In-game year: 480
missing synopsis, inferred from memory and other entries
Summary
The squires remain at Winchbank Castle, continuing their mission to observe Lady Ellen of Winchbank as a potential bride for Count Roderick. During a feast, Sir Blaine of Levcomagus (a Silchester knight) presents a finely crafted box containing a “rare creature” meant to impress the baron. When opened, the gift becomes an attack.
The fairy dragon
A small dragon with butterfly-like wings—no larger than a small dog—erupts from the box and lunges for the Baron of Winchbank’s face. The squires react immediately:
- Noah grapples the creature to stop the assault
- Drustin helps pin its dangerous tail
- Millicent attempts to muzzle it with a cup
- Beonred (Beon) stands ready with a bench to defend the baron
- Assterius and Liam try to identify the creature
Liam recalls the creature is a fairy dragon, tied to the fairy realms—possessing a poisonous tail stinger and a strange mind-affecting breath. The squires hold it long enough for Sir Jerem to deliver the killing blow.
Strange consequences
The creature’s blood is magical: it burns Drustin when it splashes him, but once washed away it leaves him strangely transformed—his appearance dramatically improved.
Sir Blaine falls to his knees begging forgiveness. He claims he bought the dragon egg from a mysterious woman in white, promised it would bring fortune to the baron’s house. Her name is revealed: Lady Niev.
Suspecting powerful faerie magic, the baron dismisses the Silchester knights and orders them to return home.
Appeasing the fair folk
Fearing terrible misfortune from killing a fairy creature, the squires seek counsel from Lady Rachel of Carbonog. She warns the slaying is very bad luck and advises burying the dragon with offerings. The squires perform a ritual burial in a nearby forest:
- inter the dragon’s body
- leave food offerings
- sacrifice a cow
- bury Liam’s silver dagger (a gift from Lady Ellen) as part of the offering
War comes to Salisbury
Before they can depart, word arrives: Vortigern’s heir marches with an Irish army against Salisbury. Moved by the squires’ courage and loyalty, the baron asks Sir Jerem to knight him so he can personally lead forces to aid Salisbury. Sir Jerem agrees; the baron raises an army, and the squires ride ahead with Sir Jerem toward Salisbury.
The enemy at Figsbury — and the ogre’s return
Near Figsbury, they spot a force approaching:
- ~40 Irish warriors
- javelin-throwing kerns
- a towering figure nearly three meters tall
The squires suspect the giant is the same ogre tied to the hillmen who killed their knights the previous year.
Sir Jerem proposes a risky plan: feint with the baggage train to distract, while the squires circle and strike the kerns from behind with hit-and-run tactics to split the enemy.
Disaster in the charge
As the squires charge, the Irish spot them and hurl javelins. Horses panic; riders struggle for control. In the chaos, Noah charges to spear an enemy—misses—and is struck back by a kern with a dagger. The blow decapitates Noah instantly. The surviving squires press on as the battle has only begun.
Scene / Beat Log
- Feast at Winchbank; Sir Blaine’s “gift” unleashed
- Fairy dragon attack; squires restrain it; Sir Jerem kills it
- Drustin altered by magical blood
- Sir Blaine confesses: egg bought from Lady Niev (woman in white)
- Barons dismisses Silchester knights
- Ritual burial/appeasement with cow sacrifice; Liam’s silver dagger buried
- News: Irish army under Vortigern’s heir marches on Salisbury
- Baron asks to be knighted; raises army; march toward Salisbury
- Enemy spotted near Figsbury: Irish + kerns + giant ogre
- Plan: baggage feint + flanking hit-and-run
- Charge goes wrong; Noah decapitated
Consequences & New Facts
- A fairy dragon was killed at Winchbank; possible faerie repercussions
- Lady Niev (woman in white) is tied to the dragon egg and likely faerie meddling
- Drustin is physically transformed by faerie blood
- A ritual offering is made; Liam’s silver dagger (gift from Ellen) is buried
- War is imminent: Irish under Vortigern’s heir threaten Salisbury
- The ogre appears to have returned, now associated with the Irish force
- Noah is dead
Timeline entries to add
- (480) — At a Winchbank feast, a fairy dragon attacks; the squires restrain it and Sir Jerem kills it. (Source: Session 005 - The Fairy Dragon and the Ogre’s Return)
- (480) — Sir Blaine reveals the egg came from Lady Niev, a woman in white; Silchester knights are dismissed. (Source: Session 005 - The Fairy Dragon and the Ogre’s Return)
- (480) — The squires perform a ritual burial with offerings (including a cow sacrifice and Liam’s silver dagger) to appease the fair folk. (Source: Session 005 - The Fairy Dragon and the Ogre’s Return)
- (480) — News: Irish under Vortigern’s heir march on Salisbury; the Baron seeks knighthood to ride to war. (Source: Session 005 - The Fairy Dragon and the Ogre’s Return)
- (480) — Near Figsbury, the squires spot Irish warriors, kerns, and a towering ogre; Noah is killed in the opening clash. (Source: Session 005 - The Fairy Dragon and the Ogre’s Return)
Next: Session 006 - The Shield of St. Crispin and the Fall of the Wyvern