[Pendragon RP] 488 Adventure - "The Matter of Frankland"

Pendragon: Tales of Chivalry and Sorcery is the place to go if you want to play Pendragon. Cpt._Funkotron will be your GM, with assistance from CarrieVS.

Re: [Pendragon RP] 488 Adventure - "The Matter of Frankland"

Postby KleinerKiller » Sat Oct 13, 2018 5:38 am

After what he and Terrwyn were put through, Leiryn certainly isn't going to step away from his shot at fighting back.
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 488 Adventure - "The Matter of Frankland"

Postby Ladki96 » Sat Oct 13, 2018 5:59 am

:P "Not sure if that's actually possible, but it's a sweet idea, Sir Miles." Kinda scary, that guy. "Night raid then? We need to make sure the ladies don't get hurt in the fighting. Get in and get them out"

I'm in ^^
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 488 Adventure - "The Matter of Frankland"

Postby Cpt._Funkotron » Sat Oct 13, 2018 9:52 pm

That afternoon, Eliver is by himself, next to his tent by a big oak tree, checking to see that his weapons are in order. He hears the voice of an old man behind him. "You're riding out tonight. Go ahead, ask me how I know." It is the voice of the marshal, old Strawcutter, his arms folded and his back against the trunk of the tree.
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 488 Adventure - "The Matter of Frankland"

Postby CarrieVS » Sat Oct 13, 2018 10:02 pm

Eliver is indeed set on going with his friends. He starts, and quickly turns his back on what he was doing, looking extremely guilty. Well there seems little point in trying to deny it. Feeling rather like he is a squire again and in trouble again he asks, "How do you know, Sir?"

He might just tan Rhidian's hide if it turns out that young gossip spilled the beans.
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 488 Adventure - "The Matter of Frankland"

Postby Cpt._Funkotron » Sat Oct 13, 2018 11:00 pm

He shrugs, walking towards Eliver. "A fair question. It was my keen eye, my rich experience, my dizzying intellect, my thunderous powers of deduction, and my grandson singing to himself 'Night raid, Night raid, I'm going on a Niiight raid' while polishing your saddle by the river...Lad's got a mind like Aristotle, but a mouth like a stuck cod." He chuckles.

His smile fades, not angry, but more like a concerned father. "I need you to tell me what's going on. Whatever it is, you don't want our Lord to know, and don't think I don't understand that. Lords, like children, sometimes need things kept from them for their own good. But this is war, I am your liege's marshal, and if the king's marshal asks me where you've gone, and I can't tell him that you're acting on my orders, then you'll be branded deserters, heroes or no heroes. In the interest of the honesty I seek from you, I'll let you in on a little secret first. Roderick is thrilled at your victories, but you are all walking on thin ice with the crown prince. He's the king's son, but he's a bastard; he can't rely on his birthright to secure the succession. Last year, do you think Uther Pendragon, wasn't frothing at the mouth to go and burn the saxon fleets himself? Do you think anyone at Uther's court or even all of Britain with the exception of Caius Persidius Pacilus gives a wyvern's piss about the plight of the roman empire? Our forefathers burned the purple shroud when Theodosius turned his back on us. This campaign, all of the prince's campaigns, have been about one thing, and one thing only: wreathing Madoc in glory so that the barons will accept him as their king. And your exploits have undermined him. No one will be talking about how the Valiant Prince sacked Bayeux with five thousand men, they will only be talking about how you lot sacked Caen with five hundred. Madoc is not a wicked man, and he's not cruel like his father, but if you give him an excuse, he will discredit you, if not have you all thrown into a dark room beneath the White Tower."

He straightens his back, and looks around to make sure that no one is too close nearby. "Now tell me, what venture are you on?"
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 488 Adventure - "The Matter of Frankland"

Postby CarrieVS » Sun Oct 14, 2018 12:45 am

Eliver's eyes widen in shock as the marshal lays out the situation. He had never considered that their commander might have any objection to their success. Of course put like this it makes complete sense, but it still seems somewhat ridiculous. But there's no help for it now.

