[Pendragon RP] 489 Adventure - "Always Salisbury"

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] 489 Adventure - "Always Salisbury"

Postby Scarik » Thu Sep 12, 2019 12:51 am

I am replying below.
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 489 Adventure - "Always Salisbury"

Postby roobeastie » Thu Sep 12, 2019 12:57 am

Replying below.
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 489 Adventure - "Always Salisbury"

Postby Ladki96 » Thu Sep 12, 2019 5:15 am

I am replying above the other players who will join ! :P
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 489 Adventure - "Always Salisbury"

Postby Cpt._Funkotron » Thu Sep 12, 2019 11:29 pm

Summer Solos

Eliver - The Plight of the Pigherds

The sun is out for what may feel like the first time in a week, and through intermittent cover of clouds, it shines down on the bustling outer ward of Tilshead, a large castle-town in the west of Salisbury. A crowd of squires, knights, and idle soldiers has gathered around the riding yard to witness Jack, a plump and jittering youth take his run at the quintain. Uneasily atop his horse with an ashen pole awkwardly in hand, all eyes are on the young squire. Sir Eliver "The Swift", the young newly-appointed Castellan of Tilshead, watches from a folding chair with even expression.

A few silent moments go by. A few scattered whispers break out in the back, to be quickly hushed. The boy looks to the knight, and receives a kind nod in reply. With trepidation he kicks his heels into the horses flanks and sets off towards his target, a shield attached to a swiveling arm. It looks like he is off to a good start for the first few seconds, but as he draws near to the quintain, his nerves get the better of him as he grasps at his reins, causing the beast to jerk right but not before his pole has made contact with the shield and the weighted arm has swung around to strike him in the back of the head and off of his horse.

A combined gasp, groan, and stifled chuckle emanates from the crowd all at once. Pocket money changes hands, and a few of the young squire's fellows help him out of the mud while a groom retrieves the horse. Sir Eliver rises and walks out into the center.

He checks the back of the boy's head, and concludes that no real harm has been sustained, before patting him on the back and sending him back into the crowd.

"I think we all owe Jack here our thanks in demonstrating the danger of hesitation. If he were up against something a little more formidable than this sack of gravel here, he'd have lost the head."

Just then Will, the town Bailiff, begs a word with Sir Eliver. He leaves another knight in charge of the training, and some other squire takes his turn on the horse.

Eliver and Will walk together out of the hole in the wall where the foundations are now being laid for a stone gatehouse, to replace the old wooden one. Will walks and talks. Much of the country around Tilshead is heavily wooded, or had been until the great wildfire half a year ago, now there is but acre upon acre of ash. The forest will regrow in time, but the smallfolk who had relied upon the woods for their livelihoods were left in the lurch. The worst-hit had been the swineherds. Ordinarily, much of the rural woodland was used for feeding swine, who feasted on acorns, roots, truffles, roughage and the like, but overnight that source of forage went up in smoke. Ordinarily a pig farmer might sell off some of his stock to buy dry feed to keep the rest going, but ever since Eliver himself bought up most of the county's surplus grain reserves last year to save Woodford from the famine, the market price of grain has skyrocketed. Many swineherds found no choice but to sell off all their stocks entirely just to feed their families, but when all the swineherds of the area began coming into Tilshead to sell all of their animals around the same time as each other, the going price for pigs predictably plummeted. Now dozens of rural families, who until last year had been free and relatively prosperous, are now destitute. Meanwhile, the butchers of the town have prospered greatly from the abundant and ludicrously cheap source of pork. Three new shops have opened in the last month, a caravan route has been established carting salt north from Exeter, and a Butcher's Fair is now taking place in the market, with tradesmen from Sarum, Wilton, and as far afield as Warminster displaying their wares; every variety of sausage, ham, jerky, chops, ribs, or rashers imaginable. But pork is not the only flesh for sale on the market.

An old man, a former swineherd, is bargaining with three men for the sale of three of his daughters into slavery. They apparently have nine brothers and sisters too young to work, and no prospect of marriage. The daughters seem to have volunteered themselves out of duty. There are three interested buys arguing with the father over their price; a Cornish salt merchant, a local Butcher, and the owner of the town's Brothel. The old man is demanding at least £1 for each of his daughters; the Butcher and the Salt-Merchant are holding firm at 10 shillings, and the Brothel-Owner is going as high as 15, but the father doesn't want to sell to him; 'let them at least be concubines rather than whores', he may well reason. The argument is getting rather heated, which is why Eliver was summoned; the bailiff didn't want to risk offending such estimable locals by breaking them up with common guards.

Eliver may roll Orate or Courtesy to talk the argument down elegantly.

Opportunity for a Generous and Merciful Checkmark if he pays the £3 to save the young women from slavery.


Persidius - A Duel for Love

Life at court in Sarum resumes much as it always has. Roderick sits on his throne again, with his sword arm in a sling. Sir Kennian's son Ypas is adjusting to life with an eyepatch, to being accordingly renamed "Eyepatch" by his fellow squires, although never when his mother is in earshot. Sir Persidius and Lady Elaine continue to exchange guilty looks of longing. The Court Champion of Salisbury has had little cause to swing his sword of late; his ever-growing celebrity causing many plaintiffs to forfeit their cases against the Earl rather than face his deadly blade. The only duels he finds himself fighting are against those knights who have sought him personally out as the man to beat. On one occasion, a young female squire rushes into the hall and begs a word with him.

She explains that her master, Sir Alan, is a young, poor knight only last month given his spurs. He is madly in love with a lady far above his station, and her father refuses to accept his suit for her hand until he has proven himself worthy, and bested the greatest swordsman in the land in single combat. Sir Alan, in his passion, rashly accepted the challenge, and is now making all haste to Castle Salisbury to make good on his vow. The squire explains that she has only just managed to outpace him on the road so that she might make this plea of Persidius: throw the duel. She says that Sir Alan is of little skill at arms being as young as he is, and so mad with love that if he is bested yet survives, he will assuredly destroy himself in some other way.

Only a few minutes later, Sir Alan himself strides into the Great Hall, in the flesh. He looks young for twenty-one, but with a firmness of purpose in his posture and in his eyes. His armor looks old and rusted in places, most likely second-hand. He throws down a brown mitten, where a richer knight may have thrown a glove, and challenges Persidius to a duel.

If Persidius takes a dive, he suffers an unopposed strike, and earns a checkmark in Valorous, Merciful, and Modest.
If Persidius doesn't take a dive, he may fight the duel normally and earn a checkmark in Sword and Proud.


Miles - Kidnapping

It was decided to be for the best that Lady Ella, just now past her tenth birthday, be brought up away from court at Sarum. At Wylye, she is not constantly in the place where her father died, nor under constant siege from ambitious bachelors hoping to secure her fortune when she is of age to marry. It is a beautiful summer, and although still of a quiet and melancholy disposition, the girl seems to adjust well to a more modest country life. Mile's mother Lady Felolilie is her primary caretaker, along with her governess Dwyn. One day, Felolie takes Ella and Dwyn out walking to pick some flowers from a nearby meadow, taking one of the guards with them as an escort, under protest. An hour later, an old shepherd who lives down the road comes hobbling up to the walls of Wylye manor in a panic, reporting that bandits had come from the woods, killed the guard, and abducted the women.

