Session Forty-Two: The Prioress’ Tale

The Shrine of the Grail Virgin

The company draws quite a crowd when they arrive at Saint-Ouen. Captain Andre is once again persuaded to park outside the walls of the town. As the company disembarks, they are greeted by a throng of people who hail Sir Henri as, “Sir Henri the Generous,” and excitedly say that they know all about his and his companions’ brave deeds. The company is discomfited by this, and fears a trap. Garnier is amused that Sir Henri’s reputation as a spendthrift at last precedes him.

Magnus orders Jim to stay in the ship and rest up, as he is still gravely wounded from his battle with the cultists. Jules decides that he will stay behind and “watch” Jim. The pair promptly go to sleep.

The company stop to donate money to some very friendly beggars before settling themselves, and the pilgrims, in the Rose and Cup Inn. They then accompany Henri the innkeeper to the Shrine of the Grail Virgil.

At the shrine, the company first meets Hugo, groundskeeper and adjutant to Prioress Simone, who oversees the shrine. Sabina asks about the monk and finds that he made quite an impression on the people of Saint-Ouen. Both Hugo and Simone describe the monk as in great distress and weeping, begging for the Lady’s grace. Despite his consternation, he did not stay, though the prioress recalls him saying that he planned to go to Noyon next. She also remembers the monk saying that “someone was after him.”

The company ask if the monk had granted any “wishes.” Both Hugo and Simone say no, but the way Simone says it makes the company very suspicious.

The company enters the shrine and sees the head of the Grail Virgin set in a viewing box atop the central altar. The head is perfectly preserved, and seems asleep.

The company prays and lights candles. Meanwhile, Simone and Hugo fetch them badges for free, as they have heard of their deeds on the pilgrims’ progress. The badges, unsurprisingly, are carved in the shape of a woman’s head.

The Head of the Blessed Grail Virgin

Traveling Saint-Ouen

The company splits up to take in the sights of the town, as well as to gather further information. As they travel around town, they hear the people singing that song they’ve heard several times before. The song is ubiquitous in Saint-Ouen, and people sing versions of it in Classical and in Bretonnian. Before long, it has become an earworm, and the company discovers they are singing it, themselves.

Garnier, perhaps despairing that he has been unable to outwit or outrun Chaos, opines that it is pointless to search for trouble that will find them anyway. He goes to a tavern to drink away the day. Magnus and Pierre accompany him.

Sabina asks about the song and its origins. Various townsfolk tell her that it just sort of “sprung up” one day, and no one knows who composed it. Dismayed by this information, and suspecting some sort of enchantment, Sabina finds Garnier and company and proceeds to drink with them.

Maurice breaks off from the company and goes to one of the more questionable districts of Saint-Ouen. There, he speaks with some beggars, promising to pay whoever can tell him the most interesting story. The beggars fall all over themselves to comply, telling outlandish stories. One insists that he has been turned into a ferret and holds out his hand for the money.

The winner, however, turns out to be a scruffy woman who tells Maurice that she was approached by a monk in yellow robes. The monk had a large book with him that had chunks of pages torn out. She says that the monk was out of sorts, weeping and screaming. He first asked her if she wanted anything and, when she said she didn’t, tried to give her the book. When she refused to take it, he fled.

During the storytelling contest, Maurice notes that he is being watched by a one-eyed beggar. When the crowd disperses, the one-eyed man approaches Maurice and upbraids him for being “too obvious” in public. Maurice plays along and learns that his new armor (which he stole from the dead Chaos assassin and had tailored to fit him), is apparently some kind of uniform for some Chaos cult. 

The One-Eyed Beggar

The one-eyed man, clearly a member of the same cult, tells Maurice to cover himself up, and then asks if he’s “gotten any word.” After a few carefully worded responses, Maurice learns that the cult has some plans in Saint-Ouen, and that they’re planning to “set out tomorrow.”

When the conversation ends, Maurice goes to a nearby market and buys himself a pilgrim’s robe to cover his armor. He now more or less blends in.

Meanwhile, Sir Jean-Marc and Renee run across a group of adults and children in matching uniforms. The adults play instruments and direct while the children march in place and sing that song they’ve been hearing everywhere.

During a break in what seems to be a rehearsal, Renee and Sir Jean-Marc approach one of the drummers. From him, they learn that the little troupe will leave tomorrow on pilgrimage to Turin. They also learn that they will bear the head of the blessed Grail Virgin on their journey. This has all apparently been authorized and arranged by Prioress Simone, in the hopes that it will bring good fortune and the Lady’s grace to Saint-Ouen.

Sir Henri travels alone through the town, avoiding his well-wishers and hangers on. He eventually comes to a town garden and spends the afternoon helping tend to the new plants.

The Trouble with Jim

Early in the evening, the company reconvenes at the Rose and Cup to share what they have learned. They just get finished doing so when Jules bursts in, looking very worried.

Jules tells the company that he and Jim had taken a nap in the hold of the ship. A short time ago, Jules awoke to find Jim hovering over his bunk, looking very menacing and holding a knife in his hand. After some questioning, it soon becomes clear that the knife Jim was holding was Magnus’ enchanted knife, given to Jim for safekeeping.

The company go to the ship together to see how Jim is doing. Upon arrival, they find Antonella and Captain Andre sitting on the aft deck. Antonella is playing a violin, while Andre (fingers covered in bandages), is fishing off the back of the ship and into Saint-Ouen’s little river.

The company descends below decks, where they meet a cheerful Jim. Jim has no memory of the earlier incident and profusely apologizes for scaring Jules. When asked, he hands the knife over to Magnus without issue.

Jim decides to remain on the ship and get an early night. Jules, still very weirded out by Jim’s antics, resolves to stay with the company.

Prioress Simone of Saint-Ouen