Sir Arddur here...
After a month of hopelessly languishing in the Lady Camille's dungeon, I was permitted to speak with her. She seemed most agitated, and not at all as composed as she had at first seemed. I soon discovered why. She was soon to be under attack and was most distressed. She would not tell whom was the attacker, but asked if I would , by my honor, fight for her on the condition that I would be released after the battle. Having no choice I consented.
I soon found that most of my fellow knights had faced the same bargain and had likewise consented. All but our friend Gherin. He had refused her. Most noble of him. I'm sure that all of the rest of us, Myself, Sir Amadis, Sir Aedon, and the saracen S'aid, all felt a bit of shame. But for now we were free. We soon noticed other knights that had been freed. A great many of them, and as I talked to a few of them and they said thay had been imprisioned there for years. They all took their oath to do battle for their freedom. As we were preparing our unit for battle and just seconds away from our first charge against our unusual opponent, We had a huge surprise! Joining our ranks for the charge was good old Sir Bledri! He had also been imrisioned Since Amadis had already begun the battle as our commander, Bledri let him retain that honour.
As we charged we noticed that besides the knights we had on our side there were other warriors. To our shock and horror we began to see clearly that our comrades-in -arms were Goblins from darkest dreams, and twisted monsters from folklore. Myself , I had been to the otherworld of the fey and so was perhaps a little less surprised, but still i was uneasy. Who's side am I on? I became convinced that I was now on the wrong side.
Soon I was proven right. The other side came as the sun reached it Zenith and blinded us. I saw knights in armor of Gold and silver, with designs never even before imagined. There were dwarves, and animals, and all manner of creatures I can not name, but all seemed to glow brightly with righteous fury. I knew from the beginning that we were doomed. But an oath is an oath sio we all fought hard for the vile traitorous. We started out well enough but after fighting the strange dwarves, we then fought knights of silver and gold and fared horribly, and then fell prey to a hoarde of pictish knifemen. Our companion S'aid went down in the fray, never to be seen again. I will remember him fondly, evn though I only knew him for a short time. I enjoyed his tall-tales enormously. We then fell in with a foreigner call Wexford or Wexond I think. He was a Jute or Dane or something, and we all know king Edar's fondness for northerners, so we immediately befriended him.
In short we were routed and had to retreat back to the castle. When we got there we found it in total dissaray already. It seemed the castle was under attack from the REAL world as well as the fey one. We took the confusion as an opportunuty to liberate our friend Gherin who was still in the dungeon. We met some resistance and there a few knights were slain and one wounded, before realizing they were friendly. They were knights of Camelot and soon we met good sir GRIFLET the Marshal! It sems that King Arthur and several other Round Table knights were imprisioned just as us knights had been and Sir Lancelot had escaped with the help of a friendly maiden. He had just returned with the army to liberate the others including the King. Now shame was upon me. It seems no other of our knights had agreed to fight for this evil Lady Camille. They rather stayed in prision. Even our Good High King. Never shall I be in the wrong again.
We all got out of the castle and it soon crumbled away into the marsh. Soon it was over and Camille disappeared. The rebellion seems subdued a little for now. As my Count's Stewards are loking After Tilton and I am free to travel, I brought Meg and my son Osric with me to winter in Camelot. I also stopped into Surrey to see my sister Matilda. She had been married to a wonderful Saxon knight of Surrey named Edmond. She now has eight children and several fine manors. Good for her. As she was raised in Camelot with me she says she has really missed the life there. The excitement. She says edmond isnt one to tarry at court unless necessary. Poor girl. I am lucky. My family and I stayed with my Lord Sir Colgrevance of the round table at his residence in Camelot over the winter. He has always been a gracious Lord ever since knighting me.
As I sat talking with my lord Colgrevance I was priveledged to also speak to my Lords Sir Bors, Sir Lionel, and Sir Ector De Maris. They were visiting My Lord's manor as was I and the conversation was quite stimulating. Benoit and Ganis must be wonderful Lands indeed to have produced such a noble strain of knights. The conversation turned to my beautiful, but base-born, saxon lover Meg. The mother of my only child Osric. They all admire her great beauty and demure bearing. But all agreed after some discussion that I need to think of putting her aside and marrying to procure a legitimate heir. I am 28 , and not getting any younger. I suppose that next year I will do so. But I will NOT put Meg in a nunnery. It would slowly kill her. I will find some Lord at another court to allow her to stay there with my son and grow old. I will pay her upkep and my son's. Perhaps Lambor now that the old Lord is dead and Sir Blamore de GAnis is the new Lord. he is Kin to these good ganis knights and as they suggested it, I will most certainly agree. But where to find a suitable wife? They said they would keep an eye out.
I have been keeping an eye on my 1/2 brother Extavias over the years and visiting him regularly. Though we have different mothers, we are as close as natural brothers. I am going to equip him and make him my squire next year as he will finally be old enough. Cadamar , my current squire, will teach him all he knows, and Cadamar is an excellent squire. When Extavias is knighted may allow him To have Tilton-on-the-hill, or else have Cadamar steward it for him or myself. I will see. After this year I am hoping next year is calm.
Sir Ellidyr here......
I am headed home from Oriel, King Edar's new Irish land. I went there with CynFyn, Edar's Luitenent,and he was to administrate the Land while I was to help clean out rebels.I had never performed such a task and I must admit... I was ill suited to it. Years ago When I was first a knight , i came to ireland and King Edar's own men worked with others who took slaves. I freed those slaves woyh my own librum. Now... I am the one enslaving people and burning their houses and stealing their valuables. I know this is the way of war, but it feels so wrong. These People are fighting for their land and I must break their spirit. But... As CynFyn Points out regularly... they are a wicked people with wicked ways and magics. They profess Catholic Christianity but Pagans abound in the hills and countryside practicing their foul arts. CynFyn says so, and I believe him. After all, look at how they gave Count Edar hospitality then murdered his retinue while they slept. They killed them with foul magic. And in their Beds. Shameful. So... I will do my job. I find that I feel better about it after some strong drink. Then I am able to block out all the screaming and cries.
There is a girl too who I think I love. She is Irish, and as beautiful as the dawn. But She see's me as her master and we hardly speak. She is young but not too young. 22-23 perhaps. When I asked she said that my men amd myself had been responsible for making her a widow. She speaks to me and I can see her anger deep deep inside, but on the surface is simply fear, and complacency. Almost no emotion. This is worse then her anger, for how will I ever tell her how I feel? She hates me as I hate myself. And i drink some more. And I raid some more. I can't wait to leave this cursed Isle.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
531 Part One: Saxon Rebellion!
Sir Arddur ap Brandegoris reporting ;
Last year I was charged with helping Sir Lucius and a few other knights guard Edar's realm. Sorry... KING Edar's realm. It was fairly peaceful, but after Sir Amadis recovered from his broken leg, he led us out to beat up some cheap Lambor raiders.It was fun.
What was not fun was me taking care of my manor, Tilton-on-the Hill. Ever since I got it back from Sir Bledri who was keeping it safe for me until I came of age, I have had ill luck. The manor saps far more income than It can generate. I find that I really do not wish to deal with this problem now. I am twenty-seven, and have no wife, only my saxon lover Meg.She is obviously more of my slave , as Saxons can't just run free, but I do treat her as kindly as possible. I wish to go erranting for a year or two and find adventure and hopefully a wife. I have no son of my own, although i have a suspicion that Meg may be with child. there is a difference in her lately that I can not account for. I believe that I will ask my Lord Edar to release me from my holding for a few years and see if he could take over the manor for me. Perhaps he will know how to straighten it out. everyone see's how all of my king's lands prosper, especially Allington. I will have no income these years, but then again I dont have any now either.
This year A new warrior came to court. A stranger from the north African land of Zazamanc. His name was said. He apparently had heard of the fame of my High King Arthur and King Edar. He had come to see the fabled lands of Britian. He seemed unimpressed for the most part. So we took him to Allington to impress him. While there a knight named SIR Henri , who serves Duke Hervis de Revel of Anglia found us on his travels. He was on a mission to recruit willing knights to aid his Lord Hervis in Anglia. It seems that the saxons were once again in rebellion! There was one immediate problem however. The knight Sir Henri had recognized my coat of arms. He the proceeded to make a very rude statement about my father, the great Sir Brandegoris bringing his bravery into question. Proposterous! My father still has songs sung of his greatness. How he killed a Saxon with naught but a hambone. That is one of the greatest, but most importantly he with the son of Count Edar, Sir Seriol, were the heroes of the battle of Bardon, breaking the power of the witches at the cost of their own lives! Coward indeed! So you can see why I was upset. I did know that Duke Hervis and my father had some type of conflict early in their lives, but I couldnt tolerate such insults in my presence. Henri assured me that that was his Lord's point of view and not his own. I decided to go and sign up to kill saxons,. After all, they killed my father and a lot of other good britons. They were spared and so should have learned their lesson.
