Francine's Sojourn

When Francine goes missing from the Inn in Eisen, (see 'Crossing the Mountains') the party wonders where she went. However, they are more suprised when she turns up on a slave ship they attack a week later.

The last you remember is seeing the back of the Vodacce gentleman as he ran from Roberto's room's window. Concentrating intently you took aim with your pistol and fired at the cad. The shot missed. Mainly due to the drug soaked rag that was suddenly pressed to your face.

The room began to spin, and everything faded away.

When you awaken you are tied to a chair. You glance at your hands. Although you have been tied to make using your powers difficult, you are still wearing your gloves. Perhaps your secret is still safe. You are sitting in a simple wooden chair, your arms tied to the arms of it. The room you are in is sparse, built of stone, dark and gray. A chill passes over you as you realise it is the sort of room you expect people have died in. There are no windows; the only light comes from under the ill-fitting door, filling the room with dim ambient light.

You wonder if this was part of the larger commotion that caused Roberto to yell out (in such a girly way ;-).

So your eyes hurt a little as the door opens and light floods the room. Two men enter, dressed in black like the men who tried to abduct Clarisse back in Altimira. One walks with a definite limp. He comes towards you and throws a piece of paper in from of your feet.

"No one who gets my warning escapes me for long, you Montaigne usurer"

You look down at the paper; it is a copy of the note that you and Clarisse received when this all began.

"You are a prisoner of the Castille Republican Army of Patriots. But don't worry, your won't live too long to object."

You raise your head, and look demurely into the eyes of your captor.

"Sir, if you think that my friend or myself are involved in the war effort by my country against yours I am afraid you are sadly mistaken. Does not the fact that we so quickly left the area to head to Eisen and then home to Montaigne make you believe that we are in no way involved with the war? We have no hatred for your good land, Castilians or your good selves. Further more we have little or no influence on those who would fight against you. Killing us will serve no purpose except to further anger the Montaigne people and to give them greater heart to continue the war. Set me free and I shall spread the word of your compassion. Maybe, in some small way, this could help lead to a lessoning of animosity between our peoples.

"I might almost believe you," he snarls at you, "If I didn't know you would run to some other noble and he would send his troops to find us. I know your kind; you can't stand to be made a fool of. No my lady - if indeed lady you may be - it is in this room a small blow will be struck for beautiful Castille. Here you will die, and one less oppressor will hurt my country. We in the Castille Republican Army of Patriots will destroy whatever we can to even the balance before we die."

He is about to fall into another impassioned speech when an explosion shakes the room. It came from a small distance away, but from this building. The man runs out with his companion, hardly closing the door. Sand is shaken from the roof and dusts you in dirt as the structure of the place weakens. You don't hear another explosion, but pistol fire and swords clashing echo from the doorway.

You begin to tug at your bonds and suddenly freeze as a man enters the doorway. He is dressed in dark everyday clothes, but wears a black scarf across his face like a bandit. He looks similar to the others, but he is not the same. His eyes meet yours and for a moment you allow yourself to hope he is a rescuer. But he coldly raises a pistol, and prepares to fire.

You look into his eyes, which seem dimmed and soulless. In desperation you try to talk him out of his dreadful intent.

"Sir!! Please do not shoot an innocent lady who was only abducted for her supposed wealth! I have no quarrel with any party here!"

You pretend to faint; hoping some part of him has even the smallest nobility. Hoping that even this man is not so low as to shoot an unarmed unconscious woman.
Although you realise he is a cad when you feel him root a little too deeply into your dress for money and valuables.

Just as you are about to try and bite his ear a shadow looms behind him and the pommel of a sword slams into his head. He drops at your feet, leaving the tall and imposing shape of a dashing Castilian wearing a mask of white and purple. The Vagabond unties you with one deft flick of his blade.

"My lady, you must leave this place. My men and I had sought only to remove the dishonorable men of the Castille Republican Army of Patriots. It seems we came too late for other enemies of theirs. Please go in safety, I shall see you from this place but there I must leave you. There is an inn and a village not far away."

You look up into the soulful eyes of the vagabond. Perhaps hoping to gain a clue to his identity. But you see nothing but patriotism and nobility. Standing there with him makes you want to prove yourself every bit as noble and true as him. It also makes your heart rise to realise that at least Castille has a hero who fights for the people. Would that Montaigne had someone like El Vago.

"Sir, the honour of that name precedes you,” you say. “I owe you my life, if there is any small part that a humble lady might play in helping bring peace between our nations don't hesitate to contact me."

But with a look of sadness he can only reply, "I know you are Montaigne my lady, and I do not begrudge you for it.”
“But be aware that should we cross paths on opposite sides of the war between our countries, I may not prove to be quite the gentlemen I have tonight. If you would do me service, then go to your home and tell your people that Castille still has honour and fight, and that you were saved by El Vago."

