As April winds down everyone receives invitations to David and Betty’s wedding. Amid the arranging of transportation to Louisville Ky, Gideon gets a visit from Bernie. Now that he is married Bernie recognizes his desire to lay down the sword. Bernie tells him that it is OK he understands and that if he wants to lay down the sword and retire.
Through the month of April Vic has been have been visiting a new lady named Dee. He has spent lots of time with her and has gotten close to her. Just before leaving for the wedding, they are wrapping up one of their liaison at a hotel in town they kiss, and as they embrace Dee whispers in his ear, ‘See, I told you I would have you, and now I do.’ She kisses him leaves, he hears a motorcycle starting and looks out the window and recognizes her as Asmodeus, the demon of lust that tried to seduce him when they went to Hell to rescue Penelope.
As the Cavaliers meet at Beaumont’s bakery to discuss travel plans, they come up with three ways they can get to Louisville – a 10 hour drive, about a four hour flight, or travel through the Nevernever for about 2 1/2 to three hours. All the Cavaliers decide to drive except David who is coming later. Betty and her family are already there in Louisville at David’s family home, but he needs to finish up some things at the university before he can leave so he’ll be coming through the Nevernever later – probably getting there about the same time as they do.
Following David’s directions, they drive through Louisville and north of town for about 10 minutes as they leave town it turns into suburbs and then country and rural areas outside of town. The directions lead them to what looks like a forest in the distance in the hills north of the city. As they approach the forest they come through a small little village, probably about 3 -4 blocks in any direction. The instructions tell them to drive through the village to the other side towards the forest. As they do so outside of the village they come to a gatehouse on the road.
There standing in the middle of the gatehouse arch is a tall is a hulking figure. Probably close to 7 feet tall and broad shoulders. This individual dressed in a Butler’s uniform and looks intimidating. He stops the group ask to see their invitations and invokes The Guest Rights of Hospitality under the Unseelie Accords before they enter. After being invited in the Cavaliers proceed down the small country road past the gatehouse. It is lush forests and streams going through the property right up to the road. It is green, lush, and beautiful. The road is only big enough for one car and it winds through this forested landscape for about four miles. As they drive, they swear that they can see little motes of light fliting through the forest trees, it looks like these might be fairies of some sort. As the relaxing and enjoyable drive comes to an end, they see David’s ancestral home.
As they pull up to the house next to the garage which used to be the stables and carriage house of the house there met again by Wellington, who somehow has traveled from the gatehouse to here faster than they have. He introduces them to David’s family saying he must get back to the gatehouse, he has just received word that David and a group has just been picked up where they came through the Nevernever. David’s grandfather, Owsley, introduces them to David’s Mother and sister Evangeline and Vivian. He explains that they can choose to stay here at the mansion or arrangements have been made for some bed and breakfast cottages in the village outside the gates of the estate, if they would like to have some privacy. The Cavalier’s decided to stay and are put up on the third floor, and Evangeline takes them to their rooms.
As she does so, she explains that the Browns have lived here since 1895 when David’s great-grandfather build the estate. She gives them a short tour of the house and explains that they are free to relax until 6:30 this evening, when a small family style welcome dinner will be promptly served in the Banquet Hall. She also explains that they are free to enjoy the grounds and amenities while here.
Indeed, David and the Bourbon Street Irregulars arrive at house shortly after the Cavaliers settle into their rooms. They have a very traumatized and shellshocked young man with them who is carrying a large rucksack with supplies and other essentials for an expedition of some sort. David reports that he is a wizard apprentice named Sean McAvoy and they found him and his teacher, Lucius Von Trappe traveling at the waypoint near The Safehouse, ran by James and Catlin Pauley. They were trying to escape giant crystal spiders chasing them and sadly Lucius perished. The party didn’t feel like they could leave him alone and stranded in the Nevernever so they bought him with them. Immediately Evangeline takes him under her wing and promises they will get it all sorted out as she takes him off to find a room and get cleaned up. Sean who cannot believe that his mentor is dead, and he is now alone with no teacher. He wonders how he will pass the wizarding trials and become a full Wizard of the White Council. Beaumont makes it a point to visit with him and offers him a place to stay with his family in New Orleans. Because Beaumont is nice to him and listens, he offers him his Lucius’s monocle, a powerful magic item.
