Sebastien's Journal
A few weeks later on their way to a local watering hole a man bumps into Aleksei and then had the nerve to chastise Aleksei for his clumsiness. As usual Sebastien does not let the matter slip and expresses how it is inconceivable to him that a man such as this is even able to put on his own clothes, let alone walk without bumping into people, and that he owes Aleksei an appoligy. This of course only leads to where it normally does, with the man stating a time and place for a duel to settle the matter. The event, set for the next day at noon by Julian and the mans second, Lord Pembsley. The duel is to take place at the Sunken Fountain, a feature in one of the ponds in Le Labyrinthe. It turns out that Sebastien's opponent is one Roger Northrup, 7th Earl of Luthon. As Sebastien and Lord Roger have just taken their places, a shot rings out and Lord Pembsley falls down dead. A Crescent woman with revealing attire and twin scimitars, steps down into the plaza, flanked by a dozen evil-looking pirates. She tells the Sebastien and his freinds that she has no quarrel with them, and that they can go; but they decline her polite offer, and a fight ensues.
The Crescent woman beelines for the Earl, who she quickly fells, as Sebastien and Julien engage the pirates. Aleksei drags the Earl away just as the Crescent woman is about to strike a killing blow, and Sebastien and the woman set to fighting. Sebastien begins to show his skill with his sword as he disarms the woman, frist of one scimitar, and then the other. Just as her second weapon is sent flying, Julien, who had gotten behind the woman cuts the strings holding on her rather brief bustier, freeing the most coming and ample set of boosums. At this point she realizes that not only is the fight lost, but her now compromised situation leaves her very vulnerable. She makes to flee, running for the bushes and Julien pursues, but cannot catch up as she dives into the waters of the pond. As Sebastien and Julian make their way past the bushes they see the woman climbing into a skiff with another a man - a familiar man. The man is Captain Crispino, their opponent from an earlier encounter. Meanwhile, Northrup recovers enough to speak, thanking the heroes and confessing that this may be related to a diplomatic mission to Castille. He invites them to a party the next evening at the home of his host, Lady Moncrieff.
Sebastien has begun to learn a little more about how a man should handle himself at court by following the lead of Aleksei and Julien. Both are confident and self-assured in their dealings with the nobles of the court. Sebastien has been his usual self by standing aside and watching over his friends from a distance, while keeping his distance from most of the other at any of the events they have attended. Not until recently, while attending a party where Aleksei introduced Sebastien to the comely Christine Rois et Raines.
It was not evident at the time as she introcude herself as Christine du Paix. A commonly used title amoung the nobility to provide some anonimity. In any event, Sebastian was taken with the young woman and forced himself to interact with her and her friends, even going so far as to dance as flamboyantly as he could manage, having recently learned to dance. The more time he spent with her, the more time he found that he wanted to spend with her. As they made ready to leave Aleksei attempted to undo his handywork of introducing the two, but Sebastien was hooked and would hearing nothing of Aleksei's attempts to warn him away from the young woman.
The next morning, after having seen Christine home and then taking himself to bed, he awoken the next morning and asked to meet with Philip du Paix: he tells them that it is in the interests of Montaigne that Earl Roger reach Altamira with his diplomatic pouch (a suspicious statement if ever - why is diplomacy between Avalon and Castille in L'Empereur's interest?) and asks them to accompany the Earl of Northrup to protect him from Captain Crispino, who Philip believes will make an attempt again on the Earl. The Earl's ship leaves for the three-day trip up the Great River to Altamira, a Castillian port in Rancho Soldano. After supper the second night, Sebastien, Julian and Aleksei are drinking and discussing the fact that Julian had swapped the diplomatic pouch currently held by the Earl, the night they all went to the party. Their discussion is cut short however as an alarm of pirates and raiders is heard from the main desk. As Sebastien makes the desk he positions himself infront of the door that would lead to the Earl's cabin and is confronted once again by the crescent woman he fought just two days before. After sending the Crescent beauty fleeing again, he turns to see Aleksei dive into the water, and then rallies some sailors to charge the remaining pirates.
