Session Sixteen
Play starts with the majority of the angels still in the tavern in Ruritania, somewhere deep in the Marches. The Ethereal known as Lemminkäinen has just left the tavern. Zebediah, Nathaniel, Lucas, Case and Martin are comparing notes on the Brotherhood who are a band of outcast demon pirates, the Finnish-based mythological Ethereals and their experiments to recreate the 'Legion' effect. It is known that Lemminkäinen has booked passage with one of the Brotherhood and is leaving with them in the morning and that he is hoping to meet up with the rest of his group. Tony remains holding the fort in Southampton.
The group in the tavern begin to discuss options - Nathaniel suggests that they should get Aucune, the Cherub of Dreams and their guide in the Marches, 'tag' Lemminkäinen, so he can be followed because his destination was not revealed. There is also some idle speculation about the 'Prisoner' at the castle, as to whom it could be. Then into the tavern, enter two men with obviously military bearing. Zebediah performs a resonance check on one of them.
Most noble deeds : Loyal, rescued a fellow guard and is a dutiful soldier.
Most ignoble deeds : Looked the other way for friend, late to roll call, weapon was often left dirty.
One comes over and greets the group while the other keeps watch. He offers them a job, namely to find out what Black Sheba, the Lilim Captain of the Black Tigress has on Prince Rupert who is the ruler of this realm, what her intentions are and whether she has a Geas on him or not. He offers five pawns of essence each upon delivery of the information, and suggests a second meeting at another Inn, the Saracen's Head at Midnight to complete the deal. Bernard checks how much of what the man's says is true, and apart from the name he gave to the group 'Bilph', the rest is true. The two gentlemen then leave the bar and the group returns to their discussions. It is a question of where the angels want to investigate.
One option is the Black Tigress, because there may be an indication of where Lemminkäinen's destination is, as he leaves with it in the morning. The second option is the Castle because of what Rupert may know and who the prisoner is. The angels do not know how deeply involved Rupert is, if at all. Case orders more food and wine for the table.
Nathaniel is keen to get onto the boat. Case is seemingly unimpressed with both options and moots the possibility of leaving, although he concedes the boat may be worth a look, but certain details need to be check first to see if it is possible. Such things as the tide, as this will determine when the ship will leave, whether the Captain will be on board and how much of its crew will be on shore.
Eventually, the group decides to divide into three and check out various things.
Zebediah and Case will investigate the Castle and its defences.
Martin and Bernard will scout the rest of the town and see what rumours are around.
Lucas and Nathaniel will visit the Harbour Master for information on the tides and the pirates.
Tony, back in Southampton, is going about his role's business. Part of it involves collecting data of 'unusual' activities. Among his e-mails that morning, he receives one with various attached reports to it - re the Second coming and various conspiracy nuts' claims. It is signed 'Beth'. He gets a reply to the e-mail he sent expressing interest in the report. It takes a form of a letter, suggesting a meet in London. The contents of the letter also include a well informed account of how certain Pagan Cults are converting to Apocalyptic Christian ones. Tony agrees to the meeting.
Back in Ruritania, the two servitors of Gabriel have found the Harbour master in one of the Inns on the docks. He is the typical old sea dog with one wooden leg and dodgy accent. Nathaniel is less than happy when Lucas almost agrees to the Harbour Master's suggestion to becoming a sailor. However, after a few drinks to loosen his tongue, the Harbour master reveals the following;
The pirates tend to hit the town and when they do all hell breaks loose, and it is not safe to walk the streets alone. The Lilim Captain and Prince Rupert have a reputation of painting the town red and being hell-raisers themselves. The morning tide is 8 o'clock in morning local time, and therefore the Pirates will be out to enjoy their last night in port.
Meanwhile, Case and Zebediah are assessing the castle for a suitable vintage point, using their many years of military experience. It is a well made and sturdy Ducal castle. Features include a moat, many turrets, a front gate and many guards. They note that many carts go into the castle through the front gate and many, but not all searched. Possible other ways include a small gate that opens up onto a small rubbish dump and there is a small sewer pipe that gives someone a fair chance to get up it into the Castle itself. They spot that the guards on the walls carry crossbows. They decide to move closer to the front gate and they find out the reason that certain carts are not being searched, those cart owners are bribing the guards. They estimate between 200-300 guards are in the Castle.
