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Previous: 531 Part I
Camille's Rebellion
As the tournament wrapped up and many of the knights of the realm returned to their estates, Sir Griflet was recruiting – he was going to lead a small army to deal with the problems in Anglia, ‘as Duke Hervis lacks the strength.’
Sir Phillip II, Sir Mari, Sir Arthur Reynard Starling and Sir Cara all volunteered and headed off to Norwich where Griflet met up with the Duke. Sir Cara was on guard duty outside of the conference room they were in and could hear shouting from inside getting louder and louder. Cara grew worried as the argument sounded violent and threw open the doors and entered the chamber. Griflet and the Duke calmed down as Cara entered – with Duke Hervis casting a withering glance towards her. ‘Since you have such wonderful knights, then you deal with the problem’, he sneered before stalking off.
The next morning, Griflet and his force marched forth towards the Fens, without any aid from Duke Hervis. The bandits were thought to be operating near the fens and Cara led one of the patrols to try and find their base.
However, despite her best efforts, Cara’s group always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time as local estates and churches were raided and burnt, seemingly wherever they were not. Growing increasingly frustrated, Cara continued her patrols until one day – recrossing an area they had previously patrolled, there stood a small stone castle, surrounded by a lush garden and manicured lawns. Could this be the bandit’s secret – a fae, magical castle? The knights investigated by could find no one at the castle and no means to enter. As it was late, the knights camped in the gardens, spread out in several groups.
This proved to be a mistake as that knight they were roused by the ground shaking and rustling from the undergrowth – the plants had come to life. Many strange plant creatures grappled and subdued the knights, squeezing the breath out of them and dragging them away.
When they awoke, they were in separate cells in a dungeon. They were not left to rot there, however, as two saxon women brought them their food once a day. They were told that they were prisoners of the Lady Camille, an Anglian sorceress. The knights whiled away their time as several weeks past. Then more knight prisoners were dragged in – amongst them, Sir Gaheris, and the King – Arthur! Gaheris told them they had been lured here by a false promise of a peace conference and then captured by magic. Arthur was led out each morning for ‘questioning’ by Lady Camille and returned each evening looking haggard and weary.
Days later, another commotion and more captured knights, including Sir Lancelot, Duke Galeholt, and Sir Gawaine. The knights began to despair of escaping when one night, they heard the locks of the dungeon being opened – it was Sir Kay, wearing a smug grin. It seemed that Lady Nimue had given him some relic to counter Camille’s sorcery and he was here to mount a rescue.
Lancelot and Gawaine supported the King, while Kay led the knights to a nearby armory. The group fought their way out of the castle against several large bronze knights – given form by Camille’s magic. Outside, Lancelot led the king to safety while Gawaine went to get Griflet and the army. Sir Kay, ever smug, decided not to wait and led a small group back into the castle to capture Camille, assuming his relic now made him invulnerable. Unfortunately as the neared Lady Camille’s chamber, two fae knights proved him wrong, as he was knocked silly by a mace blow from a nine foot tall knight. The rest of the knights engaged in some trickery, offering to ‘surrender’ and let themselves be led to Lady Camille. She was enraged that Arthur had escaped, apparently needing his royal blood for some foul magic. But when she caught sight of young Sir Arthur, she smiled and said ‘perhaps you’ll do just as well’.
A desperate fight ensued with the two fae knights guarding Camille, and Camille casting some kind of spell that created a magical shield around herself. The knights were hard pressed, but were helped when Sir Kay shook off his wounds to join them. The knights observed some ritual books around the room and while some held off the fae knights, Sir Phillip started burning the books. Fire rapidly spread threw the room, and Camille’s shield faded away as the last of the ritual books were burnt. The two fae knights were finished off by the desperate knights who then fled the burning caslte, as Camille lay bleeding out.
Outside, Gawaine had returned with Griflet and all watched as the castle was consumed by fire, and Kay was congratulated for his rescue.
