The Great Assassin Hunt part III

To his fellow Druids, Caerwyddich Bard of Carrig sends greetings.

After an extensive interregnum of unconsciousness we were finally able to re-establish contact with the Misbegotten one, Pistol. He did not succumb to the poison on the blades of the incensed sisters but it must have been a very close thing. There are those among us who would regard this as a lost opportunity but I feel myself more and more admiring of the pluck of our subject. That which does not kill him, only makes him stronger.....

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The veils of unconsciousness lifted from Pistol's mind to reveal the care-worn features of Dandelion. "You can travel perhaps but remain only a short step from death".

"And the top o' the mornin to yerself, Dandelion" responded Pistol "I must admit that oi've felt better followin one of Finnegan's scholarship classes and dat is sayin sometin." A cough and retch followed and Pistol raised his pale sweating face to see how the others had fared. They all looked pretty good compared to him.

Antonio had caught up with the party in the night and clapped the invalid on the back. "Eet is good to ave you back with us friend Pistol" he said. "This poison is known to us in Vodacce and is extremely effective. I have-a the good fortune to be immune!".

"Oi can't begin to tell you how much better that makes me feel, Antonio. Come closer so oi can sick up on yer boots". Antonio laughed and pushed Pistol away. "Don't get too jealous, look at what the blade in the sewers did". Antonio lifted his shirt to show a livid wound with an ominous red swelling. "Anyway if you're well enough to make a the joke, then you should look to Mordred".

Pistol shuffled over to the highlander and bent to tend a nasty slash across his arm. Mordred stiffened with suspicion but relaxed as Pistol skilfully bound the wound. "Well thank yer verra much, Pistol" he said, "that's a definite improvement". "Don't mention it" said Pistol "If you hadn't been awake to resist those harridans I'd be a green puddle on der floor".

After a short discussion the party decide to head for Crieux in the hope that someone might be found there who can help Pistol and Antonio.

27 Primus 1669

The ruins of a burnt down waystation receded to the rear as a cold rain started to fall. Dandelion had pointed out a copse of trees ahead that seemed to hold the best promise of shelter for the night.

The horses were unsaddled under the branches of the trees and the companions huddled around their fire, extracting what shelter they could from the surrounding trees.

Dandelion saw a cute large black squirrel seemingly watching the party but it made off as soon as he noticed it.

Watches were set with Pistol taking his usual duty despite protestations of feeling ill. Pistol and Mordred took first watch followed by Avon and Borstenn with Antonio and Dandelion taking the dawn watch.

While Avon and Borstenn were watching the attack came. Without warning a few dozen large black squirrels with nasty fangs dropped from the branches onto Avon, Borstenn, Antonio and Mordred. Their dropping attacks were difficult to predict and they could scurry back up the tree and drop again in quick order.

Avon and Borstenn put up a hue and cry which woke those who had not already awoken to teeth in their flesh. Pistol snatched up a burning brand which kept the creatures from him but he failed to hit all but one of the scurrying vermin as he flailed around. Dandelion and Avon took them on one at a time. Mordred collected squirrel corpses in sets of two on his claymore. Antonio and Borstenn inflicted wholesale slaughter. The squirrels were no pushover however and their fangs and claws inflicted many cuts and scratches.

After the last of the dangerous pests were dispatched Avon and Borstenn had their wounds attended to. Pistol helped Avon while Mordred tried his hand at healing on Borstenn. "Not bad for a beginner eh ?" he exclaimed "I think I've a natural talent for this healing thing".

Mordred's obvious pride in his work was quickly displaced by a disgusted wrinkling of his nose. "What in the name of Theus is that horrendous stench..." And sure enough a miasma of burnt hair and singed verminous flesh was rising from the fire. "There be good eating on a squirrel yes" said Borstenn happily returning to the fire to poke a reeking corpse in the coals. Those downwind of the fire with weak stomachs promptly lost whatever food remained in them.

Even Pistol, who was regularly losing his food anyway, found the stench too much to bear and made an excuse to search the nearby shrubs finding a collection of skulls and bones seemingly stripped clean by squirrel teeth.

As the party looked on, upwind, Borstenn devoured a singed squirrel in a display of barbarity that would have done his ancestors proud. "You know what they say" muttered Mordred "Most Vestennmanavnjar cuisine is based on a dare."

28 Primus 1669

"Does this hurt ?" asked the village herbalist, pressing lightly on Antonio's chest. "Aagh" said Antonio in response. "A nasty humour" she muttered. "I'm afraid its the "eau de colon" for you msieu". She produced a bilious green mixture and instructed Antonio to apply it every morning for a week. She made him leave her house before opening the bottle.

When Antonio eased the cork the party instinctively drew upwind. "That's worse than Pistol" muttered Avon. "Its only for a week, ..only a week" said Antonio through gritted teeth.

29 Primus 1669

Another burnt out Inn. This time with a cellar that provides shelter from the elements. The watches are set as usual.

During the night Dandelion relieves himself upstairs when he notices a gleam of light beyond the walls. With reckless abandon he goes to investigate without alerting Antonio.

