Montaigne

“The rest of Théah is shockingly ignorant and wrong about Montaigne. It isn’t surprising considering how primitive the languages other than Montaigne are. They are so crude, so inelegant! Save for Vodacce perhaps, which, in a fashion, is a bastardized version of our own. You see, we do not refer to ourselves as Montaigne at all. We are Montaignois and Montaignoise. If you cannot make this simplest of distinctions in your rhetoric when addressing a Montaignois diplomat, you have absolutely no future in La Court Montaignoise, my dear boy!”

—Colette de Lioncourt, Duchesse d’Arcy, advising an Avalonian diplomat

From the outside looking in, Montaigne is a hub of culture, fashion, art and high society. Indeed, the Montaigne courts hold the highest standard for fashion and art and produce some of the most note-worthy rumors, scandals and fashion trends all across Théah. Yet, the Montaigne courts only account for a very small percentage of the population. The rest of the Nation—those dispossessed lesser nobles and the masses of impoverished peasantry—are the backbone of Montaigne, and that backbone is crumbling.

Despite the Nation’s hardships, the nobles continue to live the high life, concentrating more on courtly intrigue and gaining l’Empereur’s favor—a noble with no land, only titles, seeks something concrete to sepa-rate him from the peasantry. Meanwhile, a peasant, tired of war, emotionally exhausted and abused, now lives in a land excommunicated from the Church. She verges on an uprising, and it seems as though the nobility would rather turn a blind eye to the needs of the people, rather than upset l’Empereur.

Corruption runs rampant in Montaigne, the nobility demanding more and more from a peas-antry incapable of producing. The latest campaign in Castille—a catastrophic failure—is continuously lauded in public as a grand endeavor by l’Empereur. Yet, the number of young men and women lost to the war is enough to cause a national population crisis in the next ten years. War weary, hungry and despon-dent, the people of Montaigne are at a breaking point. In places, the cracks already show, and it will only take word of defiance to open the floodgates of revolution.

A Montaignois looks for succor in any way he can. He sneaks Vaticine relics and religious symbols into his home and holds a secret mass in a secluded area. She looks at nations like the Sarmatian Commonwealth and dreams of equal representation. He sees the damage in Eisen and the lack of leader-ship and wonder if he too could get along without it. She envies the way the Ussurans elect their leaders, wishing that even that small pleasure could lead to a better tomorrow. Oh yes, Montaigne is a grand nation full of art, culture and fashion, all corrupted by the greed of the wealthy and a thin veneer covering the suffering of the poor.

## A Nation at War

In the past few years, war has ravaged Montaigne. Peasants and nobles alike have seen their children die in the costly war against Castille. The reason for the invasion is uncertain, though a few people in the know speculate that l’Empereur has arms deals with the Vendel League, giving his interests a sizable kickback. The League certainly sold arms and ammunition to both nations during the conflict, and if Montaigne invested in such commerce, it could prove rather profitable. This would certainly explain l’Empereur’s plans to invade Ussura, including publicly sending his son-in-law to lead forces there.

Despite any increases in Montaigne’s wealth, these conflicts have taken their toll on the nation. The constant state of war and the Church’s excommu-nication has pushed the peasantry to their limits. Corruption in the noble houses runs rampant, and even minor nobles sympathize with the common people. The poor are nearly destitute, starving and barely making do with feeble crops and the leftovers of the nobility. The nobles are also in dire straits, not having enough of a labor force to keep up their own land as their children have died in the war. The nation suffers from a population crisis, despite being the wealthiest it has been in years.

L’Empereur has started offering bonus incentives for joining the military, granting noble title to any who would serve for at least two years. The nobles, unsure of how to take this new information, watch peasants give up their workload to gain a little taste of nobility. Without workers, a noble has to work his own fields to produce enough food to feed the nation. Yet, he too seeks glory in war, and many fields across the nation have fallen fallow due to lack of use. Food shortages are only the beginning of the nightmare that an Ussuran invasion could cause, and the nation feels the weight of l’Empereur’s excesses now more than ever.

## Important People in Montaigne

### Léon Alexandre de Montaigne

L’Empereur du Monde, Roi de Montaigne, Léon Alexandre XIV, Soleil de Montaigne. The last male heir of the Montaigne line, and ruler of Montaigne for the past fifty years.

The man, a master of narcissism, embodies all that is wrong with the nobility Montaignoise. He is opulent, extravagant, ever self-serving, egotistical and decadent. When not meeting with the Dukes of Montaigne or his Ministers and Councilors, he enjoys the constant parade of galas, endless parties and favored guests of the royal court in his Château du Soleil.

A jaded ruler, he seeks constant gratification and distraction. Yet he has no qualms about getting rid of a person he does not like, preferring to have her sent away rather than kill her, although he knows the importance of a strategically timed execution. He sometimes gets upset and flies into a rage for no apparent reason. None are ever safe should they raise his ire, except his wife and daughters, so everyone carefully tries not to offend.

While trying to impress him, the nobles constantly walk on eggshells to avoid a troubling subject or offensive comment. The only pattern that can be drawn from these fits is that he cannot tolerate incompetence or disappointment. His erratic behavior has led to some people calling him “mad” behind his back. He does not mind. He allows them to criticize and underestimate him. Unpredictability and misdirection are tools he uses to surprise his enemies.

He does not consider any of his daughters fit to succeed him and while he cares for them deeply, he hopes that another heir will be born to them soon. He’s holding out hope that he can produce a Porté sorcier to inherit the throne of Montainge, like himself and his parents before him.

His youngest daughter, Dominique, is by far his favorite. Yet, long ago he promised Louise, his oldest, she could have his throne if she would but marry a Porté sorcier or have one as a child. A task she has yet to fulfill. So far, he is the last of the Montaigne bloodline to carry Porté, and even his own mastery of the magic has been waning.

While he makes all decisions about the whole of Montaigne, he relies entirely on his skill of delega-tion to deal with the day-to-day needs of his kingdom. Whenever a complication or national issue arises, he gives carte blanche to those he deems skilled enough to deal with it. The carte blanche itself is a thick white parchment with his seal, his signature and enough space for the delegates to write in any expense, policy or ruling that may aid in dealing with the problem. A delegate who abuses the carte blanche pays for it, sometimes with her life.

He makes decisions based on what others report to him, which has led many Dukes to omit some of the difficult situations they face, in hopes of dealing with it before l’Empereur involves himself in their affairs. Lately, the false reports of a plague outbreak in Dechaine have served to cover-up the very dangerous and violent uprising of the peasantry. The King already knows of the forgery by the Duke of the region as well as the uprising, thanks to his network of spies and informants. He is also inter-ested to see how far the Duke will go to deal with this inconvenience.

Léon Alexandre’s goals are simple: continue to rule Montaigne and elevate it above all other nations. In order to rule Montaigne, he must have a hand in every decision that affects Montaigne as a whole; he stays informed of all that occurs, as long as it should be of interest to him. At his age, he wants to ensure that his legacy is complete and his bloodline remains on the throne.

L’Empereur was once a powerful Porté sorcier, but his power has waned over the years. Marquise Jeannette de Claire, intent on winning his favor, attempts to reinvig-orate his powers by secretly feeding him the blood of Porté sorciers. The rest of the court is simultaneously intrigued and horrified. No one dares tell l’Empereur, but nearly everyone wants it to stop.

#### Portraying l’Empereur

A true Villain hides behind the caricature, and conveying that is crucial to making Léon Alexandre come to life at your game table. He is a man of many moods, all of them extreme. Use a loud voice, jovial, yet threatening. He is likely to only meet the Heroes in a court setting, as he rarely hosts private audiences for anyone he is not intimately familiar with.

At parties, he loves meeting new people and always seeks capable individuals to delegate his problems to. He parades around as though he is a god among mortals. He rewards those who reinforce that feeling, those who bow the lowest and compliment him, those who worship and adore him. He also socially destroys those who do not propagate these ideas readily.

In serious settings, among his advisers and ministers for instance, he drops the polite niceties and playful banter. He becomes a sharp, calculating mastermind and orders any course of action that he thinks get results. If he is ever disappointed or insulted, he flies into a rage.

#### Story Hooks

* Pierre le Clerc comes to the Heroes seeking assistance. His ward, Marquise Adalie de Toille, is missing and he believes other Porté sorciers took her, but has no evidence. All he has is a small trinket with her Blood Mark, but he cannot figure out how to use it to track her. Can the Heroes find her in time to save her from a terrible fate?
* L’Empereur’s son-in-law, Montègue, is in Ussura, beginning a new campaign after the failed attempt in Castille. At least, that is what everyone believes. L’Empereur knows better, but to keep up his charade, he has put out a call to all willing knights to join Montègue in his noble crusade. Will the Heroes heed the call or discover Montègue has been missing for quite some time?

### Morella Alouse Giacinni

L’Empereur’s third wife is a Sorte Strega, a Vodacce Fate Witch. She is the most polite, sincere and proper lady of Léon’s court, though few trust her because of her power. She is subtle in her manipulations, pulling the strings of the power players in Montaigne’s court without any fear of repercussion.

She curses and poisons her husband’s enemies, when a public execution and a show of force from Léon Alexandre are not appropriate. She takes an interest and pulls the strings of fate to aid her husband and his protégés, always. Those in the King’s favor find their fates favorable as well. She does not fear repercussions because her goals are to assist l’Empereur in all things.

She is perfectly suited to be his wicked wife, and even though they each play with secret lovers, they also deeply love one another. Morella knows her husband and knows him well. Léon can equally make claim of what his wife’s next move will be. They work in tandem and yet they never seem to be comparing notes or spending much time with one another. She always rests in her cottage or her gardens while he appears to run things and enjoy his parties.

She seems uninterested in the intrigues of high court, and yet she is informed about the ongoings of even the minor nobles. Some whisper that she has spies all over the palace, which would explain how she knows even what the servants are doing. If she does have spies, they are fiercely loyal, as no one claims that honor, nor have any been caught in the act.

Without fail, and to the knowledge of only their closest servant and handmaiden, they exchange love letters on a daily basis. Many times, the Rilasciare and other entities have attempted to decode the poetry and the double entendres to no avail.

They have decided that the code they use is simply too complex to decipher, yet the truth of the matter is that there is no code. There is no cipher. They share their feelings for one another and express nothing beyond passion and admiration in these daily exchanges. This is how the most powerful couple in Montaigne functions.

#### Portraying Morella Giacinni

Polite, sweet, manipulative. Giacinni is a kind and soft-spoken woman, the apparent opposite of her husband. Her face is always half-veiled; “the shame of not being born a Montaignois,” her husband says in jest. Her skin is pale, her lips full and red and her movements graceful and slow when not sitting stiffly. She may seem mysterious and otherworldly to those not used to her.

She typically does not attend the many parties, balls and galas of the court other than for a few minutes to make an official appearance and get an impression of the new faces at court. The Heroes can find her in her cottage, and she gladly receives visitors that Léon Alexandre sends.

In conversation, she makes vague statements or answers questions with more elusive questions, which allows her to always speak the truth. If she wants something from the Heroes though, she is specific to prevent confusion.

#### Story Hooks

* Morella loves her husband, but her first love is to Vodacce. Her marriage to l’Empereur is not a fluke, and she sends regular reports on his activities back to her family. If a Hero were to intercept her messages, he could gain an insider look at everything going on in Montaigne.
* Duke Maxime Bernard believes he received a curse from Morella Giacinni the last time they had a meeting. He had a spate of bad luck after a trip through her menagerie and a parting kiss, but he has no idea what he could have done to gain l’Empereur’s ire. He asks the Heroes to investigate what people say in court, to find out if someone has spread a hurtful rumor or two.

### Dominique de Montaigne

Dominique is the only child resulting from the pairing of Léon Alexandre and Morella Giacinni. She is the youngest of nine daughters, each one a disappoint-ment to l’Empereur. She, just like her sisters, has shown no affinity for Porté. Upon Dominique’s birth, her father pinned his last hopes on her being the one who would finally inherit his sorcier blood. He coddled her, doted on her and gave her everything she could have ever wanted. Yet in the end, she failed her father, just like her sisters.

Nothing in Montaigne prevents women from inheriting a noble title or land, and yet l’Empereur has refused to name any of his daughters as heir. He seeks at least one to show signs of nobility through Porté, but as he gets older, his chances of such a succession grow distant. Most of Dominique’s sisters have no interest in the Montaigne throne, having either settled in Castille, the homeland of their mother, or happily retired to manage their own piece of land in rural Montaigne.

Her oldest sister, Louise de Montaigne, is the only one who actively seeks the throne, despite their father’s constant refusal. Morella Giacinni wishes to see her own daughter on the throne and actively works towards that end; yet she refuses to move behind her husband’s back, hoping he will name Dominique as heir at Giacinni’s behest.

Dominique’s relationship with her father has become strained, at best. The man who used to clearly love her dearly has distanced himself from her, treating her with cool indifference, leaving her heart-broken. Her relationship with her mother conversely fares much better, for they share a secret.

While Dominique may not show any affinity for Porté, through her mother’s secret tutelage, she has become an adept Sorte Strega. She does not wear the veil of a Strega, and none, save her mother and her husband, Montègue, know of her powers.

#### Portraying Dominique de Montaigne

Dominique is intelligent, cunning and kind—despite her parentage. She has time and again shown true concern for the people of Montaigne, and this has gained her the love and loyalty of peasants and nobles alike.

No stranger to Montaigne’s unique form of politics, she plays the game of subtle innuendo and unspoken threats as well as anyone. She uses Sorte to bolster the fate of someone she finds worthy and curses one whom she feels oversteps his bounds. Despite the fact that l’Empereur has tried his hardest to estrange her, she is one of the only people who can get under his skin and push him to action.

#### Story Hooks

* Louise de Montaigne is a vile woman who has pushed every single one of her sisters out of court favor one by one. She views Dominique as a threat to her inevitable inheritance of the Montaigne throne. She plots to remove her sister from Montaigne, but first wants to destroy her politically in case she ever comes back. She is spreading rumors about Dominique in an attempt to turn the nobles against her. Dominique cannot suppress all the rumors herself and needs help dealing with her sister.
* Dominique loves her nation, but fears the idea of inheriting the throne and the mess of a fractured people. She instead tries to heal the nation from the ground level and has taken to traveling in disguise to small towns to give aid to the peasantry. The efforts of a single woman are not enough, and she seeks Heroes to help her with her cause.

### Louise de Beaufort

Louise Marie-Françoise de Beaufort was appointed Chief Administrator of the Château de la Vie as an insult for a slight against the King. L’Empereur expected her to retire to the position cowed and peaceful, just as everyone else before her. To his surprise, she rose to the challenge and brought more change in the past year than the academy has seen in over three decades.

She works closely with the former administrator, Colonel François de Chambord, who helps her expand her circle of influence. She is close friends with the Captains and instructors of the Musketeer Academy, and is informed of any operation the group undertakes.

She has final say on royal pardons or punishments ruled on by the corrupt Montaigne judges, and in that regard only l’Empereur’s direct authority surpasses hers. That said, she steers clear of l’Empereur’s court. She does not wish to bring any undue attention to herself or the changes she has made in Château de la Vie.

She wishes to save Montaigne from itself. She has seen the signs of strife building and decided to put herself in the best place to deal with it. First and foremost, she wants to overhaul the corrupt judicial system. Secondly, she wishes to increase the power, efficacy and influence that the Musketeers hold.

This means limiting operations meant to oppress the common folk, as well as increasing the Musketeers’ involvement in upholding justice. She is young and intends to outlast the corruption of the Government, while laying the foundations for a new nobility of character rather than of birthright and privilege.

#### Portraying Louise de Beaufort

Louise de Beaufort is pleasant and polite. Her fashion style is clean cut, masculine and practical—she is ready for action if needed. She has wavy black hair and soft features that betray her youth. A great judge of char-acter, she can spot a lie when she hears one. Although she rarely calls someone out for it, she instead masterfully works him into a corner forcing him to expose the lie.

She is patient in all things; however, when she decides a course of action, she does not hesitate and carries through. Resourceful, she has nearly unlimited access to money and personnel via the Musketeers.