At 6:30 they make their way to the Banquet Hall and a ‘small family style welcome dinner’ is served in a Banquet Hall that can seat 70 people. A local band, The Soggy Bottom Boys, entertains the guests while they eat. They include their rendition of “A Man of Constant Sorrow”, much to the delight of the guests. At the dinner and activities of the following days the Cavaliers see many familiar faces they know, such as: Wizard McCoy representing the Senior Council and Captain Luccio from the Wardens of the White Council, The Leananshide of the Winter Court, and The Summer Lady Lily. Also represented are the minor courts of New Orleans – The Patriarch and his daughters (including Eve) of the Swamp Court, as well as Absinthe and Lillet, the Queen and Lady of the Cortege Gras.
They also see the Bourbon Street Irregulars – including Hilda – and meet the rest of David’s family. His grandfather, mother, and sister are there, along with his ‘Uncle Jasper’, ‘Cousin’ Karen, ‘Aunts’ Hilda and Zelda, and several ‘pure mortal’ members of his family.
However, they also see several other individuals they do not recognize but are introduced to; including a petite dark haired lady who introduces herself as Julie Singleton, a representative of the Venatori Unumbrum, and sniper, a short stocky man – not more than 5 feet tall with shaggy long hair and thick beard who is introduced as Bokk of Svartalfheim and brother of Etri, they also meet Angelica an member of the Shadowhunters, the last is an taciturn, older distinguished man who keeps to himself and is known only as Mac. The guys feel a great deal of power emanating from him and get the hint of a sea breeze smell when around him.
At dinner all the guests are given itineraries for the remaining days of the celebration. Friday is pretty much free for them, with only a rehearsal and dinner Friday evening with the wedding planned for Saturday at noon. The Brown family has set up several activities over the next few days for their guests to participate in; for example, the family has arranged a tour of the Old Forrester Distillery, they can visit Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby Museum, take a day trip out to the Falls of the Ohio, or go horseback riding and hiking through the 8000 acres of the estate. There is also a bocci ball and croquet courts set up on the green, as well as a spa day for those who would like to have a spa treatment before the wedding.
The Cavaliers decide they would like to go to would be the Distillery Tour and Churchill Downs with the Kentucky Derby Museum. The distillery tour is very intriguing and enjoyable. When they go to Churchill Downs there is a minor horse race going on and Vic decides to bet on it. He uses the magic of his Court to make sure his horses win, and he comes away with substantial winnings. During the rest of Friday, they enjoy the grounds of Samaire, but several times they see Eve walking the grounds innocuously, but they do not trust her – so they follow her and find some coral shards near the tributary to the Ohio River that runs through the estate. They realize that there should not be coral this far inland. They hold on to some samples and report their findings David’s Grandfather about their finding and he tasks Wellington to investigate it.
The rehearsal and the dinner took place outside on the Esplanade in front of the house. There were event tents and other service areas for the help set up to be able to serve the dinner and refreshments. Toward the evening, guests start arriving -all the ones that they had seen the last few days. The rehearsal goes fine, and the dinner begins with an appetizer and the first course is enjoyable. Everyone seems like they are having good time visiting and getting to know each other.
After the main course is served Eve, the Patriarch’s daughter stands up and asks all the Accorded Nations in attendance what the were-guild would be for someone who killed members of their house they are all astonished with the question and the patriarch tries to question his daughter, but she continues with accusations about the Cavaliers slaying her followers and her Lieutenant, the troll Remus. The Lananshide speaks as a representative of the Unseelie Court, as she is representing Mab – who wrote the Accords – saying that it is the right of the offended Nation to demand recompense for the losses that is suffered at the hands of another Nation. All the rest of the Accorded Nation representatives agree that she does have a claim.
