Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

Romantic Horror, London, circa 1800

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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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Upon nearing the figure, a pair of small, delicately formed, snow-white hands emerge from within the heavy cloak and push back the hood. Revealed is a young woman, hardly more than a girl, with loose, silken hair the color of a raven's wing, which makes a striking contrast with a countenance as pale as her hands. Her eyes are so dark a color as to make it impossible to distinguish iris from pupil. She looks at Miss Davenport with a bold but entirely neutral expression, as one might regard an interesting natural phenomenon. She does not speak.
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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"Ah." Lila hesitates, suddenly flustered. -- Bonjour. Do you perchance ride a black stallion? If you are traveling the same way as we, that is toward the Pyrenees, perhaps you might wish to join me and my companions rather than follow. The roads can be unsafe for a lone rider. Or do I mistake you for some other? --
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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"That is not who I expected," says Henry. "I must say I'm relieved."
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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With a slow and courtly curtsy to the party, the young woman replies in a soft voice which does not reveal any particular national origin.

"I thank you for your courtesy," she says in English. "I am always ready to accept such a kind invitation. If I mistake not, we both have business at the Chateau de Hautommes, and I would be glad of the company. If there be no objection, I will ride alongside your coach, not wishing to leave my mount behind. Let us not stand on ceremony. You may call me Macaria."

Introductions are made. It is notable that both Miss Carrow and Senorita del Zaragoza are quite taken with their new acquaintance. This is perhaps only natural when young ladies are brought together socially.
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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"I for one would be delighted to have you accompany us, Macaria," says Henry.
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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The pleasant, if chilly, stroll across the Garonne is concluded, with much light conversation amongst the party. It may be noted that Macaria rarely initiates discussions, choosing instead to remain silent and listen until directly addressed.

The sun is high overhead as the adventurers begin the last leg of their journey, although it can barely be detected behind heavy clouds. A brisk wind whips at the hair and clothing of all.

-- Snow coming. -- the coachman, a laconic fellow, remarks. His prophecy proves to be accurate, as a light shower of tiny white crystals begins to descend as the path becomes steep, heading into low hills. It is more of a welcome sight, Nature's icy jewels scattered across the dark, rocky ground, than a hazard, the driver being skillful at his trade. Macaria follows the coach at a moderate distance, perhaps to better enjoy the peculiar silence of a gentle snowfall.

As the coach makes a turn around a large boulder -- which might be thought, to one of playful imagination, to be a giant transformed into stone -- two men come into view. They wear French military uniforms, not in the best of condition, which reveal that they are fusiliers -- infantrymen equipped with flintlock muskets, which they carry pointed at the ground.

-- Help! Stop! -- they cry as the coach approaches. They stand to the side of the road, so it would be possible for the driver to continue past them if the party is so inclined.

-- Shall we stop? -- the coachman inquires.
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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Presuming that Miss Davenport and Dr North will bid the coachman stop (and that the attention of most will be on the two men), Ines looks out of the other side of the coach, trying to discern if there is anyone else.
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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"We had best stop and help them," says Henry. "If someone is injured, my skills will be needed."
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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As the driver draws back on the reins, Ines glances out of the coach. There does not appear to be anyone else about. She is also able to detect the fact that Macaria halts her steed at some distance away. Perhaps this is the reason the two men pay her no mind.

One soldier aims his musket at the driver, the other at those within the coach. The latter addresses them in gutter French.

-- Do not fear! We have no wish to take either your lives or your possessions. But we must have this coach! Vacate it now, and we will leave you in peace. The walk will not be an easy one, I grant you, but it will do you no great hurt. --
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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"It seems we have no choice," says Henry. "Of course, we are merely passengers. The coach does not belong to us. However, its owners will want it back. Where can we meet you to retrieve it later?"
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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-- Ha! That is of no concern to us, my friend, but it is possible that you may find this vehicle again if you continue to the Chateau on foot. I thank you for your generosity. -- he says, with a sardonic grin.

With that, the passengers are allowed to retrieve their possessions from the coach and are not otherwise disturbed, although always under the watchful eyes of the soldiers and the intimidating stare of their muskets. When the party is at a safe distance from the coach, the soldier who has spoken leaps into the driver's position, his companion joining him with one final glance back at the adventurers. With a cry and a snap of the whip they drive off at a rapid pace.

During all of this fuss, Macaria has slipped off unnoticed. Her stallion must be an unusually sure-footed beast, as not even the sound of his hooves on the rocky ground can be heard.
Spoiler:
Wisdom roll for the party as a whole[dice]0[/dice]
It is soon discovered that, in their haste, the soldiers have left behind a scrap of parchment. It contains a crude map of the road to the Chateau, along with a diagram of the building. A circle has been drawn around several rooms, with an arrow pointing to this section of the Chateau. There is a handwritten note near the arrow.

