Year 488: Strong Enough

General Summary

For the prior session, see Year 487: The Lucky Ones. For the following session, see Year 489: The Fair of the Woods.

"I wasn't strong enough..." - Lady Adwen of Burcombe

In the spring of 488, though King Uther Pendragon has strengthened his bid for High King of Britain with the renewed support of Duke Corneus of Lindsey, the kingdom of Logres is once again on uneasy terms with Malahaut after refusing to pledge support against their constant invasions from Saxons Cyning Octa of Nohaut and his cousin Cyning Eosa of Deira. The exiled King Syagrius of Soissons continues to demand help in retaking the European region of Gaul from the invading King Claudas of Francia. Meanwhile, in Salisbury, the county is preparing for the wedding of Sir Gwyn of Oxenwood and Lady Aoife.
As Sir Amlyn of Winterbourne Stoke prepares to leave, his brother Sir Ioan barges in and demands a manor, announcing that he learned from Sir Hubert of Appleton Thorn that Sir Amlyn has several manors yet lets his brother, niece and nephew continue to be homeless. Refusing to take his pleas seriously, Sir Amlyn dismisses Sir Ioan who angrily tells him that their mother Lady Arianwen is pregnant yet again.
At a nearby tent, Sir Artaire of Idmiston is musing over a reply from Earl Artgualchar of Wuerensis denying his request for custody of his uncle Sir Eiffin of Lighthorne when Lady Adwen of Burcombe rushes in panicking; Sir Artaire has gotten her pregnant while her husband Sir Jarren of Burcombe is missing. Sir Artaire calms her down, explaining his plan to look for Sir Jarren and to hide Lady Adwen at Idmiston under the pretense of going abroad until she has the child. As Sir Artaire pretends to hire mercenaries to look for Sir Jarren, Lady Adwen leaves to make plans.
Before their wedding, Lady Aoife asks Sir Gwyn if he is sure he has moved on from his deceased first wife Lady Illy and he says he has. The two are married in a Pagan handfasting ceremony. Sir Gwyn notices Sir Bedwor of Llud's Hall among the attendants, but chooses not to let it ruin his day. Afterwards, he talks to an emotional Sir Murdoch of Horsington, who says that he is proud of Sir Gwyn and that he will still inherit all of his holdings through his marriage to Lady Illy.
As Sir Gwyn celebrates his new marriage, Sir Artaire and Sir Gwyn ride to the Red Tower in Wuerensis, where Earl Artgualchar is holding trial for a prisoner who had attacked Sir Eiffin, hoping to use this opportunity to get close to Sir Artaire's uncle and capture him to bring him to justice. The prisoner is quickly revealed to be the long-missing Sir Jarren, who had been tracking Sir Eiffin since learning of the family plight from Tydfil the Witch years prior in an attempt to make amends with Sir Artaire. Sir Jarren does not confess to attempted murder, but does confess to breaking into the earl's keep and attempted kidnapping, and is sentenced to death. Sir Amlyn's cries for a trial by combat fall on deaf ears as Sir Artaire attempts to reason with the earl, but Sir Jarren is ultimately executed. Sir Artaire tries to talk to his uncle, who feigns innocence, but he realizes he cannot convince him to come with him without a retinue of guards. He resigns to try to bring Sir Eiffin to Tydfil a different day. Angry at the unjust death of his friend, Sir Amlyn rides ahead to White City in Hampshire, where the king's court is to be held, and delivers a letter.
Sir Gwyn, Sir Artaire and Sir Amlyn reconvene in White City, with Sir Gwyn none the wiser about Sir Jarren's fate. Sir Amlyn tries to take his mind off matters by speaking with Lady Harley, Lady Anne and Lady Marigold, but is annoyed when all their usually frivolous gossip is overshadowed with talks of war. King Uther announces that he has decided to assist King Syagrius in recapturing Soissons, appointing his son Prince Madoc ap Uther and Admiral Gwenwynwyn to sail to Europe to do so. Meanwhile, King Uther and Merlin the Magician will meet with the Magician King Cadwy to resecure an alliance between Logres and Somerset. Sir Amlyn and Sir Gwyn decide to ride to Somerset with Earl Roderick of Salisbury, while Sir Artaire sails to Francia.