Roll Hunting to pursue them.
Optionally, roll Love (Family) for a possible bonus.
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 489 Adventure - "Always Salisbury"

Postby Kivutar » Wed Sep 18, 2019 10:01 pm

Miles' mother has another girl-child that summer. They name her Teleri, and everyone dotes on her, Iblis in particular. Tom, who after the initial awkwardness is fitting into his new family fairly well, makes her a little rattling bucket, and Miles can't stop laughing when he sees it. After that, of course the toddlers must have buckets made for them, and soon they're chasing each other in circles and attempting to break them over each others' heads. Lady Ella is much too old for such things, but she occasionally provokes them to greater wildness and watches the results with great amusement.

Miles spends most of his time training with the spear, along with his squire Dylan, who is quite promising for one not brought up to it.



Following immediately after Funk's solo prompt.

Miles and his men drop everything and thunder off in pursuit. It doesn't take them long to find the miscreants. Lady Ella buries her face in his mother's skirts, but the two of them are unharmed, guarded by one bandit as the others abuse Dwynn cruelly. Miles runs his spear through that one at once, and the others are quickly finished off by his men.

Moments later, the sole surviving bandit is pleading for his life. "Spare me, and I'll tell you who sent us!" he whines.

"Is that so?" says Miles. "Then I have a different offer for you, swine. Every moment I wait for the name, your life is one hour longer!" He has no idea if he can stomach what that entails, but he glares so menacingly at the bandit that it doesn't make any difference.

"The P-praetor of Levcomagus!" bleats the ruffian. Miles isn't surprised in the least. He waits until Lady Ella is out of sight, then unsheaths his dagger and hands it to Dwyn.

"Get your vengeance," he says, gesturing towards the bound bandit. Furiously, she stabs him about forty times before he finally stops crying and twitching.

Over the next few days, he questions everyone in the household. Surely someone must have informed the bandits, for them to find such an opportunity. Eventually, one of the guards mentions that he had seen the dead guard himself, Ed, talking to some rough-looking men in a tavern about a week prior. They decide that he must have been the traitor, and that the bandits had murdered him in lieu of payment.

"Blains will sorely regret this," says Miles. "We must write to every ally we have!" Soon, he and Felelolie are hunched over a table, grimly deciding on the fine points of wording.



Terrwyns nonsense
Larksnest
“Please, for the last time, tell me you’re kidding.”

“I am! …is what I wish I could say. C’mon, it’s not so bad,” Terrwyn climbs into the saddle. “You’ll adjust, you’ll manage, you always do! Alright? I’m off!”

“Wai-!” But Horsie is already galloping away.

“I’ll send news with the caravaaaaaaans!”

Diane sighs.

Casa de Persi

You know what? Life sucks. You work hard to earn your money and respect back and these kids, your own flesh and blood, don’t appreciate it at all. Don’t the tiny rascals understand they’re not getting kidnapped by a stranger? They’re getting kidnapped by their mother! There’s absolutely no reason to cry!

The little one cries even harder at that, clinging on to Julia for dear life. “Dun’ wanna leaaaave!”
Lady Adwen gently takes Sir Terrwyn aside. “Rhiannon has recently become interested in the cosmic plan. Children her age don’t ask “why” questions until at least a year or two later. I sense great potential in her; it would be a shame to let it go to waste.”

Terrwyn frowns. So, what, pin all her hopes on a single girl? True, Mair has never been sick a day in her life but… Cerridwen, you asshole, you had to do this to me!

“If this is what the Dark Goddess wants,” Terrwyn huffs, “who am I to interfere? But the girls will keep trying to meet each other at every opportunity their whole life, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t want that headache.”
Lady Adwen muses, “Perhaps, if they did not know about each other? They are still quite young, and in time they will forget all if the other is never mentioned again.”

A distressing idea, but a sound one. Rhiannon needs to avoid all worldly temptation going ahead. Terrwyn agrees at once.

Also, she hugs Persi before leaving, just because she can SCARIK sticks tongue out

Cornwall

At long last, a sense of security and being loved! o/ Every day is a lovely day at the castle, and she would die for the beautiful Lady <3 And the Duchy too, ofc.

Her marriage is p. great too! Sir Jordanus:

1) lets her practise swordplay
2) doesn’t insist on her dressing/behaving as a lady
3) doesn’t humiliate her in front of others to establish his senior status, because he isn’t an insecure bitch
4) doesn’t seek out other women in Sarum Tintagel
5) keeps his hands to himself until she assents (not that she has trouble doing that <_< she needs a spare now that the second one has gone and made herself the prayer!) and
6) doesn’t mind that there is no baby within the year!

/o/ o/ o


Terrwyn takes command of her husband’s finances at once, and her wise management has the money rolling in like never before (Smell that? That’s the sweet smell of critting Stewardship) When Mair finally doesn’t weep once the whole day, Terrwyn hopes that things have settled down.

Until of course, the letter arrives. Escorted by armed guards, no less. >_>

My dearest knight,
I hope you fare well. This cannot repay all the kindness you have shown me, but I hope it proves useful.
A humble serving girl


Jordanus is surprised, to put it mildly. “Why would a Frankish princess send you a hundred libra?”

Terrwyn crushes the note and blinks several times before managing, “I have no idea.”

A fortnight later, another note arrives, but much closer in origin. Sir Miles! He has been dealt with most terribly by the Praetor of Levcomagus and wishes to repay the favour. Everything comes flooding back, all that she has tried to suppress – her love, the treacherous surprise, the humiliation, the near-death – and Terrwyn feels as if she would burst. Controlling herself, she instructs her squire to pack her bags. She needs to pay Blains a visit.




A few weeks later, Felelolie pulls Miles aside. "The poor girl is pregnant."

"She's sure?"

"Positive."

He feels horribly responsible. She'd been under his roof, and he hadn't been able to protect her. "We'll have to get a new governess for Ella," he says. "But we can't just cast her out... she'll stay here, and the child too."



Eliver agrees to the venture, but with reluctance. "The dog deserves it," he says. "And any other year I'd be for it, you know I would. But I have a bad feeling about this. Think of how the Summerland raid turned out - is this not the same thing, so soon after?" He shakes his head, "This isn't the same; we know we're in the right this time. My thumbs prick, that's all."

"So you won't come?" asks Miles.

"Of course I will."

Persidius offers to join as well, mainly for his cousin's sake. That offer is readily accepted; prickly though he may be, clearly the Lord of Wayford is a friend in a time of need. Miles resolves to forget about that moment of mad bravado in King Cadwy's court.

Leiryn, who had been briefly captured by Levcomagus during the war against the Franks, is more than happy to get his own back and then some. Those are all of the knights of Salisbury who will join. Roderick cannot be seen supporting such a raid, or it could lead to war with Blains' lord Ulfius, so they have little help. Unofficially, they know he hopes they succeed.