He walks a short way beyond the ruins when his is savagely attacked by a pony sized black wolf which leaps upon him from behind. As he turns he sees a bloody hole in space closing behind it. The wolf dematerialises and again attacks him from behind. He yells out to the others and in short order they wake and join him in attacks on the beast. With everyone hacking at it the beast is disposed of in short order. Although it is nimble enough to dodge many blows the party outnumbers it and desperation adds an air to their efforts. It continues to bite and claw at Dandelion even when its own destruction seems assured. Mordred finally fells the beast with a savage swipe.

Examination reveals the fur is hideously matted with ichor from the portal. Borstenn expresses an interest in the skin and Avon deftly skins it with a knife. The skin is mottled and old and contains strange lumps.

31 Primus 1669

The party arrive at Crieux and stay at the Silver Starling. Avon visits the local chapter house of the Rose & Cross. Pistol makes enquiries in a shady dive as to local healers and is directed to Dr. Maufuge.

"Remember it is Red, Blue, Green each morning for a week" the Doctor says rapidly. "Not Blue, Green, Red or Green, Red, Blue. Don't come back complaining if you don't get it right and go Red, Green Blue because then it won't work. Clear ? " said the Doctor handing over a jar of coloured tablets and quickly pocketing Pistol's money.

"Well dat was uncommonly cheap" thought Pistol as he wandered off. "Dey picked on de wrong fella to mess wid if they think they can put one over old Pistol"

Dandelion meanwhile had called on Dr. Bernard. A surgeon who advertised himself in the main street of town with a plaque. Pistol sniffed, "No real surgeon would do dat" he whispered. "Bet he hasn't even got a jar of coloured tablets".

Dandelion raised an eyebrow and opened the door. "Alas Pistol" he exclaimed with mock regret "I must content myself with surgeons that eschew such modern learning".

Dr. Bernard was, despite Pistol's misgivings, able to heal Dandelion quite admirably. Pistol, on the theory that it never hurts to have a back up, presented himself for examination but the Doctor was unable to effect any improvement.

While the medical men were at work Borstenn had called on Lars Wolfsen a local Vendel fur trader. He displayed the skin of the black wolf and was able to raise 8 soleil for the item. As Lars handed over the money Borstenn sketched a rune in the dust. His hands frosted over and a deep cold seeped from his person. Lars watched in some amazement as the magical energies unfolded before him. At the end of the process Borstenn pocketed 16 soleil.

After a speedy breakfast the party quitted Crieux and proceeded to Dechaine.

2 Secundus, 1669

The walls of Dechaine rose in front of them. They looked well fortified and maintained despite the civil disturbances. Wagons were being checked at the gate by men in an unfamiliar uniform, "Bloody customs" muttered Pistol. He ducked under his cloak as a one eyed officer supervising the guards glanced in their direction. "Bloody Commandant bloody Fauche"

Borstenn quickly improvised some disguises for Pistol and Dandelion. Dandelion as the usual dyer, Pistol, in a moment of inspiration, as a Montaigne onion seller in a striped t-shirt. "You know I cannot speak the language" he hissed to Borstenn. "Just fake it" hissed back Borstenn. "Who's this Fauche then ?" "Some idiot customs feller who wrongly imagines I put out his eye with a crate that I wasn't holding when he was inspecting it" said Pistol. "Ah, I see" said Borstenn.

The guards closely inspected the travellers lingering for some time over the sweating visage of Pistol. They looked to Fauche who said a little too loudly "Let them pass, they are obviously who they say they are".

Pistol who seemed familiar with the town led the party to the Blue Parrot where he fell into conversation with an old Avalonion acquaintance Sydney Ferrari. After swapping stories Pistol enquired about common friends and was told that he could meet Ungare at the usual place.

Pistol led those who cared to accomany him to the unsalubrious "Black Spot" in a corner table lounged a very queer customer with eyes that never quite met the person to whom he was speaking. "Ah Pistol, it is so good to see you after all these years" he said in an ingratiating fashion. "I trust you Pistol and that is why I ask you to look after this parcel for me until 8:00 pm tomorrow night. Keep it safe and meet me back here then." Ungare handed across a parcel about the size of a housebrick.

Pistol saw a nearby customer staring at them and quickly left with the parcel, returning to the Blue Parrot.

The party gathered in Dandelion's room as they opened the parcel. Inside was a dagger with a clawed handle and a serrated blade and a signet ring. Dandelion identified the crest on the ring as the coat of arms of the Lastrassa family, minor nobles from the border near Eisen.

After re-wrapping the parcel Dandelion opened his Porté pocket. A sulpherous stench filled the room which he said was unusual. The parcel was placed inside.

Borstenn then visited the closest tailor who told him that he had sold his last maroon cloak in a batch of seven about 5 weeks ago. When questioned about the identity of his clients the tailor professed confidentiality but after 2 soleil were pressed upon him he stepped away from the counter leaving his account book open. Dandelion quickly read the entry "Chevalier Lastrasser - 7 Maroon cloaks". The address was Le Chateau Deville.