490

490

 

Luceers was married. At the wedding we heard that Igraine was at court a lot, and that her anceestor was the queen under the sea. 

We were called to court early because of our glory, and we were met by Elid. We met Roderik and his son, Robert. Roderik asked us what we thought of Madoc and Uther, and then asked us to perform a task for him. Roderik wanted us to head to the north to bring Madoc back from Mallahot where he had fled after the battle in Gaul. He sent the shield of Aurelius with us as a sign for Madoc. He told us to tell our wives we were headed to Cornwall, and not tell anyone of our mission.

We headed north through the swamp to Mallohot.  I was worn out from the ride through the mud. We talked to people in the village and found a woman who works in the castle who might be able to tell us more about if Madoc was there. She said that she had heard that Madoc has been back, but she thought that he was now in Linsey with the other Northern kings. 

We headed to Linsey and found where the knights and kings were staying. Outside the city was Rheged. We also found the manor of the duke of Cambenet. Kings Lot and Gorloth were in the city together. The king of Roestock was in a keep. 

We met with Afion, king of Roestock. At Giles's prompting,we found that Madoc was in Castle Linsey. The kings were together to discuss an alliance against King Hengest, who has giants. Afion agreed to take a note to Madoc that asked him to meet with us. 

Madoc met with us. We showed him the shield,and Luceers attempted to convince Madoc to come back. But he had agreed to stay and fight the Saxons. He would come back with us if we convinced the southern kings to help the northern kings. 

We headed back to Uther and told Roderik of the situation, and Roderik told Uther. Merlin convinced Uther to go North. 

When we headed north, we found that the Saxons had gone through King Mark's land and were attacking Linsey. Our forces were 2000 knights and 5000 foot soldiers against 10 to 15000 Saxons. Bad omens on the Saxon side had made them nervous, and Uther's sword Excalibur made them moreso. Giles rode with Madoc in the first charge, and Gorloi asked Luceers to protect the left flank. I rode with Roderik and Akalon and Lot.

We crushed the Saxons, with Giles capturing the banner, and Me killing Akteh, the Saxon war chief. 

We then celebrated at Linsey for a couple of weeks. Luceers told lots of lies about his battle prowess--which once again truly centered on being beaten by a giant. I found some available maids, and Giles recovered from his head injury that has left him scarred. Akalon came to me. He told me of a feast being held in the honor of the best knights. He also told me to be careful of Lot, that his ambition borders on evil, and he should be watched. Giles was also invited to the feast.

We attended the feast with the other notables including Sir Alain. Our wives sang the chorus for Ygraine, andUther manifested a deep lust for Ygraine. 

Gorloi invited Luceers to Christmas Court.  Morgan wanted to see Luceers and Akalon. Luceers felt uncomfortable around Morgana; finding her dark and aloof and brooding. However, he sang for her, and she finally smiled and told Luceers that she knew the fairy princess was right when she told her that Luceers would be her protector forever.  Uther would not let Gorloi leave the court, and Gorloi came to Luceers and asked him for a favor--to leave the pig gate open so Gorloi and Ygraine could flee the court and Uther's lustful gaze. Luceers and Akalon agreed. Gorloi and his family left. Uther was incensed. Uther ordered his knights to chase them down, but a sudden snowstorm kept them from leaving, and trapped Luceers at court for the winter.

In the winter, my squire, Sam, was knighted,and I retained Thomas as my new squire. It was a harsh winter, and I lost two horses, but my family was well, and my brother, newly ensconced in the Forest Savage had another child.

489

Late in the winter, Prince Madoc passed through Salisbury, staying with our lord Roderik. After he left, he headed to our domains, starting with Luceers.

He offered condolences on the death of Luceers's wife and asked if he would be ready to take the field in the spring. Luceers was a great host and composed a great ode to the Battle of Somerset for the prince. Prince Madoc announced that he planned to continue the war against the Saxons in the summer.

Giles, however, was a horrible host, feeding Madoc gruel and turnips, but Madoc likes him anyway because of his warrior spirit. They gave each other gifts. Giles gave Madoc the Axe of the Saxon on the bridge, and Madoc gave Giles a horse and the chance to lead the charge at the battle in the summer. 