He hadn't really expected Terwynn, but she appears nonetheless, terrifyingly eager. All the better.

They must strike quickly, or all could be lost. As soon as all are gathered, they ride.

Bestow righteous thumbs upon Lads.
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 489 Adventure - "Always Salisbury"

Postby CarrieVS » Thu Sep 26, 2019 10:49 pm

Eliver's initial reaction is disgust. Thinking of Eleri - toddling now, saying "Mama" - and the squalling bundle newly christened Elaine, he can scarcely conceive of a man stooping to such an unfatherly act. Yet if it were that or see his other children starve... As for the would-be buyers, the two of them having the nerve to drive a hard bargain over such a pitiful situation, and the third!

He steps into the middle of the argument and addresses the buyers. "I'll have no disorder in my market. If you will not bargain with civil tongues in your heads you may begone," he barks, and though he makes no motion that threatens violence he looks so furious that the three of them beat a hasty retreat.

The would-be seller looks terrified, offering a jumble of apologies, excuses and assurances, "I beg your pardon, M'lord, it'll not happen again. I didn't go to start any trouble, M'lord, on my life I didn't mean to, it's only that I must feed the little ones somehow, M'lord."

"And with three pounds you could feed them all?"

"Three pounds'd keep us a tidy while, M'lord, mayhap until things are better." His voice cracks a little, "If I could only get it some other way, but they was ready to do it, M'lord, for the sake of the little ones. On my life, I'd not have done it if they'd not agreed to it, not no matter what."

"Then three pounds you shall have, and there'll be no more of this nonsense?"

"Oh M'lord, thank you." He beckons to the three girls, one of whom is in tears, but the other two are putting on a brave face, "Here now. I know you'll be good to them, M'lord, thank you."

Eliver's voice had softened somewhat but now it goes cold, "You misunderstand me. Three pounds you shall have, and I will have your word that you will take your daughters home and treat them as you should."

It is a moment before the father understands, and then for some time he can only stammer his thanks, and call the girls to come and give theirs too.

"It would ease your burdens, perhaps, to see these three decently married," Eliver suggests. And perhaps ease his temptation too, he thinks privately.

"I'd like nothing better, M'lord, but there's not a chance of it. There's none of the sort of folk I know who're in any position to wed just now, and I can't spare a farthing for a dowry for any of my girls - not even with your kindness, M'lord, for that must keep us all until I can earn a decent living again."

"I daresay I can find three men in want of wives, though. Your daughters look to be strong and healthy, and from what I can see uncommon brave and dutiful girls too, and you may let me worry about dowries."

"That they are, and they deserve better than I can give them," their father agrees, "God bless you for your mercy, M'lord."


Gwiona remonstrates mildly that if word gets about half the swineherds in Tilshead will be wanting him to pay their daughters' dowries. But then she catches up little Eleri and holds her tight to her breast for a long time. They reckon on another pound for each girl, and with such a sum it is easy enough to find three husbands willing to wed a swineherd's daughter.

There is a journeyman butcher who has finished his apprenticeship and set up shop, and is finding business good.

There is a smith, a widower with three children, the eldest too young to take care of the babies, who is at his wits' end trying to mind them and his forge at the same time.

And there is William, a man at arms at Tilshead. The son of a thatcher, he had become squire to a landless knight, and travelled a good deal of Logres as his master sold his lance wherever he could - Eliver himself once employed him for a season. Yet the knight had died of the flux, and having no living kin, his squire had sold his gear and put aside a tidy sum, and having also taken up a more settled employment he is very happy to take a wife.


Not actually final winter post as some of it has to take place after the battle etc. But I will most certainly be back for 490.
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 489 Adventure - "Always Salisbury"

Postby KleinerKiller » Tue Oct 08, 2019 11:39 am

Post I've been meaning to write up for a while, might or might not have something else to add whenever Funk writes up the big battle thing. Obviously I'm in for the next adventure and all those for the foreseeable future.

***

Dirt? Sand? Lukewarm snow?

Leiryn's eyes drift open, though he had not realized they were closed to begin with. The only thing he processes at first is the thing that sparked his thoughts: the little flecks of something dry and powdery brushing across his face, sticking briefly before peeling off and floating away. He tries to focus his eyes against the dark orange sky, but all he can make out are the most insubstantial glimpses of the irritating little things, which curve and twist around in unpredictable patterns as they fall.

Insects?

No, he assures himself, shuddering at the thought -- and realizing, as his muscles sluggishly contract, that he is standing. Gently as he can, unsure of himself now, he lifts a finger to his cheek and scrapes some of the dusty substance off. Against his skin, it's bone white.

... Ash.

The instant the word comes to him, his heart threatens to hammer out of his chest. No, no, not here, not now. He has gone so long without a horrible vision, it can't start up again in full force after so much good has come into his life. He spins around, fully waking now, eyes peeled for the first sign of a nightmarish melting face, struggling to remember the techniques he uses to relax and breathe-

Where... What?

His body goes slack again, but he remains fully alert, now more than ever. Because he isn't in his room at Winterbourne or out training in the fields. He isn't... anywhere, it would seem. All that stretches around him is an endless sea of gray-and-white sand -- no, ash -- raining from a dark orange sky that he can't seem to focus on even as he cranes his head straight up. There is nothing else, neither landmarks nor people nor fantastical monsters. He is as alone as he's ever been.

... Dreaming. He's dreaming. He almost slaps himself for being so stupid.

Sighing, he plants himself down in the ashy plain, which feels soft but far too strange to be comfortable. Merely a nightmare, of course. He can wait it out, and he will awake to a new day of a life he finally enjoys living. He lets his eyes drift closed again, listening to the echoing rustle of thousands of ash flakes brushing up against each other. The seconds will tick by. All this will pass, and he probably won't even remember it by the time he's up.

"Come on, tough guy, don't be like that."

Every muscle in Leiryn's body tries to spring up at once, sending him half to his feet and then twisting onto his side, landing with a hard thump that kicks up a warm cloud around him. His eyes shoot open and dart around, but despite his awkward position, there is no need to search. He can see with perfect clarity.

"We didn't get to talk much last time, did we? Even here, you were completely out of it. I just thought now would be as good a time as any to visit."

There... she stands. His mistress, profiled against the orange sky that now seems to burn around her, standing proud in armor adorned with the teeth and finger bones of her enemies. But she is different from the visions. No matter how long he stares, her face fails to melt and distort, fails to scream at him with a mouth full of smoke and suffocating flame. Her eyes are unmelted, radiating energy. Fire envelopes her, to be sure, but rather than eat away at the unscarred patch of her face, it dances around it, flows from within it. When her lips part to speak, he sees these same flames inside her, coexisting rather than destroying.

Arcadia sits down next to him, helping him back up with one hand, and he feels the heat emanating from within her armor. "You're shocked, clearly. Guess you don't remember the first time?"

He numbly starts to shake his head, but now it seems so clear: the visions he had through his first near-death, between the wyvern tearing into him and the waters reawakening him. He was here, silent and confused for what seemed like only a few moments, but warmed by her presence nonetheless. A haze had cleared from his mind as soon as he'd seen her, and even though he had forgotten as soon as he woke up, that feeling of newfound energy remained.

