Session Thirteen: The Cook's Tale

Everything, All at Once

Sabina and Garnier, who have both been trying to corral their gambling-addicted companions, both independently realize that if the addiction has a magical component, perhaps divine intervention could mitigate or remove it. 

Sir Henri tries to get away from Sabina to return to the Baton to gamble, but Sabina latches onto his arm and refuses to let him leave. The knight finds her grip quite formidable, and remains, though his hunger to return to the table grows.

Jim approaches the Baton and is immediately recognized by Sabina, who calls him over. Jim is reticent to do so, but eventually obeys. Sabina learns that he has come to participate in the High Stakes room to win Jules’ freedom. Sabina tells him, in no uncertain terms, that doing so will merely doom him to a lifetime of servitude to the Baton. Jim, still in the thrall of his own gambling addiction, is difficult to convince.

In the meantime, Maurice and Magnus, finding no one is supervising them for the moment, purchase more chits. Magnus buys a small fortune and has a guard escort him to the High Stakes room. Maurice exchanges a much smaller sum and goes back to his favorite roulette table.

Upstairs, Renee is saved when a guard bursts into the brothel hallway, stating loudly that there is an incident and demanding the brothel’s healing kit. Renee follows him outside to find Pierre and Sir Jean-Marc wading through a crowd of onlookers, holding a bloodied Jules. She follows them outside. The guard does as well, baffled that Pierre—a self-professed physician—never takes the proffered healing kit.

Jim Again

Back to the Shrine

Bringing Jules out of the Baton does little to improve his dissipated condition, and so Sir Jean-Marc, at Sabina’s urging, tosses the young man onto Ambrose and prepares to ride to the shrine. As the group prepares to ride off, Garnier seizes his opportunity and slips into the High Stakes room after Magnus. In a daring gambit, he steals half of Magnus’ chits and flees the Baton, forcing the enraged mercenary to follow after him. To compound the insult—and to ensure Magnus follows—Garnier mounts Bartholomule and uses her to outdistance Magnus and follow the others to the shrine.

The entire company—less Maurice—arrive at the shrine perhaps a quarter hour later. Magnus, exhausted, but still enraged, runs into the shrine after them and tries to throttle Garnier, only to be clouted soundly on the helmet by Sir Henri. The company quickly confers with the Reverend Father and, explaining their dire need, enters the shrine’s chapel, dragging Magnus along with them.

One holy rite, and an anointment of holy oils, later purges Magnus, Sir Henri, Jim (dragged along by Sabina), and Jules of their gambling lust. Jules, however, still remains distant and without affect. The company tells the Reverend Father of their fears that the Ruinous Powers are involved and show him the slip of paper they found on Jules’ person. The company decides to try to burn the parchment, and the Reverend Father gives them a dish and holy oil to improve their success. He sends them outside to perform this task while he prays to the Lady for guidance.

Jules Returns

The company pours holy oil in the dish, says a prayer to the Lady, ignites the oil, and burns the parchment. Immediately, Jules comes around, confused and swearing. He has no idea where he is and has no memory of the last few days. The company soon realize that they preferred his previous personality much better.

Upon questioning, Jules reveals that, while going to the Baton to make a little money at the tables, he encountered a weeping monk with a book. Jules spoke with him and the monk said that, while he didn’t want to ask, he was sure that Jules had a wish that he wanted granted. Jules was then told that could get what he desired by writing his wish in the Lady’s book, which the monk carried. When Jules snapped that he couldn’t read, the monk agreed to write the wish in the book for him, which Jules accepted. The monk did so, tore out the wish, handed it to Jules, and went on his way weeping.

Jules then goes on to explain that he won big for a while at the Baton, but his luck turned, and he soon was heavily in debt. He said that Monsieur Corentin was kind enough to give him a job to work off his debt and…that was the last thing he remembers.

Hearing this, the company decides it would be safer if Jules would return to his mother’s place, which Jules adamantly refuses. Jim, however, knowing what the group is capable of, says that he will make arrangements for himself and his friend and drags Jules out of the shrine, saying very quick and very polite replies.

