La Chanson du Beau Danseur XIII (496)
Right, you'll be glad to know that I've come down with a bad bug, and despite copious Lemsip and honey I can't muster the strength to affect occasional Middle English anymore.
With the onset of the Anarchy Phase (496- ) the knights saw to the security of their own demesnes and fiefs. The long-established bannerets of Salisbury, Sir Gorvannon and Sir Benesek, were joined by the illegitimate kinsman of the deceased Sir Dayfdd and Sir Evan, Sir Gareth, and a new young knight, the pagan Sir Llwellyn ap Briggded.
Some of the Silchester knights had grown ever friendlier with those of Salisbury, and a few even held lands as fiefs of Earl Robert. First among their number was Sir Edic ap Gout, who governed his kinsman Sir Dalan's great bannerety in the name of the young heir. Sir Bernard Duchamp and Sir Tain d'Eath also spent much time in Sarum. The former was childless, so Sir Benesek, impressed by Sir Bernard's great courage at the Battle of St Albans, offered his youngest son for adoption, who was gratefully received.
As Earl Robert was still an infant, and his guardian a woman, the greatest knights of Salisbury formed a body to give guidance and counsel to Lady Ellen. First among this number was Sir Gorvannon, who as the most noted and extraordinary of knights, and the strongest besides (he had defeated Sir Jaradan in single combat), became the county's champion. Sitting beside Sir Gorvannon there was the courtly Sir Benesek, who was close to the countess in friendship, and like the champion a strong supporter of young Robert.
They were joined by such as the elderly Marshal of the county, Sir Elad of Vagon, and Sir Hywel of West Lavington, Sir Jaradan, the venerable Sir Amig of Tilshead, Sir Breunis of Berwick St James, Sir Lycos and Sir Leo. The most famous knights (i.e. 4,000+ Glory) led the council.
Several matters lay before such knights, not least the urgent requirement to ring Sarum and its hold with improved stone walls, to which Sir Benesek provided £20 and Sir Gorvannon £50 in benefice. The latter received three manors in reward for his generosity, making the banneret one of the greatest landholders in the county, and such as Sir Gareth also contributed. Sir Benesek asked for no reward 'but the continued favour of the Lady'.
That achieved, the court had to decide how to respond to Aescwine, the aetheling of Essex, who had come asking for tribute (100 cows and £100 in silver, no less). After much deliberation (half the bleeding session, if I recall), the assembled knights decided to... do nothing. Well, in actual fact they attempted to stall Essex - which I suppose is technically something - but as both Silchester and Lindsey paid tribute, the Saxons were not best impressed and raided Salisbury anyway. Wonderful.
Oh, and Sir Benesek had another famine in his lands again (not surprising given the above). They've just not been the same since his wife died, even despite the occasional attentions of his stoned Cornish steward (Sir Denzil Plus Tard). Cue an amusing argument with Lady Ellen. In 495, while he was fighting at St Albans, Sir Benesek's lands had been raiding, causing a loss of £9 to his peasants that he defrayed upon himself; in that year he also had to pay tallage (£12) and put the Lord and Lady up for the better part of a month (c. £11). Given his normal income and outgoings are £59 and £52, respectively, this was quite an imposition. In 496 there was a famine, reducing his income to £16. Despite this he still voluntarily contributed £20 to the construction of the walls, but was left totally brassic as a result. Then along comes Lordly Domains asking for a random tallage of £18. And was told to take a running jump, or words to that effect. Don't ever let anyone convince you that we LD users have it easy, or get money up to our eyeballs. The irony.
Anyhow, satisfied that we had cunningly held off the Saxons for a year (the irony, part deux), the knights departed for London. The decrepit Duke Ulfius had attempted to get the Collegium together to discuss the election of a new king. Sir Benesek acted as legate for Earl Robert (Sir Gorvannon was the more gloried, but given his alarming propensity to fumble Courtesy rolls...), but naught could be decided. On the plus-side, we did get to try and pull the Sword from the Stone, rolling a d20. Some even tried several times, driven on by the GM's "No, that's not the right number... Oooooh! Almost... No, try again..." Bless.
