Pendragon
Personal Boards => Cedwyn => Topic started by: GM Craig on October 17, 2017, 04:23:52 PM
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Sir Cedwyn,
I hope this letter finds you well. I have been listening with great interest to your recent endeavours on behalf of the King, and the point that struck me most was your apparent desire to be pious. There are not many knights who would hire a chaplain to see to the spiritual needs of their peasants on campaign.
With that thought in mind, it is my belief and hope that I may persuade you to welcome a fellow priest, one Father Thomas, into your home for a period of some days. Father Thomas hails from Gaul, but he is in Britain on a matter of some importance. I will not discuss more in a letter, but know that Father Thomas has the support of the Church and of me. I hope I can persuade you to welcome the good father, and perhaps lend him some aid on his task.
If you would be willing to host Father Thomas at Winterborne Stoke, kindly reply to this letter as soon as you may, and I will make arrangements for Father Thomas to join you.
May God keep you,
Roger, Bishop of Salisbury
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Cedwyn hired a scribe to put the reply in decent script.
Salutations, Your Eminence,
I trust this letter finds you in good health Bishop Roger. I make no special claim to piety in the service of the Lord but rather thought that my men would be well served with words of comfort whilst I labored the north for His Grace.
Piety aside your Eminence. I would be honored to host Father Thomas and provide such aid as I may to him in his endeavors for the Church and yourself. We be but a poor holding and offer him the same as I and my lady wife.
Yours in service of the Lord, His Grace Uther Pendragon, and His Lordship Earl Roderick,
Cedwyn apTalfryn
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Arrangements are made, and on a cool day in November, a lone rider approaches.
Father Thomas wears a rough-spun robe, with a threadbare hood to keep out the chill. You had word of the arrival of a horseman, and watch from the steps of your recently renovated manor as his donkey trots up to the house. At a wave from you, groomsmen come forward and steady the animal, helping the thin figure off his mount.
He stretches, arching his back, and walks forward, a crooked staff in his hand. He seems a man used to life on the road. Under the hood, you can see the shaved pate that mark him as a holy man, and an unadorned weathered wooden cross hangs about his neck. He steps forward and bows low.
Rising, he says, "Well met, Sir Cedwyn. I am Father Thomas. I thank you, and God, for your hospitality." You note the Gaulish accent to his voice.
He seems a humble man. He shows no sign of worldly wealth, and does not have the prideful face many in the upper levels of the church hierarchy seem to have.
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Cedwyn greets the priest warmly, "Welcome Father Thomas to Winterbourne Stoke. Would you come inside and warm yourself by the fire. I can have mulled wine brought as well."
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"You are too kind, Sir Cedwyn. I would take a little tea - the only wine I drink is at mass."
You lead him in to a large fire to take the chill and damp of the autumn air from his robes, while Ysbail arranges for tea and refreshments.
He makes polite conversation, but subtly dodges any attempt to get at the purpose of his visit.
He stays two days, assuring you that his needs and few and he does not want to impose. He spends time wandering the manor, and visiting with the local priest. Finally, on the evening of the third day, he approaches you in your study.
"Sir Cedwyn, I wonder if I might have a word?"
Before you can answer, he lets himself in. It seems he is finally ready to discuss his purpose.
Standing before your desk, he clasps his hands in a relaxed fashion before him.
"I wonder, have you heard of the Pelagian Heresy?"
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Cedwyn shook his head.
"I'm afraid that I've neglected clerical studies for the meditation of the blade and battle, Father. It sounds familiar though. I recall hearing of a Pelagius that spoke on the inherent goodness of men. Is that it?"
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"Far worse, I am afraid. Pelagius and his followers maintain that man is inherently good, and that man is capable of self-redemption, without the need for the Divine's mercy and grace. It is a dangerous heresy, seeking to undermine God's primacy on Earth."
He pauses. "And it has taken root in Logres. There is a small church led by a renegade former priest. The Bishop would like your aid in removing this dangerous heresy."
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Cedwyn nodded. Such a heresy inherently abrograted God's role and as importantly the role of Knights, Lords, and the King.
"The best way to deal with such a renegade would be to show his inherent sinfulness. Let people see him for who he really is. Tell me of the man?"
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"His name is Ellis. He is an older man, with unruly white hair and a long grey beard. Since his excommunication, he has become wild in his ways, living as a hermit. We have information that he and his followers have taken up residence in the Selwood, west of Warminster and north of the Wells-Vagon road."
