We went to war with Cerdic with Nanteleod on our side at Levcomagis. In a hard-fought battle, we defeated Cerdic.
A few days later, we fought again in Hartford at the city of Royston. We won, but heard that Ulfius had been defeated in Silchester.
The men started to complain about their tenure of service, but Nanteleod gave a magnificent speech, and we continued to Essex and fought again.
We won (killing the last son of Aethelswith), and driving Cerdic into the sea.
Nanteleod was declared high king of the Britons, and we swore fealty to him.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Posted with Blogsy
503
Baldulf
Ektor arranged for court to be in Amesbury this year, so that the realm could pay its respects to the slain Luceers.
We were visited by Cerdic, an envoy from Mark, and an envoy from Nanteleod. Also a man named Sir Caydor.
We saw Bishop Dewey, looking impossibly old and haggard. Ulfius was also there. At the last moment, Morgan arrived, causing a stir among the people. She stopped to ask Giles if she could meet with him after court, alone. Akalon spoke to me, and told me that he had finished his winter with the Wallingfords, and believed that they were loyal. Belaius is probably more loyal than Basil.
Sir Caydor approached me. He was a knight of Gorloi, whose lands were taken by Uther, but his lands were never returned to him.
I forbade Jenna from traveling with Cerdic.
Sir Uffo, envoy of Mark, offered his condolences on the death of Luceers, and asked for help fighting Nanteleod off. He also brought a gift for Merl, a dragon pin that belonged to Uther.
Sir Merl and Kay embarrassed young Arthur with a prank.
Ektor told me that Kay said that his girlfriend had heard that Cerdic had arranged to sneak out of the house with Jenna.
We talked with Cerdic and agreed to fight Aelle this year. I confronted Jenna about her communications with Cerdic and ordered her to give me all of his communications.
We went to battle with Aelle in London. We found ourselves trapped between Aesh's forces from Kent and Aelle's troops from Portsmouth. We headed west into the smaller force, trying to get back to Salisbury. We won the battle and headed back to Sarum.
Back at Sarum, a maid treacherously let in some Saxons to capture Jenna and Robert. Damien and Marius and a random guard tried to defend the keep. I fought the ones who got through to my chambers. Jenna recognized that the Saxon who led the battle was Cerdic's brother. We knighted Marius and sent him with word to Nanteleod that we would swear fealty to him if he helped us kill Cerdic. Marius was, of course, completely enthralled by Morgan.
Robert was sent to live in Escavalon with Electus, Nanteleod's son. Damien went with him to protect him.
Ektor arranged for court to be in Amesbury this year, so that the realm could pay its respects to the slain Luceers.
We were visited by Cerdic, an envoy from Mark, and an envoy from Nanteleod. Also a man named Sir Caydor.
We saw Bishop Dewey, looking impossibly old and haggard. Ulfius was also there. At the last moment, Morgan arrived, causing a stir among the people. She stopped to ask Giles if she could meet with him after court, alone. Akalon spoke to me, and told me that he had finished his winter with the Wallingfords, and believed that they were loyal. Belaius is probably more loyal than Basil.
Sir Caydor approached me. He was a knight of Gorloi, whose lands were taken by Uther, but his lands were never returned to him.
I forbade Jenna from traveling with Cerdic.
Sir Uffo, envoy of Mark, offered his condolences on the death of Luceers, and asked for help fighting Nanteleod off. He also brought a gift for Merl, a dragon pin that belonged to Uther.
Sir Merl and Kay embarrassed young Arthur with a prank.
Ektor told me that Kay said that his girlfriend had heard that Cerdic had arranged to sneak out of the house with Jenna.
We talked with Cerdic and agreed to fight Aelle this year. I confronted Jenna about her communications with Cerdic and ordered her to give me all of his communications.
We went to battle with Aelle in London. We found ourselves trapped between Aesh's forces from Kent and Aelle's troops from Portsmouth. We headed west into the smaller force, trying to get back to Salisbury. We won the battle and headed back to Sarum.
Back at Sarum, a maid treacherously let in some Saxons to capture Jenna and Robert. Damien and Marius and a random guard tried to defend the keep. I fought the ones who got through to my chambers. Jenna recognized that the Saxon who led the battle was Cerdic's brother. We knighted Marius and sent him with word to Nanteleod that we would swear fealty to him if he helped us kill Cerdic. Marius was, of course, completely enthralled by Morgan.
Robert was sent to live in Escavalon with Electus, Nanteleod's son. Damien went with him to protect him.
502
Luceers' wife, despite the return of her son Merl, appeared to be ill.
Baldulf heard the court women gossiping that King Mark had been gaining ground in the north, and he was making a fine figure as a potential high king. One of the women whispered about some northern and western dukes and kings who had sworn allegiance to Nanteleod at a feast he held, and there were whispers that they were under the sway of Morgan's potions and magic. Nanteleod had threatened Camillard, whose leader, Leodegrance, had offered his daughter to any worthy lord who rose to his defense. Nanteleod also seemed to be deliberately provoking Mark.
