Wednesday Pendragon Campaign

Session 024 - The Feast at Sarum and the Forest’s Warning

6 min read

In-game year: 487

Summary

The conroi attends a crowded feast at Sarum with Uther Pendragon, Sir Madoc, Count Roderick of Salisbury, Lady Ellen of Winchbank, Merlin, and a large gathering of courtly rivals, allies, and potential marriage prospects. Courtly comedy and romantic maneuvering fill the hall: Sir Geraint tries to advance his courtship of Lady Rachel of Carbonog, Liam wins a sing-off, Assterius and Drustin share an ill-fated tender hug that ends with food spilled on Drustin, and Lady Dilwen moves on the intoxicated Madoc.

The feast also turns politically serious. Damsel Diana, sent by Lady Wells, warns Liam that if Excalibur is not returned to the Ladies of the Lake, the land will be imperiled by encroaching forests. Liam later speaks with Lady Wells, shares his suspicion that Uther may never have had the true Excalibur, and learns the forest will grow every year the sword is not returned. Meanwhile, Uther calls for volunteers for a spring 488 campaign in Gaul to drive the Franks out of Calais, with Madoc to lead; the conroi volunteers.

Scene/Beat Log

  • Feast at Sarum: Uther, Madoc, Roderick, Ellen, Merlin, Lady Eadburh, Duke Edaris and Rosalyn, Baroness Pomponia, Ladies Dilwen/Rachel/Llylla/Rhianneth/Diana, Sirs Corton/Ector/Blaine/Kenian/Jarran, and Brother Maynard are present.
  • Courtship comedy: Sir Geraint tries to impress Lady Rachel of Carbonog with stories of faeries; she later says he has become twice the hero since last they met.
  • Liam’s performance: Liam wins a sing-off and then tries to talk up Geraint to Rachel.
  • Assterius and Drustin: Assterius notices Drustin is sad and lonely; they share a tender hug, but Drustin has food spilled over him.
  • Damsel Diana’s warning: Damsel Diana approaches Liam after bypassing food-covered Drustin. She says Lady Wells sent her: if Excalibur is not returned to the Ladies of the Lake, the whole land will be imperiled by encroaching forests.
  • France/Gaul campaign: Uther calls for volunteers for a spring 488 invasion of Gaul/France. He wants to knock the Franks out of Calais, with Sir Madoc leading the campaign.
  • Geraint and Rachel: Geraint restrains himself when Rachel makes a move, considering intimacy improper before marriage. Rachel later tests/inspects him before committing; he passes. Sir Ector says Geraint needs his lord’s permission, and Roderick says Geraint should volunteer for the France campaign.
  • Madoc and Dilwen: Lady Dilwen makes a move on the very intoxicated Madoc. Assterius botches a drunken toast/rescue attempt and throws his goblet at Madoc; Dilwen licks spilled drink from Madoc’s face and they retire.
  • Ellen’s child: Drustin checks in on Lady Ellen of Winchbank. She introduces him to her baby daughter, sending him into misery; he gains 100 Glory but suffers -2 to all rolls for a year.
  • Sword dispute: Drustin wants to discuss the sword with Merlin. The sword has a dimple/groove with runes spelling EXCALIBUR, yet Merlin says he does not know where Excalibur is. Liam tells Roderick that the sword is not Excalibur and asks Merlin to help convince Roderick to bestow the not-Excalibur sword to Millicent.
  • Research at Bath: Assterius goes to Bath Scriptorium to research the Franks: their name is linked to their bearded axes; they are recent upstarts, newly unified under Clovis, and are rebuilding after Hunnic devastation.
  • Liam at Wells: Liam goes to Wells to speak with Lady Wells. She clarifies that the forest will grow every year Excalibur is not returned and says she will look into other ways to solve the problem, since the conroi does not have the sword.
  • New loyalty: Liam and Geraint find themselves strongly loyal to the Ladies of the Lake and their cause.

Characters (appeared / impacted)

  • Liam — receives Diana’s warning, warns Roderick the sword is not Excalibur, and consults Lady Wells about the forest threat.
  • Drustin — sees Ellen’s baby daughter and falls into misery: 100 Glory, -2 to all rolls for a year.
  • Assterius — courts/banters, receives an offer of financial support, botches a toast to Madoc, and researches the Franks at Bath.
  • Sir Geraint — advances courtship with Lady Rachel of Carbonog, restrains himself before marriage, and enthusiastically encourages volunteering for the France campaign.
  • Damsel Diana — messenger from Lady Wells warning that Excalibur must be returned to the Ladies of the Lake.
  • Lady Wells — confirms the forest will grow every year Excalibur is not returned and seeks alternatives because the conroi does not have the sword.
  • Sir Madoc — intoxicated at the feast; named to lead the spring 488 campaign into Gaul/France.
  • Uther Pendragon — calls for volunteers for the campaign against the Franks in Calais.
  • Count Roderick of Salisbury — discusses the disputed sword and tells Geraint he should volunteer for France.
  • Merlin — involved in the sword dispute; says he does not know where Excalibur is.

Loot / Rewards / Glory / Notable Rolls

  • Drustin gains 100 Glory but suffers -2 to all rolls for a year after falling into misery over Ellen’s baby daughter.
  • Liam wins a sing-off.
  • Liam and Sir Geraint become strongly loyal to the Ladies of the Lake cause.

Consequences & New Facts

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