CDLXXXVI - Excalibur, l'Epée de la Victoire

General Summary

In this year, the boy duke of Saxon Shores, Duke Lucius, is killed in an ambush in Caercolun, and the Briton de- fenses collapse. King Uther sends Prince Madoc with an army to push the Saxons back. At the Christmas Feast, wizard Merlin gives Excalibur, the Sword of Victory, to King Uther.
COUrt Court is held at Windsor. speCial gUests Praetor Syagrius of Soissons Merlin the Magician gOssip “But isn’t it terrible about Maldon and Colchester! My ma has three cousins living with her now! Those horrible savages! Oh, it’s the end of Britain, I say. I am praying every day that King Uther strikes every one of them dead!” “Listen, darlings, it’s everywhere. My last lover, that monk, told me that the vile Franks are even worse! They’ve overrun the last Roman outpost in Gaul. The barbarians are everywhere.” “And who can be surprised? Since the Great City of Rome fell, everything there has been dismal. Maybe it’s the end of the world.” “But aren’t you afraid that they’re coming here? Those savages are probably marching here right now!”
“We have nothing to worry about. When I was in the king’s chambers I saw that Merlin is back. The kitchen had his usual plate of food out there. He’s look- ing a little wan and tired.” “Well I’ll say you would, too, if you had to sleep for six months without eating! Like a bloody bear, he is!” news Madoc: “It’s time for revenge. I’m going to take a force and harry those Saxons around Colchester. Most of them are scattered in bands now, and we should be able to kill a lot of them before they even know we’re there. I’ll be leading knights to go raiding.” rOYal COnversatiOn “The notable and infamous barbarian King Clau- das of the Franks has conquered Soissons, the last Ro- man outpost in Western Europe. The good Praetor Sy- agrius has come here to ask us for our help to recover his lands. We are considering it. Please give him all kind- ness and hospitality, just as if he were a Briton.” intrigUe “Syagrius is offering half the treasury of the Frank- ish king to Uther if the army can take Paris, but Uther doesn’t want to spend a long time on the continent. The king is worried about his own land, and having those reluctant vassals is no help.” events As usual, the player knights report to Sarum to do their duty to Earl Roderick. They are excited about go- ing raiding in Colchester area. Instead, Roderick puts them on garrison duty. How disappointing! war in sOUthern CaerCOlUn In the east, the Saxons are enslaving as many Brit- ons as they can, killing everyone who tries to run away. The British army goes ready for skirmishing all summer. Yet there are more Saxons than Britons, and when Duke Lucius comes out with his army, the enemy gathers quickly and battle is met. Near Ipswich, the duke is ambushed and killed, though much of his army escapes northward. The king sends Sir Brastias to settle the area; Bras- tias rallies the army and the Saxons stop advancing. Af- terward, