The Tale of Half a Goat (491)

The arms of Sir Denzil

For various reasons, this (possibly apocryphal) little adventure does not appear in the relevant book (VIII) of La Chanson du Beau Danseur, but is retained in The Doggerels of Sir Denzil, the tales of a bachelor in Sir Benesek's service.

Sir Benesek and the Wisdom of Solomon

...then, his wounds having healed, did my lord ride through Cornish lands, accompanied by numerous weeping women and dour damsels, as was his fashion in that year. It was my duty to accompany Sir Benesek, of course, and with us also were Sir Gorvannon and Sir Evan of Woodford. On one such jaunt we encountered a decrepit villein by the name of Roger, who begged our aid: he claimed that a fellow villein of his village, a man by the name of Jones, had lain with his wife.

Having naught else to occupy us, we proceeded to the hovel wherein we were told this Jones lived, and encountered one of his mean kin, who protested that Jones was not present, being occupied in the mines. At this, Sir Evan demanded that this villein set off that instant, to bring Jones back to our judgement. This he made to do, but ere he had left, Sir Benesek hailed him back, and lambasted the churl for leaving without giving the knights due hospitality. That done, the villein and Sir Evan departed to find Jones, and soon returned with that wretched peasant in tow.

Now, it happened that Roger, the peasant who had brought these charges, was nowhere to be found. This vexed all the knights considerably, and Sir Benesek and Sir Gorvannon went to Roger's domicile, where they met his mother, a decrepit crone, who informed them that now Roger had gone to the mines. Thoroughly annoyed at this, Sir Benesek and Sir Gorvannon rode to the mines and thereupon heard that all said churls were engaged therein. There being no other road open, Sir Benesek dismounted, and with his loyal squire Marrek, entered the dark void.

For many hours was he absent, and all wondered what fabulous beasts he had met in such caverns. Then did this villein Roger appear, but of Sir Benesek still was there no sign. Finally after much travail did my lord knight appear, covered from head to toe in blackest grime and coaldust, his face blacker with anger still, with an expression that brooked no question of his tardiness. That done we repaired with haste to the village, where my lord knights Sir Gorvannon and Sir Benesek sat in judgement.

Though clearly past patience at such as had come to pass and the labours that had engaged them, my lords perceived with justice the matter before them, in which 'twas clear that this vile Jones had done mal engine with Roger's wife. Finally soot-blackened Sir Benesek rose, and with no little temper pronounced his doom: "Jones, you vile and villeinous wretch, you are guilty before God. Do you have any livestock?"

"One goat, milord..." was the reply. At this Sir Benesek pointed to Roger and said, "Then give him half of it."

And then my lords rode off.

La Chanson du Beau Danseur VIII (491)

The arms of Sir Benesek

Wherein he doth fight with passing breme courage 'neath haut Tintagel

So stricken by dole was Sir Benesek that he was without fail beseen in arrayment of mourning, his weeds deepest black, and accompanied at all times by weeping maids paid from his own purse. No prancing galliard was this, but a noyous knight betaken unto sorrow; for he pitched the gold upon his shield until it was deepest night, and by this, and a small venture that shall be accounted later, he came to be hight the Black Knight of Avon launds.

Now, great umbrage had arisen between King Uther and that false and spiteous vassal of his, Duke Gorlois of Cornwall, and the king resolved to bring such violent rasure to the duke's lands as he might, as was his wont. Thus did the knights of Salisbury and Silchester await upon Castle Terrabil, where some under Prince Madoc did assay most valiantly to defeat the Cornish in stour, while other still yede with Uther unto Castle Tintagel, to take that stronghold of the duke.

With Uther raked those three gentlest bannerets: Sir Dalan of the trenchant glaive and haut bruit; cleanest mighted and pure Sir Gorvannon; and Sir Benesek, the Black Knight of the dolorous heart. There they advised that passing wight fortress Tintagel, home of that verily recrayed Gorlois, thrust up from the sea's embrace in orgulous majesty. Before such walls that forbade such gree as he wished, King Uther seethed in great heat and ordered his knights to be about its outerworks with goodly busk.