At court were Cerdic, Ulfius, and emissaries from Leodegrance.
At Leslie's manor, a small band of Saxon knights arrived and ask to speak with him. They wanted him to convince Giles to come to the border and meet with Aelle.
Ulfius wanted us to fight with him again against Aelle.
Cerdic wanted us to give him two shares to offset his losses in last year's battle. We agreed to help in return for future duchies.
We sent Akalon to spy on the Wallingfords.
We decided to send Luceers and Damien to meet with Nanteleod, and the rest of the knights headed to meet with Aelle.
Merl, Giles and Leslie moved out to meet with Aelle in the space between the camps. Aelle wanted Giles to come with him to fight Aethelswith. Giles agreed to take our knights with Aelle to fight Aethelswith, and then to send Cerdic in to fight Aelle once his forces were weakened.
We headed north with Aelle.
Damian
Luceers arrived in Camillard and explained his plan to talk with Nanteleod. As we rode to meet Nanteleod, outside of Camillard, we met a knight in service to Baron Quintus who blew a horn and rode quickly away. As we started to ride away, we heard hoofbeats coming toward us. We turned to meet them, and about 30 knights arrived. They told us that their lord wished us to dine with him. We agreed to go with them.
They attempted to get us to relinquish our weapons, but Luceers talked them into keeping his, and I chose to stay in the courtyard instead. We found that a lady had recently arrived to heal Baron Quintus. She had been sent by Morgan to keep us from reaching Nanteleode-- for our own safety. A maid named Amanda convinced us to rescue her lady Drusilla and she would show us a way out. We fought some knights to get to Drusilla. In the tower we found a knight wearing the heraldry of one of the fey knights. We attempted to combat him, but he was far too powerful. Luceers was slain and I was captured.
Leslie
At the battle with Aethelswith, I was smote a grievous blow in the first charge and was saved by my squire. Giles defeated an Angle prince and captured him for ransom. As Aelle's troops broke Aethelswith's line, Giles ordered his troops after Aethelswith as he tried to get away. In a massive swing, Aethelswith was destroyed by Giles, turning the tide and allowing us to win the battle.
We found out that Cerdic's army was still three days away. The knights feasted with the Saxons, and Giles was given treasure and Aethelswith's axe.
Three days later, Cerdic arrived and Giles gave the order to attack Aelle. Aelle cursed Giles for his treachery, and the battle was joined. We fought valiantly, but neither side could get the upper hand,and the battle ended indecisively.
At the end of the year, Damien was released and brought Luceers's body back. There was much grieving.
Mark never arrived at Camillard, and Leodegrance surrendered to Nanteleod.
Giles returned to Morgan for another potion.
Baldulf heard the court women gossiping that King Mark had been gaining ground in the north, and he was making a fine figure as a potential high king. One of the women whispered about some northern and western dukes and kings who had sworn allegiance to Nanteleod at a feast he held, and there were whispers that they were under the sway of Morgan's potions and magic. Nanteleod had threatened Camillard, whose leader, Leodegrance, had offered his daughter to any worthy lord who rose to his defense. Nanteleod also seemed to be deliberately provoking Mark.
At court were Cerdic, Ulfius, and emissaries from Leodegrance.
At Leslie's manor, a small band of Saxon knights arrived and ask to speak with him. They wanted him to convince Giles to come to the border and meet with Aelle.
Ulfius wanted us to fight with him again against Aelle.
Cerdic wanted us to give him two shares to offset his losses in last year's battle. We agreed to help in return for future duchies.
We sent Akalon to spy on the Wallingfords.
We decided to send Luceers and Damien to meet with Nanteleod, and the rest of the knights headed to meet with Aelle.
Merl, Giles and Leslie moved out to meet with Aelle in the space between the camps. Aelle wanted Giles to come with him to fight Aethelswith. Giles agreed to take our knights with Aelle to fight Aethelswith, and then to send Cerdic in to fight Aelle once his forces were weakened.
We headed north with Aelle.
Damian
Luceers arrived in Camillard and explained his plan to talk with Nanteleod. As we rode to meet Nanteleod, outside of Camillard, we met a knight in service to Baron Quintus who blew a horn and rode quickly away. As we started to ride away, we heard hoofbeats coming toward us. We turned to meet them, and about 30 knights arrived. They told us that their lord wished us to dine with him. We agreed to go with them.
They attempted to get us to relinquish our weapons, but Luceers talked them into keeping his, and I chose to stay in the courtyard instead. We found that a lady had recently arrived to heal Baron Quintus. She had been sent by Morgan to keep us from reaching Nanteleode-- for our own safety. A maid named Amanda convinced us to rescue her lady Drusilla and she would show us a way out. We fought some knights to get to Drusilla. In the tower we found a knight wearing the heraldry of one of the fey knights. We attempted to combat him, but he was far too powerful. Luceers was slain and I was captured.
