Haddon Hall

Haddon Hall - The Fall of Haddon Hall

The defense had been much more stubborn then anyone expected. Who'd expect a bunch of wimps in costumes to put up such a fight. Only the ancient ones, the longest asleep were still in an agressive mood. Janoc too, was aware of the time and was about to lose most of his 'army'. He berated the Captain of the Phoenicians to press the attack now, or never see the light of day again.

Rallying his men with a battle cry the Phoenician led the charge up the stairs, and almost 20 of his men followed him shouting. They had nearly all thrown aside the sorcerous guns, that they couldn't shoot for shit anyway, and brandished their leaf bladed swords. They would finish this with cold iron. Half way up their leader was hit with an arrow in the chest and fell backwards tumbling down the stairs, and then came two blasts that decimated the head of their column. The remaining attackers stalled huddling down. Janoc himself though now came to the bottom of the stairs with others and they opened a tremendous fire up the stairway.

Behind the splintering barricade Boudica and her two remaining companions crouched. With a glance it looked like the rest had all made it up to the third floor. "Time to go up!" she shouted, "But first lets push this barricade down on them!" And heaving together they tipped it over and a wall of furniture slid and tumbled end over end down the wide staircase. Nimbly they then ran around the other side of the landing and took the last stairway up.

Reaching the top of the stairway, but breathing hard now, Boudica and her companions only found two manning the barricade. "Block it up." she said and then "Where is everyone?"

"They have collected the wounded in the Master Bedroom, and almost everyone is there." said a man.

"Where is Figgy?" Boudica shouted.

"She and that other new guy went towards the Master's Hall." the man replied, pointing down the corridor.

Boudica then looked at a window and saw the first rays of light breaking the horizon.

"Good Luck!" was the last thing Boudica said, and she and the others faded and then disappeared.

Janoc was cursing and with his remaining two mortals was weaving upwards thru the debris on the stairs. But the bodies and his army was gone. Reaching the top, he told his men to search the 2nd floor and he ran over to the last stairway up alone. He drew his sword as he went up the stairs and reaching the top listened in the silence. He thought he heard someone talking from his private Hall and sprinted towards it, thinking 'They are going for the Priest's Hole!".

Haddon Hall

Janoc stood looking at the empty Priest’s nook, and was fuming. He had come so close to complete victory, and that woman had once again foiled him. In Janoc’s head, Boudica, Lady Litton and this new one were all the same. But still, he consoled himself, he had gained much, and now possessed Haddon Hall. He also now had at least one of them, and the most powerful, Boudica, imprisoned. He could destroy her when ever he wished. But he would enjoy devising a suitable way to mock her before he did, and in the meantime she and the rest would be bait to draw the remaining Lady Litton's with their Talisman's to him. He heard someone clear his throat behind him, and spinning around saw Odo standing in the doorway.

"Congratualtions Janoc, on reclaiming your rightful possesion" said Odo stenatorially.

"Hah!" laughed Janoc. "It's Lord Manners now."

"Ah yes, Lord Manners." Odo repeated submissively.

"Where are the others?" Janoc demanded.

"Well, I think you will find Petty, trying to escape on the roof, but stranded."

"Good!" said Janoc with an evil grin. "Let him commune with the Pigeons a while."

"And I do not know where Orwell is. He was cut off from us early in the fight."

"He is dead then." said Janoc with satisfaction. "None of those escaped. He can join his friends in the crypt."

"Where there any other mortals?" said Janoc.

"None that survived." said Odo with his own twisted grin.

"Good!" said Janoc "That is the way I like it. Nice and clean. But we have much to do."

Janoc's two remaining henchmen arrived at the doorway and one said, "Janoc, The floor below is clear."

"Check this one and then search the grounds outside." commanded Janoc. "Then report to me in the office by the lobby. But remember I am Janoc no longer. I am now Harry, Lord Manners."

"Yes... Harry" replied the man.

"Oh, I nearly forgot. After you finish your search you must collect a rather large Pigeon resting out on the roof. I would say just use him for target practice, but it's getting later and we should not disturb our new neighbors with loud noises." added Janoc sarcastically.

His henchmen looked at him puzzled, but then understanding his meaning smiled sardonically.

Haddon Hall

Janoc then went downstairs thru the wreckage to his new office. He sent Odo to block all the entrance roads and post signs saying Haddon Hall was closed for renovation until further notice. Sitting at his new desk, he lifted the phone up with one hand and swept everything else off with the stroke of the other arm. Taking out a small book from his jacket he began to make calls within England, the rest of Europe, and even farther, calling in the best of his wide network of thugs, thieves and hackers. Within a week he would have an entirely new staff and security force. But until then he would have to make use of his prisoners. Some might even be persuaded to come over to his side like Odo. At least until he replaced them.

I think I am going to get nightmares.

Haddon Hall

(Retcon 7 - Tom and Figgy do not go back to ancient Times.)


Figgy and Tom landed off balance and tumbled onto a hard stone floor. Figgy landed on her side and was momentarily stunned. She turned onto her back expecting Janoc to have followed and appear sword in hand. He wasnt there. Tom rose frantically, into a defense crouch, also looking for Janoc. After a few tense moments, they began to relax.

"Maybe he isn't going to follow." said Tom hopefully.

"Or maybe he doesn't know where we are." said Figgy, sitting up and rubbing her side. Figgy scanned their surroundings and added, "Because I don't think we made it to the correct time ourself."

"I think your right..." said Tom looking around now too.

They were in a fairly small circular stone room. A few narrow windows let shafts of bright sunshine in on one side. Other then the windows there were no other furnishing, except a very heavy looking wooden door, reinforced with iron bands and studs, standing where the portal was. Tom found the door locked and went to the window. They were still in the castle, but it was much changed physically, and looked more like a simple fortress now. They seemed to be in a circular tower. The scenery was different too, the forests mostly missing and farmland dominating the landscape. At a distance he saw a few figures, and horses, that looked like they were doing farming tasks.

"I think..." said Tom, musing, "...I think, we are more like in the Middle Ages.

"Hmmm" responded Figgy "Well that doesn't sound good. I was supposed to meet Boudica in her original time."

At that moment a little hatch, not noticed before, slid aside in the heavy door. Part of a man's weathered face appeared, scowling. "Oh Dam, here's two more." said the face to some unseen person. "Have to find his Lordship now." the face continued to the unseen companion, and then the little hatch slid shut with a sharp snap. Tom and Figgy heard a few muffled grumblings and footsteps that faded quickly in the distance.

Tom and Figgy exchanged a puzzled look.

"It appears we may have landed ourselves in a prison." said Tom, in a resigned tone, and he sat down against a wall heavily.

"Out of the pot... into another pot." said Figgy with a sigh.

I landed on my side and got winded for a few minutes, we were in a small stone circular room, I lay there expecting Janoc to have followed us and be standing ready with his sword ready to strike. He wasnt there.
Tom had already got up and brushed dried leaves and straw from his trousers, Tom and I walked to the small slit windows and tried to look out, only thin smoke curled up from the nearby forest was all we could see of our surroundings. All was still and peaceful in a wan Autumn day. Banners hung from the walls fluttered in the soft breeze, the sounds of men going about the daily routine was heard, from a distant blacksmiths forge the odd shout or whinney of the horses carried up to us on the wind.

(Like the new pics... Would love to visit that castle! It's a beauty. Cool Knight by Howe too. Is that an eel he has slain ? )

I was attracted to the eely snake thing, reminds me of happy days of eel wrangling in Bree, until that bounder Odo Banks got me shut down for unhygenic practices.

Its Corfe castle which I think is in Dorset.

From a distant courtyard we heard the stamp of heavy feet which got louder and louder until they were outside our door. A group of rough looking villianous men in vaguely military gear stormed in, how they knew we were there I didnt know, maybe they had seen us looking out the windows, they circled us in silence and the tension was thick in the air. I knew one false move would be fatal, they looked like they asked questions after they had impaled you on their pikestaffs, not before. They smelt of stale beer and chicken, greasy splodges of oil were on their dirty yellow under shirts and their boots were caked in mud. Their weapons however gleamed with good care and looked sharp and deadly. The leader of this band of ruffians stepped forward and poked Tom with a pike and jerked his head to say down the stairs and do it sharpish.
We did it sharpish. I went down the stairs following the leader, Tom went down the stairs after, the stone stairs were dim and slippy and I was expecting someone to fall with disasterous consequences at any moment.

We all walked slowly down the spiral turret, I held on to a thick rope that was attached to one side of the wall, the spiralling made me dizzy but it was soon over and we reached the ground floor which opened onto a stone courtyard filled with people. The light hurt my eyes and I struggled to understand what was going on, the place was a hive of activity, people rushing to and fro, women in thin linen frocks of a muddy green colour and the men in a kind of haphazard livery. Arms were being taken up to the battlements, mainly archers and great pots of a foul smelling stuff. A man prodded me in the back and we were taken inside to the main hall. here was calmer and dark, only a few rush torches and a huge fire lit the room, we were pushed unceremoniously to the foot of a long table and told to wait.

Haddon Hall

From a side entrance somewhere a man strood in, acting important, and followed by a few of what seemed to be retainers. The man was dressed in colorful if faded clothing and had heavy mantle over his shoulders. Little gleams here and there sparkled among his costume, indicating jewelry or items made of noble metals. He moved towards a raised dais at the end of the hall and sat down heavily in a large ornate chair in the center. One of his retainers, in the robes and miter of a bishop sat in a smaller chair on the man's left and the others took position standing behind the chief.

The soldiers behind gave Tom and Figgy a shove towards the dais and when they were about 10 feet from the chief, rough hands pushed them to their knees. "Kneel you spies, in the presence of His Lordship! " one said coarsely.

Tom turned to the soldier and began to say "But, we are not..." but was cut off with a cuff accross the face from an studded vambrace. The blow caught him off-guard and he tipped into Figgy, who caught steadied him and prevented his fall. Tom was up in an instant though and spitting out "To hell with you" along with some blood took a stance against the soldier.

The soldier grimaced with anger at so being challenged and raised the butt end of his spear, snarling "Why you dog!".

"Enough!" came a command from behind Tom. "Hold Jack, and do not spoil our guests... yet." said the Lord on his throne sardonically. "You two are spies no doubt, and I just want to know now whom is your master? But be quick for I have little time."

One of my favorite paintings ever.

Yes its one of my favourites too!

(From Wiki: The origins of the hall date to the 11th century. William Peverel, illegitimate son of William the Conqueror, held the manor of Haddon in 1087, when the survey which resulted in the Domesday Book was undertaken. The Vernon family acquired the Manor of Nether Haddon by the 13th century marriage to the Haddon heiress.[2] Though it was never a castle, the manor of Haddon was protected by a wall from 1195, when Richard Vernon received permission to build it.)

We stood there waiting, wondering what on earth would happen next. A tall man appeared through an archway and walked towards the long table he was followed by a large wolfhound the size of a small lion. The man was dressed in a fur mantle and head to foot leather gear with a loose chainmail shirt, he looked weary but yet was still in command and was not surprised to see us. He sat at the head of the table and immediately servants rushed forward to serve him food and ale. The big dog lolloped over and sniffed us before sitting at his masters feet. The man tore off a piece of steaming roast meat and chewed it thoughtfully, he dropped a piece under the table and the dog snaffled it up in an instant. I saw the serving man lick his lips with hunger.
We stood there our stomachs rumbling with the smell, I thought he was taunting us but I could not tell, he looked so calm. He wiped his hands on his trousers and got up, the retainers removed the meal and disappeared leaving us with the 'Lord of the manor' and a few men at arms, they obviously didnt think we were much of a threat.
I was so far very disappointed with the Middle Ages, life was damp, dirty and probably didnt last long, it wasnt 'First Knight', and this wasnt a wise and noble Sean Connery before us. There were no knights in shining armour and no ladies swanning about in velvet frocks, this was reality.

Tom cleared his throat and began talking quickly. "We are not spies my lord, but refugees fleeing a craven lord. This is Lady Figgy and I am her serving man Tom. We request the sanctuary of your good court."

The lord and his retainers were stunned. Tom heard angry murmours from the soldiers behind him. The lord convered quitely with the Bishop on his left, not bothering to conceal his scowl. After a moment he spoke. "We are at war, so all visitors must be greeted with caution..." the Lord began with a hint of sarcasm. "...so we shall ask you to wait and enjoy our simple accommodations until I have more time to converse with you further. Bishop Odo here has generously offered to put the Lady up in his appartments. See the servant to the best room available in the Dungeon." And without another word the Lord left in a hurry followed by his retainers. Rough arms grasped Tom and the soldiers pulled him out of the Hall, while the Bishop took Figgy's arm firmly and escorted her away towards a side door.

From the rafters I noticed the banner of the Knights Templar, it was filthy and torn, but it gave me some hope, surely the Templars were meant to be hospitable? unless you were an 'enemy' of course, and at the moment we were little more than enemies.
'What do we do with these spies?, he said to a man standing next to him. The man had a scar running down from his left eye to his chin and he didnt look too friendly.
'She's one of the Manners brood', he spat, 'I say chop em to bits to feed Wolfgang here'. he cocked his head towards the dog.
'But why do they send their womenfolk?, he puzzled, 'Have they no men to do their work?'.
'The fellow with her must be her guardian, but what were they about in the tower? he replied angrily.
'Well put em in the dungeon to loosen them up a bit, after a day or two down there they will sing like birds'.
They all laughed.
Except us of course.
'You heard Lord Peverill, said the scar man, to the dungeons with this scum'.
Now if there is one thing I cant tolerate its being called scum, it really irritates me.
'Oi!, I shouted, 'Who are you calling scum!', 'From the looks of you you could scrape off a few layers of scum yourself!'
The men went silent, and I could hear Tom groaning under his breath, 'Thats torn it'.
'The 'lady' protests', said the scar man, 'Those Manners never had good ones!' He laughed at his own feeble joke, but Lord Peverill didnt.
'Speak woman, he said, 'Why have you come here?'.
Before I could speak Tom stepped forward.
'My Lord we are no spies, this lady comes here to offer a parley, we wish for peace between our families'.
The men around Lord Peverill murmered angrily, and he looked at us with concern and surprise.
Sometimes in dangerous situations its better to tell the truth and in others to tell whopping big fat lies.
This was one of those.

