March 15 1830
Fields of Gasgone. France.
Personal Journey of Leon Wagner
Entry
The town was already on edge the moment I approached the bridge.
I arrived on horseback at the town in Gasgone half expecting it to already be in flames based on what occurrences I've already heard. But was relieved to see it still intact, at least for the moment. I would see it stayed that way. The feeling was mutual among others who blocked my path.
Halt who goes there! Shouted a french soldier dressed in blue. Pointing his bayoneted rifle at me as I approached the bridge crossing.
Leong Wagner! I shouted from the other side, raising my arms high the air camly and dismounting my horse. I'm a huntsman! I've been sent here to assist in dealing with a beast! I require entry into the town and to meet with those in charge and any eyewitnesses urgently!
A huntsman?!! The man shouted jokingly not taking me seriously. What good can one huntsman do!!? We'ev already lost four flesh knights and six soldiers and you think you can help us?! HA! Nothing short of the emperors entire army can help us at this point. So Just turn around and march back the way you came and send them instead cause you're no good to us here. Especially a child like yourself!!
Well this child is not leaving until you let me pass. I shouted. I can help. So if you'll just let me cross.."
Are you deaf?! I said get out of here! Or else...
Or else what corporal? A commanding and intimidating voice called out from behind.
Both me and the bridge guard looked behind suddenly to see three well dressed soldiers in blue, red, and white coats atop horses arrive seemingly out of nowhere like phantoms from the morning fog. The three riders came to a sudden well trained halt in front of the lone guard, scattering dust and pebbles everywhere from under their hooves. The leader in front of the contingent pressed his aged white horse forward to greet me more coridaly than his subordinate. I could see that the man had a long black mustache and hints of grey in his hair resting under a large helmet decorated with a long red feather and black horse hair flowing in the wind behind. He was wearing a solid steel chest piece and was gripping tightly and proudly to an officer's saber laced with gold and silver, set at his side in it's sheath against his belt. A french cuirassier. Elite cavalry or Napoleon's' empire unit no doubt. He looked and acted every bit the part expected of him.
About time you got here huntsman! The mustached man shouted from the other side. We placed a request for one of you lot weeks ago! Sorry about the trouble this idiot put you through! We'll get you settled in at the town with proper food and drink and discuss more in detail we arrive. You must be exhausted after such a long journey. Come! We have much to discuss! Called out the Cuirassier as he turned his horse's reign's around to escort me personally to the town under protection of his garrison.
I smiled as I mounted my horse and galloped across the bridge in a hurry to catch up with the three of them, giving a quick smirk and glance to the guard that meant no hard feelings.
I led my horse in right beside the mustached man with much eagerness. I noticed he had a posture and attitude as he sat atop his steed that immediately demonstrated much pride, experience, and respect. I could tell he was a man of honor and courage. I would enjoy working with him.
I have to admit. The man said beside me, eyeing me up and down. You're a lot younger than I expected you to be.
That trouble you? I asked.
Not in the least. I joined the army and killed my first man far younger than you. As long as you do the job well enough as I do mine, then there won't be any trouble between us. And besides, it would not do me any good to turn you away now. We could use all the help we can get. And besides, I'm certainly not looking forward to writing another vain call asking for help and waiting for weeks while we lose more people in between when it could be avoided.
Well you can stow that letter captain. I'm here to stay until the beast is dead and gone. I'll assist you and your men any way I can. You have my word as a fellow soldier. Of a sort...
The lean man gave me a warm genuine smile before giving me a brief nod of trust and good faith in my skills despite my age. "Very well then." He grinned. "Then let this task we now share go as smoothly as one can hope. Captain Jacques Dupont. Leader of the 13th Imperial Cuirassier division. At your service good sir."
The soldier then reached out a white gloved hand to mine as a friendly gesture of good faith, which I eagerly accepted with a hearty stern shake of reciprocated gratitude. I thanked him for his kindness and responded that the feeling was mutual. I then recalled that the 13th cuirassier's sounded familiar and the recollection came to me in an instant.
13th cuirassier? That division is legendary! I said aloud with much admiration and childish fondness. They fought in the final battle of bloody tears against dracula's combined horde.
I know. I was there that day with all the others. Said Jacques. Still looking ahead not giving his role in the famous battle much thought. I led the charge of my emperor's men straight down the middle of the horde. We lost a great deal. They showed us no mercy but we showed much more courage. As did your guild who had taken the brunt of the vampire's fangs. What happened to those men and women. Was a tragedy. They died bravely. And honorably so we could finish what you started. And for that I thank you all. France would not be standing here otherwise.