Autumn
The knights spent the rest of the year back in Salisbury. Sir Arthur continued his tasks for Lady Ahvielle, successfully arguing for mercy for a knight up on charges of discourtesy at Countess Ellen’s court. Next, Ahvielle asked Arthur to show his generosity by giving his wealth to the peasants of his manor. Arthur donated all of his worldly wealth. Sir Cara found Woodborough Manor a changed place, as Shane had embraced an older form of rulership – might makes right. The local peasants feared their new lord and he treated the other household knights most disrespectfully. Phillip spent the summer leading patrols around Salisbury’s borders, although not much in the way of trouble was encountered in these peaceful times.
Sir Mari hosted Countess Ellen at her manor, as Ellen evaluated her stewardship.
Glory
Character | Glory |
Annual Glory |
Fame | Age | Status | Year of Death |
King Arthur | 57600 | 1500 | Legendary | 38 | Alive and Well | |
King Uther Pendragon | 27750 | 0 | Extraordinary | 47 | Dead | 495 |
King Pellinore de Gales | 25100 | Extraordinary | 55 | Dead | ||
Duke Ulfius | 23800 | 300 | Extraordinary | 65 | Dead | 518 - Session 1 |
Sir Gawaine | 20500 | 300 | Famous | 33 | Alive and Well | |
Sir Lancelot | 19750 | Famous | 26 | Alive and Well | ||
Sir Griflet | 18500 | 300 | Famous | 34 | Alive and Well | |
King Nanteleod | 17250 | Extraordinary | 55 | Dead | 508 |
|
King Idres | 15700 | Famous | 60 | Dead | ||
King Uriens | 15700 | 100 | Famous | 59 | Alive and Retired | |
Sir James | 15301 | Famous | 50 | Dead | 518 - Session 1 |
|
Sir Hervis de Revel | 15600 | 300 | Famous | 45 | Alive and Well | |
King Alain | 15150 | 300 | Famous | 47 | Alive and Well | |
King Heraut de Apres | 14740 | Famous | 36 | Dead | 512 - Session 1 |
|
Sir Bedivere |
15525 |
200 |
Famous |
37 |
Alive and Well |
|
Sir Kay | 13675 | 200 | Famous | 38 | Alive and Well | |
Duke Corneas | 13100 | Famous | 47 | Dead | 508 |
|
Sir Lucas | 14007 | Famous | 36 | Dead | ||
King Lot | 12800 | Famous | 60 | Dead | 513 |
|
Duke Gorlois | 12400 | Famous | 51 | Dead | 491 |
|
King Dirac | 12700 | 300 | Famous | 45 | Alive and Well | |
Sir Nikolas Starling | 14755 | Famous | 35 | Dead | ||
Sir Caoilfhionn | 15242 | Famous | 40 | Dead | ||
Barant de Apres | 8900 | 200 | Famous | 35 | Alive and Well | |
King Nentres | 8400 | Famous | 55 | Dead | 512 - Session 1 |
|
Sir Lamorak | 8475 | Famous | 28 | Alive and Well | ||
King Canan | 8000 | Famous | 57 | Dead | 494 |
|
Queen Ygraine | 8050 | 50 | Famous | 55 | Alive and Well | |
Sir Esmee | 7909 | Renowned | 36 | Dead | 504 |
|
Sir Yvaine | 8200 | Famous | 28 | Alive and Well | ||
Sir Gwynne | 8799 | Famous | 27 | Alive and Well | ||
Sir Luc | 7549 | Renowned | 36 | Dead | 502 |
|
Sir Penelope Starling | 7080 | Renowned | 43 | Alive and Well | ||
Sir Uffo | 7000 | Renowned | 30 | Alive and a Rebel | ||
Sir Hightower | 6800 | 0 | Renowned | 47 | Dead | 502 |
