Cai’s interludes / org-chart clarifications
Sometimes there is no clear chain of command; our particular conroi is still commanded by Dame Millicent.
Bedegraine is a petty kingdom, not a vassal of Logres but of the high kingship directly.
The kingdom of Logres is hereditary and automatically shifts to the next Pendragon (as in the house/clan/family).
The High King is elected by the supreme college and could technically go to any peer of them who gets the votes, but Logres is usually the strongest candidate.
Excalibur is an important mark of legitimacy for the High Kingship (like a set of crown jewels, you can’t just steal it and crown yourself though).
Prince Uther Pendragon, the brother of our slain High King, could apparently be summed up in “You sir, are no Aurelius Ambrosius”. Aurelius’ loss will be felt and unity throughout the realm will doubtlessly take a hit.
Lady Llylla is pronounced Shisha, like the pipe, because double L makes that sound in Welsh.
482 — Story
Before winter breaks, we get a letter from Count Roderick asking if we could be troubled to swing by Warminster/wick on our way back to report on the Lady Shisha. Warwick is up north by Lambor Castle where we met Lady Rosalyn.
The snow starts to clear, and we are torn between going to Idris overland or by boat. The usually quiet manor of Ector and Rachel was wracked by discussions for several weeks until we finally decide that we should abandon the quest and head to Warwick instead.
On the way there we pass Lambor Castle and hear that the HK was betrayed and killed by Bedegraine on the way back from Lindsey. Prince Uther has called all knights to Leicester (Lester) to muster for punitive action.
During the coming week, we and other knights loyal to Uther assemble at Leicester and we march on Bedegraine. As we march into Bedegraine, we find that Uther has commanded all the villages be burned. We ride through the desolation and reach the siege lines around Bedegraine castle. Uther is running around ranting and raving about the whereabouts of Merlin and Excalibur.
Uther orders M to prepare, Bedegraine does not have the resources to withstand a long siege and they will either give battle or surrender.
We find that Count Roderick and the War Baron Ulfius has shown up. The Duke of Cornwall is still missing, apparently due to adverse weather conditions. There is a great host assembled. Roderick was an admirer of the High King and looks forward to his revenge.
Millicent, with a jolt, just realized the importance of our bout with Eosa (lugging around the big golden torque the whole time) and gives Roderick a detailed account of last year. Roderick is concerned but he has no evidence the Saxons took part in this treason by Bedegraine. It is not clear to any of us why Bedegraine would commit this treason at all as they only stand to lose.
Roderick agrees to share M:s report with Prince Uther, he feels that as a loyal peer he is beyond reproach and that he can deliver the news without bringing his fury down on us.
The Prince and the Count are in discussions for four hours. Drustin, Liam and Millicent put their ears to the tarp of the Prince’s pavilion. Millicent believes that, in the end, the Count has managed to talked down the Prince from his rage. In the end, it seems that he believes that Malahaut has allied with Bedegraine and the Saxons in a conspiracy.
The beleaguered army of Bedegraine sallies forth from their castle and gives battle as Uther predicted. As lines are drawn, the Milliconroi charges against a group of Cambrian Archers, we maneuvre so that they don’t get an initial volley off. Asterius is knocked off his horse by their second scattered volley after we connected, but they otherwise provide light resistance and are swept aside.
We take a breather to attempt to patch up Asterius and Drustin. Asterius is successfully patched, but the dirt we rub on Drustin’s wounds seems to do nothing but cause him to whine. All out of ox piss, that’s all we could manage. Our spirits are somewhat improved by the break.
Back on the field, we charge a group of Malahaut knights. On the first pass, the knight targeting Drustin accidentally plants his lance in the ground and pole-vaults himself into the ground with force. Asterius is unhorsed. The Malahaut Knights account themselves honourably and valiantly throughout, not choosing to double up or attack unhorsed knights. Asterius is wounded in the third pass and unhorsed again, more severely wounded. The rest acquit themselves well, the valiant Malahaut knights are defeated in three rounds of successive charges, the time spent training showing results, as most score hits. Drustin, despite not training much with the lance himself, performs above expectations! Millicent scoops Asterius up as the final charge finishes (as has been her speciality) and brings him back to the medical tent.
As we retire, we see Uther riding towards the King of Bedegraine. Uther jumps over from his horse to the back of Bedegraine’s and brutally saws off his head with his dagger. He then holds up the head and starts drinking the blood flowing from it. The Bedegraine army routs. After the battle, Uther appoints one of his knights as count of what is left of the devastated Bedegraine.
Asterius is treated but goes missing from the medical tent (mad, two failed passion rolls).
The rest pass down through Warwick to meet Lady Llylla/Shisha as requested by Roderick. She is heir to three manors; her brother the Baron has no children of his own. She has a younger sister that she would share her inheritance with. Although she possesses great physical beauty, she is most known for being very cruel to her servants.
A muster is sounded, with assembly at Sarum. Prince Uther is to be made King of Logres (inheriting his brother Aurelius) and immediately wants to invade neighboring Summerland (seemingly just to expand Logres, it seems ripe for conquest). The campaign might take the rest of the year.