#### Story Hooks

* Louise has embraced the revolutionary ideals of Liberté, Égalité et Fraternité, yet she needs to avoid strife in achieving these goals. She wants to set up a safe haven for members of the Sparrow’s Bravery, but cannot do most of the work herself. She needs someone to help her send missives and order supplies without any of it showing up on official records.
* She has heard rumors that l’Empereur is sending a contingent of Musketeers on a secret mission. No matter how hard she tries, she has yet to uncover any more intelligence than that. Anyone bringing her information may be rewarded handsomely.

### Maurice de Thoulieu and the Ministry of Culture

One aspect of the irreproachable and incorruptible government is the Ministry of Culture. It is respon-sible for all arts, music and publications that arise from the Montaignois elite. In other words, it controls all for the sake of propaganda and censorship. The Ministre de la Culture, Maurice de Thoulieu, leads the organization with a firm hand. He is a small, witty man with unmistakable taste for the progressive nature of art in all forms.

He and his administration, which includes specially trained squadrons of soldiers, carefully control all art and performances produced and expressed within Montaigne in regards to l’Empereur and his reputa-tion. Artists must apply for a permit to perform or display works within the multitude of playhouses and galleries all across Théah. Even street performers need a permit, and those without would do well to watch out for ministry representatives out on sting operations.

Anything that could remotely constitute an insult or intellectual injury to his Majesty’s reputation is dealt with swiftly and fairly. Orders of imprisonment for first-time offenders often come without warning, but are always well-founded. Maurice has it no other way and only hires loyal and devoted lieutenants and assistants. He may seem like a monster, but Thoulieu is an honest man with a devout loyalty to his ruler.

The organization has proven incorruptible by any other than l’Empereur himself. No amount of money could serve to bribe the Ministry into falsely accusing an innocent victim or allowing a perpetrator to avoid a sentence. He takes his work seriously and does all he can to promote l’Empereur’s version of culture. Sometimes that means endorsing and elevating an artist allowing her to play in the highest courts around Théah. Sometimes, it means executing someone who entertains others without showing his King the respect he so clearly deserves.

#### Portraying Maurice de Thoulieu

Stern, incorruptible, haughty. Thoulieu has very distinct features. He is on the short side, pot-bellied and thin-limbed. A very cultured man, he looks down upon the uneducated masses with a disdain that fuels his frustrations. He wears the latest fashion, always, and is a beacon of avant-garde for men’s fashion. He will not openly chastise someone’s fashion faux pas and imperfections, but he does have a tendency to mutter his discontent. He rarely smiles.

Beyond judging a person for her fashion sense—or lack thereof—he carefully judges her for her choice of words and speech patterns. Through his powers of deduction alone, he can positively declare where a Hero hails from and the nature of her past, in spite of any disguises or parts she may be playing at the time. He can generally tell if someone lies to him. He is also an erudite historian and scholar of all things related to his beloved Nation. He thinks himself superior to everyone, except of course l’Empereur and his family. As such, he looks down on everyone else.

#### Story Hook

* An acting troupe has made a new play portraying l’Empereur’s life. Maurice approved the playbill, but the players have taken liberties with their portrayals. They are doing well in the playhouses, but if the Ministry finds out about their changes, they could all hang. They could use someone to help them distract Maurice until the play’s run ends.
* The Ministry of Culture investigates and charges the Heroes with treason and sedi-tious acts against l’Empereur. The Heroes just arrived in town and could not possibly be the culprits, but Thoulieu refuses to listen. Can the Heroes find out who framed them and convince the Ministre to let them go?

### Yvonne de Gineston, Marquise of Bâtonnier

Yvonne de Gineston has been the Marquise of Bâtonnier since the end of the War of the Cross. The city is only a little smaller than Buché and was the ancestral capital of Valdoc before l’Empereur decided to hand it to Buché as a reward for something or other during the War of the Cross. The other Marquises praised the swap, but Gineston never forgave l’Em-pereur. Yvonne has been working ever since to restore Bâtonnier as the seat of Valdoc, but doing so has not been easy as the Council of Marquises has blocked her petitions. This has not stopped her political plans, only pushed them in a different direction.

Raymond de Taulose is the current Duke of Valdoc, but due to an obscure law, the Marquises in the area vote every five years for a new Duke. L’Empereur has the final say, but allows the tradition to continue because it amuses him. Gineston vies for the position this election season and currently campaigns against Taulose the only way she knows how, with deceit.

Yvonne knows Taulose has been promising the Marquises various favors in the form of bribes and trade deals to secure his position as Duke. Every step of the way she has undermined him, discovering his promises and arranging for them to fail or for him to fall short. She has approached the other Marquises and made her case for the title to change hands, prom-ising them her own riches in exchange for their vote. She has approached Léon Alexandre and has made a good impression on him. She makes sure that Taulose knows this: the more he views her as a threat to his power, the better.

Eventually, she hopes to replace Taulose as Marquise of Buché as well, giving her a majority vote in the Council of Marquises and sealing her leadership over Valdoc. Raymond has lost two sons in the last decade with his youngest his only heir. Although no evidence was found, Yvonne has had a hand in both their deaths. She has allowed Raymond’s youngest son to live, because he would make a good husband to further her plans for domination. Yvonne considers l’Empereur a fool and hopes to split southern Montaigne from northern Montaigne, with herself as the ruler of the north. Having control of Valdoc is the first step in that plan.

#### Portraying Yvonne de Gineston

She wears her long, black hair up and dresses in the fashion of Valdoc and ancient Montaigne. Her features are sharp, her eyes dark, her nose aquiline. Her style suggests simplicity such as the comfortable, autumn-colored velour dresses, coats and hats, with white silk garments, all of these without the arrogance of modern, ostentatious styles.

She puts on severe airs, appearing uptight upon first meeting. In the privacy of her own home, or behind closed walls she lets her proverbial hair down,  becoming more affable and kind. Of course, this too is a bit of a lie, as she is anything but truly kind.

Yvonne is powerful in her home region of Bâtonnier, but is not well known beyond the eastern regions of Montaigne. She mostly deals with other nobles and rich merchants in her day-to-day life and is out of place in other social settings. Weary of those close to l’Empereur, she openly rebukes Raymond de Taulose, the current Duke of Valdoc.

#### Story Hooks

* Yvonne has been riling people up against the Sun King in the hopes of inciting a revolu-tion. She seeks to use the peasantry against the King, but she does not realize that her efforts only add fuel to an already burning fire, which could explode in her face. Her latest effort to rile up a mob may end up with riots across the city. How will the Heroes act to ensure the safety of the town? Will they confront Yvonne about her plans, or allow the possibility of a civil war?
* Raymond de Taulose’s two oldest sons have died due to mysterious circumstances. He believes Gineston is responsible, but he does not have proof. He doesn’t want her to know he suspects her and asks the Heroes to investigate on his behalf.

### Marquise Sidonie du Carré

This middle-aged woman is a tyrant, cruel and controlling. She oversees the Montaigne adminis-tration in Altamira, a Castillian city still controlled by Montaigne forces. Based on Carré’s wishes and orders, her advisors and officers carefully orchestrate every aspect of Altamira in the name of safety and security. She is upfront about her plans and intentions, to ensure and protect Montaigne interests in Castille. Right now, this means rescuing the troops cut off from Montaigne supply lines—which is no small task.

Beyond being a straightforward, no-nonsense ruler of Altamira, Sidonie is impossibly flawed. Her cruelty goes beyond what her goals should prescribe, and she takes pride in making everyone around her as miser-able as possible. She cannot abide by those who defy her and orders her right-hand man, Maréchal Pointu, to execute any who dare.

The aging Grande of Altamira, his daughters and sole remaining son, Gabriel, are prisoners in their own home. Marquise du Carré treats the family with polite indifference at best and petty cruelty at worst. Unbeknownst to the Marquise, Gabriel has been trying to make contact with the outside, risking his life to get the message out that he and his family are in dire need of help. Gabriel would love to help his father and sisters escape, but he has seen what disobedience looks like under the Marquise’s regime—suffering and death.

Sidonie hates Castille and Castillians, and yet she loves Altamira, mostly because it has become her favorite playground. In spite of being a Marquise and having a great deal of power over others, she never received such complete control over them as she has now in Altamira. Keeping the family of the Grande of Altamira hostage, controlling their every move and generally terrorizing them and their people is just icing on the cake. In order to do that, she needs Maréchal Pointu. Laurent Pointu is a tall, thin man with long features and a stern stare. He leads her troops in Altamira and enacts her cruelties without question or hesitation. Without him, her tiny empire would fall apart quickly, and she knows it.

#### Portraying Marquise Sidonie du Carré

Carré has fine features, piercing blue eyes and wears her long, dark hair up. She is pleasant and polite when in the company of important Montaigne digni-taries and nobles. She gladly gives them tours of the Altamira estate, mostly so that she can show off her achievements and control over the people here.

In her eyes, everyone else falls into one of two cate-gories: undesirable or useless. She has no patience for either, and usually lets the Maréchal deal with such problematic people. Castillians nobles often fall into that category, even though she has come under fire for treating them poorly.

Whenever things go wrong, the Marquise becomes petty, incessantly unhappy and displeased with everyone else’s behavior. Other times, she is calm and composed. As long as her superiority and control are not threatened, she almost seems nice and approachable.

#### Story Hooks

* Gabriel’s gambit is near completion. He sneaks into Sidonie’s briefing rooms and takes note of planned troop movements. He bribed the Castillian gardeners to help him sneak out of the estate at night. He has drawn a rough map of the estate, pointing out where guards are posted, their shift changes and where the hostages are kept after curfew. He has not yet found a capable crew willing to risk the ire of the Marquise, but it is only a matter of time.
* Altamiran natives have poisoned supplies intended for Montaigne troops still returning from Castille. Some of them have had a change of heart, but are afraid to tell authorities of the sabotage, as they are sure to get punished along with everyone else. Can the Heroes deal with the poisoned supplies without letting Marquise du Carré and her goons find out?

### François DeGaulle

François DeGaulle is a favorite at l’Empereur’s court. He is the first son of a powerful Duke and reportedly a second cousin to Léon Alexander himself. DeGaulle stands to inherit a sizable duchy, and some even say that l’Empereur is considering naming him heir to the throne. The veracity of such rumors is suspect, but he is a skilled Porté Sorcier, making him a better candidate in l’Empereur’s mind than Dominique.

For his part, DeGaulle has little interest in ruling over Montaigne, and attempts to stymie those rumors whenever he can. It doesn’t help that he has a slight love affair with Dominique and is trying his hardest to help her inherit the throne. An affair he must balance as her husband is his best friend, Montégué, who DeGaulle is sure is not where l’Empereur says he is. He’s sure there’s some romantic gesture to be found in getting into l’Empereur’s good graces, marrying his daughter, inheriting the throne, etc. That would be all fine and good if he was not so busy roaming the catacombs of Charouse and chasing after the slightest indication of some occult artifact elsewhere in Théah.

When DeGaulle is not charming the court and setting the latest fashion trends, he tends to stand knee deep in whatever ruin or tomb he thinks may hold untold stories of ancient magic. And if he isn’t on a chase for an artifact, he is pouring through every book and tome he can get his hands on describing Porté and the space in between worlds. Of course, he keeps all this rather secret, with the only person who knows the extent of his knowledge being Montégué. Montégué, who is married to his lover, who is missing and who has somehow shed the Blood Mark DeGaulle put on him years ago.

#### Portraying François DeGaulle

François DeGaulle is an even tempered man, always dressed in the most current court fashions, often setting trends with his dress. He keeps his long brown hair covered in either a stylish purple hat, or a stylish powdered wig, then covered in a purple hat.

While DeGaulle is personable enough, his secre-tive nature causes him to come off disinterested or distracted. Getting him alone is also a difficult pros-pect, as many courtiers fancy his favor in court. He is a likely source of information on the royal family, as his connections keep him in the know about their activities.

### Ève Lafrisée

Ève Lafrisée is the preeminent assassin in the Charouse underground. Her humble beginnings as a jenny in the rough streets of Charouse a mere fifteen years ago may not have led to her current position without the help of Arnault, her brother.

Arnault was always sickly, and she worked to earn enough to pay for his costly medicine. For the most part, it was fine, but many jenny houses did not like hang abouts who didn’t work, and Ève bounced from job to job trying to feed herself and keep Arnault safe.

In the last house she worked in, a particularly drunk and abusive customer murdered Arnault. In her rage, she overpowered the man, tortured and killed him. She realized then that her true calling was never to be a jenny, but instead to kill.

The business of killing was, and continues to be, much more lucrative than entertaining the sons and daugh-ters of rich merchants. After setting up a crew and undermining every lowly assassin she could find, she established herself as the best assassin in Charouse—her reputation increasing with each successful job.

She is now an unstoppable force, and masterminds the majority of criminal enterprises in Charouse and the surrounding region. She finds herself more wealthy now than many dukes in Montaigne, yet she hungers for more. Her criminal enterprise continues to grow, gaining new services and contracts on a daily basis.

Ève regularly bribes the corrupt judges and lawyers of the Montaigne judicial system. Well informed of what occurs at l’Empereur’s court, she spares no expenses to keep tabs on the blackmail opportuni-ties that might arise. Many young nobles owe a debt to her as it is, and they have no qualms paying with information on other nobles rather than handing their riches over to the unscrupulous Ève Lafrisée.

Ève has had tremendous luck in business, and she has a record of easily eliminating any who cross her. People in her entourage assume that she is more ruth-less than she lets on. She does not know why this happens, but she allows the rumors to continue to further her reputation.

Despite being the boss of a huge criminal orga-nization, she continues to work as an assassin. She commands a high price for her work, but it is well worth it.

#### Portraying Ève Lafrisée

Daring, ruthless, corrupt. Lafrisée is a wildcard. She is of average height with bright and curly red hair, brown eyes and freckled, bronzed skin. Although undoubtedly a Villain, she gladly helps or hinders a Hero, depending on what he can do for her in return. She always sports a smile, even if bested, and sees all strife as a way to rise above others.

She is a businesswoman in all things and is willing to make compromises, weighing gain and risk with ease. She moves quickly and without grace. Whether she strikes a deal or strikes someone down, her move-ments are direct and precise.

She can be disarmingly charming if she needs to, although she much prefers being feared than well liked. If she can, she hints that she knows more than she actually does, yet she often knows more than people suspect, thanks to her network of blackmailers and informants.

#### Story Hooks

* Ève exerts influence over all the gangs in Charouse. A new gang has sprung up, but they refuse to pay their respects. Fights have broken out between her operatives and the gang, causing unrest in the city. One of the two needs to go, before the streets of Charouse turn into a bloodbath.
* Lafrisée noticed someone following her, and later, a new informant came up dead. Someone has fingered the Heroes as the actor, setting her sights on them. They were set up, but Lafrisée does not care, she just wants revenge. The Heroes must find the real culprit to clear their names or deal with Lafrisée and her gang.

### Ragnar Odinsson

Ragnar Odinsson is a local legend in and around the Lock-Horn Forest, most notably near Pierre-Percée. The stories are wild and varied. He is a drachen slayer, and killed the last of the drachen several centuries ago. He once died and visited the great hall, but his friends brought him back. He drinks from a silver flagon always filled with mead, although he only shares a sip at a time with those he considers friend. He has fortunes untold and shares them with those he finds worthy.

While many assume him to be long gone, and the songs and epic tales about this character as gross exaggerations, they are mistaken. The stories of his life and his deeds are true. The tales of his immense treasure are true. Ragnar is old, but alive and well. He knows no fear, only the sorrow of a too-long life and of seeing his bloodline extinguished by adversity and time.

Locals know Odinsson by a different name, Vieux Gérard. He is somewhat of an authority concerning the Treasure O’Roorke, and he gladly shares the tales of Ragnar’s life with any who show interest. People call them tall tales, but Ragnar knows them to be true—such as the time he stole a King's son after bringing the boy back from the dead. Or when he sailed to the skies with only his voice as the wind, or the time he fought a golden drachen, died, and then returned.

