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)
Thursday, September 13, 2012
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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
498
In this year, at court, the following people wished to speak: Sir Hampton from Ulfius (private), Prince Marc of Cornwall, Queen Ygraine, Sir Bangor de Wallingford.
We met with Hampton. He looked in poor repair. He said things had been bad in Silchester. Aethelswift had offered a massive bounty to the other Saxons in order to take Sarum. Aelle had agreed, and would send Ulfius against us.
In court, we had more knights than usual, and we were one of five kingdoms that was still free from Saxons. We heard rumors that there may be a war between Lot and Eosa.
Ygraine addressed the court. She apologized for the way she had treated us in the past, and told us that she wished to move into the abbey at Amesbury. I turned her down, but as she and Morgan left, Morgan seemed upset that we did not help her.
Marc addressed us and flattered us before offering us aid, an alliance against Baron Sextus. His home city, Jaget, was mostly undefended. We agreed to help him.
Bangor said that he brought us our share of the raiding he did last year. We banked his money (1 wall share) and built the second section of wall.
Later that night, we met with Marc and talked about Baron Sextus who had taken Ilminster and Exeter and Tintagel. He wanted us to disrupt his supply line. We agreed to help him cut the supply train, if he would help us in the future against the Saxons.
At the end of the week, Kay came to Luceers and told us that there were some men here from Ebil. We met with them and they told us that they had killed a Saxon raiding party and had heard that other Saxons were feeling us out in the South near the manors of Callus and Luceers.
We agreed to send Luceers and Sir Damian to see Cerdic, and Giles to Jaget.
Hanzel warned us not to trust the Wallingfords, but Luceers put Hanzel in his place.
On the way to Ebil, Luceers and Damian heard that a raiding party was headed to Luceers' manor. They headed to his manor and killed Saxons, with the young Sir Damian acquitting himself most regally on the field.
Giles headed to Jaget, and the Wallingfords captured some prisoners from Jaget. Giles questioned them about the defenses of the castle, and found that they consisted of only Sir Bertram, who was not a very good knight. Giles decided to fight Sir Bertram one on one, and despite Bertram's fey power, Giles won and took the city.
When Luceers and Damian got to the city, they met with the castellan. The people in the keep were happy, but the Saxons seem annoyed. They met with Cerdic, and he told them of his plans to conquer all of Britain and unify Britons and Saxons. Luceers delivered a sermon that converted a Saxon. Cerdic told him that Aethelwith had offered him money to join him. Luceers made an alliance with Cerdic and his Saxons: 1 tribute and safe passage through Salisbury in return for friendship.
We met with Hampton. He looked in poor repair. He said things had been bad in Silchester. Aethelswift had offered a massive bounty to the other Saxons in order to take Sarum. Aelle had agreed, and would send Ulfius against us.
In court, we had more knights than usual, and we were one of five kingdoms that was still free from Saxons. We heard rumors that there may be a war between Lot and Eosa.
Ygraine addressed the court. She apologized for the way she had treated us in the past, and told us that she wished to move into the abbey at Amesbury. I turned her down, but as she and Morgan left, Morgan seemed upset that we did not help her.
Marc addressed us and flattered us before offering us aid, an alliance against Baron Sextus. His home city, Jaget, was mostly undefended. We agreed to help him.
Bangor said that he brought us our share of the raiding he did last year. We banked his money (1 wall share) and built the second section of wall.
Later that night, we met with Marc and talked about Baron Sextus who had taken Ilminster and Exeter and Tintagel. He wanted us to disrupt his supply line. We agreed to help him cut the supply train, if he would help us in the future against the Saxons.
At the end of the week, Kay came to Luceers and told us that there were some men here from Ebil. We met with them and they told us that they had killed a Saxon raiding party and had heard that other Saxons were feeling us out in the South near the manors of Callus and Luceers.
We agreed to send Luceers and Sir Damian to see Cerdic, and Giles to Jaget.
Hanzel warned us not to trust the Wallingfords, but Luceers put Hanzel in his place.
On the way to Ebil, Luceers and Damian heard that a raiding party was headed to Luceers' manor. They headed to his manor and killed Saxons, with the young Sir Damian acquitting himself most regally on the field.
Giles headed to Jaget, and the Wallingfords captured some prisoners from Jaget. Giles questioned them about the defenses of the castle, and found that they consisted of only Sir Bertram, who was not a very good knight. Giles decided to fight Sir Bertram one on one, and despite Bertram's fey power, Giles won and took the city.