"Are you...?" Leiryn starts to ask, stumbling over his words. "You're not... real, are you?"

She shrugs, a rough smirk plastered across her crackling face, and starts playing with a bone strung on her shoulder. "Maybe. Maybe not. Probably not. Well, do you think I'd be able to tell you convincingly one way or the other?"

Against all odds, he finds himself chuckling. "Right. So... you're not real. Of course, you never were. After you died, I mean. Just my mind showing me the worst things I could imagine, trying to crack under the pressure. I knew that."

Her smirk remains, even as she fixes him with a stare that, through the smoke and smoldering light, feels genuinely affectionate. She says nothing, letting his words hang.

"Why am I seeing you now, then?"

"I think you know as well as I do."

This time, it is Leiryn's turn to be silent. He does know, but hearing her say it -- hearing that husky voice somehow unchanged by a blazing throat, the voice he hadn't heard in years -- means something. He might not ever get to hear it again.

After some time, she sighs, though her expression barely changes. "You're makin' a name for yourself, Leiryn. You're conquering armies, taking on magic and monsters. You've earned yourself a knighthood, fought alongside the rest of the guys who probably barely remember me, and, hell, you're a baron now. And hey, you scored yourself a hot princess!" She gives him a hard clap on the back, almost sending him tumbling into the ash again before he catches himself. "Even sealed the deal before you were set to marry her, right under her father's nose. You've got a lot to be proud of. You're your own man, not just some squire fawning over me."

Leiryn feels himself flushing red, and he can't help but smile at her words.

"'Course," she continues, "you also got your ass handed to you by a giant frog. Could've drowned right there, just a few days after your dramatic escape from death, right before you got betrothed. How embarrassing would that have been? Maybe make sure that doesn't happen again. If I am real after all, it'll be pretty awkward for me to give you this big speech and send you back to the land of the living, just to meet you back here right away."

"I understand, mis- er, Arcadia." He intertwines his fingers with hers, feeling her strength again while he has the chance. "I assure you, I will... I will try to live for as long as I can."

Arcadia nods and breaks his gaze to stare into the distance, her cocky expression finally flattening out. "You know... I realize I wasn't a very good person when I was alive. You fell head over heels for me pretty quickly, special thanks to that succubus, but I was... selfish. Reckless. Maybe a little too over-the-top, even if those Saxon bastards deserved everything I did. You were a thug to start with, but look at you now. You're better than I ever was, and..." She pauses, taking in a long, rattling breath. "Better than I probably would've ever been. We might have had fun together, for a while, but I think you found someone better fit for you. And I... I'm happy for you. For whatever that's worth, given present context."

Leiryn nods, reluctantly releasing her hand. She turns to him again, and for just an instant, everything he felt before he met Avice comes rushing back. He considers giving her the last kiss he'd spent so long regretting the absence of, but even if she is just a facet of his unconscious mind, something tells him that it would no longer be right. Instead, he wraps his arms under hers and embraces her, resting his head on her armored shoulder, wincing instinctively as the flames painlessly nip at his cheek. She responds in kind, wrapping him in a hug so tight that he catches himself worrying his spine might snap.

Then, without a word, they part.

"One more thing before you wake up, Leiryn."

The last thing I might ever hear her say, if I never hallucinate again. "What?"

She stands, dusts herself off, and stares down at him with her playful grin returned. "Don't you ever let anything happen to our daughter, understand? I don't care whether I'm real or not, I will rip my way out of here, flay you alive, and feed you to those bears."

She turns away before he can even think to answer, takes a single step, and vanishes into the ashes.

***

Leiryn awakens in his bed, almost smiling to himself.

Goodbye, mistress.
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 489 Adventure - "Always Salisbury"

Postby Ladki96 » Sun Nov 03, 2019 2:31 pm

Barely a day's ride from Levcomagus, the gang runs into a huge group of soldiers in the open country. Huh?

"It's an army," a scout says helpfully.

"Blains' army?" Miles asks in surprise.

"Blains' very large army."

Starting Intensity
Pre-battle:
Starting intensity: 33 (Outnumbered 2:1, Ambushed, Random Events +3)

Crap. Whispers break out down the line. Eliver shakes his head. "Miles, I'd follow you to the end of the earth and fight anything at all, but I told you so."

Miles looks sheepish. "That you did."

Eliver manages to keep his tone light. "We've beaten worse odds."

"What's the holdup?" Terrwyn yells from the back. "Let us crush them!" A cheer follows her words.

Miles nods furiously, "We will hand their arses to them!" He awesomely leads them to battle, and things look a little less bleak as the armies clash. But still pretty bleak. =(

Round 1 Intensity
Miles Impassioned by Hatred of Levcomagus
Terrwyn Impassioned by Hatred of Levcomagus (crit) (FP)

Round 1:
Miles crit battle (FP): -5
Blains succeeded battle: 0 (Couldn't crit with Battle Roll 30! Truly a fool!)

Intensity 28
Now would be a good time to start your favourite awesome battle music!

Eliver's unit is overwhelmed by the enemy, and he can't seem to control them! Arrows rain down upon the group. The one meant for El sails over his head, and Miles' doesn't even pierce his armour. The puny knights charging at them too make harmless attacks.

But then Eliver is hit by a jerk knight, and falls from his horse! Why has he still not got rid of Jack who has been established as being terrible? Smh. Miles makes up for it though, as he gives three knights what for! One man isn't enough to save the group though, and the unit is completely in disorder. El retreats, disheartened. This isn't going to end well.

Eliver Unit Round 1
Eliver failed battle
Opposing commander succeeded battle

Missile round:
Archer vs Eliver: miss
Archer vs Miles: no wound

Charge:
Eliver defeated by knight, no wound, KD averted
Miles defeated by knight, no wound, KD averted

Melee round 1:
Miles vanquished knight, (crit) MW
Eliver vanquished by knight, wound of 4, KD, 2 fall damage

Melee round 2:
Miles:
- defeated knight 1: KD averted
- vanquished knight 2: KD

Unit result: +1
Eliver failed battle
Opposing commander succeeded battle
Decisive defeat: +4 intensity

Never fear when Terrwyn is here! Well, actually, go ahead. Fear a little. It's any man's natural reaction, really. flexes

At any rate, Terrwyn leads her unit perfectly, spurring them to fight like hell! The archers can't seem to hit anyone, and even if they do, don't draw so much as a drop of blood. Terrwyn, Leiryn and Persi totally slay their lance charges! Well okay, one knight gets in a small nick, but that's only because Terrwyn's fighting two. ^^ The guys and gal send all knights who dare oppose them in the following melee to the ground. The troops also perform admirably, and the enemy unit is in disarray before long! But aw man, Blains can't be seen anywhere. Must be at the back. Pussy.