Leslie
At the battle with Aethelswith, I was smote a grievous blow in the first charge and was saved by my squire. Giles defeated an Angle prince and captured him for ransom. As Aelle's troops broke Aethelswith's line, Giles ordered his troops after Aethelswith as he tried to get away. In a massive swing, Aethelswith was destroyed by Giles, turning the tide and allowing us to win the battle.
We found out that Cerdic's army was still three days away. The knights feasted with the Saxons, and Giles was given treasure and Aethelswith's axe.
Three days later, Cerdic arrived and Giles gave the order to attack Aelle. Aelle cursed Giles for his treachery, and the battle was joined. We fought valiantly, but neither side could get the upper hand,and the battle ended indecisively.
At the end of the year, Damien was released and brought Luceers's body back. There was much grieving.
Mark never arrived at Camillard, and Leodegrance surrendered to Nanteleod.
Giles returned to Morgan for another potion.
501
Leslie
Sir Giles and I were asked to escort Sir Luceers to the marriage of Morgan in Lothien.
Baldulf
Prince Mark arrived with fifty knights, and came to meet with us. He wished to marry Countess Ellen in return for his lending us some knights to take the Cattalous. We told him we would consider. We also planned to send our knights north with him partway to Camillard.
Sir Amir from Silchester came on behalf of Ulfius for aid against Aelle.
Lady Amarath was with an old knight who claimed Basil Wallingford raped his daughter. When Basil was accused, he demanded trial by combat, and Hansel almost answered him, when Luceers accepted the challenge.
I talked to Cerdic and convinced him to help us fight Aelle in Silchester, and in return he would get some of the eastern Silchester lands.
Luceers talked to Lady Amarath about marrying Basil Wallingford, but she was not interested.
On the day of the duel, I convinced Basil Wallingford to pay restitution to Sir Gorim for his daughter, and avoided the duel commencing.
We sent Damien, the Wallingfords and Cerdic to Silchester. Giles, Luceers, and Leslie were sent north to the wedding.
Leslie
As we headed north, we heard that Oleg, the enemy of Giles, was in the train. We also received a letter from Ellen that she wanted to arrange a marriage between King Leodegrance's daughter, Guinevere, and Robert.
Mark told us that his goal was to unite all of the Britons under one king, so he was going from place to place looking for allies.
We headed north, through the forest, with Giles leading us, but Luceers was lazy and we were delayed. We fought some bandits, but easily defeated them. The next week we found a Christian shrine, but ignored it. The fifth week, we encounter some bandits. The sixth week we headed into Lothien, and found it strangely peaceful. We were ushered to Morgan and her family and talked with her and Lot. We planned to ride in 7 days to Nanteleod's lands for the wedding.
I heard the name Worthingtons-- they had done horrible things to my family in the past. I was confronted by one of the Worthingtons who spoke ill of my family, but all I could do was agree with him.
Giles sang a song, and Luceers did a consultation with the local bishop.
The next day, I was talked into gambling with the Worthingtons, and I lost a lot of money. Giles sang some more, and Luceers talked with Morgan, who tried to convince him to stay with her as company in Nogales, even suggesting that she could convince her husband to give him some lands. But he refused.
The next day, the Worthingtons invited me to speak in front of the assembled lords, and I delivered a great speech on "second chances." Luceers encountered a knight beating a peasant, and intervened.
The next day, I encountered one of the Worthington's women, and she attempted to flirt with me, but I froze as usual. Giles went falcon hunting with his friends. Luceers heard a Worthington speaking ill about me and Baldulf.
The next day, Luceers went falconing and Giles sang some more. I fought one of the Worthingtons and won, gaining some measure of my self respect back.
As we prepared to head out, Giles spoke with Morgan about longevity potions. She told him that he needed to bring her a dead unicorn to make the potion. When we passed a forest, Giles decided to head into the forest to find a unicorn, and Luceers and I tagged along. After a few hours, Giles was on the trail of a unicorn, but only Giles and I were able to get close to it. I thought we were going to ride it, but Giles slew it, just as he had done to my horse. That night, Luceers had a dream about a woman in a wedding dress and a golden haired man with a black dog who killed an older version of Robert.
The next day, Morgan rode to us and told us she has had a vision that was similar to the one Luceers had. She said that in two days, we would pass a place of great fey power, and she could do a ritual to help interpret the dreams. She made me a potion to help me play the lute so I could distract the guards and the others could go to the site of power.
Giles and Luceers went with Morgan to do the ritual. I finally wondered where they were and headed off after them. When I arrived I found five ghostly knights appearing around the henge. I sounded an alarm and charged into the nearest one. We battled the spectral knights. A large knight came out of the mist and took Morgan into the mist. Giles headed into the mist after him. Luceers interrogated the remaining knight and found that the large knight had taken Morgan to his kingdom. We followed Giles into the mist and into the fey lands.