One last thing: our Winter Phases often tend to slip into the next session; roleplaying in a pub can mean that we can't fit them in after doing all the adventures in court, and get out of sync. Thus we did the Winter Phase for 495 this past Tuesday, before going on to 496 (though we managed to get that WP done too, thankfully). Sadly, in 495 Sir Gorvannon's wife died in childbirth, and after seeing the child born, it's not hard to see why. He were a reet ugly little bugger, brown and crinkled as a walnut. At first the Wel... British lump wondered what his wife had been up to, but the astounding growth of the baby convinced many that it was a changeling. Sir Gorvannon is now in high dudgeon, and wants his own child back. On a positive note, this event has led to a spate of Black Boy inns in the County of Salisbury, and even one in Bristol.
The Player Knights in 496
Sir Gorvannon yr Afon (Winter Phase 496, aged 36)
Cymric British Christian, Banneret, Glory 8,459
SIZ 18, DEX 7, STR 21, CON 20, APP 11
Main Skills: Awareness 14, Falconry 12, Flirting 15, Hunting 14, Orate 10, Recognise 10, Singing 12; Battle 16, Horsemanship 11, Axe 17, Spear 19, Sword 18.
Famous Traits and Passions: Generous 16, Pious 17, Valorous 17; Hate (Saxons) 16, Honour 16.
Sir Benesek le Beau Danseur (Winter Phase 496, aged 35)
Cymric British Christian, Banneret, Glory 7,788
SIZ 14, DEX 13, STR 14, CON 15, APP 16
Main Skills: Compose 11, Courtesy 10, Dancing 22, Flirting 15, Orate 10; Battle 15, Horsemanship 15, Lance 16, Sword 22.
Famous Traits and Passions: Energetic 16, Generous 16, Valorous 18; Honour 16.
Sir Edic ap Gout (Winter Phase 496, aged 25)
Cymric British Christian, Banneret-Regent, Glory 2,864
SIZ 18, DEX 5, STR 15, CON 22, APP 7
Main Skills: First Aid 10, Gaming 20, Hunting 10, Stewardship 15; Battle 16, Horsemanship 16, Sword 20.
Famous Traits and Passions: Indulgent 16.
Sir Bernard Duchamp (Winter Phase 496, aged 26)
Cymric Roman Christian, Vassal Knight, Glory 2,403
SIZ 13, DEX 13, STR 14, CON 15, APP 12
Main Skills: First Aid 11, Orate 13, Singing 11, Stewardship 10; Horsemanship 14, Lance 15, Sword 14.
Famous Traits and Passions: Honest 16, Valorous 16; Honour 16.
Sir Breunis (Winter Phase 496, aged 33)
Cymric British Christian, Vassal Knight, Glory 2,054+
SIZ 18, DEX 8, STR 16, CON 12, APP 11
Main Skills: Awareness 15, Courtesy 15, First Aid 10, Gaming 10, Hunting 10, Intrigue 13; Battle 15, Horsemanship 17, Lance 15, Sword 17.
Famous Traits and Passions: Reckless 16; Love (Family) 16, Honour 17.
Sir Gareth (Winter Phase 496, aged 28)
Cymric Pagan, Vassal Knight, Glory 1,428+
SIZ 15, DEX 14, STR 13, CON 17, APP 10
Main Skills: Awareness 15, First Aid 10, Hunting 15, Intrigue 12, Orate 20; Battle 15, Horsemanship 15, Lance 13, Sword 15.
Famous Traits and Passions: Energetic 16.
Sir Lwellyn ap Briggded (Winter Phase 496, aged 25)
Cymric Pagan, Vassal Knight, Glory 1,001+
SIZ 15, DEX 13, STR 14, CON 17, APP 9
Main Skills: Awareness 11, Faerie Lore 13, Falconry 18, Hunting 10, Recognise 15; Horsemanship 15, Spear 15, Sword 12.
Famous Traits and Passions: Reckless 16.
Sir Tain d'Eath (Winter Phase 496, aged 27)
Cymric Roman Christian, Vassal Knight, Glory 1,130+
SIZ 19, DEX 12, STR 18, CON 15, APP 9
Main Skills: Awareness 10, Courtesy 10, Falconry 10, First Aid 11, Orate 13, Read (Latin) 10; Horsemanship 15, Spear 15, Sword 16.
Famous Traits and Passions: Pious 16.
