Arms and Prayers

Dear Mother,

Since I last wrote I have again met up with that unusual group of people who I last encountered in Eisen. I had heard that they had become involved in the events in Freiberg but had since lost contact. Unsurprisingly I have since been up to my neck in trouble.

It all started when I arrived in Charouse, as per Bors McAllister's orders (I've sent him the mundane account of events). The expected companions were not there - given that it was to be arranged by that ever-more unreliable sais Sir Robin I was not surprised. However whom should I happen to encounter but the aforesaid group in the 'Le Grande Routier'. I was gleaning for information - incidentally, does the 'State of Kossara' have any meaning to you? - I heard that their emissary (to Ussura?) was gruesomely murdered in that country.

There, swallowing ale like a thirsty whale was the infamous Pistol, aided and abetted by Borstenn with Antonio and Dandelion rather more circumspectly sipping wine in the corner. Funnily enough the group had acquired a couple more soul mates from Avalon - an energetic Highlander called Mordred and an unusually quiet lowlander by the name of Avon. Judging on his appearance the blood of the Sidhe flows in his veins as well, so I was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

As you know the business of the wine barrel shipments containing arms has been a worry for a while now, although this groups barrel problems seem much more related to Pistol's ill behaved ever-full ale barrel. He wanted me to pay for filling it again but he'd overlooked the fact that I thoroughly enjoy training such tricksy artefacts myself (did I fancy a look of disappointment as I drained it?). I digress. Not entirely to my surprise when I unburdened my tale to them in hope of recruiting their aid they not only showed willing but already knew something about this scheme and could tell me that the brand mark of the wine was three blue flowers on it. What plots these people haven't been involved in are probably not worth knowing!

Pistol was of course the person with contacts disreputable enough to be in the 'import-export business'. A fellow by the delightful soubriquet of Louis le Flay who'd import his own grandmother if there was a profit in it from the sound of it. Dandelion went with Pistol to provide the interpretation service (and hopefully - very hopefully - restrain the Inishman from too much misbehaviour.

As it turned out a bribe of 20 Soleil was enough to attract his attention as regards the information, but he had to carry out some investigations of his own and arranged to meet us at the inn that evening. Pistol tried to follow him, apparently messed it up but managed not to upset le Flay enough to queer the deal (Diw!). That man is trouble incarnate!

That evening did not start well. While we had street urchins out to warn of trouble from the guard, le Flay was promptly shot in front of the inn by assailants masked and caped in red. By all that's Unseelie it was annoying and no-one could tell us much about who these people were at first! I finally twigged that they might be Inquisitors from the Vaticine church (it was about their level of subtlety for a start and they like red all too well) but identifying their hideout was not so easy.

The obvious place was the Cathedral complex, and sure enough on scouting Avon spotted a light coming from the barred and locked buildings. Inevitably it was Pistol who found the sewer entrance and down we went in the reek of Charouse's waste disposal system. Sure enough we (actually Antonio and Dandelion) found a secret entrance some way along and managed to open it. Sets of stairs led up to an antechamber with red robes and washing water even as ritual chanting became louder further up. Various smaller people donned the robes although the water was ruined by Pistol attempting to wash in it. Then we sneaked up, to find a full Vaticine Mass in progress. All but one of us stayed out of the limelight. instead scouting to see if we could discover any incriminating evidence elsewhere. Promisingly we found a locked door and our Montaigne friend had just used his Porte sorcery to disappear inside when matters got out of hand.

It grieves me to say that there is a certain Inishman who makes the lowlanders look sensible and thoughtful. Apparently Pistol fancied some Communion wine and went to considerable lengths to get it. He knocked out two people including a nun, stole her robes and went up to the altar to get a drink. Somewhere in this insane performance he attracted unwanted suspicion and the first we know of his efforts failure was the click of forty pistols being armed and pointed it him. Worse than that, he was promptly grabbed, bound and hustled back towards ourselves - giving us little chance to ready for combat.

Avon, Borstenn and Mordred charged, sweeping numbers of church guardsmen away with varying styles - both the highlander and the Vesten use enormous two-handed swords with mighty effect. Dandelion was on the wrong side of the locked door and both Antonio and myself were initially looking the wrong way.

Then we saw each other - that son of a goat - the inquisitor Corantin d'Cruz was in charge of this Vaticine rabble! I recognised him immediately from that dreadful night when he killed father and the recognition was mutual. Snarling he rushed at me past Borstenn (a dangerous move that) and the fight was on! I was only vaguely aware of the rest of the fight but father's killer was focussed firmly in front of me. I was aware of some splendid acrobatics and swordwork from Antonio as he leaped upon a tomb, dodged numerous bullets and laid out half a dozen guardsmen or more with a sparkling series of strokes. He then managed to come and aid me, which I confess was much needed - that mangy get of a Castillian sow knows how to use a blade!

The fight in front of us was helped by Pistol, who though drunk, bound and unarmed showed that he was far from helpless - the stench alone is enough to frighten the strongest but he's good with his fists (if not with his head in any sense - his efforts at head-butting looked painful).

I managed to shoot Corantin despite his fancy bladework, and then we got down to a duel. I was amused that he tried to remove Antonio from the fight first - he always a cowardly dog - and although he marked the Vodacce both of us marked him. I also showed him that I was not afraid of his reputation and he actually quailed somewhat as I cursed him.

His desperation started to show as his allies succumbed to my companions blows and he cast some foul sorcery at myself to try and get me to flee but I resisted him. Thus when he realised that he was now the last of his group standing, he delivered one last low blow to me and took to his cowardly heels.

Alas, we could not pursue, for Mordred was unconscious and both Antonio and Borstenn almost so. Instead we confirmed that the locked room indeed contained gunpowder and weapons - plus some blue-flowered barrels to complete the link. This we spoilt as much as we could - although the temptation to blow up the entire Vaticine hellhole was strong and departed. Borstenn did take the sacred vessels, which I am none too sure is a good idea however much he disdains the religion.

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Our wounds have now been dressed and I write this while drinking a soothing draught in comfortable surroundings and look forwards to my next meeting with that inquisitor and the chance to send him where he deserves

Yours with many regards,

Owain