We traveled to Anglia and on the way near the huge city of Norwich we found a couple of horse traders from a place called Alexandria. They looked quite a bit like our new friend S'aid. He assured me that though they did bear a resemblance they were very far away from his own homeland. They were tough traders but very hospitable. They gave us a drink unlike any other. It was rich and black, and a bit bitter. An aquired taste to be sure, but the effects on the mind and body couldnt be denied. It was called Coffee, and when we were done trading they even let us take a little as a gift. It's most peculiar quality was to give a man much more energy and too focus ones thoughts. A great marvel indeed. During the trade negotiations good Amadis was minded to turn loose of his magnificent Fey charger Lew! I was stunned. But ever since Amadis had seen S'aid's horse, A magnificent arabian courser, he had to have one. They were not as strong in a fight but were beautiful and sleek and by far the fastest horses any of us had ever seen. These traders likewise loved the fey charger. They wished to gift their King with it so they gave up much to Amadis. Two Arabian courser stallions, and 5 breeding mares, as wel as 2 smaller horses. Amadis will soon be able to start breeding stallions.
After the trading we met with Duke Hervis who was mildly Rude. He simply sidestepped his comments about my father when confronted with them. He did say that we could prove him wrong by serving the him and doing well, then it might just change Hervis' feelings about my family line. We were not afraid to fight and so we accepted whatever charge was given to us. We wound up patroling a ten mile area and guarding it from saxons. We patroled for 2 weeks making easy coin, but we kept glimpsing strange things.We kept seeing a huge column of men ( over 100) and they looked like saxons. They were all afoot though they dad have wagons full of loot and many groups of cattle ,sheep, and boar with them. We tried several times tro track them but an unnatural fog and some evil magic was certainly at work. We might never had found it if it were not for the Irish Prince Aedon. King Anguishes of Ireland's son. He pulled off all armor and tracked the column and found that they WERE using magical fog to conceal their castle. He told us of this and we all decided to make ready to follow them when the time was right. In two days time the columns came again and retreated to their castle through this living fog. We dashed in after them on horseback. ( actually, i did first. I just couldnt take another week of boring patrol). Once through we realized that these saxons were mostly ill equipped commoners, and second rate warriors. We scatttered them but could not make the gate at the causeway before it closed. Sir Gherrin captured a peasant and being a peasant himself until recently was able to really communicate with him well. The peasant said that the castle was the castle of a saxon Witch named Cammille. Damn. We all hated sorcery. We decided to stay in place until the gates were opened. If the gates were not opened so much the better. That would mean this small handful of us were sieging the castle well. We slaughtered some livestock to eat, set watches, and waited. We slept on the perfectly manacured launds, and there was a huge topiary flower garden all over the grounds. At first the Garden was comforting but soon made us uneasy. amadis. aedon, and myself talked about it and we all thought in one way or another thge garden must be the key to the witches power. so we attempted to destroy the whole thing. After that was accomplished we felt safer. Unfortunately that very night the living essence of that garden turned very evil and attacked us attempting to smother us and at last we all fell, and now we sit in a small and dank dungeon of this witch. The bright side? As i see it the bright side is ... at least we are somwhere in the castle now......
Last year I was charged with helping Sir Lucius and a few other knights guard Edar's realm. Sorry... KING Edar's realm. It was fairly peaceful, but after Sir Amadis recovered from his broken leg, he led us out to beat up some cheap Lambor raiders.It was fun.
What was not fun was me taking care of my manor, Tilton-on-the Hill. Ever since I got it back from Sir Bledri who was keeping it safe for me until I came of age, I have had ill luck. The manor saps far more income than It can generate. I find that I really do not wish to deal with this problem now. I am twenty-seven, and have no wife, only my saxon lover Meg.She is obviously more of my slave , as Saxons can't just run free, but I do treat her as kindly as possible. I wish to go erranting for a year or two and find adventure and hopefully a wife. I have no son of my own, although i have a suspicion that Meg may be with child. there is a difference in her lately that I can not account for. I believe that I will ask my Lord Edar to release me from my holding for a few years and see if he could take over the manor for me. Perhaps he will know how to straighten it out. everyone see's how all of my king's lands prosper, especially Allington. I will have no income these years, but then again I dont have any now either.
This year A new warrior came to court. A stranger from the north African land of Zazamanc. His name was said. He apparently had heard of the fame of my High King Arthur and King Edar. He had come to see the fabled lands of Britian. He seemed unimpressed for the most part. So we took him to Allington to impress him. While there a knight named SIR Henri , who serves Duke Hervis de Revel of Anglia found us on his travels. He was on a mission to recruit willing knights to aid his Lord Hervis in Anglia. It seems that the saxons were once again in rebellion! There was one immediate problem however. The knight Sir Henri had recognized my coat of arms. He the proceeded to make a very rude statement about my father, the great Sir Brandegoris bringing his bravery into question. Proposterous! My father still has songs sung of his greatness. How he killed a Saxon with naught but a hambone. That is one of the greatest, but most importantly he with the son of Count Edar, Sir Seriol, were the heroes of the battle of Bardon, breaking the power of the witches at the cost of their own lives! Coward indeed! So you can see why I was upset. I did know that Duke Hervis and my father had some type of conflict early in their lives, but I couldnt tolerate such insults in my presence. Henri assured me that that was his Lord's point of view and not his own. I decided to go and sign up to kill saxons,. After all, they killed my father and a lot of other good britons. They were spared and so should have learned their lesson.
We traveled to Anglia and on the way near the huge city of Norwich we found a couple of horse traders from a place called Alexandria. They looked quite a bit like our new friend S'aid. He assured me that though they did bear a resemblance they were very far away from his own homeland. They were tough traders but very hospitable. They gave us a drink unlike any other. It was rich and black, and a bit bitter. An aquired taste to be sure, but the effects on the mind and body couldnt be denied. It was called Coffee, and when we were done trading they even let us take a little as a gift. It's most peculiar quality was to give a man much more energy and too focus ones thoughts. A great marvel indeed. During the trade negotiations good Amadis was minded to turn loose of his magnificent Fey charger Lew! I was stunned. But ever since Amadis had seen S'aid's horse, A magnificent arabian courser, he had to have one. They were not as strong in a fight but were beautiful and sleek and by far the fastest horses any of us had ever seen. These traders likewise loved the fey charger. They wished to gift their King with it so they gave up much to Amadis. Two Arabian courser stallions, and 5 breeding mares, as wel as 2 smaller horses. Amadis will soon be able to start breeding stallions.
After the trading we met with Duke Hervis who was mildly Rude. He simply sidestepped his comments about my father when confronted with them. He did say that we could prove him wrong by serving the him and doing well, then it might just change Hervis' feelings about my family line. We were not afraid to fight and so we accepted whatever charge was given to us. We wound up patroling a ten mile area and guarding it from saxons. We patroled for 2 weeks making easy coin, but we kept glimpsing strange things.We kept seeing a huge column of men ( over 100) and they looked like saxons. They were all afoot though they dad have wagons full of loot and many groups of cattle ,sheep, and boar with them. We tried several times tro track them but an unnatural fog and some evil magic was certainly at work. We might never had found it if it were not for the Irish Prince Aedon. King Anguishes of Ireland's son. He pulled off all armor and tracked the column and found that they WERE using magical fog to conceal their castle. He told us of this and we all decided to make ready to follow them when the time was right. In two days time the columns came again and retreated to their castle through this living fog. We dashed in after them on horseback. ( actually, i did first. I just couldnt take another week of boring patrol). Once through we realized that these saxons were mostly ill equipped commoners, and second rate warriors. We scatttered them but could not make the gate at the causeway before it closed. Sir Gherrin captured a peasant and being a peasant himself until recently was able to really communicate with him well. The peasant said that the castle was the castle of a saxon Witch named Cammille. Damn. We all hated sorcery. We decided to stay in place until the gates were opened. If the gates were not opened so much the better. That would mean this small handful of us were sieging the castle well. We slaughtered some livestock to eat, set watches, and waited. We slept on the perfectly manacured launds, and there was a huge topiary flower garden all over the grounds. At first the Garden was comforting but soon made us uneasy. amadis. aedon, and myself talked about it and we all thought in one way or another thge garden must be the key to the witches power. so we attempted to destroy the whole thing. After that was accomplished we felt safer. Unfortunately that very night the living essence of that garden turned very evil and attacked us attempting to smother us and at last we all fell, and now we sit in a small and dank dungeon of this witch. The bright side? As i see it the bright side is ... at least we are somwhere in the castle now......
