Mowich
Bailiff: Sir Fodin Mazerony
Liege: Sir Shernâth Mirdârne, Constable of Jédes
Mówich lies on the north shore of Lake Tâmora, at the eastern fringe of the hundred’s settled lowlands. To the east lies Asólade Forest. The lake supports reasonable fishing, and four local families net the waters to supplement their income. The lake is rumoured to be home to a huge pike that is said to tip coracles and pitch fishermen into the water. Five years ago, bandits attacked Mówich during the Jédes horse fair, killing several villagers. Since then, Sir Fodin has left behind his three light footmen during the ten-day muster, though he still allows the yeomen to attend the muster.
A small local market is held in Mówich once each month on the 10th. Most months there will be a number of itinerant masters in attendance. The salter Toram of Agrael from Ándrake, the woodcrafter Fraken of Bett from Cálsite, and the metalsmith Symon of Bahnd from Skáist also attend without fail.
Sir Fodin Mazerony, Bailiff of Mówich
The bailiff of Mówich is a large-bellied, bushy-browed knight in his mid fifties, whose blue-veined nose betrays his fondness for wine. He is of average height, with white hair and watery pale-blue eyes. The youngest son of former constable Tesmyr, Sir Fodin is a keen hunter, supplying his table with plenty of game.
Sir Fodin is haunted by his past. For over thirty years he has kept secret two events connected to the death of his father.
Aged 21, Fodin attended a feast at Novélim.
Sir Fodin might have expected to become Lord of Ándrake, but before year’s end his elder brother Aldan, a Laránian priest, returned to act as bailiff of the family estate and to raise Sir Fodin’s nephews. Two years later, Sir Duns, now constable, appointed Fodin as bailiff of Mówich. Three years after that, Sir Fodin married Sir Duns 16-year-old niece Falyne. Their eldest son, Jarrak, grieves Sir Fodin, who is finding his heir’s cruelty and sadism increasingly difficult to ignore – and ever more frightening.
Sir Fodin is currently preparing for a pilgrimage to the Laránian temple in Thay to visit his brother Aldan, a senior priest there. He intends to confess his sins and those of his son to his brother and to beg for forgiveness and a suitable penance. He blames himself and his actions as a young man, for his son’s behaviour.
Lady Falyne Mazerony, Lady of the Manor
When she married, Lady Falyne was a member of a minor branch of Clan Doulzârn. However, her cousin Terris has failed to produce a male heir and her brother Hadred has married Terris’s eldest daughter thus making him doubly likely to inherit the fief. She constantly advises her husband toward a closer alliance with her clan. Over the years, she has managed to persuade him that this is the right path. Regardless, the Mazerony clanhead, Sir Rogar, disagrees. Lady Falyne is very fond and protective of her eldest son, who in her eyes can do no wrong. She has always defended Jarrak’s actions, siding with her son when he was accused of raping his sister. Lady Falyne knows nothing of her husband’s illegitimate son.
Squire Aldan Mazerony
Aldan Mazerony is Sir Fodin’s great nephew and squire. Only 12 years old, Lady Falyne and Sir Jarrak terrify him. Sir Fodin is ineffectual, and Aldan’s father is often discussed in disparaging terms. Aldan cannot comprehend the situation at Mówich. He has become close to both Lady Iblis and the chamberlain, who try to protect him.
Sir Jarrak Mazerony, Knight of Mówich
Sir Jarrak is a heavily built man in his late twenties.
Jarrak returned home some fifteen months ago, after Emyla’s marriage (to Sir Declaen Vaen, Knight of Belgie). His ambitions stretch no further that to inherit his father’s office and to inflict pain, especially on young women. Ordered by his mother to get busy and produce an heir, Jarrak approached his old friend Sir Yenin Ercamber, Lord of Yeashim, for the hand of his 18-year-old half-sister. Yenin agreed immediately.
Lady Iblis Mazerony
Lady Iblis was betrothed to her cousin Jarrak at the beginning of last winter, and they were married on the last day of the year. Iblis bitterly protested the match, but Sir Yenin was of the opinion that there were too many women in Yeáshim. She hates her cruel, violent, uncaring husband and despises her half-brother.
