PALADIN 769: The River and the Wizard-Knight

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: PALADIN 769: The River and the Wizard-Knight

Postby Ladki96 » Mon Dec 30, 2019 8:26 am

This is all already rather screwed up - the wisps, the pitch-black forest, the mysterious knight, his suspicious servant, a sudden challenge, but referring to Renier by Rosamund and Rashad's names after the sword and mace bouts takes the freaking cake.

"What the hell does that mean?" Renier shouts.

"Where did you see them?" Rashad asks.

"Are they alright?" Rosamund demands.

"Your cousins are alive, well, and nearby, though not near in a way you would understand," the Black Lance simply says. "Now ask your boon."

Boon 1
Rashad, careful as ever, deliberates only for a moment.

"I wish to borrow your horses."

They are shadowy creatures: jet black coursers with shining eyes, and Sir Lance tells him they shall serve him until he leaves the Dark Wood.

Rosamund and Renier's groups are also given the horses, but the knight gives no reply to their askance looks.

Boon 2
Renier hesitates. The knight seems to be familiar with sorcery of all kinds. In that case, this may be his only hope. "Family before all else..."

"My cousin Sir Dagobert is a most excellent and loyal knight of our lord the Duke of Ardennes. Unfortunately, he has fallen under the spell of an evil, emerald jewel. His obsession has made him abandon his duties. How can we rescue him?"

The knight replies swiftly, "The valiant knight can be saved by simply taking the jewel from him, but whoever takes it will be cursed in his stead, unless it is won in fair combat."

Boon 3
They have wasted enough time. Their mission still calls. Rosamund cocks her head. This fellow cannot tell her the way out of the forest, but there are other ways of getting what she wants.

"How can we reach the bandit knights?"

"The robber knights are in a ruined keep. There is a secret path in these woods which goes up to the broken cliffs behind the castle where you can find an old tunnel."

The Black Lance tells the other pairs about the path as well, and all three set off for it.
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Re: PALADIN 769: The River and the Wizard-Knight

Postby Scarik » Sun Feb 16, 2020 8:06 pm

The path they take is treacherous, dark and filled with horrors. In near silence their shadowy mounts step carefully across knotted roots and slick mosses. Their footing is less perfect when it comes to the skeletal remains that lay thick upon the ravine floor. Without ceremony or care the black steeds crash down on the sad remnants of those who fell victim to the wisps.

Each cracked rib and broken limb sounds like a thunderclap in the eerie silence that surrounds them and each such sound jars the knights to their bones and pushes them to look within. Few can say that they are not changed by the experience.

But Interminable as it seems even the dark wood must eventually yield to the dawn, and when it does a welcome sight greets the knights. Yet, the black steeds balk as the light creeps toward them in rivulets spilling over the cliff-side ahead, and the knights must dismount lest they be carried back the way they came by the stomping creatures.

So they are left at a cliff perhaps 30 yards high. At its base is crumbled stone and refuse thrown from the top where a newly repaired tower can just barely be seen. Whatever walls encircle it can't been spotted from their low angle but they know the ravine here must eventually give way to a path up.

Everyone roll awareness
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Re: PALADIN 769: The River and the Wizard-Knight

Postby CarrieVS » Wed Feb 26, 2020 4:12 pm

It is Renier who spies the way up at last, a steep stair cut into the cliff so cunningly that it can only be seen from the right angle. They climb cautiously and as silently as they can, half expecting cries of discovery and a hail of missiles from the tower to rain down on their precarious position. But they don't seem to be detected, even as they reach the top and find themselves within a half-circle of wall, partly ancient, largely rebuilt with very recent mortar. The tower, also heavily repaired, stands between them and the gate and they hurry across the small stretch of open ground to stand in its shadow.

Remains of another stretch of wall line the clifftop, some of the fallen stones half choking the stair so that it is even harder to spot from the top than the bottom. That is, doubtless, why the renegades did not rebuild the rear wall, trusting to the cliff for sufficient defence.

The fort is not unguarded, but the guards are few, posted around the main gate, and unwary of an incursion from their rear. The cousins are able to slip inside the tower, unseen. A couple of servants within are easily cowed by the appearance of five strange knights, and subdued without a sound. There is no sign of their knightly masters yet.

When they do return, at first they are in triumphantly high spirits, laughing and joking, laden down with loot and captives. The spoils include all the cousins' squires and horses, along with the Lady Ermeline, and Rashad's brother Sir Ikram. None seem to be harmed, even Ikram: he is not so great a fool as to put up a fight, single-handed, against six knights, any more than he is fool enough to go chasing after will-o-wisps by dark.

Sir Dagobert is with their foes. Silent and glowering, he alone among them is not cheerful. He follows Renaud more like a dog than a knight, but once he has dismounted and for the moment has nothing else to occupy him, he stands cradling the accursed green stone in one hand, staring at it.

The gate guards and the robber knights' squires have the captives in hand, and Renaud orders them to take them into the tower and lock them up, calling loudly for the servants to come and help. He is quite taken aback when the cousins throw open the door and pile out into the bailey with drawn blades in their place.

