The Mystery of Missing Suitors

Scribe Notes

Summary

Adventure: The Mystery of Missing Suitors

• aka Newcourt Heart of Darkness

GM: Martin
Season: Winter 804 WK

Party

• Gerald, a Human male, renowned for his illusions
• Penni, a lovely Elven female Namer, a woman of deep convictions and full of promise
• Dramus, an Elven male Necromancer, a stout adventurer of good standing
• Thaeuss, an Elven male Binder, a fellow adventurer I know well
• Yvette, a Human female Mind mage, a young lady of repute if not renown
• Father Broc, Elven Rune mage (Scribe)

Time on adventure

14th Snow to 25th Snow 804 WK

Employer

Baron of Newcourt

Mission

Investigate a missing VIP

Original Scribe Notes

Media:Snwi0403.zip

Prologue

These are the certified true and correct scribe notes for the adventure, as written by:

The Venerable Father, Broc von Hecklyn

Noon 14th Snow 804 - My residence in Seagate

The bitter cold weather has continued and I’m wrapped up warmly in front of my fire watching the flames dance around the hearth, content and comfortable with a thick tome of church history to review, ah what bliss!

I had just nodded off when the door opened and in traipsed my faithful acolyte Garion Du’ornal ¹ entered and I could tell be the frown on his face he wasn’t happy which meant bad news for me. <sigh>

1. Ga’Ernoul de Tuscana – Born in Tuscana, my acolyte for the past few years.

“OK what is it Ga’Ernoul?” I was about to prompt him to reply when I noticed in the doorway behind him my old friend Thaeuss standing patiently with just the hint of a smirk on his face. “Come on in Thaeuss, make yourself at home and tell me why you’re out in this dreadfully cold weather”. Thaeuss promptly sat down in front of the fire, thawing whilst gathering his thoughts and I waited patiently as I have learnt that Thaeuss will speak in his own good time.

“Broc, a message was sent to the guild requesting some assistance with a ‘delicate’ matter up in Bowcourt and I thought you might like to come with me and a few others to see what’s afoot there.” He knew me well, knowing that with just a little information offered and the possibility of adventure I would jump at the opportunity, and I did! “Certainly Thaeuss when and where are we meeting and what’s the story?”

He rose from his warm repose with a smile on his face, “I knew you’d come but explanations will have to wait as I have others to gather for the task. Come to the guild at 2pm to find out more”. He then took his leave and went again into the cold searching for more friends ² no doubt, which left me with a chill at the thought of who he may come across here in sleepy mid winter Seagate.

2. Friends or victims – this is yet to be seen!

I waited some time and gathered some fortitude with the help of a good bottle of wine and some fine cheese but I couldn’t help wondering what I had volunteered for and who would be accompanying us on our travels this time.

I noticed the clock showing half way between 1 and 2 so I rose, dressed and I asked Garion to excuse me to any who come asking for me while I am away then I grabbed my warm heavy cloak and headed up to the Guild with haste. I saw few others in the cold streets, as most are too intelligent to be heading anywhere outdoors in this bone chilling weather. I was relieved that my warm heavy cloaks managed to keep out most of the cold on my route to the large imposing edifice by the river, which is known as the Seagate Adventurers Guild (SAG).

Chapter 1

2pm 14th Snow 804 Seagate Adventurers Guild

I passed through the guarded gates of the guild and asked the door warden where Thaeuss was meeting to organise a ‘party’. He said the only room being used at the moment was the grand meeting room on the 3rd floor, so I hurried off in search of this room, as I’d never heard of a ‘Grand meeting room’! I entered the well lit (but still retaining shadowy corners), warm and opulent room wherein I spied several other adventurers including a few familiar faces. I took a seat, nodded to the assembled few and waited for a man to inform us as to what is afoot.

Looking around I noticed and noted that already gathered in this warm and cosy room were:

Gerald, a Human male, renowned for his illusions

Penni, a lovely Elven female Namer, a woman of deep convictions and full of promise

Dramus, an Elven male Necromancer, a stout adventurer of good standing

Thaeuss, an Elven male Binder, a fellow adventurer I know well

Yvette, an Human female Mind mage, a young lady of repute if not renown

Thaeuss related the story as known thus far is: Six weeks after the Winter Guild Meeting, an urgent message has arrived at the guild by way of the semaphore system from the Baron of Newcourt’s Chamberlain.

The message requests a party to (discreetly) investigate a disappearance at the court where several suitors for the Baron's daughter's hand are in residence and one important guest has gone missing.

An individual will need to pose as a suitor with the rest as entourage (allowing the group free, unobtrusive access to the castle). Remuneration will be by negotiation. Own transport to Newcourt ³ is required.

