Getting Away from Sir Thopas
The procession at the gate turns into a bit of an impromptu festival, during which everyone in proximity comes out to fawn and stare adoringly at Sir Thopas. The bard, who is named Chauncey, is asked to play a new song he has composed about Sir Thopas’ adventures. After hearing three or so verses, the company decides to depart.
Before they can leave, a mysterious woman named Reagan approaches a blood-covered Magnus. She informs him that, if he likes fighting, he should come out to the pit fights that are held weekly in the forest outside of town. Reagan says that the fights are happening that night, and gives Magnus a time and directions so that he can catch the cart going there.
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| Reagen, Pit Fight Recruiter |
The Shrine of the Holy Hens
The company returns the holy hens to their shrine. Though the adoration of the shrine’s attendants is not as impressive as that given to Sir Thopas at the gate, they are pleasant enough. The company exchanges the hens for a small reward, free pilgrim’s badges (in the shape of a chicken coop), and some fresh water to wash off all the rat and skaven blood from their clothes. Garnier, who to this point has shown no modesty, unsurprisingly strips to his codpiece and washes himself in the shrine’s yard, to the consternation of many—including Renee.
The company just finishes their ablutions when Sir Thopas and company arrives on the scene. Sir Thopas causes a great deal of consternation by consistently—and incorrectly—referring to Sir Henri as a squire and promising to give him a few “tips” on how to be a proper knight. Sir Henri walks away before he is forced to strike the man. Chauncey the bard continues to talk up his master, which gets him a very stern talking to from Magnus and Garnier. The conversation abruptly ends when Maude, Sir Thopas’ painter, summons the guard.
Meanwhile, Andre, who is trying to get some peace and quiet away from Sir Thopas and his retinue, has retreated to a tavern to enjoy a mid-morning, post battle tipple. He is dismayed to see a fearful-looking Chauncey slip into the tavern. Fortunately, the bard seems more interested in getting a drink to calm his nerves than to talk up his master, so Andre enjoys his drink in peace. After his hands stop shaking, Chauncey regales the patrons with a song that he heard in the nearby town of Saint Ouen. The original singer, according to Chauncey, is the decapitated head of a Grail Damsel.
Andre soon pays his tab and departs, joining the rest of the company as they return to their in.
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| Maude, Sir Thopas' Painter |
The Real Sir Thopas
The company is growing concerned about Sir Thopas, and not just because of his arrogance and his disruptive influence. The people of Epernay all seem to love and adore Sir Thopas, but no one can name his deeds, whom he serves, where he comes from, or similar. One old man claims that he heard tales of Sir Thopas at his father’s knee, a claim that, considering the ages of Sir Thopas and the old man, is dubious at best.
The company also notices that the only person who seems unaffected by Sir Thopas’ charm—apart from themselves—is Maude the Painter. Gariner and Sabina suspect that a certain monk with a certain wishing book might be involved.
Having rested and eaten, the company departs from their inn to do a bit of shopping and also to chase down Sir Thopas’ party. They eventually catch up with the knight and his retinue in the early evening. They find Maude painting a picture of the three ladies in waiting who accompany the knight, and very gently question her about herself and about her relationship to the knight.
Maurice purchases one of Maude’s earlier paintings, which is of a pastoral scene. He is quite concerned to note that someone bearing the banner of the Yellow Knight stands on the most distant hill in the painting.
Convinced that they have enough evidence, they confront Maude, explaining that they know that she has received a blessing from the Lady thanks to the intercession of a wandering monk in yellow robes. Maude, who seems exhausted, afraid, and yet also relieved, admits that she has and gamely produces the typical slip of paper when Sabina asks her for it.
The shaky, ink-spotted handwriting reads, “Lady, Maude of Turin desires a wealthy patron to give her the fame that is due her.”
The company leaves Maude to her paintings and returns to their inn, where Sabina promptly disposes of the wish in the merrily burning hearth fire.
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| Chauncey the Minstrel |
Alarms
Moments later, screams of panic and terror are heard out in the street. The company arms themselves and rushes outside, to find that numerous townsfolk have taken up the cry of alarm. Amidst the shouts, the company hears, “Chaos!” “Foul magic!” and “They’ve struck down Sir Thopas!”
Pierre and Renee follow a frantic young woman back to Sir Thopas’ inn, where they find the knight lying dead on the floor of the common room. As they watch, the body of Sir Thopas gradually crumbles to ashes and cinders, causing a fresh round of screams to rise from the terror-stricken patrons.
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