Our captive told us that we would not make it past their champion, Merl. We passed some women who tried to distract us, but we rode on. We eventually came upon a gathering of court with much food, but we were not distracted by it, and we arrived at the castle, where Merl awaited us.
Luceers said that he is Merls father, and Merl told him that he felt abandoned. Luceers told him to stand aside, and Merl refused. But Luceers refused to fight,and Merl broke down crying, and father and son hugged. We entered the castle and found the throne room empty. We found a massive library and a book of spells open to a mind control spell. We headed into a room overlooking the sea, filled with plants. Giles found a plant that was a component for the mind control spell, but the petals had been plucked. When we made it outside, we found Morgan following the golden haired knight with the black dog. She called for help, but the knight seemed confused. I realized that Sir Dulahan was ensorceled. Luceers attacked the man, wounding him. I rode past and grabbed Morgan. The dog barked, trying to scare me, but I ignored it. Luceers and the man continued to fight, and Giles joined the fray; they dropped the knight, and as he died, the castle and the world started to fade away. Giles took his body and we rode away.
We finally arrived in Norgales where we watched the wedding. While Nanteleod was at first controlling, by the wedding, he seemed under the thrall of Morgan. We returned home late in the year. Luceers took Merl to his mother and we found out that our forces had lost the battle in Silchester, but had kept Aelle from gaining too much territory.
Sir Giles and I were asked to escort Sir Luceers to the marriage of Morgan in Lothien.
Baldulf
Prince Mark arrived with fifty knights, and came to meet with us. He wished to marry Countess Ellen in return for his lending us some knights to take the Cattalous. We told him we would consider. We also planned to send our knights north with him partway to Camillard.
Sir Amir from Silchester came on behalf of Ulfius for aid against Aelle.
Lady Amarath was with an old knight who claimed Basil Wallingford raped his daughter. When Basil was accused, he demanded trial by combat, and Hansel almost answered him, when Luceers accepted the challenge.
I talked to Cerdic and convinced him to help us fight Aelle in Silchester, and in return he would get some of the eastern Silchester lands.
Luceers talked to Lady Amarath about marrying Basil Wallingford, but she was not interested.
On the day of the duel, I convinced Basil Wallingford to pay restitution to Sir Gorim for his daughter, and avoided the duel commencing.
We sent Damien, the Wallingfords and Cerdic to Silchester. Giles, Luceers, and Leslie were sent north to the wedding.
Leslie
As we headed north, we heard that Oleg, the enemy of Giles, was in the train. We also received a letter from Ellen that she wanted to arrange a marriage between King Leodegrance's daughter, Guinevere, and Robert.
Mark told us that his goal was to unite all of the Britons under one king, so he was going from place to place looking for allies.
We headed north, through the forest, with Giles leading us, but Luceers was lazy and we were delayed. We fought some bandits, but easily defeated them. The next week we found a Christian shrine, but ignored it. The fifth week, we encounter some bandits. The sixth week we headed into Lothien, and found it strangely peaceful. We were ushered to Morgan and her family and talked with her and Lot. We planned to ride in 7 days to Nanteleod's lands for the wedding.
I heard the name Worthingtons-- they had done horrible things to my family in the past. I was confronted by one of the Worthingtons who spoke ill of my family, but all I could do was agree with him.
Giles sang a song, and Luceers did a consultation with the local bishop.
The next day, I was talked into gambling with the Worthingtons, and I lost a lot of money. Giles sang some more, and Luceers talked with Morgan, who tried to convince him to stay with her as company in Nogales, even suggesting that she could convince her husband to give him some lands. But he refused.
The next day, the Worthingtons invited me to speak in front of the assembled lords, and I delivered a great speech on "second chances." Luceers encountered a knight beating a peasant, and intervened.
The next day, I encountered one of the Worthington's women, and she attempted to flirt with me, but I froze as usual. Giles went falcon hunting with his friends. Luceers heard a Worthington speaking ill about me and Baldulf.
The next day, Luceers went falconing and Giles sang some more. I fought one of the Worthingtons and won, gaining some measure of my self respect back.
As we prepared to head out, Giles spoke with Morgan about longevity potions. She told him that he needed to bring her a dead unicorn to make the potion. When we passed a forest, Giles decided to head into the forest to find a unicorn, and Luceers and I tagged along. After a few hours, Giles was on the trail of a unicorn, but only Giles and I were able to get close to it. I thought we were going to ride it, but Giles slew it, just as he had done to my horse. That night, Luceers had a dream about a woman in a wedding dress and a golden haired man with a black dog who killed an older version of Robert.