But he recovers himself quickly. He signals his knights not to attack, though they all draw weapons, and with a humourless laugh bids them welcome to his castle.

"I'm afraid it seems we have you outnumbered." He glances at the bound Ikram. If he was with the rest of them, they'd be six knights apiece. "Well, never let it be said I'm unfair. Pick your champions: one of you can face me, and the other," he smiles, "fights my good friend here." He gestures to Dagobert, who moves to stand beside him, showing no sign of recognition to his cousins. "If the rest of you move, so will my brothers."

Sir Renier steps forward without hesitation. Coenwulf and Adele look at each other, and Adele takes her place as the second champion, opposite their spellbound cousin. And from the rear of the cousins' group, Leufroy walks forward to stand in front of the two knights.

Renaud raises an eyebrow, "You aren't quite the champion I intended to fight. You won't do the rest of them any good by telling them to turn the other cheek, because I certainly don't mean to."

Leufroy nods. "You are men of war. You're going to fight, so let us ask the blessing of St Michael upon it, and make it a true trial of justice. If your cause is right, the Lord will see you victorious."

"Indeed He will. Alright then, Father: say your prayers, and we'll let the one duel stand for all." He waves Dagobert away. "Is it the big one who means to fight me?"

Renier hefts his axe, but the Reverend holds up a hand, "No, cousin, there can be no such weapons as that in this fight. Take a plain axe, and trust in God before magic." He turns back to Renaud, smiling benevolently.

Renaud laughs, "Clever priest. The same goes for me of course, but I seek only just retribution, and I don't fear to face any of you, with or without Froberge." He unbuckles the famed sword form his hip and hands it to his squire.

The prayers and blessings are said, the archangel is invoked, and the two knights face each other. Renaud is a big man, but still dwarfed by the massive form of Renier, who has forgone the protection of a shield and wields a massive two-handed axe.

The moment the duel begins, Renaud charges in and lands a fair blow, which is turned by his opponent's armour. Somewhat to his surprise, Renier is not even staggered. Before Renaud can recover, the giant's axe cracks his shield to find an opening in both his guard and his plate, and chops his legs out from under him. Blood begins to trickle, but he struggles to his feet even as Renier opens a second wound on his shield arm, and stands firm.

They weave and fence for a while, the renegade limping and marking his steps with crimson drops, but not dangerously weakened. Finally, Renier's axe lands a ringing blow which does not penetrate his helm, but stretches him groaning on the floor, too dazed to try and rise.

Renier has not a scratch on him. Who can argue with so clear an expression of God's will? Renaud's brothers surrender to the king's justice and release their captives, and to the victor the spoils: his squire allows Renier to take the enchanted sword, and the fabulous horse Bayard submits to his new master as well. Renier chivalrously tends his foe's wounds, which seems to do little to mollify Renaud once he is brought round sufficiently to comprehend.


Rashad approaches his brother, speaking in Arabic. "I'm sorry, Ram. We shouldn't have left like that, on such a foolish fancy."

Ikram sighs, "I was thinking much the same, and that I'd always credited you with better sense, until you all came out of that keep. But now I see it was the will of Allah - all things told we had rather better of it this way than the six of us fighting them at our camp. I think it's me that's had the fool's part in all this."


Dagobert stands apart, staring at his green gem.

He does not react immediately as Rashad approaches him. "Cousin, how have you come to this?" he asks. "The Sir Dagobert I know would never follow such a man as that! And still less would he stand staring at some trinket once defeated, with neither a fight nor a word. Can't you see that thing is poisoning your mind? Cast it off, cousin."

Dagobert finally looks up, blinks a few times as though confused, clutches the gem on its chain to his chest with one hand, and then draws his sword and rounds on him with a wordless cry of rage.

Rashad backs away, but only to drag his own weapon from its sheath and snatch up his shield, suddenly furious at his cousin. Renier looks about to step in, possibly to grab one knight in each massive hand and push them apart - or bang their heads together - but Rashad snarls at him to "stay out of this," and he holds back.

Rashad lands a blow that staggers Dagobert, and perhaps because he will still not release the green stone, no more to throw out an arm for balance than to take up a shield, he goes down heavily and gets up favouring his left foot. Before he can fully recover his balance he is knocked down again by the enraged Arab, this time stretching his full length on the ground and he rises with blood streaming from his nose.

But minor wounds seem only to spur Dagobert to greater anger, and he redoubles his attack. Unable to land a blow with any effect, Rashad is driven back and back until his opponent manages to trip him. He falls, and though unhurt it is his turn to be sent sprawling again as he fights to regain his feet.

Dagobert thrusts at his opponent's side and draws blood for the first time, but Rashad contrives to roll with the blow and leap back up, slightly wounded but getting his feet firmly planted before the battle is rejoined. Though Dagobert's blade finds its way through his armour again, he stays upright, but the wounds and the continued exertion are starting to tell. Already this brawl has gone on twice the length of Renier and Renaud's duel, and both knights are tiring but neither has yet gained a decisive advantage.

They trade blows a little longer to no real effect, until with a great crash the pair collide, swords locked between them, grappling with each other. Somehow, neither falls, but Rashad wrenches his blade free, pulling Dagobert's weapon clear from his grasp, and inflicts a deep scratch before dancing back to take up his guard again.