Woodly then did Sir Benesek, Sir Dalan and Sir Gorvannon drive at the foes that were dight to receive them, no baleful Saxons but knights well dressed and horsed for meddle. Great was the onslaught, but the knights of Logres were borne up by their hands, and the foes, attaint by many sad brunts and foins, were overborn and flemed. Then, advising in the raundom that the portals of the outerworks were open to receive such as had fled; and mazed sore by the passing of his wife, so that he doubted not for his life but was arrayed in courage; did Sir Benesek spur his steed forward anon, so that he might seize for the king such defenses as the knight beheld.

His companions doubted that the Black Knight wist what he did in his dole, and Sir Gorvannon moved to still such stiffness and freshness as Sir Benesek did display; but uneath he had moved to take his reins ere the knight abraided forth alone, and drove wightly at the Cornish knights guarding the portals. Gainly did Sir Benesek charge into the meddle, whereupon he was beset by two knights, until presently one fled and he and his foe, a Cornish baron, were held most hot, each swapping brunts. Then that Cornish baron dashed that better fairing knight a blow that could not but appear mortal, and Sir Benesek slumped in his saddle all for-bled.

Upon seeing Sir Benesek's charge did Sir Gorvannon, Sir Dalan and their fellow knights sue that Black Knight, and be about the meddle with great wood and courage. With them was Sir Denzil, a bachelor in Sir Benesek's service, who upon seeing his lord be in receit of such wrack did bellow such a cry and speed araged at that Cornish baron; whereupon he razed and foined him 'til his foe's jesseraunt was to-brast and his utterance done. With such courage did the knights seize the outerworks, and the siege begin in great earnest.

Little did Sir Benesek know of what followed, for he lay with a wrack most mortal, ere he dimly advised that his body was searched by the leechcraft of that haut warlock, Merlin, and his mind was soothed by dreams of dragons. Ashamed at his suspicion of such a man, who had saved his life so, though he had verily sought death if truth be told, Sir Benesek made hete unto himself for his actions and betook himself unto that wise man.

Thereafter Sir Benesek did attend with no great weal the funeral of Prince Madoc, and the wedding of King Uther and the Lady Ygraine. Indeed upon his first advisement of that fair duchess of Cornwall, as she was escorted from haut Tintagel, was the Black Knight astonied with the pangs of his dolorous heart, for she was alike arrayed in mourning black and as joyless as he as such as had come to pass. At the bridal feast he composed a sonnet to loss, of his and hers both, with such fair tatch of word and voice that the queen was moved, and the king privately chafed.

Thus endeth the eighth part of the tale of Sir Benesek.

Sir Benesek (Winter Phase 491, aged 30), Glory 5,498
SIZ 14, DEX 13, STR 13*, CON 14, APP 16
Main Skills: Compose 11, Courtesy 10, Dancing 22, Flirting 15, Orate 10; Battle 15, Horsemanship 15, Lance 16, Sword 19.
Famous Traits and Passions: Energetic 16, Valorous 18; Love (Memory of Adwen) 16**.

*Decreased to 12 as a function of a mortal wound (two sixes rolled! You beauty...), but increased in the Winter Phase.

**We're keeping this around, but decreasing by one each year (it was 17 in 490). The chaste Sir Benesek uses it not for inspiration, but to inform his personal remorse and the issue of taking a new wife.

La Chanson du Beau Danseur VII (490)

Wherein he doth lose that which he holdeth most lief

... and thus did all knights seek with no little galliardly busk to Lindsey, to assay to forfare such Saxon foes as were arrayed to meet them. There, in the Battle of Lindsey Launds, was much raundom, wrack and utterance made, and even in victory with the enemy shent were many brave knights lost. There did that wood soul Sir Gilbert le Ginge fall to a most breme and frenzied Saxon's giserne, swapped with the gastfullest blow yet seen; and there too did perish gentle Sir Percivale, of many sad plaies. Sir Benesek himself was unhorsed and stricken sore, yet strained him to remount and fight on, to collapse much wracked with the stour won.

[Sir Benesek received a major wound early on, and was hovering just above the unconscious threshold; at the end of the battle the aggravation pushed him over it.]

Yet in noble death was there great honour made; and in life no matter how awracked, meed in bezants and bruit both! For such had the gentle knights captured King Octa of that most orgulous and lewdest host, trapped by the glaives of Sir Dalan and his companions, who had overborn his household and brought him to ruin. So was this pagan king betaken unto King Uther, and great stuffing was held in feast, to celebrate this victory.