When Luceers and Damian got to the city, they met with the castellan. The people in the keep were happy, but the Saxons seem annoyed. They met with Cerdic, and he told them of his plans to conquer all of Britain and unify Britons and Saxons. Luceers delivered a sermon that converted a Saxon. Cerdic told him that Aethelwith had offered him money to join him. Luceers made an alliance with Cerdic and his Saxons: 1 tribute and safe passage through Salisbury in return for friendship.
497
While I prepared to go to Easter services, Luceers was visited by Akalon and his squire and Morgan. Akalon looked rough and Morgan was bewitching Merl, Luceers' son. Morgan told Luceers that she had been dreaming of the future and that Merl was going to die soon unless Morgan saved him. She said she must take him to the abbey of Conconere and past the guardians to save him. Luceers said he must first consult with us at court.
Giles was visited by the Knight of the Bright Blade who asked his permission to go to the north to visit the King of the Golden Circle, pass his test, and marry his beautiful daughter. Giles gave his permission.
The Brotherhood of the Band (the survivors, Likus and Leo) met before court. Luceers presented his case. Our other problems were that Benier was now harboring Saxons and the Wallingford brothers were still a problem. Ethfrid, a Saxon from Hengest, and Aeshwin, the Saxon from Aethelswith, as well as Belius de Wallingford, and Sir Rhongair (who was at the battle of Tintagel) wished to meet with me as steward. Luceers found out what they wanted:
We agreed to send money to Hengest, but Aeshwin killed Hengest's messenger, so we sent Giles to kill Aeshwin after he left court. But Giles failed.
Giles took the Wallingford brothers to fight Benier.
I heard that Picts were in the north, so I headed north with Luceers, Merl, Morgan, and the Knight Beneath the Waves.
We rode north until Luceers got tired. Morgan told me that she knew the way, and that I must come with her. We rode into a dark forest. Morgan heard a cry of help from a woman, but when we got off the path, Morgan got us lost. As we moved through the woods, we heard the sound of battle. We found Picts and I tried to kill them. After dispatching three Picts, I found a knight with a woman thrown across his horse who said the Picts were vassals of Lord Wolfrith. The knight is named Beomar. I fought with him for many hours, but he finally bested me.
Luceers headed into the forest to find me. He found the dead Picts, and Gavin found my trail. They eventually found a road that led north to a parody of a southern manor house filled with twenty Pict soldiers. Luceers found Sir Beomart who demanded Luceers' weapons and armor as ransom for me. The captive woman healed me, and told me that she was being forced to marry Wolfrith. Luceers tried to barter for me. Morgan appeared and said that Wolfrith knows where Concanere is. Ultimately, Beomart and Luceers fought. Luceers won and we took Beomart, for ransom, and the woman as well.
Luceers took a Pict to help him find the Golden-tusked boar, while I waited with the captive woman, Lady Alba. Luceers found the boar in two days. They followed it as it ran, and eventually it led them to a path up a mountain. At the top of the mountain, they found a temple. At the gate was a knight in old armor, praying. Morgan told Luceers that the knight is the guardian they must pass. Luceers explained his situation to the knight, but the knight told him he must go, for nothing could pass him without his death. They fought, and while they were fighting, Morgan took Merl into the abbey. The guardian knight realized what had happened and stopped fighting, and immediately began to decay. Luceers ran in and found an empty room.
Meanwhile, a party of pict hunters found me. I tried to outrun them but ran into a group of them, but I was able to kill them.
I finally met up with Luceers. He told me what happened, and we headed back, dropping Lady Alba off. Luceers had the Knight of the Waves married to Lady Alba.
Giles heard that Ashwin had begun raiding some eastern lands. He took knights from Callus, Akalon, and Likus (total 110 knights) to fight the Saxons. He met with a local lord and was told that his forces were not sizable enough to fight the 200 Saxons and 50 knights. As Giles was trying to decide what to do, he heard Saxon horns of attack.
Giles split his forces to fight the Saxons; he sent the Wallingfords to fight the rogue Salisbury knights, while Giles attacked Aeshwin and broke his spear and his axe. Giles defeated Aeshwin and then met the Saxon who defeated him earlier., and he sliced him in two.
