View source for Aleksei's Journal - The Rock of Tormentos

From the Journal of Aleksei Courtanveux du Agenais:

'''
Amordi, 10th of Corantine:
'''

I have often reflected that Monseiur Philip du Paix would not be the sort of man I would normally wish to be seen taking breakfast with, and yet I find myself too often in his company.  I blame the unfortunate frequency of our meetings on my friend Julian, whom Monseiur du Paix seems to have some hold over and who I have too great a fondness for to leave in such sordid company alone.  I recall Sebastien mentioning some order from above indenturing the Musketeer to Monseiur du Paix's service, though how such a thing came to be I do not know, save only that he joined Julian and I and in the meeting. 

Lady Marie-Celeste accompanied me as well, no doubt continuing to play the nurse-maid.   I cannot say I am yet accustomed to her presence in my home, but as she is both me senior in the Order and in need of domicile in Paix I could hardly refuse her.  Yet I continue to wonder whether Mlle. Marie-Celeste represents some trepidation among my brother Knights about admitting one so young among the ranks of full members.  Such doubt, of course, has no place in the mind of a member of the Rose and Cross and I shall set myself to putting it aside.

Regardless, the breakfast!  M. du Paix introduced a gentleman of Eisen heritage who, like so many of his kin, was employed for his martial and tactical skill.  Such skill was soon to be necessary, M. du Paix assured, as we (Julian, Sebastian, Mlle. Marie-Celeste and I) were to travel by sea to the Isla Tormentos and assists in its conquest.  Dear M. Philippe had clearly confused us with with soldiers or some such.

Had that alone been the only surprise we were to endure perhaps it would have been a meeting much like all others we have had with him (a revelation that strongly compels me to end my association with the rogue).  We had not yet discussed how we would approach a Castillian island fortress, though, and so we were introduced to the captain of the vessel that would convey us thither.  None other than Captain Crispino himself arrived, smirking with self-confidence that he was protected from Sebastien's ire by M. du Paix's employment. 

Somehow, despite the obvious spectre of treachery, we were all convinced that M. du Paix's plan must go forward.  I cannot recall what clever explanation was provided but I am inclined to believe that Julian and Sebastien were compelled to go out of duty or obligation, and I acquiesced due to my youthful inclination toward adventure.  Mlle. Marie-Celeste had no objection that I recall, though I think perhaps she does not know Philippe du Paix as of yet. By sunset we were all of us aboard "Il Falco", a brig captained by the Vodacce villian.

'''Guerdi, 12th of Corantine:'''

I admit to taking particular pleasure in playing the oblivious fop, though I am compelled to admit that I am no doubt good at it because I need not stretch particularly far to find the role within myself.  In this particular case I find that it is particularly infuriating to Captain Crispino who, enjoying his role aboard the ship as the untouchable commander, does not hide his enjoyment of mocking the impotence of myself and my companions in avenging past wrongs.  For my part I flirt with his paramour, the lovely crescent woman who is his second, frustrate his crew with unreasonable demands, and generally give only confused smiles when he attempts to evoke anger with a mocking remark.  Quickly he seems to have gone from self-confident smugness at dinner to grinding his teeth in frustration.  I find his displeasure an enjoyable method of passing the time.

Today there was a sea battle.  I am told that I should not have ordered the detonation of the powder magazine of our attacker's vessel, but I always consider the source of such complaints.  The first is Sebastien, who I believe unrealistically assumed that our boarding party's success in holding the forecastle for a few minutes was merely a prelude to the total routing of the ship's crew and (eventually) his first command of a sea-going vessel.  I do not consider myself more level-headed in a fight that M. Sebastian (indeed, quite the opposite), but considering the number of stitches which I was required to sew in my dear friend I can only assume his criticism was more born out of delirious blood loss than a serious complaint.

The second was Captain Crispino, who perhaps worried that detonating an enemy ship's magazine a few meters away from his own vessel put his ship and crew at risk.  Though I may, upon quiet self-reflection, consider this a reasonable and prudent concern I will never give him the satisfaction by indicating so.  My penance was done in removing splinters from crewmen and stitching up the wounded; to the Captain I show nothing but indifference.

Besides, rather than condemning my actions one might think the Captain would be lavishing praise upon me and my compatriots.  His ship, after all, was secured not by his hand but by the swift steel of Mlle. Marie-Celeste and Sebastien and the daring of Julian among the sails of the enemy.  I have no time for a man who criticizes the manner in which he was saved from certain doom. 

Finally, and more interesting than sea battles and dinners with sworn enemies, there is the matter of the woman locked in the room.  I do not know her name, nor why she is sequestered away in the locked room connected to the Captain's, yet there is something entrancing about her.  I would that I had opportunity to know more about her, but the Captain does not allow contact.  I worry she is mistreated, yet she does not seem to act so.

I think perhaps she is a fate witch, though having never met one personally I confess I make such an assumption based on garb alone.  Perhaps it is the child in me that has yet to fully transform to manhood, but I had always envisioned witches as something terrible or ugly.  Stories from Vodacce that reached the court of Paix spoke of the Vodacce noble women in terms of their strange magics and warned to never meet the eyes of a woman wearing the traditional veil of the fate witches.  And yet I confess that I would have met her eyes without fear and acceptable whatever curse befell me in exchange. 

In two days we are to meet the fleet I am told.  By then I should know more of this mysterious woman and whether Captain Crispino holds her hostage.