Saving Father Chatten!

[Monique Adelina De'Ath]

To: My fellow Parisians

Dire news from abroad as it is announced the Church's ransom for popular Paris Priest Father Chatten has been rejected by a bunch of heathens!!

Poor Fr. Chatten's life now hangs in the balance and without rapid intervention I fear he may soon be made a meal of by the natives. Such desperate times call for great men to step to the fore and organize a triumphant rescue for the good priest, will you be one of those men?!!

As an aspiring chevalier I consider it the very least I can do to arrange this endeavor and so I am asking, pleading with those military nobles and officers amongst our numbers to sign up for a rescue mission 'Get at 'em for Chatten', a mission comprising the cream of France's elite. Sadly, not being a military man myself, excluding that brief month in the Paris Guard, I'd be likely more of a hindrance than a help on the actual mission itself but I can do all the paperwork back here and arrange a ship to get you all there, some maps, supplies etc and then act in a sort of coordinator role in Paris. It means more of my precious time I know, loss of income from medical work missed, but a small price to pay to save a friend.

I've taken the time to draw up a quick list of those I believe will ensure the mission is a success and, upon that basis, have already included them a place in the rescue squad. The good news, of course, is that means you're in, one of the good noble fellows that have put honour and chivalry to the front, men not afraid to face off against a big group of natives, willing to do all it takes to bring home one of our own. I know this will be of particular relevance to Lord de Bearne, what with poor Fr. Chatten being his regiment's chaplain, so he must be chomping at the bit to get out there. 

Please take the time to check your place and role on the mission, all you then need do is get back to me with confirmation of your acceptance and we'll be setting the wheels in motion. God bless you all, I'm proud of you men, proud to stand with you and be a part of the squad. Let's go give them heathens hell, Get at 'em for Chatten!

Rescue Squad Leader - Lord Huillame Legarde de Bearn

Second-in-Command - Lord Jacques Bougiedure

Rescue Squad Commissary - Viscomte Renald de la Azur

Forward Scout Party Commander - Viscomte Jean de Macque

Cavalry Commander - Maurice de L'Hopital

Infantry Commander - Hans Hoffman

That covers the military side of things but I have also included 2 civilian roles 

Rescue Squad Chief Merchant - Auguste Balls

Rescue Squad Ships Boy - Henri Martel

[Father William Souris]

Infantry? What a cheek!

[Monique Adelina De'Ath]

Nov 18, 2021 9:38:11 GMT Father William Souris said:

Infantry? What a cheek!

Very important infantry though, vital to the rescue effort. We must all start somewhere dear fellow, just think of this as your first real chance to mount the ladder of glory...maybe just infantry here but for the future.....

Anyway thank you for your reply and I've now got you as our first confirmation. May I take this opportunity to welcome you onboard, so to speak, welcome to the Squad I know you're going to achieve great things and Fr. Gratten and the church are going to be mighty pleased for your efforts and it's well know that the church has a 'few livres tucked away for a rainy day' so it's bound to be more than worth your time and effort.

Docteur Bastian Anton De'Ath
Rescue Squad Coordinator 
Go at 'em for Chatten Mission

[Father William Souris]

Incorrect. I am not confirmed for participation. I will not participate as an Infantry Commander. I am happy to contribute funds but an ill conceived rescue attempt - no!

[Monique Adelina De'Ath]

Nov 18, 2021 11:02:56 GMT Father William Souris said:

Incorrect. I am not confirmed for participation. I will not participate as an Infantry Commander. I am happy to contribute funds but an ill conceived rescue attempt - no!

Ill conceived.....ill conceived Sir, how dare you!! I have drawn up a perfectly cunning plan to assure us of Fr. Chatten's rescue with the least risk to the rescue squad members, in fact the Infantry Commander's role is the safest!

I would beg you to re-consider as yours is a rising star that will soar even higher after the mission. I can also throw in 100 livres as payment for your participation, can't say fairer than that!