Every so often, he finds a worthy treasure-hunter and gives her clues to find a piece of his fortune, one chest at a time. His hope is to engender the same kind of adventrous spirit he had in his youth, and to see someone else fill his shoes. That, and he hopes to find someone worthy and able to finally end his long life.  While he has a great sense of humor, he has become desperate to find death and an opponent who could take his life in battle.

He prefers to not involve himself in politics and abhors schemes and any subterfuge that goes beyond a practical joke.

#### Portraying Ragnar Odinsson

Ragnar is a Hero of yore, with piercing grey eyes and deep wrinkles. He is old and vast, like the thickest oaks in the Lock-Horn Forest—tall, stout, with strong limbs, long white braids and a long grey beard. He looks like an active Vesten Raider who never bothered dying of old age.

Ragnar’s moods change easily, going from joyous to depressed to belligerent in the space of a few poorly placed words and vice versa with well-timed humor. He might yell and scream at someone for bumping into him, but then offer to buy them a drink and tell them a story. Once past the gruff exterior, Odinsson is a fascinating man with a depth of character and quick wit that rivals any Hero.

Ragnar can be found in any inn or tavern of Pierre-Percée going by the name Vieux Gérard. He enjoys storytelling and sharing news of nearby villages and settlements. If he hears of trouble in the area or beyond, he gets involved.

#### Story Hooks

* Ragnar seeks the final adventure to end his life. He wanders Pierre-Percée in search of a tale epic enough to fit him and a danger great enough to finally be the death of him. All this time, he has been holding out to fight a drachen, though any equally legendary crea-ture would do. Any who could satisfy this desire would be rewarded greatly.
* Over the years, Ragnar has doled out tiny pieces of his treasure as reward to those he finds worthy. And now, it’s nearly gone. Instead of admitting he has nothing left to give, he has decided to go in search of more treasure to refill his coffers. Will the Heroes help the ancient Vesten seek out new trea-sure, with the promise of making their own riches?

### Général Pardie Soussens

The General of the now defeated Montaigne army tires of war. She has lost her appetite for violence, and had she not held the title of general, she would have deserted a long time ago. She is a strong woman and has no fear of death in battle.

In fact, her foolhardy bravery and opportunistic tactics early on in the war between Montaigne and Castille allowed her to climb the ranks to the position she now holds. Unfortunately, the war has eroded her youth and her willingness to take up arms against other men and women, no matter what side. Her once red hair has turned white and harsh lines have formed on her face as a result of the sorrow and bitterness she feels.

For the last several months, she has worked hard to recondition the Montaigne army, to build them back up so that they can support the retreat and supply lines of troops still in Castille. Unfortunately, her underfed and overworked troops remain stressed from the atrocities of war. Thanks to her efforts, the makeshift camp near Dechaine has nonetheless grown into one of the largest military compounds in the region. She has worked closely with the admirals and navy officers of Montaigne to reassign a portion of her troops to maritime warfare. General Soussens also wishes she could find a new start.

Now Pardie has to deal with more than just her exhausted, starving soldiers, selfish officers and military defeat due to l’Empereur’s decision-making incompetence. The Duke who controls the region with Dechaine has ordered her to take back the city. She now knows the truth. Dechaine is not off-limits because of a plague outbreak: its people have over-thrown the ruling class and run things now. She faces a moral dilemma that may very well kill her.

It breaks her heart to see her soldiers suffering and to see the people of Montaigne suffering, yet she has strict orders and her next actions are being scruti-nized very closely. General Soussens has mobilized her troops, and she sends her soldiers to war once again, to wage death and violence upon the people who have dared rise up against tyranny. If she hesi-tates to take action, l’Empereur’s powerful supporters will call her a traitor to the crown and execute her.

#### Portraying Général Pardie Soussens

General Soussens is tall and muscular, has cropped gray hair, piercing dark eyes. She always wears her general’s uniform, coat unfastened, which has been repaired and mended several times over.

As a practical-minded woman, she has no familial attachments except for the men and women that serve in her battalion. She is disinterested in a scheme the Heroes might present to her unless it guarantees to save lives. She always prefers a direct approach and confrontation rather than a convoluted plot, though she is a master strategist.

#### Story Hook

* General Soussens tires of being pushed to fight against helpless people in pointless wars. She is disillusioned with the grandeur of her own nation and is just as likely to march against her mad King as she is against a town of rebellious peasants. Word of yet another war would surely push her into rebellion, though if she knew the royal family of Dechaine was in desperate straits, her honor would force her to act against the city. Will the Heroes attempt to sway Soussens in one direction or the other?

### The Musketeers

Montaigne’s elite military, sworn to uphold the princi-ples of honor, duty, courage and loyalty. A Musketeer is the epitome of Montaignoise noble privilege and obliviousness. The Musketeers themselves are the most loyal, brave and honorable soldiers in Montaigne. Yet, each and every one of them comes from a noble house, hand-picked by other nobles, their ranks unin-tentionally populated by privilege.

The history of the group belies the elite status needed to join their ranks in recent days. During the first years of the War of the Cross, a group of soldiers held the Montaigne border against Castillian inva-sion for over thirty days. The Montaignois soldiers dwindled in numbers, and the last two units stood their ground. They eventually turned the tide of the battle by collecting all the fallen soldier’s muskets, and releasing volley after volley into the ranks of Castillian soldiers. The Castillian commanders believed Montaigne had received reinforcements, and called a retreat.

When the two units returned home, l’Empereur rewarded them for their bravery by renaming their unit as Musketeers and giving them leave to recruit the best soldiers into their ranks. He pulled several of them in short order to join the la Garde Lumineuse (the Lightning Guard) as his personal bodyguards. Three of them still serve him to this day.

In the beginning, the ranks of the Musketeers filled with common and noble alike, but as the years went on fewer peasant soldiers had the training to meet the demands of the elite force. Each year, older Musketeers retire, and new recruits test for entry. The high requirements to join ensure only the best soldiers make it into the ranks of Musketeers. After the war with Castille, the experienced soldiers who could pass the tests come only from the nobility, and as older Musketeers retire, the whole order shifts in a more noble-centric direction. A young Musketeer claims to not care about noble birth among the ranks, and he certainly treats the older members with as much—if not more—respect as any noble born Musketeer.

The Musketeers represent the most loyal and well-trained soldiers in Montaigne. They populate the ranks of the Lightning Guard, and often serve as personal body guards to the highest ranked nobles in the nation. Even though their membership remains static at 1,000 members, within the order they have a saying, “Once a Musketeer, always a Musketeer.” Meaning even if you no longer wear the tabard and bear the signature Musket, those who do always consider you brethren.

Despite what appears to be favoritism towards the nobility, the Musketeers are beloved of everyone in Montaigne. A peasant trusts a Musketeer over a city guard to enact justice, and a noble trusts one with her life. Everywhere one goes, she finds a warm greeting, instant trust and likely a problem or two that need solving. Even in the poorest areas, or those most affected by l’Empereur’s wars a Musketeer is likely to be greeted with a fanfare upon entry to a city.

A Musketeer’s loyalty is renowned, which in recent times has caused no end of moral quandary for the order. This Hero loves his Nation and hopes to do the best he can to protect and defend its people. The people treat him as the soul of Montaigne—compas-sionate, generous and fair—yet he takes actions which actively improve the standing and interests of his Villainous, corrupt King. Dealing with the dichotomy of duty versus honor is not easy for most.

This contrast is reflected in the Musketeer’s leadership. On one hand, Guillaume Houbleton, Lieutenant-Captain of the Musketeers, strictly enforces l’Empereur’s laws and policies. He also protects the people of Montaigne from these laws. On the other hand, Julien Reinette—a former Corporal in the Montaigne army and now second in command as the Musketeers sub-Lieutenant—has no trouble supporting and carrying out l’Empereur’s abusive powers against the people of Montaigne, and he often sends his Musketeers to escort an abusive noble, ensuring that no harm comes to him.

A Musketeer follows orders, but no one expects her to do so without question. Her devotion to honor and justice are part of why she is selected into the order. She would die for l’Empereur, but she would just as soon die protecting the very people whose lives depend on l’Empereur’s generosity. She may see l’Em-pereur as oppressive, and yet she is sworn to protect him and in some cases, assist him in his oppressive regime. She may decide to retire early, disheartened. While another Musketeer may take the opportunity to rise above the rest of his brethren and adopt a philosophy that puts the people of Montaigne ahead of the interests of l’Empereur. He justifies his actions by claiming to protect l’Empereur from himself.

Many Musketeers have adopted this attitude, and those who do assist Louiselle Marie-Francoise de Beaufort in her efforts to cleanse corruption from the inside of Montaigne. Their largest efforts revolve around keeping Lieutenant-Captain Houbleton in charge, and attempting to force Lieutenant Reinette to retire. Unfortunately, quite a few Musketeers who have been around long enough to see how things work follow Reinette’s philosophy of following the laws to the direct letter. While the ranks of the Musketeers are not truly divided, the differing philosophies lead to rifts and disagreements more often than not.

#### Story Hooks

* The Musketeers garner a great deal of respect, but in places like Dechaine, the peasantry have grown restless and hostile. Lieutenant-Captain Houbleton wants to send Musketeers to give aid and relief to these peasants, but he has several other missions making his order stretched thin. Can the Heroes help Houbleton restore the Musketeer’s good name?
* Lieutenant Julien Reinette has assigned Lisette Bernard to escort a noble to Charouse. The man is friends with Bernard’s father, and is corrupt and abusive. He once hit her younger brother so hard, he had a bruise for a week. She is torn between following the order and dealing with the man once and for all. Maybe the Heroes can help her.
* The Heroes learn of a plot to set fire to Château de la Vie, the Musketeer academy. The culprits are Rilisciare members who believe the order is corrupt. Will the Heroes help the Rilisciare or the Musketeers? Or, will they find a way to reconcile the problem without violence?

### Cédric Béadoux

Cédric Béadoux grew up an orphan in the streets of Crieux, working odd jobs to survive, sometimes resorting to theft. A small street gang eventually picked him up and taught him the finer art of decep-tion and robbery, which he excelled at. Within short order, he rose through their disorganized ranks and took over. He insisted that the gang know how to handle real weapons, and they often went to the city guard barracks to watch them train and pick up tips.

A money lender hired Béadoux and his gang to deal with a man late on his debts. The man refused to pay, and the thugs threatened him with violence. He pulled a sword on the gang members, and for the first time in his life, Béadoux killed someone. That night, his life changed. He knew he never wanted to kill again, but he was too embroiled in his gang to leave them. He grew distracted and sloppy from the guilt of his deed eating him alive.

Béadoux’s life took another turn when a seemingly easy mark turned out to be a master duelist and knight of the Rose & Cross, who knocked him on his butt before he could even begin to pick the man’s pocket. Instead of turning Béadoux in to the city guard, Jean-Baptiste Babineaux offered him the chance to act as a squire and learn to be a better person. Seeing his chance to escape the life he currently lived, Béadoux jumped at the chance.

Cédric Béadoux served under Babineaux for the next ten years, honing his self-taught sword skills and attempting to right the wrong he committed as a youth. Babineaux sponsored Béadoux into the Knights of the Rose & Cross in the past year, some-thing Béadoux had always thought was beyond him.

#### Portraying Cédric Béadoux

Cédric is a muscular man with long brown hair and striking eyes—one green and the other hazel. He wears the tabard of a Knight of the Rose & Cross with pride, refusing to take it off except in the most personal of situations. He is polite and affable, though he still has the quick wits of his street thug origins. Béadoux is wary of strangers, though quick to lend a helping hand no matter the circumstances. Those he trusts earn his unwavering loyalty and his mastery with the sword.

### Sigsvald

Born in Vestenmennavenjar, Sigsvald is a legend in Altamira. He is the proprietor of the city’s only mead hall, The Troll’s Beard, and a master storyteller and brewer. He built the hall with his own hands, something that not only impressed the locals, but earned him a lot of respect.

Sigsvald was a Vesten Raider as a youth, raiding ships all across the Maw. He has a story for every scar, and recalls them with fondness. He left raiding to take up brewing when Brewmaster Skard offered his crew the entirety of an experimental mead as reward for delivering a shipment of purloined Numanari honey. He went to Skard’s brewery and started helping out, eventually earning the title of master. With no formal apprenticeship, the Vendel League was disobliged to accept him as a Guildmaster, since it was the first time they had heard his name in all that time.

Sigsvald retired in Altamira after several years of fighting for the city. He considers the place his home, and is not pleased by the Montaigne occupation. He uses the mead hall as a refuge for the war-weary and a safe haven for Castillians seeking to leave the city. No one bothers Sigsvald, not even Marquise du Carré, though she tried when she first took up residence in the city. He quickly put her in her place, and now even her guards give him a wide berth, making the hall an excellent place for clandestine meetings.

The Troll’s Beard offers the finest mead found anywhere outside Master Skard’s own brewery in Vendel. Sigsvald specializes in light and fruity meads, and has some sparkling versions that both his Castillian and Montaigne clients would kill to  access.

#### Portraying Sigsvald

Sigsvald is well into his fifties, though the only visible grey is thin streaks in his thick beard. He keeps his head shaved to show off the tattoos—and scars—earned during his days of raiding. He values a story more than anything else, and is known to offer mead for free if you offer a suitable story in return.

The Troll’s Beard has a unique feature inside it—a  run covered table. Sigsvald is mostly mum about what the runes represent, but anyone who spends any time drinking at the table can tell you that it does some-thing. Drinking games are more daring, bar brawls started at it are more epic and stories take on a life of their own at the table.

### Renée Martin

Renée Martin was born in rural Montaigne. She was a peasant working the fields of a noble with more land than time or patience. Her family did well for them-selves, with work, a meager income and food most days. Her older brother died of a wasting disease when she was a baby, and her younger two siblings both died in the Castillian invasion, where Martin did not.

Martin and her siblings—all one year apart in age—joined the military in the second year of the campaign against Castille. Where the other two Martin children were probably too young to be fighting, Renée was in her prime. She caught on to sword use and tactics swiftly, earning distinction among her fellows. In her first skir-mish battle, she was the only new recruit who actually waded forward and attacked, rather than standing in fear, or running away. She moved from unit to unit, as her previous assignments lost numbers quickly.

By the end, she had earned the rank of Commander, and was leading a unit on her own. When she returned home from the war, Martin was a changed woman. She knew the harshness of war, but also felt the glory of victory. She tested to join the Musketeers immediately, and, as a surprise even to them, they accepted her.

Martin knows she is different. She is one of few non-noble Musketeers, and the only one of her age. She trains in Château de la Vie with the other Musketeers, and strives to prove herself. Most of the others do not seem to notice the difference, or at least make no mention of it to her face. Those who do are the few others who joined at the same time, who bully and mock her. She weathers it without comment, simply pushing herself as hard as she can. But, they are a constant reminder that she is not like the rest.

#### Portraying Renée Martin

Renée Martin is young, but hardened by her time at war. She keeps her brown hair shorn, and her brown eyes gleam with youth. She is short and slight, a product of under-nourishment. She is not powerful, and instead uses speed and flexibility to outmatch an opponent. She uses that same technique when dealing with people, preferring brevity of speech over the flowery language her compatriots use. She is down to earth and helpful, genuinely believing in the Musketeer code and loyal to her nation.

## Secret Societies

Secret Societies have spread their influence all across Théah, and some more than others within the confines of Montaigne. Certain Secret Societies operate almost openly unchecked by their normal foes, while others must go further underground or risk gaining l’Em-pereur’s ire and a death sentence.

### The Brotherhood of the Coast

The Brotherhood has been very active south of La Motte, where a Vesten trader can easily find herself unable to pay the raised luxury tax. She instead charts a course for Castillian and Vodacce ports in the hopes of dumping her goods and valuables for a higher profit. Details of those charters and sched-ules all somehow make their way into the hands of the Brotherhood, who uses them to ransack ships carrying valuable goods. The commodity of such valuable information has allowed members to earn favors quickly in La Motte.