Realizing that he hasn't seen Lord Roger, Sebastien draws two pistols and runs towards the Earl's cabin. Inside, the Earl lies poisoned and gray-faced on the ground as Captain Crispino holds two diplomatic pouches in his hands, standing at the wondow of the cabin. Sebastien unloads both barrels and, quite surprised, Crispino staggers a few feet but does not drop. He then turns and leapt out the cabin windows into the river. By now, the rather-wet Aleksei and Julien have returned, and they shut sailors out of the cabin and tend to the Earl. He is senselessly poisoned but alive, and as they settle him in his cot all turn to look at the pouches. The pouches are opened, but both letters are almost identical: offers from Queen Elaine to Good King Sandoval to assist in the war against Montaigne by restraining Sea Dog attacks against Castillian shipping and helping run blockades.
The text of the two letters differ, but Julien cannot tell which is fake and which is not. Sebastien and Aleksei refuse to explain the diplomatic niceties of each to him, so they finally wake the Earl awakes and hand him the letters: he points out that one of them is written just a little more haughtily than the other, such that the prickly Castillians will reject that offer and Avalon aid. With the affair of the pouch now resolved, Lord Roger thanks the heroes and they reach Altamira. Quickly enough, they take passage back to Paix where they choose to keep Philip du Paix silent about which letter, exactly, Lord Roger finally delivered. As for "Cici", Sebastien would like nothing more than to ply to two more pistol shots into the man at a closer range. After having done so however, and the event not killing said Captain, it is obvious that only a sword through the heart will resolve this particular curs ills.
After several weeks of rest and recoopuration, Sebastien finds himself making his way to the home of Christine. Upon reaching her residence however, her female servant declares that Lady Christine is in no condition to receive visitors. Sebastien, not accustomed to being put off by servants demands in a polite manor that she should go and announce him, and she agrees. Lady Christine emerges from her sitting room, it is obvious that she has been crying and now Sebastien is both a little confused and suspicious. He demands that she tell him of her woes. She confides that a friend, Madame du Vere, is having a problem and asks if Sebastien can help. Christine makes introductions, and Madame du Vere, wife of the Chevalier du Vere, a hero in army at El Morro - has been intemperate, and allowed a handkerchief with her initials to fall into the custody of Monsieur du Trois, a well-connected nobleman with a villainous reputation towards women. Now, Monsieur du Trois is threatening Madame du Vere. He says he will send her hot-headed husband the Chevalier, the handkerchief, potentially ruining her, if she does not submit to him. Sebastien thinks for a moment and then comforts Madame du Vere by saying that he will take care of this issue for her, and that she should remain with Christine until he returns, which could be some few days. He then departs from the solon, kisses Christine goodbye, and makes his way to Aleksei's, where he finds both Aleksei and Julian, as well as a dark skinned woman by the name of Marie-Celeste, at breakfast.
Sebastien then retells of the situation he has just committed himself too, and indeed, Aleksei has heard stories of the Comte du Trois inviting impressionable women to salons and - so go the rumors - drugging them and stealing their virtue.After some discussion, the group decides that they will not just stop du Trois, but also ruin du Trois so that he cannot perpetrate such villainies again. A plan is made to attend a party that they know du Trois will be attending to get a first hand view of the mans practices so they might better understand how to undo him. As luck would have it, Marie-Celeste gains the confidence of M. du Trois, who invites her back to his hôtel. Sebastien trails her to the Hôtel du Trois to make sure of her safety. Some time later Sebastien sees Marie-Celeste leaving from a side door, however, just then a coach with L'Empereur's arms clatter up to the hôtel. Sebastien recognizes the man who steps out as Rémy du Montaigne, L'Empereur's cousin and Captain of the Lightning Guards, arrived for some unknown purpose. Knowing from his vantage point that Rémy will see Marie-Celeste in a moment, he takes out one of his pistols and discharges a shot into the air. The distraction makes Remy turn and look around, facing away from Marie-Celeste, who escapes unnotice.