Terrwyn Unit Round 1
Terrwyn succeeded battle
Opposing commander failed battle: -5

Terrwyn fights boldly

Missile round:
vs Terrwyn:
- Archer 1: miss
- Archer 2: no wound
Archer vs Leiryn: no wound
Archer vs Persidius: miss

Charge:
Terrwyn:
- defeated knight 1 (crit)
- defeated by knight 2 (unopposed), wound of 4, KD averted
Leiryn vanquished knight (crit, FP), MW, auto-KD
Persidius vanquished knight (crit), auto-KD

Melee round 1:
Terrwyn:
- defeated knight 1
- vanquished knight 2 (crit), MW
Leiryn vanquished knight, KD
Persidius vanquished knight, MW, auto-KD

Unit result: +14
Terrwyn crit battle
Opposing commander failed battle
Crushing victory, -8 intensity :D

The Fellowship gathers together before the second charge.

Eliver's shoulders sag. "We are cursed. This venture is doomed."

Terrwyn rolls her eyes. Could he be any more dramatic? Could she be any more of a bitch? We'll have to read on to see! "We are fine. Levcomagus may have a bit more men than us-"

"Twice the men," Eliver interrupts.

"-but we have the skills to back it up! You need to stand tall!" Terrwyn talks over him. "Miles, are you going to stand for this garbage? Let me see who dares to suggest a retreat!" Her eyes sparkle in rage.

Miles grabs Eliver's shoulders fiercely. "We can still win this, El! These bastards are not getting off!"

"The odds are in their favour, but we are still holding," Leiryn nods.

"If we need to flee, I volunteer to hold the rearguard," is all that Persi says. These cousins are a pair, I tell ya.

Round 2 Intensity
Random Events: -4
Battle Intensity 20

At least Eliver has perked up. He holds his unit together this time! The archers' arrows bounce harmlessly off them. Blains has most certainly been ripped off there. Miliver rides over the hapless spearmen in their charge (El kills his in one go - Jack's alright after all!), and Miles fends off a knight, 'cause he's fighting two, adorable badass that he is. Miles and Eliver then put a sargeant and a guardsman out of action respectively. The knight attacks Miles again but deals no wound. No worries, Miles shows him how to. I'm not sure the student will be alive to put it into practice though. But, oh no! Miles is distracted enough by the knight that a sargeant and a guardsman freely attack him, and the latter finally manages to deal a wound. Not a big deal, but still an Ouch. The unit has acquitted themselves pretty well under El though, so it's all good!

Eliver Unit Round 2
Eliver succeeded battle
Opposing commander succeeded battle

Miles fights boldly

Missile round:
vs Miles:
- Archer 1: miss
- Archer 2: no wound
Archer vs Eliver: no wound

Charge:
Miles:
- vanquished spearman, MW
- tied with knight
Eliver smote spearman with a mortal wound

Melee round 1:
Miles:
- vanquished sargeant, auto-KD
- defeated by knight, KD averted
Eliver vanquished guardsman, MW, auto-KD

Melee round 2:
Miles:
- vanquished knight, KD
- defeated by spearman, no wound, KD averted
- defeated by guardsman, wound of 10, KD averted

Unit score: +17
Eliver crit battle
Opposing commander fumbled battle
Massacre, -12 intensity (HECK YEAH)

Terrwyn's group rocks as well! The archers must have grown tired of my mockery, for an arrow hits her for the same big Ouch as Miles. At least Persi and Leiryn are unhurt! She shakes it off and hopes Blains can watch her make a sargeant absolutely ded with his her horsie. Persi takes care of a sargeant and a guardsman. Leiryn gets attacked but his armour is great. Low-level solders shouldn't even try to attack them tbh, none of their attacks is gonna do any kind of damage. Anyway let's see here, flips page Terrwyn has a knight kiss the ground, Leiryn deals a grievous wound to a sargeant and Persi kills a guardsman and a spearman, sends another guardsman and spearman reeling, and fights a third spearman to a stalemate. Lucky is the guy who gets to escape alive and conscious after fighting with Wayford, even if his spear is broken!

Terrwyn Unit Round 2
Terrwyn succeeded battle
Opposing commander succeeded battle

Persidius fights boldly

Missile round:
Archer vs Terrwyn (crit): wound of 10, KD averted
Archer vs Leiryn: no wound
vs Persidius:
- Archer 1: miss
- Archer 2: miss

Charge:
Terrwyn: smote sargeant with a mortal wound
Leiryn defeated by knight, no wound
Persidius:
- vanquished sargeant, KD
- defeated guardsman, KD averted

Melee round 1:
Terrwyn vanquished knight, KD
Leiryn vanquished sargeant, MW
Persidius:
- vanquished guardsman, KD
- smote guardsman with a mortal wound

Melee round 2:
Persidius:
- smote spearman with a mortal wound
- defeated spearman, tie - broke spear
- defeated spearman, KD

Unit score: +29
Terrwyn autocrit battle
Opposing commander fumbled battle
Massacre: -12 intensity (HECK YEAH)

"And that's the way it's done!" Terrwyn high-fives a grinning Eliver - one more push, and the army will most certainly run back to their mothers.

"What are we waiting around for?" Miles asks. "Let's go!"

"Alright, but no more heroics from you!" El scolds.

Round 3 Intensity
Random Events: -2
Battle Intensity -6

There's no looking back from here on out - both units work to crush Blains' army from either side like a soda can. A work of art - italian chef kiss - if you can call horrible slaughter art. The archers are useless; their arrows can't help but misfire. Jack kills a spearman with his hooves and El pummels another two and a sargeant into submission. I mean, what are unconscious guys gonna do, not submit? And Miles, well...

Miles is his fucking awesome self, that's what!

After making chutney out of a couple of spearmen, Miles comes upon a dark-haired, dark-eyed, handsome man in a green jerkin. Two imposing knights with fox and tower sigils fight on his either side.

Well, well, well.

The knights notice him. Hard not to when he is upon them in an instant. Miles does what he does best: leaping on Blains, he runs his spear through him! Before the man can so much as swing his sword, Miles pulls his spear out and slams his foot into his chest! The mighty lord reels back and falls off his shitty horse, blood pouring out of him! The other knights are helpless under Wylye's might and quickly follow their leader to the ground as well! Fuck yeah! Miles' uncle loads the body on his own horse and vigorously blows his horn.