### Die Kreuzritter

Members of Die Kreuzritter in Montaigne are few and far between. This serves the monster hunters well, in the sense that they all know one another by name, as well as what regions and towns they each operate out of. They trade information more often and aid one another whenever possible. Rumors of the Devil of the Summit—le Diable du Sommet—have finally made its way to the Secret Society, but they have yet to take action against it. It is only a matter of time before a group of “pilgrims” goes on a monster hunt. First, Die Kreuzritter needs more information. Le Diable has been elusive, and people say it returns shortly after being vanquished.

### The Explorer’s Society

Large towns and cities of Montaigne have shared clubhouses, libraries and collections that members of the Explorer’s Society in good standing can visit. Individuals from the Montaigne elite maintain and care for these places of learning.

Members have a lot to do in Montaigne. Since most churches have been turned into museums by the nobility, the Explorer’s Society has prioritized gaining access to the reliquaries, Syrneth artifacts, old tomes and other mysterious finds for study. The former clergy has complicated things by smuggling holy arti-facts and reliquaries out of churches themselves and hiding the treasures from greedy nobles.

The Society has been unable to gain access to the restricted section of La Grande Cathédrale in Charouse, other than a polite tour for those well-connected members. It holds artifacts that beg to be studied and erudite papers that should surely be shared. It is only a matter of time until the vast collection that has eluded them finally becomes the Society’s asset.

### Močiutės Skara

Recently, informants have reported a tremendous conflict arising in Dechaine, as well as a possible outbreak of the plague. Of course, the claims of disease are greatly exaggerated, but that doesn't mean the people in the city don't require aid.

An agent making her way there can help in many ways, whether to aid those suffering from a deadly disease or to prevent a civil war breaking out. Either way, she may find herself butting heads with the very active and far-reaching Rilasciare.

### The Invisible College

The members of the Invisible College have been very busy in Montaigne. Thankfully, the reach of the Inquisition in Montaigne is all but non-existent, save perhaps for a few concealed agents and informants. Buché has been the central connection to the Invisible College’s operations in Montaigne, aiding Vaticine scholars throughout the nation to find work as tutors and professors in Buché’s progressive universities. The members are also very active in Charouse, where the military colleges develop advanced weapons and more effective gunpowder.

Much like the Explorer’s Society, members of the Invisible College also seek access to the tomes kept in La Grande Cathédrale. This shared interest might prove to be dangerous for all involved if the Secret Societies coveting or protecting the collection get desperate enough to bring violence with them.

### Los Vagabundos

Montaigne is a nation filled with the third and fourth children of minor nobles. A minor noble may never teach his child to lead, though after so many wars, she may be all that remains of her family line. Los Vagabundos members have their work cut out for them, keeping an eye on the nobility and attempting to ensure the best get the chance to rule with such slim pickings.

Additionally, Altamira has been in the masked figure’s sight for a long time. With the Grande’s family held hostage by the Montaigne Administration, Los Vagabundos have been trying to extract them, but so far, only various acts of sabotage have been successful. Security has been too tightly controlled.

#### Favor in Montaigne

A Hero who belongs to Los Vagabundos can earn Favor while in Montaigne in the following way:

* Helping a worthy noble gain power in court is worth 5 Favor.
* Freeing the noble family of Altamira is worth 12 Favor.

### Rilasciare

Whether the Rilasciare had a hand in the expul-sion of the Vaticine religion in Montaigne or not is irrelevant. What is relevant is that the expulsion has emboldened l’Empereur and the nobility in general. Léon Alexandre’s power is absolute, and agents of the Rilasciare have had to infiltrate every level of the Montaigne Government and ruling body.

A few months ago, the Rilasciare pulled agents to join the active cell in Dechaine, when an opportunity arose. While the revolution in Dechaine may have occurred on its own, the agents of the Rilasciare accel-erated the process, first by intensifying the negative effects of l’Empereur and the ruling Duke’s policies and then by educating the populace, making rousing speeches, spreading revolutionary ideals of Liberté, Égalité and Fraternité, thus lighting fire to the polit-ical powder keg with tremendous results!

With this resounding success, the Rilasciare will go to any length to keep the momentum to liberate the regions surrounding Dechaine. Meanwhile, agents within l’Em-pereur’s court actively try to distract the Sun King. In that regard, they continue the Duke of Dechaine’s decep-tion that a quarantine is enough to deal with the threat Dechaine poses. They have also sent their best agents to sway General Soussens into joining the cause of the Revolution and wait for a report.

The leaders of the Rilasciare in Montaigne have lowered their moral standards in order to get things done. While all members of the Rilasciare uphold the goals of removing monarchies and religions from Théah, an agent typically struggles with the actions he has had to take. Murdering various spies to keep things quiet, sacrificing the few for the good of the rest and disagreements among members on the next proper course of action: all of these factors have created a rift in the Rilasciare. Some believe that the time is now and that their goals in Montaigne will soon be achieved, while others feel that time is on their side, and that opportunities will continue to move things in their favor.

#### Favor in Montaigne

A Hero who belongs to the Rilasciare can earn Favor while in Montaigne in the following way:

* Starting a peasant’s revolt in a city is worth 5 Favor.

### La Bravoure de l’Épervier

The Sparrow’s Bravery. The Bravery refers to the group of men and women who formed a bond and now work together toward a common goal. Bravery also refers to the Mantle of the Sparrow, a red leather hood, adorned with a pointed nose and capelet. Finally, Bravery refers to the common attribute its members share.

This Secret Society was founded and operates today on the same principles as Los Vagabundos. When Los Vagabundos began solving issues with Montaigne nobility, it became clear that l’Empere-ur’s endless resources pose an issue to the organi-zation. L’Empereur’s spies and allies became the greatest threat to the Castillian Secret Society’s very existence. At its height, the conflict between them became such that Los Vagabundos saw many of its members thwarted and killed. Operating in a nation with a true Villain for a monarch had taken its toll on the organization.

In order to circumvent this threat, Colette de Lioncourt—the influential Duchesse d’Arcy—offered to fund and maintain a sect of Los Vagabundos in Montaigne. Her simple reason for supporting the cause? Her grandson wore El Vagabundo’s mask when l’Empereur’s agents killed him.

She did not know of the Secret Society’s existence despite living with her grandson. In all the time he operated as an agent of Los Vagabundos, he operated under her nose in her own house. He even held secret meetings with members and sent agents throughout Montaigne, all from her own living room without her knowledge.

She had her own agents and spies track down those closest to her grandson, in order to find out exactly why he had been killed. When she captured them, they thought that Los Vagabundos’ influence in Montaigne was doomed. But she liked what they revealed to her. She understood the importance of their goals, and most importantly, the sacrifice that her grandson had made. She freed them, gave them El Vagabundo’s mask and told them to return it to the Castillian. She had other plans for Montaigne. When the members returned, they formed the Bravery. It has been in operation for the last six years, so its influ-ence is still small.

The Bravery aims to protect the Noble Heroes of Montaigne, while thwarting the corrupt Noble Villains. These straightforward goals involve a lot of complex operations. The Bravery is small. Colette de Lioncourt hired most of its spies from her own trusted people, and they do not know they support the Bravery. Little by little, they have whittled away at l’Empereur’s influence, mostly by pointing out what a terrible job he does as a ruler. The Sparrow’s Bravery has decided that it is in Montaigne’s best interest to see Léon Alexandre removed from the throne and to put his youngest daughter—Dominique de Montaigne—as the rightful heir and monarch.

La Bravoure mostly operates in and around Charouse, where l’Empereur’s influence is greatest, but the people witnessed an agent recently in Dechaine, where he rescued innocent nobles from an angry mob.

#### Favor with La Bravoure de l’Épervier

The Bravery operates independently from Los Vagabundos to protect the parent organization from being threatened by l’Empereur any further. However, agents of Los Vagabundos who need help or wish to operate in Montaigne know how to make contact with the Bravery, gain favors and get what they need.

Favors within the Bravery are interchangeable with Los Vagabundos and vice versa.

## Places

### Charouse

The city of Charouse always teems with energy. The cobblestone streets clack with the sounds of hoof beats and expensive shoes. The clinking of coin and the clashing of dueling swords are common sounds echoing its narrow streets and covered plazas. Unlike any other city in Montaigne, in many ways it is its own nation. A person from another part of Montaigne views Charouse and its citizens as different than himself and for good reason. While Montaignois care about fashion and the arts, Charousiens set fashion and create art. The fortunes of a Charousien can change in a heartbeat if she plays the game correctly. Opportunity is found in every deal, with every meeting.

A Charousien has a great sense of purpose and moves aggressively, single-minded in his purpose, tending to business, loudly attracting customers from the streets to see his wares and services. First and foremost, a Charousien can tell where someone is from very quickly. Even the pauper hoping to sell her cheap wares can spot a country noble in expensive clothing or a rich Duke in a slumming disguise. After all, her livelihood depends on it: she reads opportu-nity as clearly as if it were painted on the faces of all that she meets. For those very reasons, a Charousien knows a newcomer, be he from Montaigne or from other parts of Théah.

Charouse is a city of merchants, where the bourgeois and petite noblesse mingle with the poor hagglers, servants and commoners trying to get by with the next big sale or con job that sets him up for the next several months. It isn’t that everyone trying to make money in Charouse is a crook, but it helps him make a living.

The wide Sinueuse River feeds the city with new goods all along its broad banks. Eager merchants proudly display new finds from faraway shores and well-known ports, such as exotic foods, the latest fash-ions or priceless antiques of Montaigne’s past. Nearby, customers can find “les nouveautés du jour”—today’s fashionable items—such as Ifri masks, Vodacce sculp-tures, rare dyes and pigments, fine-patterned fabrics, silks from the Crescent Empire and rare scholarly tomes in all languages. Trusted servants buy these novelties to become part of the décor in a noble’s home, proudly displayed in a salon as a status symbol more than anything else. As long as there is money to be spent, goods are sold, be they real or counterfeited.

Rarely are the richest members of nobility seen in Charouse proper, since they have their servants or smaller noble families represent them in affairs of money exchange. After all, Charouse is for merchants, and the truly powerful dwell in Le Château du Soleil—l’Empereur’s new palace.

#### Le Marché du Pont-Neuf

The loudest and busiest place in Charouse is the Marché du Pont-Neuf (New Bridge Market). The open-air market sprawls either side of the largest bridge in the Capital. Pushing your way through is a necessity. Pedestrian, mounted and chariot traffic separates both sides of the bridge. The bridge connects the noble districts with the rest of the city. Due to its proximity to the nobility, the goods sold here are heavily priced and heavily taxed. They also vary greatly, from fragrant food stalls, to fashion and art, to luxurious and rare items from Théah and beyond.

Getting lost here is a simple task, but finding every-thing and anything is just as easy. The price is higher than anywhere else, but if it is for sale, you can find it here! Hopefully, you don’t get tricked into buying a counterfeit.

This market is the largest in Montaigne and there-fore the most well-known. You can find quality goods here, but also quality counterfeits. The counterfeit market is so large in Charouse, that a merchant can sell her wares clearly marking them as replicas. These counterfeiters, often as skilled artisans as the original, make it difficult for anyone other than experts to determine the difference.

Merchants must put up stalls at dawn and take them down long before sunset, by order of the Marshal of Charouse. Anyone who fails to pay the estimated tax and to exit the bridge in time is heavily fined, jailed or banned from making a living on the bridge for the foreseeable future.

At night, the bridge gives way to dancers, jugglers and entertainers, hoping for a coin or two as the richest in the nation cross the bridge for a stroll. Escorts are also hired here for the night, whether to protect a noble with a sword or entertain him with the delight of their company. Where the bridge spills off into the plazas and streets of the merchant district, street theatre troupes, singers, magicians and puppe-teers compete for attention.

#### Le Château de la Vie

Le Château de la Vie is an impressive edifice of light-colored stone, with large, gated courtyards. For a long time it used to be the seat of Montaigne power before l’Empereur moved his court to the newer Château du Soleil. It continues to be where one can find La Caserne Royale des Mousquetaires, where the Musketeers train and operate.

After a hundred years of being Le Château du Parlement, gossipmongers then dismissed it as Le Château du Vieux Roi—Castle of the Old King, referring to Léon Alexandre’s father. Once it served as the central Montaigne government building, where l’Empereur, and his father before him, met with the Dukes, Councils, Judges and Justicars. The luxurious buildings surrounding the Château were reserved for the royal family and their guests, foreign dignitaries, ambassadors and well-connected courtiers. When l’Empereur built his Château du Soleil, activity in the Château du Parlement dwindled, reduced to being the host of the valiant Musketeers and the judicial courts. Now corrupt captains, judges and the nobles unlucky enough to be assigned to  “Château du Vieux” oversee all of the minor bureaucratic functions of the government.

L’Empereur gives those whom he deems old and boring a bitter title and endless duties, forcing them to continue being bores, such as resolving minor disputes between merchants and citizens, stamping travel authorizations and other bureaucratic dead ends. This terrible social punishment often forces the poor noble to miss out on all the galas and parties where influence and riches can be gained or even cleverly stolen.

When Louiselle Marie-Francoise de Beaufort was assigned in jest as chief administrator of the Château de Vieux, she was laughed at by her father and sisters and ridiculed by the rest of the guests at l’Empereur’s soirée. It had been a way for l’Empereur to reward Beaufort’s efforts at court...by appointing her some-where out of the way. Now her critical discourse and reprimands of the courtiers, their immoral behavior and the harm they caused the rest of Montaigne could not be exercised as vividly. Dejected, Louiselle soon turned a new leaf and allowed her ambition to bolster her importance. After all, she may have lacked the finesse in her rhetoric when approaching l’Empereur with her enlightened thoughts on equality and liberty, but she has turned this insulting assignment into a boon with panache and wit.

Louiselle de Beaufort did not work alone, but with the help of the old administrator she balanced the budget with a surplus within a month of taking residence there and became close friends with the Musketeer captains within two. With each passing month, she breathes new life into the old Château and its luxurious neighborhood, with renovations and remodeling, rooftop gardens and new training regimens for the soldiers, bringing attention to the district. So much so that the fluid name of the place itself has changed from Château de Vieux to become Le Château de la Vie—the Castle of Life. The energy of change is palpable here, and while the corruption at the Superior Court continues, everything else around it changes, with a feeling that the Musketeers them-selves have not felt in some time—hope.

#### Le Château du Soleil

At the edges of Charouse lies the great forest of the kings of Montaigne. This Montaigne ancestral hunting land, and what used to be the royal hunting lodge and a sprawling estate, is now the center of power in Montaigne. Over the course of Léon Alexandre’s reign, it has become Le Château du Soleil—the Palace of the Sun.

The main pavilion is several stories tall and sprawls impossibly as one approaches the main entrance. The exquisite stonework has bright frescoes and striking symmetric lines. Splendid sculptures, elaborate fountains and carefully manicured gardens surround every connected building and courtyard in a surreal experience. It creates the illusion that one is infini-tesimally small in comparison to the one the estate embodies—l’Empereur himself. This achievement was of course only possible at enormous costs to the Montaigne coffers, although it seems that they must be limitless. Only with armies of engineers, sculptors, gardeners—still at the disposition of the master of the estate—was this masterpiece of Montaigne culture possible.

The interior is more impressive still. Every gallery and hall is adorned with finely made furniture, enor-mous paintings and ceiling frescoes and sculptural decor so vast, yet so detailed, that it dwarfs the visi-tors. The details overwhelm so much that the complex servant quarters are impossible to find, navigate or, for the various staff, to be noticed in the first place. A servant, of course, uses the complex walled passages and swiveling panels to remain invisible until he expects to serve again. A guest may find her glasses always full and her plates always bountiful.

The stream of palace guests attending daily gath-erings, parties or grand galas can be just as over-whelming. Most hope to impress the Sun King so he will grant them riches and favor. Things are calmer if he is not present at his parties and attending to his frequent briefings and meetings. If l’Empereur likes someone, he keeps him around, assigning him apartments within the palace. Of course, the palace has a limited number of apartments available, and his favor changes on a whim. One day, you might be very close to the King and then find yourself in an entirely different wing, or worse yet, denied access to the Château du Soleil, should you lose the King’s favor. These nobles are typically young, rich, beautiful and desperate for the King’s favor.

Even now that the main buildings and the long halls have been in use for over a decade, elsewhere new parts of the estate is under construction. New pavilions are built to host the growing guest list of courtiers and powerful ambassadors that attend l’Em-pereur’s court. Work crews have their own wooden barracks, just outside some of the auxiliary gates of the hunting grounds.

A small barrack near each gate links back to the main bastion of martial activity via well-kept gravel paths. The garrison of l’Empereur’s Lightning Guard operates in these bastions. They dedicate themselves to their task, holding honor, bravery and diligence above all.

La Garde Lumineuse (the Lightning Guard) are the hand-selected elite in charge of l’Empereur’s protection. With l’Empereur’s safety in mind and at heart at all times, they have never failed him. Strict schedules and regular reports allow the Lightning Guard to quickly root out any impostors, thus greatly reducing an infiltration within their ranks. They remain constantly vigilant, watchful for assassins and other nefarious enemies of Léon Alexandre and his court, even though most guests at a gala would not notice. Due to their vigilance, the court rarely sees a dangerous incident, but when it occurs, the Guard ruthlessly carries our punishment as requested—and l’Empereur has no qualms about executing his enemies to prove a point.

#### La Grande Cathédrale

The tallest tower in Théah, visible from most places in Charouse, is a church. The Great Cathedral of Charouse was built long ago, but the addition of its great tower was built within the last two decades, when l’Empereur was younger and on good terms with the Vaticine Church. He wanted to have the grandest church in Théah. After all, his worship was worth it.

Now that the Church has excommunicated Montaigne and l’Empereur has banned the Vaticine religion completely, he decided to have the Cathedral refurbished into a museum. It now holds a well-guarded collection of architectural models, rare Syrneth artifacts, ancestral swords and treasures from l’Empereur of Montaigne’s conquests, historical reli-quaries of former kings and nobles.

In the belly of the Cathedral’s crypt, somewhere below what used to be a famous Vaticine altar, the sarcophagi and reliquaries of saints buried in the church are kept intact. It is no secret that the Vaticine reliquaries still reside there, but the museum officials decided to no longer display them to the public.

Below the crypt, in the rooms that hold the foun-dation columns of the Cathedral herself, members of the Order of the Rose & Cross meet on a regular basis. La Grande Cathédrale is the seat of the Secret Society in Charouse and its surrounding area. Knights and Benefactors in good standing meet in the Cathedral with the proper authorization from l’Em-pereur himself, always under the auspicious pretext of displaying new artifacts, donating new scientific discoveries or perhaps to admire new amenities in an unused alcove to hold the new enlightened writings of scholars. If the items displayed continue to enhance the glory of his enlightenment, Léon Alexandre does not care what happens inside the church, as long as it is not Mass, of course. These pretexts are wonderful excuses for the members of the Rose & Cross, yet over time, the collection in the museum of the Cathedral has attracted the attention of the Explorer’s Society as well as the Invisible College. Territorial disputes are not likely to occur, but artifacts and tomes may go missing from time to time.

#### Les Catacombes

Aside from the hopeful treasure or artifact hunters, the poorest citizens and the sewer workers of the city of Charouse, a new group of people has made their way through the maze of Syrneth tunnels, the criminal underground.

This criminal underground is a network with a clear hierarchy and territory-based charter. The Queen of the Underworld—La Reine des Catacombes—sets prices on illegal goods, taxing every criminal that operates in her territory, much in the way that the city officials tax the honest merchants of Charouse. Her cut is much more reasonable than the taxes set by l’Empereur and his council though. Known simply as “The Queen,” the wanted posters bear the name Ève Lafrisée. She even bears the same long scar on her cheek, which twists her mouth when she grins.

As with any criminal organization, respect and loyalty go a long way, much further than brash acts of daring or murder. After all, rewarding murderers only encourages the competition, since she also runs a service-based business: interrogations, torture, assas-sinations or for accidents to happen, all for the right fee, of course.

The fee often depends on the target’s influence, and what the illicit act entails. Rumor on the street has it that the Queen of the Underworld assassinates these targets herself, and that she is good at it. It is impossible to know for sure, due to her network of intermediaries and loyal, false witnesses. Either way, the Queen is well-protected, and proving anything would not make her any more of a wanted criminal. The city constables do not hunt her down for fear that destroying the Queen of the Underworld would create a power vacuum in her criminal networks, which would have more dire repercussions for the city than they are comfortable with.

### Buché

Tucked in a low valley with many rivers converging to its port, Buché is the capital of the Valdoc region. It is a calm, sprawling city with prominent red brick buildings. Outside the city, farmlands, orchards and forests extend to windy hills. Farther west, small villages remain locked in deep forests and mountain ranges. To the east, rocky beaches grace the small sea inlet north of Doré Bay.

The port-city of Buché is the biggest tax haven in Théah. The Marquises of Valdoc have found a way to completely avoid the opportunist politics in l’Empere-ur’s court. Like other cities far outside of Charouse’s reach, the nobility have more control over the enforce-ment of imperial decree or policy. The lords bear the titles of Marquis and no higher. Due to an obscure law, they have the right to elevate one of their ranks to   Duke to represent them at l’Empereur’s court. This vote occurs once every five years, without the direct influence of the Sun King. The Duke is afforded powers, even overruling the tax policies of l’Empereur.

The Marquises value the peace and quiet the region affords them, in spite of attempts to engage in warfare with Castille, most notably with the twin city of Barcino. Now that the influx of soldiers returned from war has peaked, and many have found them-selves without work, Buché has managed a peaceful agreement with Barcino. Unfortunately, saboteurs on both sides strike time and again, with neither side benefitting. Tensions with the independent city mount slowly below the surface of apparent calm.

#### The Open Markets

Les Marchés Ouverts—the Open Markets—refers to any market that sprouts up all over the city. They bear a name based on location. For example Le Marché de Saint Saturnin refers to the market that appeared next to the Holy Saturnine Church. Where the market eventually ends up is less relevant. The rivers and canals are slow and easy to navigate, allowing markets to sprout anywhere, thus making them difficult to regulate, but simple to estimate.

The markets would normally pay taxes based on estimations, but move often to avoid them, leaving the nobles to pay the estimated taxes. This allows markets to set their own rates, allowing the Open Markets to offer the best prices in Montaigne. Because the markets fluctuate and move often to avoid the atten-tion of estimators, hiring a local guide is essential to striking the right bargain.

The Open Market also refers to the types of goods bought and sold here. Because of the nature of the moving markets, a merchant can sell illicit goods for as long as she can evade the estimator. What consti-tutes a black market good in other locations is sold openly, as long as you can find a seller.

Most stalls carry a variety of goods, hoping to entice a customer to do all his shopping in the same place. Stall owners try to avoid too much competition with illegal goods, to allow the prices to remain firm. Instead, traders rotate goods to confuse the law. If a trader sells one illegal good this week, she likely sells something else the next. While it may be hard to pin down a single market stall for tax purposes, the offi-cers of the city know the merchants by name.

#### The Scholars Districts

Buché is a prominent center of higher learning in Montaigne. Branching away from the city center, visi-tors can easily find its progressive universities, where a student or professor is chosen based on scholarly merit, rather than how much money his family can contribute. The universities hold well-attended debates regularly, and any night of the week masters and erudite scholars from all over Théah broach many subjects of higher learning, some which may be considered taboo.

A debater freely discusses controversial subjects in university lecture halls and amphitheaters, in spite of frequent arrests by agents of l’Empereur’s Minister of Culture. A debater who has not yet been sent to a tribunal to defend her university-born ideas is not considered an accomplished professor yet. The arrests are often a spectacle of their own: aside from being entertaining to students and faculty, they reinforce the concept of ideas being dangerous tools, thus proving the importance of progressive universities and Buché itself as a cultural center.

The Invisible College’s reach within Montaigne is predominantly present in Buché. It has taken strides towards helping Castillian scholars find a place in Buché’s cultural circles, either as private tutors to students who can afford them, as assistant professors, librarians or renowned professors under aliases.

#### Holy Saturnine Church

Saturnine was a martyr from the times of the First Prophet. As one of the Saints who followed the First Prophet, he proselytized in the lands near Doré Bay and finally settled in what would become Buché. At the time, the Prophet symbolized salvation, a guar-anteed promise in an uncertain world. This appealed to many, and soon a flock followed Saturnine. He founded a temple and within ten years he had drawn the ire of the local cults who still worshipped multiple gods and revered their ancestors.

The Holy Saturnine Church of present day, however, was built where Saturnine died for his faith. Saturnine’s concept of One True God greatly angered the local leaders of other Théan religions. Refusing to participate in a polytheistic ritual, he was whipped and dragged by a sacrificial bull. When the bull finally stopped, Saturnine took his dying breaths, smiling at solving the riddle of martyrdom. His flock mourned him, and founded a new church in his honor in the very spot where he died. Since then, the church has grown into the largest of the region, its bells easily heard throughout Buché and its nearby fields.

Thanks to the relative isolation of the region, and its independence and distance, the Holy Saturnine Church continues Mass on a regular basis, func-tioning without the support of the Vaticine Church. It hosts bishops and priests from parishes that have closed their doors due to l’Empereur’s decree banning the Vaticine religion. The tithes and donations are used exclusively by the Bishop of Buché rather than the Cardinals. The Bishop uses the funds to protect the members of the Vaticine Church in Montaigne, even funding secret pilgrimages by hiring guards and protectors, purchasing nearby lands where monks can work the fields and orchards and encouraging small villages to host exiled members of the church.

The Holy Saturnine Church is also the site of many holy relics, which have been moved and hidden, protected from l’Empereur. The Bishop of Buché knows it is only a matter of time until his defiance of the Sun King’s decrees, as well those of the Marquises of Valdoc, catch up to the city. Buché experiences peace and prosperity, which is an anomaly. When the powers in l’Empereur’s court understand the situation in Buché better, the Bishop fears their reactions will have dire consequences for his church and flock.

#### The Château of the Marquises of Valdoc

The Marquises of Valdoc greatly benefit from electing one of their own as Duke of Valdoc. Currently, Raymond de Taulose, reigning Marquis of Buché, holds both titles of Marquis and Duke, and has for over a decade. Eight other Marquises reign over Valdoc with their holdings spread out, yet they meet regularly a few miles outside of Buché in the Chateau of the Marquises—technically the property of all the Marquises.

They all have their own quarters, but it also serves as the main residence of the Duke. Raymond also uses the ancestral home of his family, but he spends most of his time here. In the main wing of this large estate, the Marquises discuss both local and foreign affairs and to make mutually beneficial policies.

Over time, the equality among Marquises has shifted, and the Duke’s power and wealth has increased in spite of the original agreement. At the next Council meeting, the title of Duke is up for vote, and Raymond hopes to retain his position. He needs a two-thirds vote to keep the title, or it either goes to someone else or l’Em-pereur decides. He is likely to choose Raymond again, but wants to see his policies enforced more closely as a result. This has caused tension between the Marquises of Valdoc, and each of them has started mobilizing troops in case the Council fails.

Raymond's biggest rival is Yvonne de Gineston, the Marquise of Bâtonnier. She has spent the last several years putting herself in a position to benefit from the Council’s demise. Whether the Council elects her the new Duchess of Buché, or l’Empereur ends up choosing her as the Duchess, she cares not, though she claims it would be preferable that the Council  supports her. The other Marquises all have a claim, of course, and there is no shortage of ambition and greed among them.

The castle, much like others in the region, is a stout stone fortress, lacking the refined lines of modern Montaigne architecture. It is easily defensible, although it is unlikely that any of the Marquises can afford to hold the castle and invade his neighbors. The Duke is the only who could, were he to hire enough mercenaries—after all, many returning soldiers need work and he has no shortage of wealth—but he expects the Council will succeed. As long as they get along,  Valdoc holds against the influence of the Sun King.

### Dechaine

What was once a major port town currently suffers quarantine. A small fleet of Montaigne ships stays off the coast, well out of the way to intercept and warn any who approach from the seas. News of the quarantine has spread quickly to Vesten and Avalonian merchants, who have changed their routes to cover other major Montaigne port towns along the northern coast of the nation, focusing their sales in Lierie and Crieux.

At the northern tip of Montaigne, the city previ-ously named Dechaine is old and well-established, with grey stone city walls and towers built several centuries ago. The Montaigne army has blocked off inland trade routes and from the outside, and it looks as though the citizens indeed burn the bodies of the diseased.

Alas, the rumors of a thwarted plague are merely propaganda, a gauche ploy by the local Duke, Jean-Richard du Lac, to distract from the real facts. The truth is much simpler and uglier.

The people of Dechaine have turned against the oppressive regime, which had starved them of wealth and eventually food. After being hit hard during the War of the Cross, and again in the recent war with Castille, with religious oppression by the privileged noble class and with the foreign trade tariffs driving the prices of mundane items higher and higher, the morale of Dechaine’s citizens had never been lower than a month ago.

#### Peasantry Unchained

After years of discontent, on the brink of starvation, desperate and with nothing left to lose, an angry mob of the city’s poorest citizens formed on the docks. A storm grew. The eloquent speeches of local church officials encouraged the mob. Well-respected and enlightened freethinking members of the commu-nity joined in. And the bourgeois, sick of seeing their wealth plateau due to their lack of noble blood in a nation that privileged birth over everything, added their own voices. Nobody anticipated, however, how far the mob went to get the justice they longed for. They approached the Marquise Isabeau de Dechaine’s estate and at the gates demanded reparations for the abuses they suffered. Isabeau sent her staff to deal with the issue and discovered she was the figurehead of their pent-up anger and rage. The Marquis’ staff brought out food to appease the mob, but it only served to anger them further. A call rose, “We are not dogs that you can chain up and starve until you need our bodies to fight your wars!” They threw rocks at the two dozen guards and shook the gates loose, storming the estate.

Chaos ensued. The crowd brought a fury of violence upon the guards, the serving staff and eventually the noble family. They were about to savagely beat the elder of the family, Mère de Dechaine—the Marquis’ mother—as she held the Marquis’ infant daughter, Hélène. A mysterious Hero stepped up and saved the helpless pair, taking them to safety while the mob put the torch to the noble estate and manor.

#### The City Walls and Beyond

The news that the tyrant of Dechaine was no more spread throughout the city like wildfire, and the citizens found themselves suddenly liberated. They paraded the Marquis’ corpse through the streets, to the cheers and the folly of the crowds. Strife occurred here and there among the people, but those who opposed the tyranny of men and women won this night.

The crowds stayed out until the sun rose the next morning, singing songs of freedom and cheering for their liberators. Somehow the peasantry remained peaceful, with no rioting or fighting breaking out in any meaningful way.

Under the direction of the Rilasciare, the citizens recalled their military training from the campaigns in Castille. They quickly chose leaders among those who had led the original daring assault upon Dechaine’s estate. The newly chosen leaders organized a citizens’ council. In turn, the council organized its citizens in groups to take over buildings and hold the city walls, which had stood since the 1200s, tall, now mossy and mostly lost to new architecture.

They prepared themselves for a siege, as they had become a sovereign city-state of their own, and they expected consequences. Within two weeks, they held the city as the capital of their free land, spreading words and citizenry to the farms and hamlets beyond. They organized food camps, exchanged services for the good of the many and provided goods and commodities as needed. A tremendous need for organized communication arose and the citizens’ council made decisions with small committees to keep matters simple.

They were equals. Men, women, merchants, militia, bakers, peasants. That was the promise of extinguishing nobility and the privilege of noble blood. They would defend this freedom fiercely—with their lives if required. Even fleeting freedom is better than a lifetime of humiliating servitude and starvation. Once known as Dechaine, a peaceful port-town, they now call their home Déchaîné—”Unchained”.

#### The Quiet Campaign

Outside of the county, news of the rebellion spread slowly, amid confusing reports of a plague that forced the current embargo and quarantine. The biggest threat to the revolution lies some fifty miles outside of Dechaine where troops currently sit, poised to mobilize.