The next day, Morgan rode to us and told us she has had a vision that was similar to the one Luceers had. She said that in two days, we would pass a place of great fey power, and she could do a ritual to help interpret the dreams. She made me a potion to help me play the lute so I could distract the guards and the others could go to the site of power.
Giles and Luceers went with Morgan to do the ritual. I finally wondered where they were and headed off after them. When I arrived I found five ghostly knights appearing around the henge. I sounded an alarm and charged into the nearest one. We battled the spectral knights. A large knight came out of the mist and took Morgan into the mist. Giles headed into the mist after him. Luceers interrogated the remaining knight and found that the large knight had taken Morgan to his kingdom. We followed Giles into the mist and into the fey lands.
Our captive told us that we would not make it past their champion, Merl. We passed some women who tried to distract us, but we rode on. We eventually came upon a gathering of court with much food, but we were not distracted by it, and we arrived at the castle, where Merl awaited us.
Luceers said that he is Merls father, and Merl told him that he felt abandoned. Luceers told him to stand aside, and Merl refused. But Luceers refused to fight,and Merl broke down crying, and father and son hugged. We entered the castle and found the throne room empty. We found a massive library and a book of spells open to a mind control spell. We headed into a room overlooking the sea, filled with plants. Giles found a plant that was a component for the mind control spell, but the petals had been plucked. When we made it outside, we found Morgan following the golden haired knight with the black dog. She called for help, but the knight seemed confused. I realized that Sir Dulahan was ensorceled. Luceers attacked the man, wounding him. I rode past and grabbed Morgan. The dog barked, trying to scare me, but I ignored it. Luceers and the man continued to fight, and Giles joined the fray; they dropped the knight, and as he died, the castle and the world started to fade away. Giles took his body and we rode away.
We finally arrived in Norgales where we watched the wedding. While Nanteleod was at first controlling, by the wedding, he seemed under the thrall of Morgan. We returned home late in the year. Luceers took Merl to his mother and we found out that our forces had lost the battle in Silchester, but had kept Aelle from gaining too much territory.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
500
Ektor came to Giles, and told him that we needed to go find Damian. While most of the knights were going to keep their word in helping Cerdic take Chichester, Sir Giles would take two young squires, Leslie and Gavin, and test them to see if they were ready for knighthood.
Here starts the tale of Leslie.
Gavin and I arrived in Sarum to ride with Sir Giles. Giles took us on a hunt for a boar to test our wilderness skills. Gavin found a boar, and Gavin and I quickly slew it. When it was my turn, I failed miserably at finding a boar, even leading us near Saxon territory. I also lost Gavin's falcon while trying to fish, and then Gavin got us lost tracking a fallow deer. Not a stellar performance if we were trying to impress the mighty Sir Giles.
At feast that night, we noticed that we were being watched by Patricia and Brea, two young noble ladies. Brea is Delan's youngest sister (but she would prefer to be a nun), and Pateicia is the oldest daughter of Sir Bernier (in Salisbury mainly as protection against further insurrection by her father). We talked to the ladies, but I have always been horribly inept around women. Gavin attempted to impress them with a story, but his story turned into a long, rambling mess of a narrative. Brea, however, gave me a kiss on the cheek. Perhaps, I only shone in comparison to Gavin's story.
The next day, we raced horses, and I fell off in the second stretch. Gavin, gallant friend that he is, returned to help me, and we raced the last stretch, but I fell again. Gavin won the race, and while I was disappointed to lose to Gavin two days in a row, my disappointment was short-lived when Sir Giles rode up and killed my horse for its impertinence in throwing me twice. The massive bloodshed cleared the stands of the ladies, no doubt in shock over such a bloody spectacle. Sir Giles replaced my horse with one from his own stables, which was most courteous, and I felt privileged to have seen first-hand the mighty stroke of Sir Giles. Not many men could sever a horse's head from its body with one swing.
Over the next few days we rode to Silchester to find some Saxons to test our arms against. We came across a camp of eleven Saxon scouts. I laid out a plan for us to attack a small group, and we attacked them in the open field as they left the camp. My horse was hit by javelins and kept me out of the first part of the battle. But once I joined the battle, we defeated the Saxons and attended to each other's wounds.
We returned to Sarum, and found a certain malaise in the air. Brea and the other women had been crying. There had been a raid in the northeast, and Sir Leo had been killed by a band of Aelle's men, who carried off Sir Leo's family and ambushed his knights, killing seven of the ten of them.
Baldulf in Court
The remainder of the brotherhood of the band met and decided to try to find replacements for the three missing knights.
Aelle and Aethelswith both offered to pay us (1 wall) to fight with them against the other Saxon leader. We ignored their requests..
King Port threatened us to stop allowing Cerdic free passage. We also ignored him.
We heard that King Lot had defeated the Picts.
The remaining Wallingfords arrived at court. They asked to not ride with us to Chichester and instead go to Silchester to rescue Leo's family. We granted them leave.
