Malleus Maleficarum [The Meddler/OPEN]

[The First Doctor]

"Like I said, I'm from very far away." Maria answered back in the same language. "The Meddler was it? Timelord, am I correct?"

"Yes," he answered. "And sometime soon, but after I get done working through this whole 'surrender' demand, we need to talk."

"Robin that chit is bloody Jeanne D'Arc!" She hissed in his ear.

Ah. That explained the feeling of familiarity here. He eyed his niece, noted the slow smile that was the (rather more sane) mirror of the one he tended to get, and laughed.

"Jeanne d'Arc," he mused out loud, in English. "And that," he waved in the general direction of the city, "is Compiegne."

"Then that would mean this is no later than the 23rd of May, 1430..."

His grin, just for a moment, became a made mirror of Sisi's. He bowed before Jehanne.

"My Lady," he said, in French that had lost the majority of its archaic flavor, "I crave your pardon. It has been long since I spoke your language, and it was but slowly recalled to mind. I am known as the Meddler, and my companion is my niece and self-appointed protector, one Sisilaya Vulmecura." He stopped, looked at his niece, and her lack of comprehension, and thought for a moment.

"One moment, my lady?" he said to Jehanne. Without waiting for an answer he stepped into the oak tree behind him and vanished from sight. A few minutes later he reemerged.

"There," he said to Sisi. "I've reengaged the telepathic translation circuits. You shouldn't have any troubles with the language now, although I'm not sure if it will translate what I say."

[Jehanne D'Arc]

Jehanne simply stared at the group before her. By my staff, these are the oddest bunch of people I have ever seen! The dark haired man called The Meddler and the woman called Maria seemed to know each other. Jehanne’s confusion only grew as the Meddler re-introduced himself—thankfully in less unintelligible French—and his niece, who was now smiling at her. Then, an instant later, the man excused himself and disappeared into the tree. When he returned, he was babbling something about a translation circuit, whatever that was. Was she going mad? Had she truly seen a man go into a tree? She blinked and rubbed her eyes. Mayhap she was simply tired and was imagining the whole thing? But what was a translation circuit and what did that have to do with the forest that surrounded her?


Perhaps he was a warlock? But no, warlocks—for all that they might disappear in trees—were certainly not friendly and courteous, and they didn’t speak in this fellow’s odd way. Whatever he was, he was harmless. Peculiar, possibly mad, but harmless. Then she recalled his name. Doubtless he was a jester and his strange language was part of his routine. Perhaps that explained his companion as well—though she looked far too ill-tempered to be very good at playing a fool. Still, perhaps that too was part of the persona. “It is quite nice to meet you, again,” Jehanne replied. “Why have you come here? Are you from elsewhere as the others are?” Perhaps they were coming to aid the city. They did not seem to be English spies, for all that they were a strange group. Indeed, the other fellow was from France, Orleans in fact.


Jehanne turned and smiled at him. “Welcome. I am pleased you could join me.” She found it a little odd that he did not know more of Compiegne than she did, but perhaps the news had not yet reached the city. Regardless, she was glad to have him and his companion with her. The more people on the side of the French the better. “I would be grateful for any aid that you could give me,” Jehanne said. Mayhap they could join with her troops? Perhaps with them they stood a chance of saving the beleaguered city.

[The Phantom]

“Walks are beautiful,” Rio interjected helpfully.

Maria nodded in agreement, smiling at him.

"Yes," the Meddler answered. "And sometime soon, but after I get done working through this whole 'surrender' demand, we need to talk."

"Very well." She replied shortly, she looked forward to a conversation with this man.

The Phantom watched as he excused himself, then proceeded to vanish into a tree. His Tardis most likely. Clever disguise though, she had to admit to herself. It didn't take long for the other timelord to reappear from the "tree" and tell his companion something. She didn't really pay attention, well more like she didn't want to pry into their conversations. It wasn't exactly polite.

"Welcome. I am pleased you could join me." Jehanne said to Rio with a smile on her face. "I would be grateful for any aid that you could give me."

Maria watched with curiosity shining in her sea-green eyes, as she wondered what exactly they were going to be helping her with. Well besides the war, that much was obvious.

