The Story So Far.

General Summary

"Tell me, do you know the story of the Night Witch of Cholet?"

— Comte De Bourdain

The Camp

Léonie Caméléon and Jean de Loungville started their adventure following an attack by humanoid wolves on their camp during the night. Ordered by their commanding officer Monsieur De Treville the pair scouted out into the dark forest finding small pieces of fabric and personal items along the trail left by the werewolves.
Seeing smoke on coming from a nearby village the duo discovered the village of L'orbrie ransacked and burned to its foundations. In the ruins they found a dying old man who had managed to survive the attack. He told them that the villagers were taken and with his last breath asked Jean that they find his son Albert. Staying the night in the village Jean and Leonie managed to capture a Spaniard named Diego Torres in exchange for letting him go free back to his wife he tells them that his comrades might have attacked the village but that they would be from Fort Cholet not his unit. He also told them that no one had heard from Fort Cholet in nearly a week.
Taking Diego with them group came across an old man at Merlin's Dolmen reading a very old looking leather bound book. He introduced himself as the Comte De Bourdain and seemed to have a passing relationship with Jean's uncle Robert De Loungville. The old man seems to have no idea of strange creatures roaming the night or of hearing anything out of the ordinary despite his proximity to the camp. Once the conversation is over he returns to reading but invites the duo to visit him when everything is settled.

Visit to the Comte

Upon returning to camp Jean and Leonie release Diego to camp security and inform Monsieur De Treville of what they found and their meeting with the Comte De Bourdain. Treville tells them they should visit the Comte as he might have more information but to be careful as the man is suspected to practice dark magics and was expelled from the King's court for that reason.
Taking the Captain's advice the two head off into Darkrot Forest. The air is dense and their horse don't behave the way they should. Suddenly they are ambushed by a swarm of spiders. They fight valiantly but Leonie is killed. Managing to get her body onto his horse Jean miraculously makes his way out of the forest lead by a mystical ball of light that guides him and seems to slow the spiders a little. Racing against the horde Jean manages to cross the bridge that marks the boundary of the forest and is saved by a hooded figure who erects a wall of force preventing the Spiders from reaching them. The figure reveals himself to be the Comte De Bourdain who sees Leonie's lifeless body and he and Jean quickly rush to his mansion.
Telling Jean to collect some nearby mushrooms the Comte creates a ritual space around Leonie's body and begins the process of restoring her to life by calling on spirits that Jean has never seen. Telling the young musketeer to not let go no matter what he sees or feels.
Meanwhile Leonie finds herself in a desert with a small door standing in the middle. Seeing other figures and strange creatures milling around she heads towards it. Opening the door she feels a great warmth come over her and her father's old study, its fireplace full and inviting. Entering the room she takes a book from the wall and begins reading it. Looking up a few minutes later she sees her father looking down on her, he smiles and take a seat opposite.

Leonie's dream study
Back in the material world Jean is buffeted by strange spirits who snarl and slash at him. Others offer him worldly delights if he were only to reach out for them. While he and Bourdain hold their circle closed and both call out to Leonie. In study Leonie's Father offers her knowledge from this realm, knowledge she will need going forward. But as the conversation continues she begins to get a strange feeling from her father, hearing the voice of Jean telling her to come back she heads towards the door. Opening it again she is greeted by the sight of an endless void. Her father tells her that if she leaves she is choosing Oblivion and will never be able to return to the library. Hearing Jean's voice again she walks through the door.
As this happens Jean heroically manages to shrug off a massive attack by the spirits around him one almost managing to knock him clean across the room but he never breaks the chain around Leonie and as he looks down he sees her take a breath.

Breakfast at Bourdain's

Waking the next morning the pair are told that breakfast is to be served in the dining hall but that it can be delivered if needed. Both refuse and slowly make their way into the great hall they see a vertiable feast laid out on the table but Jean notices that the dining hall seems to be bigger on the inside than it appeared the night before. He comments on the fact as he takes a seat opposite Leonie but is told that "how things appear and how they really are, are two different things"

Boudi's Symbol

Following some banter and verbal sparring between Jean and the Comte he asks them that all he would want as payment for his services is that the two of them deliver a letter to his friend Rene de Dunois on their return to Paris. Jean agrees while Leonie sits in silence. The Comte proceeds to tell them over breakfast the Story of the Night Witch of Cholet.

• She was once a druid named Boudi
• Helped the Romans conquer her brother in Britain.
• Disappears from the histories for many centuries before appearing again in Marseille around the time the black death hit.
• She has roamed France ever since seemingly weakening the country for centuries until she disappeared about 100 years ago.
• Her sigil is that of the wolf.

Based on his reading he is certain the Night Witch is abroad again but tells Jean and Leonie that if they manage to disincorporate the witch then any she has turned will be healed.
He offers to help further and provides both Musketeers with rapiers made of Cold Forged Steel and a carbine for Leonie to replace the musket she lost in the forest along with a set of silver bullets inside a wooden box along with two potions that will help accelerate their healing.
With that the Comte invites the Musketeers to eat breakfast and enjoy the peace while they can.

Report Date

24 Jan 2021