211, juli, Monteferraud

To: Senechal Raphaël du Chastillon
From: Chevalier Guillaume François Vidocq

Concerning: The mission to Monteferraud

Senechal Raphael in these following pages my assessment of the mission and the Chevaliers present in them.
As you know my mission was to assess the influences of the vortex upon their conviction and knowledge of the rule and implementation of it in this mission.

The mission to be undertaken involved a child that seemed to be immune to the fire. There also was a prophecy saying a child was the undoing of any who where against it.

As you know I met the unit at the Krak. We were left to get acquainted. It struck me odd that none spoke the Troan tongue, but of course there is no dire need for this. Seigneur Reynard was the only to address me with a Troan word as is appropriate to his station. May I add that I find it pleasantly bold of you to have Madame Clarisse amidst your ranks.

On our way to Monteferraud nothing happened, the words were adhered to. We prayed at the usual times and priest Camille held mass whenever possible and appropriate.

At the borders of Monteferraud we were hailed by Chevalier d’Épee Du Lauret. This chevalier presented us with a poorly drawn map of the village. Seigneur Reynard proceeded to question the chevalier. During this questioning, it was found out that Du Lauret had seen the child fall into a fire unscathed. He ran away and was afraid to return to the village. Also they found that he has knowledge of other religion being practiced in his assigned area of influence.
Seigneur Reynard made due note of this and vowed to report it, when he got back. This was the first sample of sound judgment and investigative skill I witnessed.

The Chevalier Du Laurent led us to the village, where we met the village elder Gilbert. He invited us to join in their dinner, the proposal from Camille for evening mass was not answered. When I questioned Camille why he did not press the matter, he explained he wanted to gather more information first.
During our stay we met the whole village, there were approximately 7 woman, 7 men and 5 babies. 5 woman and the village elders came there for refuge from another village.

During the maître his enquiries he found out that these villagers were all pagans and refused the Ladies’ teachings. When I questioned Seigneur Reynard, he informed me that he had an task to gather information about the incident with the baby. Diverting too much time to these pagans, was a waste of time. As the setting of the sun approached and that was his deadline.

The unit had an suspicion of an renegade mage. This person, after a long debate between ordo members, was taken apart for questioning by Camille. The mage confirmed him being just that. He also said unwilling to join a academy for he found that to be too constricting. Camille decided, alone, to let the mage live so that je may be of further use to the unit.

During dinner the villager laughed and scoffed about the blessing read towards the Lady. Either none of the Ordo listened or they chose not too answer. When I addressed this matter to D’Arafayen he said he was following Seigneur Reynard his order to not address blasphemy and concentrate on the mission.

After the dinner, the woman Clarisse, asked to walk with the woman of the village alone. Seigneur Reynard invoked rule 54, I think, so that she could walk alone. I pointed out that the rule indeed could be used here, but given our suspicion of magic here, maybe not wisest. He decided to let Clarisse go alone.

While she was walking we proceeded to go into conclave on what to do. The maître wanted to discuss a course of action he was thinking of. The talk was long and Seigneur Reynard suggested we take the children into custody while investigating the matter even more. Camille opted for cleansing of the village. The others took stand in between them. Alain doubted the killing would be of use. I asked what the rule was for, they answered for our moral standing and in the end for the people. Seigneur Reynard said these people might have to die for the whole of the people to survive. Camille agreed, the others didn’t but said too follow.

Clarisse walked in the meeting halfway. After her talks she found out that the people of this village were serene and nice. She said very plainly that these people might be of the Lady and we, the Ordo, would be working against her if were to do anything to them. Seigneur Reynard pointed out that they were pagans and rejected the Lady. Clarisse said the same again, to explain herself. Camille rightly so gave her punishment in the form of a reading of the scripture.

I had a small talk with Clarisse and said: “What now?” She replied that she would follow the maître his order, but disagreed with the order for the above reasons.
I informed Seigneur Reynard about this outside, so he knew.

When we moved too take the children we were approached by the village elder. He wanted too talk to us. He started to talk about personal choice and the unjust rules of the Ordo Templari. Specifically against the faith. He admitted to be a druid and rejecting the Lady.
While he was talking the villagers were leaving. I saw this and moved towards the village, Alain accompanied me. We saw D’arafayen and Camille talking in the village with the renegade mage. All the women were gone, when I asked Camille about them he answered they just left. I didn’t ask why he didn’t stop them as he was too engrossed in his conversation and conversion of the mage.

I asked Alain what now, as he did not have a clue how to answer, I proceeded to Seigneur Reynard. Sir Reynard was still talking to the druid.

I subtlety tried to get his attention, which did not word. Clarisse came to me and I informed her of the situation. She rushed towards the village. When I asked if we should inform Sir Reynard she looked at me blankly, at that time I told her to inform Seigneur Reynard.

Chevalier Reynard and the rest ran towards the village and found it empty. They had all left. The druid just laughed.

They all split up and looked into the forest, I went with Clarisse. She violated the rule a couple of times by running off alone, letting one of the villagers go because she could not decide what to do.

When we got back to the village I saw that the druid had used magic on some of the Ordo, turning them into stone images.

Nothing was done about this.

Seigneur Reynard ordered the pursuit into the forest. We came to a crossing and the Maître could not decide, it was a chaos to witness.

They chose the wrong direction, nobody was found.

Summing up the whole mission:

Seigneur Reynard showed lack of leadership. He chose too ignore infractions towards the Lady in favor of the mission.
If Seigneur had act with a little more fervor, the child had been found and the perpetrators caught.
The matter of the druid who used magic against is one of a grave importance. Violence has been used against brothers and no form of punishment has been given.

The lack of leadership was not a problem as the other members were, let us say, tempered in their dealings.

Jean-Claude en Alain showed temperance, good intentions and insight into the rule and teaching of the Saint-Clement. Maybe too much temperance.

Clarisse is a dilemma, she openly questioned the meaning of the Ordo and the intentions of the maître. She entertained the idea we, as in the Ordo Templari, are wrong and not following the Lady. She has a youthful energy, reminiscing of a young dog wanting too much and not knowing how to dose it.

Camille is a priest and as a priest his function is good. He has been busy with converting people to the cause, but in doing so he loses sight of the rest. As seen by the debacle of the village. He was too consumed to convert the mage, that he did not see the villagers leaving the village.
Also where punishment was due, he chose not too give it for the chance of conversion. In a controlled environment this acceptable. We were outnumbered so this was not the wisest option.

D’Arafayene was quiet, diligent, faithful and listened to orders.

The trait all had was lack of initiative. It has been clear that the village was against the lady, had disdain of the Ordo and had knowledge of the prophecy.
Because of the talking and “investigating” none of the goals were reached.

With Greetings
Chevalier Guillaume François Vidocq