Alas! did Sir Benesek miss such festivities, and that which followed, for he was ill indeed with that noyous blow, for-bled and for-strained with a dere that took many weeks to heal. He would surely had had his utterance had not he been searched, not by a mean leech, but his dearest Lady Adwen; she who was in her confinement with child, yet saw dilligently to her lord's weal. Yet what baleful gree did knight and lady alike receive for such love as they had! For when Sir Benesek was risen did he learn that mother and babe both were betaught unto the Lord in childbirth, and he was most dole, his soul shent.

Thus did le Beau Danseur prance no more, instead being given over to wanhope, for he wist well that his wife had been in no wightly state to be made attaint as she was by her leechings, and the strain of seeing him wracked so.

Thus endeth the seventh part of the tale of Sir Benesek.

Sir Benesek (Winter Phase 490, aged 29), Glory 5,116
SIZ 14, DEX 13, STR 13, CON 14, APP 16
Main Skills: Compose 11, Courtesy 10, Dancing 22, Flirting 15, Orate 10; Battle 15, Horsemanship 15, Lance 16, Sword 19.
Famous Traits and Passions: Energetic 16, Valorous 17; Love (memory of Adwen) 17.

491 Earl Roderick (NPC), At the siege of Tintagel Castle Part II

With the fall of the gate works guarding bridge to Tintagel castle proper the siege could being in earnest, My King Uther ordered that Trebuchet's be setup to bombard the castle, but even these combined with many brave assaults failed to the significantly harm those in inside, finally after many days Merlin reappeared at the camp and was reported to being in council with Uther. That night a thick fog drifted in from the sea, and rumours abound that the Duke of Cornwall somehow found his way through our encampment and passed into the Castle, and my dreams were disturbed by visions of blood and dragons!

In the morning after breaking my fast, Uther called a council and invited myself along with the hero's of he assault on the gate works (as Uther had decided that they were indeed skilled at siege craft as shown by their success when we first arrived) to work with him and Merlin (who looked very tired indeed) to find a way into the main fortress. Little more that half an hour into the conference, a messenger still coated in mud from his ride was admitted with news from Terrabil: There a great night time battle had been fought and he Duke killed, all were cheered by this, however the messenger looked fraught.
"What is the problem good Sir Knight our enemy is deposed?" said Uther unto the messenger.
"Alas, your only begotten son Madoc likewise is dead, by the hand of Cornwall" exclaimed the knight.
At this all were quiet, it was into this silence that Sir Gorvannon was heard to exclaim (doubtless intending it not to be heard) "Yes!!" and the smirk on his face whilst fleeting was espied by Uther. Uther said nought but gave Sir Gorvannon (hence forth known as "the leaden tongue") and Merlin equally black looks before retiring to his tent.

Later that day what remained of Duke Gorlois was returned to the castle under a flag of truce to Tintagel and much wailing was heard from within, the next day Sir Brastitas entered the castle to negotiate the surrender and finally Duchess Ygraine and the rest of the Castle occupants rode out and submitted themselves into the custody of King Uther.

Shortly afterwards the funeral for Prince Madoc was held near my city of Sarum, and a few short months after that King Uther (and the by then pregnant Ygraine) announced their intention to marry and this too was carried out in Sarum.

491 Earl Roderick (NPC), At the siege of Tintagel Castle

After the Duke of Cornwall apparently insulted my liege lord King Uther by leaving his house without permission less than 2 years after my most just and forgiving lord reached out and found common cause with Duke Gorlois and re-accepted him into his bosom once more.

For this reason my King raised his army and marched for Cornwall, so energetic was Uther that he ordered the army to advance before it was completely formed leaving orders for the strangelers to come once the reached the muster point.

The army arrived at the Cornish castle of Terrabil where we had heard from our spies that the Duke and the bulk of his army were garrisoned. However the Ducal treasury (and coincidentally the Duchess Ygraine) was said to be at Tintagel Castle on the coast, to this fortress did Uther and one fourth of his army travel leaving the remainder under Prince Madoc to siege Terrabil.

