In-game year: 484
Player synopsis
Summary
After Sherwood, the knights continue north toward York with their captive Saxon princess Ælflaed. She reveals the purpose of her mission: she was sent by her husband to sacrifice herself at the Well of Wilderspool in hopes of winning Saxon relief from the Thuringi—enemies who serve Hunnic overlords.
The Centurion-King of Malahaut
Before reaching York, the company encounters King Brodin of Malahaut, a Brythonic ruler known as the “Centurion‑King” for wearing his grandfather’s Roman legatus armor. Courteous and disciplined, Brodin offers provisions and welcomes parley.
Parley at York
Using Ælflaed as entry, the party meets Eosa “the Giant” Horsason and Saxon elders in York. Eosa reveals the suggestion to capture York came from a Cymric man with grey hair and blue eyes—matching Merlin’s description—troubling both sides.
Eosa asks the knights to investigate the Well of Wilderspool instead of sacrificing Ælflaed and offers 5 gold now and 5 upon return. He also proposes unconditional surrender of York to Brodin; Brodin is offended but, at Millicent’s urging, agrees to ride south to meet Uther and air grievances.
The hanging knights
Heading east toward Wilderspool, the company finds a sequence of grotesque warnings: knights hanging from trees, ropes threaded through hauberks. The trail culminates in a clearing where thirteen knights hang in a circle around a mound of bodies.
At the center, an old woman rummages through corpses and calmly states she intends to eat their brains. Millicent orders the charge.
The hag’s clearing
The hag has prepared traps throughout the clearing. Drustin’s horse Brass is killed by a hidden trap. Millicent fights through and lands a powerful blow; Assterius and Liam close in. Ælflaed uses her magical slippers to teleport into combat but is knocked unconscious. The hag fights viciously, critically wounding Assterius and injuring others, but collapses and dies from strain. Millicent severs her head.
Aftermath: the infants
In the clearing, the knights discover a cradle containing three infants and a mortar/pestle where the hag had been grinding brains from the dead. Assterius and Ælflaed are badly wounded and require skilled treatment.
Note (retroactive): Assterius later goes mad due to a failed Passion roll during/after the hag clearing battle (detail originally omitted from the session write-up).
Timeline entries to add
- (484) — Parley at York: Eosa hires the knights to investigate Wilderspool; Brodin rides south to confront Uther. (Source: Session 016 - The Centurion-King, the Well of Wilderspool, and the Hag of the Dead)
- (484) — The company finds thirteen hanging knights and kills the brain-eating hag; three infants are discovered in the aftermath. (Source: Session 016 - The Centurion-King, the Well of Wilderspool, and the Hag of the Dead)