Our employment to start as soon as possible Thaeuss further notes that in an unusual twist, standard guild astrology readings indicate that a binder would be useful on this mission (and no the astrologer was not drunk, blind, charmed, compelled, nor bribed), but they did recheck twice.

This explains why Thaeuss was gathering us together as he was ‘lucky’ enough to be in Seagate at the time!! The ubiquitous ‘Smith’ from guild security appeared from his shadowed corner and asked for the guild contract to be signed and positions decided upon. We quickly responded to this voting myself as scribe (with no other volunteers), after some discussion Yvette became military scientist with her highest rank and we decided that Dramus would be our leader unless a decision involved demonic’s and the like, in which case Thaeuss would take charge.

Preparations began immediately with the meeting adjourning until 6pm, which we had decided as our time of departure. Some hurried back to lodgings or stores to procure more winter furs for the highlands that we would most likely be visiting, others quickly visited the library for a bit of research ⁴ into the area of Bowcourt and yet others simply disappeared off for a few hours.

3. We note that it is Yule in Newcourt, which is some 450 miles NNE of Seagate in the foothills of the Alfheim Mountains.
4. See the Section in this document ‘Seagate Guild Library Research results’

6pm 14th Snow 804 Seagate Adventurers Guild

We all met in the Guild courtyard where we discovered Thaeuss had created our transport device which rather looked like a large tarpaulin turned up at the front & sides, with transparent ‘windows’ in the front/floor as well as seating space for around 4 individuals. He explained that some of us can be weightless and go along with the ‘flying tarpaulin’, some will be carried by the tarp due to their weight and I would be transformed to stone and shrunk to reduce my weight. This was agreed and we all alighted this ‘flying tarpaulin’ in various fashions and we took off into the night.

The trip was relatively uneventful (especially for me in my ‘stoned’ form) but it was very, very cold, especially when the cold protections wore off and most were forced to ‘huddle together under a blanket/fur ⁵ mound in the front once Penni suggested had it!

5. I understand no objections were made to the idea by the ‘males’ (Dramus and Glass). Who would when they were being offered warm, close proximity to the shapely forms of Penni and Yvette!!!

4am 15th Snow 804 - Somewhere in Bowcourt?

The flight terminated some time around 2am just outside a walled town in the Bowcourt area, more is yet to be determined!

A number of plans and thoughts are discussed as we need a ‘cover story’ for our group of individuals and also we need to be seen as a cohesive group centred around Gerald (the suitor), but not so cohesive as to have no internal dissention so that we are approachable to various court machinations etc. See Appendix 3 - Plans, roles and tasks. Actions undertaken, decided or being cogitated over:

1. We have undertaken a brief period of research at the guild library looking for information on Bowcourt, Foxcourt, Newcourt and associated areas. The Information is listed below under ‘Seagate Guild Library Research Results’
2. We have packed for the cold weather
3. We have travelled to the approximate location of our destination.
4. We are still considering what our story will be and how we will present it to the court and other individuals.

They alight from the flying tarpaulin and wonder where they are, Yvette being the practical and down to earth woman that she is volunteers to go to the gates of the town and ask after Penni gets shouted down for that very suggestion ⁶. Therefore, she departs for the gate some 200yards away and Gerald appears to follow her.

6. Note: When in dangerous unknown situations like the snowed in NE highlands in the dead of night, don’t send the Rank 8 healer in first!

Yvette comes to the gate and knocks loudly at the little gate inset in the bottom right corner, no response is forthcoming so she repeats with even louder knocking, finally hearing sounds of movement from behind the thick gates. A guard appears behind a small latch in the door, behind a loaded crossbow pointing at Yvette’s lovely countenance.

Yvette: “Hello there can you let us in”,

Guard: “No the gates are closed for the night”

Yvette: “We know but it’s very cold here and we have lost our horses”

Guard: “Sorry but the barons orders stand and the gates are closed overnight”

Yvette: “Where are we?”

At this the guard takes a moment (probably due to puzzlement), “excuse me”

Yvette decides that may have been a less than useful question and changes her tactics.

In her most convincing voice she asks, “Please let us in, we are most cold”

Guard: “the gates of Faircourt are to remain shut madam, come back at dawn!”

With that, the latch is shoved shut and sounds of the guard moving back to wherever are heard.

Armed with at least that information her and Gerald return to the other freezing travellers and relay the news. “This is fine but "how far away from our destination are we"? is then asked of them. They cogitate a minute before remembering that I know the maps and directions to where we are headed, Thaeuss quickly grabs my ‘stoned’ form and changes me back to life.

