Auberge des Deux Chenes

Overview

Auberge des Deux Chênes (The Inn of the Two Oaks) is a coaching inn located on the post road between Calais and Lyon, nestled along a lonely stretch near marshland and dense woods. It presents itself as a respectable establishment but is actually a sophisticated robbery and murder operation run by Mathieu Durand and his bandit crew.

Location & Geography

• Road: Old post road near Abbeville, between Calais and Lyon
• Terrain: Marshy lowlands on one side, dense woods on the other
• Isolation: Remote; few other travelers pass nearby
• Season: Mist-clad in evening; treacherous in bad weather

Exterior

• Sign: Weathered sign bearing two withered oak leaves
• Courtyard: Muddy, unkempt; an air of neglect and disrepair
• Oaks: Two ancient oak trees, now mostly dead, loom beside the courtyard
• Atmosphere: Silent; no dogs bark; no ostler greets arrivals
• Smell: Damp wood and something faintly metallic

Interior

Common Room

• Hearth: Fire is low despite the hour
• Atmosphere: Eerily quiet; dim lighting
• Guests: A few locals nursing drinks in silence, their eyes tracking newcomers with unnatural stillness

Dining Area

• Food: Basic but adequate meals available
• Wine: The wine is drugged (optional; Durand may test for incapacitation)
• Serving Staff: Sabine (the knife-fighter maid) serves without speaking

Guest Rooms

• Condition: Clean but austere
• Access: Staircase groans as though protesting each step
• Comfort: Beds are functional; windows may be nailed or locked

Stables

• Horses: Available for travelers; Durand’s crew monitors these
• Escape Route: May be compromised; horses could be cut loose
• Guard: Usually one bandit present

Staff/Occupants

Front of House

• Mathieu Durand (innkeeper, cover): Friendly demeanor masking predatory intent
• Sabine (maid, cover): Silent, observant, knife-fighter

Back of House / Hidden

• “Claude” and “Jean”: Pose as drunk locals; actually armed bandits
• Two More Thugs: Sleep in hayloft; seal the gate once travelers are inside

Operating Procedure

The bandits:

1. Observe guests for wealth, weakness, and isolation
2. Assess targets (families unlikely; solo rich travelers ideal)
3. Incapacitate (optionally: drug wine, loosen wheel bolts)
4. Strike at Midnight: Seal exits, ascend stairs, kill/rob/strip
5. Dispose of bodies in the marsh

They are professional and efficient; no unnecessary cruelty, only lethal pragmatism.

Clues for Wary Investigators

• No fresh hoof prints at stable (odd for a coaching inn)
• Wine smells faintly of almond (poisoned)
• The “locals” wear military boots and glance at one another too often
• Guest register has only first names in reused handwriting
• Bloodstain on back stairs, half-scrubbed
• Sabine’s scarred hands and hard eyes

Combat Dynamics

If combat breaks out:

• Durand and crew are competent soldiers (not superhuman)
• Initial assault is coordinated and deadly
• They use terrain and numbers to advantage
• They target weakest-appearing members first
• They will flee if outnumbered and losing

Role in Campaign

The Auberge is an optional encounter representing mundane human evil. It is:

• A palate cleanser (human predation vs. supernatural)
• Avoidable through alternative routes or timing
• Deadly if encountered unprepared
• A reminder that not all threats are occult

Keeper Notes

• This is a straightforward combat and survival encounter
• Durand’s band should not become recurring antagonists
• The inn is then abandoned (if the bandits escape or are killed)
• Do not overuse this location; it should feel like a dangerous detour, not the story’s focus

Connections to Other Files

• Mathieu_Durand — Bandit leader and innkeeper
• Sabine — Knife-fighter operative
• [Chapter_2_Lyon](…/chapters/Chapter 2 - Lyon/chapter-2-overview.html) — Travel section

Relationships

• Operated by Mathieu Durand — Durand's band uses the inn as a base