Duke Jean-Richard du Lac, Dechain's duke and ultimately the one responsible for regaining control of the situation, is offering the old Général Pardie Soussens an astronomical amount of wealth, as well as titles and deeds to Dechaine, in exchange for taking the city back before l’Empereur learns the truth. Or, in the event that someone informs him, the Duke hopes to show his worth by thwarting the spread of the revolution into a nationwide phenomenon.

Général Soussens has seen too many wars. She has won many campaigns in Castille and learned much from Montegue’s (l’Empereur’s son-in-law) tactics during the war. When l’Empereur stopped supplying troops in Castille with the support she needed, Soussens stood her ground until she could not bear the loss of any more life. Her contingent, the last to return from war with Castille, received orders to form a military camp.

Many deserted a few months ago once they crossed into Montaigne, hearing rumors that the war was long over, easily won, then lost for no reason beyond l’Em-pereur’s boredom. Those who remained loyal built a camp over the last several months and obtained the goods they desperately needed. The soldiers and offi-cers expect to return to Castille for a renewed assault, unaware—beyond wild guesses—of the plans to take Dechaine back.

There they still sit, awaiting Général Soussens's orders, but she has yet to act. It is only a matter of weeks, or maybe days, before she makes her move. The Rilasciare located in Dechain has already sent agents to her camp to sew dissent and the ideals of liberté among the soldiers. Their work is made easier by the war weary Général Soussens, who has no heart for killing her own compatriots.

### La Motte

The southernmost point in Montaigne is La Motte, an island most notable for its tall rocky cliffs, topped by grassy and fertile land. Climbers can only reach the top via the carved steps or the low-hill port which offers the only graded access.

#### The Low-Hill Markets

The port is a major hub for some of the biggest seafaring trading companies in Théah and beyond: it is a resupply stop before the Sinueuse River trading route where goods are then sold in Charouse to the richest nobles in Montaigne.

In the Low-Hill Markets, a Théan can find just about anything he can imagine, and until recently, at a cheaper price than he might have found anywhere else. All luxuries have seen an increase in trading taxes as requested by the Montaigne ruling body. This has affected the Vendel League very negatively as they use La Motte extensively.

The Vendel League rightfully suspects that these new taxes intend to undermine their power—and the power of the Guilder—and they work hard to change the new trade tariffs back. A deal l’Empereur made with the Vodacce Prince Vestini has prompted new luxury taxes. In return, Vestini has secured the growth of a Montaigne district in Five Sails by selling deeds of the old Vodacce side of town to Montaigne nobility. Those involved closely guard this secret deal, which means the Vendel League would go to great lengths to obtain these details. In La Motte, the only person who knows these details is the Port Master, Jean-Luc de la Porte. Getting in his good graces could prove a rather lucrative business.

#### Les Falaises: The Black Markets of La Motte

The new trade taxes have increased the frequency of visitors to its black market. This has caused unwanted attention to the people who run Les Falaises (the Cliffs). The slang term going cliffside means hitting the black markets for some untaxed goods. While many luxury and standard goods can be found here tax-free, the main reason to shop the cliffside markets is to gain access to Magie Rouge. Translated as “red magic,” this plant has euphoric effects when ingested or inhaled. Found growing on the rocky cliffs along the coast of La Motte, this island is the only place the drug can be found. While it may cause euphoria for a short time, it also leads to short-term memory loss after use. La Motte authorities have banned the drug, and growing or harvesting the plant is punishable by a steep fine. That does not stop the gangs in La Motte from selling it at the cliffside markets.

#### Mont du Flambeau

The small island just north of La Motte is a well-de-fended fortress. Le Mont du Flambeau is a vestige of Vaticine influence in Montaigne. Once the seat of nobility for the region, the island sports impregnable walls as well as the largest cathedral and monastery in Montaigne since the 1200s.

It was also a major stop for many Montaignois on pilgrimage. At the time of the Hierophant’s excom-munication of Montaigne as a whole, the monks and pious pilgrims outnumbered the nobility and their meager armed forces: the nobles were more confi-dent in their walls than the people staffing them. The monks living in the monastery organized an attack on the nobles in the night, when they least expected it. The pious sent the nobles and their soldiers out and locked themselves in, promptly making use of the walled city and its resources.

Since then, a new pilgrimage has arisen among the devout and stubborn Montaigne followers of the Vaticine faith: a pilgrim makes her way to resupply the monks and believers regularly to ensure that the slow siege lasts. This whole affair insults the local Marquis, who has spent a great deal of his fortune—if not all of it—trying to take the island back to no avail.

According to the quartermaster’s latest calculations, the people left on Le Mont du Flambeau have six months before they completely run out of food, even with rationing. Unfortunately, the meager resupply that pilgrims bring in the dead of night is not enough to keep them sustained forever, so the Bishop has sent out some of his monks to organize a supply run that will let them keep the fortress island for several more years.

#### L’Auberge de la Croix d’Or

On the mainland, just east of La Motte, in a small village, near a church at the top of a hill, stands the most important inn in Montaigne. L’Auberge de la Croix d’Or is a bustling way station, owned by Marie and Claude Bonvalet. Due to its prime location and quaint setting, many messengers and spies working for every government and organization in Théah visit here to relay information to other agents, exchange letters, pay their blackmailer and so on.

The Bonvalet couple—along with their seven chil-dren—know this well and they like it that way. A person can pay a great deal of money for the right information, and he can pay a great deal more to keep that information quiet. The family has mastered the art of subterfuge and sells secrets to the highest bidder. So far, they have been in operation for thirty- two years without anyone being wise to their little scheme or perhaps being wise enough not to upset their business practices.

The inn itself is a stone and lumber construction typical of the region’s rustic aesthetic. The main gate opens on a courtyard, with the inn proper to the left and the stables to the right. The side of the inn has room for the guests’ carriages and horses, as well as a few of the Bonvalet’s horses for sale or rent. The interior is warm and welcoming, decorated with many brass and copper household items, crafted by famous artisans from all over Montaigne. The restau-rant portion offers the best tasting and most refined food in the region and may be the main reason why travelers recommend l’Auberge the most.

Near the back of the property, there is a building where traveling nobles can rest and be entertained. A lovely and dense garden—where guests often hold impromptu secret meetings—separates the building. The rooms here are lavishly decorated and typical of modern Montaigne taste, with large mirrors and paintings as well as high ceilings and gold motifs.

The Bonvalet family typically holds their private meetings in the large and well-furnished wine cellar. Nothing conspicuous about the staff resupplying the kitchen with more goods from their stock, after all.

#### Le Château de Nulle Part

Northwest of the isle of La Motte lies a small bit of land that juts out of the water, tall and rocky. This island is not large enough to appear on any maps, and the topside is difficult to access. Yet, those who pay close attention notice that someone brings supplies here every six months. Those foolish enough to make their way up the cliffside are not heard from again.

This is where l’Empereur sends people he wants to forget about: Le Château de Nulle Part—The Castle of Nowhere. It has only been in service for eight years. It is rare when a new prisoner is brought here, but the men and women who make their way here out of curiosity are apprehended and brought to solitary cells, much too small to do anything but lie down in the dark, on the cold hard rock it was carved from.

The soldiers who work here swear to secrecy, and being commissioned to work here is the Montaigne military equivalent of being sent to jail: those assigned rarely get shuffled out. Sometimes a soldier goes mad and deserts his post, swimming his way out, hoping to reach La Motte. When this happens, a sniper must kill one of her own. This is a rare occurrence, but it is always well-remembered by those who remain behind to watch over the hundred or so prisoners.

The most notable prisoner is probably the one believed to be in Ussura leading a military campaign, l’Empereur’s son-in-law, Montègue. Well-loved by the people of Montaigne, Montègue was born a peasant and worked as a corporal for l’Empereur; he saved Léon Alexandre from certain death at the hands of the Castillians. After the tremendous victory, he earned the promotion High General of Montaigne and married Léon Alexandre’s youngest daughter, which increased l’Empereur’s popularity among the common folk…for a time. If word got out of Montègue’s presence here, the Rilasciare could use him to lead the revolutionary Montaigne people, upturn the power structure and find freedom. Perhaps one of the soldiers who deserted and survived the swim to La Motte remembers. Or perhaps his memories have fled him after nearly drowning...

### Altamira

Before the war, Altamira was once a popular Castillian port-city, a trading hub between Montaigne, Eisen and Castille, benefitting from the affluent lake, its connected rivers leading to the Doré Bay, as well as nearby connections to the Montaigne rivers that meet the sea at Crieux.

Now, it is a Castillian port-city long occupied by Montaigne forces. As one of the first conquests in the war between the two nations, Altamira quickly turned into the center of all Montaigne military operations in Castille, supplying troops and the goods necessary for a successful war. The Castillian nobility who once controlled Altamira have lost their power completely, yet the Montaigne Administration keeps them alive for the sake of keeping the Grandes of Castille guessing.

In spite of several attempts by El Vagabundo to rescue them, the noble family of Altamira remains sequestered in their vast estate on the rocky hill over-looking the city and port. The Montaigne government still requisitions the estate with a young Marquise as its figurehead—Sidonie du Carré. She is a fierce and cruel woman obsessed with controlling everything within her grasp including all aspects of Altamira.

#### The Montaigne Administration

The sprawling estate of the Altamira Grande has changed to make room for the Montaigne Administration. Members of the noble family are now kept in the lower northwest wing, under constant surveillance, in many cases forced to share rooms with siblings they don’t get along with. They are allowed to wander as long as they obey the strict curfews and limited locations available to them in accordance to Maréchal Laurent Pointu, the Marquise’s right-hand man.

The rest of the estate has been completely rear-ranged. The Marquise has taken residence in the Altamira Grande’s former rooms, enjoying the lavish Castillian décor that she has grown fond of. The grand hall, where family dinners and guests once cheerfully ate, drank and sang together now houses the war room where high-ranking officers hold the most important briefings regarding Montaigne troop movements abroad—whether in Castille or Eisen. Other military briefings are held in adjoining rooms.

The Southern wings are the living quarters of the various nobles and officers that have a hand in the administration. The guest wing, a detached building near the gardens and fountains of the estate, is now a small hospital. In the event that they are wounded in battle, this is where the prominent daughters and sons of the nobility are rushed to be treated by one of the most brilliant surgeons of Montaigne—Jacques Ferrand and his staff.

Meanwhile, the Marquise makes sure she is aware of all troop movements. Many believe that she master-minded the initial invasion of Castille, directing generals and other officers with subtle manipulation or direct orders if necessary. She carefully orchestrates everything she does, benefiting from her tremendous attention to detail. She is served by a military council composed of affluent men and women with vested interests in Castille and Eisen. For the most part, they are capable nobles promised additional lands based on subsequent conquests of Eisen and Castille. Many of them, bitter with the lack of support from l’Empereur, feel that they may benefit from pushing for more mili-tary forays into Altamira. While the Marquise runs the Montaigne Administration as though it continues to war with Castille, her main priority is to extract Montaigne troops safely.

Since the support and supply lines have dwindled, many troops still exist in Castille, stuck in pockets of land where they may still war with locals, simply to get the resources they need to feed themselves, until they can travel to Montaigne and finally return to their homes. Because Altamira is the hub of Montaigne military abroad, half of the military appointed to Altamira obeys the Maréchal and the Marquise without question, while many other mili-tary contingents that simply pass through the region could care less about what goes on here or what she plans for the region.

It is unclear what the Montaigne troops are doing or preparing for, as they have been slowly falling back, mostly due to necessity as the central Montaigne government ignores their needs for supplies. This tension has caused strife between those who follow the Marquise versus the returning malcontents who see the war efforts and the loss of life of their brothers- and sisters-in-arms as a horrific waste. So far, the Marquise has proven that she has no qualms about having a Montaigne officer executed should he cross a line.

#### The People of Altamira

With the noble family of Altamira sequestered in their own estate and without a council or government they trust, the common folk of Altamira have turned to the local clergy for advice. Alas, the local Vaticine church has been closed by the occupying Montaigne government, so the religious leaders and priests have gone into hiding, joining the humble families of the town in their daily duties, passing themselves as scholars and laborers.

The Bishop of Altamira, Alejandro Lucio Pereida, finds inspiration in these trying times. He feels closer to his flock, plotting with them to free the noble family of Altamira, sending coded messages to faraway members of the Vaticine Church and generally being involved in a way of life he did not expect to see at the age of fifty-five. He feels that it is just that he should be the one to stand up to the Marquise. For now, he has listened to the advice of his priests and the merchants who prefer the status quo to seeing Bishop Pereida executed by the Marquise. Bishop Pereida has sent out many of his priests to nearby Castillian-controlled cities, hoping to find daring Heroes who might lend a hand in helping the noble family escape the clutches of the Montaigne Administration in Altamira.

Until that happens, taking back Altamira by force is out of the question, lest the Castillian military forsake the Grande of Altamira and his family altogether.

### Lock-Horn Forest

Lock-Horn Forest has a complex history and is an enchanted land—magical and mysterious to those who visit it. At one point in time, the forest and its environs belonged to Avalonian lords who settled many fiefs or Eisen bands and Vesten Raiders assailing its northern parts. Now minor Montaigne lords completely control the land. For that reason, some names of villages and places carry different meanings. While the official language is Montaignoise, the commoners of the region speak a variety of dialects and bastardized languages combining Montaignoise, Avalonian and Eisen roots. This creates a surreal situation for a visitor where she might have a hard time communicating with the people native to this land. Couple this oddity with the magical, mirac-ulous and the mythical, and the Lock-Horn region feels like a land of its own. The further one strays from the major roads between Aur, Sices, Arrent and Buché, the more likely she is to experience strange things and meets stranger folk. Add the rumors of Sidhe, Syrneth ruins yet to be discovered and strange beasts that live deep in the woods, and you may find that you have indeed left Montaigne.

#### Land of Magic and the Three Kings

Magic is the true religion of the region. If you can see it, if you can experience it, it is real. Magic is real. The miracles of Theus are real.

##### King of the Tower

The King of the Tower is none other than the local Baron, Philippe de Niord. His crest bears the mark of his hunting dogs, revered for their ability to deter even the most fearful beasts found in Lock-Horn Forest. The Tower of Niord is the old keep, which stands from before a united Montaigne. It is old, its stones darkened by time, its path hidden by the encroaching vegetation. Those lost near here often find their way to Philippe, an old but gracious host, his meager staff barely enough to keep the homestead from decrepi-tude. The Baron de Niord may love his lands and its people, but he also loves theater and reading. Often caught up in reverie, he imagines himself going on adventures and finding romance.

When the folk here speak of their King, it is Philippe of whom they refer to, le Roi de la Tour.

##### King of the Forest

A Sidhe lives in Lock-Horn Forest, rumored to live in the woods to the southeast of Pierre-Percée. The folk of the region here call him “The Horned King” or “The King of the Forest.” King Jalan, a Seelie lord of

no small power, has lived in Lock-Horn Forest longer than the modern concept of Montaignois has existed. The Sidhe of Avalon cast him and his court out, and they will likely live in the forest as long as it exists. He guards against those encroaching on this land of magic and hunts down those who cause trouble in Lock-Horn Forest. The only places he and his deer-riders avoid altogether are the various Syrne ruins that dot the region.

A hunter customarily leaves an offering to the Horned King before she leaves the forest.

##### The Straw King

The Legend of the Straw King is part of the rich history of Pierre-Percée. The legend tells of someone who will become King or Queen when the people of Pierre-Percée direly need help. The title is both a joke and a serious affair. The first Straw King was the Avalonian Glamour Knight, Lanvaus de Pierre-Percée, a good friend of Pæga du Lac. King Jalan of the Forest bestowed the title of Straw King to mock the Théan’s love of titles—his apparent crown of branches and leaves stuck in his horns earned him the name of King of the Forest. He bestowed upon Lanvaus the title so that the duty would fall to him to rally the people against the Montaigne tyrants who had begun systematic deforestation.

Now the title is long forgotten by those unfamiliar with the region’s history, but were a Glamour Knight worthy of the title come to Pierre-Percée and should the need arise for a Heroic King to take on the mantle, the King of the Forest would certainly keep his promise to Lanvaus and bestow the title again.