She demands a were-guild from them instead of combat under the Code Duello. The Cavaliers try to maneuver their way out of it but realize that there is no spirit of the law when it comes to the Accords. They did kill her people so there needs to be some sort of recompense under the Accords. They ask what she wants for a payment, to which she responds that she wants three apples, two steeds with a chariot, and a cooking spit. Eve then asks if they agree to these terms. The Cavaliers want more details before they agree, to which she informs them that the golden apples from the Hesperides, the steeds and chariot belong to King Dobar of Sikilia, and the cooking spit is one of the spits of the fairy women of the island of Finchory.
Beaumont and Vic respond by pointing out that this is too much of a were-guild for a troll and some subordinates. There is an argument until they decide to approach her father – the Patriarch and the actual leader of their Court. Eve starts saying that if they do not accept the were-guild then it will be trial by combat. Her father steps in and puts his daughter in her place by reminding her that he is the Patriarch, and he will make the decision for the court not her. She gets mad storms out. He apologizes and acknowledges that there is a price that needs to be paid. He will think on this as they finish their main course and by the end of dinner he has come to his conclusion. He says that asking for three items were overreaching, but he wants the three apples as an appropriate were-guild for the loss the Swamp Court has suffered, and he wants them by dawn. It was about 9 pm the guys do not know how they’re going to get to the Isle of Hesperides, let alone where it’s at.
The Leananshide approaches the Cavaliers with some advice, however Beaumont and the others are not keen on accepting favors from her for fear of becoming in debt to her and the Winter Court. She offers it freely given with no expectation of payment she tells them that she knows a way to get there and back again faster than even traveling through the Nevernever. They are intrigued and she tells him they need to find the old man in the sea and ask to borrow his boat. They wonder who it could be and then remember the mysterious Mac, who smelled like the ocean breeze in radiated power beyond a normal emissary. They find him at the dinner party and approach him saying that it has been suggested they ask him for use of his boat.
He toys with him for a minute saying, ‘What makes you think I have a boat?’ The Cavaliers explain that they suspect him having much more power than he puts on and that the Leananshide has told them to look for a certain Triskelion-shaped design worn by the Old Man in the Sea. He replies that he does not recognize it. But as he reaches for his drink the arm of his suit coat slides up and they see his shirt has cufflinks with the same symbol on them. The group says that they think they are talking to the right person and they really need his help. They ask who he is, and he finally responds, ‘I am Manannan Mac Lir of the Tuatha de Danann.
He agrees to let them use his boat, on one condition – he introduces them to his foster granddaughter, which Beaumont says he can do because he knows that Greer has recently discovered she is Lugh’s daughter. He points them to the tributary river on the property and shows them his boat. He explains that all they need to do is say where they want to go, and it will take them there in record time.
The Cavaliers push off and begin their journey. The do make it in record time – it feels like only a few minutes have passed. The boat slows to a stop on the beach of an idyllic island with a grove of apple trees interlaced with mounds of earth running through them. They see no signs of guards of any kind so Luther says, ‘This is going to be easy.’ He jumps out of the boat and crosses the beach. As soon as he steps off the beach and into the orchards, the mounds of earth erupt into a giant multi headed dragon of some sort – reminiscent of a chimera. The dragon bites Luther severely wounding him. The rest of the Cavaliers come to his aid. As they engage in the battle, they soon discover that it has a weakness to lead, so they shoot the thing full of holes with their guns killing it.
As the Cavaliers vanquish the dragon, four griffins attack from the sky with a screech. They hurry and grab apples, eventually grabbling five. Even injured Luther grabbed three and Vic managed to get two low hanging ones. Beaumont released fire in the sky as a shield to hold off the griffins as they escape back to the boat. When the return to Samaire it is 11:30 pm. They approached the Patriarch saying they have that which he required of them. He accepts the wergild fulfilled and Eve absolutely loses it. She is furious and livid with her father after being put in place put in her place. She goes absolutely nuts talking about having her revenge and that they will not be able to stop her she is going to see them brought down low and ruin bought upon all those that they hold dear. At the end of her tirade she shouts, ‘I curse you Cavaliers for what you’ve done, that you might crawl up on the ground for the rest of your days! Enter now and take your revenge!’ At which point she disappears.