Meanwhile, Aleksei and Julien - the latter in a ridiculous costume as a Vodacce physician - have been at the party spreading word that M. du Trois will be holding a masquerade two days hence: after all, the easiest way to make a man hold a party is to invite people to it. In this, they are quite successful. The next two days are spent preparing for the party; Aleksei, who now knows Remy du Montaigne is in town, makes sure he is known to be the guest of M. du Trois in hopes of forcing an appearance at the party. Then they place their plan in motion on the afternoon of the party.
First, Marie-Celeste visits the Comte du Trois again, claiming she lost an earring two days earlier. She manuevers the Comte out on a balcony, while below Julian pulls up in a carriage and calls for Desean, M. du Trois' servant. Julien steps out and hands Desean a handkerchief - one that looks very much like Mme. du Vere's gage - as Marie-Celeste directs du Trois' attention towards Julien and Desean. M. du Trois sees Desean hand the handkerchief back to Julien and then Julien hands Desean a bag of small coin. Julien then leaves, as Marie-Celeste observes the Comte appear greatly disturbed. He attempts to go seek out Desean, but Marie-Celeste convinces him to take her shopping, leaving him unable to contact the servant before the party.
As Marie-Celeste leaves with M. du Trois, Aleksei rides up in his carriage and tells Desean to get in. There, Aleksei explains - as Julien looms over his shoulder - that Desean has been trapped in the affair of the handkerchief, and his master believes he has stolen it. They tell them that they still have the handkerchief (in truth, Sebastien has long ago returned it to Mme. du Vere) and that if he does them a favor this evening, they will give it back to him so he can save himself from his master's wrath. With some hand-wringing, he is convinced; Aleksei and Julien tell him that at the stroke of 11 he must drug the wine of several key people at the party, including the Vodacce ambassador. Now terrified, Desean agrees and is released. The party begins, and the heroes have all the pieces in place. Julien is once again in his Vodacce doctor disguise, and Aleksei has invited a real, more reputable physician to the affair. Sebastien and Marie-Celeste are nearby to watch those they have told Desean to target with the drugged wine. Just before 11, all refill their wine glasses and watch as Desean goes to get the fateful Bordeaux '57.
Wine is poured to designated targets, and men and women begin to look ill. The Vodacce ambassador faints, and Aleksei and his physician friend rush towards the man. The physician declares him drugged, and then Julien seizes Desean, demanding to know where the wine in his hand came from. Desean stumbles out that it is from the Comte's private stock, and M. du Trois goes stark white in fear. Julien - still playing the Vodacce doctor - declares the drug to be one from Vodacce used to weaken the will of ladies, and Aleksei all but makes the accusation plain in a cutting remark. The crowd is shocked; Remy du Montaigne is furious with M. du Trois, and the party comes to an abrupt stop as everyone leaves the Hôtel du Trois with its owner's reputation ruined. On the way out, Sebastien lights a cigar: "I love it when a plan comes together," he remarks before they go off to drink.
The very next night Julian calls on his friends, Aleksei, Marie-Celeste and Sebastien, to assist him with a matter of great importance. All take horses and go to meet Julians new paramoure Nicolette on the Rue Gauche north of the city. All five ride north and receive informatin that they need to help one of Nicolette's. Though the four friends are suspicious about the mission - who is this 'Isabel', and why is she so important? Julien has a private conversation with Nicolette where he perhaps learns the answer, but if he does he does not tell his companions. All four companions adopt noms de plume: Aleksei is Le Bellete, the Weasel; Sebastien, Le Renard, the Fox; Marie-Celeste, simple "Marie", and Julien yet another of his many disguises. Nicolette, for her part, calls herself "Nicole." They also learn that "the mission" is to break into Les Chaines, a prision and free a captured criminal. While this is something that Sebastien would normally not do, the charges against Nicolettes' fried are for smuggling salt. Since Sebastien is opposed to the useless tax like most Montaignes, he grudgingly agrees to help his friend.
