Never Taken By Force part I

Trade between the States shall be absolutely free (except if by riverboat)

Excerpts from La Plúme

23 Quintus Jyrgal Timurber declares the independence of Kossara from Ussura. The Revolutionary Council declares solidarity with all enslaved peoples seeking to be free etc..

6 Sextus The Faery Flag has been stolen from the McLouds in the Highland Marches. The robbers are still at large.

Reports in the Freiburg Gazette disclose various deeds of derring-do by the Black Rose. This organization seems to share many things in common with the Knights of the Rose & Cross but its emblem is a black rose.

25 Sextus George Skard is the first Vendel to attend the Althing at Thingevallvatn. George is a member of the Vendel Council and is an established merchant shipping alcohol to remote villages.

Jollandre Dumaison has been found murdered in his bath. He was stabbed through the heart, a red rose gripped between his teeth. Messr. Dumaison was a wealthy merchant and a patron of the Knights of the Rose & Cross.

There are reports of a monstrous bear in the Montaigne province of Verre. The beast is said to be massacring the local population.

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At the Trois Freres strange events have been occuring. Borstennskoldmund, seems unhappy with any food and complains of it tasting like ashes. Vermin seem to infest his person wherever he moves! He spends his days scowling at priests and whittling idols.

I was worried for him and when Frere Jean visited again for communion said a special prayer for Borstenn. Unfortunately I didn't feel half as good after communion as I did last time so I don't think religion is all it is cracked up to be.

Dandelion spends his days in training a horse. But to do what ? No one can tell.

For a week Avon was absent having left with an attractive Montaigne in Rose & Cross garb. When he returned he was wearing a blue tabard. Must have spilt something on his other one...

Everyone has decided to go on a bear hunt. Sounds good to me.....

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29 Sextus

Report of Commandant Gaston Fais to the Revolutionary Customs Bureau.

Dear Comrades,

It is my sad duty to report the loss of two launches, extensive damage to the roof of a storage shed, the theft of three uniforms and the deaths of several men. All of these losses were suffered in a savage attack last night by the lawless brigands accompanying Pierre O'Toole who broke one of their number from lawful custody.

In the mid-morning of yesterday we hove to alongside a riverboat on Lake Couret. The passengers were assessed for taxation, duties, fees and miscellaneous charges in the usual fashion. As the payment was handed over in a brown paper sack a large figure with a horned helmet swung past on a rope making a grab for the bag. He landed in the water and we all laughed as he was fished back in. Little did we know the extent this Borstennskoldmund would go to in order to steal back the taxes. Such greed and initiative. If we could only persuade him to part company with the noxious O'Toole and join our cause...

But I digress. As the launch was leaving the riverboat amid laughing gestures of farewell and good wishes from the citizens on board a lightning bolt flashed from a rune on the pointy helmet of the aforesaid Borstenskoldmund and struck my second in command (Messr. Le Bagueman) who was holding the bag ! Immediately we brought the boat under cover of our muskets and gun and apprehended the miscreant sorcerer. I relieved him of his huge sword, apparantly of dracheneisen he must have stolen, and a dagger found on his person. He was taken into custody to be returned to base, given a fair trial and hanged.

After some taunting (as required by regulations) I detected a blooded pin on the captive which I dunked in water in front of him. No doubt he is accompanied by a foul Porté sorcerer who remains undetected despite our recent program of executing all dyers summarily. At that point the knave burst into laughter. We cuffed him of course but his giggles continued as he revealed that although we had captured him none other than Pierre O'Toole had slipped through our hands! Immediately I readied both launches and we took off in force for the riverboat.

Subsequent investigations have revealed that at this time the remaining brigands had inveigled the captain to let them off on the opposite shore where they stole a boat from an innocent village (or so we were assured). They must have made their way north of the base and concealed themselves until dusk.

Events after that are somewhat confused but it appears that we were infiltrated in the night by these artful scoundrels, some of whom disguised themselves in uniforms stolen from the laundry line. Another uniform was stolen from a guard near the jetty. Both launches were sunk by cannon balls dropped through their bows.

One of the mysteries of events is the skillful timing of the fire arrows shot from an amazing range which set fire to the goods shed, creating a diversion in which Borstennskoldmund was set free. It was the kind of split second timing that might have been expected from the use of a Syrneth artifact. That would ordinarily be unlikely but I myself ambushed one of these dogs wearing a jewelled collar that appeared to be of Syrneth origin. I could not get a word from the saucy wretch and had to content myself with emptying two pistols into his worthless carcass after which he defenestrated himself. Theus alone knows who he is or how he survived the fall.

A patrol was dispatched to deal with the arrows and survivors reported that a member of the filthy Rose & Cross appeared to be responsible. He was guarded by a man in a skirt with another very large sword which just goes to show you what these allegedly chivalrous types can get up to.

Further mysteries include the identity of the spy who infiltrated the cannon crew at the north river corner of the fort. At first they thought him a fool but his antics succesfully delayed them firing and I now believe he was crazy like a fox.

For my own part I battled with various of the brigands including a Vodacce who muttered soft imprecations under his breath as I shot him with two pistols and then stabbed him senseless with my weapon. In the end I was battling with Borstenskoldmund and O'Toole (who like the coward he is had remained hidden until then) when I perceived that my duty lay in ensuring that the fire was put out and that I could not selfishly continue to engage in the pleasure of duelling such two despicable smugglers.

I must also report that as we were raising the launches a rope snapped on the pulleys and has put out my left eye. As a result I will be deducting compensation from the remittances etc.

Yours in hatred of O'Toole and his perfidious companions including the criminal Borstennskoldmund for whom death is too good.

Commandant Gaston Fais

Montaigne Customs