Back at the battle. Giles matcheed up against Sir Brenier's army. In pitched battle, Giles defeated the Saxons and knights and scattered them. Giles chased Brenier and settled into a siege against his castle, and sent the Wallingfords to loot Brenier's castle. We sent Luceers to make terms with the nobles but he failed to convince them.
We divided their lands among Callus, Giles, Akalon, Likus, and the oldest Wallingford.
Giles was visited by the Knight of the Bright Blade who asked his permission to go to the north to visit the King of the Golden Circle, pass his test, and marry his beautiful daughter. Giles gave his permission.
The Brotherhood of the Band (the survivors, Likus and Leo) met before court. Luceers presented his case. Our other problems were that Benier was now harboring Saxons and the Wallingford brothers were still a problem. Ethfrid, a Saxon from Hengest, and Aeshwin, the Saxon from Aethelswith, as well as Belius de Wallingford, and Sir Rhongair (who was at the battle of Tintagel) wished to meet with me as steward. Luceers found out what they wanted:
- Rhongair was on a mission fromTintagel; Baron Sextus seemed to be planning an attack on Tintagel, and Rhongair wanted to know if the knights of Logres could borrow Giles to battle Sextus.
- Hengest and Aeshwin wanted our loyalty.
- Belius came on behalf of his brothers (e Wallingfords) to join Salisbury.
We agreed to send money to Hengest, but Aeshwin killed Hengest's messenger, so we sent Giles to kill Aeshwin after he left court. But Giles failed.
Giles took the Wallingford brothers to fight Benier.
I heard that Picts were in the north, so I headed north with Luceers, Merl, Morgan, and the Knight Beneath the Waves.
We rode north until Luceers got tired. Morgan told me that she knew the way, and that I must come with her. We rode into a dark forest. Morgan heard a cry of help from a woman, but when we got off the path, Morgan got us lost. As we moved through the woods, we heard the sound of battle. We found Picts and I tried to kill them. After dispatching three Picts, I found a knight with a woman thrown across his horse who said the Picts were vassals of Lord Wolfrith. The knight is named Beomar. I fought with him for many hours, but he finally bested me.
Luceers headed into the forest to find me. He found the dead Picts, and Gavin found my trail. They eventually found a road that led north to a parody of a southern manor house filled with twenty Pict soldiers. Luceers found Sir Beomart who demanded Luceers' weapons and armor as ransom for me. The captive woman healed me, and told me that she was being forced to marry Wolfrith. Luceers tried to barter for me. Morgan appeared and said that Wolfrith knows where Concanere is. Ultimately, Beomart and Luceers fought. Luceers won and we took Beomart, for ransom, and the woman as well.
Luceers took a Pict to help him find the Golden-tusked boar, while I waited with the captive woman, Lady Alba. Luceers found the boar in two days. They followed it as it ran, and eventually it led them to a path up a mountain. At the top of the mountain, they found a temple. At the gate was a knight in old armor, praying. Morgan told Luceers that the knight is the guardian they must pass. Luceers explained his situation to the knight, but the knight told him he must go, for nothing could pass him without his death. They fought, and while they were fighting, Morgan took Merl into the abbey. The guardian knight realized what had happened and stopped fighting, and immediately began to decay. Luceers ran in and found an empty room.
Meanwhile, a party of pict hunters found me. I tried to outrun them but ran into a group of them, but I was able to kill them.
I finally met up with Luceers. He told me what happened, and we headed back, dropping Lady Alba off. Luceers had the Knight of the Waves married to Lady Alba.
Giles heard that Ashwin had begun raiding some eastern lands. He took knights from Callus, Akalon, and Likus (total 110 knights) to fight the Saxons. He met with a local lord and was told that his forces were not sizable enough to fight the 200 Saxons and 50 knights. As Giles was trying to decide what to do, he heard Saxon horns of attack.
Giles split his forces to fight the Saxons; he sent the Wallingfords to fight the rogue Salisbury knights, while Giles attacked Aeshwin and broke his spear and his axe. Giles defeated Aeshwin and then met the Saxon who defeated him earlier., and he sliced him in two.
Back at the battle. Giles matcheed up against Sir Brenier's army. In pitched battle, Giles defeated the Saxons and knights and scattered them. Giles chased Brenier and settled into a siege against his castle, and sent the Wallingfords to loot Brenier's castle. We sent Luceers to make terms with the nobles but he failed to convince them.