Then the prince visited me. My hospitality was good, as befitting one of Madoc's station. We chatted about battle, and he told me a secret. (Akalon has been a spy in the northern kingdoms,and they will help Madoc and Gorloi defeat one Saxon king, while Salisbury fights Aella again. But Uther has been smitten by a Frankish princess sent to be married to Madoc and may not take the field. 

In the summer, Court is in London, but Roderik took no knights with him. Sir Ector offered to take care of Luceers' daughter while he is away in the summer. 

Akalon visited Giles and wished him luck in the coming battles. We find out that Delan has plans to we'd Jenna (Roderik's daughter) in the summer, even though she is well above his station.

Roderik was late returning from London, and when he did return, he was in a somber. Luceers tried to keep the men's spirits up and distracted from the unease created by our lord's mood. Apparently Roderik plans to only muster knights, and not footmen for the battles in the summer. I talked to Elid and found that Uther had decided to send troops to fight the Franks instead of finishing Aella. Roderik's leaves for Gaul.

Roderik leaves us and Delan for garrison duty. I am untowardly cruel to the younger knights in frustration, hating that I am back in the towers where my father avoided glory, but Luceers tried to sooth their hurt egos. 

While we waste out time in the towers, some peasant pilgrims arrived. They reported Saxon raiders on the road to the south, even burning a village in Logres. We decided to patrol for Saxons. We found a village raided three days earlier, and the Saxons seem to be looking for Steeple Lankford--Giles' holding. (A big Saxon was looking for revenge on the one who killed his brother on a bridge.)

One night, Merlin appeared to talk to Giles. He wanted us to protect Nineve, the nymph, on a trip to consult an oracle about whether she should support Uther. After some discussion, we travelled a day west and north. Nineve has seen visions of a sad time ahead but she needs confirmation at the Ring near the Forest Savage. We travel in the rain for several days.

Nineve told us that she must run an errand. Luceers flirts and deserts the ladies in waiting while Giles and I met a hermit in the woods who asked where we are going. Nineve said we were going to see Dame Oir.  The hermit asked for our cloaks in return for telling us where the Dame was, but only Nineve was willing. The hermit did not like her cloak and went off muttering. 

Back at camp, Luceers found love with the ladies.

Giles and I were questioned by a noble woman who asked what makes us good men. I said duty to my lord, and Giles said he's not a good man. She asked if there is any reason a man should not keep his word, and we both had reasons. 

(Luceers resists the ladies.)

We went through a field of poppies, and I was forced to carry Nineve and Giles as they fell asleep.

(Luceers resists the ladies.)

We finally arrived at the hut of the wise woman.  The old woman is the mother of Balin, who Nineve says will one day be a good knight. I recognized that Balin is a young man who lives in Cornwall. Nineve fed the old woman a potion that kills her. She gave me a ring to deliver to Balin in Cornwall. 

(Luceers resists the ladies.)

It takes us three days to get back. (Luceers cannot resist the ladies. )

We headed north to the forest. The forest was restless because the kingdom is restless. The forest itself seemed to try to confuse us but Giles found the way through. On the next day, though, Giles had a harder time and the path led us to a village with a strange well with a large cross and Gaelic writing, which told the story of Helen, the spirit of water, who protects the area. There was a church and a tower under construction by peasants being whipped by overseers. Lord Gorboduc wanted the tower to be built in haste. We saw the Lord. Luceers spoke on behalf of the peasants but the lord dismissed us. Giles noticed that the lord had a scaly hump. We talked to the village priest and he told us to wait til evening. The priest insulted me, despite my desire to help his "flock." 

That night, I caught the lord's soldiers taking babies into the tower. When i stopped one, he went to tell Gorbaduc, and shortly thereafter, the lord came down with his men. Luceers, following some superstition taught by his religion, threw water on the lord, and then we all fight. Luceers prayed during the fight and a cold wind and a knightly ghost rose from the well and points at the lord, helping us despite our impiety toward the old ways. The warriors scattered in fear, and the ghost disappeared. Gorboduc attacked me and Luceers. We slew him. I claimed his chainmail and won the town in a draw of cards. I'll send Isdernus to look after it, and get rid of that rude priest.

We headed back out through the forest and Giles led us well for one day and then got us lost again. As we travelled, a knight came out of the woods, surprised to see travelers in the woods. We recognized him as Sir Merrin the Beast-Knight. He invited us to dinner and we dined with him and his wife. She cooks her specialty, a horrible stew that honesty could not let go unmentioned by Giles and I.