He pauses a moment, but he's always liked Sir Elad and even if he couldn't count on him to be reasonable and understanding, he doesn't really have much choice. "You know that a few of our knights, including Sir Terrwyn and Sir Leiryn, went south from Caen and joined us here late?" he asks. "They ran into Levcomagus and some ... old acquaintances on their way." How much to say? Dare he mention the Frankish women? Dare he try and omit them?

"Sir Blains seized on a pretext to arrest Sir Terrwyn and treated her like a common prisoner. Leiryn rescued her and now we mean to avenge that dishonour." That's the simple part. "Of course, the less Terrwyn is brought to Sir Roderick's attention the better." That might serve as excuse for the deception and is perfectly true. Yet... the whole truth is liable to come out sooner or later and Eliver's instinct is that the old knight is not trying to trap him.

"But there's also the matter of their errand south. The truth is, we captured some Frankish noblewomen at Caen; one of them named herself as a princess, the sister of Clovis. But we were sated with slaughter and pillage and when they begged for mercy none of us had any appetite to throw highborn ladies in chains, so we agreed to release them. The latecomers had been escorting them to safety. But things didn't go to plan, and Levcomagus has the women now, meaning to bring them to the Prince as spoils of war. And I needn't tell you what our liege is likely to think of that. And that's all of it, Sir."
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 488 Adventure - "The Matter of Frankland"

Postby Cpt._Funkotron » Sun Oct 14, 2018 1:15 am

The old knight's brow furrows. "You captured the sister of the Frankish king, and other noblewomen of the Franks besides...and you sent them back? With both Caen and Bayeux occupied, Ragnachar and those women as hostages to bargain with, Sygarius would have a half-decent chance of actually winning this war! How many people already know about this? If Sygarius learns of it, I wouldn't trade places with Persidius for all the wine of Languedoc. If the Prattling Praetor makes it back with those women, he's going to relish telling everyone how he got them. The only way we can discredit any claim that you tried to free the ladies is to steal them back, and then present them to Madoc ourselves. Yes, I said 'we'. I'm coming with you."
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 488 Adventure - "The Matter of Frankland"

Postby CarrieVS » Sun Oct 14, 2018 1:48 am

Eliver isn't quite sure what he was expecting, but not that. "I'd best go tell my cousin. And perhaps discipline my squire for spilling my secrets abroad - but I fancy it's for the best, so I may let him off on this occasion." He chuckles.

After taking his leave of Sir Elad, Eliver tracks down Persidius. "We have an extra knight for our jaunt tonight, Persi."
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 488 Adventure - "The Matter of Frankland"

Postby Scarik » Sun Oct 14, 2018 1:51 am

"Good, we need a score and no more," he says without questioning Eliver further.
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 488 Adventure - "The Matter of Frankland"

Postby CarrieVS » Sun Oct 14, 2018 1:54 am

Is he not going to ask who?

"Sir Elad learned that we planned something. He asked me about it, and I thought it best to tell the whole truth. He insists on coming with us."
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 488 Adventure - "The Matter of Frankland"

Postby Scarik » Sun Oct 14, 2018 2:02 am

Persi stops what he is doing. In fact he drops his hauberk while inspecting Diane's work cleaning it.

"The Lord Marshal?" he turns over the name in his mind hoping to find another Sir Elad but comes up with none. "I... erm..."

He doesn't manage to say anything else.
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 488 Adventure - "The Matter of Frankland"

Postby CarrieVS » Sun Oct 14, 2018 2:04 am

"Yes, that Sir Elad. But there's more that you should know." He relates what the marshal told him about Madoc.
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 488 Adventure - "The Matter of Frankland"

Postby Scarik » Sun Oct 14, 2018 2:34 am

Persidius ins't shocked at Elad's view of Madoc or Sygarius. Dismayed, certainly, but he has brushed with the highborn and knows they are often weasels in human skin. A bastard born of a lecherous king and a Praetor who failed his kingdom can't be expected to be any better than the pagan duke of Lindsey.