The group arrives at the small port across from Les Chaines just before sunset, where they bargain with a fisherman for a boat. Just as they are rowing the boat out across the small bay, they see Remy du Montaigne arrive with a quartet of men - they take the official ferry, and Nicolette admits that she fears Remy is here for Isabel. Julien steers the boat upriver of the prison, beaching it on rocks beneath a pair of towers. He believes it likely that Isabel is held in the right-hand tower, and so the heroes use a grappling-hook up to scale the parapet. There, they throw one guard off the parapet and rush into the prison, killing another as they go. They move quickly up the stairs as Marie-Celeste opens the locks on prison halls, looking for Isabel; when they reach the level of the guillotine, Sebastien makes sure to bar the door to the guard post and the executioner's parade. In the search, Julien lets slip that he is looking for an Isabel or Ysabette, but the heroes move on swiftly, as Remy du Montaigne can now be seen moving across the parade towards the tower.
Finally, they reach Isabel, unlock her cell and begin to flee. By now, Remy is battering on the locked door into the tower and a general alarm has been raised. Guards fill the stairs, but Sebastien, Marie-Celeste and Julien cut their way through them as Aleksei and Nicolette guard Isabel. The companions make the lower parapet, where a short firing line of prison guards is disrupted by a wild rope-swing from Julien and a mad charge by Marie-Celeste and Sebastien. Thus defeated, the heroes drop down to their boat and begin to row away. Remy and a contingent of guards rush out to the parapet, but as the men prepare to fire on the boat Remy waves them off from firing and instead gives the companions a parting, mocking salute. Escaping back to the river, the heroes recover their horses and - excepting Remy to begin searching for them - go to ground in the barn of a nearby farmhouse. There, they make a fitful rest, only for Aleksei and Julien to awaken the party. Aleksei, through some unknown means, has received word that a relative of his is in mortal danger one league north-northeast of the farmhouse, and if he is not rescued swiftly he will die.
Brief debate occurs over whether Nicolette and Isabel can be left behind; Isabel volunteers that with a sword, she can see her sister home. Aleksei offers the now-escaped smuggler his blade, and the fellowship of six becomes one of four and one of two as the four friends ride north-northeast, unsure of what they will find. A league north-northeast is a country villa belonging to some unknown nobleman; settled outside is a large body of horses, and while there are few lights on upstairs Julien is able to see men patrolling through a basement window and hear the distant sound of screams. The heroes resolve swift entry: they find a back bedroom window, break it, and then subdue the sleeping old man within the chamber before sneaking out into the main hall. There, they set upon and subdue a party of rough-looking armed men and proceed into the basement.
More skilled swordsmen lie between them and their eventual destination, a large two-story wine cellar. The entry is on the second gallery level, and as the companions burst into the room they see a bearded Ussuran-looking man strapped to some sort of operating table in the room's center. A man in a butcher's apron is turning away from him with a phial of blood in his hands, and nearby is a one-handed swordsman: the same man, perhaps, that Aleksei has been seeking. The one-handed man's lackeys rush the heroes; Marie-Celeste and Julien engage the lackeys while Sebastien responds to the one-handed man's challenge, leaping down and beginning to fight. Meanwhile, Aleksei pursues the surgeon, now fleeing with more men. The one-handed man, crippled from his injury, is still a frightening opponent, his single blade flashing like a striking snake. Sebastien is overmatched, falling back, as Marie-Celeste and Julien finally dispatch the men in the galleries. Aleksei - realizing he cannot catch the surgeon - takes squinting aim with his pistol, shattering the phial in the surgeon's hands. As Sebastien falls senseless, Marie-Celeste and Julien join the fight against the swordsman, felling him. The surgeon makes his escape through a secret passage, but as Aleksei returns to check on the bearded Ussuran on the table the swordsman staggers to his feet and stumbles towards Aleksei. The slight nobleman draws his other pistol and fires, killing the one-handed man.