We also added another section onto the wall.
We found Ektor and Arthur in the Band's room, and noticed that the lad looked a lot like Madoc. Ektor was explaining the virtues of Roderik and how he had always listened to his good advisors.
Leslie, His Tale Continued
Sir Giles, Gavin, and I went to track Damian, who had been missing since he fled the battle. Giles knew that Damien had headed into the Campto Carronton forest. We found that Damien had last been seen with a knight named Galwin from Oxford near a village named Granlee in the Wallingford's territories. In the town we talked to the local landlord and found that Galwin and Damien had passed through and Galwin had been counseling Damien that the quest they were on--to find the stony hills hag--would bring him redemption from his cowardice at the battle. The hags previously had only killed knights, but the last year they destroyed an entire town, as if they were angered about something. Galwin and Damien had gone into the woods to talk to Mad Abby. Sir Giles, ever wise, warned us to never trust the fae-touched.
We headed to the homestead where Mad Abby lives. There were weapons and armor tossed all around the place. There was also an uneasy silence in the place, and we found three sets of footprints tracking all through the area, leading to and from a nearby lake. We also found a makeshift graveyard, with six graves with crosses over them that seemed to have been well tended. We also found tracks of hags leading out of the graveyard and into the stone hills. The house itself seemed as if it had been raided a few years back. All of the furniture, though broken, had been set up as if the house were still occupied. We also found, in the yard, Damien's dead horse. Gavin suggested that the knights had ridden up and met with a girl, but were then ambushed by the hags, who killed the horse and broke someone's sword. A bloodied, broken mace was also found. The hags must have fled into the mountains, pursued by the knights.
We headed back to the lake a few miles back. We tried playing the lute and searching with a falcon, but it took the careful eye of Sir Giles to find Abby's den. When we did, a young girl stepped out and called us murderers. Her family had been killed by the Wallingfords, and so Abby hates all knights. She said that the lady of the lake had given her an order to help us on our quest, but she did so unwillingly. We ordered her to take us to the hags. We spent one night at the homestead, eating berries, and then she led us into the hills.
We found the cave of the hag named Alice, and her corpse was in the cave, beaten to death with a mace. Abby took a necklace off the body and then led us off to Maude, the next hag, who lived in a nest/hut, where someone was singing inside. Gavin ran away in fear, and I was startled, but Sir Giles, of course, was unfazed and talked to her. She told Sir Giles to bleed me and she would help him. Luckily, Sir Giles challenged her to a game, instead. She said that they would ask each other questions and whoever answer first and correctly would win. If she won, she would get me. If we won, we would get information about Damien. We played the game for a while, but eventually, Gavin, who had recovered from his fear, asked, "Where is Damien?" and she raged at the twist in the game's questions, and attacked.
We realized that our swords were useless, but that other weapons worked. When Gavin hit her, she retreated, and we headed on to the final hag's resting place. Along the way, we found a knight, Sir Gotriel, a Saxon knighted in Gaul, trapped in a cage. He begged us to set him free. Ever honorable, Sir Giles set him free. We headed up the hill, and found Damien chained to the top of a hill. As we rescued him, the third hag appeared and told us we could leave without Damien. Gavin made a deal with the hag to renounce his own knighthood in order to free Sir Damien, with her warning that if he ever became a knight, she would unleash blood on the commoners. I was most aggrieved that Gavin, whom I thought would be my sword-brother until our death, had decided to renounce his knighthood.
Gavin rode off to find Abby and Luceer's son. Upon our return, I was knighted.
We found that the war in Chichester had been successful, and elsewhere, Mark had taken Dorset.
Luceers was visited by Akalon and told that his presence had been requested in the north at the wedding of Morgan to King Nanteleod (of Ireland).
The Wallingfords returned with Leo's wife and 2 of his sons and a chest of gold for the realm and a chest of gold for the Wallingfords. (1 more share)
Here starts the tale of Leslie.
Gavin and I arrived in Sarum to ride with Sir Giles. Giles took us on a hunt for a boar to test our wilderness skills. Gavin found a boar, and Gavin and I quickly slew it. When it was my turn, I failed miserably at finding a boar, even leading us near Saxon territory. I also lost Gavin's falcon while trying to fish, and then Gavin got us lost tracking a fallow deer. Not a stellar performance if we were trying to impress the mighty Sir Giles.
At feast that night, we noticed that we were being watched by Patricia and Brea, two young noble ladies. Brea is Delan's youngest sister (but she would prefer to be a nun), and Pateicia is the oldest daughter of Sir Bernier (in Salisbury mainly as protection against further insurrection by her father). We talked to the ladies, but I have always been horribly inept around women. Gavin attempted to impress them with a story, but his story turned into a long, rambling mess of a narrative. Brea, however, gave me a kiss on the cheek. Perhaps, I only shone in comparison to Gavin's story.
