Year 487 Summer Campaign

[GM Craig]

The young noble looks from Arne to Valka. Northmen are often thought to be barbaric - even by Saxon standards, so the young lad seems to very much fear for the heirs he might never have.

Even with Cedwyn's assurances, he keeps glancing nervously at Valka as if unsure Cedwyn would be able to control her.

As a result, he is very forthcoming.

The Saxons are here in force, but not massed. Multiple raiding parties are causing havoc, while the Centurion King chases them all over the countryside. The king fears the Saxons might mass if he scatters to engage the raiders, so he keeps his army together and the raiders are mostly free to pillage.

However... the Saxons came here by ship. Their ships are hidden in the marsh at the head of the Humber River where they found a navigable channel through the swamps. The loot from pillaging is being brought there, before raiding parties go out again.

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn's face held a stony look but in his eyes there was a light of hope. This was an opportunity to bring the Centurion King extremely useful information that he could use to bring the raiders to heel and send a message back to the Saxons. Oh...and incidentally demonstrate that Uther (or at least his knights) were strong.

Cedwyn brought forth rope to tie up the Saxon.

"We need to ride for the Praetor. If we act quickly, he can use this to end the raiders and regain the plunder they've stolen. This may also prove our worth and gain an ally for King Uther."

He clapped both Valka and Arne on the shoulders.

"You both did well," he offered no admonishments. He was little worried Arne or Valka would have harmed the Saxon but even the threat of torture was unknightly. Cedwyn didn't explain that though. He would if needed but they needed to make travois to carry the wounded back.

"We need to make stretchers to drag these dogs to the Praetor. We should get some ransom if they live. Our new 'friend' can ride bound."

[Arne]

Arne made sure that the Saxon prisoner couldn't see his face when he gave Sir Cedwyn a wink and a broad grin.  "We all did well, Sir Cedwyn.  The prisoner would have told Valka everything we needed to know even without her making good her threat.  They know how Northmen deal with honorless scum.  As for these other dogs . . . stretchers may take too long to make, and might slow us down.  What if we bandaged them, and slung them over our horses, with their hands bound instead?"

[Geoffrey]

"If I may," Rodric began.

Let us make quick work of these honorless dogs," the knight indicated the Saxons.

"It is doubtful we would receive any promised ransom and they will only slow us down and time is of the essence.  The longer it takes us to reach the King, the more time the Saxons have to wreak havoc among the innocents."

[OOC: Merciful roll result 18 vs skill 13, failure.  Die you Saxon dogs!
Awareness roll result 1 vs skill 13, success.  Craig, by their uniforms, does it look like one of the other saxons may be of higher rank, aka more useful, than the one we currently questioned?]

[GM Craig]

[OOC: They don't have uniforms exactly, but wear a badge or something similar indicating their chieftain. They all look to be about the same rank - there's nothing that distinguishes one from another.

As a point of rules, if your passions and traits are less than 16, you are not forced to act on them. Ken can certainly choose to do so, but he is not bound by the result. Once your traits or passions reach 16, I may make you roll against that trait or passion if you wish to do something contrary to them. High traits or passions may force your character to take actions you may not wish them to take.]

[Cedwyn]

[ooc: assuming the post except the Praetor bit stands. I'll revise if the kill em all bit changes too]

Cedwyn shook his head. The Knightly obligation towards surrendered foes as well as his own promises overruled his nominal desire to see the Saxons dead. Killing a man on the field of battle was one thing; murdering a man who had surrendered along with the promise of mercy...that was another.

"Sir Rodric. I have already given my word. Even if they are without honor, we are not. And mayhap by our demonstration, they will learn of honor and mercy and though unlikely, even find the presence of God and become good Christian men."

[Geoffrey]

Though he disagreed with his friend, Cedwyn was in charge so Rodric gave his fellow knight a nod and dismounted and began quickly bandaging, binding, and loading the Saxons onto their horses so they could get moving.