With their enemies vanquished, the heroes return to the Ussuran and discover that he has passed beyond. Moving quickly, they recover several strange texts from the wine cellar and discover the swordsman's identity: he is a member of L'Empereur's Lightning Guard, complete with filigreed sword and a tabard stashed in his things upstairs. Armed with that sobering discovery, the companions take horse again and make for Paix. Upon reaching his home, Sebastien adds the filigreed sword to his now growing collection. He places it besides the twin scimitars that he took from the Crescent woman some weeks before. He also starts to think that the time may have some to keep these tokens in a more secure and discrete location.
Early the night before a messenger arrived to inform each of the members that they were invited (expected) at breakfast in the morning at the with Phillip Du Paix. Upon arrieving at breakfast they were introduced to Lucien du Lac, a porte mage in the service of Phillip. Another large man, obviously Eisen, by the name of Johann Holzt, is also introduced. Phillip then explained that we want the group to sail to the Isla Tormentos, and infiltrate the high security fort, then find a away to silence the gun batteries over-looking the southern end of the island so that a Montaigne fleet can then enter the port. At this point Phillip includes the fact that the groups travel arangements will be handled by one Captain Crispino. A wretch of a pirate who the group has had runs in with before. Upon agreeing to take on the task the hero's leve to make preparations for their departure.
The next day the group boarded Cici's ship and meet his firt mate, the female Shara, who murdered a man that was to the be the second of Roger Northrup, Earl of Luthon, whom Sebastien was supposed to duel. The group takes a moment looking her over, especially since the last time they met the women she was releived of her bustier, providing the group with a very beautiful site indeed. After a few days of sailing a ship is noticed and "sail hoe" is yelled down from the crows nest. The ensuing fight has Sebastien more than jsut a little excited. He has started to think about the possibility of owning his own ship, and in his mind this may just be the perfect opportunity to get one. Piracy is frowned upon and if he can defeat the boarders, then he can claim the ship. Unfortunately for Sebastien, and unknown to him, Aleksei has other ideas, none of which include the ship remaining in one peice. After several rounds of fighting the desks are not just cleared of boarders, but Sebastien has instructed some saliors on his ship to grapple the ships together, no reason to let his prize get away. The battle now turns in the hero's favor and they counter-board the pirate and the fighting is fierce. To their credit they route the forcastle and forward part of the main deck. This is when Aleksei begins telling everyone to get off the ship. Sebastien realizes that something Aleksei has done has lost him his prize, which seemed all the more attainable when Marie-Celeste steps forward and drops the captain.
After scrambling back aboard their own ship, and being told by Aleksei that the other ship was about to blow up, all hands began using the galfing pole to push the two ships apart. Since Sebastien knew that the ensuing explosion would hurt many of the remaining crew he shouted for everyone to get down. The explosion broke the back of the other ship and in short order her now separated bow and stern slipped beneigth the waves. Cici was less than please by the whole event and began yelling at Aleksei, who promptly reminded him that they had just saved his ship, crew and p[ossibly even his own rat hide. then walked away to his cabin muttering something about needing to have his clothes cleaned. The next day they met up with the fleet of Montaige ships and the Admiral of the Montaigne navy, Adm. Praisse du Richatesse, who added a little wrinkle to the plan in that he wanted his nephew rescued from the prison deep in the mountain stronghold.
A few more days at sea and they entered the island port. The ship was searched and the group was welcomed to the island. aleksei even managed to get himself and his entourage invited to a ball that night at the govoners home. They made their way into town, procured rooms and began the process of preparing for the party. Since there has never been an adventure where something didnt go wrong, why should this series of events be any different. Upon making the party and after some small talk Aleksei and Julian began dancing only for Aleksei to change parners in the middle of the dance to have Carlotta, known as "El Chacal", a Castillian spy, become his partner. As the dance continues She moves through the dance and onto a new partner. Julian then uses the dance to becomes her partner and then escorts her from the dance floor out to the balcony's. After some minutes, Julian returns to the ballroom and gives Sebastien the "high sign" to get out. Sebastien wastes no time, grabs Marie-Celeste and together turn and go through the door behind them. After a short fight and fleeing from the govenors home, they made their way back to the edge of town only to see their ship leaving the harbor. They spotted Julian and the three then ran back along the shore to the south and foudn a place to hide in the hills.
