Pendragon
Role-Playing => Adventures => Topic started by: GM Craig on June 20, 2014, 04:13:08 PM
-
The newly minted knights are shown to their table. Minstrels are quickly brought in, and Roderick signals the servants to hurry with the food, in a not so subtle attempt to distract the company from the odd events that just transpired.
Cedwyn is show to a seat beside Sir Rodric, who had been a fellow squire until he came of age last year. You had trained together under Sir Amig for fix years or so. Rodric runs a small manor to the south of Sarum called Falt, on the edge of the Camelot Forest.
Rodric has a look at Cedwyn, whom he remembers well. His manor is Winterborne Stoke, and he recently took over running it. His father died last campaign season. From his appearance, his means are no better than yours, so you may have much in common.
You size each other up, and find you are knights of similar means.
While conversation starts, mostly about the strange events that just happened, wandering minstrels pick their way through the tables and platters of food are brought out and set on the tables. Tempted by the savoury scents of roast beef, mutton, goose and duck, the guests at the table dig in.
With so many guests here, the two of you are way at the end, almost as far as you can get from the head table. Seated next to a pillar, it also means you are mostly cut off from the conversation, but Sir Ifan and Sir Wiggan are seated with you as well.
Wiggan looks at Cedwyn with a confused look. "What just happened?"
Ifan sniffs. "A power play from Uther, I'll wager, plain and simple. Though how Roderick can trust us now is beyond me. He can't help but consider us spies of the King. Uther had does us a disservice."
Wiggan smiles. "I dunno. I like the sound of 'Sir Wiggan, Royal Knight."
-
Cedwyn was silent a moment and then said, "This is not a play for power in and of itself. I think King Uther is trying something...different. And blame for this lies directly at the feet of Cornwall. Look at his absence. Cornwall's knights are sworn directly to him and without Cornwall's leave, they cannot come to King Uther's aid. What King Uther has done, we are now his Knights but our service transferred to his Lordship at the sufference of his Majesty. We will see this happen more and more now. Whereever the King goes, we will have more brother Knights."
"And it leaves us in a terrible bind." Me worst of all he didn't say. He held Winterbourne Stoke in the name of the Count, not the King.
"Rodric, count your lucky stars you didn't have to face this."
-
"Roderick will trust you unless you give him reason not to. He knows all of you, us, likely better than we know ourselves.
But whether it's a power play by Uther or not, no one expected this, and it will no doubt add fuel to the rumor fire and perhaps even set things in motion that will have serious consequences.
And you have the right of it Cedwyn, though I did not receive the honor of being knighted by the King himself I'm grateful not to be in any of your shoes."
Rodric raised his mug.
"Still, we should not let this turn of events ruin the evening or overshadow the honor you three have earned. Cheers to you my good friends."
-
Cedwyn raised his tankerd as well, "May God's Hand guide our swords and strike fear into our enemies' hearts!"
-
The others respond in kind, though Ifan is a little slow to do so.
[I need unopposed intrigue rolls from both of you.]
The feast progresses, and the food keeps coming. It must be costing Roderick a fortune to prepare such a feast for so many people, and such fine foods!
As the man starts to wind down and empty trays are removed by overworked servants, some folks start to get up and mingle. You are enjoying your company when Prince Madoc, Uther's illegitimate son emerges from the crowd and sits quickly in an empty chair.
"Good knights, I wanted to offer my hearty congratulations! I also wanted to ease your concerns. I understand that what happened today might cause some confusion. I want to reassure you my father does not intent to usurp Roderick's authority over you. The abandonment by Cornwall and the others has hit him hard, and comes at a difficult time. Merlin is unavailable for counsel, and we spy reports that a new army of Saxons has landed in the east and are planning to attack the Duchy of Caercolun. Is there no end to these devils? His name is Aethelswith, but we don?t know his plans beyond pillaging. Add to that in the south the Saxons have been reinforced by another army from the mainland. The king has ordered Duke Lucius to be ready in the east, but our army is not going to be distracted. We?re going to attack King ?lle, as we've planned, even though certain of our cowardly vassals are not reporting. Disloyal bastards, that?s what they are! Caercolun won?t be there, but that?s at the king?s orders. But that Cornwall ? he?s the worst of the lot! But that is beside my point. Be at ease, good knights, and do not be troubled. The king only intends that should he have need of you, that you are free to answer."
-
[18. Dice roll #29. For some reason the message didn't post with it]
-
[OOC: Son of a... rolled a 20!]
-
[OOC Go ahead and respond to the Prince. The intrigue roll was more long-term.]
-
Rodric gave the prince a slight bow when he joined them. He wanted to ask if anyone had been sent to learn exactly why Cornwall had not answered the call but it wasn't his place.
"With Cornwall or not, we'll send those bastards back to the depths of hell that spawned them."