Eliver Unit Round 3
Eliver autocrit battle
Opposing commander fumbled battle

Eliver and Miles fight boldly

Missile round: all archers auto-miss

Charge:
Eliver:
- vanquished spearman
- smote spearman with a mortal wound
Miles:
- vanquished spearman, MW
- pureed spearman (crit)

Melee round 1:
Eliver:
- vanquished sargeant, auto-KD
- vanquished spearman, MW
Miles:
- smote Sir Blains with a mortal wound (crit, FP)
- vanquished bodyguard, auto-KD
- vanquished knight, KD

Unit score: +36
Eliver autocrit battle
Opposing commander autofumbled battle
Massacre: -12 intensity

With Blains' army in full pell-mell, Terrwyn, Leiryn and Persi bathe in the bloodshed! By the time the army completely routs, the trio's combined score stands at two knights, three guardsmen, four sargeants and six spearmen, half of which belong to Terrwyn! In the middle of the murder and mayhem, they hear the blast of victory from the other side of the field. Aw yiss! She would have preferred doing it with her own hands, but a dead Blains is a dead Blains. ^^

Terrwyn Unit Round 3
Terrwyn autocrit battle
Opposing commander fumbled battle

Persidius and Leiryn fight boldly

Missile round: all archers auto-miss

Charge:
Terrwyn smote spearman with a mortal wound (crit)
Persidius:
- smote knight with a mortal wound (crit)
- smote spearman with a mortal wound (crit)
Leiryn:
- vanquished spearman, MW
- vanquished guardsman, KD

Melee round 1:
Terrwyn smote spearman with a mortal wound (crit)
Persidius:
- defeated sargeant, KD averted
- smote spearman with a mortal wound (crit)
Leiryn:
- smote spearman with a mortal wound (crit)
- tied with sargeant (Leiryn fumbled)

Melee round 2:
Terrwyn:
- vanquished guardsman, auto-KD
- smote knight with a mortal wound

Melee round 3:
Terrwyn:
- defeated sargeant, KD averted
- defeated sargeant, KD averted
- defeated guardsman, KD averted

Unit score: +37
Terrwyn autocrit battle
Opposing commander autofumbled battle
Massacre: -12 intensity

Terrwyn runs to Miles with a hug as they all arrive. "You're the best!" She kisses the family spear he returns to her.

"Eheu!" Persi exclaims upon seeing the ruin that was the Praetor of Levcomagus. "This is a disaster. Villain he may be, but Duke Ulfius loves him like a son... only war can follow his death."

"Then we'll fight that war, and win it too!" Terrwyn retorts. Leiryn nods in agreement.

Eliver shakes his head, "Don't you remember what Merlin said? Someone is counting on the realm falling into chaos. We only wanted to make sure he learnt a lesson, not kill him!" He looks at Adwen. "Is there any way on earth...?"

"If you can stitch his miserable hide back together, you are welcome to the carcass," Miles waves at Blains.

Adwen nods. "Allow me." She goes to the body and starts doing what she can. Terrwyn makes a move to stop her, but Miles holds her back. What the fuck?? Has everyone lost their minds?

"Stop, you idiots!" she shouts.

Adwen presses a cloth firmly on Blains' wound. The blood soaks through at once, but she takes more cloth and redoubles pressure until the bleeding slows, and stops.

"He's not going to get off free even if he lives!" Miles says. "He'll have to pay a mountain of gold!"

Adwen gently cleans the wounds and applies some strange green paste. Terrwyn uselessly struggles in Miles' arms.

"I don't care for gold," she spits, "I want his head! Adwen, stop!"

Blains doesn't stir. Adwen seems to ponder something. She finally looks back, "I need solitude."

Persi immediately shoos them all out and guards the entrance.

Terrwyn kicks a rock as she walks off. She clasps her hands and prays fervently. Pwyll, I know I basically don't think of you ever, but please don't let him escape the Underworld - I will host the biggest ritual ceremony at Tintagel!

Miles and El probably make out. Leiryn roams around or something.

Half an hour later, the knights crowd inside the tent. Adwen, slightly swaying on her feet, looks to have been through a battle herself. She wipes her hands on her sweaty, bloodstained dress. Blains' chest, wrapped in bandages, rises and falls in time with his deep breath.

Persidius is stunned and can only say in a low voice, "Ave Maria."

Leiryn quietly curses, having hoped to see the Praetor die for real.

Miles battles with himself. The man deserved to die, but he's received plenty of punishment and Miles has no desire to start a war.

Terrwyn takes one look, and storms out.

Ending Intensity
Battle intensity: -30
Levcomagus army routed.

Blains taken prisoner, life saved by Adwen

Alright. This is her chance. Terrwyn peeps into the tent. No one can do anything if Blains were to simply die in his sleep, right? Weapons will cause questions, so her hands will have to do. She smiles and straightens up, in time to see Eliver walking towards her. Her friends seem to be freaking everywhere nowadays. To her alarm, he simply nods at her and sits near, instead of moving on.

"You volunteered for night duty? Don't you have better things to do?" she demands.

"I thought you could use some company!" Eliver smiles at her.

Ffff- alright. She waits for a while until he doesn't seem to be stirring. When she is at the entrance, a voice rings out in the darkness. "What is it, Terrwyn?"

Oh crap! "Nothing, El." She sulkily lets the curtain fall and resumes her position. Jerk. Wonder if Gwiona is up for a little fun sometime.



Earl Roderick loves his shiny new present and declares a feast in the Fellowship's honour. Terrwyn doesn't want anything to do with this dumb lot and steps outside to saddle Horsie, where she notices a maid going into the infirmary. Hmm... maybe she'll enjoy herself after all!
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 489 Adventure - "Always Salisbury"

Postby Cpt._Funkotron » Fri Nov 08, 2019 8:10 pm

The unconscious Sir Blains is carried into the Great Hall of Sarum on a litter. Sir Roderick listens to the report, stands from his throne, and climbs down the dais to examine the hostage. He lets out a a great laugh from his belly, obviously delighted. "Bloody good show, my knights! Bloody good show! Sir Rufon, see if you can't conjure up a feast for our returning conquerors! Sir Elad, stow this wretch in the north tower, and keep two guards on him day and night. And have my Chirurgeon see to his bandages. As greatly it pleases me to see the villain laid low, it's a good job he's not yet dead."

In a short matter of hours, the hall is transformed, tables and benches line its length, packed with the knights and ladies of the household, as well as a few distinguished guildsmen from the town to fill out the lower seats. The first course is fat peppered capon, paired with mead.

We are now entering a Feast. You may sit wherever you like (Above the salt, near the salt, or below the salt). Choose your feast action for round one.

New Glory Totals
Eliver 4,452 + 740 = 5,192, "Notable Knight", +1GB

Miles 4,645 + 830 = 5,475, "Notable Knight", +1GB

Terwynn 5032 + 630 = 5,662, "Notable Knight".

Persidius 7,158 + 590 = 7,748, "Notable"

Leiryn 3,243 + 330 = 3,573 "Respected".

