Year 487 Summer Campaign

[GM Craig]

Pentacost comes and goes, and the time for muster swiftly overtakes the entire county. Arne and Valka are there, with the warriors they have assembled. You are all there for a day when finally a messenger arrives. At long last, orders!

Only, it is not orders. Oddly, each of you has been summoned to a meeting with Earl Roderick.

You make your way into Sarum and enter the keep. Escorted by one of the Earl's squires, your concern grows as you realize no one else appears to have received a summons.

The squire opens the door, and you find yourself in a sitting room with Earl Roderick. He is alone, except for the four of you. He has a strange look on his face.

"As you likely know, Prince Maddoc will be raiding up the coast, with the intent on destroying Saxon ships in their harbours. Forces will be required for this task. While this is going on, I will be accompanying our king on an embassy to Lindsey to remind the Duke of his loyalties. I have been ... encouraged... by Merlin to let you have your head. Therefore, I place a choice before you: you may accompany me with the King, or you may join Prince Maddoc on the coastal raids."

[Actions?]

I need to stress - knights of your rank are given orders, not options. The Earl offering you a choice of duty is unheard of. This goes doubly so for mercenaries.

Your options boil down to this - there will be combat (and likely greater Glory + plunder) with Prince Maddoc. However, the Lindsey embassy will have you travelling in the company of the King, which may offer different kinds of opportunities.

You need to make one choice for the four of you. Feel free to discuss it, but the Earl will want a decision before you leave the room, and any discussion will be in front of him. You may also ask the Earl questions. He seems in a tolerant mood.

[Arne]

Arne almost bolted out of his seat and loudly proclaimed his intent for raiding the Saxon ships, but there was something about the way the earl spoke of this embassy.  Was this duke of Lindsey not to be trusted?  What of it was a trap for the King of Pendragon?

Arne raised a tentative hand to catch the earl's attention, and said, "Lord Roderick, if I may ask . . . do you and King Uther Pendragon expect trouble from the Duke of Lindsey? I am sorry to say, but I know very little about the duke."

[GM Craig]

"The Duke is a vassal of the King. He has been reluctant to meet his obligations, though he has done nothing treacherous. The King goes to Lindsey to remind the Duke of his obligations, and confirm his loyalty. King Uther does not expect trouble - not from the Duke at any rate - but with the Saxons holding the south and east, any journey has the potential for danger.

"The embassy to Lindsey is unlikely to offer much in the way of plunder, ransoms, or glory. But travelling in a small group in the company of the king may offer less tangible benefits. You and your people will be paid as agreed, regardless of which path you choose."

[Arne]

Arne nodded his understanding.  He rubbed at his jaw in thought for a few moments.  Not expecting trouble was usually the time when it came calling, and Arne also suspected that Roderick had been uncomfortable with Merlin's "encouragement".  Again, Arne piped up.  "Lord Roderick, if I may be so bold . . . would you prefer us to go with you and King Uther, or with Prince Maddoc?"

[GM Craig]

He smiles, and holds up a finger and wags it at Arne. "The advice of Merlin is rarely freely given." He lowers his hand. "Merlin sees great things in your future that will benefit all of Britain. In support of his wisdom, I am content for you to choose. It makes little difference to me - if you choose to come with the King, other knights will attend the Prince. If you go with the Prince, other knights will attend the King."

[Arne]

Arne thought about that for a moment, then turned to look at Valka and the two Cymric knights.  "What say you?  I would not mind whetting my axe against Saxon blood and destroying their ships, but I will agree if the three of you choose to escort the king.  Both are important."

[Geoffrey]

Rodric thought about the choices presented.  Like Arne, he wouldn't mind spilling some Saxon blood.  Between that and the potential for plunder, it would go a long way to replenishing his quickly diminishing treasury.  But there was a much bigger picture that needed to be considered, this was a war and they had to think long term.  Traveling with the King might open up some valuable doors for them, not to mention, they could learn some equally valuable information.

