Defenders of the Forest - Liber Fanatica

missing party (false) and that he was attacked by “tree demons”
(true). If questioned about the gamekeeper camp, Patrice denies
prior knowledge of his cohorts’ fate but feigns sorrow at their
loss. Patrice insists on escorting the party back to Quenelles.
During the journey, Patrice tells PCs that the forest is revolting
against humanity and Elves can no longer keep it in check.
If any Elves accompany the party, Patrice challenges them to
declare which side they support in the impending war between
Man and Forest. Elves who answer “the forest” receive an angry
riposte. Patrice might even attempt to sway human PCs against
the Elves. He seems nervous, and is constantly looking over his
shoulder.
Da g g e r in t h e Ni g h t
Patrice volunteers to take first watch. The gamekeeper has been
instructed by Vaubon to ensure that Marianne doesn’t return
to Quenelles. After everyone appears to have fallen asleep, he
produces a long-bladed Elven dagger and sneaks toward the
twins’ bedroll. Marianne produces a muffled scream when
Patrice places his hand over her mouth, allowing sleeping PCs to
awaken with a Hard (-20) Perception Test. Whether successful
in his malign scheme or not, the treacherous gamekeeper flees
into the heath if confronted.
After the Encounter
The return journey to Quenelles should be handled abstractly as
the story speeds to its conclusion. Occasionally a squat, sodroofed
cottage is spotted; the only signs of human activity on
the Wild Heath. The eccentric hedgefolk who live on the heath
own nothing of value and make guests feel very uneasy.
• If caught and interrogated, Patrice claims that Vaubon’s new
wife Antoinette paid him to murder her stepdaughter (false).
• If successful, Patrice brings Marianne’s heart back to Le Preneur
and sacrifices it to appease the “tree demons”.
Co n f r o n t i n g t h e Ma r q u i s
Time: Returning to Quenelles
Locations: Quenelles (Chapter @, pg. 62)
The party is greeted with fanfare upon returning to Quenelles.
Among the crowd gathered in the city wall’s eastern breach
is Duke Tancred II, who has come to congratulate the heroes
personally. Tancred is flanked by an entourage of banner-men
and sycophantic nobles, including Marquis de Vaubon and his
wife Antoinette, a stranger to the twins. The twins cry when
told that their real mother died of grief soon after their kidnapping.
If Jean-Michel is present, Vaubon loudly curses the Fay for
“damaging” his son.
After initial formalities, Marquis de Vaubon takes the heroes
aside and presents them with a bag of gold amounting to 20 gc
per adventurer. If either Marianne or Jean-Michel were rescued,
Vaubon thanks them and takes Jean-Michel by the hand. Characters
who pass a Perception Test notice that Vaubon doesn’t
seem as overjoyed as one might expect of a father who’s been
reunited with his children.
Chapter XII: Revolutions
in Progress
135
If PCs accuse the Marquis of scheming against his own children,
both Vaubon and Antoinette are outraged. Antoinette is
genuinely unaware of her husband’s plot and the Marquis claims
his gamekeeper must have been possessed by “forest demons”.
If Marianne is present, she listens attentively but can only be
convinced of her father’s betrayal with a successful Charm Test.
If Patrice was captured alive, he begs forgiveness and agrees that
his treachery must indeed have been the work of forest demons.
Th e Du k e ’s Sp e e c h
Duke Tancred declares he will make a speech in Chapel Square.
As the duke’s servants prepare a podium, PCs have a brief opportunity
to speak with him. Tancred listens attentively and
seems unsurprised at any suggestion of the Marquis’ duplicity.
He simply informs the PCs, “Everything will be taken care of”,
before mounting the podium.
The crowd cheers as Duke Tancred raises his hand in a V-signal
and announces that today will be commemorated henceforth
as a holiday; “Liberation Day”. If Marianne survived, Tancred
announces that she will join his court. If informed of Vaubon’s
treachery, he pauses momentarily before announcing that land
holdings in the Wild Heath will be reduced from 20% to 15%,
as a token of gratitude to the spirits of Loren. Several of the
assembled nobles storm off in disgust amidst continued cheering
and rude gestures from the commoners. Vaubon is among the
nobles who leave Chapel Square (possibly dragging Jean-Michel
along behind him).
After the Encounter
The sequel to Revolutions in Progress will pick up where this
story ends. PCs wishing to investigate Marquis de Vaubon can
be left with a cliff-hanger if this adventure is being played as
Part 1 of the Revolution Cycle. Otherwise, GMs can design an
appropriate denouement allowing players the opportunity to
ensure justice is served.
• Marquis de Vaubon’s treatment of Jean-Michel is determined
by whether Marianne also survived. He is not happy about
having a son through whom Duke Tancred’s court Damsel can
eavesdrop on his private scheming, and will keep the boy locked
in a room if necessary. In any event, Jean-Michel is not the
strapping young man he expected;
instead his son has regressed into a
wild boy with no courtly manners.
Vaubon hires private tutors to teach
Jean-Michel Bretonnian and handle
his education.
• If Marianne survived, she brings
any rescued children without living
parents to a Shallyan orphanage.
Marianne tells PCs: “The real
revolution has only just begun”.