[Rio Keâts]

Riocard had been in a lot of strange situations before. He’d pretended to be a sheep, accidentally stumbled upon a scheme to blow London up beginning with a sandwich shop, attempted to rescue plague victims from a match-happy madman, and hell, he’d even tried to pet a statue that was intent on eating his very soul. But he’d never met one of his patron saints, seen a man saunter into an oak tree, or volunteered in a war that had happened five hundred and fifty four years before his birth. Granted, he had gleamed enough information from Maria to understand all of these strange things. The oak tree was most likely not an oak tree, but a TARDIS. It would make sense; the only other time he’d heard her speak Gallifreyan was with the Doctor.

He’d always been resolutely grumpy that he couldn’t wrap his tongue around that damnable language. (He’d never admit to Maria he’d been trying to copy the few phrases that she’d said around him. Because, really, how pathetic would that look?)

“Welcome,” Jehanne smiled to him. Rio lowered his eyes, flustered. How was someone supposed to greet a saint? A martyr? “I am pleased you could join me. I would be grateful for any aid that you could give me,” she said.

Riocard smiled and placed his hands behind his back. He looked down at Maria, agitation only slightly apparent in his eyes. He was starting to get antsy. They had been in that place for entirely too long, too much talking and not enough… well, anything. He bounced on the heels of his feet, looking between the other members of their little forest party.

“The pleasure is all mine,” he said charmingly, smiling at Jehanne. “Do you mind taking us to your troops now? We can talk on the way,” Rio said, now practically jumping up and down to manage the excess energy building up.

[Sisilaya Vulmecura]

Sisi watched silently as the conversation escalated and the three were ready to follow the young Jeanne D'Arc to what she assumed were the barracks for the French army. Or tent cams, she couldn't remember what medieval army camps looked like.

But the thing was, they were only here for a pit stop. Her eyes flickered over to the Meddler, he looked ready to follow them.

Oh no you lot won't.

There were more pressing matters then the forever ongoing war between the French and the English. And that war certainly did not need any meddling from time travellers. Like she noticed before, Jeanne was at least a head smaller then her, for once Sisi was happy for her tall 5'10" build.

A slow smile crept to her face as she moved silently, war conditioning well paying off. Before anyone had an idea what was going on, Jeanne was grabbed, lifted and slung over her shoulder. She made a wince as the metal armour of the small woman dug into her shoulder.

"There are more pressing matters then this bloody forever ongoing war." she murmured and with that, she kicked the tree, no, TARDIS door open again. The yellow light from the interior flooded out and illuminated them. Without looking behind her to see what the other were doing she entered, exposing the TARDIS interior to most likely the most infamous woman in history.

Jogging over to the console she put the armoured woman down again, making her way to the console and starting to type in new commands, her fingers flying over the console as she seemed to dance around the hexagonal shape. She was making good use of the initial shock the interior of a TARDIS brought, it being bigger on the inside. It gave her the time to program the TARDIS for the Tirol region, Germany 1485.
With the final pull of the lever the time rotor roared to life. The doors were still open, she couldn't leave without her Meddler. She knew this.

She sighed, taking a calming breath and took her place beside the Maiden again, moving her hands to grasp her by the shoulders, her unnaturally green eyes seeking out Jeanne's. Her face showed tension, traces of fear.

"I'm sorry to cut short your expedition, but it is now or never. There was a reason we came to France, your.. time. I need your help, when we are done you will not have lost a single minute, I promise."

She sucked in a breath

"I need your help saving at least 60.000 women."

There, it was out.

She could hear them coming to the entrance. Robin was going to kill her.

[The First Doctor]

"There are more pressing matters then this bloody forever ongoing war." Sisilaya said. And then, to the Meddler's utter shock, she stole Joan of Arc.

He blinked in surprise, watched Sisi vanish into the TARDIS, then turned to look at Rio and Maria. "Ah," he said, holding up a finger, "excuse me, please..." And with that, he was storming after Sisi.

"No!" he shouted as he pushed through the door, "this will not do!" He brushed past Jehanne, pausing just long enough to say "Yes, it is bigger on the inside, and I'll be happy to explain that in a moment," before confronting his Niece.

"Sisi," he said, hands on hips, voice scolding, "You do not kidnap important historical figures. Not without checking the ramifications first. She didn't follow you home and you can't keep her. Not even if you promise to feed and walk her."