Saturday, February 28, 2009
530 - Pentecost Challenges
Count Edar of Leicester
Oh how is it that a year that began so joyously could turn so quickly to ash? The year opened with glad tidings from London – The beehive had returned! I assembled my knights and we rode in great parade to receive my Lady Valerie. Though I had not seen her in years, one look upon her and I felt as if we had not been apart. It was clear to me that some of my knights had assumed I boasted of her beauty when I spoke of her – these same men looked upon her in rapt admiration. She presented my two sons, both healthy and learning something of Britton ways – from Sir Lucius I suppose. We left and I took delight in showing her the way to our new home in Leicester.
When we arrived in Leicester, I begged Valerie to wed me formally, in the Christian tradition, so that our union would be recognized by all who live in the domain of Arthur. Although she clearly thought that the ceremony was unnecessary, she consented. Such a celebration was had! I invited all of my family, neighbors, and of course the King and his court. I daresay that it was the greatest celebration Leicester had seen!
For Pentecost we traveled to the city of Carlyle. I had provided Valerie with the jewels from my campaign to Rome, as well as a gown of the finest Roman silk. It suited her beautifully. Imagine my surprise when I was called before the Queen and her so called Court of Love. Perhaps it is my exposure to Ygraine, and Elaine before her, but I find that while Guinevere is a lovely lady, she does not seem to understand knights as well as she thinks. In front of her ladies, and indeed, all the ladies of court, she challenged my devotion to Valerie. She claimed that I dressed Valerie to poorly for one of her station! I was shocked and didn’t know how to respond. I thought that Valerie was radiant in her new dress, and that while it was not gaudy, it was at least the match for any other woman in court. The Queen disagreed. She actually had the audacity to challenge the devotion the men of my line have felt for their wives over time!
As I stood there thinking of what the Candlebees would think of this Lady challenging my devotion to my adored Lerry, or especially my beloved Christine, I was fuming and nearly began to sputter. To think that this woman believed that I did not love Valerie because I did not drape her in the wealth of the county! Did Valerie not come from a kingdom that had retrieved a dragon’s horde due to the actions that my men had taken? I observed her in Trondheim as we grew close, and I knew what she truly appreciated. It was not gold, or gems. Had she wanted for anything I would have given her everything! While I was being berated by the Queen and trying to determine how I might respond without giving insult to the King, my beloved spoke up. Valerie came to my side and challenged the Queen on what she said. She then began to rend her dress to show how little such things meant to her. I asked how I might prove to the Queen that I care so deeply for my wife. The Queen suggested that I take a piece of my Lady’s garment and wear it as a badge for the year to prove my devotion to her. At the next Pentecost, I would tell the court all that I had done in her name. Of course I agreed without a thought.
The next day a strange event – a tournament with dulled weapons was held. Bledri fought on the side of Arthur’s kin, having married into that line. I fought alongside the men of the South. Imagine my surprise when Elaine’s son challenged me personally! The fellow felt that I had wronged he and his mother. Right was on our side, and we bested him in the field combat, the tilting, and then Bledri defeated him before I could face him in single combat.
At the end of the feast Arthur announced his plans to conquer Ireland. I of course volunteered to accompany him, though Bledri seemed strangely reluctant to go there, insisting that it was an evil place. If only I had listened to him.
Sir Amadis Contributes
Well, it is my turn to be laid up while my sweet wife looks after me. We had a particularly rousing Bottle-kicking this year, and I broke my leg. I hobbled to Idar's court anyway, and that damn snooty Sir Cynfyn rubbed my face in it -- enough that I finally challenged him to a duel, which he deferred until I could stand, and sit a horse. My lord was called away to the wars in Ireland, and because of my leg, left me in charge of the garrison of Leicester City. Ah well, more time to spend with my comely wife.
And that dastard Cynfyn stood me up! Never showed on the appointed day for our duel. All talk and no spear, as we say 'round Medbourne.
So instead I vented my wrath on those damn Lambor boys, who constantly test our borders. After Sir Honorius came into Leicester complaining that Lambor had run off a herd of his cattle and trampled his fields, I took a group of lads southwest of Medbourne and did some mischief to the fields of Husbands Bosworth and Lamport before riding back through the market-town so folks could see we weren't taking Lambor nonsense lying down. As my count is still away in Ireland and us men bored to tears with garrison duty, we have taken it upon ourselves to keep Lambor on its toes by continuing our raiding towards Lilebourn.
It's fun! And as the peasants are on Idar's side, as long as we concentrate our energies on the knight's properties and send a little extra the peasant's way, they keep quiet when Lambor rides up. I can't wait to see my lord's face when he hears of our work on his behalf.
Oh how is it that a year that began so joyously could turn so quickly to ash? The year opened with glad tidings from London – The beehive had returned! I assembled my knights and we rode in great parade to receive my Lady Valerie. Though I had not seen her in years, one look upon her and I felt as if we had not been apart. It was clear to me that some of my knights had assumed I boasted of her beauty when I spoke of her – these same men looked upon her in rapt admiration. She presented my two sons, both healthy and learning something of Britton ways – from Sir Lucius I suppose. We left and I took delight in showing her the way to our new home in Leicester.
When we arrived in Leicester, I begged Valerie to wed me formally, in the Christian tradition, so that our union would be recognized by all who live in the domain of Arthur. Although she clearly thought that the ceremony was unnecessary, she consented. Such a celebration was had! I invited all of my family, neighbors, and of course the King and his court. I daresay that it was the greatest celebration Leicester had seen!
For Pentecost we traveled to the city of Carlyle. I had provided Valerie with the jewels from my campaign to Rome, as well as a gown of the finest Roman silk. It suited her beautifully. Imagine my surprise when I was called before the Queen and her so called Court of Love. Perhaps it is my exposure to Ygraine, and Elaine before her, but I find that while Guinevere is a lovely lady, she does not seem to understand knights as well as she thinks. In front of her ladies, and indeed, all the ladies of court, she challenged my devotion to Valerie. She claimed that I dressed Valerie to poorly for one of her station! I was shocked and didn’t know how to respond. I thought that Valerie was radiant in her new dress, and that while it was not gaudy, it was at least the match for any other woman in court. The Queen disagreed. She actually had the audacity to challenge the devotion the men of my line have felt for their wives over time!
As I stood there thinking of what the Candlebees would think of this Lady challenging my devotion to my adored Lerry, or especially my beloved Christine, I was fuming and nearly began to sputter. To think that this woman believed that I did not love Valerie because I did not drape her in the wealth of the county! Did Valerie not come from a kingdom that had retrieved a dragon’s horde due to the actions that my men had taken? I observed her in Trondheim as we grew close, and I knew what she truly appreciated. It was not gold, or gems. Had she wanted for anything I would have given her everything! While I was being berated by the Queen and trying to determine how I might respond without giving insult to the King, my beloved spoke up. Valerie came to my side and challenged the Queen on what she said. She then began to rend her dress to show how little such things meant to her. I asked how I might prove to the Queen that I care so deeply for my wife. The Queen suggested that I take a piece of my Lady’s garment and wear it as a badge for the year to prove my devotion to her. At the next Pentecost, I would tell the court all that I had done in her name. Of course I agreed without a thought.
The next day a strange event – a tournament with dulled weapons was held. Bledri fought on the side of Arthur’s kin, having married into that line. I fought alongside the men of the South. Imagine my surprise when Elaine’s son challenged me personally! The fellow felt that I had wronged he and his mother. Right was on our side, and we bested him in the field combat, the tilting, and then Bledri defeated him before I could face him in single combat.
At the end of the feast Arthur announced his plans to conquer Ireland. I of course volunteered to accompany him, though Bledri seemed strangely reluctant to go there, insisting that it was an evil place. If only I had listened to him.
Sir Amadis Contributes
Well, it is my turn to be laid up while my sweet wife looks after me. We had a particularly rousing Bottle-kicking this year, and I broke my leg. I hobbled to Idar's court anyway, and that damn snooty Sir Cynfyn rubbed my face in it -- enough that I finally challenged him to a duel, which he deferred until I could stand, and sit a horse. My lord was called away to the wars in Ireland, and because of my leg, left me in charge of the garrison of Leicester City. Ah well, more time to spend with my comely wife.
And that dastard Cynfyn stood me up! Never showed on the appointed day for our duel. All talk and no spear, as we say 'round Medbourne.