The next morning Sam told me that his horse was killed by Merrin's dogs. I accused his wife of releasing the dogs and she denied it. As I left, I saw the dogs with their bloody maws, and I felt my arm twitching. Before I quite knew what had happened, I had slain every dog. 

We finally arrived at the ring and found Picts there doing a ritual. We tried to intimidate them and despite Giles falling from his horse, the Picts left.

Nineve did her ritual and announced that Merlin is right. Uther must be high king, but his son will betray us all. 

We returned home to find that Roderik and his knights had returned. They told us that when they arrived in Gaul, Callus heard Madoc talking to a Roman emissary. He said that he would only fight at one battle for one city. Madoc killed many Franks. Ektor won great glory by rescuing the Roman leader. They were one day from the Frankish king and Madoc left. The Roman called Madoc and Uther oath breakers. The next day Claudius defeated the Romans and the Franks now rule all of Gaul. The knights returned home, but the men grumbled against Madoc. (Perhaps Nineve's divination was correct.)

There was also news that the Saxons are reuniting and did some damage to some Southern towns. We ended the winter with people disgruntled and confused. 

The winter time was good for me again, and despite a brief illness for the boys, the winter went well. Adwen has delivered me another child, a daughter.

488

(Session Date: 12/29/11)

In the year 488, by the reckoning of the Christian calendar, my companions and I were sent to retrieve Duke Cadwin from Somerset for Uther because he had not reported for muster.  Along the way, we--with Claudus and Delan--battled Saxons at a village, and I was badly wounded by the overwhelming numbers. Luckily, a wife of the village had skill in chirurgery, and it was only a few weeks before I was well enough to proceed to Bristol.

As we neared Bristol, we found some horses from Cornwall: owned by Sirs Argive, Elthan, and Valian, who had recently been defeated by  a mighty Saxon on a nearby bridge. The Saxon was taking the helms of the knights he defeated, and had amassed a string of nine helmets, and had badly wounded Argive and Elthan. We sent the knights to the village healer from whom we had recently departed, and Sir Valian joined us to make amends for his cowardice in fighting the saxon when his companions were beaten. We diced for the right to face the saxon, and through his skill at games, Giles won. We anticipated a major battle, but Giles slew the Saxon in a single hit. Luceers insisted that we bury the bodies of the knights slain by the Saxon.

We arrived at Bristol, the capital of Somerset, and found the Duke hiding in the city because a Saxon army marauds the countryside--having already killed the Duke's firstborn. In court we found that the Saxons were being led by Wolfenstan, who was under an enchantment that made him impossible to kill. Sir Varnald, the Duke's general, was in the field with the army fighting the Saxons.

That night, I sang poems to some of the ladies of the court, and was asked by on, Eloise, to continue my songs in her bedchambers. Never one to let a lady down, I agreed. On the way to her chambers, her sister, Mary, warned me that Eloise's husband, Sir Maewyn is in the field, but is a jealous man and that Eloise was hoping to provide him an heir, although they had yet to be successful. I acknowledged Mary's advice to stay away, but the lure of Eloise's chamber was strong, and I went to her anon. In the morning, she asked me for a token of remembrance, but I knew that such a token would only cause trouble, and I refused.

During the night, I was not the only one in congress with another, although Luceers' visitor was merely an elderly priest. The old man tested Luceer's knowledge of the Bible and when he was satisfied, told him that the Claihderaim, sword of the late Sir Thomas, could break the Saxon's enchantment. Nineve, a lady in a lake, knew where the sword lay. We decide to seek out this faerie, and  Perrin, a commoner boy, convinces Giles to take him on as his squire. While I took umbrage at the thought of arming a cobbler's son with the accoutrements of knighthood, Luceers was even more maddened. He browbeat the young man into a duel with sticks, and the boy could only remain if he landed a stroke against Luceers. As is wont with Luceers, his guard was down at the wrong time, and young Perrin landed his blow.

We arrived at the Lake and summoned Nineve. She agreed to tell us where the sword lay, but we were forced to agree to do her a favor when she asks at Tintagel. We followed her to a ruined monastery. Along the way, a dwarf stole Giles' sword and despite the warnings from the elf that we should make all haste, Giles and Claudus split from the group in pursuit of the sword. Ahead on the path we saw a knight, Sir Pedivere,  fighting an ogre, and we were tempted to stop and help, but we realized that Pedivere should still be with Uther, so we continue on, but Delan stops to aid her.  A weeping woman also begs us to save her from an impending marriage with a cruel knight, but Luceers and I distrust the fae nature of the woods, and we continued on. 