This leaves Martin and Bernard walking around the town. They pick up the following rumours;
A demonic force masses somewhere close, apparently a task force of Baal's, its mission is to deal with the pirates. Heaven has been overthrown by a coup of Marc and Blandine. Armageddon is about to happen on Earth, so grab essence while you can. The pirates plans to sail to Espanol, the Kingdom of Eternal Night, Jerusalem, Land of the Finns and many other places as well.
They also learn that the prisoner has been one for over 100 years, but as to his/her identity, again many opinions are voiced. It is either someone who has offended the Prince, an angel, a demon, and one person suggests it is Uriel. Bernard checks to make sure these rumours did not spring up last week and therefore were not put into circulation for his or Martin's benefit. On the way back, someone attempts to mug the pair much to that person's cost.
All three groups return to the Inn and discuss what they have found out. Again the bias is towards how to get into the castle and onto the Black Tigress.
Case is sceptical about both ventures. Bernard confesses to having is curiosity 'tweaked' about the identity of the prisoner. Nathaniel states while there are good reasons to hit the pirate ship, namely Lemminkäinen's final destination, he feels that the prisoner may not be worth the effort to find out whom it might be. Martin reminds the group of the missing Kyriotate, last seen being held prisoner by the Finnish Ethereals. Eventually it is decided that both targets will be hit. Martin, Case and Bernard will try to get into the castle, while Lucas, Zebediah and Nathaniel are assigned to the move against the pirate ship.
The group who will try and get into the castle, decide to try to smuggle themselves in, by use of a cart and having someone bribe the guards. Case asks and persuades Bill, the landlord of the tavern, to do this and finds out that Bill has often bribed the guards to get into the castle. The plan is for Martin and Bernard to hide amongst the wine casks in the cart and for Case to ride next to Bill, once he has changed his appearance to seem more 'downmarket'.
En route to the pirate ship, Nathaniel 'acquires' some steel from a hapless half drunk pirate.
The cart with Case, Martin and Bernard arrives at the castle gate. Bill duly bribes the guard on the gates, and introduces Case as 'his brother Ted'. They then ride in without any further problems. They drive into the kitchen yard. 'Bill, you're late!', remarks one of servants. He introduces 'Ted' to the kitchen staff. 'Ted' is invited in for food and enters a typically Medieval looking kitchen. His arrival seems to spark off rumours among the staff, as he looks similar to Prince Rupert.
Meanwhile, Bernard and Martin slip off the cart and change their appearance to be more like typical servants, so they don't seem out of place here. Their impression of the castle is it wouldn't be out of place in a Hollywood movie.
Martin suggests taking a couple of the bottles of brandy from the cart to give them a reason for them to be wandering about, they are taking the bottles to somewhere. Bernard suggests looking for a stairway going down. They find one and the smell suggests they are heading in the right direction. Martin takes on the form of a guard before entering a guard room.
The guard room has four guards and they are playing cards. Martin manages to persuade them that he was sent down here with the brandy. This gets poured around and Martin ensures that his tankard is full of very weak brandy and the others are full of very strong stuff. Bernard as servant is not entitled to any. The guards ask how question how Martin was able to get hold of the Prince's stuff. Martin claims to have his sources and proposes a toast to the Prince. Bailey, one of the guards is put on watch for 'Serge' and the guards proceed to get drunk.
Back upstairs, Case in the guise of Ted, is shown to the Great Hall by one of the maids called Amy, where a large portrait of the Prince Rupert is on display. He looks remarkably similar to Case's current form. Case grumbles about how the Prince left his mother. The maid confirms that the Prince has a reputation concerning young ladies.
In the guard room, the guards are dropping like flies as they passed out due to being drunk. Martin and Bernard search the guards and come up with an old looking key. They move onwards and find a large metal grill with a door in. Its keyhole seems to match the key they have. They decide they probably will need a torch. Bernard returns to the guard room to collect one. 'Don't get it need the brandy', Martin advises.