#### Pierre-Percée

Pierre-Percée refers to the region deep in Lock-Horn, connected to the lake north of Aur, and includes the northwest portion of the Lock-Horn Forest. Its villages are remote and difficult to tread, with brigands waiting for passers-by at bridges, forest- encroached roads. Most villages of Pierre-Percée are an exception in Montaigne rather than the rule. While most villages are rustic, those of Pierre-Percée are downright primitive with people living off the wealth of the forest rather than farming or tending herds. While the forest isolates the inhabitants from the trials that l’Empereur brings upon the people of Montaigne, it also presents an altogether different set of issues for them.

Great and fabulous beasts, ancient orders of elusive and evil druids, ancient treasures of Vesten raiders of yore and magical swords bestowed upon worthy protectors, Lock-Horn has it all, and Pierre-Percée teems with the Heroes ready to take on these mirac-ulous challenges.

#### The Treasure O’Roorke

The treasure is said to be the fruit of two young Vesten Raiders along the Ifri and Crescent Empire coasts. According to local folklore, the two raiders and their crew attempted to sail all the way back to Vesten to share their riches. A storm brewed by an angry witch caught them, forcing them to navigate inland via a river. They settled in this land after being unable to sail any further than the small dirt islands of the Lake of Pierre-Percée. Supposedly, they hid their riches here in the Lock-Horn Forest in or around Pierre-Percée.

Those searching for the legendary treasure associate it with the name O’Roorke. Famed treasure hunter Fin O’Roorke propagated the name. Some say he died in Pierre-Percée searching, but never finding the treasure. O’Roorke did manage to uncover many mysteries along the way, including hidden meanings in folk tales and songs of the region.

The name may also come from the initials of Ragnar Odinsson and Oden Ragnarsson, abbreviated to “R.O.O.R.” The folktales usually deal with the lives

and deeds of Ragnar and Oden and have less to do with their rumored treasure. The local folk have long dismissed the existence of the treasure, instead, giving the hopeful treasure-hunters truths, rumors and outright lies with equal zeal and enthusiasm. There are always bits of truth thrown with the juic-iest details of blatant lies. The folk of Pierre-Percée also refer to these treasure-hunters, whether fondly or mockingly, as “Rouqueurs.”

The legend of their treasures has endured, mostly because once in a generation, a treasure hunter gets lucky and finds a small fortune, with pieces adding to the puzzle and the reality that is the Treasure of Roor.

##### Ragnar Odinsson and Oden Ragnarsson

La Ballade de Ragnar is a common folktale, told and sung in the region of Pierre-Percée. Ragnar is often the subject of the songs, although lyrics almost always mention Oden along the way as well, describing them as inseparable.

You can glean many clues about the treasure from the songs, in spite of their fantastic nature. Historians have verified the raids of the Ifri coasts, the Crescent Empire ports and other rich port cities along the way. The people in question, Ragnar and Oden, really did live in Pierre-Percée, and their descendants are prominent citizens here—Ragnar’s son married Oden’s daughter.

To this day, some folks believe old Ragnar to be alive and looking for his way into Valhalla, awaiting a group of Heroes to aid him in finding a proper battle. Of course, if one were to aid old Ragnar, he may finally reveal the secret of his treasure’s location.

#### Les Feuilles Blanches

The White Leaves is a place like no other in Théah. Some believe it is the birthplace of Porté Sorcery, where the first sorcier found a way to bind his blood to places and things, and where he came to his final rest. Other rumors put forth the idea that a powerful Sidhe made a promise here and that the Glamour left behind from her solemn vow had an effect on the land. More rumors explain that the effect of the White Leaves has to do with the Syrneth Ruins less than a mile away.

The area itself is difficult to reach without someone who knows the way. When a traveler approaches, the forest becomes noticeably quiet. At first, it seems that the sunshine, or even moonlight, plays tricks on his eyes, making the leaves dance in an invisible wind, shining the sky’s light brightly. After a moment, the traveler finds that the leaves of the trees look positively white and silvery. With each step towards the light, the forest grows white, peaceful and serene. Then the tree bark becomes white and finally the fallen leaves on the ground.

The next few steps to the six white trees of the magical grove daze the traveler. The light of the grove becomes too bright to behold, forcing him to close his eyes. If the traveler continues forward, he is trans-ported away. It is an eerie feeling to be transported by the intangible wind that moves the trees. When the traveler arrives, he finds that the wind has taken him to his deepest desire, whether that desire is conscious or subconscious, even if it is an object or a person. His trail, a glowing debris of white leaves, can be seen for several minutes until the intangible wind blows it away.

Because it is a mystical place, most folk stay away, though some love the sensation of traveling in this manner and have no qualms about leading a foreigner through and serving as a trustworthy guide. The danger usually rests in trusting the White Leaves to take him home.

## Porté: The Walkway

When a Porté sorcier uses a Blood Mark to open a portal, she creates a tear in the universe and moves through it. The space in between herself and her Mark is called the walkway, and every sorcier knows that she should not open her eyes, no matter what the voices say.

What the Montaignois know about the walkway could not fill half a tome, although some scholars certainly make a go of it with theories and specious vicarious accounts. Every sorcier claims to know someone who knows someone who explored the walkway with eyes wide open and lived to tell the tale, but nobody ever seems to be able to get the details straight. The truth is seeing what lies beyond the ugly hole in the universe without losing one’s way is extraordinarily rare. The few who manage it come back changed, marked forever by the questing fingers of the space between. Sometimes a sorcier boasts strange new powers, but what has she lost in exchange?

### The Nature of the Beast

The place beyond the portail may seem to an explorer like another world, similar to her own but surreal and mirage-like, with shimmering colors in the air that only exist in the peripheral vision and with voices that speak without source. She finds mirror images of places she knows alongside places that never existed. She finds her own home there, but subtly different in unsettling ways that only becomes apparent after she has left—all the doors open the wrong way, perhaps, or an extra room juts out where a wall should be. She finds ancient fortresses she has only read about in books, come to impossible life in brilliant detail, inhabited by people long dead.

But this is not a world at all. Nothing here is real. In the beginning, before any sorciers took short-cuts through reality’s lacunae, only a vast nothing stretched out into infinity there. Over millennia, the dreams, memories and speculations of those left behind, cursed to wander this space forever, built a warped echo of the world to live in—a projection, an expression of their desperate desire to go home. As they drifted further from sanity, driven to despair by loneliness and fear, stranger places than any they had truly known took shape from their imaginations, places from storybooks and nightmares. Today, a sorcier who opens her eyes can find the ages-old reflections of places long gone in the real world, fantasized into being by her ancestors and lingering in limbo indefinitely.

### What’s Behind the Voices

An entity that lives in the walkway is not a person anymore. He was once, but the madness of the Place Between Worlds inevitably corrupted him into something else. It is folly to trust him, because all his human desires are warped into monstrous yearnings. He wants to trade destinies with a valiant Hero, or ride her back into the real world, or kill her and take her power for himself, or trick her into staying with him as a companion forever. Even if she could find the true spirit of someone she lost there, it is unlikely to remain the person she sought, ruined by solitude and broken promises. He is most likely a Monster, with little to no remaining humanity. He might be a Villain, still able to distantly remember his life but too corrupted by the walkway to be an ally.

You can make a walkway entity a Monster or Villain, according to the rules for each (Core Rulebook, pages 193–198). He often has Monstrous Qualities regardless, due to his long exposure to the walkway’s corruption, but if you want to make a foe that has not been trapped very long or even one a Hero has a chance to redeem himself, he doesn’t need to be Monstrous. A walkway Villain’s Influence reflects his reach and authority over other walkway entities, but can also reflect how much the terrain and locations express that Villain’s inner self.

### Getting In

What sort of Hero can tear open bleeding holes in the universe and step through with her eyes closed, trusting that she comes out the other side instead of running the other way? You need an iron will and a level of fascination with the macabre bordering on uncanny. A squeamish sorcier who inherits the power but not the temperament tries not to use her gift (or curse) at all. If she chooses to use it, she builds a peer-less confidence and the ability to win staredowns with nightmares. She walks a fine line between Heroism and Villainy, as the path of Porté is fraught with temptations on every side.

Every sorcier knows the potential danger in running out of blooded objects to return to, should he find himself unable to walk to an inaccessible destination. Villains with designs on removing him from the picture might hunt down his Marks and eradicate them one by one, or use a terrible blood sacrifice to close his portals and cut him off from his escape routes. But subtler dangers wait for the unwary, too.

In a popular trend among the rich and reckless, the sorcier hires an archæologist and brings her into the walkway seeking ancient Syrneth ruins—or even the Syrne themselves—inside the walkway. Cautious Porté scholars condemn the practice as foolhardy, but just enough stories circulate about the fame and fortune of returning with solid clues to unraveling Syrneth secrets that adventurous sorciers still try it.

### THE LONELY SORCIER

Chances are only one of the Heroes has access to Porté. Venturing into the walkway to rescue a friend, ﬁnd ancient knowledge, reconcile with a dead lover or for any other reason usually means pursuing a whole Story there, and you don’t want the majority of the Heroes sitting idle for that. You can run these Stories as solo mini-sessions for the sorcier Hero if the others are not interested. If everyone would like to participate, but the Hero Point cost for bringing everyone through a portail and then back out again would be too steep, consider this optional rule: instead of the sorcier spending a Hero Point for each additional person, he can choose to spill more blood on their behalf. In addition to the Dramatic Wound necessary to open the portal, he may take a normal Wound in place of any Hero Point he would have spent to bring someone along. He can mix and match the two costs in any combination.

### How It Works

A Hero who braves the walkway with her eyes open learns soon enough why few ever return. Spending time there corrupts the soul, even if a Hero does nothing to earn that corruption. Each Story Step taken within the walkway counts as an Evil Act for purposes of accruing Corruption, except the GM does not roll for falling from grace. If a Hero ever reaches 10 Corruption while within, she becomes trapped, even if she still has Marks or close relatives—her emotional distance from the real world severs all her blood connections and thereby her Marks.

She does not become a Villain immediately and only falls from grace if she performs an action that would give her additional Corruption. Completing a Story Step does not count towards this and cannot cause her to fall from grace. If she escapes before gaining more Corruption, she can still redeem herself. If not, she is lost forever, becoming a true walkway denizen.

Players and GMs can use the Redemption Story (Core Rulebook, page 203) as a model for creating an Escape the Walkway Story, which can pull a trapped Hero back from the brink of Villainy and present a route (if an arduous one) back to the real world. Completing the Story Steps of an escape story do not incur Corruption.

Listening to the whispers of the long lost can lure a Hero away from the straight and narrow too. A walkway entity cannot attack someone directly unless the traveler sees her first. But she can speak and apply Pressure to a Hero to stray from the path, open his eyes and embroil himself in a quest or mystery that distracts him from his destination. If the entity deals a Dramatic Wound, she can consume his blood to steal his Marks, usurping his destiny and his power—after all, she was once a sorcier too. She can then enter the real world the next time a portail opens near her. She inherits all the Hero’s established blood connections, leaving him to find another way out.

A sorcier can trap himself in the walkway through a noble sacrifice, stepping inside to close a Villain’s blessure without the luxury of keeping his eyes shut or checking to make sure he has Marks to walk to first. Closing a blessure requires navigating the walkway’s dreamlike logic to repair the world’s Wound, taking actions symbolic of healing or soothing based on whatever goes on with the walkway inhabitants at the time. A Hero might need to find a cure for an ailing king, rebuild a fallen wall or end a child’s nightmares, all while stopping the more malevolent entities from escaping through the howling portal. This may take one or several Dramatic Sequences to accomplish and certainly carries all the dangers of getting trapped mentioned above.

### Getting Out

Once trapped, a Hero races against her own despair to find a way out before the walkway claims her forever. She can quest for an exit, making deals with other trapped entities or trying to attract the attention of other sorciers passing through, but doing so always requires a Redemption Story, and one of the Steps must involve paying a price of some kind (see “What You Take with You” later in this chapter for more about this price). The Hero may journey through the warped memories of the long-dead; visit places that never existed, dreamed up by the stray fears of countless sorciers passing through; or face her own nightmares made manifest.

Many threats complicate a Hero’s quest to escape. Those who have been lost for much longer desperately try to cajole or force her to take them along when she leaves or spend eternity keeping them company. They may possess her like spirits, trick her into leading them to a Villain’s blessure or make her forget her life entirely. Dying inside the walkway does not end a sorcier's suffering. Such an unfortunate soul lingers there as a monstrous walkway spirit, lost to humanity, until she escapes at some other poor bastard’s expense or a Hero destroys her.

Another Hero can venture into the walkway to rescue trapped friends, at plenty of risk to himself and anyone he brings with him. It takes gumption and persistence to affect such a rescue. Bringing a trapped sorcier out requires the same expenditure of Hero Points that it takes to bring someone else in, as detailed in Core Rulebook, page 221.

#### Back to Normal...Mostly

A freed Hero comes home in a rush of sensation and relief, but still faces consequences in the aftermath. If a walkway entity consumed her blood and stole her connections, then every time she creates a new Mark, she also creates a new way for the unleashed lunatic to use her power against her, or traipse across the world wreaking havoc. If she accumulated any Corruption due to walkway exposure, she loses those Corruption Points one per Scene after returning to the real world—but in the meantime she still struggles with the darkness she brought back with her. Time has no meaning within the walkway, so an escaped Hero’s personal experience has no bearing on when she returns. A handful of seconds or a hundred years may have passed. Her perception of time may have matched the world’s exactly, or she may come back before her own birth!

### What You Take with You

A Hero once trapped in the walkway never emerges unscathed. He always pays a price or strikes a deal for his freedom. He may sacrifice something dear to him, like a memory, a prized possession or even a loved one. He may agree to bring something terrible back with him. He may trade away one Skill for another, create a new Villainous rival born of his own fears, gain Corruption that does not automatically fade or even fundamentally change the way his Porté magic works. Whenever a Hero escapes the walkway, his player and the GM should work together to decide what kind of deal works best for him, and whether he struck it consciously or not.

#### Alternate Porté Powers

If the player—or the character—decides to alter the way her Hero’s magic works, she can choose from among the following options. These are not the only options available, just examples. The player and GM should work together to determine any new powers the sorcier may develop.

* The sorcier loses the ability to create Blood Marks. Instead, she chooses another type of anchor for her power, something else to which she can walk to or something else she can pull through. She can always sense the presence of her new anchor just as she could a Blood Mark, and she knows when one is available for her to use for Porté. The new anchor could be a specific type of object or person, or it could be something that aligns with one of the sorcier's emotions—the thing she most desires, fears or wishes to destroy at the time, for instance. Of course, nobody has a perfect understanding of her own feelings all the time, making for some unpredictable journeys. Some specific examples of new anchors include: orphaned children who need help, valuable relics with hotly contested ownership, people near death with desperate final wishes or places that see light for the first time in over a hundred years.
* • The sorcier treats his maximum number of Minor and Major Marks as though he had one additional instance of the Sorcery Advantage than he has. In exchange, when-ever he places a Mark in an Action Scene, he must spend two additional Raises to avoid the Mark being apparent to another sorcier as though she herself had placed it.
* • The sorcier loses the ability to teleport through a portal (though she can still pull objects through). Instead, she may spy through her Major Marks, perceiving a Mark’s surroundings with all five senses as though she were there. A character in the Mark’s location may notice he is being watched and from where, if the sorcier fails the Risk to spy unnoticed.
* • The sorcier gains the ability to make Superior Marks which allow her to move through the walkway more efficiently; she spends a Hero Point to open the portal instead of taking a Dramatic Wound. She can only place a Superior Mark on a location, and not a person, as the point she is moving to must remain fixed at all times. A sorcier can only ever have a single Superior Mark, which goes above and beyond her normal number of Marks. If she wants to place a new Superior Mark, she must first sever the previous connection. A Superior Mark takes a great deal of blood, and placing one costs the mage a Dramatic Wound and a Hero Point.
* • The sorcier loses the ability to create Blood Marks, and instead can activate Porté to Pull or Walk to anything in his line of sight. He spends a Hero Point instead of the normal Dramatic Wound (and a Raise during a Sequence) to do so. A Hero can activate this Sorcery once per game session for each Sorcery Advantage he has purchased. When Walking to an anchor, he cannot take anyone else with him. If something blocks the Hero’s line of sight—a door closes, a dense fog rolls in, a clever Villain blindfolds him, etc.—then he cannot activate this power.