Sir Jon Archer | 9587 | Renowned | 28 | Dead | ||
Duke Lucius | 6400 | 0 | Renowned | 41 | Dead | 486 |
Sir Reynard Starling | 6374 | 0 | Renowned | 33 | Dead | 497 (Session 1) |
Countess Ellen | 6400 | 100 | Renowned | 45 | Alive and Well | |
Sir Blackmore | 6273 | Renowned | 34 | Dead | ||
Earl Roderick | 6044 | 0 | Renowned | 47 | Dead | 495 |
Sir Willem | 6041 | Renowned | 45 | Dead | 518 - Session 1 | |
Sir Henri Pierlot | 6003 | Renowned | 31 | Alive and Well | ||
Sir Ysabel Starling | 5861 | Renowned | 38 | Alive and Well | ||
Sir Archer | 4724 | Renowned | 35 | Dead | 510 - Session 1 |
|
Sir Alfred | 4704 | Renowned | 28 | Dead | 521 |
|
Sir Theophania |
4700 |
Renowned |
46 |
Alive and Well |
||
Sir Elisabet | 4291 | Renowned | 37 | Dead | 505 |
|
Sir Madoc | 4200 | 0 | Renowned | 27 | Dead | 491 |
Sir Cedric | 4115 | Renowned | 40 | Dead | 511 |
|
Sir Alder | 4000 | Renowned | 38 | Missing | ||
Sir Edwin | 3760 | Notable | 25 | Alive and Well |
||
Sir Basile | 3400 | Notable | 46 | Alive and Exiled | ||
Sir Bellana | 2873 | Respected | 27 | Alive and Well | ||
Sir Beleus | 2550 | Respected | 40 | Alive and Exiled | ||
Sir Katherine Starling | 2528 | Respected | 30 | Alive and Well | ||
Sir Phillip | 2341 | Respected | 21 | Alive and Well | ||
Sumayl | 2360 | Respected | 27 | Alive and Well | ||
Sir Blains | 2380 | 20 | Respected | 49 | Dead | 518 - Session 1 |
Sir Gareth | 2384 | Respected | 24 | Alive and Well | ||
Sir Faith | 2002 | Respected | 35 | Alive and Well | ||
Sir Petra | 1605 | Respected | 30 | Alive and Well | ||
Sir Bege | 1550 | Respected | 38 | Alive and Exiled | ||
Sir Joseph Black | 1440 | Unproven | 29 | Alive and Well | ||
Sir Cyril | 1144 | Unproven | 32 | Alive and Well | ||
2960 | Respected | 23 | Alive and Well | |||
5140 | Notable | 36 | Alive and Well | |||
4184 | Respected | 18 | Alive and Well | |||
1618 | Unproven | 26 | Alive and Well | |||
Sir Rose | 2074 | |||||
Sir Rhian | 1567 | Unproven | 23 | Alive and Well | ||
Sir Samwell | 1773 |
Previous: 524
Squires Day Out
Every year the most promising squires of Salisbury are sent to train with the Marshal. This year, Marshal Caoilfhionn hosted the training session at Castle Ebble. She had selected her own squire, Carantok, as well as Mari (Sir Blackmore's), Rhian (Sir Lucas’), Samwell (Sir Jon Archer's), Guy (Sir Gwynne's) and Claudia (Sir Nikolas Starling’s).
The squires were halfway through their week of training – most of them had never met the marshal before and were still unsure of her – especially given all they had heard of ‘Caoilfhionn the crooked’.
Up early, apart from Guy who straggled in late, the squires were performing their duties under the casual scrutiny of the Marshal. She was visibly displeased with Guy’s tardiness and Rhian’s poor horse grooming, but after breakfast she dispatched the squires on an errand. Apparently, she was expecting a messenger to arrive shortly.
