Year 487 Summer Campaign

[Geoffrey]

"Even if it does not help our case, at the very least it will feel good to be clean again."

[Valka]

Valka was intrigued with the Romans, but a little more interested in that Arne had not asked her of washing in the river. What was he implying?

"I must smell as a flower then," she smirked and continued on the way to the river, her head held high.

[Arne]

Arne glanced over at her, and chuckled as he shook his head.  "No."

[GM Craig]

You head down to the river and do what you can to wash off the mud of the road. As you do so, you appear to have attracted a small group of spectators, many pointing and laughing. Some of the soldiers sent to escort you appear to be calling out taunts in Latin, and laughing among themselves.

[Arne]

Arne gripped the hilt of his sword, and coldly said in fluent Latin loud enough for the spectators to overhear, "<Valka, Sir Rodric, Sir Cedwyn . . . they seem to get a good laugh at our bathing!"  He put on a puzzled look and continued with a tone of deadpan innocence.  "Maybe because they have never washed themselves before?  I must confess my ignorance of their customs."

[GM Craig]

One of the soldiers calls out, in Latin, "We always knew the people of Logres were dogs, but we never expected them to bathe like them too!"

That sparks another run of laughter from the growing crowd.

[Arne]

Arne laughed, grinned broadly, and called out in return, "<At least we bathe!  I can smell you from here, discens, and you are upwind of me!  Does your woman don a vinegar-soaked cloth 'round her nose before you love her?"

OOC:  Discens is Latin for trainee.

[GM Craig]

The soldier gapes a few times like a fish out of water, and his face goes red. This sparks another round of laughter from the crowd, directed at the soldier this time.

[No glory in verbal sparring with a man-at-arms, but Arne can take a check for Prudent next Winter phase.]

The soldiers shut up, and the crowd disperses. As they do, you see a man in cuirbouilli armour starts forward towards you. He has a sword at his side, but his cloak and raiment looks threadbare and worn thin. There is no livery or crest on his equipment, but he seems outfitted as a poor knight - a condition Rodric and Cedwyn remember all too well.

[Arne]

Arne watched the warrior come forward, and cursed himself mentally.  That soldier was rude and insulting.  He deserved worse, but he could have just as easily brought dozens of soldiers down on us.   Holding up a hand, Arne wore a smile as he exclaimed,  "Peace, warrior!  Where I come from warriors insult each other like that in good spirit.  No offense was meant."

[Artaigne]

"And peace to you good sir, it was not I that quarreled with you, but did come to ask why those with the bearing of knights are washing in the river like common peasants, when bath houses abound in the city."

The man holds his hands clear of his weapon to show you he means no insult, and the brogue accent in his voice gives connotations of true curiousity that is reflected in his brown eyes.  He seems honest enough with his wild brown hair and poor kit, but something stands out about him that seems odd.  A moment later it occurs to you, he wears his sword on the right side of his body!

ooc: for those who don't know, the term sinister originates from the belief in these times that left handed people were aberrations and spawns of Satan...normally met with suspicion if not outright attacked.  And yet this man doesn't seem to make any effort to hide his status.

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn frowned. He was grossly insulted.

"Decimus Martinus," he growled, "He has insulted our honor and the dignity of our offices as emissaries of King Uther Pendragon. I would know where he is."

[ooc: what is the rule on duels here. I assume first blood is sufficient]

[GM Craig]

[Terms for a duel depend. First blood, first touch, death.]

[Valka]

"And peace to you good sir, it was not I that quarreled with you, but did come to ask why those with the bearing of knights are washing in the river like common peasants, when bath houses abound in the city."

"Because Roman hospitality is lacking, apparently," Valka replied, knocking her boots together before slipping them back on. She turned to him and studied his figure for but a moment. "You do not appear to be one among them." It was a question more than statement.

Ooc: added my own appearance post

[Arne]

Arne walked up to the edge of the riverbank and held his hand out to the warrior with a grin.  "No, I don't believe he is, Valka.  This warrior has courtesy.  But I think she has the truth of it, sir.  Or perhaps they wish to test us and see how we act."  Arne shrugged as if it was a negligible matter, although he still itched to slam a fist into that arrogant foot soldier's mouth.  "And where are my manners?  Let me introduce you first to my two travelling companions - Sir Cedwyn of Winterbourne Stoke and Sir Rodric of Falt (OOC:  adding any additional titles if required for honorifics)."  Arne paused for the newcomer and the two knights to acknowledge each other, then added, "The fiery-haired beauty you see before you is my wife, Valka Ingersdottir, chieftainess of the Logres Nothmen, and I am Arne Torvaldson, chieftain of the Logres Northmen."


OOC:  I'm too lazy to give a description of Arne.     Think Bjorn Ironside from the TV series Vikings back when Bjorn was about 17.  Bjorn rules.

[Valka]

"Now where in Mi?gar?r did you learn to insult in Latin so eloquently, husband?" Valka replied to his "manners" comment, genuinely curious.