We divided their lands among Callus, Giles, Akalon, Likus, and the oldest Wallingford.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
496
The year began with Ector coming to visit me to see if he could assist me as I began to run Earl Roderik's lands, and to warn me; he was in Ainsbury at Christmas and heard thatBishop Dewey was mad that I, a pagan, was ruling in Roderik's stead.
Meanwhile, Giles heard that a large entourage, headed by Baron Sextus, was headed toward his estate. Sextus invited Giles to make war on the weaker lands without kings--particularly Exeter and young Prince Mark. He told Giles not to speak of his plan to me.
In the spring, the Brotherhood of the Band met before the court times. While Luceers rode to the meeting, he met Merlin in a forest, and Merlin told him that a Saxon called the Knight of the Tusks would be traveling with some very important cargo to Essex from Malahaut, and he must not be allowed to reach his destination. If he went after the knight, Luceers might find information about who killed Uther and the other kings.
A Saxon visited us at Salisbury, Prince Aeswine--son of Aethelswith demanded 100 pounds of silver or an equivalent amount of cattle before summer. Jenna told us that we have a spare 100 pounds a year and could raise more if we taxed the banner knights. We also have three unclaimed holdings. The walls of Sarum have not yet been finished--costing 20 pounds to finish for the castle, or 100pounds for the whole city.
Lykus told us that he had been approached by Sir Bernier, who had been meeting with the Eastern bannerets, and their oaths have been broken with the Earl, and we should swear fealty to Ulfius. Giles told us about Sextus. We agreed to have Ektor take Elid's position as trainer of knights. We sent Akalon to find out which other lands have been propositioned by the Saxons.
A week later, he told us, right before the muster, that Brastius had signed with Hengest. Ulfius had vowed to fight Aelle. A new Saxon king, Cerdic, had arrived in the south. Leodegrance had agreed to pay tribute to Aethelswith, but not fealty.
Akalon talked to Luceers, and gave him a message from Lot at the behest of Lot's wife. He also told us that King Lot is not to be trusted. The note tells Luceers about Lots high regard for him, and warned him of the dark times coming in the South, and invited him to take five manors from him and swear fealty to him.
We had three guests--Brastius, the Countess of Rydychan, and a courier from Duke Ulfius. Only about half of the knights showed up for muster; most of the absences are from the Eastern knights. Luceers addressed the knights. We noted that Sir Lesar was notably upset. We met with the Countess, and she told us that the Wallingford brothers have taken her lands. Sir Hanzel volunteered to fight the knights, but we told him to wait until we decided what to do. Brastius told us about the sword in the anvil in London and encouraged us to join with Hengest. The courier from Ulfius told us that we need a king and that the Colegium would decide on a new high king that summer.
We decided to send Hanzel to help the Countess. We sent Callus and the knights to take care of Bernier. The rest of us headed off to find the knight of the tusk. I left Jenna to run the kingdom. We stopped by the abbey to see Countess Ellen, and Luceers convinced her to return to help Jenna. Luceers brought Ellen and Father Bastile back to Salisbury, for the Father to baptize me, fulfilling my oath to Luceers, and hopefully putting a further briar in Dewey's saddle.
Giles tracked the knight of the tusk. We found him and his entourage-a handful of archers and some slaves- at a tower. We attacked his archers and swel them, and then turned to face the knights. Giles faced the leader and unhorsed him and then killed him. We found that one of the slaves is Sir Valinar of Linsey., and he swore fealty to Giles. We retrieved a parcel from the tower and two small barrels of poison. The parcel contained gems and jewels--like household jewelry from a noble--and a note from the Centurion King of Malahaut thanking Aethelswith for the use of his men.
When we returned home, we found that Callus had battled Bernier and been forced to retreat. Hanzel also was repelled by the three brothers.
We heard gossip:
*King Lot has a new son.
*The Irish are warring in Gales.
*King Clovis the Frank has converted to Christianity.
*The Colegium could not make a decision on who should be king.
*Aethelswith attacked King Leodegrance for not paying tribute, but lost.
*Ulfius allied with Aelle.
The winter was mild, and we all made improvements to our homes--mainly fortifying against the inevitable wars that will come.
Meanwhile, Giles heard that a large entourage, headed by Baron Sextus, was headed toward his estate. Sextus invited Giles to make war on the weaker lands without kings--particularly Exeter and young Prince Mark. He told Giles not to speak of his plan to me.