He is quiet a moment until he holds your eye. "Make no mistake, Sir Cedwyn. This rogue's actions have gone beyond the realm of talk. He openly defies the Council of Bishops. He chose excommunication rather than turn from his path. He continues to openly defy the Church, and worse - directly leading other to sin. The time for talk is over."
He takes a breath. "Ellis has already been sentenced to death, along with his followers. What we need is for a pious knight to see that task done."
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Cedwyn rapped his knuckles on the table. He strongly misliked this but it was his duty as a knight to mete out justice. The question was whose. This crossed the line from matters spiritual to matters corporeal.
"As I am God's instrument so am I His Grace's and His Lordship's. Meting justice of this sort I feel obligated to know that my lords temporal have given their writ and signed the warrants. King Uther and Earl Roderick have so decreed in conjunction with His Eminence, Bishop Roger?"
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He hesitates. "King Uther need not be concerned with a couple of dozen heretic - this is a matter far below his notice. The Earl has... been reticent to order a knight to carry out the just punishment of the Church in this case. However, he did give us leave to search among his vassals for someone willing to take up this task."
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Cedwyn tried to keep his visage neutral but open as he pondered that for a second.
[intrigue roll: 6 (vs skill 7). Success.]
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Father Thomas definitely seems to be acting cagey. Cedwyn has the strong impression he is not being completely forthcoming when he speaks of the Earl.
It would be a delicate situation to explore, however. Probing at that risks insulting the priest (and by association, the Bishop). It would be a difficult challenge of Courtesy. You could try and dance around a little using Intrigue, which may not reveal details, but has the virtue of being more deniable.
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[intrigue: 14 versus 7. Failure]
Cedwyn was certain there was more going on than the priest would admit. He was at loss though to put it into words he could adequately use to dance around the topic. What wasn't Father Thomas saying? Something was off.
"So Lord Roderick is fully aprised of the situation and gave his leave for you to solve as you see fit?" He finally asked.
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Father Tomas hesitates. "I am not privy to the details of the conversation between the Bishop and the Earl. But he is aware of the situation, and gave us leave to seek a willing vassal knight to carry out the sentence."
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Cedwyn tried to picture the area in which the heretic was.
"Who holds that land, Father?"
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"No one. The land in question falls under Salisbury, but the building they call a church is in the wilds of the Selwood, north of the Wells-Sarum road, and west of Warminster. A small village has grown up around the makeshift church, though it is mostly threadbare tents and huts made from branches. I can provide a guide to lead you through the forest, if you will take up this charge."
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[ooc: for my reference, how much power does the church wield? Is this something that he could plausibly refuse and suffered no repercussions? Are there favors to be had for doing the church bidding?]
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The Church at this time gains most of it's power on loan from those who follow it. The King and Earl Rodrick are not particularly devout, so the Bishop of Salisbury has a position similar to a counsellor or noble in the Earl's service. The fact that the Earl did not charge you with this task means you should be free to refuse it.
Should the Church become elevated in prominence in some way, there may be future repercussions. But as things stand now, you should have no mundane fears about refusing the Church. The spiritual concerns I leave to you to interpret.
Having said that, doing this would earn you favour with the bishop, and while you have little to fear from him, having someone in his position singing your praises certainly would not hurt your standing with the Earl.
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“How many followers has he?”
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"Perhaps two dozen, perhaps fifty at most."
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Cedwyn nodded. How to handle 50 heretics?
"All are sentenced to death for heresy? Is there a particular method by which they are to be given over to God's judgment?"
[Do I take my militia after them?]
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[Yes, you can press your serfs into service.]
"You may use whatever method proves the most expedient. The Church has already conducted a trial, and they have defied the judgement against them. We do not seek a constable in this matter, Sir Cedwyn, but an executioner."
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Cedwyn considered this.
“I think it is within my power to bring justice amd the Church’s judgment to the heretic. I will start with their leader or whomsoever blocks my path to him. If the remainder repent of the error, I see no teason to judge them the same. If they do not repent, then, the judgment applies. What do you think?”
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He frowns a moment. "As a vassal of the Earl, judgement is your to mete out as you see fit, of course. If any of the followers repent their ways and renounce their leader, the Church would welcome them back, after a suitable penance. Our primary concern is the leader who has led them astray, and evaded his just punnishment."
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Cedwyn nodded, “Then God’s justice be upon them. It will be done as soon as I can gather my militia. Sir Artaigne may be able to help as well.”
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He seems to relax, and bows his head for a moment before answering you.
"God speed you then, Sir Cedwyn. Might I trespass upon your hospitality until you return, so I may make a report to the Bishop as soon as possible?"
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“Of course, feel free to acquaint yourself with Sir Artainge as well. His is my guest for the winter.”