So instead I vented my wrath on those damn Lambor boys, who constantly test our borders. After Sir Honorius came into Leicester complaining that Lambor had run off a herd of his cattle and trampled his fields, I took a group of lads southwest of Medbourne and did some mischief to the fields of Husbands Bosworth and Lamport before riding back through the market-town so folks could see we weren't taking Lambor nonsense lying down. As my count is still away in Ireland and us men bored to tears with garrison duty, we have taken it upon ourselves to keep Lambor on its toes by continuing our raiding towards Lilebourn.
It's fun! And as the peasants are on Idar's side, as long as we concentrate our energies on the knight's properties and send a little extra the peasant's way, they keep quiet when Lambor rides up. I can't wait to see my lord's face when he hears of our work on his behalf.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
529:
Sir Arddur ap Brandegoris reporting...
Well, Britian is certainly turning into an odd place. Count Edar went North with King Arthur to stop this upstart Galeholt and Recapture Surluse. I was sure that I would be in for more boring garrison duty, but a few days before our count left something strange happened. Two dozen children from all over my Lord's lands disappeared. The Count's grandson and heir was among them. Edar's duty to our King made him and Bledri leave with too few troops, and now he will have to pay scutage to Arthur for having too few. But he needed more knights to search his realm.
Somehow we were told of a cavelike barrow under a hill where witnesses believed a strange presence had been found. They believed the missing childeren were in there and indeed as I listened I think I could hear the pitiful crying of the children under the hill. But I might have just imagined it.
Down we went and walked for a long while. when out we came into a strange place. The trees were straggly, and things seemed somehow ominous underneath, Something unexplainably scary. We soon found our way to A nice hunting lodge and there inside were seven bodyguards and A sick man who claimed to be a King of the Fey. King Tessia. He claimed to be on the way to death and geased us to find his children and gain their blessing and their apple orchard saplings that would make his orchard bloom again one more time. He said that we couldfind our way out if we aided him. We did so and found each of his different childeren and encountered their unique personalities. One was a peasent-like fellow that tilled the earth and found no greater love. One found luxury and material wealth most important, while one of his daughters found lustful pursuits most to her liking( to my great shame). There were some others and at every place we managed to recieve the blessing and a sapling of the particular type of apple tree. It was the last child that gave us most trouble. A sinister looking knight named Sir Blythe. His men attacked us and with some small difficulty were overcome. After destroying them we took their fey chargers. Amadis got a particularly nice charger!
We discovered this Blythe was executing children. Mostly peasents, and we had ado with his men so he let the remaining children go. True to his word( I guess). My companions were content to let things lie and to get the children out ( including our counts grandson). They are older and wiser, I have come to see now, but I.......
I could not let that evil fairy man live. Not after the corruption he showed. My father wouldn't have and neither would I. I challenged him to a fight and he accepted! His sword vs my axe. My axe won out. Much easier than expected even. And so my companions and I delivered the king his peace and were shown out of the land with all the children we had gathered. On our return we soon realized that we had been gone only 10 minutes. Time must work differnent in those fairy lands. I am excited. There is still a good season left for adventuring. I hope more happens than just Guard, patrol, patrol, gurd. We will see.
Sir Bledri's 'thoughts':
My youngest children have dissappeared! And many other children across the county of Leicester! What have we done to deserve such evil? And now I must go to war in the north thanks to that villain Galeholt. At least Edar has left Sir Amadis and Aidan and the young powerhouse Arrdur, son of Brandegoris, to find the children. How strange that my heart is not in the march to battle! Good luck, Amadis!
Sir Aeddan reports
Although I have not wed nor had children, I was as horified as any other when the children vanished. I could not understand how our Count could choose his duty to the king over his duty to his family, but the others did not seem surprised by this decision.
Sir Amadis, Sir Arddur and I all set out to find the children. By god's grace we happened upon the path and it led into a strange cave. The Brave sir Amadis was concerned that it could be an Anis layer, so we left our horses with our squires and entered the cave.
Imagine our surpise when the cave emptied out into a strange land - it was clear that we had entered the faerie lands! We wandered for a while until we came upon a dwelling. We entered it and found a man who claimed to be a king who was dying. The man told us that he had not seen the children, but that the penalty for trespassing in his lands was death. He said we would be spared if we could help him in two ways - he wished to be reconcilled with his children, and he wanted to see his orchard one last time. We found ourselves compelled to aid him, although we did not know where his children were, or how we could help him see an orchard that was torn asunder. I had faith that God would watch out for the children of Leicester, even in this place, and believed that we could not turn our back on a man that wanted nothing more than the forgiveness of his children for his actions in life - even if the man was not truly a man.
We wandered the countryside without thought, although I beleive that God was guiding our feet. We eventually came across each of the Kings children, who agreed to give the King his blessing in return for us proving our worth. Each had a strange task for us to complete, and while most were harmless, I fear that some were more sinister. I know that one of the King's daughters so charmed us that I was overcome by my lusts and woke up in the bed of one of her handmaidens. I must confess that thoughts of her continue to haunt me.
In the end, we found all of the King's heirs, and in doing so located the missing children. It seems one of the monsters was planning on killing them for the sheer joy of it! After we overcame his challenge for the King, Sir Arddur challenged him to a duel and slew him. We three Knights claimed his horses for ourselves, and returned to the king. He accepted our word on the blessings of his children, as well as the tokens of the orchard they provided. He agreed to let us leave the land and provided us each with saplings for the different apple trees of the orchard. Amadis and Arddur spoke of planting them immediately. I will see if my Lord Edar has an interest in them, and if not I shall give them to the Abbey of St. Christopher in Leicester. I have no lands of my own, and it would be a shame to ignore the gift.
We found our way back to the path we had entered these lands from, and when we backtracked through the cave, we discovered that instead of the weeks we thought we had been gone, only days had passed! We led the children back to Leicester and to their overjoyed peasants. As I saw these children reunited with their mothers and fathers, I knew that god had been watching over them.
Sir Amadis Here
Desdemona was ill again this year; I wonder if the dampness of our climate affects her adversely. Or was it the inordinate amount of time I spent in Faerie this year? I don't know. My brother blames me for the poor harvests and her illness, saying that if I would not meddle in their affairs, they would not meddle in ours and turn the milk sour and the corn brown before the harvest. He's my brother, and a hero of Bardon Hill, so I won't gainsay him. He's earned the right.
Well, Britian is certainly turning into an odd place. Count Edar went North with King Arthur to stop this upstart Galeholt and Recapture Surluse. I was sure that I would be in for more boring garrison duty, but a few days before our count left something strange happened. Two dozen children from all over my Lord's lands disappeared. The Count's grandson and heir was among them. Edar's duty to our King made him and Bledri leave with too few troops, and now he will have to pay scutage to Arthur for having too few. But he needed more knights to search his realm.
Somehow we were told of a cavelike barrow under a hill where witnesses believed a strange presence had been found. They believed the missing childeren were in there and indeed as I listened I think I could hear the pitiful crying of the children under the hill. But I might have just imagined it.
Down we went and walked for a long while. when out we came into a strange place. The trees were straggly, and things seemed somehow ominous underneath, Something unexplainably scary. We soon found our way to A nice hunting lodge and there inside were seven bodyguards and A sick man who claimed to be a King of the Fey. King Tessia. He claimed to be on the way to death and geased us to find his children and gain their blessing and their apple orchard saplings that would make his orchard bloom again one more time. He said that we couldfind our way out if we aided him. We did so and found each of his different childeren and encountered their unique personalities. One was a peasent-like fellow that tilled the earth and found no greater love. One found luxury and material wealth most important, while one of his daughters found lustful pursuits most to her liking( to my great shame). There were some others and at every place we managed to recieve the blessing and a sapling of the particular type of apple tree. It was the last child that gave us most trouble. A sinister looking knight named Sir Blythe. His men attacked us and with some small difficulty were overcome. After destroying them we took their fey chargers. Amadis got a particularly nice charger!
We discovered this Blythe was executing children. Mostly peasents, and we had ado with his men so he let the remaining children go. True to his word( I guess). My companions were content to let things lie and to get the children out ( including our counts grandson). They are older and wiser, I have come to see now, but I.......
I could not let that evil fairy man live. Not after the corruption he showed. My father wouldn't have and neither would I. I challenged him to a fight and he accepted! His sword vs my axe. My axe won out. Much easier than expected even. And so my companions and I delivered the king his peace and were shown out of the land with all the children we had gathered. On our return we soon realized that we had been gone only 10 minutes. Time must work differnent in those fairy lands. I am excited. There is still a good season left for adventuring. I hope more happens than just Guard, patrol, patrol, gurd. We will see.