"I will accept any decision you make Cedwyn, and like Arne, my sword is eager to taste Saxon blood.  The potential for plunder would also be most helpful in replenishing my dwindling treasury, but we must consider beyond the now.  If the Duke has been reluctant, traveling with the King to see him may open us to information we would otherwise not be privy to.  And if we are very diligent in our duties, we may even gain some small amount of favor from the King."

[Valka]

Away from home and ready for war Valka was styled quite differently, her striking red hair pulled back in wild twists and braids and blue eyes exaggerated with thick lines of dark kohl. Even sitting she wasn't a spitting image of femininity today.

"Starting out in this new land our people could use both plunder and favor," she agreed with Arne then turned to the Earl. "Lord, our warriors are eager to use the generously advanced equipment and earn their keep. If we go with the King, would they stay with us or join the Prince's raid?"

OOC: or whatever was advanced, too tired to look. :p

[GM Craig]

The Earl eyes Valka a moment before answering.

"There is a stigma regarding mercenaries in this land - the Saxon presence that plagues us grew out of mercenaries hired by Vortigern the Black, our former King. Employing your people in garrison roles might cause unrest. I will seek the counsel of my advisers before making a decision. They will be paid regardless of how they are employed. Even in garrison, they may well see action - the Saxons press against our borders and grow ever bolder. We may well see Saxon raids in Salisbury before winter. Either way, I anticipate your people blooding their weapons against the Saxons."

[Arne]

Arne grinned, and shrugged.  "Then, Lord Roderick, we shall have to prove to your people that we are nothing like the honorless scum that betrayed King Vortigern.  Perhaps . . ."  Arne drummed his fingers on the table for a moment, then continued.  "Perhaps it would be a good idea if we were to go with Prince Maddoc and take the fight to the Saxons.  Raiding the coast is a very good idea.  If we destroy enough of their ships, they will not be able to move warriors or supplies so swiftly."  Arne's eyes glittered.  "Or slaves.  And it might take some of the boldness out of them, or force them to pull warriors away from other areas."

[Valka]

?The stigma is unfortunate but wholly understood, lord. Any scop worth their words knows the tale of the Night of the Long Knives. But it wasn?t until we were betrayed by Saxons on our holy pilgrimage that we came to know firsthand that they are honorless and faithless, bound to no god, bound to uphold no laws that would separate them from man and beast.?

Valka found herself having to pull back before it became a full-on fiery speech that might not be taken well by someone of great influence, and undoubtedly their future. She toned it down with a soft smile.

?We respect and appreciate what has been graciously given to us and the generous and kind people that have been a part of it,? she gestured towards the knights. ?Different as our cultures may be, our people are honorable and abide by the spoken and unspoken laws of hospitality. Our kinsmen abroad have respectfully traded with Britain for many years. I personally own a share of a ship that sails directly from our homeland to London that I collect twice a year.?

She turned and smiled to Arne. ?London may now be closer to us than Oslo was. Imagine that!?

[Arne]

Arne chuckled.  "As Merlin said, perhaps we were drawn here for a reason."

He turned to Cedwyn and held a hand out in a gesture.  "You've been quiet, Sir Cedwyn.  What say you?  Should we ride with King Uther, or with Prince Maddoc?"

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn considered this. He'd been silent up till now. The draw of plunder was real...but confronting tge Saxons on their lands...now that was an opportunity.

"Too long have we fought the Saxons off our lands. Just once I should like to take the fight to them. Make the dogs wonder if they are safe at home and hearth. I saw we join the Prince and show the Saxons how much of a mistake they have made in invading our lands."

[Geoffrey]

Rodric checked his look of disappointment and concern.  Traveling with the King and the potential to offer so many long term benefits.  And it would have been perfect for Arne and Valka, it was unlikely they would get another chance to have the King's ear.

"Then we will take the fight to the Saxon's." Rodric said accepting Cedwyn's decision.

[GM Craig]

The Earl nods. "Very well. You are knights and warriors of great promise, and we will miss your presence.

"You will report to Prince Maddoc and Admiral Gwenwynwyn at Hantonne, at the mouth of the River Test. Godspeed."

You are clearly dismissed.