Crista Mazerony
Sir Fodin’s youngest daughter is 9 years old. Her sister, Emyla, is trying to persuade their father to allow Crista to become her lady-in-waiting. Sir Jarrak is against the idea.
Chamberlain
Kalas of Rothlar is often mistaken for one of the guards. He is a tall, muscular young man and a clever, active chamberlain.
Kalas’s father, a yeoman from Yeáshim, died four years ago defending a seriously wounded Sir Uthris Ercamber against Kath raiders. In gratitude, Sir Uthris took Kalas and his mother into the manor, where the boy began assisting the chamberlain, Jarram of Dhug. When Sir Uthris died a year later, Sir Yenin returned and cast out Kalas. His mother, having married Jarram, remains at Yeáshim manor. Kalas was taken on as assistant to the chamberlain of Mówich and was the obvious replacement when the ailing man died six months ago.
Kalas left Yeáshim reluctantly, as he was deeply in love with Lady Iblis, Sir Yenin’s half-sister.
Servant
Maytha of Haribert is almost 16.
Everyone in the manor is aware of Maytha’s position. The nobles treat her with disdain; the other servants avoid her when possible. When Chollethe advised Maytha to keep away from Sir Jarrak, Maytha told her lover, who then whipped both Kandryn and Chollethe. Though the female servants fear for her life, no-one interferes in Maytha’s affair anymore.
Sir Fodin employs three light footmen. Kandryn and Kal of Tarryth are brothers. Kandryn is the senior of the three footmen. He is just over 30, is of average height and weight, and wears his dark brown hair long and tied back. Kandryn is married to Chollethe, a kitchen servant. Kal, four years younger than his brother, is courting a yeoman, Yrma of Tregarth. The third footman, Orryn of Serel, is a tall, slender man in his late forties. Orryn is unmarried. He is the youngest brother of the beadle.
Medium Foot (Beadle)
Jamys of Serel is in his early fifties. He lives with his eldest son, his son’s wife, and two grandchildren. His other brother is in the light horse squadron at Jédes.
Medium Foot
Yrma of Tregarth is the beadle’s daughter. She has two young children, both girls. Widowed two years ago, she took on her husband’s role to avoid eviction. Sir Fodin was unwilling to accept the change, but she has successfully carried out her duties. When Yrma serves in the muster, her sister-in-law looks after her daughters.
Shortbow
Mykel of Lewe is a small, round-faced, balding man in his mid thirties. Unmarried, Mykel lives with his aging parents. His father, a commoner of Tarwyn, is demented and requires full-time supervision, making Mykel in effect the commoner. Mykel is softly spoken and nervous, a good farmer but a poor warrior. His mother constantly reminds him that he is the last of his clan, but he shows no inclination toward finding a wife and producing an heir.
Miller £££
Mówich mill sits beyond the south-western edge of the village proper. The undershot mill re-built forty years ago, lies at the western end of Lake Tâmora. The current miller, Yanath of Cormen, is happy, healthy, and prosperous. Married with two young sons, he employs a single apprentice, 14-year-old Dorgan of Theves. Dorgan is the eldest son of the miller at Novélim; he has already learned more from Yanath than he ever did from his father.
Timberwright £££
Nesten of Veris is guildmaster of Asolade Hundred. His brother Ferdik is in the Jedes Keep medium foot decad (Jédes p25). The two men have not spoken for fifteen years, falling out over a woman, Porla, who is now Nesten’s wife. The couple have two sons and a daughter, all under 12.
Reeve
Radrik of Varath is a commoner of Tarwyn and one of the four verderers. Sallow-faced and jug-eared, Radrik is a serf with power over some freemen. He is pompous and self-important, but no fool.
Herder
Poll of Meriel is another commoner of Tarwyn. He has a quick wit and a sharp tongue, and he delights in trying to make the reeve look foolish. Fortunately for Poll, the reeve considers rising to the bait beneath his dignity.
