Year 480: A Falling Star

General Summary

For the prior session, see Year 479: Knighthood. For the following session, see Year 481: An Unjust Conquest.

"Avenge the king! Death to Saxons!" - Duke Gorlois of Cornwall

On an early spring morning in 480, Sir Jarren of Burcombe wakes up Sir Gwyn in his home of Shrewton and asks him to accompany him on a quest for Earl Roderick of Salisbury.
Sir Gwyn and his new squire Rickett arrive at the stables and meet up with Sir Jarren, alongside Sir Amlyn of Winterbourne Stoke with his squire Collin, and Sir Artaire of Idmiston with his squire Ren. Sir Jarren provides the party with new painted shields depicting their personal coats of arms. Upon seeing Sir Amlyn's crest, Collin gets emotional and reveals that Sir Amlyn's ancestor Sir Amlodd of Appleton Thorn died saving his own grandfather at the Battle of Carlion 41 years prior. He offers to become Sir Amlyn's esquire - a squire for life. Sir Amlyn accepts.
The group sets off to Castle Wynchbank in the nearby county of Silchester, and over the week-long journey they learn that their mission is to find a wife for their embarrassed earl so he can produce an heir. Upon arriving, Baron Gwylon of Wynchbank shows the group around his castle and explains to them that though his daughter is not yet of marriageable age, he wants to find her a good match - as his wife and sons have all passed away, his daughter is all he has left. During their meal with Baron Gwylon and his quiet young daughter Ellen, they persuade the baron not to accept proposals from Sir Blains, a knight from Caerwent with a reputation for cruelty, and convince him that Earl Roderick is a good man and a strong match.
After reporting back to the earl in Sarum, Sir Amlyn and Sir Gwyn decide to visit the market quarter while Sir Artaire stays and tries to make amends with Lady Adwen in Sarum Castle. Sir Artaire convinces Lady Adwen to accompany him to Lambor Castle in a few months, where High King Aurelius Ambrosius Pendragon will be holding court. Sir Gwyn tries to find Illy at her pub, but learns from the owner that she has been summoned home to the nearby county of Jagent by her father. Sir Artaire joins Sir Amlyn in shopping, and buys an expensive necklace to give to Lady Adwen at court.
As Sir Amlyn rides to Lambor with his wife Lady Elaine and Sir Artaire rides with Lady Adwen, Sir Gwyn sulks alone. Upon arriving at court, Earl Roderick gives the party leave to explore before the royal announcements. They quickly run into the legendary Merlin the Magician, a strange old family friend of Sir Gwyn who can see the future. He asks about the current status of Sir Gwyn's father Sir Rolant and his feud with the Wyrm of Cumbria, then off-handedly provides grim prophecies for both Sir Amlyn and Sir Artaire before quickly dashing off to Prince Uther Pendragon's side.
Sir Gwyn leaves the castle to throw stones in the nearby river, and ends up bonding with another noble who doesn't want to be there - Illy. Formally known as Lady Derile, she was dragged to court by her father with intentions of her getting married. A terrified Sir Amlyn confronts his confused wife Lady Elaine after interpreting Merlin's augury to mean that his wife will somehow wound him and tarnish his good looks. Meanwhile, Sir Artaire mingles with three gossiping ladies, Lady Harley, Lady Anne, and Lady Marigold and hears rumours of a royal bastard at court. Approaching Madoc, the man suspected to be of royal blood, Sir Artaire learns that he is indeed the son of Prince Uther, and is to be knighted and recognized today to help fight a battle against the Irish. Prince Madoc tells Sir Artaire to speak with the royal marshal Baron Ulfius to learn more.
Directed to Baron Ulfius by a royal esquire named Geoffrey, the group learns that the hated former High King Vortigern's eldest surviving son King Paschent has allied with High King Gillomanius of Ireland, and is planning on raiding the shores of Menevia in Estregales, a kingdom in nearby Cambria. Baron Ulfius implores the knights to ask Earl Roderick for permission to fight, but the earl tells them he needs some men to stay behind in Salisbury; Cyning Æsc of Kent, the eldest son of Saxon warlord Cyning Hengest of Kent, is amassing an army. Sir Amlyn and Sir Artaire leave to fight in Menevia, while Sir Gwyn agrees to stay and fight in Salisbury. Sir Artaire gives Lady Adwen the necklace he bought her, and Sir Gwyn says goodbye to Illy as they prepare to head to battle.
In Estregales, Prince Uther is unable to convince King Canan of Estregales to defend his own lands, so his army is outnumbered by the Irish two-to-one. Sir Artaire and Sir Amlyn are placed in the vanguard under the command of Baron Ulfius, and begin their charge against the Irish kerns. Sir Amlyn is mortally wounded as he is speared in the gut and thrown from his horse by an Irish bonnacht, and his panicking squire Collin is unable to provide proper first aid. Picking up Sir Amlyn's shield and slipping the fallen soldier money after his own shield is splintered, Sir Artaire sends his squire Ren to help stabilize the disemboweled knight before avenging a fallen knight under Sir Ulfius' command. Noticing his army is losing the fight, Prince Uther considers retreat.
Meanwhile in Salisbury, rumours that High King Aurelius Ambrosius has been poisoned by a Saxon spy posing as a physician spread through camp. The army is encouraged to continue as normal, being assured that there is nothing to worry about. Earl Roderick and his men, including Sir Gwyn, are placed in the vanguard under the command of the King's Guard captain Sir Bellias and begin their charge against the Saxon ceorls. During combat, Sir Gwyn is injured by a deep slash to the chest by a Saxon heorthgeneat wielding an axe, but presses on until a hobilar rides past with the news: High King Aurelius Ambrosius, weakened by the poison, has been slain by Cyning Æsc in combat. A red star streaks across the sky to signify the High King's passing.
Taking the red star as a sign, Prince Uther mounts a last charge, killing both King Paschent and High King Gillomanius and destroying their armies. The Irish are slaughtered on the beaches of Menevia but Sir Artaire chooses not to participate, taking a hostage instead. In Salisbury, Duke Gorlois of Cornwall rallies the remaining army for a pincer attack and crushes the Saxons, but Cyning Æsc and half his army flee to Kent.
Weeks later, as the recovering Sir Amlyn is discharged from chirurgery, the trio attend the coronation feast of King Uther Pendragon. In secret, they witness the new king mocking Duke Gorlois for his "half-victory". The three knights listen attentively to the announcements, fearing the death of family members in either the Battle of Salisbury or the Battle of Menevia - instead, they learn of the promotion of Baron Ulfius to Duke of the Vale, and the death of Baron Gwylon of Wynchbank. The king announces that he will take the orphaned Lady Ellen and the infant Lucius of the Saxon Shore as his wards.
The following day, they attend the funeral of High King Aurelius Ambrosius at Stonehenge, where King Uther petitions the Supreme Collegium to be crowned the new High King of Britain. After holding a secret ballot, Duke Eldol of Glevum announces that the lords of Britain have decided not to crown a High King.
In the winter that year, Sir Amlyn starts to hear strange rumours about his mother. Sir Gwyn and Illy get married at Shrewton.

Report Date

02 Aug 2019

Primary Location

Sarum

Secondary Location

Menevia