After a struggle turning the lock and they pull the door open, they are met by a blast of stale air. A stone corridor lies. They head in.
Nathaniel, Lucas and Zebediah have arrived at the docks and find a single guard on the gangplank to the Black Tigress. Nathaniel formulates a plan. He quickly acquires a flask of something alcoholic, splashes over his clothes liberally and briefly gargles it before spitting it out again. He approaches the guard unsteadily and does a resonance check on him.
Most ignoble : Killed brother over argument about money.
Most noble : Let a girl escape instead of ravishing her because she reminded him of his sister.
After getting close enough to play 'Do you want a drink, buddy?' card, Nathaniel disposes of the guard quickly and drops him over the side of the quay, and then takes his form. He then goes on board and starts handing drinks around to the skeleton crew before starting a drunken singsong.
Zebediah and Lucas creep aboard during the diversion and begin to look for the Captain's cabin. They find it, but are forced to break the door down after both fail to unlock the door. They use a sword as a crowbar and they end up removing the hinges just to get in!
The quarters are very plush. It contains a writing desk, a wardrobe, a sword hanging up on the wall, various maps, a telescope and various fur draped around the place. Zebediah finds the Captain's Log. Recently, she has sacked a crew for being drunk on duty, keelhauled someone for 'touching' her without permission, and it lists many of the ports the ship has visited recently. From the map, he determines that Lemminkäinen's most likely destination is Lake Tuonela, effectively the home of the Finnish Ethereals.
Lucas is searching the wardrobe. He finds many clothes, hats, whips, a copy of Playboy, other items he can't identity and a small notebook. This he attempts to reads, but can't do so as it is written in Hell tongue. He hands the book to Zebediah. Zebediah studies it for a time, and is able to make out a number of passages from it, (his player rolled a '111'), it seems to be a personal notebook and diary of sorts. It confirms Lemminkäinen's destination and mentions that she is attempting to 'persuade' the Prince to give the Brotherhood a permanent base here and protection from Baal. Zebediah takes notes.
Back in the Castle, while Case is still admiring the portrait of the Prince, Rupert accompanied by Black Sheba and a number of guards. The Prince pauses when he sees Case. 'Do I know you?', he asks. A conversation ensues. Not only does Case convinces the Prince that he is a bastard son of his, but it seems that the Prince can remember Case's mother!
This gives Case a chance to resonate him. The Prince's most noble virtue is his protection of the weak, his worst sin is his seduction of women. His destiny is that he will becoming a noble and wise leader, his fate is that he will become an evil tyrant. 'So what do you want?', the Prince asks. 'A job in the guards', Case replies instantly. The Prince apparently likes Case and begins to exchange exploits. The Lilim is studying Case carefully.
Down in the dungeons, Martin and Bernard creep along the corridor. Bernard has the torch. They come to a point where the corridor forks. They decide to go right. Martin does something to improve the torch's light. Bernard strides boldly onward. Another fork in the corridor soon approaches and Martin goes in front as they take the right hand passage again.
Suddenly a black figure pounces on Bernard. Both he and the torch falls to the floor. Martin spins around and can just make out a form of a Malakim trying to throttle Bernard. Martin reveals to his true Celestial form and the Malakim stops trying to kill Bernard. Introductions are made. The figure introduces himself as Esaranothiel, Malakim of Raphael. He lets Bernard get up. It is obvious that Esaranothiel is not in good shape and Martin provides some healing, both the celestial and ethereal versions. Afterwards, Esaranothiel looks a lot better and seems more in control of himself. He claims he has left his vessel in London and asks where Martin and Bernard can be contacted, and they give him the Lightning Tether at the University's library. Esaranothiel claims he knows of Southampton. It is important that they meet up as he claims to know how to find 'Legion'. Then in the distance, an alarm sounds. Cue for everyone to get out of here.
The Prince and Case hears the alarm. Case runs off to 'help the troops'.