The squires went down to the bridge into the village, observing on the way a commotion in the common as a group of a dozen or so people and 8 wagons were setting up camp. At the bridge, they met the messenger just as a downpour started. Attempting to keep the scroll dry, the squires ran for the newly opened Inn, but Claudia tripped with the message at the doorstep, squishing it in the mud. Inside, Jastin the innkeeper welcomed the squires, especially Samwell who had been in a few times already this week to enjoy a pint.
Sergeant Straken arrived soon after and ‘suggested’ the squires finish their mission and return to the castle, which they did. Arriving back soaked, they were brought before the marshall, who had been talking to one Rhondoman the Red – leader of some kind of ‘circus and menagerie’ which was setting up for a show.
The Marshal and Sergeant Straken conferred – it seemed that the knights and most of the men at arms of the castle had departed to hunt down reports of a ‘monster’ in the nearby forest, so the Marshal assigned the squires to act as guards for the circus.
On the way out with Sergeant Straken, a young girl skidded up with news of a murder! The squires were sent to investigate. Yma, the goose girl, showed them the body of a girl in a nearby clearing. The squires investigated for a while before Straken arrived. He discovered two foreign coins under the body. After questioning the squires and apparently being satisfied with their work – he asked them to continue the investigation.
The squires split up to investigate. Those in the clearing found foot tracks of two or three people that had entered the clearing before the rain, and horse tracks of someone who had arrived after. Those investigating the coins found them to be French coins that a nervous sounding merchant had given to someone named ‘Melerin’ the day before in some kind of deal for a promissory note.
After speaking with Sergeant Straken, the squires proceeded to question various people about town. The victim, Felyss’ family, Felyss’ boyfriend’s (Melerin) family. Felyss’ best friend. A townsperson who had been watching the circus. Some of the circus performers. Various townsfolk who had been out and about that morning. And finally Melerin himself who rode back into town mid afternoon.
The squires pieced together the story. Apparently Melerin and Felyss had planned to elope. Melerin had stolen his father’s promissory note to get cash for the pair – and had hidden some of it for Felyss to take under the bridge. Unbeknownst to them, they had been observed by a pair of the circus people, who followed Felyss to the glade where she awaited Melerin. While trying to steal the money they had ended up killing her.
When confronted, the knife thrower in the circus tried to run, but Rhian showed her own knife skills when she tossed her own dagger into the fleeing mans back and then he was swiftly tackled by Claudia.
Sergeant Straken was mightily pleased by the squires’ actions and the whole village congratulated them on tracking down the guilty party.
Camelot
In spring – the knights gathered in Camelot as King Arthur convened his court. All of the talk around court was of Sir Lancelot and his many deeds of the last year. Apparently he had not only overcome the King of Northumberland, but also killed or captured many bandits, rescued three other damsels, defeated Sir Alibon of Queen’s Ford, as well as many other adventures. Sir Kay, however, was not so impressed, claiming it was only Lancelot’s equipment, which the Lady of the Lake had provided, that made him so formidable.
Court continued and the knights took advantage of all that Camelot had to offer. One day, while Arthur waited for a ‘marvel’ to appear before starting the great feast day dinner, a messenger appeared, dashing up to Arthur. Arthur ordered the assembly to reconvene in the Great Hall.
There – twelve Romans appeared in front of Arthur, from all over the Empire, including a formidable looking Tribune. The Tribune presented demands from Emperor Lucius for Arthur to send tribute and recognize the supremacy of Rome. This caused much uproar in the court, but Arthur demanded these guests be treated with honor. After conferring with his council, Arthur returned with his verdict.
Not only would he not pay tribute, he, Arthur, by right of his ancestors, held the right to claim the title of Emperor. He sent the Romans away with promise to go with his army to Rome and take possession of the empire! With that, the Romans departed and pandemonium broke loose in the court.
The knights were then sent home to finish up any business and prepare for war. Sir Lucas has been told to assemble a force to seize a bridgehead in France in the fall. After consultations, he has chosen a small port town in Normandy as the site of the assault and so as September approached, Sir Lucas’ raiding force gathered.
Next: 526 - Part 1