Nothing seems to happen to the Cavaliers, and they think that they dodged a bullet until they start to speak and all they do is ribbit like a frog at which point they start transforming into frogs. The last thing they see as they transform is portals opening up in the forest surrounding the estate, and shouts of alarm being raised. The wards are being attacked and portals are opening inside the grounds of the estate. Owsley gives commands to defend the guests. He slams his walking stick on the ground and shouts, ‘Defendere Praedium!’ When he says those words all the statues, bas reliefs, and everything else decorating the property – including the gargoyles comes to life and begins attacking the host of Fomor that are pouring through the portals opened on the property. He then turns to the house and shouts, ‘Siquidem domum!’ and a shield springs up around the hose protecting it from attack as well.
And then their vision reduces to that of frogs as they are scooped up by loved ones and taken to safety.
Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion in the Bourbon Street Irregular adventure, We’re Gonna Get Married’.
We’re Gonna Get Married
In the weeks before leading up to the wedding, Jeanie and Alex meet with Deborah Gale some more to find out about the lost Napoleon Fleur de Lis, a jewel-encrusted emblem, which was gifted to New Orleans as part of the Louisiana Purchase, but later stolen by the Pirate Jean Lafitte. It was never recovered, possibly hidden with other treasure. They also recently started working with Elaine Dodd, an oceanographer, to help narrow down possible locations. But it is difficult, Lafiite made it almost impossible without a map and following all the clues. Rumor has it that the Fluer is the basis for the flag.
During Contraband Days, a pirate themed festival in New Orleans that runs from May 3 – 12, 2012, two women dressed festively search for the secret entrance to an exclusive costume party. Unfortunately, instead of drunken revelry, they stumble upon a dead body, strung up inside a warehouse on the waterfront. The victim was beaten before her death, and her arm was partially skinned, perhaps as part of an interrogation, possibly tortured. Her purse is still at the scene, so it doesn’t appear to be a robbery. Greer was just getting ready to leave on vacation to travel to David and Betty’s wedding but feels compelled to stay. Viatrex Proctor convinces her to go and enjoy herself they can handle a murder investigation without her.
David is traveling with them and will guide them through the Nevernever to his family’s home. NOLA is a nexus of waypoints. Those traveling the Nevernever often come out at one waypoint, walk a few blocks, or take the streetcar to another waypoint and continue their journey. This makes it relatively easy to find a waypoint to help you on your journey. The waypoint to begin to travel to Louisville is at Cascade Stables in Audubon Park. He explains that the first leg of the journey is a crystal landscape. Once they travel for about an hour they will exit out far off the beaten path near the border of Idaho and Montana. Then they will need to take about a 5-minute walk to The Safehouse, home of James and Catlin Pauley. The first leg of the journey is relatively uneventful, and they pass through a crystal landscape safely.
As they begin their walk to the safehouse the group sees two individuals running for the Pauley home in the distance, a older gentleman and a teenage boy. It soon becomes apparent that they are being chased by four giant crystal spiders and are trying to make it to the Safehouse and the man providing cover fire with a rifle for them. As the group rushes to help it soon becomes apparent that the two are not going to make it – they will be cut off before they can reach safety. The old man also realizes it and pushes the boy out of the way as a spider sinks its fangs into the old man’s chest, killing him. The teenage by lashes out with a magical blast of force, knocking the spider back and giving him enough time to make it to the property line. The party fights off the other spiders and arrive at the Pauley residence not long after.