N.B. Some knights didn't complete their last Winter Phase, so possess slightly subdued Glory and/or stats.
With the onset of the Anarchy Phase (496- ) the knights saw to the security of their own demesnes and fiefs. The long-established bannerets of Salisbury, Sir Gorvannon and Sir Benesek, were joined by the illegitimate kinsman of the deceased Sir Dayfdd and Sir Evan, Sir Gareth, and a new young knight, the pagan Sir Llwellyn ap Briggded.
Some of the Silchester knights had grown ever friendlier with those of Salisbury, and a few even held lands as fiefs of Earl Robert. First among their number was Sir Edic ap Gout, who governed his kinsman Sir Dalan's great bannerety in the name of the young heir. Sir Bernard Duchamp and Sir Tain d'Eath also spent much time in Sarum. The former was childless, so Sir Benesek, impressed by Sir Bernard's great courage at the Battle of St Albans, offered his youngest son for adoption, who was gratefully received.
As Earl Robert was still an infant, and his guardian a woman, the greatest knights of Salisbury formed a body to give guidance and counsel to Lady Ellen. First among this number was Sir Gorvannon, who as the most noted and extraordinary of knights, and the strongest besides (he had defeated Sir Jaradan in single combat), became the county's champion. Sitting beside Sir Gorvannon there was the courtly Sir Benesek, who was close to the countess in friendship, and like the champion a strong supporter of young Robert.
They were joined by such as the elderly Marshal of the county, Sir Elad of Vagon, and Sir Hywel of West Lavington, Sir Jaradan, the venerable Sir Amig of Tilshead, Sir Breunis of Berwick St James, Sir Lycos and Sir Leo. The most famous knights (i.e. 4,000+ Glory) led the council.
Several matters lay before such knights, not least the urgent requirement to ring Sarum and its hold with improved stone walls, to which Sir Benesek provided £20 and Sir Gorvannon £50 in benefice. The latter received three manors in reward for his generosity, making the banneret one of the greatest landholders in the county, and such as Sir Gareth also contributed. Sir Benesek asked for no reward 'but the continued favour of the Lady'.
That achieved, the court had to decide how to respond to Aescwine, the aetheling of Essex, who had come asking for tribute (100 cows and £100 in silver, no less). After much deliberation (half the bleeding session, if I recall), the assembled knights decided to... do nothing. Well, in actual fact they attempted to stall Essex - which I suppose is technically something - but as both Silchester and Lindsey paid tribute, the Saxons were not best impressed and raided Salisbury anyway. Wonderful.
Oh, and Sir Benesek had another famine in his lands again (not surprising given the above). They've just not been the same since his wife died, even despite the occasional attentions of his stoned Cornish steward (Sir Denzil Plus Tard). Cue an amusing argument with Lady Ellen. In 495, while he was fighting at St Albans, Sir Benesek's lands had been raiding, causing a loss of £9 to his peasants that he defrayed upon himself; in that year he also had to pay tallage (£12) and put the Lord and Lady up for the better part of a month (c. £11). Given his normal income and outgoings are £59 and £52, respectively, this was quite an imposition. In 496 there was a famine, reducing his income to £16. Despite this he still voluntarily contributed £20 to the construction of the walls, but was left totally brassic as a result. Then along comes Lordly Domains asking for a random tallage of £18. And was told to take a running jump, or words to that effect. Don't ever let anyone convince you that we LD users have it easy, or get money up to our eyeballs. The irony.
Anyhow, satisfied that we had cunningly held off the Saxons for a year (the irony, part deux), the knights departed for London. The decrepit Duke Ulfius had attempted to get the Collegium together to discuss the election of a new king. Sir Benesek acted as legate for Earl Robert (Sir Gorvannon was the more gloried, but given his alarming propensity to fumble Courtesy rolls...), but naught could be decided. On the plus-side, we did get to try and pull the Sword from the Stone, rolling a d20. Some even tried several times, driven on by the GM's "No, that's not the right number... Oooooh! Almost... No, try again..." Bless.
