Jouef TownThe driver pulls the reins and sets the near-skeletal horses stumbling forward. The carriage is uneven and on the verge of breaking from every bump in the road, and it quickly becomes clear even the most hardened of sailors could not keep his lunch in on a journey like this. Only Jacques himself isn't bothered much, whistling happily as the unholy mess veers from the town and begins dragging itself up the road, towards the woodlands beyond the border.
The group holds on to the best of their ability. Brave Hippolyte even attempts to talk with their lunatic of a driver.
"Bandits on the road?" he manages, fighting to keep his expression stable. Jacques smiles and nods.
'Oh, yes. Bandits and deserters, you can't really tell the difference in these days. I won't say anything bad about the Emperor's, bless his name, armies, but even the strongest of men can get it in their heads that they'd be better off away from all the fighting. And sometimes they take their guns and training with them. Bad business, all around. But they usually stick to the bigger roads.'
Regina joins in, asking a few gentle questions about Bartelsberg in general. Their driver answers everything, babbling on without a single pause.
'Bartelsberg, Bartelsberg. Ah, I've been doing this route ever since the liberation. It's a good town, good people. For the most part, atleast. Never a large town, mind you, and the war certainly wasn't kind, but...' he says and shrugs.
The carriage rattles on, Jouef disappearing from sight. Eventually, the majority of the group phases out from the rant, though Regina listens on. [1+2=3] Eventually, even she has to give up, unable to pick out much genuinely useful information from his babbling. After a while, Jacques runs out of topics to discuss and the trip continues in silence.
[6] Alexandre goes through his things, bringing back to mind the use of the Red Powder and the Moonstones. Truth to be told, he bought both off a gypsy woman who gave vague promises they'd help against the creatures of the night and refused to elaborate - but through dutiful study he's identified them as substances mentioned in old occult texts. Red powder, when scattered over a vampire, is said to force the evil creature to its most foul form and thus reveal it amongst honest men, though it did not specify how one was supposed to get the powder on a vampire. Moonstones, on the other hand, act as a primitive ward in a graveyard or burial site, keeping all witches and evil men away lest they raise the dead for their nefarious purposes.
Woodland Road, near BartelsbergIt's amazing that the carriage actually lasts as long as it does. When the makeshift wheel finally cracks off and spins into the night, they've reached the edge of the forest hiding Bartelsberg behind its thick vegetation.
'Ahh...' Jacques mutters, frowning for a change. 'The village is just beyond these woods. We can make the last of the route on foot.'
The narrow road snaking through the thick forest doesn't look too inviting, but it's still light, the rainclouds have passed, and their driver seems confident, striding with a swift pace up the muddy road.
8/8 Health Points: [
IIIIIIII]
The Preacher – Aydin Kyrotomanios
Equipment: The Quran, Prayer Mat (rolled-up), Walking Stick, Simple Clothing, Packet of Foodstuffs
Speaks: Turkish, Arabic,
Rudimentary Greek,
Rudimentary French,
Fragmentary Italian, Fragmentary PersianSkills:
Man of the Faith 8/8 Health Points: [
IIIIIIII]
The Spy – Regina Boulanger
Equipment: Flintlock Pistol, Dagger, Fake Papers, Travelling Clothing, Packet of Foodstuffs
Speaks: French, English, German, Italian, Swedish, Russian,
Rudimentary Turkish, Rudimentary Spanish,
Fragmentary Hungarian, Fragmentary ArabicSkills: The Spy's Tools 10/10 Health Points: [
IIIIIIIIII]
The Woodsman – Viktor
Equipment: Woodsman's Axe,
Ancient Musket, Woodsman's Rags, Tinderbox
Speaks: Serbian,
Fragmentary French, Fragmentary TurkishSkills:
Skilled Hunter,
Wilderness Survivor 8/8 Health Points: [
IIIIIIII]
The Surgeon – Hippolyte d'Oberlin
Equipment: Surgical Gear, Notebook, Clean Cloth, Empty Bottles, Travelling Clothing, Packet of Foodstuffs
Speaks: French, German, English,
Rudimentary Swedish, Rudimentary Turkish,
Fragmentary Russian, Fragmentary Arabic, Fragmentary LatinSkills: Field Surgeon,
Natural Scientist 10/10 Health Points: [
IIIIIIIIII]
The Monster Hunter – Alexandre Aruno
Equipment: Flintlock Rifle, Silver-coated Knife,
Bag of Tools, Fine Clothing, Flask of Wine, Packet of Foodstuffs,
The Malleus MaleficarumSpeaks: French, German,
Rudimentary Italian, Rudimentary Swedish, Rudimentary EnglishSkills: Scholar of Evil,
Famous Hunter
Author
Topic: Bonaparte's Hounds - Monster-hunting in the 19th century - Turn XI (Read 10209 times)