Me and my vassals had the honour of being at Uthers right and thus were the first to arrive at Tintagel and thus espied that a small harrying force was arrayed before the gate works that guarded this end of the stone bridge that linked to the main part of the castle on the island to the mainland. Sir Dalan supported by Sir Benesek le Beau Danseur and Sir Gorvannon the Leaden Tongue charged the force seeking to disrupt them and possibly force an entrance to the gate works and thus hasten the fall of the whole castle complex.

Once the inital force was dispatched Sir Benesek seeing that the Cornish whilst retreating in good order would need to open the main gate to return to safety bravely surged foward, unfortunately Sir Dalan at that moment was uncharacteristically wary, Sir Gorvannon seeing that Sir Benesek would be unsupported and thus heavily outnumbered tried to slow him until Sir Dalan could organise another charge.

Luckily Sir Benesek fought bravely against the odds and prevented the Cornish from closing the gate until help in the form of Sir Dalan and Sir Gorvannon arrived and swept aside the final defenders and proceeded to take the fortifications.

Sir Benesek whoever had entered personal combat with one of the Cornish barons, back and forth their blows where traded until the Cornish knight struck a massive blow against Sir Benesek and knocked him clean from his horse. Observing his liege lord being struck down Sir Denzil one of Sir Benesek's loyal vassal's fought like a demon to reach his lord, defeat the Cornish knight and carry Sir Benesek from the field.

King Uther seeing that Sir Benesek had been instrumental in the capture of the gate works ordered Sir Benesek to his own tent to be treated by his personal chirurgen too see to him, after some time however the good doctor left the tent in foul mood and held council with Uther, at this Uther called upon Merlin to assist and the Merlin entered the tent where Benesek was being treated with the doctor and after many hours both exited with signs of contentment on their faces.

[Through a combination of a crited chirugy roll and merlins help Sir Benersek gained a 3+1d6 and rolled a 6 rather than a 3+1d3 (which even with a roll of 6 on a d6 would have meant death) - through this Sir Benesek lost his suspicion of Merlin, Sir Gorvannon's was however increased because "It's not natural that Sir Benersek survived!"]

490 Prince Madoc ap Uther, Prince of Logres (NPC), After the Battle of Lindsey

It was after the Battle of Lindsey at which we mightily smote the Wotanic forces of King Octa that I was leading a raid into the heart of the Saxon north. Accompanying me on this mission was some of the Heros of Lindsey, notably the giant of a man Sir Gorrvanon, Sir Dalan, Sir Evan and other famous knights including Sir Gwynn ap Llewedd.

Whilst discussing the plan of advance Sir Gorrvanon suggested that I was less that qualified to lead the raid and should instead cede leadership to him a lowly bannerette, well I was not going to stand for such an insult, however he had served my Father well and although I know Earl Roderick refuses to leave his wife in the same room with him after a suggestion made on Chrismas Feast, I felt that he should be given the chance to prove himself and so trusted him scouting ahead of the column. Meanwhile I sought the council of his companions on the best route as they had proved themselves wise and true.

Well my trust was sorely misplaced, a few days into the march he completely missed an ambush during which the brave Sir Gwynn, defending my holy person, was almost laid low by a Saxon bearing the design of the Black Boar, who having defeated in single combat I allowed to return to his people to tell of the fates of his companions in the ambush.

Finally we reached the Saxon "town" without further incident and after a short skirmish proceeded to pillage it and much plunder did we capture.

489 Ingmar of Red Axe, Saxon Chieftain (NPC) - The atrocity against the Red Axe clan

Me and my younger brother with almost all of our warriors were at the court of my King Ælle in Sussex, it was 4 months after the death of my Father near York but life was none the less good, my young son who had been sickly for the five years since his birth (during which his mother, my wife died) was for the first time hale and hearty, my younger brother had found a young bride who we had left back at the village and who was looking after my son and it seemed was pregnant with my brothers first (although she barely showed it) and the negotiations with the Silchester Knight Sir Dalan for the return of his follower were proceeding satisfactorily if rather slowly.

We had received reports that a raiding party from Silchester had been operating for some days in our lands but our skirmishing parties had always arrived hours too late to catch them before the trail went cold again, finally however they had been spotted moving at a reckless pace with out fear of detection especially accounting for the slaves and cattle they had captured and that they were moving straight towards my kings stronghold where we were garrisoned, Erda surely was smiling upon us.

