Year 487: The Lucky Ones
General Summary
For the prior session, see Year 486: The Sword in the Lake. For the following session, see Year 488: Strong Enough.
"She never did had much luck, did she?" - RonanAfter the death of Duke Lucius of the Saxon Shore and the fall of Caercolun to the Saxons in late 486, the former Logrian county becomes the Kingdom of East Saxons or "Essex". New Saxon cyning Cyning Æscwine of Essex forms a coalition with Cyning Æsc of Kent and Cyning Ælle of Sussex called the Alliance of the East Saxons. In response to how the situation was handled, King Uther Pendragon, still vying for the title of High King of Britain, officially loses the support of Duke Gorlois of Cornwall, "Magician King" Cadwy of Somerset, and Duke Corneus of Lindsey. Other kings such as the Cumbrian "Centurion King" Héraut de Après of Malahaut and the Gallic King Syagrius of Soissons have turned to the might of Logres for aid in securing their kingdoms. Early in the winter of 487, the residents of Salisbury are preparing for the postponed Christmas celebration at Sarum Castle. At Winterbourne Stoke, Sir Amlyn is deeply disturbed by the new revelation that his mother Lady Arianwen and stepfather Teacher Brugyn are expecting a child. He quickly decides to leave to Sarum for the celebration. At Oxenwood, Sir Gwyn is informed by his knight Sir Leo that there is a problem with his squire Bowen. Sir Gwyn finds the boy upset and threatening again to run away and become a monk and chooses not to stop him. He rides in to Sarum with his former squire. Meanwhile, at Idmiston, Sir Artaire is musing over a unread letter from Wuerensis when his steward Ronan informs him he has a guest. Sir Artaire decides to meet them in his chapel. His guest is revealed to be Lady Adwen of Burcombe, upset that her husband Sir Jarren is still missing. She makes Sir Artaire promise he had nothing to do with Sir Jarren's disappearance, and he lies and tells her that Sir Jarren told him that he was leaving her. He attempts to seduce Lady Adwen again, but distraught, she leaves to prepare for the Christmas celebration. Sir Gwyn delivers the now-reluctant Bowen to Amesbury Abbey and travels to Sarum to shop for horses. Sir Artaire has his letter from Wuerensis read and learns that Earl Artgualchar, oblivious to the truth about his family's plight, has taken his uncle Sir Eiffin of Lighthorne as a protected guest at the Red Tower and has extended the offer to Sir Artaire and his sister Dowager Baroness Viver of Slayersfort, who is ruling Lighthorne in her brother and uncle's absence. The letter also extends an invitation to a trial the following year for a suspect in an assassination attempt on Sir Eiffin, which Sir Artaire sees as a possible opportunity to capture his uncle. Sir Artaire writes back, asking that Sir Eiffin be released into his care. The knights enter Sarum Castle for the feast and see a slightly intoxicated Countess Ellen of Salisbury enjoying herself with her friends and ladies-in-waiting Lady Gwiona and Lady Aoife. The group is teasing Lady Aoife over an unheard comment, so Countess Ellen calls Sir Gwyn over and declares him to be her present for Lady Aoife. For her gift, Lady Gwiona asks for time off and announces that she is pregnant with Sir Artaire's child. Sir Artaire cowers in shame, remembering his unfaithfulness earlier that day. Lady Aoife and Sir Gwyn share a dance and are serenaded by Sir Artaire and Sir Amlyn, accompanying the local bard. The king and earl arrive and applaud the dancers and musicians, and King Uther declares it time to exchange gifts. As the king and the earl bestow gifts upon their knights and Prince Madoc ap Uther, Earl Roderick gives Sir Amlyn, Sir Artaire and Sir Gwyn new clothes, horses and shields. As the hall begins to prepare for the feast, the foppish exiled King Syagrius arrives at court and offers King Uther the gift of being allowed to assist him in recapturing his kingdom from the invading King Claudas of Francia. King Uther awkwardly declines until a later date. Merlin the Magician suddenly arrives and grants King Uther the sword that was recovered from the Ladies of the Lake the year prior: Excalibur, the Sword of Victory. The wizard asks the king to promise to always use it justly. Amazed by the sword's glory, King Uther decides to take the weapon to a feast at Linden Pool in the coming months to win back the support of Duke Corneus. Merlin mentions that the knights assisted him in