In the spring, the Brotherhood of the Band met before the court times. While Luceers rode to the meeting, he met Merlin in a forest, and Merlin told him that a Saxon called the Knight of the Tusks would be traveling with some very important cargo to Essex from Malahaut, and he must not be allowed to reach his destination. If he went after the knight, Luceers might find information about who killed Uther and the other kings.
A Saxon visited us at Salisbury, Prince Aeswine--son of Aethelswith demanded 100 pounds of silver or an equivalent amount of cattle before summer. Jenna told us that we have a spare 100 pounds a year and could raise more if we taxed the banner knights. We also have three unclaimed holdings. The walls of Sarum have not yet been finished--costing 20 pounds to finish for the castle, or 100pounds for the whole city.
Lykus told us that he had been approached by Sir Bernier, who had been meeting with the Eastern bannerets, and their oaths have been broken with the Earl, and we should swear fealty to Ulfius. Giles told us about Sextus. We agreed to have Ektor take Elid's position as trainer of knights. We sent Akalon to find out which other lands have been propositioned by the Saxons.
A week later, he told us, right before the muster, that Brastius had signed with Hengest. Ulfius had vowed to fight Aelle. A new Saxon king, Cerdic, had arrived in the south. Leodegrance had agreed to pay tribute to Aethelswith, but not fealty.
Akalon talked to Luceers, and gave him a message from Lot at the behest of Lot's wife. He also told us that King Lot is not to be trusted. The note tells Luceers about Lots high regard for him, and warned him of the dark times coming in the South, and invited him to take five manors from him and swear fealty to him.
We had three guests--Brastius, the Countess of Rydychan, and a courier from Duke Ulfius. Only about half of the knights showed up for muster; most of the absences are from the Eastern knights. Luceers addressed the knights. We noted that Sir Lesar was notably upset. We met with the Countess, and she told us that the Wallingford brothers have taken her lands. Sir Hanzel volunteered to fight the knights, but we told him to wait until we decided what to do. Brastius told us about the sword in the anvil in London and encouraged us to join with Hengest. The courier from Ulfius told us that we need a king and that the Colegium would decide on a new high king that summer.
We decided to send Hanzel to help the Countess. We sent Callus and the knights to take care of Bernier. The rest of us headed off to find the knight of the tusk. I left Jenna to run the kingdom. We stopped by the abbey to see Countess Ellen, and Luceers convinced her to return to help Jenna. Luceers brought Ellen and Father Bastile back to Salisbury, for the Father to baptize me, fulfilling my oath to Luceers, and hopefully putting a further briar in Dewey's saddle.
Giles tracked the knight of the tusk. We found him and his entourage-a handful of archers and some slaves- at a tower. We attacked his archers and swel them, and then turned to face the knights. Giles faced the leader and unhorsed him and then killed him. We found that one of the slaves is Sir Valinar of Linsey., and he swore fealty to Giles. We retrieved a parcel from the tower and two small barrels of poison. The parcel contained gems and jewels--like household jewelry from a noble--and a note from the Centurion King of Malahaut thanking Aethelswith for the use of his men.
When we returned home, we found that Callus had battled Bernier and been forced to retreat. Hanzel also was repelled by the three brothers.
We heard gossip:
*King Lot has a new son.
*The Irish are warring in Gales.
*King Clovis the Frank has converted to Christianity.
*The Colegium could not make a decision on who should be king.
*Aethelswith attacked King Leodegrance for not paying tribute, but lost.
*Ulfius allied with Aelle.
The winter was mild, and we all made improvements to our homes--mainly fortifying against the inevitable wars that will come.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
495
In this year,, the Saxons moved south, and word came that Saxons had taken one of our northernmost cities. We massed at St. Albans and the Irish king sent troops to bolster our ranks to about 2000 knights and 7000 foot soldiers. Uther ordered a full charge to try to catch the Saxons in the city. We realized that it was an ambush, but Uther's forces did not turn aside and they were slaughtered. The next day 15000 Saxons met us in the field at the Battle of St. Albans.
In the battle, Brastius was felled, but Uther shattered Hengest's weapon with Excalibur and the Saxons fled the field.
We feasted at St. Albans. While partying, we heard screams from the great hall and found people in the hall poisoned and dying. Roderik, as he died, told me to protect his family, and I took the women back to Salisbury. Only a few kings survived.
The Brotherhood of the Band was called together. Elid had died in the hall. The rest of us were tasked to decide what to do with rulership of Salisbury. We agreed to have me act as leader, and I would marry Jenna.