James and Catlin welcome the into their home and greet David, congratulating him on his upcoming wedding. They explain that his family have sent word to them expecting travelers coming through the Nevernever for the occasion. They offer to feed the group and let them rest if the group helps with some chores around the farm. David explains that this is all they ask for their hospitality. James explains to them, as they are picking off more spiders along the borders of the property, that their house is protected by a powerful threshold – they are not magic users, but they have mighty faith. However, it is just not enough anymore. Every month it gets harder and harder to protect themselves and if things don’t improve, they might just have to leave. David explains that if that happens there will be nothing to keep the area safe and travelers through the Nevernever will not have a safe waypoint at this nexus anymore. Hunt promises that they will come back and help after the wedding. They take Sean, the young wizard apprentice to Lucius Von Trappe, with them when they leave. He is shellshocked and he cannot be left here, so they take him with them to David’s family home where they can contact the White Council.
The second part of the trip is through a landscape of red rocks and blue foliage. It looks somewhat earthlike except for the coloring of the plants. It is uneventful and they exit out of the Nevernever and into Louisville, Kentucky – specifically Churchill Downs Racetrack. David explains that his family has transportation waiting for them. Outside they find two old limousines, with drivers, waiting for them.
As the vehicles travel through the city, David explains that his great-grandfather built the family estate at the end of the 19th century outside of the city. They travel about ten minutes out of the city toward the forested foothills, when they enter a little village right at the edge of the forest. According to David, the village of Samaire was built at the same time as the estate to provide manpower and help in constructing and maintaining the estate. It is small and quaint, but they do have their own post office, doctor’s office, and several other shops and cottages. The whole village is maybe two to three blocks in any direction.
Heading out of the village they come upon this gatehouse. The cars stop because there is a huge man in a butler’s uniform standing in the archway. David says this will be no problem and to come with him. Wellington, the family butler, welcomes them and asks the honor the Guest Rights of the Accords. As they agree they hear an almost audible ‘pop’ and they are allowed to enter the threshold of Samaire.
As they drive down the road as you look out you swear you can see little motes of light zipping through the trees. Grandfather envisioned a park-like setting for his home and employed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to design the grounds. The intentionally rustic four-mile Approach track that began at the brick quoined and pebbledash stucco Lodge Gate at the edge of Samaire Village and ends at the house. The lane was densely planted along the borders with natural and uncultivated-looking foliage and shrubbery to provide a relaxing journey for guests.
David explains that Samaire is Gaelic for “dawning sun.” The grounds of the estate cover approximately 8,000 acres and is split in half by a tributary of the Ohio River. The main residence, Samaire House, is a mansion built for George Garvin Brown from 1890 to 1895. His great-grandfather envisioned a park-like setting for his home and employed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to design the grounds. The intentionally rustic four-mile Approach track begins at Lodge Gate at the edge of Samaire Village and ends at the house. The lane was densely planted along the borders with natural and uncultivated-looking foliage and shrubbery to provide a relaxing journey for guests.
Olmsted also created a park surrounding the house, established farms along the river, and replanted the rest as a commercial timber forest. The property incorporates 75 acres of formal gardens directly surrounding the house. This includes a Roman formal garden, a formal garden, a bush and tulip garden, water fountains, and a conservatory with individual rooms for palms and roses. There was also a bowling green, an outdoor tearoom, and a terrace to incorporate the European statuary that the family had collected from their travels. At the end of the four-mile track they come to Samaire House, the Brown family ancestral home – and it is massive. It has statues and bas relief sculptures – and even gargoyles on the roofline.
David introduces his friends to his grandfather, Owsley, his mother, Evangeline, and sister Vivian. He explains that they can choose to stay here at the mansion or arrangements have been made for some bed and breakfast cottages in the village outside the gates of the estate, if they would like to have some privacy. The Irregulars opt to stay and are put up on the third floor. Owsley explains that they are free to relax until 6:30 this evening, when a small family style welcome dinner will be promptly served in the Banquet Hall. He also explains that they are free to enjoy the grounds and amenities while here.
David reports what happened near the Safehouse waypoint and that they didn’t feel like they could leave Sean alone and stranded in the Nevernever so they bought him with them. Immediately Evangeline takes him under her wing and promises they will get it all sorted out as she takes him off to find a room and get cleaned up. Sean who cannot believe that his mentor is dead, and he is now alone with no teacher. He wonders how he will pass the wizarding trials and become a full Wizard of the White Council. Beaumont makes it a point to visit with him and offers him a place to stay with his family in New Orleans. Because Beaumont is nice to him and listens, he offers him his Lucius’s monocle, a powerful magic item.