Sir Bledri's 'thoughts':
My youngest children have dissappeared! And many other children across the county of Leicester! What have we done to deserve such evil? And now I must go to war in the north thanks to that villain Galeholt. At least Edar has left Sir Amadis and Aidan and the young powerhouse Arrdur, son of Brandegoris, to find the children. How strange that my heart is not in the march to battle! Good luck, Amadis!
Sir Aeddan reports
Although I have not wed nor had children, I was as horified as any other when the children vanished. I could not understand how our Count could choose his duty to the king over his duty to his family, but the others did not seem surprised by this decision.
Sir Amadis, Sir Arddur and I all set out to find the children. By god's grace we happened upon the path and it led into a strange cave. The Brave sir Amadis was concerned that it could be an Anis layer, so we left our horses with our squires and entered the cave.
Imagine our surpise when the cave emptied out into a strange land - it was clear that we had entered the faerie lands! We wandered for a while until we came upon a dwelling. We entered it and found a man who claimed to be a king who was dying. The man told us that he had not seen the children, but that the penalty for trespassing in his lands was death. He said we would be spared if we could help him in two ways - he wished to be reconcilled with his children, and he wanted to see his orchard one last time. We found ourselves compelled to aid him, although we did not know where his children were, or how we could help him see an orchard that was torn asunder. I had faith that God would watch out for the children of Leicester, even in this place, and believed that we could not turn our back on a man that wanted nothing more than the forgiveness of his children for his actions in life - even if the man was not truly a man.
We wandered the countryside without thought, although I beleive that God was guiding our feet. We eventually came across each of the Kings children, who agreed to give the King his blessing in return for us proving our worth. Each had a strange task for us to complete, and while most were harmless, I fear that some were more sinister. I know that one of the King's daughters so charmed us that I was overcome by my lusts and woke up in the bed of one of her handmaidens. I must confess that thoughts of her continue to haunt me.
In the end, we found all of the King's heirs, and in doing so located the missing children. It seems one of the monsters was planning on killing them for the sheer joy of it! After we overcame his challenge for the King, Sir Arddur challenged him to a duel and slew him. We three Knights claimed his horses for ourselves, and returned to the king. He accepted our word on the blessings of his children, as well as the tokens of the orchard they provided. He agreed to let us leave the land and provided us each with saplings for the different apple trees of the orchard. Amadis and Arddur spoke of planting them immediately. I will see if my Lord Edar has an interest in them, and if not I shall give them to the Abbey of St. Christopher in Leicester. I have no lands of my own, and it would be a shame to ignore the gift.
We found our way back to the path we had entered these lands from, and when we backtracked through the cave, we discovered that instead of the weeks we thought we had been gone, only days had passed! We led the children back to Leicester and to their overjoyed peasants. As I saw these children reunited with their mothers and fathers, I knew that god had been watching over them.
Sir Amadis Here
Desdemona was ill again this year; I wonder if the dampness of our climate affects her adversely. Or was it the inordinate amount of time I spent in Faerie this year? I don't know. My brother blames me for the poor harvests and her illness, saying that if I would not meddle in their affairs, they would not meddle in ours and turn the milk sour and the corn brown before the harvest. He's my brother, and a hero of Bardon Hill, so I won't gainsay him. He's earned the right.
Monday, January 5, 2009
528: Galeholt's Assault
Sir Lucius here....
Another miserable year, but Ellidyr and me must do our sworn duty to count Edar and fetch his bride to be and mother of two of his children, Valerie, from the Trond lands. I am praying that this will be the last time I will ever have to go to these far north lands. Ellidyr is already impressed with the trip. The mountains and the cold, the strange people and animals, and we havent even reached our destination yet. I will show him where the dragon of Trond fell, and where its lair was. I hope there is fair weather on our return so that we may make our Count a happy man and return his family safely. Ellidyr is a strange one. He shows a monks piety sometimes. Never speaks of marriage or women. He says that women are too often the downfall of men, and that a perfectly logical man acts like a dumb beast and becomes a slave to a wicked pretty face. What a doomsayer! And he is still so young. He has intention to ask Edar to foster one of his children. He believes he can shelter the child from the confusing influence of too many women and he can show the child the important things, like respect for the Lord and how to excel at arms. A perfect balance of the two most important things on earth , he says! .......what a bloody lunatic!He is a good lad but A bit unhinged I fear.At least His skill at arms is coming along well under my guidance. He might just make a name for himself if he can stop fearing women so much. Maybe I'll talk to Edar and recommend he get Ellidyr to marry soon. That will show em!
SirArddur Ap Brandegoris here............
What a year. My Lord Sir Colgrevance who I have been a squire to these last 6 years petitioned King Arthur that I should be knighted, so the King let my Lord knight me. It was just after the visit by Sir Galeholt. People were afraid there might be trouble from the arrogant Irish Warlord, and sure enough by the end of the year word was brought to court that Galeholt has sacked Surluse and taken Sorhaute castle at Galloway in Gorre! Bastard! I am young but I am ready for action. My father made a name for himself in Britian and I intend to as well. After all it was my father's hard work and loyalty that gave me my opportunity to be raised as first page then squire at Camelot. I have never wanted for anything and have been given the best training a knight could get, and was squired to a knight of the Table Round. A lot is expected of me and I will prove myself. Next year I will return to Leicester and report to my Lord Edar. As my father was a loyal servant to him and his household, so will I be, holding only my King Arthur above him. I just hope I am worthy to have recieved all of these gifts. How I wish I could have helped my Lord Arthur more this year, but He had me assigned to Garrison duty and patrol. Not exciting as NO ONE is foolish enough to attack my great King in his own Homeland! Next year Ihope to destroy all enemies of my King that are foolish enough to come within arms length of my Axe!!!!!!!
Sir Bledri weighs in:
By the beard of Fightin' Jesus! Pomitain! What a terrible little island. I hope I never set foot there again. I also hope Galeholt and the rest learn their lesson. You don't cross King Arthur, and you sure as hell don't cross a Leicesterman, let alone a Candlebee. I have my flaws, but letting people slight me and mine has never been one of them.I wonder if we shall ever meet the real versions of the imposter Round Table knights we fought? Those black knights were powerful foes. If not for the now-standard brand of ass-kicking that one can expect from Sir Amadis, I fear the boat we were being loaded into was bound for a malign port. Ah, I'm getting ahead of myself. You see, we were retreiving the sacred water of a sacred spring from and old fort. This was on the island of Pomitain. This sacred water was to dispell the terrible curse laid upon the Crimson Lake on that same island. So, accompanied by my fellow Leicestermen as well as four (Four!) other Round Table knights, I set off to find this spring. Well, (punny!) we found it. I chose to enter the old fort at night. We left the squires and one round table knight outside. I would come to regret that, for after we emerged, we found our squires slain and horses stolen away. The blackguard traitor Round Table knights turned on us, and revealed that they were only disguised. Demetrius, that snake, took the water from me. We had back-ups, which was good, since It seems I cursed my eldest son to get it. A promise to a weird little faerie thing is still a promise. Oh, I had to pass tests issued by this little elf thing to get the water. A riddle, a strange courtesy test I barely understood but still passed, and a promise to put my eldest son in danger.Anyway, Morgan, the King's sister was behind this thing. Weird. So Amadis nearly saves our bacon after we are all but he overwhelmed. I hear he jumped his charger onto the boat! Incredible! Amadis will be Round Table in no time. But we were all imprisoned. Sir Lancelot bailed us out and then just ran off. A rather abrupt fellow, but you can't argue with results. Ok by me.Oh, and our tests to escape the enchanted forest! Everything was dreamlike. I chose the test of Justice. I was to solve the disputed charge of murder by poison. Well, since we all know trout pie is harmless, I knew it must have been the apple pie! Bellflowers, indeed! Well, the lord of that strange land was all wishy-washy, so we settled the matter like gentleman: at the edge of a sword. God decided the victor: me. So, all you kids out there, eat your trout pie, and stay away from that apple pie. stick with fresh apples!!!