What we needed was to buy time, I needed to think of a cunning plan to get us out of this pickle, I needed to be alone with Tom somewhere to talk. I knew this Lord Peveril would be no friend of Harry Manners, they were obviously at war al beit before Harry was born, but obviously the bad blood ran deep, for the house seemed ready for military action, it was well defended by the ruffians we saw earlier, I imagined they were the ragtag remains of some Crusade he had brought home with him, merceneries rather than local men, they were loyal until the money ran out. I figured he could become an ally rather than a foe to us if we played it right. I did not want them thinking I was one of the Manners clan. Unfortunately my looks belied me, the red hair was Manners to the core. I had to make up some story about me wishing to escape a forced marriage or such like, they wouldnt respect me for it, but at least we wouldnt become dog food, and that was comforting at least.

What happened next remained etched on my memory for years.

The scar faced man pushed me in the back with a heavy gloved hand, it took me off guard and I fell on my knees and then face down in the dirty rushes on the floor.
I heard Tom give a growl, it sounded like some large beast and it rumbled through the hall, the men stood stock still. shock on their faces. The dog started to inch forwards on its belly, its ears flat to its head, it bared its teeth and started to bark, not the loud cocky barks one dog will give another, or a stranger, but a low continual whine of a bark, acute and unearthly. It was scared, but wanted to protect its master, it rolled its eyes in panic. I sat up in time to see Tom 'change', I had seen it briefly before when we had been in danger from Janoc, but now it wasnt a vague fleeting glimmer it was almost solid. Tom seemed to be two things at once, part man part wolf, but a wolf on its hind legs and about seven foot tall, I had seen pictures of warewolves but nothing prepared me for something so threatening and feral. It was gone in a moment, but the image of those yellow eyes burnt me like a sun spot, even when I blinked the ghost shadow was still there.

The dog relaxed and slunk off to its master with a final yelp, the men stirred and backed off, I had the satisfaction of seeing scar face with the smirk wiped off his mug.
'They be witches!', he cried and pointed a dirty finger at us, but no one dared challenge us.
'Dont be silly, I said, 'We dont want any trouble, my friend here is from Rome he is an alchemist'.
I babbled some rubbish to try to calm the atmosphere, I remembered just in time that America had not yet been discovered so if they thought Tom was Italian they might just might think he was a powerful alchemist, I didnt know whether this was worse or better than witches or spies, it all seemed pretty hopeless.
Lord Peveril seemed the least phased, he had obviously seen the world a bit, maybe the Middle East, and knew there were strange things out in the world that the supersticious minded would attribute to witches.
I had a hard time however thinking how we could explain this wolf thing, without seeming like just that. I decided the best thing would be to escape as soon as possible so we didnt have to explain anything.
and come to think of it, I wanted to know about the 'wolf thing' as well.

A clerical looking man stepped towards Lord Peveril and whispered something in his ear, Peveril nodded and gestured to scar face to move us out of the room. They all stared hard at us as we passed, some of the faces were curious but most were a mixture of fear and suspicion. Peveril seemed to regard us as interesting specimens he had just found under a rock, he was a cool customer and no mistake.
We were ushered into comfortable quarters with a log fire blazing merrily in a huge stone hearth. In one corner there was a wooden table from which a homely smell of baked bread and a sour smell of cheese came. We were told to eat and given ale to drink, we sat in silence eating our way steadily through the food, I was starving.
At last feeling full and my brain starting to liven up some, I tried to figure out a way to escape, I walked to the door, it was solid oak and we were on at least the third floor of a round tower, below was an icy moat, and I didnt fancy my chances if I jumped out the window.
Tom was looking better too, he had gone silent and grim after the wolf thing, and I didnt know if he had been aware of what happened or not, his anger had triggered it off, but I wasnt sure if he knew how to control the phenomena, or even if it was more than an image. It seemed almost like my images when I wore the talismans at the same time. I kept the torque in my pocket, because when I put it on I had weird visual disturbances, like I could see on various planes at once, it made me dizzy, and it freaked me out when I saw the 'ghosts' from the past.
I needed to get us out of here and I needed to use the torque, and I needed an open door.
The door opened and in walked Scar Face. 'Weapons on the table' he said, Tom put a dagger he had hidden on the table. I didnt have anything, but Scar Face saw my torque in my hand and snatched it away.
'Here i'll take that jool', he laughed.
'No give it back', I cried, 'Thats mine, 'Please give it back!'. But he just sniggered and ran off, and closed the door behind him.

Lord Peveril.