At 6:30 they make their way to the Banquet Hall and a ‘small family style welcome dinner’ is served in a Banquet Hall that can seat 70 people. A local band, The Soggy Bottom Boys, entertains the guests while they eat. They include their rendition of “A Man of Constant Sorrow”, much to the delight of the guests. At the dinner and activities of the following days the Cavaliers see many familiar faces they know, such as: Wizard McCoy representing the Senior Council and Captain Luccio from the Wardens of the White Council, The Leananshide of the Winter Court, and The Summer Lady Lily. Also represented are the minor courts of New Orleans – The Patriarch and his daughters (including Eve) of the Swamp Court, as well as Absinthe and Lillet, the Queen and Lady of the Cortege Gras. They also see the Crescent City Cavaliers and meet the rest of David’s family. His grandfather, mother, and sister are there, along with his ‘Uncle Jasper’, ‘Cousin’ Karen, ‘Aunts’ Hilda and Zelda, and several ‘pure mortal’ members of his family.
However, they also see several other individuals they do not recognize but are introduced to; including a petite dark haired lady who introduces herself as Julie Singleton, a representative of the Venatori Unumbrum, and sniper, a short stocky man – not more than 5 feet tall with shaggy long hair and thick beard who is introduced as Bokk of Svartalfheim and brother of Etri, they also meet Angelica – a member of the Shadowhunters, the last is an taciturn, older distinguished man who keeps to himself and is known only as Mac. The guys feel a great deal of power emanating from him and get the hint of a sea breeze smell when around him.
At dinner all the guests are given itineraries for the remaining days of the celebration. Friday is pretty much free for them, with only a rehearsal and dinner Friday evening with the wedding planned for Saturday at noon. The Brown family has set up several activities over the next few days for their guests to participate in; for example, the family has arranged a tour of the Old Forrester Distillery, they can visit Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby Museum, take a day trip out to the Falls of the Ohio, or go horseback riding and hiking through the 8000 acres of the estate. There is also a bocci ball and croquet courts set up on the green, as well as a spa day for those who would like to have a spa treatment before the wedding.
Hugh opts for the spa day. Rikard and Sunny spend the day at the Falls of the Ohio. Greer and Hunt go horseback riding on the estate. The other spend the day on or around the estate enjoying how the .1% live. During the horseback ride Greer gets a text from Viatrix telling her they identified the body. The victim is identified as Elaine Dodd, a mundane oceanographer. When she mentions this to the group Alex and Jeanie say that Elaine was helping them try to find the Napoleon Fleur de Lis.
The rehearsal and the dinner took place outside on the Esplanade in front of the house. There were event tents and other service areas for the help set up to be able to serve the dinner and refreshments. Toward the evening, guests start arriving -all the ones that they had seen the last few days. The rehearsal goes fine, and the dinner begins with an appetizer and the first course is enjoyable. Everyone seems like they are having good time visiting and getting to know each other. Greer is drawn to the mysterious Mac but can never quite arrange to talk to him alone.
After the main course is served Eve, the Patriarch’s daughter stands up and asks all the Accorded Nations in attendance what the were-guild would be for someone who killed members of their house they are all astonished with the question and the patriarch tries to question his daughter, but she continues with accusations about the Cavaliers slaying her followers and her Lieutenant, the troll Remus. The Lananshide speaks as a representative of the Unseelie Court, as she is representing Mab – who wrote the Accords – saying that it is the right of the offended Nation to demand recompense for the losses that is suffered at the hands of another Nation. All the rest of the Accorded Nation representatives agree that she does have a claim.