In the morning, after reuniting with Aleksei, Julian went back into town and aquired rope and clothing for Marie-Celeste. Aleksei then told the group there were holes in the top of the mountain that could be used to enter the secure facility. After a rather arduous climb with ropes, (how the hell did Aleksei climb up here in the dark and find these hidden holes without killing himself?) they went down the holes and found a closet with four women in it. After a brief conversation with them Aleksei set aside the item given him by the porte mage and soon the closet was filled with eight other men to assist in takeing the stronghold. Sebastien and company then freed the Montaigne officers being held captive, split up into two groups, and the friends commenced to slaughtering over 80 Castillian soldiers and silencing the guns just as the navy was rounding the south end of the island. The island was now in the hand of Montaigne, but a confrontation between Julian and Commandante Juan Alfarez left a bad taste in everyones mouth, and has become a topic not readily discussed.
After a few weeks at sea Sebastien finds himself welcoming the site of the port at Piax. It has been a long voyage and there has been much time for him to go over the events of the past few weeks time and again. While he understands that some things could not be avoided, it always seems as if he and his friends are destined to have to deal with unexpected hipcups in their planning, no matter how elaborate or detailed they try to be. Now he just wants to sleep in his own bed, and have the world stop rocking back and forth. Life aboard ship is something that Sebastien has becided that he can do without. After a couple of weeks of sleeping late, spending time with Christine, and healing from this last adventure, Sebastien is starting to get a little restless. He has a new cabinent built to specific specifications to allow him the ability to show off his sword collection, when he feels its appropriate, and have it cleverly hidden the rest of the time. Somehow it seems jsut a little dangerous to Sebastien to have the philigree Lightening Guard sword so prominently displayed for anyone who enters his home to see. At least for the time being decrestion seems to be the better part of valor. One morning, three weeks or so after having gotten back to Paix, Sebastien finds himself on the way to Aleksei's for the morning drink and the consideration of where to eat the noon meal when he is approached by corporal Benoît Bagot, another Muskettier assigned to the local post. He asks Sebastien if he would take his Friday shift as corporal in charge of the morning guards so that he can get away for a long weekend with his current romantic interet. Thinking that this is another chance to advance his carrier in the Muskettiers he agrees to take the reposnsibility.
Upon arrieving and greeting everyone, Aleksei, Marie-Celeste and Julian, he sits down and takes the offered glass of wine from Aleksei. As they make small talk a messenger arrieves with an invitation. It is from the Lady Moncrieff requesting the presence of the group at a special party she is throwing the next night at house Moncrieff. This is a special invitation, not one of the normal parties that is open to the majority of the nobles, but a private, invitation only affair and considered to be an event not to be missed if your name has made the guest list of such a high-brow event. Lady Christine is happy at the news of being invited to such a special event and cant wait for Sebastien to pick her up. Sebastien on the other hand is as always, a little lerey of attending another party where the guest list is considered to be the elite of Montainge sociaety. However he enlists Aleksei's assistance in selecting proper attire and making sure that he is on time to pick up Christine. Once at the party, the reception line is a who's who of the Montaigne nobility. Some of the guests are famous writers, playwrites and poets, but the one thing that stands out is that most of these people are those that would be considered the dissidents of Montaigne, the ones who express their concern over L'Emperer's decisions on the running of the country. As drinks are served and people are mingling, many come up and introduce themselves to Sebastien, who promtply redirects said introductions to Christine so that she is included in conversations. Many ask Sebastien what its like to be a member of Kings Muskettiers. So even go so far as to ask his opinion towards some of the social policies, such as the salt tax, and other varrious topics.