When they saw our warriors arrayed against them they turned and fled into the forest leaving many of the slaves and booty they had captured behind, this combined with a small party they had left behind helped to prevent us capturing the main body, however our force followed the raid deep into Silchester and as far as King Ælle was concerned more than revenged their raid, however that is another tale for others tell.

Because whilst I was chasing them down I happened to recognise one of the slaves that they had left behind as one of my own that I had captured whilst raiding in Silchester 7 summers past, I knew then that my village had been raided and me, my brother and our men immediately set off for home, hoping against hope that it had only been a simple hit and run.

As we approached however we saw the smoke from the still smouldering buildings from many miles away, when we got there all was death, virtually all the men had been killed and many of the women and children obviously cut down as they ran, my heart leaped however as it seemed that my son and sister-in-law where not one of the dead in the village for we could find no sign of their bodies, I hoped that they had been one of the few to ran away in time from the carnage as had a few other that were only now returning from neighbouring villages, hearing that we had returned. It was 3 days latter and virtually all had been accounted for either having been spared or been consumed by the funeral pyre, when the bodies of my son and my brother’s wife were discovered in the woods, it would appear that they had been deliberately targeted, taken into the words when who knows what violations had been performed upon them before they been held down and their throats cut, they had not even been spared and taken as slaves.

The survivors told us who the leaders of the expedition had been, none other than Sir Dalan, Sir Evan and Sir Gorvannon, as the flames consumed the bodies of my only son and of my brother’s wife, we there and then swore our family to vengeance against those responsible for this outrage.

489 Ingmar of Red Axe, Saxon Beserker (NPC) - The death of my father whilst helping Octa and Eosa in the North

Our king Ælle of Sussex sent me, my father Aron of Red Axe and some of our men to help King Octa in the north against the Cymric's; we travelled up on one of the ships brought from home to replace those burned by the King Uthers men 2 years ago.
Because the Cymric king Uther unexpectedly managed to resolve his differences with his follower in Cornwall he had a much larger army in the north than we expected,this meant that King Octa did not seek a large battle but simply ordered smaller raids against the duke of Lindsey’s holdings instead.
It was on one of these raids that we saw approaching along a road a group of knights. At the centre was the leader of the group flanked by 2 companions, one obviously a Christian because of the cross upon his shield and the other with a horse upon a green background, all were very dandyish dressed (my how shinny and new their armour looked!).

As we lined up ready to receive their charge (as we were not perching cowardly on horse back as they were) we saw the faces of the 3 knights at the centre contort with rage, out of the corner of my eye I could see that my father was likewise impassioned, later I found that my father had been in a duel of honour when the knight with the horse on his shield had seriously impinged his honour by involving himself as a third party!
As they charged I worked myself into the berserker rage taught to me and prepared to take the blow from the Christian with the cross on his shield and prayed for the strength of Wotan to strike him back! After what seems to have been an age the knight was on me and I felt him strike me with his sword, it was much stronger than I though possible from such a foppish creature and I knew that I was slipping into the darkness and that I would only have one chance for revenge, as my Great Axe bit deeply into him I saw him slump in his saddle as I too fell into the darkness.
As I was no longer awake I can only recount second hand the rest of the combat. After a short skirmish both sides withdrew in good order each side taking their injured (including myself) and dead our side with one of their number as a captive (a young knight follower of the leader of the party). I was seriously injured and it was only a number of days later when I realised that my father had not yet visited my sickbed, I was then told how my father after fighting fiercely had finally fell to the sword of the knight with the horse on his shield and that now I was the leader of our family.

In many ways it had been a disappointing trip to the north, my father dead, no real battle and York had been recaptured by the forces of Uther, however we had captured a knight for ourselves which should have yielded a handsome ransom and my father had certainly died with his axe in hand (even if only during a raid) against a seemingly worthy opponent (from interrogation of our captive I found that the killer of my father was called Sir Gorvannon, the Christian knight was Sir Evan and the leader of the group Sir Dalan).

La Chanson du Beau Danseur - the Missing Books

The arms of Sir Denzil

Sadly Books V (488) and VI (489) of La Chanson du Beau Danseur are not preserved for posterity, being excised from the earliest printed version and since lost; though the earliest portions of The Doggerels of Sir Denzil (a bachelor in Sir Benesek's service) do touch upon such events and may be featured at a later date.