"I will be glad to be rid of the continent," is all he says.
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 488 Adventure - "The Matter of Frankland"

Postby Cpt._Funkotron » Sun Oct 14, 2018 9:52 pm

At sunset, when they are all assembled to depart, a mailled figure approaches them; Sir Elad wears the iron well, standing strong like a man half his age. He gives Persidius a nudge on the arm and says "I'll take it from here". He gives Eliver a wink, and then addresses the huddle of knights. "This isn't a death or glory mission. This is a rescue. We ride in, we take the women, we ride out two to a saddle. We do not take prisoners, we do not take loot, we do not take vengeance. We'll need to cut through the sentries on the way in, and I'll expect some reistance on the way out. Stick together, and we ought to punch through both ways without too much difficulty. Understood? Good. We ride."

The part sets out, entirely mounted and unencumbered, and thus able to cover a great distance in only a few hours. About ten miles south of the city, they find Levcomagus's camp. "Looks about half a thousand strong; if we dally, we are all dead men. He'll keep the women close to himself, along with all the other treasure" He points to a larger pavilion in the center of camp. He draws his sword. "Come brave knights, let us to it", and with that, he circles the sword over his head and silently motions the charge.

To be resolved on Discord
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 488 Adventure - "The Matter of Frankland"

Postby Cpt._Funkotron » Thu Oct 18, 2018 5:17 am

Like the riders of revelation, the knights barrel into the camp of Levcomagus, sowing confusion and panic wherever they trod. They have already found the ladies and begun to free them by the time the Praetor is able to rouse himself and assemble a force around him. While the squires cut the women's bonds and help them into saddles, the knights afoot carve a path to freedom. Persidius plunges himself into the enemy and lays low all he encounters. The others hold the line and make good progress under the direction of Elad. Meanwhile, Terwynn comes face to face with one of the sigil knights, whom she had two years previously defeated and ransomed. The encounter draws into a duel, and Terwynn finds herself isolated from the others. Fighting two at a time unaided, she is pierced once, and then pierced again, and bested, near death. It is only thanks to the confusion that her squire Diane is able to push through the throng and drag her to safety.

The raiding party makes clear of the camp, and the knights retake their mounts. From the looks of things as they ride away, a fire has started. Once they have put a sufficient amount of darkness between themselves and the host, they stop to treat the wounded. Miles rushes to Terwynn's aid, and although it looks as if she is bound for the shroud, the reaper is robbed of her soul yet again. She is still in critical condition, and it may be some weeks before she is returned to her senses.

They return to camp before dawn. Besides Terwynn, not a single of their number was seriously hurt.

***

Just at sunrise, Sir Roderick, Sir Elad, Sir Eliver, Sir Miles, Sir Persidius, Sir Bleddyn, and Sir Leiryn, present Princess Audofleda to Prince Madoc. The young man isn't even properly washed or shaved yet, still groggy from sleep, perhaps weary from the siege. He stares at her for a long while. Perhaps he's thinking about what to do with her. Perhaps he's wondering where the hell she came from in the middle of the night. At long last he says "It's not exactly glorious, taking a noblewoman prisoner. But Britain thanks you." He looks as if he might start asking questions about the ladies' wherabouts, when the Prince's herald barges into the tent.

"My Prince! The Franks of the town have offered terms! £10,000 to leave the city in peace!"

The prince's tired face falls into the palm of his hand, before he remembers himself "Oh god...be praised." He clears his throat. "I suppose I better go accept the terms in person, you may all go. Herald, wake up my chamberlain, have him make sure that the ladies are shown every comfort."

***

A few hours later, after what must have been a grueling forced march, the Silchester division arrives in camp. The Praetor, all swagger if a little frayed and smelling of smoke, is dismayed to lay eyes on the giant caravan of treasure already parked by the river, dwarfing his own. He is seen some time later departing the Prince's tent, seemingly cool as a cucumber, where it not for his white knuckles. "Better luck next time" gloats Roderick, as he passes by Levcomagus with a cup of wine in hand.