The next day, we raced horses, and I fell off in the second stretch. Gavin, gallant friend that he is, returned to help me, and we raced the last stretch, but I fell again. Gavin won the race, and while I was disappointed to lose to Gavin two days in a row, my disappointment was short-lived when Sir Giles rode up and killed my horse for its impertinence in throwing me twice. The massive bloodshed cleared the stands of the ladies, no doubt in shock over such a bloody spectacle. Sir Giles replaced my horse with one from his own stables, which was most courteous, and I felt privileged to have seen first-hand the mighty stroke of Sir Giles. Not many men could sever a horse's head from its body with one swing.
Over the next few days we rode to Silchester to find some Saxons to test our arms against. We came across a camp of eleven Saxon scouts. I laid out a plan for us to attack a small group, and we attacked them in the open field as they left the camp. My horse was hit by javelins and kept me out of the first part of the battle. But once I joined the battle, we defeated the Saxons and attended to each other's wounds.
We returned to Sarum, and found a certain malaise in the air. Brea and the other women had been crying. There had been a raid in the northeast, and Sir Leo had been killed by a band of Aelle's men, who carried off Sir Leo's family and ambushed his knights, killing seven of the ten of them.
Baldulf in Court
The remainder of the brotherhood of the band met and decided to try to find replacements for the three missing knights.
Aelle and Aethelswith both offered to pay us (1 wall) to fight with them against the other Saxon leader. We ignored their requests..
King Port threatened us to stop allowing Cerdic free passage. We also ignored him.
We heard that King Lot had defeated the Picts.
The remaining Wallingfords arrived at court. They asked to not ride with us to Chichester and instead go to Silchester to rescue Leo's family. We granted them leave.
We also added another section onto the wall.
We found Ektor and Arthur in the Band's room, and noticed that the lad looked a lot like Madoc. Ektor was explaining the virtues of Roderik and how he had always listened to his good advisors.
Leslie, His Tale Continued
Sir Giles, Gavin, and I went to track Damian, who had been missing since he fled the battle. Giles knew that Damien had headed into the Campto Carronton forest. We found that Damien had last been seen with a knight named Galwin from Oxford near a village named Granlee in the Wallingford's territories. In the town we talked to the local landlord and found that Galwin and Damien had passed through and Galwin had been counseling Damien that the quest they were on--to find the stony hills hag--would bring him redemption from his cowardice at the battle. The hags previously had only killed knights, but the last year they destroyed an entire town, as if they were angered about something. Galwin and Damien had gone into the woods to talk to Mad Abby. Sir Giles, ever wise, warned us to never trust the fae-touched.
We headed to the homestead where Mad Abby lives. There were weapons and armor tossed all around the place. There was also an uneasy silence in the place, and we found three sets of footprints tracking all through the area, leading to and from a nearby lake. We also found a makeshift graveyard, with six graves with crosses over them that seemed to have been well tended. We also found tracks of hags leading out of the graveyard and into the stone hills. The house itself seemed as if it had been raided a few years back. All of the furniture, though broken, had been set up as if the house were still occupied. We also found, in the yard, Damien's dead horse. Gavin suggested that the knights had ridden up and met with a girl, but were then ambushed by the hags, who killed the horse and broke someone's sword. A bloodied, broken mace was also found. The hags must have fled into the mountains, pursued by the knights.
We headed back to the lake a few miles back. We tried playing the lute and searching with a falcon, but it took the careful eye of Sir Giles to find Abby's den. When we did, a young girl stepped out and called us murderers. Her family had been killed by the Wallingfords, and so Abby hates all knights. She said that the lady of the lake had given her an order to help us on our quest, but she did so unwillingly. We ordered her to take us to the hags. We spent one night at the homestead, eating berries, and then she led us into the hills.
We found the cave of the hag named Alice, and her corpse was in the cave, beaten to death with a mace. Abby took a necklace off the body and then led us off to Maude, the next hag, who lived in a nest/hut, where someone was singing inside. Gavin ran away in fear, and I was startled, but Sir Giles, of course, was unfazed and talked to her. She told Sir Giles to bleed me and she would help him. Luckily, Sir Giles challenged her to a game, instead. She said that they would ask each other questions and whoever answer first and correctly would win. If she won, she would get me. If we won, we would get information about Damien. We played the game for a while, but eventually, Gavin, who had recovered from his fear, asked, "Where is Damien?" and she raged at the twist in the game's questions, and attacked.
We realized that our swords were useless, but that other weapons worked. When Gavin hit her, she retreated, and we headed on to the final hag's resting place. Along the way, we found a knight, Sir Gotriel, a Saxon knighted in Gaul, trapped in a cage. He begged us to set him free. Ever honorable, Sir Giles set him free. We headed up the hill, and found Damien chained to the top of a hill. As we rescued him, the third hag appeared and told us we could leave without Damien. Gavin made a deal with the hag to renounce his own knighthood in order to free Sir Damien, with her warning that if he ever became a knight, she would unleash blood on the commoners. I was most aggrieved that Gavin, whom I thought would be my sword-brother until our death, had decided to renounce his knighthood.