[Jehanne D'Arc]

Jehanne let out a strangled yelp as the taller woman grabbed her, slinging her over her shoulder. “Put me down!” she shouted, but the woman—Sisilaya, she thought her name was—did not seem to hear. Instead, she carried Joan inside the tree and set her down, muttering something about the war. Jehanne’s mouth dropped open. Where was she? Who were these people? When my Voices said I should be taken, I never imagined it would be in this fashion! She stared around, mouth still agape, at the blinking lights. There were too many objects for her to name, and her gaze soon returned to Sisilaya who was pressing all sorts of buttons. “What…what are you…” she trailed off as the woman stepped up to her again, taking her by the shoulders. Her eyes grew wide as Sisilaya explained about the woman.


Before she could answer, the Meddler stepped into the tree, mumbling something about an explanation, before stepping up to the red haired woman. Little of their conversation made sense to the French woman, but she glared at the meddler all the same. “I am no animal to be tended,” she spat, narrowing her eyes. “Besides, these women your niece spoke of clearly need assistance. I would be happy to help.” She turned her gaze back to the Meddler’s niece. “Where are we going and how do you mean to get us there?” Jehanne stared around at the curious place. [i[This is clearly no tree. Suppose these people truly are evil?[/i] “Where are we? What sort of place is this?” she demanded sharply.

[Sisilaya Vulmecura]

Sisi just kept a grin plastered to her face as Robin scolded at her, he entered not much later after she had entered the coordinates into the main navigation controls.

"Sisi," he said, hands on hips, voice scolding, "You do not kidnap important historical figures. Not without checking the ramifications first. She didn't follow you home and you can't keep her. Not even if you promise to feed and walk her."

“I am no animal to be tended,” she spat, narrowing her eyes. “Besides, these women your niece spoke of clearly need assistance. I would be happy to help.”

Sisi gave Robin a grin that mirrored one of his own almost uncannily. She mouthed a 'you lose' at him, chuckling softly.

"Sorry I had to manhandle you, my Lady, but it got the job done. This 'place' is a time machine of sorts, and I will bring you 50 years into the future from now." She took Jeanne by the shoulder, almost a manly gesture as she steered the woman to one of the benches in the console room. On it laid a heavy tome, open. The Malleus Malleficarum. The book was almost half the size Jeanne herself, it's size imposing to the unknown eye.

"That book here is the reason I brought you, my Lady. This book is called the Malleus Malleficarum, better known as the Witches Hammer. The book will be first published 56 years from now in Germany and will spread quickly through all of Europe and.. beyond. It does not condemn witches, but ordinary hard working women of God." Oh she knew when to act Christian when the need was there "The author is Inquisitor Heinrich Kramer," She pushed over some of the pages, opening to the intro written in Latin, but for Sisi and Jeanne perfectly readable. The page next to it showed a Papal Bull. "Notice something interesting? The Papel Bull for this book is dated from 1483." She pointed with her finger at the date, before flipping to the starter page at the front "While the book was not written until 1484 and published in 1486. And that's not all the deceit this man created, the recommendations are also all falsified."

She flipped the book down to a page where with graphic images was show how to trial a witch. How a woman was thrown in the water with a brick on her feet, if she floated she was a witch, if she drowned she was innocent but dead.

"Over 60.000 innocent women and healers will find the death due to this book. You on your own oppose the English Army, your influence might change the outcome of this book, my Lady." She said softly, grasping Jeanne's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. With that she made a sprint for the console.

She checked the parameters one last time before smacked her fist down on a single large button to start the dematerialisation sequence. She made a sprint to the front door and poked her head through at the Time Lord Lady and the French guy that seemed to be with her.

"If you want a ride, I'd suggest you'd pop on now! We're leaving!" She chirped at them before her head disappeared through the door again. With that she bounded back to the console, checking the parameters. They were ready for take off any moment now.

She finally turned back to Robin, who she'd clearly ignored after his outburst. She slid up behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and resting her chin on his shoulder.

"Live a little, dear uncle" She whispered into his ear and pressed her lips to his cheek in a kiss before she flung herself at the console again with a grin.

