Year 495: St Albans
General Summary
For the prior session, see Year 494: Ambassadors. For the following session, see Year 496: Negotiations.
"Excuse me, everyone? I have something I need to say." - Lady ElidiaWith King Uther Pendragon at death's door, most of the dukes already dead, and Saxons attacking from the north, Logres prepares for war. The earls receive word that King Nanteleod of Escavalon has refused to swear fealty to the newly crowned King Dirac of Estregales, ending the former allegiance of southern Cambria. King Dirac has allied with mercenaries from Ireland and sworn war against King Nanteleod, ensuring that Logres will enter their war against Saxon cynings Octa and Eosa unaided. In Salisbury, Sir Valerius is overseeing his village of Idmiston when his cousin Lady Viver of Blackdown arrives. She hands him the jewel-encrusted sword of her brother Sir Artaire of Idmiston, saying that it belonged to the lord of Idmiston before Sir Valerius. She mentions that it is a magical sword that was acquired from the Faerie Realm, and asks Sir Valerius to use it to defend Logres in the battle to come. At Oxenwood, Sir Penwyn is training his new squire Asher when they are visited by Asher's step-grandfather Lord Brugyn of Appleton Thorn. Lord Brugyn reveals that Asher's younger sister Mars has run away from home following a fight about her getting married in the coming years, and Asher admits that he has not seen her. Lord Brugyn departs, and Oxenwood receives the signal that they are being summoned to war. As the knights corral their families and livestock into Sarum Castle for safety, Earl Roderick of Salisbury explains that Cynings Octa and Eosa have taken the city of St Albans in Hartland county, dangerously close to King Uther's seat in Londinium. The king is rallying all of Logres' knights to face the Saxons directly, with direct orders to kill and not capture. Assuming the marshal Duke Ulfius of the Vale will lead the charge during the king's illness, the knights are surprised to hear that King Uther will lead the charge himself. Sir Hywel of West Lavington reminds Sir Penwyn that he will be apprenticing under him as county marshal, and they prepare themselves for war. After the march to St Albans, the knights join with the army rearguard and are reunited with their king, noticing how thin and pale he has gotten. Making camp, they learn that the Saxons wintered at Eburacum in Malahaut before marching south and taking St Albans by surprise, slaying the guards and sacrificing many of the residents. Noticing the city quiet and the city gates open, King Uther refuses to waste time waiting, and orders his vanguard to attack immediately seize the gate as a means to control the battlefield. Not realizing they have fallen into a trap, the gates are closed behind the vanguard and the forward units are slaughtered. Logrian archers feebly fire at the guarded Saxon defenders for the rest of the day, and spirits fall as the day becomes night. At dawn, Cynings Octa and Eosa march their army out of the city to meet in open battle, dwarfing the king's army in size. King Uther charges and the battle begins. During the fight, Sir Hywel and Sir Penwyn marshal the knights of Salisbury though several tighly held battle formations. Sir Penwyn gives Asher leave to join the fray. During the melee, a Saxon tries to take Sir Valerius' magical sword for Cyning Eosa and it becomes molten hot, carving through the barbarian's weapon and flesh with ease. The knights fight valiantly but realize their army is losing. Duke Ulfius and Sir Brastias of the King's Guard are gravely injured, while the royal pincerna Sir Gaudifier and Sir Valerius' household knight Sir Rickett are killed. Sir Valerius rescues an overwhelmed Earl Roderick as Saxons pull him from his steed. As his squire Cwtch goes missing looking for a replacement shield, Sir Valerius reluctantly takes on Cyning Eosa, slaying the gigantic barbarian. With one of their cynings dead, the tide of the battle starts to turn and Saxons begin retreating. Sir Penwyn orders the knights to attack in pairs, and Sir Valerius and Sir Hywel attack Cyning Octa himself. The enraged Saxon cuts through Sir Valerius, killing him and avenging his cousin. Sir Penwyn and Asher deliver the killing blow to Cyning Octa, winning the battle. After the fight, Asher's sister Mars runs up disguised in armour, excitedly telling him about about her participation in the battle. Shortly after liberating the city, King Uther calls for a grand royal feast at St Albans' castle. Recovering, Sir Brastias and Duke Ulfius are unable to attend. The large feast spills out of the castle's halls; Sir Penwyn is asked to dine in the great hall alongside the king and his elites while Asher, who has been promised knighthood by Earl Roderick, dines in the outer courtyard. Lady Viver attends the feast in the outer courtyard as well, but does not participate in much of the festivities, suspecting she may be pregnant. During the feast, Lady Viver is approached by Dowager Baroness Rosalyn from Behind the Waters, who properly thanks her for helping find her daughter Winnie at a feast years before. She is later accosted by her drunk rival and blackmailer Lady Elidia and lies, telling her she found her a duke to marry in the great hall. Lady Elidia leaves. Sir Penwyn flirts with Lady Marigold and shares ale with Earl Roderick, who drunkenly professes his love for his county, as well as his wife and children. Sir Penwyn calls for a round of wine, and Asher drains a glass before leaving the feast to explore the bedchambers with Lady Molle of West Lavington, Sir Hywel's daughter. Humiliated, Lady Elidia calls for attention in the great hall, intending to tell Lady Viver's secret. Suddenly, she begins to vomit. After some laughter, the guests start to panic when the foamy vomit turns to blood, and other guests begin to vomit as well. Realizing they have been poisoned, Sir Penwyn watches in horror as Earl Roderick and Lady Marigold begin to puke. He himself throws up and passes out. In the courtyard, as her husband Sir Bellangere of Blackdown starting puking, Lady Viver rushes to the great hall amidst the chaos and tries to open the doors, finding them barred. Some time later, Asher wakes up next to Lady Molle, noticing she has vomited all over herself. He climbs the staircase and is faced with a terrible scene - Lady Harley tearfully commanding serving girls to help move the countless bodies. He sees the bloated corpse of King Uther carried past, and starts turning over bodies. Among the dead, he counts Dowager Baroness Rosalyn's father Duke Edaris of the Marche, Baron Brychan of Longridge - and his friends Sir Hywel, Lady Anne, and Lady Marigold. He then finds the body of Sir Penwyn and a scared, dying Earl Roderick. He attempts first aid, but then seizes and begins vomiting, dying as well. The next day, bodies are carted out for mass funerals. Earl Roderick is buried at Amesbury Abbey, while King Uther is laid to rest at the royal burial ground of Stonehenge. At King Uther's funeral, Lady Viver spots Merlin the Magician and confronts him, demanding to know why, as a seer, he didn't prevent this. Merlin tearfully insists that this is the way things needed to be. Overwhelmed by loss, Lady Viver breaks down crying. After the funerals, Countess Regent Ellen of Salisbury calls for the nobles attending, including Lady Viver, Mars, and Sir Penwyn's nephew and Oxenwood's acting lord Sir Alwyn of Hallington. Dressed in mourning black and joined by her daughter Lady Jenna of Sarum, she explains that her toddler Earl Robert of Salisbury is now earl of the county. Intending to rule in his stead until he comes of age, she asks the knights to swear to her, aware that this breaks customs but noting that the upper nobility across all Britain has been shattered. Oxenwood household knight Sir Lycus refuses and walks out, but his brother Sir Leo swears fealty. The other knights present swear as well, promising to counsel the dowager countess during this time. Suddenly, a messenger from Duke Ulfius arrives. He announces that Excalibur has reappeared outside St Paul's Cathedral in Londinium, driven throughan anvil into a large stone bearing the inscription, "Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is rightwise king born."
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments