The Cardinal's Blades

While the King keeps his own guard of musketeers, so to does the Cardinal. But while the King's men are meant to act as his personal bodyguards, the Cardinal has a much more practical use for his agents: to seek out and hunt down threats to France. Dubbing his agents as his 'Blades', they are to serve him and France without question, and must be willing to put their lives on the line at any point for king and country. While the King and his advisors handle matters at large and well known to the population, such as the ongoing troubles with the Protestant Christians and the conflict with Spain, the Blades deal with darker and more hushed matters, everything from traitors to the crown to threats of the supernatural.

## The Cardinal's Blades

First established when he rose to power as First Minister of State in August of 1624, Cardinal Richelieu had a vision to create a band of individuals to protect France's interests from the shadows. Unlike the noble musketeers, who were the face of heroism throughout France and indeed their native Paris, these agents would act in the dark, their deeds never being recognised and their names never being writ into the annals of history.

The Cardinal's Blades, as they were dubbed, operated until the year 1628, when they were ultimately betrayed and decimated while working behind the scenes at the Siege of La Rochelle, with the Cardinal unofficially disbanding them, while ensuring silence and secrecy on the matter from the remaining few.

Ripples of disorder and threats have once again come to Paris however, and the Cardinal has been forced to reinstate and call for his Blades' assistance once more. Only this time, they must start from anew.

### **The l'Armand Homestead**

Although the Cardinal gave l'Armand the command to restore the Blades, as his policy of denouncing their very existence kept him from providing them any sort of funds or shelter, l'Armand decided to once again use his old family estate, long neglected by himself for the lesser part of a decade.

It was here the the Blades would be rebuilt and subsequently call a home. Close enough to the center of Paris that swift action could be taken, while being far enough out of reach to avoid the suspicion of being seen to be coming and coming by those who frequented the palace.

The estate itself contains several bedrooms, a large dining and drawing room, a library, a study and trophy room, a fencing room, a kitchen, courtyard and stables, as well as a main courtyard and garden behind the property.

### **The Blades**

#### **Etienne du l'Armand**

The leader of, and recruiter for the new members of the Cardinal's Blades.

l'Armand was a former musketeer and later among the original cohorts of the Blades, but was betrayed by a friend and comrade that led to the deaths of several of his brothers-in-arms, and the subsequent disbanding of his cohort. Stripped of all honour and rank, he has travelled France since as a mercenary, but has found a new calling in his return as the Cardinal's agent, and his aspiration to rebuild the Blades.

A gruff and taciturn man, he runs his company with military precision and takes no excuses nor failure lightly. Underneath his hard exterior however, lies a man who wishes once more for acceptance and companionship.

#### **Mathéo Dupont**

Etienne's ward, and the first of the new cohort of blades.

Formerly one of the countless homeless orphans of Paris, his and Etienne's was a fated meeting when the younger tried in vain to cut the purse of the old soldier, and was subsequently caught in the act. When Etienne recognised the boy's skill, Mathéo was faced with the choice of being handed over to the city guard or joining the captain as a surrogate son.

Having been schooled by Etienne over the years in all manner of topics from swordplay to politics, Mathéo displays a dab hand in many skills, though still retains his rascally nature on occasion. Still having connection to his former life, he also employs the regular aid of the urchins of Paris, and always has his ear to the floor about many interesting and overheard things.

#### **d'Leoncourt LeBeau**

A professional thief and resident of the infamous 'Cour de miracles'.

Having become acquainted with the thief through his adoptive father, Etienne has now recruited the young man into the Blades, as one of the new generational additions to the group. The two share a somewhat dysfunctional relationship, that of mentor/pupil and even father/son at times, but their bond is often strained due to their clashing personalities, and with the Etienne's knowledge that d'Leoncourt is, and will always be a rogue by trade.

Wielding charm and sarcasm like weapons, d'Leoncourt goes about life with a relatively carefree manner, always using situations to his advantage and living his life as he sees fit, even if that does clash with the lives of others at times.

#### **Dominique La Fontaine**

Eldest daughter of the famed chevalier, Vicomte Raymondin La Fontaine, Dominique serves as the Blades' fencing instructor.

She volunteered to join the Blades in her fathers place, when Etienne came to re-recruit Raymondin. After a rousing argument with her father, and eventually reaching a compromise, Domi left to her new home. Raided as nobility, she is skilled at navigating through the echelons of upper society, though feels most at ease on the training grounds.

Strict in her teaching, she has made it her sole duty to enable the Blades with the skills and capabilities to protect themselves no matter the situation.

#### **Jean d’Alençon**

The older of the prestigious d’Alençon twins, Jean is a fencing prodigy in a city full of master duelists.

#### **Joan d’Alençon**

The younger of the d’Alençon scions, her keen eye and marksmanship is matched only by her razor tongue.

### **Estate Associates**

#### **Gaspard**

The butler to and housekeeper of the l'Armand estate.

Gaspard entered servitude of the l'Armand family around the beginning of the 17th century, and has continued to demonstrate his loyalty to Etienne throughout, despite the captain's fall from grace in 1628 and descent into a wandering vagrant and alcoholic. Though l'Armand left much of his family's estate to rack and ruin over the years, sealing much of it off to spare him painful memories, Gaspard remained, always ready to take care of his master and for the day which he would see him with purpose once again.

A portly and stockily built man who has lived through many a hardship, Gaspard lives life with genuine cheerfulness nevertheless. Displaying the will to help anyone in need and always offering an ear to lend, he is loved very much so by his daughter and also by l'Armand, who considers Gaspard his dearest friend and confidante.

While serving as a mere housekeeper, Gaspard displays skills in many walks of life, whether tending to his duties cooking and taking care the estate, to patching up wounds or displaying some degree of experience in swordsmanship.

#### **Annette**

Gaspard's daughter, and a servant at the l'Armand estate.

Like her father, Annette worked for the l'Armand family from her infancy and chose to remain by her father's side when Etienne was stripped of rank and ruined in credibility, serving as a maid at the estate, whether l'Armand wanted her and her father or not. Akin to Gaspard, she is hopeful a day will come when Etienne will once again find his calling, and the estate will be restored to its former glory.

Like Gaspard, she has a soft and caring manner to her, if not with a side of slight sarcasm and mischief. Annette displays a level of skill in many things considering her status of a simple servant girl, clearly taught by her father who wished her to be as worldly as possible in her knowledge. She and her father share their duties equally around the estate, with neither being confined to certain tasks, although Annette does uniquely take to the assistance of any female members of the Blades in their required assistances.

#### **André**

The l'Armand estate's stablehand.

A teenage orphan, André was recruited on suggestion by Etienne to serve as the blades' stablehand and care for the horses. His father Guibot served under Etienne as one of the original blades, and like the others, was killed at the Siege of La Rochelle. Etienne since kept his eye on young André, trying his best to help him and his mother. When André was left alone, with his mother succumbing to Dragonrot, Etienne took André into his service once the blades had been reformed.

The young man had no experience with a blade or with any sort of field exposure, and so he was given the task of attending to the horses of the estate.