Sir Bledri drones on some more:
The whole reason we were on Pomitain was to observe Galeholt and his conduct, to see whether or not he weilded ehough power for Arthur to recongnize his lesser kingship of Ireland. Now, all of you listeners out there know how much I hate that stinking Mick bandit Maelodran. I half wish Galeholt had gained dominance in Ireland, for he had promised me that he would see Maelodran hung. Ah well, looks like I will have to eventually boat over there and kill him myself. Though god knows how I will. That magic spear is unstoppable.So. Galeholt gets a bunch of his cronies together, they hatch a secret plan, while in Leicester no less, and try to go grab land in King Arthur's protection. These guys! Really! It's one thing to try to conquer some land, at least that's pretty straight forward and standard. It's quite another to do it after you specifically say you won't, the way Galeholt said to us that he would not attack anyone in Arthur's domain. That lying dog. But honestly, they thought they could attack and take land in a region that has successfully resisted decades of assault from Saxons? Foolish. It will end poorly for him and his minions.Oh, Amadis was the only other of we four Leicestermen to complete his test. His was one of Valour. Apparently the Wyvern is half as strong as the black annis, for Sir Amadis dealt with it quickly. Yet I know Sir Amadis is a humble sort, so if he said the fight was over quickly, it was. Indeed he had not a scratch on him.Cynfyn, knight of the medlar, nearly succeeded. His test was of vengeance. A Lady required the deaths of three brothers who killed her husband and stole their lands. He slew two, but the third overcame him. A good man, Cynfyn. Three on one is a difficult fight for any knight.Aidan... well, at least after failing all the twisty-turny, confusing religious questions (I admit to not knowing as much as I should) Sir Aidan resisted the sinful advances of the strange shapeshifting faerie thing. If I have learned one thing from hearing about that old Pagan Sir Gwair, its that most of the time its better to keep it in your pants...Now i am looking forward to handing Galeholt some steel justice. hopefully all the fighting won't be over before we can muster. That guy has a few things to answer for. Hopefully I can send him into the next life where he can answer properly. And Fightin' Jesus? Don't let him off easy.
Sir Amadis Here -
I am proud to say that Leicester has its own Round Table knight, Sir Bledri! We are all immensely proud, even though Arthur spoilt the ceremony by also naming a Pict to the Round Table. I killed a wyvern and saved my companions from Lady Morgan and an ensorcelled Sir Bleoberis.
My poor lady Desdemona caught some sort of women's flux and spent a long time recovering. No pregnancy, though my lady swears she is fertile. It will come in time, I am sure. She has put her mark on Hartshill, the manor my lord Idar gave me to be my own, setting it up in fine Roman style. The only thing I insisted on was an apiary. And while my lady runs the manor, and my older brother is my steward, I take care of the apiary.
Another miserable year, but Ellidyr and me must do our sworn duty to count Edar and fetch his bride to be and mother of two of his children, Valerie, from the Trond lands. I am praying that this will be the last time I will ever have to go to these far north lands. Ellidyr is already impressed with the trip. The mountains and the cold, the strange people and animals, and we havent even reached our destination yet. I will show him where the dragon of Trond fell, and where its lair was. I hope there is fair weather on our return so that we may make our Count a happy man and return his family safely. Ellidyr is a strange one. He shows a monks piety sometimes. Never speaks of marriage or women. He says that women are too often the downfall of men, and that a perfectly logical man acts like a dumb beast and becomes a slave to a wicked pretty face. What a doomsayer! And he is still so young. He has intention to ask Edar to foster one of his children. He believes he can shelter the child from the confusing influence of too many women and he can show the child the important things, like respect for the Lord and how to excel at arms. A perfect balance of the two most important things on earth , he says! .......what a bloody lunatic!He is a good lad but A bit unhinged I fear.At least His skill at arms is coming along well under my guidance. He might just make a name for himself if he can stop fearing women so much. Maybe I'll talk to Edar and recommend he get Ellidyr to marry soon. That will show em!
SirArddur Ap Brandegoris here............
What a year. My Lord Sir Colgrevance who I have been a squire to these last 6 years petitioned King Arthur that I should be knighted, so the King let my Lord knight me. It was just after the visit by Sir Galeholt. People were afraid there might be trouble from the arrogant Irish Warlord, and sure enough by the end of the year word was brought to court that Galeholt has sacked Surluse and taken Sorhaute castle at Galloway in Gorre! Bastard! I am young but I am ready for action. My father made a name for himself in Britian and I intend to as well. After all it was my father's hard work and loyalty that gave me my opportunity to be raised as first page then squire at Camelot. I have never wanted for anything and have been given the best training a knight could get, and was squired to a knight of the Table Round. A lot is expected of me and I will prove myself. Next year I will return to Leicester and report to my Lord Edar. As my father was a loyal servant to him and his household, so will I be, holding only my King Arthur above him. I just hope I am worthy to have recieved all of these gifts. How I wish I could have helped my Lord Arthur more this year, but He had me assigned to Garrison duty and patrol. Not exciting as NO ONE is foolish enough to attack my great King in his own Homeland! Next year Ihope to destroy all enemies of my King that are foolish enough to come within arms length of my Axe!!!!!!!
Sir Bledri weighs in:
By the beard of Fightin' Jesus! Pomitain! What a terrible little island. I hope I never set foot there again. I also hope Galeholt and the rest learn their lesson. You don't cross King Arthur, and you sure as hell don't cross a Leicesterman, let alone a Candlebee. I have my flaws, but letting people slight me and mine has never been one of them.I wonder if we shall ever meet the real versions of the imposter Round Table knights we fought? Those black knights were powerful foes. If not for the now-standard brand of ass-kicking that one can expect from Sir Amadis, I fear the boat we were being loaded into was bound for a malign port. Ah, I'm getting ahead of myself. You see, we were retreiving the sacred water of a sacred spring from and old fort. This was on the island of Pomitain. This sacred water was to dispell the terrible curse laid upon the Crimson Lake on that same island. So, accompanied by my fellow Leicestermen as well as four (Four!) other Round Table knights, I set off to find this spring. Well, (punny!) we found it. I chose to enter the old fort at night. We left the squires and one round table knight outside. I would come to regret that, for after we emerged, we found our squires slain and horses stolen away. The blackguard traitor Round Table knights turned on us, and revealed that they were only disguised. Demetrius, that snake, took the water from me. We had back-ups, which was good, since It seems I cursed my eldest son to get it. A promise to a weird little faerie thing is still a promise. Oh, I had to pass tests issued by this little elf thing to get the water. A riddle, a strange courtesy test I barely understood but still passed, and a promise to put my eldest son in danger.Anyway, Morgan, the King's sister was behind this thing. Weird. So Amadis nearly saves our bacon after we are all but he overwhelmed. I hear he jumped his charger onto the boat! Incredible! Amadis will be Round Table in no time. But we were all imprisoned. Sir Lancelot bailed us out and then just ran off. A rather abrupt fellow, but you can't argue with results. Ok by me.Oh, and our tests to escape the enchanted forest! Everything was dreamlike. I chose the test of Justice. I was to solve the disputed charge of murder by poison. Well, since we all know trout pie is harmless, I knew it must have been the apple pie! Bellflowers, indeed! Well, the lord of that strange land was all wishy-washy, so we settled the matter like gentleman: at the edge of a sword. God decided the victor: me. So, all you kids out there, eat your trout pie, and stay away from that apple pie. stick with fresh apples!!!
Sir Bledri drones on some more:
The whole reason we were on Pomitain was to observe Galeholt and his conduct, to see whether or not he weilded ehough power for Arthur to recongnize his lesser kingship of Ireland. Now, all of you listeners out there know how much I hate that stinking Mick bandit Maelodran. I half wish Galeholt had gained dominance in Ireland, for he had promised me that he would see Maelodran hung. Ah well, looks like I will have to eventually boat over there and kill him myself. Though god knows how I will. That magic spear is unstoppable.So. Galeholt gets a bunch of his cronies together, they hatch a secret plan, while in Leicester no less, and try to go grab land in King Arthur's protection. These guys! Really! It's one thing to try to conquer some land, at least that's pretty straight forward and standard. It's quite another to do it after you specifically say you won't, the way Galeholt said to us that he would not attack anyone in Arthur's domain. That lying dog. But honestly, they thought they could attack and take land in a region that has successfully resisted decades of assault from Saxons? Foolish. It will end poorly for him and his minions.Oh, Amadis was the only other of we four Leicestermen to complete his test. His was one of Valour. Apparently the Wyvern is half as strong as the black annis, for Sir Amadis dealt with it quickly. Yet I know Sir Amadis is a humble sort, so if he said the fight was over quickly, it was. Indeed he had not a scratch on him.Cynfyn, knight of the medlar, nearly succeeded. His test was of vengeance. A Lady required the deaths of three brothers who killed her husband and stole their lands. He slew two, but the third overcame him. A good man, Cynfyn. Three on one is a difficult fight for any knight.Aidan... well, at least after failing all the twisty-turny, confusing religious questions (I admit to not knowing as much as I should) Sir Aidan resisted the sinful advances of the strange shapeshifting faerie thing. If I have learned one thing from hearing about that old Pagan Sir Gwair, its that most of the time its better to keep it in your pants...Now i am looking forward to handing Galeholt some steel justice. hopefully all the fighting won't be over before we can muster. That guy has a few things to answer for. Hopefully I can send him into the next life where he can answer properly. And Fightin' Jesus? Don't let him off easy.
