GMs Note

So, we've been playing nearly every week for more than a year, mostly with three guys, sometimes up to five, but it's been consistent, steady, and great fun. Now that a lot of time has passed, and one the players, Isaac, has learned the rules and become an Earl, it's time for us to switch roles and let me be a player. He's now GM, at least for a couple of sessions, and I get to roll up characters! It's a nice break, actually. I'll resume GMing about 530, because there's a lot of Arthurian mythos stuff that Isaac can't know about yet.

As an aside, my first character, Sir Pergoines of Oxford, was killed by outlawed knights. Sweet revenge for Isaac! My backup character, Sir Expendicus, finished the adventure.

A cousin dead, a champion needed

The infamous Knight of the Blue Finch, Sir Edar weighted deeply on Earl Orwaine's mind. Allowing the newly knighted man, (Orwaine had difficulty remembering his name?) be his champion against Sir Edag was a mistake. Not only did he lose, but Sir Edar's freedom directly led to his cousin, Sir Guy's death. Set free, the lordless Sir Edar promptly found his family and turned to banditry.

Earl Orwaine had hoped he could finally empty his dungeon this winter of the remaining mercanarys and men loyal to Sir Basile, but without a champion of note, he would have to delay their justice.

Earl Orwaine's fall tournament, made him smile. He had hoped Sir Sisbert would win over the Aquitanian, Leader de Dindon, but he was not sure. Fighting alongside Sisbert all these many years, Orwaine loved Sisbert, but his quiet demeanor and general willingness to let Orwaine make the tough decisions let questions creep into his mind. Questions of Sir Sisbert's ability to lead men in battle. Primarily his men, many of them his family.

But his worries were cleared as the melee at the tournament proved. Not only did Sir Sisbert prove the victory, but he led a small group of men into the fray and personally capture Leander. the Earl felt his closest friend showed he had what it would take to become the Marshell of Rydychan.

Thinking of the tournament a thought crept into his mind, that Sir Tulga was by Sisbert's side in capturing Leander. Not only that, but he was the one to finally fell the Knight of the Blue Finch. Maybe he would prove a worthy champion...

Passing his time as summer turned to autumn, Orwaine's thoughts turned to more joyous matters. Countess Fee was growing large with child again, and with the way the child lay within her, he felt confident it would be another boy. He had lost a cousin this year, but his family was growing nonetheless...

Speaking of family, his nepthew was beginning to show signs of a beard, maybe it was time to knight him? He missed his fallen brother dearly, but Llywell's son was reminding him more and more of his brother as the days grew shorter...

To White Horse!

Far off, in the year 526, King Arthur landed upon the continent and began his campaign against Rome. The great knights of the round table went to war against the Francs, dealing blow after blow. But back in Logres, one knight of the Round Table began to find peace. The good Earl Orwaine, father of two strong young boys and husband to the beautiful Fee Fluries, saw peace in his land for the first time in his life.

His grudge against Lambor began to grow faint, near the forest Sauvage he watched his elfin wife nurse his newest boy. Seeing his borders secure, he sent his friend and vassel Sir Sisbert to patrol his lands, confident that all was well.

Riding with the young Aquitanian Sir Tulga and the young Banneret, Sir Bermayne, all was well. So well that when their squires, interested in attending the Beltaine festivities, requested their leave it was granted. Continuing on towards the Castle Shirburn, home to their countrymen Leander De Din Don, they were stopped in their tracks. From nowhere, nay from the stream, up lept a young maiden. Followed by her Coursair, also dripping, as it galloped up onto shore.

They were given a challenge to race to White horse before moonfall. They took the challenge! Endurance was the test, strength was its promised reward!

Riding all day into night they found White horse only to be told that their true destination was another horse, one not commonly known to the christians. One which meant that they had only begun their race.

Pushing onwards they tested their horses stamina. Pushed their trustworthy steads to their exhaustion point, but alas Sir Tulga and Bermayne's mounts gave out on their last leg. The pagan priestess of Epona and her gathering, urged the three forward, "You are so close, you may push your mounts up younder hill and pass the test or wait here for Sir Sisbert to return. (For Sisbert's mount was still fresh, showing remarkable horsemanship and endurance!)

Tugla and Bermayne, sadly count not harm their beloved mounts, and choose to wait...

Smiling, the priestess of Epona merely touched the two weary horses noses, one after another. Envigerated, the tired mounts sprung to life! For Epona is the goddess matron of horses and the true test was of the noble knights heart. To endanger their mounts for glory would be failure in the eyes of Epona.

Riding victoriously up the last hill, the three Knights and their mounts came upon a tree and trough, weary from the nights ride, our six heroes drank their fill and felt energized. They felt strong, they felt as if they were blessed by the goddess Epona herself...

The Clan Dindon of Aquitaine

Here we are een our new 'ome, Rydychan, a comtée de comte Orwaine, to 'hom we owe vassalage. It eez a miserable country and rains all ze time. When it eez not raining it eez cloudy. And cold, oy, is it cold for most of ze year. In ze summer it is 'ot and 'umid. Disgusting! And the food! Zey eat bread and viande and nozing else! We should not complain, ma famile. We again have land and title and are second in station only to our gens Ganis, ze baron Sisbert. We guard ze eastern border, from a pitiful motte et baille fortess, with timber zo old it rots. One last thing. We try to teach le comte 'ow to pronounce le nom de ma famile. Dindon, I say. 'e say, Ding Dong. No, ma compt, it eez Dindon. And he say, again, Ding Dong.