Guillaume says somewhere here -- no one goes

The party will have to spend the rest of the day making slow progress on the steep path to the Chateau. (The driver has elected to make his way back to Toulouse, having no interest in the Chateau.) They are almost within sight of the Chateau when night falls. Travel in darkness being hazardous in this rough country, it will be necessary to make camp for the night. Isaac volunteers to keep the first watch, as he will require some time to ease the tears and trembling of his daughter, who beseeches Heaven that she be spared from further such experiences. A small but helpful fire is made, with some difficulty due to the wind and the wet ground. The long wait for morning begins.
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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Lila offers to sit the first watch with Senor del Garazoga if the others will take the second.
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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Ines agrees to take the second watch.
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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Henry also agrees to take the second watch.
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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[dice]0[/dice]
The first watch of the night passes quietly. Raquel is soon comforted and falls into the peaceful sleep that only comes to a guiltless conscience. Whilst engaged in quiet conversation with Miss Davenport, the crackling of the fire the only sound interrupting their speech, Isaac remarks that he does not know to what the inscription on the parchment refers, but that the indicated part of the Chateau consists of rooms that have been sealed off for some years, the number of inhabitants having declined during the last few generations.
Spoiler:
[dice]1[/dice]
During the second watch, a clattering upon the rocky ground is heard from some distance. Soon a horse appears in sight, the sweat on its deep brown flanks clearly visible in the firelight. It is obviously one of the coach horses, released from its trappings in some manner. It nickers nervously and trots about with no apparent aim, the beast apparently in a distracted state after some fright or other. It would be useful to retain the services of an animal of such value, although it could also prove dangerous if provoked. Like any horse, it is reluctant to draw near the fire.
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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"Shall we try to calm the horse?" Henry asks Ines. "You seem to have a knack with animals."
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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Ines nods in acknowledgement, and wants gently toward the horse making soothing noises.
OOC:   Charisma = 10, +1 Animal Husbandry [To calm it down]
SunlessNick rolled 1D20: 4

Wisdom = 11, +1 Animal Husbandry [To determine its hit points]
SunlessNick rolled 1D20: also 4  
Ines is able to soothe horse from its fright, and once it is calm, ascertain the state of the poor creature's health. Do its horse-clothes appeat to have been removed properly, or dragged off by force?
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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The horse, now docile after receiving kind treatment from one skilled in such matters, appears only too eager to return to human service. It is apparent that it has been driven hard and not properly walked, watered, and curried. Its trappings appear to have been cut away hastily, judging from some bits of equipage still attached, but it is uninjured. By dawn it should be ready to carry one of the party who does not object to riding without a saddle.

The adventurers reach the Chateau by mid-morning, weary from their unintended climb. The Chateau is of great age, constructed from pale stone, and makes for a brooding presence against the lofty Pyrenees which loom in the distance. There is no sign of the soldiers nor of Macaria. However, whilst investigating the surroundings, as is only natural after having encountered unwelcome company the day before, the coach is found not far away, badly hidden amongst sizable boulders, as if only a feeble effort was made to conceal it. The other horse is not to be found, and there is clear evidence that it also has been released from its trappings.

After much pounding on the heavy wooden door of the Chateau, a manservant appears to question the party. Many explanations are made as to events of the prior day.

-- Ah! -- the young man says. -- That is why you did not arrive as expected yesterday. Please come in. My master and mistress are away, having taken the opportunity of your failure to appear to make certain arrangements for a celebration -- the Baron's birthday, you understand -- with a provisioner in a small village not far from here. They shall return tomorrow. Meanwhile, Monsieur Stephan and Mademoiselle Charlotte are in residence and shall see to your needs. There are rooms prepared for all. --

The servant is true to his word. The other servants take care of the belongings of the party and allow them to refresh themselves after their hard journey. When this is done, the two children of the Baron and Baroness appear.

Stephan is a tall, thin young man, pale and dark-haired. He is polite, in a very formal manner, but rather taciturn and unsmiling. His clothes are of good quality but worn in a manner which indicates that he has little concern for his appearance. When inquiry is made as to the well-being of his elder brother, he sighs.

-- The great hero. I suppose he is all right. --

Charlotte is a few years older than Stephan, truly a grown woman. Nature has favored her with flowing auburn hair which she does not conceal beneath a wig. Her powder cannot entirely conceal her ruddy complexion, but a pair of sparkling emerald eyes draws attention away from this minor flaw. She is dressed in a fine, colorful gown which might be more suitable for a ball than for ordinary day wear. In sharp contrast to her brother, she is eager to chat with the arrivals, generally of matters of little import. Upon discovering Doctor North's honorable intentions regarding Miss Carrow, she taps him lightly on the wrist with her fan.

-- A prize taken! What a pity! --

The day spent thus, with Isaac explaining his plans for Charlotte's education -- this being met with little enthusiasm -- the adventurers are escorted to their rooms for a good night's rest.
Spoiler:
[dice]0[/dice]
MISS DAVENPORT:
Spoiler:
In the middle of the night, when you happen to be awake, you hear light footsteps pass by your room, followed a moment later by slightly heavier ones. Some time later, upon answering a tap upon your door, you see Miss Carrow and Senorita del Zaragoza standing in the hallway. The Spanish lady holds a candle and looks about nervously.

"We heard someone walking about," Miss Carrow explains. "Who could it be at this hour?"
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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"From the footsteps I heard I rather suspect it may have been a man and a woman engaged upon an, ah, romantic liaison," Lila replies to the two less worldly young ladies. "However, who could it be? Lady Charlotte seems a likely sort but then who is her partner? Perhaps, given the unexplained happenings on our way here it would be safer for us to verify that this is not some more sinister intrigue, however." She wakes Ines and quickly explains the situation then, taking a candle, leads along the hallway in the direction of the footsteps.
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Re: Chapter the Tenth: The Road to Toulouse

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Imes makes sure to bring her brass knuckles with her, in case it is, as Miss Davenport put it, a sinister intrigue. As the ladies set out, sudden thought strikes her: "I wonder if one of the two soldiers was the Guillaume who has been spoken of?" Then she shakes her head, recognising that speculation is pointless next to investigation.
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