recovering the sword and fought off a giant and nuckelavee to do so. Impressed, Earl Roderick raises Sir Amlyn and Sir Artaire to the rank of bannerets, granting them household knights, and promises to help Sir Gwyn find his missing brother Sir Calder in any way he can. He also allows Sir Gwyn to take on one of his squires, Leon. Months later, the earl summons his council and announces that Prince Madoc requires assistance in a naval raid against the Alliance of the East Saxons. Sir Artaire agrees to leave to the port in Hantonne, Hampshire at once, while Sir Gwyn and Sir Amlyn will accompany Earl Roderick on a series of diplomatic missions; first to Linden Pool to mediate peace between Duke Corneus and King Uther, then to Maris to discuss the disappearance of Sir Calder with the "Lord of the Marsh" King Adair de Maris, then rejoining King Uther in Eburacum to try and win the allegiance of the Centurion King, before joining the final leg of Prince Madoc's naval raid in Linden. At Linden Pool, Sir Amlyn and Sir Gwyn attend the feast of Duke Corneus, and Sir Amlyn impresses the ladies with an entirely fictitious recount of how he helped Merlin retrieve Excalibur. At the end of the feast, King Uther draws the sword and Duke Corneus, in awe, immediately pledges his allegiance and support for the bid for High King of Britain. Following the feast, Earl Roderick takes Sir Gwyn to meet with the Lord of the Marsh at Castle de Maris, who tells him that there are reports that Sir Calder has eloped with a commoner in Eburacum despite his existing marriage, children, title, and responsibilities. The pair set off to rejoin the king's party at Eburacum to meet with the Centurion King and now Sir Calder, as well. In Hantonne, Sir Artaire joins a small army of knights where Prince Madoc and Admiral Gwenwynwyn relay instructions. The knights are to sail to major ports in Saxon-controlled territories, where they will hold off Saxon warriors while footmen burn their ships. First they sail to Pevensey in Sussex and destroy much of the fleet of Cyning Ælle, before sailing to Dover in Kent and doing the same to the ships of Cyning Æsc. After attacking the ships of Cyning Æscwine in Maldon, Essex, the enraged Saxon warlord sails his remaining ships alongside the Logrian knights, attacking them from sea and forcing them to stop at the Great Muddy Estuary in Caerwent for reinforcements. When King Uther and his retinue arrive at Eburacum, they find themselves waiting as the Centurion King is off commanding his armies against the forces of Saxons Cyning Octa of Nohaut and Cyning Eosa of Deira. When he returns, he is uninterested in seeing Excalibur and is annoyed that King Uther is simply there to seek his loyalty and not to help fight. He dismisses the king back to Logres, refusing to support his renewed attempt at being crowned High King. Sir Gwyn finds his brother Sir Calder, who has had a revelation after the death of their father Sir Rolant the Wyrm Hunter that he was being forced into a life and role he was unhappy with, and refuses to return to Maris. He shows an unimpressed Sir Gwyn his new wife and child, and refuses to listen to Sir Gwyn's pleas to think of his existing wife and children. Eventually, he provides a signed document legitimizing Sir Maddog and recognizing him as his official heir. Upon returning to Lord of the Marsh, the king angrily exiles Sir Calder from ever returning to the country and permanently revokes his status as knight, ensuring he can never be re-knighted or granted lands and titles. Sir Gwyn travels to Fishlake to deliver the news, and rejoins King Uther. The king's party travels to the Great Muddy Estuary to restrengthen Prince Madoc's men, while the Alliance of the East Saxons regroup at sea. The two competing armies sail towards the shore in Linden, with King Uther and Prince Madoc's army fighting a naval battle against the combined forces of the East Saxons. Upon reaching shore, the East Saxons retreat in defeat and King Uther declares their raid a victory. As Sir Artaire returns home, he discovers from his steward Ronan that his wife Lady Gwiona died giving birth to a healthy baby girl, Nyneve. Distraught, he seeks comfort with Lady Adwen, and the two share an intimate night together. Sir Amlyn's new brother Jac is born, while Sir Gwyn and Lady Aoife become engaged.
Rewards Granted
Sir Artaire and Sir Amlyn were promoted to banneret knights.
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