Woodward
Willem of Quist is a good woodsman and ensures that no-one (at least no-one besides himself) poaches game from the lord’s forest. He often acts as huntsman for Sir Fodin and Sir Jarrak.
Priest of Peóni
Urath of Chark is a kindly, fit, and active priest in his early sixties, a model of abstinence, clean living, and piety. The villagers love and respect him, and Urath regularly attends the clan moot to plead their case. Sir Fodin is usually content to fine any miscreants, but Sir Jarrak, backed by his mother, often pressures his father to allow him to “give the serf a thrashing”. Urath is aware of Sir Jarrak’s cruelty and is extremely concerned for the safety of Maytha. He has voiced his concerns to the girl, but she has simply told Sir Jarrak, who now looks for an opportunity to have the priest whipped.
Liege: Sir Shernâth Mirdârne, Constable of Jédes
Mówich lies on the north shore of Lake Tâmora, at the eastern fringe of the hundred’s settled lowlands. To the east lies Asólade Forest. The lake supports reasonable fishing, and four local families net the waters to supplement their income. The lake is rumoured to be home to a huge pike that is said to tip coracles and pitch fishermen into the water. Five years ago, bandits attacked Mówich during the Jédes horse fair, killing several villagers. Since then, Sir Fodin has left behind his three light footmen during the ten-day muster, though he still allows the yeomen to attend the muster.
MARKET
A small local market is held in Mówich once each month on the 10th. Most months there will be a number of itinerant masters in attendance. The salter Toram of Agrael from Ándrake, the woodcrafter Fraken of Bett from Cálsite, and the metalsmith Symon of Bahnd from Skáist also attend without fail.
MANOR RESIDENTS
Sir Fodin Mazerony, Bailiff of Mówich
The bailiff of Mówich is a large-bellied, bushy-browed knight in his mid fifties, whose blue-veined nose betrays his fondness for wine. He is of average height, with white hair and watery pale-blue eyes. The youngest son of former constable Tesmyr, Sir Fodin is a keen hunter, supplying his table with plenty of game.
Sir Fodin is haunted by his past. For over thirty years he has kept secret two events connected to the death of his father.
Aged 21, Fodin attended a feast at Novélim.
Show spoiler
. He was plied with perry by Sir Duns Doulzârn’s pretty 18-year-old daughter, Tersha, who also asked him about his father’s movements over the next few months. Only days later Sir Fodin’s parents, his eldest brother and his brother’s wife were killed in an ambush. Sir Fodin was assured by Sir Duns that he knew nothing of the conversation with Tersha and that it was simply a tragic coincidence. Sir Duns advised Sir Fodin to tell no-one, lest both clans suffer shame. Sir Fodin was unable to discuss matters with Tersha, as she had “heeded the call” and joined the church of Laráni
Show spoiler
.Unsure of Sir Duns’s involvement, Sir Fodin turned to drink. It was during one drunken rage later that month that he raped a young serving girl, who nine months later gave birth to a boy. The girl, Theryn of Yend, is now chamberlain at Andrake
Sir Fodin might have expected to become Lord of Ándrake, but before year’s end his elder brother Aldan, a Laránian priest, returned to act as bailiff of the family estate and to raise Sir Fodin’s nephews. Two years later, Sir Duns, now constable, appointed Fodin as bailiff of Mówich. Three years after that, Sir Fodin married Sir Duns 16-year-old niece Falyne. Their eldest son, Jarrak, grieves Sir Fodin, who is finding his heir’s cruelty and sadism increasingly difficult to ignore – and ever more frightening.
Sir Fodin is currently preparing for a pilgrimage to the Laránian temple in Thay to visit his brother Aldan, a senior priest there. He intends to confess his sins and those of his son to his brother and to beg for forgiveness and a suitable penance. He blames himself and his actions as a young man, for his son’s behaviour.