## Légendes of Montaigne

### Bayard, of Lock-Horn Forest

In the deep of Lock-Horn Forest, where the path occa-sionally gets lost in the undergrowth and the canopy lets in only the barest streaks of light, magic stirs. An exhausted traveler can lose the trail and wander into the wilds, never to find her way back. Few travel the Lock-Horn alone, fearing the strange magics of the land. Yet, those who have tell wild tales of magical creatures that only show themselves to lone travelers.

Legend has it that in the twilight hours, a beautiful and majestic stallion approaches a desperate and terrified soul: the creature already saddled, bridled and perfectly sized to the traveler. The weary traveler, however, must pay attention to the color of the horse’s coat.

If he appears white with a flowing golden mane, he guides you to safety and leaves you on a clear path, closer to your destination. If he appears as a black figure with a shining mane of roan, best to offer him a treat and make your own way, in the opposite direction he appeared. The black stallion offers no help, instead taking you deeper into the dark forest. No one is entirely sure what becomes of those who trust the dark horse, for none who have ridden him have returned.

#### The Truth

The horse, Bayard, is a close friend to King Jalan of Lock-Horn Forest and a creature of some magical prowess. In return for Jalan’s protection and aid in preserving the forest, Bayard helps Jalan’s friends and delivers his enemies. If you have no quarrel with the Sidhe king and pay him respect—traditionally by leaving him an offering as you leave the forest—Bayard assists you when you need help. Should you show disrespect or animosity toward the forest or its inhabitants, Bayard delivers you to Jalan himself and lets the Horned King decide your fate—usually not a pleasant one.

The indicator of friend or foe amuses both Bayard and Jalan, as the horse’s coat shifts hues depending on the time of year. Typically he is pale in the winter and dark in the summer, to better blend in with his surroundings. The concept of appearing differently is exaggeration and storytelling. In different towns, people believe the material of the bridle, the direction he approaches from or the style of saddle determines if he helps or hinders, though this is also pure myth.

### Dames Blanches

Traveling through mountains can be a treach-erous enough activity on its own, but a strange tale surrounds the peaks of Les Sommets Blancs and Mount Doré. Those that travel the peaks report tales of strange sights and sounds when blizzards hit the mountains. The flurrying snowflakes resolve them-selves into figures known as les Dames Blanches—the White Maidens. The women dance and sing in the storm, inviting travelers to join them in celebration. While the invitation may seem like a trap, to share a dance with one of the Maidens ensures safety through the storm, while to deny them means the path will be lost forever to the newly fallen snow.

Descriptions of the Dames Blanche vary, some say they are very much solid human forms in dresses white as snow, with skin not much darker; others claim the Maidens are shapes made in the swirling of the snowflakes. Their voices, however, always whisper as one with the wind, surrounding any travelers lost in a storm. They call from all directions, beseeching their newfound friends to dance.

When the weather is fair, the lost traveler can also beseech the help of the Maidens by offering a trinket when she beds down to rest. The item must be white and of at least some value. Commonly carried offer-ings include silk or fine linen handkerchiefs, lace fans, gloves and hair ribbons. When left in the snow overnight, the items vanish, and come morning a set of footprints lead the way back to the lost moun-tain path.

Occasionally, those traveling over the mountains do not make it to the other side. Many say the travelers lost on the mountain joined les Dames Blanches, dancing happily forever in an unending storm.

#### The Truth

Strong magic fills the air of Mount Doré’s peak, and les Dames Blanches form from snow and its ambient power. Combined with the power of a natural storm, the Dames take shape from the whirling eddies in the snowfall, pulled along the currents of wind and energy that flow through the area, and take on a life of their own. The magical energy of the mountains naturally follows the path most traveled, allowing the persistent tales of les Dames Blanches leading the way to safety.

They only help those they take a liking to, often because they have shown themselves true of heart or left a fantastic gift. Gifts thrown over the edge of the cliff serve as powerful tokens for the Dames, and they accept these gifts graciously, leading wanderers safely through mountain passes. A tribute left on the trail overnight may summon them to clear a path through a snowed-in passage, though this practice is less reliable.

Les Dames Blanches vary in power and frequency, but often show up as Strength 4 Monsters with the Elemental Monstrous Quality.

### Dame Fortune

In the markets of Montaigne, you may frequently find the same token over and over in various shops and stalls—a single coin with a hole drilled in it—either prominently displayed over the door to the shop or worn around the shopkeeper’s neck. This coin, tradi-tionally the first profit earned by the merchant, is an offering to the Lady of Fortune.

Merchants say it ensures a thriving and successful business as long as it stands in clear view. Along the canal, merchants frequently give a secondary offering, tossing a coin into the water at the start of the day to draw business and ward off law enforcement.

Legend has it that Dame Fortune herself occa-sionally appears around closing time, drifting between stalls in the Open Market or wandering the meandering paths of the Marché du Pont-Neuf. Should your wares catch her fancy, she may very well stop in to make a purchase, but be careful how you treat her.

She may not look any different than the average customer, but a bad experience may doom you to a terrible year. Treat her well, on the other hand, and business may boom, affording not only a secure living, but a luxurious one. Of course, if you are unwise enough to forget to display your coin, she won’t even bother coming in to shop, ensuring the business will not last another moonrise.

The Lady is not known to punish those who do not offer her tribute, but she protects those who do. Even the most competitive vendor dares not tamper with or steal another merchant’s coin, for fear of earning her ire, and he gladly shares the story with any who ask about the token. For many a merchant, it is the source of great pride, something passed down from master to apprentice as a testament to his success.

#### DAME FORTUNE AND THE BLACK MARKET

The story of Dame Fortune did not just arise from superstition about economic luck. The dark coin a merchant carries designates him as part of an underground organization, vetted and trusted by those who would work with him. The practice started with La Reine des Catacombes in Charouse, but quickly spread all over Montaigne.

Anyone wishing to sell illegal goods in Montaigne—even in places like the Open Market where merchants sell illegal goods as a matter of course—ﬁnds that without a coin, she cannot even get a merchant to talk to her. The only people who try to sell illegally without coins are undercover guards and idiots who want to get arrested.

#### The Truth

Superstition is a strong force, and when enough people agree on something, it is hard to go against the tide. Faced with the same symbol from all directions, new merchants simply follow along for fear of being outcast or ignored for not following some unspoken law, not to mention the threat of poverty from a displeased Dame Fortune.

What many learn over time is that a specific coin, made of very dark metal and always worn around the neck, signals to a buyer looking to deal in affairs that may not be entirely legal. The Lady of Fortune can smile on anyone, after all, and a merchant crafty enough to not get caught in illicit dealings usually finds himself handsomely rewarded.

A law-abiding merchant willing to turn a blind eye to this practice protects herself from unscrupulous vendors, who have few qualms about silencing any voices that draw unwanted attention. Instead, she simply hangs her own coins and prays silently to the Dame for her own well-being, quietly ignoring the untimely fates of a merchant who pokes about where he does not belong.

### Le Diable du Sommet

Despite religious pilgrims regularly traveling them, the mountain regions of Montaigne are a dangerous place. Les Sommets Blancs are always covered in a thick layer of snow, making travel treacherous, and Mont Doré plays host to one of the deadliest crea-tures in Montaigne history, le Diable du Sommet. Legends say the creature stalks the peaks feasting on human blood, settling for goats or other livestock if none can be found.

Travelers are warned to stay on the paths and avoid the wooded areas if at all possible, and to not travel at night. The devil of the peaks hunts at night and looks for easy prey, such as people wandering the woods alone.

Le Diable du Sommet is a hulking creature that moves just as easily on four legs as two. It has an abnormally large, muscle-bound body covered in a thick coat of matted, snarled, reddish fur. Wickedly curved horns and claws adorn its head and hands, and its hind legs end in cloven hooves. None of the accounts quite agree on what kind of animal le Diable is, or if it is an animal at all; the way it moves on two legs leads some to believe it may be some kind of mutated or cursed human. Others claim it is one of Legion’s, a creature of nightmares, part goat and all monster.

The beast has long tormented the settlements in the valley and most notably has been terrorizing the cattle ranches in Pourisse. Incensed by the attacks and loss of his livestock, Pierre Flaubert de Doré regularly sends hunters up the mountain to slay the devilish creature.

Though they have more than once returned with pelts and heads of various vicious animals, the attacks have never truly stopped, instead only pausing for a few weeks or months at a time. No manner of destroying the creature’s corpse has prevented the return, from burial to burning and scattering the ashes to the bay. The people whisper that the beast is immortal and simply rises up from death each time to torment them forever.

#### The Truth

While local predators can account for a number of the attacks, the average wolf cannot rip the head clean off a steer. Some more logical hunters point toward bears, known to rear on their hind legs and to have the savage strength required.

The same magic that empowers les Dames Blanches creates a number of the illusions around le Diable. Over time, the magic in the area warped one of the bears inhabiting the mountain, allowing it to grow in size and strength and extending its lifespan. The stories of goat hooves and horns are exaggerations, told by scared locals to demonize the creature, though it needs little help in that area.

It hunts year-round, lacking the hibernation patterns of its unaltered kin, and often attacks towns in the winter months when prey is sparse. Few have actually come across the creature, though it carries old scars and wounds. Its ability to heal from ailments that would easily be fatal to another animal feeds the stories that it is either unkillable or some kind of undead beast.

Le Diable du Sommet is a Strength 6 Monster with the Fearsome and Powerful Monstrous Qualities.

### Vaticine Angel

Having thrown off the shackles of l’Empereur’s reign, the people of Dechaine gratefully and openly returned to the Vaticine faith. Among the ancient architecture that makes up the city is a small cathedral, where the populace gathers to celebrate their long-suppressed faith and seek divine aid.

Followers of Theus believe the Creator always provides to the faithful, and the church-going citizens of Dechaine have redoubled their devotion, hoping for help from the Vaticine Angel. Said to come under cover of night, the Angel leaves necessary commod-ities—food, clothing, blankets—to faithful families in need. To denote their devotion to the faith, home-owners inscribe sigils on the frame of their front door or hang a symbol of the faith above it.

In Dechaine, the Angel appears to be particularly active, leaving supplies for the city as a whole in the cathedral and smaller parcels at individual households. Thanks and praise follow every delivery, usually made on nights where fog from the nearby harbor creeps in and covers the town. A Dechaine citizen takes the deliveries as a sign that his revolution stands and can spread, and that soon all of Montaigne will be able to live without the overbearing shadow of l’Empereur looming over him.

#### The Truth

While the clergy of Montaigne mostly hide, they still believe in their solemn duty to serve the followers of Theus. Originally donating out of their own pockets (or the coffers of the hush-money paid by l’Empereur), over time these members of their close-knit commu-nities began to look for ways to offer help without insulting families by offering charity; to be self-made in Montaigne is everything, no matter where you are from. Gifts from Theus are different than pity from neigh-bors and easier to swallow by the prideful Montaignois.

In La Motte and Dechaine, the clergy operating under the guise of the Angel are especially active, helping to allot resources in the Unchained city as it restructures itself and gathering supplies to deliver to the siege at Mont du Flambeau. As followers of Theus, they serve their own people first, but refuse to deny aid to others if they can afford it. The groups work independently of any other Secret Societies, though the Močiutės Skara are aware of their presence and send aid when they can.

### Son Ombre

Well-known in the underground community and among the nobles and constabulary of Charouse is one simple fact: you do not cross Ève Lafrisée. Speaking ill of her, attempting to back out of a deal, avoiding repayment of an outstanding debt and even trivial matters ensure a swift and painful punish-ment by her hand. Whispers and gossip abound when nobles are disgraced or merchants vanish; in polite society, the most common way to speculate on Lafrisée’s involvement is to simply say they fell in Her Shadow. The unspoken implication, of course, is that those who stumble into the dark do not make it out unscathed.

A member of the noble class does not much fear death or assassination, protected as she is by her station; however, one involved in underground affairs without such lofty positions knows he risks life and limb if he chooses to cross, hinder or otherwise incon-venience the city’s most infamous assassin.

Regardless of the infraction, the punishment is always disproportionately severe, with bodily harm often added as a “tax” to the coin, favor or information originally promised. Even a relatively secure noble sips from poisoned cups or trips beneath the wheels of a gilded carriage, but the common end for one of status is social and financial ruin—it is more satisfying to leave her alive to suffer through the humiliation than to deliver her to the merciful arms of death.

#### The Truth

Even those willing to ask Ève about the way she handles her “problem clients” get nothing more than a knowing smirk. Some speculate that she has a handful of select enforcers who carry out her bidding and uphold her reputation, and flawless alibis support this theory. No one can say for sure whom Ève  may have recruited to this team, but they are all surely as deadly as their leader.

Ève herself knows the miraculous fulfillment of her will goes beyond mere enforcement. Since cementing herself as the ringleader of all things illicit, she has noticed another force protecting and aiding her, be it from the rare uncorrupted members of the court or from attempts on her own life. She has no idea who this mysterious benefactor is, only that she has never once demanded anything of her and apparently has her back unconditionally.

Behind Ève’s success is an older sister she has never met. Margaux Lafrisée was separated from her siblings at a very young age. Upon hearing of Arnault’s demise, she sought out and shadowed Ève as she clawed her way to her current position. Lacking the conviction to run a criminal empire herself, she instead assists from the shadows to protect her little sister. When she appears, it is often as a hooded figure that blends easily into a crowd.

Margaux is a Villain with Power 10, Strength 6 and Influence 4. She uses her Influence to hire street thugs to keep tabs on Ève.

### Sword of Achille

In the war waged by the Third Prophet, paladins and knights of the faith helped champion his beliefs. They traveled to the nations outside of Castille, bringing with them his word. One of these paladins, called Achille, made his way to Montaigne, where he united the people and established the Vaticine religion in the region for the first time. The people stood in awe as he fought back those that would harm the new followers of the religion, doing successful battle even with those who wielded magic against him.

To the populace, it was nothing short of a miracle to witness him win battles against impossible odds, and many converted on the promise of similar divine protection. After his death, his followers buried Achille in the catacombs of the Grand Cathedral. His sword, claimed by the Church, sat on display for many years, until l’Empereur banned the religion in Montaigne.

Since then the sword has vanished, but scholars maintain that it still exists and will surface again to bring about another religious revolution. Especially in Montaigne, where the nobility vehemently opposes the Vaticine religion, the religious peasantry long for something to rally them and reinvigorate the faith. The legend goes that the sword ignites into bright white flame in the hands of the truly faithful and ensures victory and good fortune to spread the word of Theus and reclaim lost, heretic lands.

#### The Truth

While the sword of Achille does exist, most of its grand abilities can be attributed not to any magical or divine blessing, but to the material it was forged from. Made of dracheneisen, the artifact remains just as effective now as when first wielded by Achille. The miraculous properties it holds—flaming in the hands of a faithful wielder, allowing Achille to be the last standing in a battle against sorcerers—can all be attributed to the sturdy material.

For centuries, the sword rested in the Catacombs of La Grande Cathédrale in Charouse, under an unassuming name in an effort to conceal it from Die Kreuzritter, who loathe to see dracheneisen in any hands but their own. The habit of the various scholarly groups to appropriate, move or quietly claim artifacts means the exact location of the sword is unknown at the moment, and the nature of the weapon is said to be concealed by its unadorned scab-bard—certainly not the original it was forged with.

Even the group currently possessing it may not be entirely aware of exactly what they have, but rumors have abounded for years that it was hidden from the Montaigne nobility when the religion was all but banned. Many adventurers have scoured the religious reliquaries searching for the sword, but to this date, it has yet to be found.