Adwen 2,114 +115 = 2,229 "Respected"
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 489 Adventure - "Always Salisbury"

Postby Cpt._Funkotron » Sat Nov 09, 2019 8:33 am

Miles seems to be quite popular at the feast, with admirers and hangers-on at all sides; only fitting as the skewerer of the hated Praetor. He is approached at one point by a poor visiting knight called Sir Modawr, a mercenary from Escavalon, who asks him to keep a fine silver bracelet safe for him until he can return for it next year. Miles is suspicious of the item's true provenance, and politely declines the charge. A while later, he parries the flirtations of a handsome young waiter.
Geniality: 6

While pulling his peppered capon apart, Eliver notices a hard, uncooked bean fall out of it. When this is discovered, he is declared the Bean King of the feast, a festive tradition that entails him wearing a paper crown, appointing privy councilors of the other party guests, and having everyone nearby announce "the king drinks!" whenever her drinks. Several supplicants of his court as him to recite to them tales of his great deeds, but he demurs, and pleases them with his modesty.
Geniality: 6

Terwynn catches the eye of a comely blonde serving wench who seems to be flirting with her. She tries to flirt back, but is distracted by the barking of the lord's hounds underfoot, seemingly drawn to her food.
Geniality: 2

Persidius overhears Sir Rufon remarking that the mysterious Black Rider that the ladies of the lake had mentioned in their visit was sighted again not far from Baverstock.
Geniality: 2

Adwen flirts with Lady Ellen. The Countess plays it off as friendly chatter and changes the subject, with only the slightest hint of a blush across her cheeks.
Geniality: 2

Leiryn is called to the dance floor, but alas can acquit himself but poorly. As he returns to the throng of bacchanalians at the table, the courtiers of King Eliver turn to him to ask him of his great deeds, since his majesty will not boast of himself. Leiryn gives a stirring rendition of his heroic feats over the past few years, to the delight of his audience.
Geniality: 4


Round 2
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 489 Adventure - "Always Salisbury"

Postby Cpt._Funkotron » Mon Nov 11, 2019 10:50 pm

Eliver starts to get a little tipsy, goes off to play dice with Miles and a few other knights, and attracts the attention of a Monk, Brother Fleuog, who hopes to enter the knight's service.
Geniality 8.

Miles is called upon to tell his fellow knights of the chivalric virtues, and impresses them with his energy.
Geniality 9

Persidius gives the best toast of the feast when called to give one. He also overhears that the Centurion King of Malahaut has sent envoys asking King Uther for aid against the northern Saxons, led by Octa and Eosa.
Geniality 6

Adwen provokes a smile and an enigmatic rise of the eyebrow from Lady Ellen.
Geniality 5

Leiryn notices a squire about to take a knight's seat, but corrects him before anyone else notices. Later, a bard who is taking turns improvising verses to his songs pokes fun at Leiryn's recklessness in a way that makes him sound dim. Leiryn can't think of an appropriate response quick enough, and before long it would be too awkward to bring up again.
Geniality 7

Terwynn can be seen leaving the hall with an arm wrapped around the waist of the honey-haired serving wench.
Geniality 3

Round 3
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 489 Adventure - "Always Salisbury"

Postby Cpt._Funkotron » Tue Nov 12, 2019 12:28 am

A knight of Cambria visiting at the Earl's court, Sir Alain of Carlion, a young handsome knight famous for his honesty and courtesy, has Miles introduce him to some of the other notables of the county. Once Miles sees that his new acquaintance is well enmeshed among the other revelers, Miles is asked by Lady Elaine to help her lead the dance. He dances well, and she tells him so.
Geniality 16

Sir Eliver notices Sir Kamek trying to woo a young debutante who seems to be doing her level best to avoid him. Luckily, Eliver had just overheard that another Lady secretly admired Kamek, so Eliver is able to pry him from the damsel courteously and steer him somewhere his amorous attentions somewhere they will assuredly propser better. The lady, Lady Bellame, is very grateful to Eliver. Later, three knights challenge Eliver to a drinking contest, which carries on for a good long while. It quickly becomes something of a fixture in the feast, since the King of the Feast can't toss back a goblet without everyone else nearby shouting out "the King Drinks!". Eliver is eventually victorious, a victory he can savor for only a moment before Sir Rufon and a pair of wardens are dispatched to escort the raucous knights out of the hall and into the courtyard. He makes a point of keeping his paper crown.
Geniality 10

Leiryn spends a while talking with Lady Indeg. She pries into his engagement into the Witch-King's family, but only as a segue into boasting of her own magical heritage through the ancient blood of Baverstock. He gets the impression that this is her way of flirting.
Geniality 9

Persidius doesn't eat or drink too much.
Geniality 8

Lady Ellen laughs, smiles, and meets Adwen's eyes, reaching over to clasp a hand in hers, and remarks at how they never see each other any more, and that Adwen simply must come to visit her more often.
Geniality 7.


Round 4
As Eliver stumbles around the courtyard drunkenly, his paper crown half-cocked across his head, he sees Terwynn quickly mounting her horse and riding through the gatehouse before he can react. His eyes are then drawn upward by a bright, almost...glowing pair of blue eyes. It's the honey-haired maid, her bodice slightly undone at the front, standing with a dull grey cloak wrapped around her shoulders, standing atop the parapet adjacent to the North Tower. She smiles down at him and laughs. He blinks, and suddenly she seems to him twenty years older, her hair from gold to grey, her eyes from mirth to scorn. She turns and steps up onto the gap in the crenelation, wraps her cloak around her, and leaps , disappearing off the edge of the wall.

Not a moment later, a guard rushes out of the tower door and cries "The Praetor! The Paraetor's been Murdered!".
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 489 Adventure - "Always Salisbury"

Postby Ladki96 » Tue Nov 12, 2019 9:03 am

I want to take you back to a more innocent time, an hour ago!

Cpt._Funkotron wrote:Terwynn catches the eye of a comely blonde serving wench who seems to be flirting with her. She tries to flirt back, but is distracted by the barking of the lord's hounds underfoot, seemingly drawn to her food.

Stupid dogs. Terrwyn throws back her drink and stands up from the table. No one dare say Sir Terrwyn of Cornwall can't seduce a woman, something she has been practically doing since running around with Persi under Lord Amig. Now where the heck did that girl go?

Terrwyn finds her down the table, pouring wine. The serving maid looks up and smiles. Jeez, she's really beautiful. The praises ring out easier than usual, and too soon, the maid looks at the hall doors as an indication. Yay!

Sarum
Terrwyn smirks as the maid (she called herself Faehth) relaxes. Still got it- I SAID INNOCENT SMH

The girl stands up as the knight is buckling her belt. "Sir? I've heard you're a great murderess avenger of women."

"Uh, yeah?" Terrwyn says absent-mindedly. She has never been able to see the point of flattery after the deed's done.

"Won't you avenge me?" The girl smiles.

"Who needs killin', baby?" Terrwyn grins, plaiting her hair.

"The Praetor of Levcomagus."

Terrwyn drops her hands.

Faehth lifts her chin. "Almost four years ago, my whole world was destroyed. My village was set on fire. My parents were killed. My honour was trampled upon."

"You're from Buckholt?" Terrwyn says incredulously. She pulls her into a hug.

"But then," the maid continues in a muffled voice, "seven knights came out of nowhere and brought our enemies to their knees. They saved my life."

Terrwyn draws back and strokes her cheek. "I want to see nothing more in this world than Blains dead. But..."

"I can take care of the guards," Faehth says quickly.

Terrwyn laughs, "My, you're eager." That's kinda hot, actually. She pulls her into another kiss- Ok ok we get it

Salisbury
"Shh, Horsie. Come on out, there you go." Terrrwyn mounts and kicks him into high gear. She looks around and spots El. "Goodbye, your Majesty!" Crap, she's never gonna see them again.

Her heart hammers all the way to Cornwall. Every outpost, every toll, could have got the news. But she manages to keep ahead of any messenger. Horsie is the best.

