by Bilfred
on Dec 28, 2011
BAYKO BARON 10
LA ROCHELLE
'The Retrieval of Rochefort'
In the crepuscular gloom of a grey Atlantic dawn (hmmm nice!) the fishing fleet returns to Le Petit Basin while the watchtower sentries search in vain for an English fleet to relieve their beleaguered Huguenot city
by Bilfred
on Sep 24, 2011
BAYKO BARON 9
L'Hotel De Treville
Nestling amid the Baroque palaces of the newly fashionable Faubourg St Germain, L'Hotel De Treville serves as the headquarters of the King's Musketeers
Today they are to recieve a royal visitation.
King Louis and Queen Anne indulge the citizenry
While Cardinal Richelieu, a martyr to his heamarhoids, arrives by coach.
The royal couple are welcomed by Monsieur De Treville and young Alice D'Artagnan, who is to be enlisted today.
Bathos, Pathos, Chanel and Constance Bonacieux, the Queen's dressmaker and Alice's amour, lead the other musketeers and their ladies in raising a cheer.
D'Artagnan takes the oath and receives the covetted blue tabard and brass-bound matchlock from Queen Anne - he also gets permission to wear the red-heeled bucket boots - but he can get those for himself !!
Another cheer goes up - 'All for some and a few for another!' Now they are - The Several Musketeers.
But what is this? Under the walls of the Luxembourg itself a rascally rabble of renegade, rebellious, rapscalliony, riotous rogues is assembling - it's the Huguenots!
And there is their leader, Guy Sansmenton, wayward heir of the baron (BB 7) and at his side the puritanical reverend rabble rouser Deuteronomy Clapnose - and at his side... your friend and mine, Dribble the Doberman doing his best to cool things down as ever.
The rebels burst into the yard and a desperate melee ensues as non-combatants flee and gentlemen musketeers find themselves bizarrely standing shoulder to shoulder with the Cardinal's men
The air fills with a cacophonous din - the shrieks of ladies, snarl of combatants, groans of wounded, crack of matchlocks and ring o' steel on steel. No doubt the neighbours will be complaining !!
Betrayed by doubt Cardinal Richelieu summons his minions. Milady Lateautumn must reach the Place St Roch and order his coach round to the side entrance. Meanwhile Rochefort, the cardinal's living cheese, must take some guardsmen and clear the line of escape.
But the renegades have anticipated just such a ploy. Under the walls of the Canalavert Rochefort is forced to surrender at pistol point. The agent , unfortunately wearing royal blue today, is bundled into the coach by men who have never seen the King in the flesh.
Mission accomplished the rebels try to retreat, scattering into the alleyways, but the Cardinal's guards are close at their heels and corner a gang of them by the Guild House arcade. This is no moment for surrender.
King Louis takes his leave before L'Hopital, under the bust of his father Henry IV, murdered by an assassin. Two of the attackers taken alive are shown to the king.This incident is the final proof that something must be done to curb the Huguenot menace!
you can see how the story continues at Bayko Baron 10 - 'La Rochelle'
you can see an alternative photo-set at:
by Bilfred
on Aug 07, 2011
BAYKO BARON 13
OUR LADY OF KAZAN
Russia 1812, west of Smolensk - the retreating Russian forces stream past the monastery of Our Lady of Kazan.
The abbot comes to the gate to bless the marching men - the Russian generals have orders to destroy all in the French path, but that cannot include Our Lady