Oh yes, she'd even flirt with her own godfather to get her way. She was so much like her own mother sometimes.

Her mother that died by that book.

[The Phantom]

"Come on Rio, what's the worse that could happen?" Maria asked as she calmly walked into the Meddler's Tardis.

She couldn't help but find just a bit amusing, even if this was messing with the timelines. However, if it didn't screw up the past to much, she didn't mind breaking a couple rules. Maria, of course wouldn't admit that to anyone.

"Please tell me you two have better experiences flying the Tardis. Meaning not as bumpy." The Phantom wondered outloud, hoping she didn't sound rude. She didn't want to offend anyone because of her own carelessness.

[Rio Keâts]

Riocard had been taking this whole adventure rather well. Sure, he was about to witness a young girl being captured defending her country. And he was well aware of the fate that awaited her. She would be tried as a witch in Paris – a country that was effectively loyal to the English – and burned to death. He turned to Maria, about to express his super excitement about meeting Joan of Arc (even if he had only requested a trip to France to meet his mother before she died) when he realized that something was completely and utterly wrong.

He turned around completely at the undignified squeak that the saint let out and watched, in scandalized horror, as she was stolen. Kidnapped. Taken. Rio’s eye twitched as they disappeared into the oak tree. “Is that allowed? Isn’t there some sort of rule about not kidnapping a saint?!” he demanded, glancing over at Maria. The Time Lady, however, was sauntering her merry old way to the oak tree. “This is… I’m not… but she’s…”

He sighed and followed the Phantom, looking over at her as she talked to the man about his TARDIS. “Maria, I don’t think this is a very good idea,” he muttered.

[The First Doctor]

Little of their conversation made sense to the French woman, but she glared at the meddler all the same. “I am no animal to be tended,” she spat, narrowing her eyes. “Besides, these women your niece spoke of clearly need assistance. I would be happy to help.”

The Meddler stopped short, then turned to face her. "You are right," he said, then bowed low. "It was spoken in jest, but my words were ill-considered and, I fear, insulting. I ask your pardon, Maid of Orleans."

He tried to ignore Sisi's triumphantly mocking grin, and concentrated on letting her explain where they were and what she had planned. He did pretty well, too, although there was a disgusted snort when she described the TARDIS as a time machine "of sorts". But it was fascinating, genuinely fascinating, watching her describe what she wanted to do.

She reminded him of himself, 600 years ago, enthusiastic and ready to change the universe. Before he'd started thinking clearly about the consequences of his actions.

Which is why, as she began to do a final check of the coordinates, his hand lashed out and grabbed her wrist. "No," he said, pulling her gently but firmly away from the console. "I'll do this." He examined the coordinates, making a few subtle changes to avoid her gaze more than anything else. No blood on your hands, he thought. Not yet.

She sprinted away, inviting the other time travelers to join them.

She finally turned back to Robin, who she'd clearly ignored after his outburst. She slid up behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and resting her chin on his shoulder.

"Live a little, dear uncle" She whispered into his ear and pressed her lips to his cheek in a kiss before she flung herself at the console again with a grin.

He tensed for a second at the contact, reminding himself that she was his Niece, and found himself both grateful and somewhat annoyed at the sound of voices behind him.

"Please tell me you two have better experiences flying the Tardis. Meaning not as bumpy." The Phantom wondered outloud, hoping she didn't sound rude.

"Barring any unfortunate keyhole-related incidents, the ride is smooth and pleasant," the Meddler assured her. "Whether I am piloting, or my Niece is." He caught Sisi's wrist as she reached to initiate dematerialization, then hit the button himself.

No blood on your hands, Sisilaya. Let an old monster carry the burden.

[Jehanne D'Arc]

Jehanne peered down at the book along with Sisilaya, though the letters made little sense to her, for she could not read. Still, she understood the picture well enough. Her eyes narrowed as the red haired woman explained the book and how it was being used. “Such a thing should not be,” Jehanne said. “This fellow must be stopped.”


Lifting her head, she stared at the group of people now clustered within the machine. That was what the woman had called it, after all. But how could such a thing possibly travel through time? Surely such could not be! She arched a brow at Maria’s question. “I , too, hope he is a capable driver,” Jehanne muttered, nodding to the man’s apology. “It is alright. I fear I have been on edge of late.”