***

In the evening, with the tribute from Bayeux and Levcomagus's contribution, the British army is now sitting on an absurd fortune. The ships have been summoned, and the loot is being slowly loaded into their hulls. There is some worry going around that they won't be able to even carry it all back to Logres. From the east, the column of Sygarius is spotted approaching. The knights of Salisbury happen to be near the Prince when Sygarius rides up to greet him, with dozens of Gallic equites following behind him. "Madoc!" he cries jubilantly. The Prince does not appear pleased with the familiarity. "Battle awaits us! The enemy is massing at Rouen! Word of your victory at Odon and Caen have spread across the land and your victory at Bayeux will surely do the same! Together, we can knock the barbarian back across the Rhine, or into hell, where he belongs!"

Madoc grinds his teeth. "I have some good news for you, King Sygarius. We have taken hostages; of note King Ragnachar of Cambrai and Princess Audofleda, sister of Clovis."

Sygarius is thrilled. "Aha! Then we have the barbarians in the palm of our hands!. They should be jailed in Logres. My court is in my saddle, and as of yet I can summon no better barrier than the British sea. Clovis will stop at nothing to get her back, needless to mention Ragnachar's many sons."

"That is exactly why they aren't going to Britain; she's beautiful enough to be Helen, I don't need to tell an educated man how that story ends. I make them a gift to you, as a token of our friendship."

"Then...why are you preparing your ships?"

"The hostages aren't going to Britain. My army is."

Sygarius' noble brow curls in rage. "But your father swore-!"

Madoc shrugs. "I am not my father. We have enemies at our borders, and traitors in our west. Besides, we have already more treasure than we could hope to carry back. That's not even counting your share, of course."

"This is not a game, boy! This is my kingdom!"

"Do you really think I have nothing better to do than win crowns for the likes of you?" Madoc remarks cooly.

Sygarius bunches up his reins in his hands. "Victory to the righteous. I'll meet the Franks myself, and when I have my kingdom back, I will not forget this!" he turns his horse and spur it away. The next day, his host, the hostages, and slightly more than half the treasure, are gone. It is also that day that Galehaut de Brun's division returns to camp. They gathered comparatively little booty compared to the rest of the army, because Sir Galehaut decided to hunt down a pair of Wyverns who were troubling the locals. He presented their severed heads to the Prince, who after everything, enjoyed the story.

The next day, the army sailed back to Britain.

***

The Earl is overjoyed to learn that his wife is pregnant. The court prays for a male heir.

***

As Eliver is riding home to Woodford, he finds a bridge in his way to be out. Just as he starts looking around to think of a better path, he suddenly notices a ragged hermit holding a large treebranch to his side.

"You'll thank me later" is all he says, before striking Eliver over the head, knocking him unconscious.

He awakes the next day, under a tree, on a hill overlooking the same bridge, except it appears to now be in perfect condition. His squires come to just after he does. Neither of them seem to have any better idea of what happened, only having their own lumps to show for trying to rescue or avenge their master. Nothing appears to have been stolen, their horses are all hitched up to the tree.

Continuing along their way, they come to Woodford Manor to find the fields completely bare, with hardly any peasants in sight. Perhaps there's been an early harvest? But he cannot see any livestock, either. As he passes through the village, the people start poking their heads out at him as he passes. Out in the manor yard, is a dry white skeleton, in common clothes, but wearing one of Eliver's cloaks. It was the cook, Evan, who was known to borrow it for his evening walks. The stables and barns, likewise, hold nothing but skeletons. Underneath a large clay bowl not too far off, he finds the family cat and her kitten, shaken but alive. In the hall, he finds his family cowering, terrified but breathing.

"Last night...rats...thousands of them...millions...they just...came, they ate...everything." says Gwiona.

After a full review of his estate, Eliver finds that a horde of rats have indeed swept through and eaten every crop, evey crumb of food, every animal, but no people, save one. Evan the cook, who had been wearing Eliver's cloak the night that he was supposed to arrive home.



Thus concludes Year 488: "The Matter of Frankland".

We are taking a break from Pendragon to start Mobsters on Friday, but Pendragon will return at a later date. We'll be finishing up the winter phase for this year over the next few days. Thank you all for playing!
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