Lady Falyne Mazerony, Lady of the Manor
When she married, Lady Falyne was a member of a minor branch of Clan Doulzârn. However, her cousin Terris has failed to produce a male heir and her brother Hadred has married Terris’s eldest daughter thus making him doubly likely to inherit the fief. She constantly advises her husband toward a closer alliance with her clan. Over the years, she has managed to persuade him that this is the right path. Regardless, the Mazerony clanhead, Sir Rogar, disagrees. Lady Falyne is very fond and protective of her eldest son, who in her eyes can do no wrong. She has always defended Jarrak’s actions, siding with her son when he was accused of raping his sister. Lady Falyne knows nothing of her husband’s illegitimate son.
Squire Aldan Mazerony
Aldan Mazerony is Sir Fodin’s great nephew and squire. Only 12 years old, Lady Falyne and Sir Jarrak terrify him. Sir Fodin is ineffectual, and Aldan’s father is often discussed in disparaging terms. Aldan cannot comprehend the situation at Mówich. He has become close to both Lady Iblis and the chamberlain, who try to protect him.
Sir Jarrak Mazerony, Knight of Mówich
Sir Jarrak is a heavily built man in his late twenties.
Show spoiler
. He raped his sister, Emyla, when she was 13 and then, when his father found out, claimed she seduced him. Despite the proof of Emyla’s injuries, their mother staunchly defended her son. Reluctantly, Sir Fodin whipped both children. Against his wife’s wishes, he then sent Jarrak to Tashal.
During his temporary banishment, Jarrak found many ways to satiate his sadistic lust for young girls. A few members of the Tashál Lìa-Kaváir know his secret, including Chulin of Saleris, who is now a man-at-arms at Jedes. Chulin is a recent arrival, and the two men have yet to meet
During his temporary banishment, Jarrak found many ways to satiate his sadistic lust for young girls. A few members of the Tashál Lìa-Kaváir know his secret, including Chulin of Saleris, who is now a man-at-arms at Jedes. Chulin is a recent arrival, and the two men have yet to meet
Jarrak returned home some fifteen months ago, after Emyla’s marriage (to Sir Declaen Vaen, Knight of Belgie). His ambitions stretch no further that to inherit his father’s office and to inflict pain, especially on young women. Ordered by his mother to get busy and produce an heir, Jarrak approached his old friend Sir Yenin Ercamber, Lord of Yeashim, for the hand of his 18-year-old half-sister. Yenin agreed immediately.
Lady Iblis Mazerony
Lady Iblis was betrothed to her cousin Jarrak at the beginning of last winter, and they were married on the last day of the year. Iblis bitterly protested the match, but Sir Yenin was of the opinion that there were too many women in Yeáshim. She hates her cruel, violent, uncaring husband and despises her half-brother.
Crista Mazerony
Sir Fodin’s youngest daughter is 9 years old. Her sister, Emyla, is trying to persuade their father to allow Crista to become her lady-in-waiting. Sir Jarrak is against the idea.
Chamberlain
Kalas of Rothlar is often mistaken for one of the guards. He is a tall, muscular young man and a clever, active chamberlain.
Kalas’s father, a yeoman from Yeáshim, died four years ago defending a seriously wounded Sir Uthris Ercamber against Kath raiders. In gratitude, Sir Uthris took Kalas and his mother into the manor, where the boy began assisting the chamberlain, Jarram of Dhug. When Sir Uthris died a year later, Sir Yenin returned and cast out Kalas. His mother, having married Jarram, remains at Yeáshim manor. Kalas was taken on as assistant to the chamberlain of Mówich and was the obvious replacement when the ailing man died six months ago.
Kalas left Yeáshim reluctantly, as he was deeply in love with Lady Iblis, Sir Yenin’s half-sister.
Show spoiler
.Now, Iblis is his lord’s son’s wife and Kalas suffers daily torture
Servant
Maytha of Haribert is almost 16.
Show spoiler
For over a year, she has been Sir Jarrak’s lover. He is violent and cruel toward her and she is in constant fear of failing him, yet the girl is completely enthralled by her master and convinced her beatings are deserved. Maytha dislikes Lady Iblis, whom she thinks an arrogant woman who does not understand or respect Jarrak and his needs.