Damn it is freezing cold was my initial thought, especially after the warmth in Seagate when I had last been ‘alive’. I ‘come to’ in the dark frozen wastes and the first thing they do is ask, “how far is Faircourt from Newcourt?” I think fast in between freezing and chattering my teeth and inform them “it’s some 50miles SW of Newcourt”. Thaeuss suggests I put the cloak back on again and he pronounces the change word then I become stone again.

4.15am 15 th Snow 804 Outside the town of Faircourt

Armed with this new information they again ‘board’ the flying tarpaulin for another brief flight across the cold, snowy landscapes below.

5.30am 15th Snow 804 - Inside the town of Newcourt

Around this time a larger city ⁷ is seen ahead with a number of lights visible from a distance, assuming this is the destination the party finds a suitable wall to fly over and looks quickly for an open place to land without attracting attention. This is done expeditiously with us alighting in a deserted small square near the walls. They change me back again so now I too can freeze with them and they roll up the tarpaulin in case of need another time.

We wander the streets looking for a tavern with little luck but we manage to avoid some patrols around the empty streets (II). We wander for almost an hour seeing a fair bit of the city including a blackened church in the main square which looks little used. We luckily find an open tavern and upon entering, it seems to be a labourer’s tavern for their early morning meal before their working day.

We enter and take seats in the moderately warmer main room and gesture for food. We notice that the other working people in this tavern seem to be giving us a ‘wide berth’ since we are dressed strangely for such a place and at such time. Our thoughts are interrupted by the arrival of ‘food’, well it looks like something edible anyway except it consists of green and purple, darkly spiced cabbage with bread and a dark liquid of indeterminate scent.

Being the hearty types that we are, we start to pick at the food but when the server passes close by I ask for some cheese, which is followed by a small wheel of the appropriate type. We pass some time here and Dramus fails to hurt the economy with his passing around of TSGs ⁸ as Gerald’s hand is fast enough to catch the thrown coin and replace it with a silver piece instead.

We ask directions to the Barons Castle and are informed that it is some 2 miles NE. It is decided that Thaeuss and Gerald (is disguise) will visit there to inform the chamberlain of our imminent arrival and find any information we must know before arriving.

7. Approximate size is some 7-8,000 people in this city. Large walls around some 40ft high and well constructed. 
8. True Silver Guineas.   1 TSG = 21 GS (Gold Schillings).   1 GS = 12 SP (Silver Pennies) 
II Note:   When arranging guards etc don’t outfit the patrols with chainmail or similar clanking armour, which can be heard at a distance by and half hearing being.

8am 15th Snow 804 - Inside the town of Newcourt

We split up with Yvette, Penni, Dramus and I going to procure a carriage for our last leg of transport to the castle. Thaeuss and Gerald walk off; go invisible and fly towards the castle.

A Carriage is procured after some haggling at a local stable and the idea of ‘renting’ carriages is introduced after we express a desire for a carriage and the only carriages in town are owned by the noble / rich families living here. However one is wintering in the south and arrangements are made to ‘rent’ the carriage from the La’ Vache family for the sum of two TSG’s. We then await the carriage and return of Thaeuss and Gerald.

Meanwhile Thaeuss and Gerald have flown to the castle invisible and then dropped to the ground half way up the hill and become seen again. They then walk the last few yards to the gate and ask to be shown to the chamberlain. This is done with little trouble and they meet with the Chamberlain , introducing themselves in their disguised forms. They explain who we are and ask if there are anything we should know, to wit he replies he will tell us all when we arrive but until then, he looks forward to meeting us.

They take their leave from the Castle and promptly fly back to us in town, locating and rendezvousing with our carriage. We all enter the carriage and our driver ‘Pierre’ drives us up to the castle proper. 9.30am 15th Snow 804 Near the town of Newcourt and the Baronial Castle

We arrive at the castle and alight the carriage after formal introductions to the chamberlain. We are announced as Sir Gerald, a knight of Brastor and Gryphon Pass and his companions. We receive raised eyebrows when the servants rush to get our luggage, bags and cases to find merely backpacks instead!

The chamberlain explains that he will visit with us later when he has time and he directs servants to take us to our rooms and made comfortable. . He has a servant for our use and we are introduced to Nanosh, a young lad of around 14 years of age. Nanosh shows us to our rooms and most express the desire for some sleep and retire to their rooms, Gerald in one, Thaeuss in one, the ‘ladies’ in another and I will be sharing a room with Dramus. Since I am the least tired, I am left to ‘watch’ from our hall while the others rest.

I spend the next few hours in front of the fire trying to learn more Le’Lange from Nanosh with a little success. I know very little Le’Lange as does Nanosh but we try to enhance both our vocabularies ‘mon petit ’. I do however discover that the boy is one of the Domari, who are the original inhabitants of the area. His native tongue is Domari (the same name as the people -- although the collective term for the people also appear to be "Dom" -- very confusing).