One last thing: our Winter Phases often tend to slip into the next session; roleplaying in a pub can mean that we can't fit them in after doing all the adventures in court, and get out of sync. Thus we did the Winter Phase for 495 this past Tuesday, before going on to 496 (though we managed to get that WP done too, thankfully). Sadly, in 495 Sir Gorvannon's wife died in childbirth, and after seeing the child born, it's not hard to see why. He were a reet ugly little bugger, brown and crinkled as a walnut. At first the Wel... British lump wondered what his wife had been up to, but the astounding growth of the baby convinced many that it was a changeling. Sir Gorvannon is now in high dudgeon, and wants his own child back. On a positive note, this event has led to a spate of Black Boy inns in the County of Salisbury, and even one in Bristol.
The Player Knights in 496
Sir Gorvannon yr Afon (Winter Phase 496, aged 36)
Cymric British Christian, Banneret, Glory 8,459
SIZ 18, DEX 7, STR 21, CON 20, APP 11
Main Skills: Awareness 14, Falconry 12, Flirting 15, Hunting 14, Orate 10, Recognise 10, Singing 12; Battle 16, Horsemanship 11, Axe 17, Spear 19, Sword 18.
Famous Traits and Passions: Generous 16, Pious 17, Valorous 17; Hate (Saxons) 16, Honour 16.
Sir Benesek le Beau Danseur (Winter Phase 496, aged 35)
Cymric British Christian, Banneret, Glory 7,788
SIZ 14, DEX 13, STR 14, CON 15, APP 16
Main Skills: Compose 11, Courtesy 10, Dancing 22, Flirting 15, Orate 10; Battle 15, Horsemanship 15, Lance 16, Sword 22.
Famous Traits and Passions: Energetic 16, Generous 16, Valorous 18; Honour 16.
Sir Edic ap Gout (Winter Phase 496, aged 25)
Cymric British Christian, Banneret-Regent, Glory 2,864
SIZ 18, DEX 5, STR 15, CON 22, APP 7
Main Skills: First Aid 10, Gaming 20, Hunting 10, Stewardship 15; Battle 16, Horsemanship 16, Sword 20.
Famous Traits and Passions: Indulgent 16.
Sir Bernard Duchamp (Winter Phase 496, aged 26)
Cymric Roman Christian, Vassal Knight, Glory 2,403
SIZ 13, DEX 13, STR 14, CON 15, APP 12
Main Skills: First Aid 11, Orate 13, Singing 11, Stewardship 10; Horsemanship 14, Lance 15, Sword 14.
Famous Traits and Passions: Honest 16, Valorous 16; Honour 16.
Sir Breunis (Winter Phase 496, aged 33)
Cymric British Christian, Vassal Knight, Glory 2,054+
SIZ 18, DEX 8, STR 16, CON 12, APP 11
Main Skills: Awareness 15, Courtesy 15, First Aid 10, Gaming 10, Hunting 10, Intrigue 13; Battle 15, Horsemanship 17, Lance 15, Sword 17.
Famous Traits and Passions: Reckless 16; Love (Family) 16, Honour 17.
Sir Gareth (Winter Phase 496, aged 28)
Cymric Pagan, Vassal Knight, Glory 1,428+
SIZ 15, DEX 14, STR 13, CON 17, APP 10
Main Skills: Awareness 15, First Aid 10, Hunting 15, Intrigue 12, Orate 20; Battle 15, Horsemanship 15, Lance 13, Sword 15.
Famous Traits and Passions: Energetic 16.
Sir Lwellyn ap Briggded (Winter Phase 496, aged 25)
Cymric Pagan, Vassal Knight, Glory 1,001+
SIZ 15, DEX 13, STR 14, CON 17, APP 9
Main Skills: Awareness 11, Faerie Lore 13, Falconry 18, Hunting 10, Recognise 15; Horsemanship 15, Spear 15, Sword 12.
Famous Traits and Passions: Reckless 16.
Sir Tain d'Eath (Winter Phase 496, aged 27)
Cymric Roman Christian, Vassal Knight, Glory 1,130+
SIZ 19, DEX 12, STR 18, CON 15, APP 9
Main Skills: Awareness 10, Courtesy 10, Falconry 10, First Aid 11, Orate 13, Read (Latin) 10; Horsemanship 15, Spear 15, Sword 16.
Famous Traits and Passions: Pious 16.
N.B. Some knights didn't complete their last Winter Phase, so possess slightly subdued Glory and/or stats.
posted by Stewart Stansfield | 5:28 pm
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