Sir Amadis Here -
I am proud to say that Leicester has its own Round Table knight, Sir Bledri! We are all immensely proud, even though Arthur spoilt the ceremony by also naming a Pict to the Round Table. I killed a wyvern and saved my companions from Lady Morgan and an ensorcelled Sir Bleoberis.
My poor lady Desdemona caught some sort of women's flux and spent a long time recovering. No pregnancy, though my lady swears she is fertile. It will come in time, I am sure. She has put her mark on Hartshill, the manor my lord Idar gave me to be my own, setting it up in fine Roman style. The only thing I insisted on was an apiary. And while my lady runs the manor, and my older brother is my steward, I take care of the apiary.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
527:To Rome
Lucius here....
King Arthur sent Count Edar and us Leicestermen to forage for food, before going down to Rome. We did as we were told and we made a killing. I looted and pillaged until my heart was content and came away with 34 Libra of goods. I told Ellidyr to take part and he of couse refused. he is a good lad. Perhaps too good, to the point of foolishness. Even a monestary and a nunnery gave us trouble. I was with Ellidyr on this though. I would not harm holy men or women. Even I have my limits. Ellidyr foolishly tried to help the nuns who of course had no appreciation. Bledri Actually struck one of the nuns! The man has no limits!
On the way back from the gathering of supplies Sir Amadis met up with a strange dark skinned Foreign Knight who called himself Priamus of Alexandria, of the line of Tolomy. Whatever the importance of that is. Amadis jousted the man. After 5 passes neither could get the better of each other so the stranger called it a tie and he drank to their prowess. A strange custom and one that Amadis apparently liked because he has decided to adopt the custom. Priamus is a prince in his lands or something and he healed Amadis wounds with what he called the waters of the two holy rivers. Hmmmm.... whatever.
Before getting the goods back to Arthur we were attacked by the army that Priamus had warned us about. The King of the Vandals was leading the army he said. I am not sure where Vandal land is but we did not care. Priamus fought with us and somehow he used a strange influence ( Magic?) to cause the other saracens in the army to flee the field. It was Amazing!
With Count Edar leading the battle we pummled the Vandal King. I was with Edar's reserve party and we charged in pursuit when the enemy army was broken. Sir Bledri led our unit through most of the battle until those damned Crossbowmen shot his horse out from under him. Amadis picked up the slack though and we clearly whipped the Vandal army. I watched Young Ellidyr and he did well. It seems my training is helping. He is very good with a blade thanks to me.
After the battle we delivered the news and goods to Arthur who was most pleased and a little intrigued by our new foreign friend. Arthur said " On to Rome!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rome was not what I thought it would be. During the siege I led some raids around the surrounding lands and collected over30 more Libra in goods over the next month. Arthur then finally spoke to the Pope, and he agreed to surrender to our King.
Edar was able to get his marriage to Queen Elaine Annuled and now next year he will Bring The Norweigian girl valerie and his two children to Leicester, and marry her. Clever dog!
I stayed in rome for 5 monthes and made a lot of contacts among the senators and poerful nobles of Rome. They were trying to use me for their own ends just as I was using them. I led them to believe that I could gain Arthurs ear. Even though the only contact I had was Edar.
I was able to find a fine and Aristocratic beautiful Roman wife, Olivia. She is all that a man could want. Clever , elegant and gorgeous.
On the downside, my quest for a rich orphabed boy to be my ward was not good. I have discovered that he is poor and a victim of politics and just another mouth for me to feed, Guido they call him, and he's dumb as pig balls. In short, Rome was not as Powerful as I expected and her Glory days are over, but she still has enough beauty and sophistication to be counted among the most worthy cities in the world.
Bledri disassembled two of their Roman monuments and took them home by sea to Britian! One Priamus said was an obelisk with an elephant that was from his egyptian homeland so Bledri boxed it up and took it. Also he took something called the statue of David. He put it in Leicester. Ellidyr and Aedon lived with the Roman monks and as tourists tried to see every worthy religious site in the area. Both men are good warrriors but we need to get rid of this religious zeolousness. Edar sailed his one ship, the " Beehive" back to London , and Bledri sent his monuments by boat, but everyone else traveled overland. In a mere two monthes we were home again and telling stories by the fire. I was happy showing off my wife, my new Partial platemail, and my 10 librum worth of Roman art and jewelry. Also there was a jewish apothecary who sold me a jar of red ungent that he says will aid in healing the most grievous of wounds. It cost 15 libra but i feel that it will be worth it! Rome..... splendid, magnificent, dirty, cruel, and decadent. I have learned in my recent travels that truly...... Britian is the best and most powerful kingdom on earth!
Sir Bledri here.
Ah, Rome. What can I say about Rome? A very rich land. Well, not as rich lately. The spoils of war were greater than any other campaign i have been in. The Roman army was not as great as i thought it would be. yet they did have this annoying habit of killing our horses. i think we shall have to do something about that. maybe we can put chainmail on them.Happily when we returned, our neighbors hadn't stolen all of our county, only part of it. It seems our king is going to right this wrong, so that is good news. And I have been made a Round Table Knight! I am happy to serve my king, though i hope i will not be separated from my fellow Candlebees by my duties. Truly, an honor and a great responsiblity.oh, and i brought the statue of David back from Rome. Yes, that statue of David. Sweet.
Sir Amadis here
More fighting on the Continent. Pretty countryside, yes, but it's no Leicester.
As we closed in on Rome I met a strange knight, the Lion of Tollomy, a Sir Primus from Alexandria. We jousted--he did alright for a foreigner. Nice enough chap. We saw him occasionally while in Rome enjoying the spoils of our fight; Bledri got some advice from him as to which monuments would be best suited for transport home to Leicester.
I also picked up a wife, a fine Spanish woman, Desdemona. No Scathach, but fiery in her own way. We were married and back home to Leicester by Christmas.
King Arthur sent Count Edar and us Leicestermen to forage for food, before going down to Rome. We did as we were told and we made a killing. I looted and pillaged until my heart was content and came away with 34 Libra of goods. I told Ellidyr to take part and he of couse refused. he is a good lad. Perhaps too good, to the point of foolishness. Even a monestary and a nunnery gave us trouble. I was with Ellidyr on this though. I would not harm holy men or women. Even I have my limits. Ellidyr foolishly tried to help the nuns who of course had no appreciation. Bledri Actually struck one of the nuns! The man has no limits!
On the way back from the gathering of supplies Sir Amadis met up with a strange dark skinned Foreign Knight who called himself Priamus of Alexandria, of the line of Tolomy. Whatever the importance of that is. Amadis jousted the man. After 5 passes neither could get the better of each other so the stranger called it a tie and he drank to their prowess. A strange custom and one that Amadis apparently liked because he has decided to adopt the custom. Priamus is a prince in his lands or something and he healed Amadis wounds with what he called the waters of the two holy rivers. Hmmmm.... whatever.
Before getting the goods back to Arthur we were attacked by the army that Priamus had warned us about. The King of the Vandals was leading the army he said. I am not sure where Vandal land is but we did not care. Priamus fought with us and somehow he used a strange influence ( Magic?) to cause the other saracens in the army to flee the field. It was Amazing!
With Count Edar leading the battle we pummled the Vandal King. I was with Edar's reserve party and we charged in pursuit when the enemy army was broken. Sir Bledri led our unit through most of the battle until those damned Crossbowmen shot his horse out from under him. Amadis picked up the slack though and we clearly whipped the Vandal army. I watched Young Ellidyr and he did well. It seems my training is helping. He is very good with a blade thanks to me.
After the battle we delivered the news and goods to Arthur who was most pleased and a little intrigued by our new foreign friend. Arthur said " On to Rome!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rome was not what I thought it would be. During the siege I led some raids around the surrounding lands and collected over30 more Libra in goods over the next month. Arthur then finally spoke to the Pope, and he agreed to surrender to our King.
Edar was able to get his marriage to Queen Elaine Annuled and now next year he will Bring The Norweigian girl valerie and his two children to Leicester, and marry her. Clever dog!
I stayed in rome for 5 monthes and made a lot of contacts among the senators and poerful nobles of Rome. They were trying to use me for their own ends just as I was using them. I led them to believe that I could gain Arthurs ear. Even though the only contact I had was Edar.
I was able to find a fine and Aristocratic beautiful Roman wife, Olivia. She is all that a man could want. Clever , elegant and gorgeous.
On the downside, my quest for a rich orphabed boy to be my ward was not good. I have discovered that he is poor and a victim of politics and just another mouth for me to feed, Guido they call him, and he's dumb as pig balls. In short, Rome was not as Powerful as I expected and her Glory days are over, but she still has enough beauty and sophistication to be counted among the most worthy cities in the world.