Before he leads you out you recover your wits and say, “I must quickly recover what this fiend has taken from me."
Then you kneel over the unconscious guy with the gun and loot all his stuff. :-)

Sadly the guy has no money. Strangely he has no ID or anything on him at all. Although he does have a tattoo you will notice of a bomb with the words 'Vero Corragio' around it. But you can't take too much time as the Vagabond wishes to leave.

He takes your hand and rushes you through the place. Fighting is going on all around. It is a small bunker/fort, now with a large hole in the wall from the recent explosion. El Vago tips his hat to a group of men and women all wearing plain white masks. They instantly join him. It seems the members of the Castille Republican Army of Patriots has lost badly. Fighting the other men in black and Los Vagos was more than they could handle. Los Vagos have no desire to join another fight with men they have no quarrel with - so they are leaving. The men of the Vero Corragio seem to have the same idea. A few make a move against you, but think better of it.

El Vago and his band (who do not remove their masks - after all, you are not one of them) lead you through the hills and out into open land. He tells you that you have been taken further north, and are still on the Eisen side of the mountains. The journey through them alone would be perilous at best. So he suggests you take a ship to Montaigne. You are near the town of Helrumberg in Wische. The land is barren and full of grief. The town lies at the northern end of Eisen at the mouth of the river that leads to Freiburg. There you may be able to get on a ship for Montaigne, quicker than going by foot or horse. It is your best chance to find the others. After all, a part of you misses them, and this is no place for a lady alone.

El Vago is returning to Castille. He may be a gentleman, but he has no desire to become your escort. The town below beckons and the vagabond rides away to the ravaged lands of his home.

You wave to the band of El Vago as their horses dash back to the battered land of Castille. He has left you within sight of a small port town. Having no better plan you wander down the hill to the buildings. Soon you are walking the streets, acquiring odd looks from the resident Eisen. Your bearing and cloths mark you a Montaigne noble. But your dress is tattered and your hair is fallen from it’s fashionable style. You suddenly feel weary for food and a place to rest. So you make for the nearest inn – ‘The Welcome Sailor’ – at the port side.

You have little coins left. Just as you are wondering how you will find the means to eat and find board, you hear a man’s voice behind you.

“A meal for this beautiful Lady, Thomas,” he addresses the barkeep. Then he meets your gaze as you turn to see him. “I’m sorry my lady. I see you have fallen foul of the war torn roads of our homeland. It is all a gentleman can do to see you recompensed for your trouble here. I hope I do not presume.”

He speaks to you in flawless Montaigne. Although he is obviously Eisen, with a thin but muscular build and long blonde hair falling about his shoulders. You begin to wonder if this time your attempt to win gold and power from a man may prove a little enjoyable this time. So you nod demurely and try to look a little more tired and helpless. He falls into the pattern you’ve seen so many times and helps you to a chair. A meal and wine is put before you and you try hard to remain ladylike as hunger catches up with you.

He begins to ply you with wine. Which brings another smile to your face. Knowing how many grown men you have out drunk, this gentleman should prove no different. His name is Tibold, he is a merchant from Freiburg. His Vendel cloths have enough Montaigne touch to show him a man of wealth and fashion. He tells you he would be happy to find you passage on one of his ships to your home.

But then you feel a little strange. Surly not the wine? You have drunk twice this much before and still aimed a pistol. Maybe the recent events? No, you have dealt with greater hardships than this.

Maybe something in the wine

You pass out gently. Your last sight is an astounded Tibold rising to assist you calling for ‘help with the lady’.

You wake to a rocking feeling. How long you have been out cold is anyone’s guess. But it takes little wit to put the rocking motion and your wooden surroundings together. You are in the hold of a ship, it may be an Eisen design, but ships were never your strong point. Your head swims with weariness and the last few days.

But you are not alone here. There are another ten or so men and women chained up in this dank place with you. They have a look of despair that you have come to expect of Eisen. Then you realise they are from other nations as well. Perhaps the look of despair is from another source.

One other woman, the only one it seems with any fire left in her heart sits next to you. It is she who has managed to wake you.

“My name is Eva Vadraken. I’m so glad you are awake. But I have bad news. We are all bound for the Crescent Empire, to be made slaves. I dread to think what will occur to women like ourselves should we reach there. But I have no intention of getting there. I’m not sure what we can do, but I think I can get my chain off. We just need a chance. Are you with me? I can’t do this alone.

You look down at her chains. You are both chained by one foot to the deck. But she has managed to almost get her manacle round her heel. But the pain must be excruciating as blood and bruising has been the main result. She exchanges a look with you and you both know what to do. She clutches at your arm and holds tightly as you pull the manacle off with all your strength. You wonder if you could endure such pain to be free.

But as you consider this, a cannon shot echoes through the air and above deck becomes a cacophony of running and shouting. You are under attack.

“Perhaps,” says Eva, “this is our chance.”