She demands a were-guild from them instead of combat under the Code Duello. The Cavaliers try to maneuver their way out of it but realize that there is no spirit of the law when it comes to the Accords. They did kill her people so there needs to be some sort of recompense under the Accords. She wants three golden apples from the Hesperides, the steeds and chariot belong to King Dobar of Sikilia, and the cooking spit is one of the spits of the fairy women of the island of Finchory. Beaumont and Vic respond by pointing out that this is too much of a were-guild for a troll and some subordinates. There is an argument until they decide to approach her father – the Patriarch and the actual leader of their Court. He dismisses Eve and finally agrees on the three apples of the Hesperides by dawn. It was about 9 pm the guys do not know how they’re going to get to the Isle of Hesperides, let alone where it’s at.
With the Leananshide’s help they borrow a magical boat from Mac – or Mananan Mac Lir of the Tuatha De Dannan, for the price of talking with his foster granddaughter, Greer. Mananan raised Lugh and was his foster father and spends the next several hours talking to Mac Lir about her father and the Tuatha. The party continues although in a subdued fashion with the Brown family reassuring everyone that the gust rights will be enforced.
The Cavaliers return just after midnight successful in retrieving the apples. They approach the Patriarch saying they have that which he required of them. He accepts the wergild fulfilled and Eve absolutely loses it. She is furious and livid with her father after being put in place put in her place. She goes absolutely nuts talking about having her revenge and that they will not be able to stop her she is going to see them brought down low and ruin bought upon all those that they hold dear. At the end of her tirade she shouts, ‘I curse you Cavaliers for what you’ve done, that you might crawl up on the ground for the rest of your days! Enter now and take your revenge!’ At which point she disappears.
Nothing seems to happen to the Cavaliers, and they think that they dodged a bullet until they start to speak and all they do is ribbit like a frog at which point they start transforming into frogs. At the same time portals begin opening up in the forest surrounding the estate, and shouts of alarm being raised. The wards are being attacked and portals are opening inside the grounds of the estate. Owsley gives commands to defend the guests. He slams his walking stick on the ground and shouts, ‘Defendere Praedium!’ When he says those words all the statues, bas reliefs, and everything else decorating the property – including the gargoyles comes to life and begins attacking the host of Fomor that are pouring through the portals opened on the property. He then turns to the house and shouts, ‘Siquidem domum!’ and a shield springs up around the hose protecting it from attack as well.
The signatories are bound under guest rights to help their host as well as the host protecting them. It turns into a huge battle spanning the thousands of acres of the estate. Wizards, Shadowhunters, Fairy Courts and heroes all band together to fight Eve’s rebel faction of the Swamp Court and her allies – the Fomor.
The fight raged all night and by dawn the Browns and their allies have pushed the fomor back and sealed the portals. As they are mopping up the Irregulars discuss their options to help their friends who are now frogs. Eve cursed them and they need to figure out a way to break the curse. Jeanie mentions the Fleur De Lis and how stories are that it could break the curse.
Mac lets them take his boat to New Orleans and they reach the city in record time. Greer visits the station and is downloaded on all the information found so far about the murder case. Forensic analysis reveals that her arm was skinned to remove a tattoo, but they’re able to reconstruct the image: a simple compass and some coordinates. These confirm the treasure hunt theory: Dodd had apparently made some progress in locating the Napoleon fleur-de-lis.
The coordinates from Dodd’s tattoo lead them to St. Louis Cathedral. They visit with Reverend Lantern, and he has no idea what could be here. If there is anything it must be in storage for a long time and directs them to an attic storeroom. The group split up and Hunt and Hugh go up the back service entrance while the others go up the main stairs. Hugh and Hunt are not quiet and get shot at with acidic coral. The two Fomor Servitors run down the main stars and are killed by rest of the group. Back up in the storeroom they notice a statue that looks like it might have been moved on its base. Jeanie with her newfound strength lifts the statue off and they find a secret compartment. Inside, wrapped in a dusty cloth is an old puzzle book. It is something pirates used to use to hide clues to their treasure. It’s very elaborate and must be opened carefully, in order not to destroy anything. The puzzle book is marked with a fleur de lis and bears an inscription of Jean LaFitte’s signature. Rikard prefers to break open the book, but Jeanie insists on solving the cipher to open the book, as some puzzle books include a vial of acid inside that would destroy the book if tampered with.