His words were not lost on me. To hear a modem of respect finally afforded to the huntsman guild after so much disrespect and scruitty was a breath of much needed fresh air I was all to happy to hear. And from a fellow soldier no less.
If you don't mind good sir. Would you perhaps care to tell me why you have come here? I inquired more curious. Why would a decorated soldier such as yourself act as simple constable so far away from the field of battle.
A change of pace I suppose. Dupont smirked. I am soon to retire after thirty-six years of proud yet tenuous service. My dear wife jaquelin has longed for me to return home as our marriage has quite suffered from my time away. So I made a promise to her. After this last task for the emperor is complete. My days as a soldier. Are well and truly behind me.
Are you sure? I asked. To give up when there is so much still you could accomplish.
I have accomplished all that I need to and more. He replied. There will be others to take up the reigns I will leave behind. To bear the weight of such responsibility and duty for so long for so many years. It..wears at you like no other strain.
I doubt that. I responded.
Dupont adjusted his grip on the reigns. You will son. You will. There is only so much a man can give fighting for a cause. Whether it be against man or monster. Every soldier has his limit. Though some are forced to come to terms with it sooner than later. Dupont's stallion underneath suddeny snorted and huffed as if seeminlgy approving of what message it's rider said, sharing a simmilar weariness of war and yearning for retirement. Dupon't smiled and patted the old warhorses mane just as grey as his own in reply. "Easy there girl..easy. Dupon't carresed his old horse's neck in a specific manner that seemed to sooth the beast. I had only owned my own black horse for a short while. The bond between the two of them was clearly something that had taken much time. And bloodshed to form together.
Care to tell me what the situation is here if I'm taking up the cause then? I smirked.
The man nodded with a slight smile of amusement and relief. Of course then. Some creature has been roaming the woods whenever the sun sets for the past six months. At first the only disappearances were that of nearby wild game. Nothing more. But the beast's rather voracious appetite changed drastically when nearby game had all but run out. It began raiding farmers' and herders livestock. Cattle, sheep even chickens. All gone everywhere within a few weeks and in a fifty mile radius. When those too ran out. The creature started going for the only thing left that wandered the fields. And i'm afraid it has only grown more emboldened with each attack.
How did it start? I asked him. Any eye witness accounts of the first attack on humans?
None I'm afraid. Whenever the creature attacks. It leaves no one alive to tell tale of what they saw. The first to go missing was a young stableboy. Adam I think his name was if I remember correctly. Lived out near the edge of town on his own and most assumed he had gotten lost in the woods or eaten by wolves. They're quite common around these parts. A search was made, but they found no body and assumed him gone. But it was then a month later when two children's remains turned up on the path right outside town mutilated and ripped apart that the people realized this was no ordinary wolf. Twelve men armed with pitchforks and old muskets volunteered to set out and slay the beast on their own.
I'm guessing it didn't go so well? I inquired.
That would be putting it lightly i'm afraid. Not a single man returned. It was a bloody Massacre. Afterwards the cycle continued in body count and calls of desperation for increasing qualified help. After were a pair of wolf hunters. Dead. A squad of infantry soldiers. Dead. Even two flesh knights were sent down directly from paris to deal with the creature. Dead to everyone's surprise. They did are a bit better but didn't turn out to be much more use in the end. They could stand guard and follow simple orders well enough like any common soldier, but i'm afraid powers of deduction and being able to find the beast in the bloody first place are lost on the mindless brutes. They failed. Just like all the others. And now here I am with my men. The next and hopefully last in a long list of solutions that have all gone awry. I'm trusting you and I can change that so we can both leave here a job well done?
You trust well. I responded. Tell me about the current situation. What is it like here now?
Now. Well.. no one ventures out into those woods out of fear and my orders as temporary constable of this town. "Me and my men have been garrisoned here to preserve order and protect the town from any nightly occurrences and itself.
Itself? I asked.
Yes. The man sighed. Lowering his head slightly in frustration. The people have been..On edge as of late. Accusations have been flying toward one another. Neighbor turning on neighbor. It's hard to dispel what is real and what is fabrication. I'm hoping a professional such as yourself can help us in that regard.
I've surrounded the town and riverways with spiked fences to try and keep the beast at bay from town. All in vain I'm afraid. Every night the creature can be seen roaming the fields, entering into town to attack people at random before vanishing back into the forest as soon as the sun begins to rise. The old monarchy had a very similar problem about fifty six years ago with the beast from gevaudan. Attacked people in fields before vanishing into the woods. Now it seems that a creature of a similar type has returned. And all are suffering as a result. Together. I hope we can finally put an end to this.