[Unfortunately, my broadband was down for over a week, and I missed this last Tuesday's session through work.]

488 Praetor Syagrius (NPC) - After the Sack of Civitas Baiocassium [Bayeaux]

Prince Madoc truly is a bastard, both legally and personally!
I had received word that the cymric army had successfully breached the gates of the city (apparently largely due to the efforts of Sir Gilbert and Sir Evan, even the injured Sir Perivale played a part) so although still recovering from my wounds I immediately went to congratulate Madoc and to finalise our plans to combine his forces with mine at Rouen to crush the Frankish army.
Imagine my shock then when, whilst in the middle of congratulating his success, he cut me short a informed me, in front of both knights of Logres and Soissions that he would not be upholding the promises made to me by his father and would be leaving to return to Britain with his army simply saying "I am not my Father".
As long as men live Prince Madoc will be sysnominous with the lowest and most conniving worm that crawls through the dirt! No matter I will ride with my army to meet the Franks and I will be victorious with or without the "help" of the British!!

488 Praetor Syagrius (NPC) - Visiting my vassals

After a week of travelling in the south I headed towards my vassals north of Bayeaux and tarried a day there to collect an escort of Cymric knights (the north being so much closer to the Frankish strongholds).
I instantly recognised the group as being the knights on the deck of the ship which held the knight so enraged by the sight of the Irish, indeed Sir Ydris one of the group was the very knight himself! The others being Sir Gilbert, Sir Evan and Sir Percivale all four being highly tutored in the arts martial, I subsequently found that Sir Ydris had previously gained a great hated of the sons of Erin, although I never did find out why.
We spent a pleasant week or so visiting my many vassals and allies in the north, until one day we espied a group of Saxons baring our path of the rode, instantly Sir Gilbert and Sir Evan without thought for personal safety charged down the knights whilst myself the others once regain of our wits (for the instant reaction of the other two had shocked us with it's speed) we followed them up, sadly I can tell you little about the battle because I was knocked unconscious almost with the first blow!
However when I eventually came around in the Villa of my good friend Julius I heard how my valiant companions despatched the foul Franks before carrying me (and Sir Percivale who had sustained grievous injuries as well) to Julius' villa to seek the healing hands of the chirurgen.

488 Praetor Syagrius (NPC) - Before the Siege of Civitas Baiocassium [Bayeaux]

Whilst waiting many days at dover for a fair wind to blow us across the English Sea to my beloved province of Soissons, King Uthers son prince Madoc and his war council made many plans for the support of my campaign to rid Soissons of the Frankish menace. Prince Madoc whilst tired and emotional one night said something about only liberating one city, given the strains he was under and his tired visage I did not seek to correct his mistake, I'm sure that when the time comes he will uphold the promises made to me by his father.
After an uneventful crossing we proceeded to unload the army at the fishing village of Asnelles. As an aside as the Irish mercenaries employed by Uther waded ashore during the first landing to capture the village watched a most strange sight, as the bare-footed Irish clambered up the beach on one of the ships which carried the knights and their horses, that had anchored off shore, I espied a Knight screaming and bellowing and waving his arms in a most animated fashion, I could not make out the full sense of ravings but it was clear that he was mightily impassioned, it was only when another older man appeared on deck that the younger knight seemed to come to his senses!

I made sure to be one of the first off the fleet so that whilst the long process of unloading was taking was taking place I rode out to visit some of my vassals and loyal allies to instruct them to meet with their armies at Rouen where we would meet up with Logres Army after they had reduced Civitas Baiocassium (the city the Cymric call Bayeaux).

488 Praetor Syagrius (NPC) - At the Court of Uther

At last this is the year that, with the help of the good king Uther, I will rid Soissons of the Menace of King Clovis of the Franks and the Roman Province will be restored!
Half of the British Army will be staying in Logres and traveling to the west (apparently Uther has had some problems with his vassals there), however the other half of the army will make up the expedition to free my lands and will be lead by Prince Madoc, he is a godly fighting man and much experienced in the ways of Battle, we intend to besiege and take Bayeux before meeting with my forces at Rouen and seeking battle with the Franks. With our forces combined we cannot fail!