Bledri disassembled two of their Roman monuments and took them home by sea to Britian! One Priamus said was an obelisk with an elephant that was from his egyptian homeland so Bledri boxed it up and took it. Also he took something called the statue of David. He put it in Leicester. Ellidyr and Aedon lived with the Roman monks and as tourists tried to see every worthy religious site in the area. Both men are good warrriors but we need to get rid of this religious zeolousness. Edar sailed his one ship, the " Beehive" back to London , and Bledri sent his monuments by boat, but everyone else traveled overland. In a mere two monthes we were home again and telling stories by the fire. I was happy showing off my wife, my new Partial platemail, and my 10 librum worth of Roman art and jewelry. Also there was a jewish apothecary who sold me a jar of red ungent that he says will aid in healing the most grievous of wounds. It cost 15 libra but i feel that it will be worth it! Rome..... splendid, magnificent, dirty, cruel, and decadent. I have learned in my recent travels that truly...... Britian is the best and most powerful kingdom on earth!
Sir Bledri here.
Ah, Rome. What can I say about Rome? A very rich land. Well, not as rich lately. The spoils of war were greater than any other campaign i have been in. The Roman army was not as great as i thought it would be. yet they did have this annoying habit of killing our horses. i think we shall have to do something about that. maybe we can put chainmail on them.Happily when we returned, our neighbors hadn't stolen all of our county, only part of it. It seems our king is going to right this wrong, so that is good news. And I have been made a Round Table Knight! I am happy to serve my king, though i hope i will not be separated from my fellow Candlebees by my duties. Truly, an honor and a great responsiblity.oh, and i brought the statue of David back from Rome. Yes, that statue of David. Sweet.
Sir Amadis here
More fighting on the Continent. Pretty countryside, yes, but it's no Leicester.
As we closed in on Rome I met a strange knight, the Lion of Tollomy, a Sir Primus from Alexandria. We jousted--he did alright for a foreigner. Nice enough chap. We saw him occasionally while in Rome enjoying the spoils of our fight; Bledri got some advice from him as to which monuments would be best suited for transport home to Leicester.
I also picked up a wife, a fine Spanish woman, Desdemona. No Scathach, but fiery in her own way. We were married and back home to Leicester by Christmas.
526: Continental Campaign
Sir Ellidyr here......
Well.... last year Count Edar decided that I was too tender of age and too inexperienced to go to the Continent and join battle. Of course he is wise and I accepted his decision without question as one ought to do. I served garrison duty under Sir Lucius, and we had quite a time trying to guard our count's borders. Lambor, Lonazep,and Bedegraine were the culprits. They shamelessly annexed parts of my count's lands. We were too undermanned to halt them. If it had just been one county then maybe we could have , but all three working together... imposible!
We heard later in the year that our Lord needed yet more of us to come to the continent as reserve reinforcements. We were told by a messenger that accompanied men of the first contingent that had returned home to Leicester. What a sight. They were sick, maimed and disheartened for the most part. Though some loot did come back. I wondered how these new men who were wounded were supposed to guard our borders. I am still afraid that we will return to find our count's lands gone. I am trying to put it out of my mind andfocus on the task at hand. My ord needs me on the continent so off to portsmouth I go. I must pray to God that he aids us so that we do not end up like the first contingent did.
Sir Lucius here...
So after trying to guard my lord's lands with only mild success, we were shipped to the continent, right where I didnt want to go.Large battles cause many deaths. But I would finally get to see the glory of old Rome where my ancestors flourished and shaped the world. Our first battle was at Geneva and after an entire day of fighting it was a draw. The Roman's had the strangest army I had ever seen. Black skinned ethiopians, pony mounted bowmen called huns, and italian crossbowmen with heavy bolts, and Byzantine knights with roman infantry, and a slew of other strange troops. I was truly impressed. Our own British knights were very good as well though to hold the battle to a standstill. I took only one superficial wound in the battle and even young Ellidyr who I have been mentoring took but one flesh wound. I hear that next we will be going through Tuscany, Milan and Genoa where the populace will give us no trouble as thet recognize the greatness of our high king. I can hardly wait to see Rome in all it's splendor!
Sir Amadis here
My special lady friend Scathath and her hulk of a brother seem to be coming around...we've been arm-wrestling. Sometimes I win.
She has beautiful biceps, my lady does.
I thought of that much while recuperating at the monastary outside Paris. I had the misfortune of falling in the first charge; either my horse's leg broke, or he stumbled upon some disfigurement in the ground, because my seat dropped out from under me, and I tumbled to the ground. Fortunately I landed on my side in the turf; the spear that struck me went completely through! Haven't had that happen before. Hurt less than I thought it would.
But when I was taken to the chirugen, at this monastary, there were some many injured men the monks said I was lucky to find space in one of the outbuildings. It was the shed where they housed the swine. A knight who lay near me, and who said that before he took service with his lord he had been a farmer, said that swine and bleeding wounds to not mix well; he died that night, but others spoke the same. I too almost died, and do not remember many weeks. When I felt well enough to stand, I had Evain, now a knight but still my squire at heart, take me out of there and back to the army, where I finished convalescing in the baggage train. By the time Arthur reached Geneva I felt well enough to fight, though my wound still oozed.
My sweet, sweet fighting lady fell on the field outside Geneva, and my good friend Sir Bledri saw to it that I got good and drunk that night. Goodbye, dear Scathach!
(I also sent home 8L in goods and chattel to my family in Nethersby.)
Well.... last year Count Edar decided that I was too tender of age and too inexperienced to go to the Continent and join battle. Of course he is wise and I accepted his decision without question as one ought to do. I served garrison duty under Sir Lucius, and we had quite a time trying to guard our count's borders. Lambor, Lonazep,and Bedegraine were the culprits. They shamelessly annexed parts of my count's lands. We were too undermanned to halt them. If it had just been one county then maybe we could have , but all three working together... imposible!
We heard later in the year that our Lord needed yet more of us to come to the continent as reserve reinforcements. We were told by a messenger that accompanied men of the first contingent that had returned home to Leicester. What a sight. They were sick, maimed and disheartened for the most part. Though some loot did come back. I wondered how these new men who were wounded were supposed to guard our borders. I am still afraid that we will return to find our count's lands gone. I am trying to put it out of my mind andfocus on the task at hand. My ord needs me on the continent so off to portsmouth I go. I must pray to God that he aids us so that we do not end up like the first contingent did.
Sir Lucius here...
So after trying to guard my lord's lands with only mild success, we were shipped to the continent, right where I didnt want to go.Large battles cause many deaths. But I would finally get to see the glory of old Rome where my ancestors flourished and shaped the world. Our first battle was at Geneva and after an entire day of fighting it was a draw. The Roman's had the strangest army I had ever seen. Black skinned ethiopians, pony mounted bowmen called huns, and italian crossbowmen with heavy bolts, and Byzantine knights with roman infantry, and a slew of other strange troops. I was truly impressed. Our own British knights were very good as well though to hold the battle to a standstill. I took only one superficial wound in the battle and even young Ellidyr who I have been mentoring took but one flesh wound. I hear that next we will be going through Tuscany, Milan and Genoa where the populace will give us no trouble as thet recognize the greatness of our high king. I can hardly wait to see Rome in all it's splendor!
Sir Amadis here
My special lady friend Scathath and her hulk of a brother seem to be coming around...we've been arm-wrestling. Sometimes I win.
She has beautiful biceps, my lady does.
I thought of that much while recuperating at the monastary outside Paris. I had the misfortune of falling in the first charge; either my horse's leg broke, or he stumbled upon some disfigurement in the ground, because my seat dropped out from under me, and I tumbled to the ground. Fortunately I landed on my side in the turf; the spear that struck me went completely through! Haven't had that happen before. Hurt less than I thought it would.
But when I was taken to the chirugen, at this monastary, there were some many injured men the monks said I was lucky to find space in one of the outbuildings. It was the shed where they housed the swine. A knight who lay near me, and who said that before he took service with his lord he had been a farmer, said that swine and bleeding wounds to not mix well; he died that night, but others spoke the same. I too almost died, and do not remember many weeks. When I felt well enough to stand, I had Evain, now a knight but still my squire at heart, take me out of there and back to the army, where I finished convalescing in the baggage train. By the time Arthur reached Geneva I felt well enough to fight, though my wound still oozed.
My sweet, sweet fighting lady fell on the field outside Geneva, and my good friend Sir Bledri saw to it that I got good and drunk that night. Goodbye, dear Scathach!
(I also sent home 8L in goods and chattel to my family in Nethersby.)
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