Shortly after the duo leave, the group are approached by an acolyte, who gives them a metal container. They are told that the contents of the container are being loaned to them by the Reverend Father, and that they should open it when the time is right. They are also told to return this gift once they have made use of it. The company promises to do so and departs.

Back to the Baton

The company discovers, to their shame, that they have completely forgotten about Maurice. They return to the Baton in order to reclaim him and to put an end to the foul magic pervading the place.

Upon arrival, Sir Jean-Marc is approached by Amelia, who tells the knight that she has secured an interview with him and Monsieur Corentin. In all the confusion, Sir Jean-Marc asks if his friends can attend and then receives an answer in the affirmative. He is then taken aside by Amelia who tells him, in a terrified whisper, that there is evil afoot in the Baton. She begs Sir Jean-Marc to protect her and, when he promises to do so, she kisses him on the cheek and leaves.

The company enters and finds Maurice, who has been on a losing streak at the table and has just bet the last of his funds. Perhaps due to the arrival of his friends, or perhaps due to the grace of the Lady, he hits it big on his final bet, walking away with 36 Gold. Garnier accompanies both Maurice and Magnus to the front desk, where the two cash in their chits for actual money. Garnier decides to keep one of the chits as a memento of this awful place.

It is about this time that a guard informs Sir Jean-Marc that Monsieur Corentin will meet with the group on the upstairs veranda. The guard then escorts the company to the veranda to wait for him.

The Upstairs Veranda

Monsieur Corentin

The veranda is empty apart from a large guard presence and a bartender named Ruby, who is told to give the company drinks for free. Magnus immediately befriends Ruby and takes advantage, ordering several drinks and a large plate of food for himself.

After some time, Monsieur Corentin arrives, flanked by a pair of guards. His amiable demeanor rapidly deteriorates when the company accuses him of all manner of nefarious deeds and plots. The company demands to see the records of the people who are working off their debts at the Baton, and Corentin is so intimidated that he agrees, sending one of his guards to fetch Amelia and the appropriate records.

Magnus becomes convinced that Corentin is lying to them, so he hauls off and belts him in the stomach, driving him to his knees. Corentin milks this injury for sympathy, but gets very little, as he insists that he has no idea what the group is talking about.

Since Amelia has not yet arrived with the records, the company asks Corentin to send for the cook. When she is brought up and presented, Corentin is aghast at her diminished and zombie-like state. He tells the group that he has no idea why she is like this, that he is too busy to work directly with the new hires, and that Amelia handles all the day-to-day administrative tasks of the Baton.

His words confirm some of the group’s suspicions—especially Garnier, Sabina, and Renee—and they now are fairly certain that it is not Corentin, but Amelia, who is actually the mastermind behind the strange goings on at the Baton. The company realizes that they, however briefly, have the advantage. They know, but Amelia might not know that they know.

Monsieur Corentin

J’Accuse!

Sir Jean-Marc says that he will go downstairs to “see what’s keeping Amelia.” He does so, only to find her coming up the stairs to the veranda. Amelia, looking terrified, tells Sir Jean-Marc that she has found evidence of Corentin’s evil deeds, and asks him to come with her so that she can show him.

Sir Jean-Marc does, accompanying her through the gaming room downstairs and into the brothel hallway. The rest of the company follow Sir Jean-Marc at a distance, weapons ready. They all notice, to their growing concern, that the gaming hall and brothel hallway are now deserted and eerily quiet.

At the far end of the brothel hallway, Sir Jean-Marc calls Amelia’s bluff and raises his mace. Amelia cackles at him and, rather oddly, tugs a single long, pink ribbon out of her hair. Sir Jean-Marc, suspecting that foul magic is about to be employed, strikes Amelia, sending her crashing into the wall.

“Guards!” she cries, and four heavily armed men burst into the hallway behind Sir Jean-Marc, cutting him off from the rest of the arriving company.

Amelia stands and, holding out her ribbon, shouts, “Come, sister! Awaken! Let us introduce them to the litany of the delicious pain!”

She then transforms to a horrific demonic thing, holding a barbed and many-tailed whip.