Year 491, Part I: Castle Terrabil

General Summary

For the prior session, see Year 490: Prisoners of Courtesy. For the following session, see Year 491, Part II: Castle Tintagel.

"Anyone who disobeys these laws is a traitor. Gorlois is a traitor." - King Uther Pendragon

In the winter of early 491, following Duke Gorlois of Cornwall's slight against King Uther Pendragon, the king has sent the captain of his King's Guard Sir Bellias to bring Duke Gorlois and Duchess Ygraine back to court, and tasked Duke Ulfius of the Vale with finding Merlin the Magician and bringing him to the king.
In Salisbury, at Idmiston, Sir Artaire's esquire Mervyn is upset because he was deemed not ready for knighthood. He blames Sir Artaire, citing a rumour that he is a horse thief, which confuses the knight. At Winterbourne Stoke, Sir Amlyn tends to his wife, Lady Elaine, who is succumbing to her illness. On her deathbed, she urges Sir Amlyn to make amends with his brother Sir Ioan.
Meanwhile, in the dungeons of Llud's Hall, Sir Gwyn of Oxenwood awaits his trial. He is visited by his wife Lady Aoife, who informs him that yet another bastard of his father Sir Rolant the Wyrm Hunter has turned up - a confused young peasant from Hallington named Sir Penwyn who was sired on the wedding night of Sir Gwyn's late sister Lady Violette of Hallington and has now been knighted. He is then visited by Merlin the Magician, who warns him not to take the easy way out. Finally, he is visited by Sir Bedwor of Llud's Hall, who offers him a plea deal in exchange for turning in Sir Amlyn or Sir Artaire. Sir Gwyn refuses and his trial begins.
In front of the king, Sir Bedwor uses partial testimonies from Brother Bowen and Earl Roderick of Salisbury to accuse Sir Gwyn of many crimes including sorcery, poisoning his first wife Lady Illy, framing Sir Jarren of Burcombe for the attempted kidnapping of Sir Eiffin of Lighthorne, and kidnapping Sir Eiffin himself. Gathering Ralf, Lady Viver of Lighthorne and a guard Sir Gwyn had hired to defend Shrewton in 483 as witnesses, Sir Gwyn, Sir Amlyn and Sir Artaire are able to prove that Sir Gwyn is not only innocent of these crimes, but that Sir Bedwor himself was framing him due to his disapproval of Sir Gwyn's marriages to Pictish and Irish wives. Already in a foul mood from his feud with Duke Gorlois, King Uther has Sir Bedwor executed and Sir Gwyn is set free.
Months later, King Uther holds court at the White Tower in Londinium. Still upset that Duke Gorlois and Duchess Ygraine have yet to appear, the king ignores many of the gifts his lords have presented to raise his spirits. Noticing King Leodegrance of Cameliard admiring a large circular table gifted by Duke Ulfius, King Uther casually offers it to the Cambrian ruler in exchange for his upcoming vote for High King of Britain in the Supreme Collegium. As Sir Artaire hears more rumours about his own thievery from Lady Harley, Sir Amlyn is approached by his rival Sir Hubert of Appleton Thorn, who hints that he has captured Sir Amlyn's brother Sir Ioan and is holding him in his dungeons. Remembering Lady Elaine's dying wish, Sir Amlyn silently vows to rescue his brother. Suddenly, a knight arrives bearing Sir Bellias' shield and announces that Duke Gorlois has killed the captain in a struggle to bring him to court. King Uther ends court and declares war on the duke.
Before the muster in Cornwall, Sir Amlyn, Sir Gwyn and Sir Artaire head to Cheshire to meet with Duke Oscar and ask for him to pay for Sir Ioan's release. The duke refuses, admitting that their duchy has been in shambles since their acting king King Pellinore de Galis left to hunt the Questing Beast, and instead sends his knights to help Sir Amlyn kill Sir Hubert and take back Appleton Thorn himself. Arriving at the manor, Sir Amlyn breaks down the door and confronts Sir Hubert and his knights as Sir Artaire heads to the dungeons to free Sir Ioan. As Sir Artaire fights a household knight guarding the prisoner, Sir Amlyn overpowers the knights and considers Sir Hubert's pleas to spare his life, but decides to kill him anyway. He heads to the dungeon, where Sir Ioan is free, and the brothers admit they made up the rumour about Sir Artaire as revenge for him attempting to spread the rumour about their mother Lady Arianwen years prior. The brothers make up and Sir Ioan claims his seat as the rightful lord of Appleton Thorn.
In Cornwall, Duke Gorlois has fortified his two strongest castles at Terrabil and Tintagel. The duke and the most of his army are stationed at Terrabil Castle while his wife, children, and treasure are safely guarded at Tintagel Castle. King Uther decides to split his army between the two, sending Prince Madoc, Duke Ulfius, and Earl Roderick to Terrabil with Sir Artaire and Sir Gwyn, while Sir Amlyn remains with the king and Merlin at Tintagel. After weeks of sieging, Duke Gorlois is drawn out and attacks the Terrabil warcamp in the middle of the night, demanding to face the king. Prince Madoc attempts to fight the duke and is slain. Avenging their prince, Sir Gwyn and Sir Artaire attack the duke and are cut down as well. The knights are led to the afterlife by the faerie king King Gwynn ap Nudd and his ghostly hounds. Duke Ulfius finishes off the heavily injured duke and captures his head guard Sir Brastias.
At Tintagel, Sir Amlyn wakes up in the middle of the night and decides to follow King Uther and Merlin sneaking off to a Pagan ritual site. From a distance, he sees Merlin and the king make a pact before Merlin engulfs the land in fog. Returning to his post, Sir Amlyn sees the visage of Duke Gorlois approach the castle and attempts to throw a spear at the man before passing out and waking up with his spear by his side, assuming it was a dream. The prisoner Sir Brastias is brought to Tintagel and is sent inside to ask the newly widowed duchess to surrender. Dowager Duchess Ygraine surrenders, and shortly after, the king announces his wedding to her. Earl Roderick and Sir Amlyn are asked to stay and garrison the castle.
At Lighthorne, Lady Viver is presented with her brother Sir Artaire's jeweled sword and is informed of his death. Sir Maddog of Fishlake is informed of his half-brother Sir Gwyn's death, but is unable to leave Fishlake and sends his newly discovered half-brother Sir Penwyn to Oxenwood in his place.

Report Date

06 Mar 2020

Primary Location

Terrabil Castle

Secondary Location

Tintagel Castle