Adrien de Rouleau, better known as Le Papillon, was a talented Toussaintois composer and bard who was very popular at the court of Beauclair.
Biography[]
In 1275, he was hired by Duchess Anna Henrietta as the herald of the knight's tournament at the Tourney Grounds. The bard heralded the fight that took place between Guillaume de Launfal and Geralt of Rivia against a shaelmaar gifted by the Emperor of Nilfgaard. Le Papillon quickly switched the focus of his rhymes onto Geralt and Palmerin de Launfal when they intervened to assist Guillaume after the fight went awry.
Alas! Poor knightling! The beast heaved its foul girth, Let loose a roar and knocked him to earth! Then down came the witcher in one mighty bound, to give fight to the beast, its plans confound! The fate of the beast has been weighed by the gods! Soon the witcher shall triumph, against all odds! The witcher waited, till the time was true, then twirled, danced and spun - struck the monster right through! Out, out, brief flame! And thus the witcher's life was snuffed. All our hopes, alas, had turned to dust. Like a beau who leaves after love's first spurt, so the witcher wooed the shaelmaar, then its foul heart hurt! Dodge, dive, flee, feint! His razor strikes belly! Shaelmaar's cries ring aloud, blood transforms into jelly! |
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- Le Papillon during the shaelmaar fight |
Once the shaelmaar was defeated, if Geralt spared it, Le Papillon proclaimed him Geralt "the Merciful" and told the pikemen to tend to the slain beast. Otherwise, the bard simply praised the victors.
Le Papillon continued to herald major events of the tournament, such as the horse race, the mass melee, and the final melee against the reigning champion Gregoire de Gorgon.
After the tournament, Le Papillon may be encountered by the entrance to the hairdressing salon "A Cut Above" near Epona Square in Beauclair. He was concerned about the extended absence of Jean-Louis Ludovic, the owner of the salon, and asked Geralt to investigate. Adrien then accompanied the witcher on his search for the hairdresser, all the while attempting to compose a new ballad.
Associated quests[]
Notes[]
- Le Papillon is an admirer of Dandelion's ballads, particularly those about Geralt and Yennefer.
- After the quest, Of Sheers and a Witcher I Sing, he can be found singing his new song just north of the Cianfanelli Bank. The lyrics are below:
Seidhe Llygad shone in its azure glow, sand marking time's lackadaisical flow. They ventured beyond walls by vines entwined, into the unknown, the poor barber to find. Bidding them farewell, the gravestones moss-covered, they strode briskly on, by doubts unencumbered. The witcher's blade flashed, juices spouted and poured, covering all about in an archespore's gore. No piece of the stylist fell from its bowels, the friseur had been nabbed by ought else most foul. Oh no! Foul bandits have bound our stylist in chains! Little do they know they'll be punished, in pain. They froze in their fear, the knight's henchmen and squires, while his bowels set loose, heavenward spiraled. The witcher cleft him, in two lacerated, his next swing the swine adroitly castrated. With one more caress from the witcher's blade, the knight's gut plopped out, his breakfast betrayed. Then he hobbled apace, on his stump arms like crutches, all for the glory of Her Grace, the Duchess! |
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- Blood and Wine expansion |