The police give Greer the phone records from Elaine Dodd’s phone and Jeanie recognizes Deborah’s number. If the Fomor killed Elaine they might also be after Deborah. While some stay to decipher the book the rest go to Deborah Gale’s office at the Historical Society. But when they arrive, it has been ransacked, the professor hiding in a closet. After they release her and calm her down, she confirms she had been talking to Elaine Dodd. She tells them that two guys broke in and trashed her office, she feared for her life and his in the closet but was too afraid to come out. She is in shock to hear that Dodd died.
They bring Deborah back to the bar and she’s stoked to see the puzzle book. The cover of the puzzle book is encrypted, and they must turn a dial to unlock it. But they need a key word to help solve the Vigenère cipher. With Deborah’s help and their knowledge of local history they determine that LaFitte’s brother, Pierre — was the most likely person to be looking for LaFitte’s treasure if something happened to Jean. This leads them to try the word “Cabildo,” the jail in which Pierre was in and that Jean broke him out of. Using that as the key word — and a Vigenère cipher to crack the code — it leads them to the answer “fleur de lis”, and they unlock the puzzle book’s cover. The iris in the center opens, revealing a latch, and they open the puzzle book.
When opened, on the left page is a clock puzzle with a map of New Orleans, maybe? On the right is a map with smaller code dials beneath it, along with a plate reading BLF6 and ‘Bouge comme l’horloge’. They know this must be the next clue but have no idea what it means. Rikard tells them that ‘Bouge comme l’horloge’, means ‘Move as the clock’ in French. The Irregulars all look at him in surprise, Rikard just shrugs and says he served in the French Foreign Legion.
Deborah remembers that Barthelemy Lafon, an architect and city planner from the 1700s who also palled around with the LaFitte brothers. A quick search shows that Lafon is buried at plot F6 in St Louis Cemetery #1, which he designed. The team is getting closer to finding the fleur-de-lis!
They spot an engraved fleur de lis over the letter L in “Lafon”. They try “moving as the clock” by moving clockwise to the next crypt. Another fleur de lis over another crypt dating 1820 or earlier, engraving gives them the final letter they need ‘Lafitte’, unlocking a compartment in the book and revealing both the suspected acid vial and a piece of paper. It’s a partial map of an island with another riddle written in French.
Looking at Dodd’s records show she had been paying close attention to a specific location off the coast of New Orleans. Jeanie recognizes exactly where it is at – Grande Terre Island, the former stomping grounds of the infamous pirate Jean LaFitte. They travel out to Fort Livingston and enter the fort following the map to a place marked with an X on the map and dig up a small chest about 2 feet square. Inside, wrapped in cloth, is the Napoleon Fleur De Lis. It is jewel encrusted and about a foot tall.
Traveling back to Samaire and returning Mac’s boat they figure out how to reverse the spell with the help of the assembled Accorded Nations and the wizards of the Brown Family. They break the curse on the Cavaliers returning them to human form again. The Fleur De Lis dulls and then disintegrates to dust much to the disappointment of Jeanie and the Irregulars.
David and Betty end getting married with just their family and friends at the Church of All Saints in the Village of Samaire and all is well. The Patriarch of the Swamp Court asks Hugh to take up the mantle of the Swamp Knight and hunt down Eve. Sunny heals Luther’s dragon bite and in appreciation he gives her one of the two remaining apples they brought back. In talking with the Shadowhunter Alex discovers that the Hells Angels lied to him, he can choose to give up his demon ring with his free will, which he does – giving it to Susannah. Greer was able to learn more about her father and her fae side and tells McCoy and the White Council to leave her alone. Sunny and Rikard kiss at the wedding and agree to see where it goes. McCoy tells Hunt that he is mistaken about the Grey Council and tells him to talk with David about it. Susannah is invited to study with the Shadowhunters and learn how to summon and bind demons.