[Artaigne]

Artaigne, as the junior present, kept his mouth shut and did as Sir Cedwyn asked, preparing a Saxon on his horse.  Internally though, he couldn't deny the wisdom in what Sir Rodric said, although he did also agree with Sir Cedwyn that it would be best if even these men found God.

[GM Craig]

You bandage up the Saxons as best as you are able, and get back on the trail, only slightly delayed.

You set a rough camp that night. That is when Sir Rodric and Sir Cedwyn miss their squires the most. It's not that bad - it was not that long ago they were squires themselves. Valka, Arne and Artaigne far well, unused to having servants of any kind. Given the known presence of Saxon raiders in the countryside - and prisoners in your camp - Sir Cedwyn wisely orders everyone to remain in armour with their weapons close.

One of the Saxons dies in the night, but the others appear to be, if getting no better, at least getting no worse.

The next day is quiet. This is wet country, full of bogs and marshes, so you try to stick to the high ground whenever possible. Still, by noon the next day your gear and horses are covered in a coat of mud.

As the sun begins to set, squire to the King announces, "We're here."

You are coming out of some woods on a ridge. A marsh stretches between your position and another hill. On that hill, you see tents and fires that would be the camp of an army. The banner of Heraut de Apres flies over the camp.

Soaked, cold, and coated in mud, a warm fire and hospitality would be most welcome. Yet the Centurion King is not known to be overly hospitable. Approaching him could be a delicate matter.

[Actions?]

I wanted to move this along, so I glossed over it, but for the record I need to know what you guys did with the Saxon who died. The standard would be a cairn. The good end is a burial service of some kind. The nasty end would be to leave him out as carrion. Vengeful would be to leave him hanging in a tree. There's a continuum, so let me know what you choose to do. As the knight with the most glory, it's mostly  Cedwyn's call.

I'm giving the following checks:
Rodric for Hate (Saxons) for the "kill the honourless dogs" bit as it is in line with hatred of the Saxons.
Arne for Deceitful, since attempting to deceive the Saxons about possible mutilation went against his Honest (15) trait.

If you have arguments to make about these checks, take it to your private forum.

[Arne]

OOC:  Ooo . . . didn't consider that the threat went against Arne's honesty trait.  Oops.

Arne took in the Centurion King's encampment with a critical eye, and muttered to Sir Cedwyn, "What say you, Sir Cedwyn?  I'd say let the King's squire lead the way.  We should show the king proper respect as is his due, but nothing too . . . what is the word your people use? . . . flowery?  Yes.  And he might demand that we turn over our Saxon prisoners since they've been raiding his lands.  Perhaps even their horses and gear."

[Cedwyn]

[ooc: Cedwyn would build a cairn and leave it at that. We need to move quickly to Heraut]

Cedwyn's hands and shoulders still ached from hauling and positioning the stones on the nameless Saxon's cairn. It was differenr than exercise with a blade or javelin, working muscles differently.

"Aye my friend," Cedwyn said back to Arne, "The Squire should lead our way."

He turned to the boy, "What say you Lad?  Shall you escort us before the Praetor?"

[Geoffrey]

Rodric turned to the squire.

"Will the King be cross with you for bringing us here?"

[GM Craig]

He glances at Valka and blushes. "I don't think so. Perhaps."

[Artaigne]

The Irishman was pleased that they decided to build a cairn for the fallen foe.  He surveyed the camp of the Praetor with mixed emotions.  He was certainly ready to prove himself and make his way in the world, but he remembered the welcome they had received so far and could likely expect to be given again. 

He did his best to keep his thoughts from his face, however as he followed Cedwyn's magnificenct horse to the camp.

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn gave Valka a look. Right. A woman.

"We come with the locationof the raiders' ships and the plunder they've taken. All of them in the kingdom will eventually return there. The Praetor can give battle to each group as they return. No hunting the countryside and wilderness for them."

He clapped the boy's shoulder.

"That should occupy his attention more than anything. Any protocol we should know before we meet the Praetor?"