On the ship, Nathaniel is the first to find out what the problem is. A number of ships have appeared and are firing on the pirate ships and the town in general. Nathaniel organises a volley from the ship before deciding that the ship is a sitting duck and leaves the boat. Lucas pockets the diary and decides to leap through the window and swim for it. Zebediah opts to escape via the gangplank amid the confusion. They head towards the Grey Duck Tavern, to meet up with Aucune.
Case has now joined with guards and attempts to lead them to one of the tower. The guards only follow him so far. He detaches himself for them and in an attempt to muster confusion he shifts his form to look like Prince Rupert. He begins to order the guards all directions before he meets the real Prince again. 'Arrest that impostor', they both command. The guards look on in confusion. The two Princes start to duel.
The three in the dungeon start upstairs and at the top, they witness the two princes duelling. They seems to be of equal skill, although one of the Princes' style looks odd. Case is attempting to use a sabre as if it were a katana. Bernard shifts into Celestial form and he, Esaranothiel and Martin fly for it, causing much alarm among the guards. Esaranothiel wants to find his body and says he will see them in Southampton. Bernard attempts to identify the real Prince, and he does this when both start claiming to be the real Prince. He points this out to Martin. Seeing the even ability of the two combatants, Martin flies back, and bumps the real Prince before flying off again. Case takes advantage of this and kills Rupert, although he is not pleased by Martin's interference. Case begins taking charge, making 'Secure the Palace' orders and the like.
Bernard and Martin return to the rendezvous point to join up with the others.
Black Sheba approaches Case and asks him for Sanctuary. 'From whom?', he asks. 'From Baal. That's his task force coming to get us under the command of one Tierna'. This causes Case a momentary double take but no more. Case agrees to the Lilim's request.
The rest of the angels gather at the Grey Duck Tavern. They wait for Aucune and Case to return. There is a general consensus of wanting to leave. Aucune eventually arrives and is badly wounded. Martin heals her, much to her gratitude. There is a brief discussion of the notebook and what it contains. Case still hasn't arrived.
Nathaniel decides to try his mobile 'phone to get hold of Case. Strangely enough, a 'phone appears in the Ducal palace near to where Case is standing. Case answers it. 'Time to go. The arranged meeting point', is the message. After the call, Nathaniel stands guard at the door.
Case, still looking like the Prince, decides to lead the counter attack the invaders and after leaving the Castle, he is able to detach himself from the guard and makes his way back to the Tavern. He returns to his normal form.
The group leaves the inn and thanks to Lucas's resonance they quickly get to the cliff path which leads to the way out. A few misguided demons who attempt to stop the block learn the errors of their actions. Eventually, the group returns to Blandine's Tower and split up to do various things.
Martin returns to the tether. The Fire Duo leaves a message for Soldekai as he is otherwise engaged. Zebediah leaves a message for Laurence. Case meets up with Shakiel to discuss a personal matter. Bernard goes to see Jean and after e-mailing him, Bernard has to wait all of 37.5 seconds before he gets an audience. Bernard makes his report.
Jean seems surprised at Bernard's information. 'Esaranothiel is likely to be dangerous and powerful', Jean advises. 'He may be mad'. 'Pander to him and get him to Heaven or try to find out what he knows', he instructs Bernard. 'Keep in touch'. Jean rewards Bernard with a Song of Ethereal Shields. He also gets a refill of essence.
It seems they have been away for about a day.
They all eventually return to the Library. Nathaniel has a little chat with Lucille, the Lilim who wants to redeem. He doesn't actually try and recruit her for Fire, but advises her to concentrate on redeeming and not to make any deals. He states he doesn't care whom she ends up working for as long as she redeems. He leaves her feeling somewhat more inspired and a kiss on the hand laced with a point of essence. Case ends up going to the Sport Halls. Nathaniel goes to wait outside after his chat with Lucille. Zebediah decides to stay and keep an eye on Lucille. Lucas also goes outside, specifically to look for people with threatening PC's.
Bernard goes to work and discovers an e-mail, a letter discussing advances made in miniature electronics, it is signed 'M'. He speaks to Tony and discovers he too has received an interesting e-mail and that he is going to meet the person. Bernard can't trace the sender of his e-mail but sends a reply with a tracer on it.
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Feather And Bone