As the evening unfolds, Lady Moncrieff announced that the evenings special guest would be late that that everyone should begin making teri way towards the dinning room as supper was ready. Seated some way down the table from the head, Sebastien and Christine once again found themsleves the center fo attention as some of theother guests continued to question Sebastien about his feeling on politics and other issues concerning the state. Since Sebastien is a noble and a Muskettier he felt that making any direct comments other than to state that the unpopular salt tax is something that he takes care of for those that work on his land. As dinner began winding down, the Lady ....., the evenings special guest, arrieved and created some stir. This is a woman who's sharp wit has cut more than one noble to the quick, and her sense of style and fashion seem to set the standard for many of the Montaigne nobles. Both Aleksei and Julian seem particularly interested in making a good impression with this women, Aleksei going so far as to arrange and outing with the lady in two days time. As the dinner plates were cleared and the liquor began flowing once again, some of the notable poets began reading their latest works. Since much of what was being said is normallhy not considered proper converstaion at normal society gatherings, Sebastien began looking around to see who might be out of place, or even taking notes on who had attended and was saying what to whom. As he looked around, what he noticed was that many of the nobles who seemed as they were regular attendees of events such as this, were actually watching him and his friends, looking to see their response to what was being said. Sebastien relaized that all of the poeple who were in attendance, to include the servants, were probably well vetted, and that it was himself that was the probable concern by many of these patrons. After politely listening for atime he excussed himself and Christine and they took a tour of the house itself. Admiring this or that and generally staying away from everyone else for the rest of the evening. When it seemed an appropriate time, he thanked his hostes for a lovely evening, feining tiredness for leaving and taking Christine back to his home for the night.
The next day is basically uneventful, if one considers remaining in bed with your paramour until midafternoon uneventful. Once Christine left for home Sebastien prepared his uniform for duty on the morrow, had an early supper then fell asleep enjoying some wine and reading a book. In the morning he arrieved a few minutes early with a basket full of goodies, to include a linen table cloth, real glasses, hard boiled eggs, meat, cheese, freshly baked bread and wine, for the men on duty. When he entered the guard room all the men seemed to perk up at the fact that Sebastien was there, and that he came bearing breakfast. The men immediately set in to preparing the main table and setting the food out in an orderly manor. Once everything was prepared the men began eating in earnest, enjoying the unexpected repast. After a few hours of sitting around playing cards and chatting Sebastien began working on his reports for his shift when one Piere Fagam, the Chief Attendant of Paix, came through the doors to the guardroom. "Where is the corporal in charge," he asked? Looking up from his paperwork, "I am in charge, what can I do for you Monsieur?" The somewhat short man turns and approaches Sebastien going into how he is the Chief Attendant and that he recently received information regarding a conspirator to the sewer bombings a few months prior, and that he has a warrent for the man immediate arrest which he offers for Sebastiens inspection. Upon reading the document two things become appearant to Sebastien, the first is that the warrent is issued by the man in front of him, and second, the man named was one Sebastien had met just the other night at Lady Moncrieff's party. A printer by trade who did not come across as a conspirator of much of anything. A bit concerned by the fact that this particular warrent has shown up on the shift that Sebastien is covering leaves him very suspecious about its validity. He stands up and tells the men to prepare to ride out and go to work. As the men begin gathering their things Sebastien pulls on of the Musketters he knows personlly by the name of Olivier Godeno' to take a horse and immediately ride the printers and inform him discretely that he is about to be arrested, and to ensure his "ass is wiped."
As the Musketteirs begin saddling their mounts Sebastien does what he can to slow the entire process to provide Muskettier Godeno' ample time to follow his specific instructions. After close to 20 minutes, the group mounts up and begins making its way through the streets of Paix. Some 10 minutes later the Muskettiers round the corner of the street the printer is located and stop infront of the shop. Pulling his pistol and making a show of entry for the Piere Fagam, Sebastien enters the shop and announces rather loudly to the only person in the shop, "Monsieur ....., in the name of the King, you are under arrest." The heavyset man is a little confussed and stammers his innoscense. As the Muskettiers fan out they begin to search the place and some documents are produced showing that there is indeed proof of possible conspiracy. Sebastien tells the man that they will be taking him to jail and then leaves the specific task to some of the Muskettiers.
