Year 487 Summer Campaign

[Arne]

Arne chuckled.  "My father valued learning, so he brought in tutors for us.  One of the first languages we learned was Latin.  And brothers being brothers, we made it a contest to insult each other every chance we got.  It became a challenge to come up with good insults in different languages."

[Valka]

"Ah yes, I would do well to remember I married the son of a chieftain. Can you write as well as you insult? I should send a letter home some time but penmanship is not a strong suit."

[Artaigne]

"Well met, gentle people," Artaigne gives each a bow in turn, according the Nor'men the same amount of honor as the knights.  He continues, "Arne has the right of it, I am no Roman.  I am Artaigne of Ireland, here to seek my fortunes and serve the Lord God as I may.  My island looks down on me a bit, sadly." 

[Arne]

"Ah yes, I would do well to remember I married the son of a chieftain. Can you write as well as you insult? I should send a letter home some time but penmanship is not a strong suit."

OOC:  Sorry; I would have sneaked this in before Artaigne's response.

Arne shook his head with a grin.  "I am ashamed to say that my reading and writing is terrible, Valka.  Something I need to study more of."

[Arne]

OOC:  I'll wait a bit and give Rodric and Cedwyn to jump in here.   

[Geoffrey]

Rodric ignored the taunts and laughter but couldn't help but chuckle at Arne's response and the soldier's reaction.

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]

"He has," Rodric began, having a pretty good idea of what Cedwyn might be planning, "But let us get a read on King Heraut before we do anything.  Though he is a warrior king, perhaps a verbal barb or two in the presence of Decimus and the King might better serve us."

[Arne]

Arne nodded grimly at Artaigne's words.  "I think I can understand your feeling about home, Artaigne."  Arne brightened then. "Would you tell us of this Ireland while we go to see Praetor Heraut's steward?  I have heard some stories about it back in Thelemarck, but they were few and were mostly of trade."  Arne hesitated, and added, "If you would not mind speaking of Ireland, that is."

[Artaigne]

"Mind? Why, friend Arne, there is no better topic of conversation, save it be the Lord God!  My island is a beautiful place of gently rolling verdant fields, vast expanses of beautiful waters and a sky with the color blue that would take your breath away.  There are often rainbows to be seen as well.  It is an veritable Eden, and I am convinced that God designed it as His summer home so that he can take a break from heaven every so often."

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn whispered conspiratorially to his crew, "The insult may provide us an opportunity to show our worth. I called out publically to make sure it was known."

More publically, he added, "Artaigne of Ireland. We are well met. I am Sir Cedwyn of Winterbourne Stoke. My compatriots and I are here in service of King Uther of Logres."

[Arne]

Arne chuckled at Artaigne's eloquent description of his homeland, but there was no mockery in his mirth.  "It sounds like a wondrous land!  The fields you speak of . . . are they even more numerous and rich than this place?  When we rode through the vales here, I had never seen so much greenery in my life!"


OOC:  Ack, near-simultaneous posts!  Well, we know the timing of the conversations . . . 

[Artaigne]

Giving a bow to Sir Cedwyn, "Well met, indeed."

Returning his attention to Arne, "Aye these fields are a marvel and I don't wish to detract from their beauty, but they don't hold a candle to my island."

[Arne]

Arne was silent in thought for a few moments, then replied, "One day I would like to see this Ireland.  Does it have giants and other wondrous beasts as well?"

[Artaigne]

"There are indeed many of the fae in Ireland, the worst of which is the terrifying Banshee.  A woman of the sidhe, she is the herald of death, with her keening shrieks."

[Valka]

Valka perked up. "Ooohhh.. she sounds like my eldest sister! Either in a duel or having sex. Sometimes both."

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn turned visibly red at such ribald talk. It was beyond the pale for the Christian Knight. Scandalous in the extreme.

"Chieftainess..." He cautioned, "Such talk can be seen as obscene in Christian courts. Our pgan brethren refrain from open discussion of such things, at least with Christians present. I'd advise the same. We cannot afford any affront to the Preator."