Noon 15th Snow 804 - In Newcourt’s Baronial Castle

The doors open and in come servants laden with food, others with tables and accoutrements for our lunch with the chamberlain. I go around rousing the others with polite knocks and then return for polite conversation while the servants do their roles. Once is all is ready Jubert shoos the servant including Nanosh out so that we may talk of the issues here and what is afoot in this grand unique castle.

There are three suitors in residence at present with us making four sets of suitors and entourage. There were others sent for but they have not arrived yet due to the weather. There was a fourth suitor (Fulk) before our arrival but he has gone missing, it is he we are tasked to find and in order to avoid repercussions. The baron has directed that the decision on who will win the Lady Justine de’Amberville’s heart will be made by the start of spring. She is confirmed as the heir to Newcourt barony and the title of baroness would pass to her upon her father’s death or when he passes it on.

The details on thee four suitors are: Fulk de Foxcourt, a young mid 20’s male, nephew to Count Richard of Foxcourt, a man of little style and taste who was used to exercising his prerogatives with the serving wenches or the local ‘ladies’ in the town at the foot of the castle hill.

He was ill thought of almost from the outset by all and sundry. He is however favoured by his uncle the count who would ‘strongly’ like Fulk to win the hand of the fair lady Justine. This would firm his power over the area and ensure that the Newcourt barony stays within his power and loyal to him.

His companion, Guy and several guards accompanied him. Only Guy and two guards remain as the other guards have been despatched to Foxcourt with the news of his disappearance.

?Florestan Firebrass, a young 16-year-old chinless male cousin of Justine’s is another suitor. He is here with his Great Aunt ‘Oudine Fortbrass’ who is described as being ‘formidable. He also has a page, a captain of his guards and six guards with him.

He is her cousin but if he were approved as the suitor then he would get dispensation to marry so close a relative.

?Gerard de Mauvoisin, a local Baronet (Newcourt) of around 30 years of age is here also, he is a widower and seen as a ‘fine catch’ apparently by the local ladies. A squire, page and two guards accompany him.

?Chevalier Henri de Malvallet of Faircourt is the last suitor in residence; he is the son and heir of the baron of Faircourt. He is 20 years of age and acts with style, dignity and grace appropriate to a young man of his station. The chamberlain lets slip that he may be the favoured suitor at this time. A squire, page, sergeant and four guards accompany him.

We enquire about the search for the missing suitor and are informed that it was thorough. We ask poignantly about the tall, oddly shaped and sizable tower within the castle walls. “Ah, Tower Blanc”.

It is the oldest building in the castle and was the resident of the baron’s previous mage ‘Simon Dufay ’, before his unfortunate death some 7 years ago. It turns out that he confessed to have burnt the bishop of Newcourt to death in his church after some days of ‘frank and forthright discussion’ with the baron’s guards. He was burnt to death for this crime.

Anyway, the thorough search went all the way to the roof door on the top of the tower that is the only known way inside. No one went inside, as the seals were intact. The tower has been uninhabited for the last seven (7) years and the post of the mage is currently vacant!

Fulk was last seen at dinner on the 7th of Snow, he was noticed as being missing on the 9th. He frequently was away for a day at a time previously when he went visiting to exercise his ‘prerogatives’ nearby. Some of his guards have left to report the disappearance and they are expected to reach Foxcourt by tomorrow (16th Snow). A speedy response will no doubt eventuate. We take it that haste is requested of our search for the missing Fulk and would be most appreciated.

Thaeuss broaches the point of payment and Jubert produces a small glowing, war to the touch, amber looking stone which he says is worth some 1,500sp.  He will pay us in these and perhaps more.   We are offered this 'mana bauble' for our investigation and we will get back to him later with our results. 

We press him on the issue of who knows about our presence and us and we get the feeling that he is doing it of his own initiative to provide plausible deniability for future repercussions and perhaps to alleviate the stresses on an already pressured situation.

We discover the castle dates from the time of the old western kingdom (some 900 years ago) with additions made by successive generations, which is why there are so many different architectural styles and structures within the walls. It is much larger than would be expected of a baronial castle and is sited on a large hill rising from the plain, the hill having one sheer side on the north and on the western side the road up is a switchback road leading to the gates.

Another point of note is that this barony (and apparently Faircourt barony) is much larger than we expected, and that in some parts of the Baronies/Kingdom a noble with Newcourt's land and vassals would be at least a Viscount, perhaps a Count. This of course makes baron Newcourt's daughter is a very fine catch.

Dramus (via mind-speech) relates that he has discovered the castle area to be a Necro place of power, much to our astonishment.   He has also detected a handful of lessor undead underground beneath the tower.