Clockwork & Chivalry - Session 01

1st February 2020

February and Saturday have come around again, it's the evening and we're at Matakishi's for RPGing.

​The Clockwork & Chivalry campaign kicks off tonight.

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Location: Oxford, Christmas Eve, 1645.

It was cold, it was wintry and snow covered everything. This did not deter the crowds from gathering to watch the fireworks display tonight.

Ursula, Abraham and I had found ourselves in 'The Jolly Magpie', the tavern is crowded and filled to capacity.
We were sitting and nursing our drinks when we witnessed a fracas breakout between some Levellers and Royalist.
Being no fan of the Royalists, Abraham stood up and waded in with the intention of aiding the Levellers. The fight was eventually quelled and we were all ejected from the tavern, regardless of our involvement or not.

We had planned to stay in The Jolly Magpie until our meeting with a certain 'Sir Reginald Perkinson', but now we decided to explore the Christmas fair.

We came across a street play, a comedy depicting events from the civil war.

After this we head to the fireworks display to meet with Sir Reginald. Whilst we are watching the display, Sir Reginald invites us to his house tomorrow.

During the latter part of the display we noticed a giant humanoid shape in the bonfire itself - a salamander!
Suddenly we saw a puritan preacher leap forward and break the seal, freeing the salamander.

​The salamander escapes and began to flee!

Without delay, Sir Reginald gives us each a 'philosopher's stone' and explains that we must surround the elemental whilst brandishing the stones. When this is done, then Sir Reginald will able to deal with it. Finally, Sir Reginald tells us that he thinks that someone has given the salamander instructions of some kind to go to a particular place.

We tried to anticipate where the salamander was going and took a short cut in order to cut it off. But then; ambush! We're ambushed, our attackers rake us with gunfire and I stopped a shot in the arm and it nearly downs me! We respond and counter-attack, Ursula's witchcraft made short work of most of them and Abraham and I dealt with what remained.
During the altercation we noticed a black hooded stranger watching us, but they disappeared before we could move towards them.

We then continued with our pursuit and managed to surround the elemental and Sir Reginald used his alchemy to banish the creature.

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The next day was Christmas Day! We headed to Sir Reginald's home, when we arrived we found that his sister was also present.

Sir Reginald went on to explain why he wanted us here. He explained that he was at the 'Battle of Naseby', it was during this fight that he lost both sons and his wife Cecilia.
Much to his surprise, Sir Reginald discovered that his wife might still live!

Sir Reginald then explained that he wanted us to investigate the supposed disappearance of Cecilia.
He went on to tell us that if she's not at Naseby, then she might be at Cambridge.

Sir Reginald also wanted us to deliver a letter on his behalf. The letter meant for the mother of a dead friend of his! The address is; Althorp House, Whittlewood forest.

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The next day we exited Oxford and upon our leaving we were accosted by some town guards. They searched us, complaining about the activities of smugglers. once out of Oxford we headed towards Naseby.

During the morning we spotted a band of horsemen, they were Parliamentarians and they rushed past us along the road?

During the afternoon a fox hunt crossed the road in front of us. Later in the day we encountered the hunt again, the hunt leader had been seriously injured. We decided to stop for the day and see if we could help. Luckily for the huntsman, Ursula's witchcraft proved helpful.

The next day, the hunt leader gifted Abraham a riding horse in thanks.

We continued on with our journey.
The next day we encountered gypsies fleeing Parliamentarians. Later on it began to snow and soon it started to get dark. Ahead we spotted circling crows, it did not bode well and we found a body.

It was the remains of a cavalier, he had been stabbed in the heart through the back. He must have died several days ago, but it was hard to tell in that bitter cold.

We searched his remains and found a ring with the initials 'J.S.'. Abraham took the ring and hoped to return it to a family member. Afterwards we buried the body. 

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The next day we woke to find that snow had blanketed everything. We set off but the going was slow in the awful conditions.

We had few encounters during this day, the harsh weather kept many people off the road. We did pass a ragged couple however, they stopped us and asked for food & clothing. We helped them as best we could.

Later in the day a mounted Royalist patrol comes up behind us and we are surrounded.

They were led by 'Lord Percy Carsdale' with his 'Gallopers'. Lord Percy introduced himself as 'Dasher'. Then he questioned us about our actions and movements over the last few days. He was searching for a spy and also looking for 'John Seddon'.

The initials on the ring we had taken from the body matched the name John Seddon. So Abraham explained the situation to Dasher and handed over the ring.

After matters with Dashers had been dealt with we continued on.

We soon entered North Hampshire and were drawing closer to Whittlewood forest.