We returned and lay Roderik to rest. I married Jenna. Ygraine moved into an abbey. Roderik's countess went into grieving.
A dark year, with grim forebodings for the future
In the battle, Brastius was felled, but Uther shattered Hengest's weapon with Excalibur and the Saxons fled the field.
We feasted at St. Albans. While partying, we heard screams from the great hall and found people in the hall poisoned and dying. Roderik, as he died, told me to protect his family, and I took the women back to Salisbury. Only a few kings survived.
The Brotherhood of the Band was called together. Elid had died in the hall. The rest of us were tasked to decide what to do with rulership of Salisbury. We agreed to have me act as leader, and I would marry Jenna.
We returned and lay Roderik to rest. I married Jenna. Ygraine moved into an abbey. Roderik's countess went into grieving.
A dark year, with grim forebodings for the future
494
We each went to do our duties assigned to us by Roderik in the previous winter. Giles went to war with the Saxons, Luceers to diplomacy with a northern Irish prince, and I to tend to Roderik's estate.
Sigerius from Gaul would be visiting Roderik's manor, and I would be taking care of him.
I met with countess Ellen, and she welcomed me to the manor, and let me know that there would be a dinner of welcome that At dinner, Sigerius was an ass. I put him in his place, and he ordered me to find him a hunt the next day. Ellen told me that Bishop Dewey wanted to meet with me the next day. And she wanted to talk with me at the garden that night. When I went to visit Ellen, I chatted a bit with Jenna about her romance and then met with Ellen. She tempted me, but I resisted her advances and turned the conversation to talk of her daughter.
I met with Dewey and a young woman. I ruled against Dewey's scheme to steal the woman's estate, and talked to Hanzel about his prospects of marrying the young noble woman.
I sent the women away from Sarum in order to make Sigerius bored, and after a few days of minimal rations, he left.
Luceers met with a knight sent by Akalon who said that Akalon needed his help about two days to the north. Luceers and Ektor headed north and met with Akalon. Luceers to.d Akalon he would spend two days to find Ygraine and Morgan, who had been captured by bandits. But then he reconsidered, thinking it may be a trap, so he left Akalon to his business. Akalon told Luceers that if Ygraine was killed, he would have words with him when he returned. Ektor got them lost as they headed back to the path to the Irish king. When Luceers took the lead, they became lost in the Forest Savage.
Luceers arrived at the coast, about a week and a half late for his meeting. The knight he met offered an assassin to Luceers to kill the Irish king, and rid Britain of one more foreign invader, but Luceers refused such "generosity."
Luceers arrived at King Canan's castle. Luceers presented his case, but the king's response was noncommittal. The next morning Luceers was awakened and told to ride with a contingent of Irish knights to another castle. They feasted, with Luceers at a place of honor. The king asked about King Lot who had already been to see him. Luceers told what he knew, and the king left, and then the entourage rode north to another castle.
Luceers composed a song and sang it, and the next day the entourage rode into the mountains. They met some tribal leaders loyal to King Canan. And they repeated this routine of riding and meeting vassals for about two weeks, and then he introduced Luceers to his oldest son. He ordered his son to fight Luceers. They fought to first blood, and Luceers felled the son with one blow. The king grunted and left again. They went to another castle and the king abruptly turned to Luceers and told him that he would fight with Uther next summer. They partied all the way back, and one night, Luceers saw Sir Alain Corleone give poison and a bag of coins to Sir Orkis. Luceers took the poison from Sir Orkis and kicked him out of camp.
Meanwhile, Giles found that Roestock was preparing for war when he arrived to ask for Afion's help. Afion agreed even though he was scheduled to go to war, as ordered by Lot.
Callus met Giles at Ebble. He suggested that they could either go <unintelligible> or go to the aid of Cairsbrook. Giles wanted to go to Cairsbrook. When they arrived, they saw that they were outnumbered 2 to 1. Giles decided to ambush them, but his ambush failed. He charged in with his five knights as the vanguard unit. Giles continued to fight, pushing farther towards the Saxon prince. The battle turned against Giles as more Saxons arrived. Giles kept fighting,but the battle was not going well. However, Giles fought his way to the Saxon leader.
Giles was finally relieved by the troops coming out of the castle, and the tide of battle turned, and Giles held the field, but he was unable to capture the Saxon king.
Roderik returned, unsuccessful in his trip. We told him about our jobs.
I swore to Roderik faithfulness to Jenna if he allowed me to marry her.
