Chapter 21: Storming the Chateau and a Trial

16/6/1 070 Morning / day. Comte Richelieu, father of the Birdman, is the largest local landowner. Strictly he is the feudal superior of all the local petty nobility, although in these somewhat soggy lands these families are pretty much independent. Nevertheless he is likely to interfere and scupper Sir Zacharias' private war.

He lives 2 day's ride away (a courier with remounts could get there in 1 day, and fully equipped kinights would require more like 3 days), so we can anticipate 4 days before any interference from that quarter (and prevaricate for perhaps twice as long).

We started several projects:

§ I set several peasants to constructing an altar.
§ Sir Zacharias explicitly granted sanctuary to the 5 children within the chateau, and they emerged.
§ He also ordered the construction of a rack, though this took lower priority and was scarcely started.
§ The young knights began to modify the partially repaired bridge into a moveable pontoon.
§There was also a ditch; its purpose was to drain the moat, but if anything the water wanted to flow in the other direction.
§ Fire arrows set something alight within the chateau, but it was extinguished.

That night, with peasants, dogs and Adan on watch, a Méchant man at arms was captured trying to escape. He revealed that the defenders are; Sir Méchant, Bever FitzRichelieu, 4 adult men at arms, and a young recruit.
I suspect that the man was a messenger, but could not confirm this. He was confined.

17/6/1 070 As preparations continued, Sir Zacharias took time to talk with the ladies.

I perused the documents relating to the Méchant family gaining the castle.
The previous owners had all died mysteriously at table, whereupon the staff fled, claiming illness.

Sir Détourner, Jean-Paul, Robert, Jeanette and the 2 Méchant ladies withdrew from the siege (the Méchants were taken to Chateau de la Roche).

That night, Sir Zacharias launched a 3-pronged attack:
Most knights attacked at the rear doorway, using the pontoon. This was supposed to be a feint.
Adan attracted and killed the reptiles (Gullit?) that lurked within the moat. His activity was also supposed to be a feint but he ended up wading and swimming (he has some theologically sound but light Elven armour) the moat and standing outside the main gate until the attackers let him in.
Sir Zacharias and a few picked companions rowed across to a sidewall (it was only 2 manheights to the top), and used grapples to climb it. It was defended, but weakly. This group let the other knights in.
They were (all) supported by bowmen and crossbowmen, who were not particularly effective in the dark. The mangonel broke.
Fortunately, neither were the defenders. 1 peasant was killed whilst bringing up a ram, and some other attackers suffered minor injuries.

I tried to OBSERVE anything watching the area, but could not find anything.

The defenders occupied the upper levels of the gatehouse. The attackers lit a smoking fire beneath.
Sir Méchant came forth and fought his duel with Sir Zacharias, who prevailed. He surrendered his title to the castle and lands, but was allowed to sit in judgement upon Bever.

18/6/1 070. Sir Zacharias gave the Chateau Méchant (renamed Chateau Mercedes) to his younger brother Robespierre.

Bever FitzRichelieu was tried before various knights, for the crime of abducting Lady Mercedes. He claimed that a voice (he could not describe the voice or even the language) had spoken to him out of the darkness. It wanted Lady Mercedes, but it had Lady Vaine. He took Mercedes to the hillock, and the ladies were swapped.
Unfortunately he mentioned that it was a Demon that tempted him, and I was forced to send him to the Inquisition: L'Enquete Curieux. For what it's worth, he did not meet a Demon, and I signed papers to that effect. We also sent (indirect) word to his father. That should keep the Comte and the most dangerous arm of the Church at each other, and away from ourselves, for a while.

We returned to Chateau de la Roche, and I held a ceremony of thanks, and a ritual seeking inspiration.
Something (whirling eyes) was drawn to us, but the GOD preserved us from its influence.
It thought of an isle that we knew from over a year ago, on the Swideur.

It is fairly clear that it is the Dragon that destroyed the Demon 1 year ago (or possibly an agent or thought of the Dragon). It reads thoughts, and possibly mistook Lady Vaine for Lady Mercedes (both are substantial ladies who resemble one another... in Sir Zacharias' mind). It wants about 50 kg of silver (10 000 SP, which is considerably more than de la Roche can afford). It also wants to count coup on him. I must search for Dragon lore, as I know next to nothing about them.