Player's Note

So by earning the noble title of Earl and overseeing the county of Rydychan, my PK, Sir Orwaine, is no longer free to simply ride off in search of quests and adventure. As art mirrors life I have been promised the opportunity to GM a few sessions and am eager to get started and give David a break.
And so it was written, the year is 525, King Arthur is making preparations for a continental excursion. But while our King is elsewhere, our story changes scenery from the County of Salisbury to the County of Rydychan. Rydychan, where Earl Orwaine now holds court at the Castle Wallingford and will remain in Logres to "protect" his King's Lands.
With a mind to grow this blog as GM, I offer free intrigue-ry to those players willing to take to time to read my rambling. (See new NPC Sir Gayle)
I will also be awarding certain checks and maybe glory to well posted blog entrys.

Sir Gayle, Chamberlain of Rydychan

A long time member of Sir Orwaine's retinue, Master Lawyer Gayle became famous for his ability to aid Orwaine in bypassing the Senechal Kay. Being quicker of tongue than fierce in the sword, one of Earl Orwaine's first acts was to knight Gayle and bestow on him the appointment of Chamberlain of Rydychan.
Sir Gayle, with his vast knowledge of law and courtesy, has quickly begun his duties in bringing order to the county of Rydychan. Stauchly loyal to Orwaine, Gayle has not forgotten the lessens and tribulations of Sir Kay, he will insure only those worthy of the new Earl's time will see him...
(Courtesy 17, Orate 15, Loyalty Earl Orwaine 16, Proud 16)
Early Winter, 525 AD

The Earl Orwaine

It was an epic year, 524 AD. The Weeping Sir Orwaine led a small force into the county of Rydychan to overthrow the foul usurper Sir Basil and his followers. Aided by his longtime companion and friend, Sir Sisbert; the young and brash Sir Rhun, the pious White Knight, and the Family Ding Dong, Sir Orwaine forced his way into the Castle Wallingford before felling the vile Sir Basil.
As the winter nights grew long, Sir Orwaine married the Lady Fee Fluries, was ennobled as the new Earl of Rydychan, bestowed a seige at the Table round. No longer a simple Companion of Arthur, Earl Orwaine would sit as a Brother and equal among the greatest knights in the land.
But as the spring thaw grew near, the Roman Tribune came seeking tribute and preparations for a new war went quickly into action. Orwaine's love of Arthur overcame his hospitality as he was physically restrained to keep from charging the Roman cur. Despite his anger, with a new county to oversee, Earl Orwaine choose to stay behind to oversee and protect the kingdom of Logres.
As the first signs of spring began showing, our new Earl began his progress of his lands only to hear news that one of his watchtowers was burnt. Dispatching Sisbert, the newly ennobled Baronnet of Oxford, the young Ganis man Tulga, and the young Salisbury Baronnet, Sir Bermaine of Up Avon.
Riding swiftly to the the watchtower our three young knights, encountered 5 knights of Lambor. In the quickly expanding forest sauvage, things were not as they seemed; convinced our three young knights were the enemy from Wuerensis, the dishonorable Sir Horspool of Lambor broke his word and overmatched our three knights, taking them captive and returning to Lambor.
Luckily Bermaine's two squires fled to our lord Orwaine to report of the treachery. Enraged and fearing for his closest friend, Sir Sisbert; Earl Orwaine stopped his progress and traveled immediately to the Baron of Lambor to negotiate his men's freedom. After failing to convince the Baron of the mistake, Orwaine pledged to pay the ransom, but to avenge his brother's defeat, he challenged the vile Horspool to a duel. Risking his life and capture, Orwaine met Horspool lance to lance.
By the second pass, Orwaine's lance struck deep, but the champion of Lambor would not surrender, instead facing Orwaine's third lance. The third struck true and deep, slaying Horspool before he fell to the ground. A round table knight is not one to take lightly, even one beginning to show the signs of age.
Winter court was not a happy one for our Earl of Rydychan, without his closest friend, Sisbert, he went to his King Arthur for justice. The King, fearful of war between his counties while making preparations for war on the continent; the King forced Earl Orwaine to pledge he would not seek to take Lambor.
Agreeing to, but not satified that justice was done, our Earl Orwaine returned from Camelot to plot his vengence!

The Ballad of Sir Llywell

The ballad of Sir Llywell
By Thystle the Magnificent 519AD

The brave Sir Llywell born in a time of anarchy
He faught for Cymree, for valor, for salisbury
The Saxons he hated
Prince Cynrics head he lifted

His brother Orwaine,
The weeping was his name
Struck by the vile Sir Marious
A blow, which open would stay
Until dead, Sir Marious did lay
Our hero, full of family rage and force
Took Sir Marious's head, and his Horse
He named the horse, Lil Marious
He did daggle the head on his horse

Sir Llywell faught with such force
At the battle of Badons he faught
A many saxons did he get his fill
Off his rage and justice he would kill
Until our poor hero found his bane
In King Aella the deadly dane

Sir Llywell our Hero of Salisbury
Would be remembered by all for his fury