierre, and he has made it understood that there is to be a trial within his Salle to determine who will go.
Another piece of related news also makes its way through the grapevine: Signor Sapristi, head of Fraternity di Giganti, and rival of M. St. Pierre, petitioned to be the Viscount's fencing master, and volunteered to perform a demonstration to rival M. St. Pierre's. He was refused by the Viscount and suffered a loss of face.
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| Hotel de Treville |
Our heroes, who have also recruited a new hanger-on in the form of Andre, a 7y old boy who was caught trying to pickpocket Jean, discuss the possibility to join as adversaries for St. Pierre's students. He gladly accepts them and tries them against a number of his students, to create interesting match-ups.
On the day itself, they marvel at the gathering of their social superiors, while enjoying the good food and drinks. Both Henri and Gerard are able to give the best of themselves, winning against St Pierre's students. Jean's opponent is a slovenly dressed Musketeer, Roger Dupin, who is wearing most of the food on his livery, bragging loudly about his prowess and insulting Jean prior to the fight. Once steel is drawn however, he seems to be pretty much able to defend himself, turning the demonstration in a memorable bit o swashbuckling that immensely entertains the gathered nobility, although he only just is able to defeat Jean.
As the grand finale, Maitre St Pierre challenges the Viscount, allowing him to hit the fencing master twice prior to winning the fight.
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After the Viscount's garden party, the rivalry between Fraternity Ste. -Didier and Fraternity di Giganti turns to open hostility. Signor Sapristi's students, famous for their black surcoats and bad manners, start to harass the pupils of M. St. Pierre. A few duels will result, involving the deaths of two of the members of Fraternity Ste. -Didier, and the injury of three more.
In response to the violence caused by Fraternity di Giganti, M.St. Pierre will fly into a rage. Attempting to provoke Signor Sapristi into a duel, he will denounce him in public as a 'cowardly foreign dog'. Our heroes gladly deliver the challenge, only to be met with silence after slapping the short Italian in the face. Our heroes are followed by men in black surcoats but when pressed, their pursuers turn and run.
The day M. St. Pierre's insult of Signor Sapristi, Jean is scheduled for a private lesson M. St. Pierre in the early afternoon. Upon arriving at the Salle d'Armes Sainte-Didier, they find the Fraternity quiet and deserted - not a rare occurrence in the early afternoon, when usually only M. St. Pierre is present for private lessons.
The entrance alcove leads to the fencing hall, the large chamber used for practice, group exercises and tournaments. The walls are lined with carefully spaced racks of masks and assorted blunt weapons. The wall opposite the entrance is covered entirely by mirrored glass, to allow students to observe their own form (this is a rare luxury, mirrored glass was very expensive and delicate in the 17th Century). To one side of the hall stand two clever mannequins. These are fencing dummies designed to spin and jab a foil at an opponent, when struck (this exercise is used to quicken parry reactions). On the floor in the centre of the hall is an elaborate circle diagram in the Spanish style, to teach students footwork and distance. A stairway near the entrance leads to the top floor.
On the top floor, they pass through an elaborate hallway, decorated with crossed swords on the walls. A door on the side of the hallway gives access to the dressing room, where gentlemen may change from their normal clothes into various protective jackets, vests, and plastrons for their lessons, or for practice with each other. A side room provides hangers and hooks for cloaks and coats. In another side room various fencing equipment and gear is stored.
The upstairs hall leads to a small annex and a waiting parlour, where students may prepare for their lessons by reading from a wide variety of fencing books and documents in Spanish, Italian and French, collected by M. St. Pierre. This library includes a full collection of the works of the famous master, Sainte-Didier, for whom the Fraternity is named.
They find that the master does not respond to their calls. The doors to his private quarters are locked, and there is no sound from within. There will be no answer to their pounding on the door. Henri, cleverly noticing the key is on the inside of the door, lets it drop onto a piece of parchment and draws it underneath the door.
Inside, they find the private lesson chamber empty. It is a simple room, decorated with wood panelling, and with a large segmented mirror (similar to the one downstairs) on the west wall. There is only one apparent door, besides the entrance. This door leads to M. St. Pierre's office. It has been locked with the same key as the door from the annex. Inside the office is a modest desk and the records for the Fraternity.
Henri notices a scrap of black cloth caught between two panels of the glass. After a short search, they discover the opening device. By pushing one of the other panels, a secret door opens upon a small staircase leading down. Behind the secret door, the staircase leads to a narrow, dusty, secret passageway. Signs of a scuffle and fight are apparent on the floor here. In the middle of the passage is a small pool of blood, and a broken sword-tip.
The door at the end of the passage opens onto an alley by the side of the Salle d'Armes, near the entrance to a small chapel.
When they look for witnesses, they find a mendicant seller of holy water on the steps of the chapel. After knocking a bit of money out of their pockets, he tells them that he saw, around noon, two men in black surcoats from the direction of the alley beside the Salle d'Armes. One of them was badly wounded in the chest, and the other was helping him. They asked the seller of holy water where they might find a surgeon, and he directed them to a nearby physician.
Arriving at the surgeons house, they find the wounded man still there. The wounded man is, indeed, a minor student of Signor Sapristi. He was wounded badly in the chest by M. St. Pierre in the struggle. The wounded man refuses to speak, clearly he is more worried about Sapristi's reaction if it would be found out that he talked.
The group takes him back to the Hotel de Treville, and hand their prisoner over to Roger Dupin. Clearly the student of Maitre St Pierre has very little qualms to use violence to find out what has happened to his mentor, and after a short period of prodding into the prisoners wounds, they find out that the four students of Sapristi surprised M. St. Pierre alone in his Salle and chased him through the secret door to the passage, where they overpowered him. After dropping the wounded man off at the physician's, the other kidnappers continued on to the barracks of the 2nd Company of the Italian Regiment, outside of Paris. Signor Sapristi, he says, saved the life of the Captain of the 2nd Company years ago, and is calling in the debt.
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