She watched the interaction between the Meddler and his niece, frowning. What sort of people had she become entangled with? They seemed simply to desire her help, and yet she could not be certain. “How does this work? What is a time machine?” They had promised an explanation, after all. She turned to the French fellow. Mayhap he could tell her something. “Do you understand what they are speaking of?"

[Sisilaya Vulmecura]

She snapped out of some of her enthusiasm as her wrist was suddenly snatched, Robin's presence suddenly very close behind her. She stiffened at his sudden close presence, a small blush creeping up on her cheeks.

"No," he said, pulling her gently but firmly away from the console. "I'll do this."

She nodded mutely as he pulled her backwards, away from the console. He proceeded to check the coordinates, changing some of them subtly. She just sighed softly and decided he would have to do his thing and she bounded out to call for Maria and Rio.

When she had 'cornered' him quietly, his reaction to the kiss she left on her cheek did not go unnoticed. If only he'd let go for once. She knew he cared for her, had been an important part of her childhood. But the thing was, she was not a child any more. Her feelings did not match that of a child any more either.

"Please tell me you two have better experiences flying the Tardis. Meaning not as bumpy." The Phantom wondered out loud, hoping she didn't sound rude.

"Barring any unfortunate keyhole-related incidents, the ride is smooth and pleasant," the Meddler assured her. "Whether I am piloting, or my Niece is." He caught Sisi's wrist as she reached to initiate dematerialization, then hit the button himself.

Sisi nodded, she was getting better and better at flying the TADIS, mostly by actually directly communicating with her instead of filling in long codes, coordinates and differentials. But details were details, right?

When he caught her wrist against she stilled and finally turned to face him as he pushed the dematerialisation button himself. She sighed softly.

"Robin.. you can't shelter me for the rest of my life. I need to start somewhere.." She said quietly, only for him to hear.

She heard Jehanne in the background, asking for an explanation. Her green eyes flitted to the woman for a moment before they turned back to Robin.

"Perhaps you should explain the workings of your TARDIS to her, you understand it better then I do after all and you know better of what she can and can't know." She said softly.

[The First Doctor]

"Robin.. you can't shelter me for the rest of my life. I need to start somewhere.." Sisi said quietly, only for him to hear.

"You do," he agreed, softly. "But not like this." He sighed, unwilling to meet her eyes right now.

"Changing time isn't simple, Sisi." He laughed, a bitter edge to the sound. "I mean, it is. But... it annuls people. They don't just die, they never existed." Another sigh. "And then their children never existed, and their children after them. And so on, all the way down the line."

He looked back up at her. "If you meddle with time, you don't just get blood on your hands. You wade in it. You wallow in it, and all you can do is make certain that the results are worth the cost."

"In this case, it is," he said with a strained lightness. "The proofs are trivial. But -" and here he held up a warning finger, "until you can do them yourself, I will not let you take that burden on yourself."

“How does this work? What is a time machine?” They had promised an explanation, after all. Jehanne turned to the French fellow. Mayhap he could tell her something. “Do you understand what they are speaking of?

"Perhaps you should explain the workings of your TARDIS to her, you understand it better then I do after all and you know better of what she can and can't know." Sisi said softly.

"That makes sense," he agreed, then spun on his heel, throwing his arms wide.

"This, he announced, all traces of melancholy gone, is a TARDIS! A 'time machine' if you must - a ship that sails the firmament and yesterday and tomorrow as easily as a galley might ply the seas of an earthly ocean!"

His smile was child-like, filled with joy and delight. "The moving and fixed stars, all the yesterdays gone by, all the tomorrows to come, they are all ports of call. All of them, filled with wonder and beauty and glory and danger. And all of them, all of them, waiting for us!"

[The Phantom]

“Maria, I don’t think this is a very good idea,” he muttered.

"I realize... However it's better then having to explain to the campaign about where she went." Maria muttered back to him.

She couldn't help but grin as the Meddler started talking about his Tardis. Also meeting another Timelord was exciting for her, considering she hadn't really seen very many of her kind for awhile now.

"You wanted to talk?" Maria asked the Meddler in Gallifreyan. "Or did you mean after this little adventure?"