Gavin rode off to find Abby and Luceer's son. Upon our return, I was knighted.
We found that the war in Chichester had been successful, and elsewhere, Mark had taken Dorset.
Luceers was visited by Akalon and told that his presence had been requested in the north at the wedding of Morgan to King Nanteleod (of Ireland).
The Wallingfords returned with Leo's wife and 2 of his sons and a chest of gold for the realm and a chest of gold for the Wallingfords. (1 more share)
Sunday, August 19, 2012
499
No visitors came to see us in court this year because rumors of war were swirling, except for Cerdic, who arrived wearing Vortigern's heraldry. I could barely contain my hatred of Vortigern's son. He flirted with Jenna, but then was ready to discuss war plans. We decided on how to meet Aethelswith's army.
We met Aethelswith's forces in the field,and Sir Damian ran from the field, for no apparent reason. The battle was hard fought, and Giles lost half his household warriors, but thanks to Luceers and Giles holding a bridge against Alle, we held the field.
Cerdic appeared to Luceers during the victory festivities and suggested that we take some territories from Logres. Luceers convinced him to go after Aethelswith, and, in return, we would help Cerdic take Chichester next summer.
We geared up to chase Aethelswith, but Luceers led us into a swamp. Sir Banwain arrived and brought us some new knights. After two days we got reports from the scouts that Saxons were converging from every direction.
We chatted in the night with Cerdic. A sergeant arrived and told us that there was a disturbance. A "witch" appeared from the woods and was scaring the men. Luceers and I went to meet her--Morgan. She told us that all was lost, but the true prize was in Salisbury. We had lost something at the battle, but Morgan said that she did not know what it was. She then went back into the woods.
In the morning we got clear word from our scouts that we had wandered into a bad position, with Aethelswith to the north of us and Aelle to the south-holed up in some Roman ruins. We decided to battle Aethelswith and hoped that Aelle would choose not to fight.
We ran over some Saxons, but the army was held up. We finally fought a rather indecisive battle that saw Aethelswith chased out of the area.
Luceers slayed a giant but was also sorely wounded. After six weeks, he was finally healed, but his continued beatings from giants have left him smaller of stature.
In the winter, Luceers received a letter from Morgan that said the otherworld was in turmoil because Damian was missing. We also learned that Queen Ygraine had moved to Lot.
For the first time in a while, the news around britain was good. King Nanteloid had conquered one of the other Briton kings and then rampaged across Ireland, and Ireland has sworn fealty to him.
Prince Mark killed Baron Sextus in battle and was headed north to Dorset. Aelle angered the Jutes in Kent and they have gone to war with him.
The only bad news is that another band of invaders have landed in the north, a band of barbarians called the Angles
We met Aethelswith's forces in the field,and Sir Damian ran from the field, for no apparent reason. The battle was hard fought, and Giles lost half his household warriors, but thanks to Luceers and Giles holding a bridge against Alle, we held the field.
Cerdic appeared to Luceers during the victory festivities and suggested that we take some territories from Logres. Luceers convinced him to go after Aethelswith, and, in return, we would help Cerdic take Chichester next summer.
We geared up to chase Aethelswith, but Luceers led us into a swamp. Sir Banwain arrived and brought us some new knights. After two days we got reports from the scouts that Saxons were converging from every direction.
We chatted in the night with Cerdic. A sergeant arrived and told us that there was a disturbance. A "witch" appeared from the woods and was scaring the men. Luceers and I went to meet her--Morgan. She told us that all was lost, but the true prize was in Salisbury. We had lost something at the battle, but Morgan said that she did not know what it was. She then went back into the woods.
In the morning we got clear word from our scouts that we had wandered into a bad position, with Aethelswith to the north of us and Aelle to the south-holed up in some Roman ruins. We decided to battle Aethelswith and hoped that Aelle would choose not to fight.
We ran over some Saxons, but the army was held up. We finally fought a rather indecisive battle that saw Aethelswith chased out of the area.
Luceers slayed a giant but was also sorely wounded. After six weeks, he was finally healed, but his continued beatings from giants have left him smaller of stature.
In the winter, Luceers received a letter from Morgan that said the otherworld was in turmoil because Damian was missing. We also learned that Queen Ygraine had moved to Lot.
For the first time in a while, the news around britain was good. King Nanteloid had conquered one of the other Briton kings and then rampaged across Ireland, and Ireland has sworn fealty to him.
Prince Mark killed Baron Sextus in battle and was headed north to Dorset. Aelle angered the Jutes in Kent and they have gone to war with him.
The only bad news is that another band of invaders have landed in the north, a band of barbarians called the Angles
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