After returning to the barracks guard office and completeling his paperwork for his shift, Sebastien takes the evidence in question and makes his way to Aleksei's home. After a glass of wine and a full acounting of the afore mentioned events, the group looks over the evidence and the map. Julian says that he does not think that the map is a forgery, but that if it is, it is excellent work. The group then begins the process of conducting theri own investigation to either prove or disprove the charges against him. Aleksei take Marie-Celeste with him to Le Labyrinthe to check out Piere Fagam, while Sebastien and Julian go first to the prison to get more details from Monsieur ....., then back to the printers to see what was missed. After having a conversation with the man's wife, Sebastien asks Julian to check the office for anything that might be a clue. While searching the the man Julian finds a blooded feather which seems to have been kicked under the desk, and the corresponding hole in the wall the arrow made when it was shot from the rooftop across the street. Julian states that obviously "portage" interaction has taken place here. After located the original documents of the sewer that were printed in the this very shop some few years ago. Once back Aleksei's Julian states that the original paper is much older than the evidence that was found, so that this is obviously a forgery. These two facts, the feather and the parchment, should be enough to get the charges dropped.
As the group goes over how best to achieve these ends it is determineed that the only real way to make it happen is to send Piere Fagam a message requesting his presence in Charouse, to get him out of the city and allow under-administrator to take over his case load. The message is written in Julian's hand, and delivery to Piere Fagam's office in Le Labyrinthe by Aleksie, who then follows the man home and watches and he prepares to leave the city. Just then, Julian approaches Aleksei and tells him to watch this, he has a plan. Of course this makes Aleksei very nervous as Julian has not informed anyone about a new plan, and Julian walks up to Fagam, speaks with him quickly and then leaves, walking past Aleksei and saying come on. Sebastien and Marie-Celeste are waiting at Aleksie's when both men return under some heated debate and Julian hands a note to Sebastien and says, "in Fagam office desk, thrid draw is a hidden compartment, bang the side of the drawer with your hand and it will open the secret compartment revealing all the mans secrets. Sebastien is a little confussed by all this as now there is a new plan and he is unsure of how that happened.
In the morning Sebastien awakens the Captain of the local Musketter chapter, explains the entire situation, and is then given command of a double-strength squard of 18 men. He has them draw muskettes, and in full display of everyone rides to Le Labyrinthe. He stops at the office of the underling administrator, presents to the man the evidence of both the printers case, and the note that he says was provided by "a source" and they proceed to Fagam's office. Upon entering Sebastien announces that the Musketter's are conducting a criminal investigation and begin going through Fagam's desk. Faram for his part begins complaining then turning to treats of the end of Sebastiens carrier, until the thrid drawer of his desk is opened and the false compartment discovered. The documentation found therein make no question that Fagam has been using his office to further his own ends in a corrupt manor. He is arrested and led away. Sebastien takes the one major find, a ledger iwth a number of names and transactions that have been recorded and gives it to the Captain of the Muskettier. Sebastien, then files his report of the events and returns to Aleksei's to fidn that Aleksie and Julian are still in a heated debate over Julians keeping informatin from those who call him friend, and watch his back. The conversation is interupted when Aleksie's man enters the room and announces the Lady Jamais du Sices - The Lady of Sices. All the men rise and Sebastien bows to the Lady as she speaks. She was coming to tell the group of the events of the past two days and the arrest of an inocent man, but has found that the group has already resolved the issue before she had the opportunity to ask for their assitance. She is greatful that the group has taken care of the situation with the printer and says that if ever they need a favor, and she is in a position to help, they should feel free to ask.