[jacques]

Most Esteemed Physician,

While I heartily endorse rescuing Fr. Chatten I am somewhat perplexed by your proposal. You honor me with a position as cavalry commander yet you do not provide a cavalry to command. What am I to do? Hope that Divine Providence delivers a cadre of trained horsemen once I arrive in Africa?

Good man, your emotional desire is commendable but your logistical organization leaves everything to be desired.

Lt. Maurice de L’Hopital
Crown Prince Cuirassiers 

[jacques]

Most Compassionate Dr. De’Ath,

Reflecting upon Fr. Chatten’s predicament has led me to reconsider my role in facilitating his return to Pari.

Rather than a military campaign I would suggest an approach which would be more likely to render a successful campaign.

1. You accumulate a sum of donations.
2. You purchase trade goods and various sundry items which the heathens would be likely to value more than Fr. Chatten’s continued visit.
3. I hire a team of ruffians to accompany me to Africa to negotiate the ransom of our beloved Priest. Hopefully they would be of sufficient numbers to intimidate the locals and dissuade any thoughts of violence.
4. I give them your goods they give me Chatten. Voila! All are happy!

Please inform me of your assessment of this approach.

Respectfully,

Lt. de L’Hopital

[Monique Adelina De'Ath]

Mon cher Lt. de L'Hopital,

Stout fellow, brave hero, true son of France! Well done Sir, well done indeed you have made a most wise choice and my only regret is there are not others with the same sense of honour and courage . Sadly, aside from a monetary pledge by Subaltern Hoffman, tis only you and I that have shown any interest in saving poor, dear, Fr. Chatten but needs must and I am delighted to endorse your plan and promote you to Rescue Squad Commander I shall even purchase a special uniform for you to wear overseas and one that will reflect the splendour of your status to the natives, an especially large hat I believe is on order, what with the sun etc etc.

I shall put out a fresh appeal for funds, my good friend Monsieur Auguste Balls is a most reliable and practical chap, I am sure he can support us with some funding and I shall be happy to throw in some of my own. We must do all we can to bring Fr. Chatten back safely.

I'd advise you to get your affairs into order tout suite, make sure you have everything ready for travel and search out a suitable team of hirelings to accompany you on the journey. Since you are a military man I shall leave the selections up to your good self and trust you will arrange a sufficiently strong band to show those heathens whose boss! Strike the fear of the Lord into them if they get uppity, don't be afraid to shoot and perhaps a small cannon piece could be taken along? There can't be more than a few hundred of them at best and we all know that one Frenchman is worth at least 10 natives, should be a piece of cake dear fellow the chance to cover yourself in glory and come back a national hero. I expect to be a chevalier myself, quite shortly, so I'll be sure to have a word in His Majesty's ear about your daring exploits.

Keep in touch you should be able to set sail at the start of the month and I'll keep all matters in order back here in Paris, sadly no glory for me but that's my way, happy to be quiet and graft away in the background and let others, such as yourself, shine. I do have a couple of musicians, up and coming prospects the pair of them, who recently delivered my 'cheerio' to that sour faced Agnes woman and I think it would be a splendid idea if I sent them with you so that they could provide both entertainment on the voyage and also compose new songs detailing your intrepid exploits so that, upon your return, Paris can be treated to musical renditions of 'Le Hero L'Hopital'....oh what sweet music that will be for sure.

Good luck to you Maurice, may I call you Maurice as you seem like a good friend already! I've every confidence in your success and may God bless you lad.

Yours in friendship,

Docteur Bastian Anton De'Ath
'Go at 'em for Chatten' Rescue Squad Co-ordinator
Premier Physician to the people of Paris
Resident Docteur The Ladies Slipper
Chevalier Aspirant
Commissioner for Public Health (applicant / candidate)
Royal Executioner (former)

P.S Just to be on the safe side, being practical and simply thinking of your family you may wish to have a Will drawn up....no need to worry, merely as a precaution and all that.....and Monsieur Balls may be able to assist there too, alternatively if you wish to leave it to me I can arrange the necessary paperwork, if you can just send me a blank sheet of velum with your signature on it I'll get the rest filled in as I've no wish for you to divert yourself away from the important task of hiring that team.