Everyone in the manor is aware of Maytha’s position. The nobles treat her with disdain; the other servants avoid her when possible. When Chollethe advised Maytha to keep away from Sir Jarrak, Maytha told her lover, who then whipped both Kandryn and Chollethe. Though the female servants fear for her life, no-one interferes in Maytha’s affair anymore.
MILITARY
Sir Fodin employs three light footmen. Kandryn and Kal of Tarryth are brothers. Kandryn is the senior of the three footmen. He is just over 30, is of average height and weight, and wears his dark brown hair long and tied back. Kandryn is married to Chollethe, a kitchen servant. Kal, four years younger than his brother, is courting a yeoman, Yrma of Tregarth. The third footman, Orryn of Serel, is a tall, slender man in his late forties. Orryn is unmarried. He is the youngest brother of the beadle.
VILLAGE RESIDENTS
Medium Foot (Beadle)
Jamys of Serel is in his early fifties. He lives with his eldest son, his son’s wife, and two grandchildren. His other brother is in the light horse squadron at Jédes.
Medium Foot
Yrma of Tregarth is the beadle’s daughter. She has two young children, both girls. Widowed two years ago, she took on her husband’s role to avoid eviction. Sir Fodin was unwilling to accept the change, but she has successfully carried out her duties. When Yrma serves in the muster, her sister-in-law looks after her daughters.
Shortbow
Mykel of Lewe is a small, round-faced, balding man in his mid thirties. Unmarried, Mykel lives with his aging parents. His father, a commoner of Tarwyn, is demented and requires full-time supervision, making Mykel in effect the commoner. Mykel is softly spoken and nervous, a good farmer but a poor warrior. His mother constantly reminds him that he is the last of his clan, but he shows no inclination toward finding a wife and producing an heir.
Miller £££
Mówich mill sits beyond the south-western edge of the village proper. The undershot mill re-built forty years ago, lies at the western end of Lake Tâmora. The current miller, Yanath of Cormen, is happy, healthy, and prosperous. Married with two young sons, he employs a single apprentice, 14-year-old Dorgan of Theves. Dorgan is the eldest son of the miller at Novélim; he has already learned more from Yanath than he ever did from his father.
Timberwright £££
Nesten of Veris is guildmaster of Asolade Hundred. His brother Ferdik is in the Jedes Keep medium foot decad (Jédes p25). The two men have not spoken for fifteen years, falling out over a woman, Porla, who is now Nesten’s wife. The couple have two sons and a daughter, all under 12.
Reeve
Radrik of Varath is a commoner of Tarwyn and one of the four verderers. Sallow-faced and jug-eared, Radrik is a serf with power over some freemen. He is pompous and self-important, but no fool.
Show spoiler
Radrik is assisted in his duties by most of his family. His crowded cottage is home to eleven people. He suspects that someone is poaching and has recently asked the agisters to watch the forest surrounding Mówich.
Herder
Poll of Meriel is another commoner of Tarwyn. He has a quick wit and a sharp tongue, and he delights in trying to make the reeve look foolish. Fortunately for Poll, the reeve considers rising to the bait beneath his dignity.
Woodward
Willem of Quist is a good woodsman and ensures that no-one (at least no-one besides himself) poaches game from the lord’s forest. He often acts as huntsman for Sir Fodin and Sir Jarrak.
Show spoiler
He is well aware that some of their hunting trips go beyond the manor’s admittedly vague eastern boundary and into commoners’ forest.
Priest of Peóni
Urath of Chark is a kindly, fit, and active priest in his early sixties, a model of abstinence, clean living, and piety. The villagers love and respect him, and Urath regularly attends the clan moot to plead their case. Sir Fodin is usually content to fine any miscreants, but Sir Jarrak, backed by his mother, often pressures his father to allow him to “give the serf a thrashing”. Urath is aware of Sir Jarrak’s cruelty and is extremely concerned for the safety of Maytha. He has voiced his concerns to the girl, but she has simply told Sir Jarrak, who now looks for an opportunity to have the priest whipped.
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