As summer quickly approaches, your manors and lands are hives of activity. Supplies are arranged, last-minute purchases and completed, mercenaries hired, and the levy raised. Troop after troop of knights and militia march out of Salisbury. The earl leaves a few knights and their troops behind - a bitter duty when everyone else is going to war, but someone must remain behind to man the strongholds and discourage raiding and banditry.
As you near the port city of Chichester, more and more troops become visible as various other groups within Logres assemble. Finally the last stragglers are there. Then the waiting starts.
Crossing the British Sea is a treacherous business, and the ship masters insist you must wait for the correct combination of wind and tide. No one gainsays them - more than one knight has been lost due to an imprudent crossing attempt. So, the army effectively camps in and around Chichester for many days, and you have much opportunity to interact with your peers and betters. It is a difficult time, waiting always in readiness for the call to come, but having nothing to do.
The camp is filled with all kinds of people, including barefoot Irish kerns (knifers) hired by various nobles as shock troops. The Northmen are accorded more respect than that rabble, but only within the borders of the Earl of Salisbury's camp. In general mercenaries are frowned upon, though your better gear and general discipline do mark your people as a cut above. Your reputation within Salisbury is solid, but it has not reached much beyond Earl Rodrick's lands yet. Perhaps this campaign will change that?
For Sir Artaign, now come into some money, this is a happy time. Coin to his name, an army around him, and the promise of glory and plunder ahead. Such great potential to come out of a chance meeting. Socially, Aratigne is accorded courtesy a low-status knight, and is considered to be part of Sir Cedwyn's household. This si not a bad thing - Sir Cedwyn appears to be something of a rising star, at least among the Salisbury knights. But his name is also closely associated with the King himself, which affords additional respect. So, following in Sir Cedwyn's wake has made for good things for Sir Artaigne.
Any knights who do not have a squire when they arrive are assigned squires by Earl Rodrick (this includes Sir Artaigne and Sir Geoffrey). They are young, mere boys, but seem to take their duties seriously [OOC: Squire rolls are 16].
The weather has been fairly miserable since you arrived in Chichester. Chill winds blow, and near constant rain threatens to rust even the most polished armour. The ships sit tied up at the docks, fully loaded with supplies, but the troops are stuck camping out in the area around the town, waiting and waiting for the signal that the fleet will sail.
Days pass. Then more days of seemingly endless waiting. The army grows restless, and even some of the knights are at loose ends. More than a few fights have broken out, and there are rumours of camp fever already starting to spread through the army.
After the first week of waiting, Earl Rodrick's forces are assigned guard rotation. Accordingly, Arne, Valka, Sir Artaigne, Sir Geoffrey, and Sir Cedwyn find themselves standing guard outside the Prince's tent one blustery evening. It is cold, with the rain hitting exposed skin like needles, and it seems impossible that you will ever be warm again. Still, there is honour in being tasked to guard the army's commander, so you bear up as well as you can while your teeth chatter behind your helmets.
[For everyone, I need an awareness roll.]
[Also, more generally, you may also make intrigue rolls to see if you can pick up any secrets from the camp during the past week. Other rolls may apply as well if you so desire, such a flirting. Make a case and make the roll, if you wish. But entertainment or orate and similar skills won't really apply. You may add +1 to the effective skill for every thousand Glory you have.]