Their squires, like everyone else, are simply watching, so Dagobert is forced to dive to the ground to recover his blade, and Rashad takes full advantage of the circumstance to drive his point home in the back of the ensorcelled knight's left shoulder.

A heavier flow of blood begins to pool beneath the prostrate Dagobert. He still tries to rise and gets halfway to his feet before falling back to his knees, his sword falling from his hand again as he falls forward in a swoon.

Several of the spectators, from both parties, who have equally been watching this furious bout, gasp as Rashad thrusts his sword at the unconscious knight's neck. But he merely lifts the chain of the emerald necklace and pulls it over Dagobert's head, flicking the gem a couple of feet away.

He staggers backward a few yards until he comes up against a wall, and sits down heavily, panting for breath. Leufroy approaches the fallen jewel, calling upon the Lord to cleanse the unclean and cast out its evil. The unearthly glow fades, leaving a mere green stone. Leufroy picks it up and places it in a box, showing no sign of the enrapturement that had inflicted his cousin. Then he tends to the stricken Dagobert, binding his wounds as best he can and saying a prayer over him. He returns gradually to consciousness, but seems little less distracted than before. Instead of staring at the gem he simply stares at the ground.

Rashad watches sullenly without a word. This is not what he intended. Even if Dagobert is free of the accursed stone after all, he knows that for a moment he had his cousin at his mercy and showed none. For a moment he might have killed him, if fortune and good steel armour had not prevented it. Renier approaches him, meaning to see to his cuts, but receives such a look of daggers for his pains that he baulks and leaves him to Leufroy's ministrations, which Rashad suffers with neither complaint nor thanks.
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Re: PALADIN 769: The River and the Wizard-Knight

Postby Ladki96 » Fri May 08, 2020 6:58 pm

The knights make their way back out of the accursed forest, and this time neither will-o-wisp nor supernatural knight waylay them, thankfully. Sir Rashad and Sir Dagobert's moods improve bit by bit, on the road, and the latter seems little worse for wear after such a long time under the curse. Perhaps the speedy restoration should be credited in part to Lady Ermeline, who barely seems to leave his side, and Dagobert either returns the same affections or is too distracted to send her away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When they return, of course, the Duke is still away. It has barely been a fortnight, though it surely felt longer in that blasted forest. Sir Dagobert, Sir Renaud and his brothers are held prisoners until higher authorities than the few knight guards left behind can give their sentence. Even Sir Egier has left, with the second muster, and thus they can do naught but to wait.

Renier doesn't mind the time passing by, eyes scanning the court ladies until they alight on the plainest (yet the loveliest where it matters most!) of them. They share a smile.

Ikram and Rashad, happy to have each other for company, ride around in the mornings and speak to each other in intense Arabic in the evenings about who knows what.

Sir Rosamund and Hecate take longs walks and play fetch.

Adele uses her free time to seek out the scholar Matthaeus, whom she had had barely a moment with since a year ago. He is surprised once again but not displeased, and offers to teach her to read, and they spend what little time they have after Adele's guard duty and Matthaeus' letters and books, shut up in the tower.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At last, they arrive.

God favours Charlemagne - how could He not? - for the war has gone well for their side. Duke Hunold bent the knee and the King graciously offered him mercy. Aquitaine is brought back into the fold.

The King is in such good humour that he even pardons the rebel knights, once they throw themselves on the ground in full court. Sir Rashad and Sir Renier are famous nao. Not Famous famous... but definitely famous. Renier is given Froberge and Bayard. The gem, safe now, is given to the Duke (and from there to his wife, I do believe :P). Dagobert's place among the Duke's bachelor knights is reinstated, yay!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sir Coenwulf and Sir Aelred - after plenty discussion - adopt five orphan children of various ages (boys as well as girls) in the autumn. St Michael's Mount is rarely quiet after their arrival, and the fathers are kept quite busy.

Sir Rashad gets messages from his homeland, keeping him up to date with family and other affairs. It seems the Caliph has ordered the Canal of the Pharaohs be closed to cut off supplies from rebellious regions. He and Ikram have a new half-sister.

Sir Dagobert's cousins keep a careful eye on him, but relax as he returns more and more to his former self with every passing day.

Sir Renier hesitantly asks to talk to the Lady Machteld after returning from the Duke's solar. Her maids, from a distance, witness her jumping into his arms after a short conversation. Her mother's protestations die in her throat as the Duke is only too glad to give his permission to the hero.

A double wedding is held that winter. Sir Adele looks positively radiant as she is married in a simple secular handfasting to Thierry's Jewish scholar - a much more surprising piece of news than that of the second couple. Renier and Machteld are of course, married in the Church in Bastogne, even if the feast that follows is the same for both both couples. Lady Ermeline doesn't bother to hide her longing looks at Dagobert during the ceremonies.

Sir Rosamund is content for the moment to exchange winks and wicked smiles with Sir Maugis during the wedding feast. Hecate looks between the both of them inquisitively.

All is well, for the moment.
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