-
Cedwyn also bowed to the Prince, "You honor us Your Highness. As Sir Rodric said, we will crush the bloody bastards and send them wailing, back to their mothers' teats."
-
Madoc smiles at the two of you. "I will see you on the battlefield, then, good knights." With that, he rises and moves off to work the rest of the room.
You are left to your own devices as the dinner slowly disperses into knots of conversation and entertainment. Courtesy demands you mingle at least a little, and you do so, though Rodric notices that Cedwyn seems to be much better at it. Ifan is better still, and moves among the various circles with a fluid social grace.
The food, ale and wine keep flowing, but with the army marching at dawn, most of the company moderates their intake. The event winds down quite early, compared to some others you've attended, and the four of you make your way back to the camp, led by a lantern-bearing servant.
Ifan seems pleased with the evening, but keeps his own counsel. Wiggan is pleasantly, mildly drunk and keeps to himself, humming a catchy tune a female minstrel he seemed particularly taken with had been playing.
[Pausing here for any RP.]
-
Rodric couldn't help but feel some measure of jealousy at how easily the three knights, younger knights, moved amongst the crowd and interacted with them so much more easily than he did. Of Ifan he wasn't surprised, there was no lack of wealth in his family, and with that wealth came plenty of opportunity to enjoy parties of all sorts.
Cedwyn's skill had surprised him the most, he knew his friend's situation was similar to his own. But perhaps the difference came from the fact that Rodric had spent the last year dealing with bandits instead of banquets, and it had taken its toll on his social skills. Perhaps Cedwyn would be willing to teach him?
Having been guided back to his tent Rodric thanked the servant before making himself ready for the night. It was going to be a very early start, and he wanted to be refreshed for the long march ahead.
-
Cedwyn couldn't help but notice Ifan all-too-pleased demeanor. Did his fellow Royal Knight miss the import and only care about the status? Sir Ifan moved with grace and style but did he lack the wit to even see something was happening or did he see and just not care about the consequences, only his status.
Cedwyn said to Rodric, "So, my friend. What have you been up to this last year."
-
Rodric gave a heavy sigh and took a swig from his mug.
"Bandits my friend. Damned to hell bandits out of Camelot forest. And there seems no end to the vile lot. Many a night I'd wished I was back here in training. The burden of leadership is a heavy one, not that it appears Ifan would care much.
And what of you? I heard your father died in the Battle of Damen. My condolences."
Rodric raised his mug and then took a sip in honor of Cedwyn's father.
-
Cedwyn raised his tankard.
"Yes. He did. Thank you for your kind thoughts. It was quick and clean thank God. But a loss for me personally and Winterbourne Stoke in particular."
"Tell me of the bandits. What are they doing in the Wood?"
-
"Other than causing me trouble, your guess is as good as mine."
-
Cedwyn shook his head. His father had always taught him that a landholder was as tied to the land as his peasants but with different bonds. He was their lord in matters temporal so that they would be free to attend to the Lord in matters spiritual. And they made the land work, a lord of the manor despite his skills could never do that alone. That meant peasant had to be taken care of, especially on a holding as small and poor as Winterbourne Stoke.
"I'm guessing they picked Falt thinking it was an easy target. None of your peasants right?"
-
Rodric shook his head.
"Not that I'm aware of at least." Rodric paused a moment.
"It may be that they think Falt is an easy target, but it's more likely that it's because we're right on the edge of the forest. It provides plenty of places for them to hide and at least some shelter from the elements."
-
"They must be taught a lesson, but I should like to know who their lord or lords are. If many are from one lord's lands, then the Count would surely like to know something is going on."
Cedwyn sighed, "But that is for another day. We ride on the morrow to teach the Saxons a lesson."
-
"You have the right of it, it is for another day." Rodric looked around at the thinning crowd. A part of him wanted to share what he'd heard over the course of the evening, given the events earlier, there may be at least some small snippet of truth to it. But on the other hand he may just end up adding fuel to the rumor fire.
"You handle yourself much better than I in these surroundings." he said, giving an honest compliment to his friend.
"I have yet to understand many of the nuances and social graces that situations like this call for. And the stories one hears, likely more fiction than fact."
-
Cedwyn nodded.
"It was ingrained in me. 'Pay attention to people and the rest follows' Father always said. Look to what they do and not what they say, the Bible says as well."
Cedwyn smiled and added, "It also a few passages about rumormongering but I fear too many rumors contain grains of truth."
-
"It is exactly that which concerns me." Rodric replied to Cedwyn's remarks about rumors containing grains of truth.
"Ear to the ground I guess." Rodric thought out loud, deciding he'd have to do his best to pay closer attention to certain things.
"Well," he said, taking the last sip from his mug. "We have a long march ahead of us. Perhaps it's time to call it a night."