Luceers and Giles went to visit Akalon. Akalon told them that he found Ygraine and Morgan in a tower with dead guards--killed in a strange way, as if they had burst from the inside. Further inside he found the kidnappers dead as well. Morgan was tending to her shaken mother, showing no emotion, and when asked what happened, Morgan said , "They got careless."
He also told them that Lot had talked the northern kings into attacking the northern Saxons. But the Saxons annihilated the northern army, and they are most likely headed south.
The winter was mild, and none of our families suffered.
Sigerius from Gaul would be visiting Roderik's manor, and I would be taking care of him.
I met with countess Ellen, and she welcomed me to the manor, and let me know that there would be a dinner of welcome that At dinner, Sigerius was an ass. I put him in his place, and he ordered me to find him a hunt the next day. Ellen told me that Bishop Dewey wanted to meet with me the next day. And she wanted to talk with me at the garden that night. When I went to visit Ellen, I chatted a bit with Jenna about her romance and then met with Ellen. She tempted me, but I resisted her advances and turned the conversation to talk of her daughter.
I met with Dewey and a young woman. I ruled against Dewey's scheme to steal the woman's estate, and talked to Hanzel about his prospects of marrying the young noble woman.
I sent the women away from Sarum in order to make Sigerius bored, and after a few days of minimal rations, he left.
Luceers met with a knight sent by Akalon who said that Akalon needed his help about two days to the north. Luceers and Ektor headed north and met with Akalon. Luceers to.d Akalon he would spend two days to find Ygraine and Morgan, who had been captured by bandits. But then he reconsidered, thinking it may be a trap, so he left Akalon to his business. Akalon told Luceers that if Ygraine was killed, he would have words with him when he returned. Ektor got them lost as they headed back to the path to the Irish king. When Luceers took the lead, they became lost in the Forest Savage.
Luceers arrived at the coast, about a week and a half late for his meeting. The knight he met offered an assassin to Luceers to kill the Irish king, and rid Britain of one more foreign invader, but Luceers refused such "generosity."
Luceers arrived at King Canan's castle. Luceers presented his case, but the king's response was noncommittal. The next morning Luceers was awakened and told to ride with a contingent of Irish knights to another castle. They feasted, with Luceers at a place of honor. The king asked about King Lot who had already been to see him. Luceers told what he knew, and the king left, and then the entourage rode north to another castle.
Luceers composed a song and sang it, and the next day the entourage rode into the mountains. They met some tribal leaders loyal to King Canan. And they repeated this routine of riding and meeting vassals for about two weeks, and then he introduced Luceers to his oldest son. He ordered his son to fight Luceers. They fought to first blood, and Luceers felled the son with one blow. The king grunted and left again. They went to another castle and the king abruptly turned to Luceers and told him that he would fight with Uther next summer. They partied all the way back, and one night, Luceers saw Sir Alain Corleone give poison and a bag of coins to Sir Orkis. Luceers took the poison from Sir Orkis and kicked him out of camp.
Meanwhile, Giles found that Roestock was preparing for war when he arrived to ask for Afion's help. Afion agreed even though he was scheduled to go to war, as ordered by Lot.
Callus met Giles at Ebble. He suggested that they could either go <unintelligible> or go to the aid of Cairsbrook. Giles wanted to go to Cairsbrook. When they arrived, they saw that they were outnumbered 2 to 1. Giles decided to ambush them, but his ambush failed. He charged in with his five knights as the vanguard unit. Giles continued to fight, pushing farther towards the Saxon prince. The battle turned against Giles as more Saxons arrived. Giles kept fighting,but the battle was not going well. However, Giles fought his way to the Saxon leader.
Giles was finally relieved by the troops coming out of the castle, and the tide of battle turned, and Giles held the field, but he was unable to capture the Saxon king.
Roderik returned, unsuccessful in his trip. We told him about our jobs.
I swore to Roderik faithfulness to Jenna if he allowed me to marry her.
Luceers and Giles went to visit Akalon. Akalon told them that he found Ygraine and Morgan in a tower with dead guards--killed in a strange way, as if they had burst from the inside. Further inside he found the kidnappers dead as well. Morgan was tending to her shaken mother, showing no emotion, and when asked what happened, Morgan said , "They got careless."
He also told them that Lot had talked the northern kings into attacking the northern Saxons. But the Saxons annihilated the northern army, and they are most likely headed south.
The winter was mild, and none of our families suffered.
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