In Somerset, King Uther announces in the middle of the night that he again intends to speak with the Magician King alone at the Castle by the Great Bridge, making the knights uneasy. When King Uther returns, he explains that King Cadwy will only agree to an alliance if they help exterminate an infestation of frog-like creatures called water leapers that have been plaguing the fishermen of Somerset. When few knights volunteer, Sir Amlyn and Sir Gwyn pledge their weapons to fight, mocking the idea of knights being called upon to defeat harmless frogs. In their boat upon the marsh, they quickly learn they are mistaken as they witness other knights being pulled underwater from their boats and devoured by the water leapers - gigantic, winged frogs with rows of sharp teeth. Sir Gwyn is able to knock a leaper from the sky with his sword and kill it as it thrashes about on the deck, while Sir Amlyn attempts to catch one with his spear, and drives the weapon deeper into the creature's mouth as he is thrown overboard and dragged underwater in his armour. He is able to fell the beast, and Sir Gwyn helps pull the sinking knight out of the water. Returning to King Uther and King Cadwy, the latter declares his support for King Uther's cause once more.
Aboard Admiral Gwenwynwyn's boat, Sir Artaire attempts to listen in on a small council meeting between the prince and his generals. He overhears that Prince Madoc is unhappy with his task and wants to defend Britain's borders instead, and that he only intends to help recapture one city. Weeks later, as they land on European soil, Sir Artaire rides with the army through Frankish territory before eventually reaching Bayeux, the walled city and the last Roman stronghold to fall to King Claudas and the Franks. King Syagrius calls for the charge, and men begin to storm the walls and raise the gates. Sir Artaire storms into the city with the first wave as the gates crash shut behind them. He finds himself in brutal combat with a large Frankish warrior and is knocked unconscious and severely wounded. As his squire Mervyn attempts to dodge attacks from the brute while applying first aid to his fallen knight, he ultimately is able to recover Sir Amlyn enough for the pair to flee on Mervyn's horse. The raid is eventually declared a victory as Bayeux is recaptured by King Syagrius, and the king is eager to reclaim the rest of Soissons. Prince Madoc breaks his father's promise and refuses, instead announcing his intentions to abandon King Syagrius and sail back to Britain, where he feels they have more pressing matters. Enraged at the betrayal, King Syagrius swears vengeance on Prince Madoc and rides off to recapture his kingdom alone. Over the next several weeks, Sir Artaire slowly regains consciousness and recovers from near-death on the boat ride home.
Still recovering from his wounds, Sir Artaire returns back to Idmiston to speak with Lady Adwen, but she is not there. Confused, he travels to her home of Burcombe and breaks down the door when there is no answer. He finds Lady Adwen lying in bed with a dagger in her stomach, in an attempt to kill herself and the unborn child. She calls out for Sir Jarren, and Sir Artaire lies and tells her that they found him and that he is well. Lady Adwen dies. As Sir Artaire leaves, he takes a letter from her table. Upon having it read in Sarum, he discovers that Sir Amlyn told Lady Adwen the truth about everything; both Sir Artaire's lies and his part in Sir Jarren's death. Furious and blaming Sir Amlyn for Lady Adwen's suicide, Sir Artaire begins to plot and sends a letter to Sir Amlyn, challenging him to a duel to the death.
That winter, King Uther again rebuffs calls for help from the northern Centurion King of Malahaut. Lady Arianwen and Teacher Brugyn welcome their second child, a daughter named Aeronwy. News from Francia report that King Syagrius' stronghold of Bayeux has again fallen to the might of the Franks and the king has fled to Britain once more.

Report Date

10 Jan 2020

Primary Location

Castle by the Great Bridge

Secondary Location

Bayeux