We reached the monastery and Nineve left us to face a large ringed serpent. Maddeningly, my father's sense of valor fell upon me, and Perrin and Luceers were left to fight the snake alone. Perrin was slain, and Luceers badly wounded before Vallian and I could regain our valor and attack the snake. Vallian, too, was badly wounded, but I finally slew the serpent. We retrieved the sword, but could not unsheathe it. We saved the sword for when Luceers awakened. We feared that Luceers would be too badly injured to wield the sword, so we looked for another pious knight, either Sir William, in a fort, or Sir Maewyn at the front. We headed to find Maewyn with Luceers packed in a carriage like a sausage and Eloise coming as a chirurgeon. 

Giles and I lost our sense of direction as we looked for the army, and it took us until Saturday to find some soldiers who could tell us that the army was massacred in a battle earlier that day. We headed to where the remnants of the army were. At 4pm, we found the rest of the army. We found that the general had been killed, and Sir Gracian was now leading the army. I recognized that Sir Gracian's battle plan was flawed, but it took Luceers to come up with a better plan. 

On Tuesday, we met the Saxons in the field, with Giles and I leading the charge. Luceers gave a rousing speech that stirred the blood of the other knights, all believers in the new religion. 

We charged straight into the berserkers. In the first hour, our army did well, but Delan was grievously wounded in the second hour. In the third hour of battle, we managed to engage Wulfenstan, and while Giles, Maewyn,and I battled his bodyguards, Luceers defeated the Saxon leader and captured him. Giles led the troops to a marginal victory, and the Saxons dispersed.

Duke Cadwin agreed to return with us to Uther, and Sir Claudus stayed in Bristol to wed Claire, the other sister of Eloise.

When we returned, we found that Uther had defeated Aela in battle as well. 

An unusually mild winter helped to temper the death of my youngest brother Marsell in the battle against Aela.

In Medias Res

So, the problem with starting this blog now is that the game has already been under way for over a month. This post attempts to provide an overview of what we've already done.

485 

Starting year of the campaign. We are part of a cohort of older squires awaiting our spurs. the other knights are as follows:

Bryant "the Giant"

Callus

Delan

Claudus

Ector

Akalon

We are all subjects of Lord Roderick and his wife Countess Ellen. 

In this year, we go on hunt, and Callus, Luceers, and Baldulf bring back the biggest game, a boar. Luceers receives a magic shield. we also meet Lady Elaine and Lady Adwen. we learn that the Saxon king Aethelswift and his war chief Aelle are mustering on the border. 

We fight at the Battle of Mercred Creek and win a battle against the Saxons, gaining much glory in the process. After the battle, we are knighted.

486

We travel to King Afion's realm to defeat a specter that is slaying his knights. We defeat the specter; Giles receives an enchanted sword, and we slay a giant, allowing Merlin to recover the sword of light (Exaclibur?) for Uther, who is attempting to be named High King. Baldulf uses the boon he receives from Afion to marry Adwen, despite their religious differences (as Baldulf is a pagan, and Adwen is a devout Christian).

487

We travel to Cornwall to convince Duke Gorloi that he should swear fealty to Uther. In order to gain his loyalty, we must find his missing daughter Morgana. We rescue her from some faerie folk in the woods, and Gorloi swears his fealty to Uther. 

Beginnings

This blog recounts the exploits of characters played by my group, the Rotgut Manglers, in our current Pendragon game. It is told from the perspective of my character(s). Robert is the GM for our group, and currently, the rest of the players and characters are as follows:

Paul - Sir Giles

Billy - Sir Luceers

Me - Sir Baldulf

Our group has a history of not finishing long campaigns, so it's a fair bit ambitious for us to decide to try to run the Great Campaignfor Pendragon, which could take us a few years to complete. This record, then, serves two purposes. One is to have a full record of the campaign, especially so we can look back three years from now and see where we came from. The other is extra incentive for the campaign to keep going. As a GM myself, I know that one of the things that keeps a game, and a GM, going is player involvement. This is my attempt to be involved. 

The blog entries will be from the perspective of the characters that I play in the campaign, starting with Sir Baldulf of Winterborne-Stoke.