Session 013 — Player Synopsis — Assassin Winter / Ellen Escort
Dickson (Patrik) —
483 – Session 1 Winter – personal events A man working for the Earl in an undefined capacity, named Bruce, asks Drustin if whether during his travels he has noticed anyone making deals with witches. No one really knows what he does, but everyone is a bit scared of him. (There is a choice here – turning the foolish Liam in might yield high rewards, but would equal disloyalty). He bites his tongue, feeling conflicted since he and Liam have grown closer since their initial petty rivalry.
A young knight comes to the castle in the winter. He does not have any equipment, he lost his liege during the winter. He asks Liam for hospitality and whether he could share some of his food and equipment. Liam gifts him 1 pound.
There has been an assassin sent for the Earl of Salisbury. Millicent has the choice between confronting the assassin and risking his poisoned blade or calling for the guards. She jumps in with her sword drawn! The assassin gets through her guard, grievously wounding her by knocking out one of her great teeth. Kenian too receives a hit from the poisoned blade before the killer is finally stopped.
A commoner accidentally jostles Geraint, he forgives the intrusion. The madness of ASSterius Overwhelmed by post-combat stress, Asterius wanders the land regaining his composure among the peasantry and the woodland critters. He does improve his woodsmanship.
Springtime
We are sent to Londinium to retrieve Lady Ellen for her marriage to Earl Roderick. Millicent is back to leading the conroi (the Kenroi interlude now over). Travelling through the Perdue forest, we are ambushed by bandit archers concealed by the woodwork. They are preparing to loose arrows from the tree line. As we advance on the archers (req HM checks, almost all fail), Saxon spearmen emerge from hiding in front of the archers, attempting to strike with spears. The bandits get their volley off, Asterius avoids the ambushing spearmen and knocks one archer out (hm check). Geraint cuts down the spearman opposing him. Drustin supports Liams charge towards the archers, trying to distract the protecting spearman. He strikes the spearman down with a “DIE SAXON SPEAR-DOG!”. Asterius is wounded. Liam slips past the downed SPEAR-DOG to kill the archer. Millicent, herself having been caught by two arrows, calls the others to support her and Asterius on the right flank. Drustin responds by riding over and absolutely mauling the spearman accosting his commander and thus distinguishing himself. Geraint, inspired by the loyalty he feels to his new companions, in turn dispatches the spearman who wounded Asterius. Millicent contemptuously rides over to the remaining archer and finishes him off. We embrace in a circle of healing. The designs on the shields are Deiran (King Eoasas clan). Liam notes that the paint seems freshly applied, painted over an older design. We attempt to rub off the paint, but we fail to identify the previous design. Millicent brings one of the shields with us.
At Londinium, we pick up Lady Ellen from the White Tower. Returning back through the forest, Millicent orders us to don armour, to arm up and to tighten the formation. Millicent notices another damned ambush ahead, at least two men. She motions for quiet and that there are enemies ahead. With the conroi aware, she signals the charge. As we close, we notice an ogre ripping out a tree and turning towards Drustin. Ellen draws an arming sword. Noticing this, Liam hands her his own shield. Millicent and Asterius charge the two Saxon “Shield Biters” on the right flank, diverting the rest of the conroi to attack the ogre. Drustin charges, inspired by Ellen herself being present, his spear shattering on the Ogre’s strong hide. Geraint follows him, but he rides straight into the Ogres swing of the tree. He is knocked off his horse and debilitated by the hit, but the landing looked cool. Millicent slams into the shield biters but does not connect. Asterius breaks off his lance in the crazed, frothy visage of one of the shield biters. Drustin, noting that Geraint is down, screams that he has more hair on his stones than the ogre does on his entire head. The Ogre now wants to use Drustin’s testicles as a toupé and attacks him instead. Drustin manages to disarm the enraged monster as the remaining knights close in. A is left to mop up the final shield biter. Liam gets in a good hit, drawing blood. Ellen herself closes in and swipes its legs, it hits the ground with a desperate yell but it is still alive. Drustin attempts to show off his horsemanship, commanding Brass to “Clippity-Clop” the Ogre. Brass obeys, and they dressage majestically over the Ogre while he grins and winks at Ellen. What a year for Drustin. Millicent, not quite impressed by the theatrics, puts the ogre out of its misery. Asterius takes the remaining “Saxon” prisoner, noting that his accent seems suspiciously Silchestrian… As Liam retrieves his shield from Ellen he remarks: “at least we’ll always have the ogre!”.