Wednesday, November 28, 2007

487: The Sons of Owein Perish!

Gobrwy the Bard sings:

I sing a tale of woe this day,
no song of joy or merriment,
A Saxon curr hath taken away
two knights in far off Kent.

One was Sir Llyr, who slew the Bear,
the other, his brother Sir Fane.
Two sons of Salisbury, each to God's care,
no more to suffer our pain.

Away with Madoc ap Uther they stormed
by sea and river and beach.
Alas, at Dover the devils were warned
and two Saxons there were for each.

With strength of arm and God's grace
the brothers faught with might,
so that friend and foe, of either race,
dropped lances out of fright.

A Saxon dog named Hildebane,
an unsavory villein from hell,
snuck upon Llyr and then upon Fane
and struck each with wounds too fell.

And laughed did he this madman brute,
as the Brothers Two did fall.
Is there none among the sons of Nudd
who will heed the Vengeance Call?

This is a crop they may not keep,
these Saxon sons of whores:
For every Cyrmic knight they reap,
bury twelve Saxons in the moors!

Sins of the Father



The healer and priest told me bed rest was in store for me this winter...

They told me my wound would last longer than this winter...
They may be right about my scar, but this winter, I would not have time to sleep...

His grace, Earl Roderick granted my petition to be wed. Facing such dark times, I know our noble land needs many strong Cymrics to face the growing threat of Saxon invasion. Our torching of their boats will only slow their migration. And seeing the lives lost in our efforts, I know it is my duty to Lord Roderick to beget and train strong sons to continue the fight. On a quite sunday morning, I wed Maugelie of Shrewton, a young maiden of seventeen, I prayed that night that she would bear me many boys of hearty constitution...

Maugelie's dowry will serve me well, I will have to tour Shrewton Manor soon. Her father, Sir Arawain, may be an ally in court, but with only one living sister and no heir, I cannot trust in his family to aid me in battle or in protection of my new land. I guess he granted Earl Roderick's request, knowing my strong arm would protect Shrewton and his daughter in the coming days.
My wound healed quickly, but left a scar across my left eye, I touch it and remember my father...

I did not know before this winter that my hatred for the Saxons could be any stronger, but with each passing night, staring out into the rain, a fire grows in my heart. My dreams are haunted by that soulless savage who struck me down. I can see his face and know he is taunting me. He defeated me and then turned and slew Llyr. I will seek this beast out, this I vow. This fire I know will only be put out by my sword in a Saxon belly...

Gerin the Giantslayer
487 A.D. Wylye Manor

GM's Note: Near Total Party Kill!

I almost had a Total Party Kill (TPK) last night. If it weren't for Sir Gerin going unconscious at the last minute, I would have not only killed off all the major characters, but all the back-up characters as well!

It might have been a TPK +.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

486: Sir Gwinas dies!

Alas, the noble Christian Knight, Sir Gwinas fell whilst defedynge Merlyn the Magicioun from a fetyd Creatour of Hell. He is survived by his mother, Lady Branne of Baverstock, and two sisters, both of whom will soon be ripe for marriage.

May the Soul of Sir Gwinas be committed to Christ and fynd peace everlastynge.

Monday, November 19, 2007

485: The Battle of Mearcred Creek

To the Abbot of St Anselmo di Aventino,
in the Holy See of Rome, be this lettre take.

I write this messaj in greate earnest to report that all does not go well in Britannia. The Enemies of the Faith, the Heathyn Saxon hordes have caused no end to worry and even our gracious King Uther seems hard pressed. For as the summer campaigne drew high, he met on the battle field the South Saxons under Alle, who is a soverign king of those who occupy the old Cantiaci lands. King Uther's glorieuse knights crossed the River Mearcred and engaged the horde and fought a pitched battle, from Prime to Sext, that only managed to check and enhaust either side. The Abbot Constrensus reports that there were mass dissertions on both sides after heavy losses, again equally on both sides. Were it not for our Roman trained knights all would have surely been lost and all Logres overrun.

Most worringly, my good friend the Abbot confides that Nephilim have arisen again, and that among the Saxons themselves were giants from the Old Times. Surely Christ was on our side for King Uther to have checked such a host! Surely we must not forget our most holy charge:

Mortui non vivent, gigantes resurgent.
Isaiah 26:14

Our Good Christian knights fought with the courage of lions, though, and, yea, it is such men as these that hold this fractured land together. The Abbot Constrensus tells tale of one such unit, composed of Knights of Earl Roderick, of Salisbury. They were a young band, newly knighted that season, and every member of their unit, save three, was sent to Heaven and their commander captured. The three young knights rallied under one of their own, a vassal, Sir Gerin fis de Leslie, who picked up the fallen banner and led his comrades wild against a sea of berserking heathyns, sending many back to stinking Hell. It was reported that Sir Gerin fell, but was rescued from the field by friend and squire, and heals now with the Sisters of Perpetual Diligence-in-Chastity, who tendeth his wounds under the guiding hand of Our Lord.

Alas, all does not go well, despite the bravery of men such as our King Uther and his Knights. Another Saxon host, crossed by sea and breached the fortress ring of Caercolum, a bulwark of our Eastern Shore. At Colchester, Duke Lucius was forced to retreat and the Saxons are now on both sides of the River Themesis. Londinium is now vulnerable from North and South shores. I tell you this out of pity and caritas for the good people of the civitas there, many of whome are the devout faithful and benefactors of Your Moste Holy Roman Church. Not a few are makinge the decisioun to leave, but most have faith in Our Lord and in our gracious King Uther, and trade goes on for now.

I write in haste, already knowinge your answer to my ultimate question. You cannot garner support to pay for a Papal Envoy to the Senate so that soldiers can be sent to defend our Eastern Shore. Such has been your answer before and I have no reason to suspect that it has changed. I can only pray that Our Lord moves your heart and that you remembre the sufferinge and plight of your Faithful in Londinium, whose tireless and at times lavish support of Holy Mother Church surely deserves notice by the Father in Rome.

Despite our small difference in minor matters of faith, I remain ever Your Brother in Christ,
The Abbot of St. Albans