Horsemanship rolled 16 vs. 16

Tintagel
A force of nature bursts into the Chamberlain's office! Sir Jordanus is taken aback. "Back so soon?"

"Yeah," Terrwyn breathes heavily, hands on her knees. "I love you. You know that, right?"

Jordanus smiles and stands up from his desk. "What happened?"

"There is-was this man. He humiliated me a lot and had me almost raped and stole the love of my life. So I killed him."

"Bastard. That's good, right?" Jordanus rubs her back.

"Yeah, but I didn't... do it honourably. And his boss's boss is King Uther. So now I need to um, leave Logres. Fugitive and all that."

"Oh! Oh." Jordanus is at a loss for words. "Terrwyn!"

"It's alright," she says quickly. "I just came to take Mair and be out of your hair. Feel free to live your life. I wish you only the best," she smiles and walks out.

Jordanus snaps out of it. "Wh-no! No, I can't let you do that!" He runs to her.

His wife turns around warily, hand on her sword. "Listen-"

"I'm coming with you," Jordanus interrupts. "How could you think otherwise? Get our daughter ready, I will just go offer the Duke my... resignation, I guess."

Terrwyn stares at him. Oh, fuck. He really is a good man. What has she done?

Ship
"Mummy, I miss Morga," Mair looks up. "And I feel sick."

"You'll make other friends, sweetie," Terrwyn kisses her. "Go to sleep." Her thoughts turn to Rhia. Persi wouldn't, right? Right?

Perhaps she should write a letter to Diane. If it doesn't get fed to the fireplace.

Frankland
Princess Audofleda warmly welcomes the family into the court and makes Sir Terrwyn captain of her household guard, along with a position for Sir Jordanus. She embraces Terrwyn the moment they can be alone. "But how-?"

"Long story," the knight smiles giddily. "But first, this." She kisses her long and hard.

Fuck you, I got my happy ending :P
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 489 Adventure - "Always Salisbury"

Postby Cpt._Funkotron » Wed Nov 13, 2019 6:15 am

Blains is found in a pool of his own blood, his throat cut open. His guards are found asleep and half naked in the room above, smelling of strong drink. The Earl has them thrown in the dungeon beneath the keep and tortured. Several hours later, they are brought up to the solemn hall with bloody backs and broken arms to testify for what reason they abandoned their posts. They report that a comely blonde wench with honey hair and eyes of blue diamond, in an old loose dress of faded lilac, brought them spiced mead and enticed them to lie with her, although they cannot remember actually doing so, or anything at all after the mead first touched their lips. No serving girl matching their description can be accounted for among the castle's staff or any of the visiting retinues, but several guests, especially the males, remember seeing one like her in the company of Sir Terwynn. Eliver's strange report, if he gives it, is ignored as the confused and bleary memory of a drunk man, and it is supposed that the wench must have fled with Terwynn. The guards are dragged down to the market square of Sarum the next day and hanged in front of a jeering mob. Sir Terwynn is declared an outlaw.

A messenger arrives from Silchester a few days later, thinking to barter for the Praetor's ransom, only to be presented with his cold pale corpse wrapped for burial and bound to a cart, ready to be born back to his former lord.

The next envoy bears the inevitable; a declaration of war.

Duke Ulfius of Silchester announces his intention to depose Roderick, who he calls 'The False Knight', in vengeance for the treacherous, cravenly, and contemptuous murder of Sir Blains, who the Duke now posthumously acknowledges as his own bastard son.

Several weeks later, word arrives that the Earl's outlying holdings have razed to the ground by raiders from Silchester, and his castle in Thamesmouth, at the Ford of the Roe Deer, has been besieged. The castle falls by storm before a relief force can be organized. It is already Autumn by then, too late in the year for the Duke to press further, or the Earl to counterattack. Salisbury and Silchester hunker down in their castles for the winter, amassing their forces for the spring to come.
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Re: [Pendragon RP] 489 Adventure - "Always Salisbury"

Postby CarrieVS » Thu Nov 14, 2019 10:27 pm

At least Eliver's closest friends believe him - those who heard what Merlin told them in Summerland. He was drunk, to be sure, too drunk to ride out with Miles, too drunk to think of removing that damned crown, too drunk and enjoying his festive reign too much to remember his resolve of watching over Terrwyn lest she fall to temptation. But not drunk to the point of seeing things. The woman was there. She changed her shape and she jumped straight off that wall without breaking herself at the bottom.

"She's the one, the sorceress behind it all. She must be. She tried to set Salisbury against Summerland and we made peace, so she's set Salisbury against Silchester instead, and nothing'll stop a war now. Didn't I tell you my thumbs pricked, when we rode out against Blains? I said it felt the same." Small consolation being proved right.

But what is, is. Come spring they'll fight Ulfius' men and until then there's no point in spending the rest of the year moping over it. What with Tilshead to manage as well as his own two manors there's enough to keep even Eliver busy, and plenty of amusements when he isn't.

Of course if he isn't visiting Miles then Miles is visiting him. And there are visits home to Woodford too, plenty of them. Sir Anwen dotes on her granddaughters, and can't hold baby Elaine often enough. Young Eldrid always begins by being much too grown up and dignified, now that he is a page, to run to his mother's arms when they arrive, but is usually soon running about with his little brother the same as ever.

Of course for Eliver, a visit home is also a time to enjoy some sport with his birds. The pride of the Woodford mews is his beautiful peregrine. She rarely fails to bring down at least a brace of wood-pigeons and it's wonderful to watch her stoop on her quarry with the speed of the wind. Eliver also keeps a couple of goshawks and a merlin, but his favourite bird is of little use in hunting for the table. Despite the hobby's diminutive size - scarcely larger than a merlin, and less apt to take game birds - she is remarkably swift, agile, and bold, and for the pure sport of it, it is marvellous to see her take swallows and swifts on the wing, or flitting bats at dusk, or even to go down to the river and fly her after darting dragonflies, which she eats without landing.


Come the winter, Eliver attends an invitation to dine at Pillarford bearing a covered basket tied very firmly shut, which he presents to Lady Adwen. "My Lady, I have a gift for you - in thanks for your service to me in Summerland." Meaning when Adwen had tended his wounds after he was unhorsed in battle and sorely hurt. The basket emits a loud wail as it is handed over. Adwen looks startled. "Take care when you open it," Eliver adds.

She unfastens it and raises the cover slightly. A short brown muzzle pushes its way out, with a renewed cry.

"One of your special cats?" Persidius asks.

Eliver nods. "The Woodford breed. This one takes after her mother. You'll hardly see a mouse or a rat once she's been at work a while."

That evening, Adwen brings him a small vial of what looks like dark, cloudy wine. "This is a physic I have brewed. I think you haven't been quite yourself since the spring, Sir Eliver. You should drink this."

Eliver's first impulse is to protest that there's nothing wrong with him. But in truth, though he could still not be called anything but sturdy, it did seem as though the effects of the fever he took from his wounds has lingered somewhat. He thanks her and downs the medicine in one gulp - though somewhat to his surprise, it tastes unfamiliar but not entirely unpleasant. It seems to work very well. By the next day he feels better than he ever has.
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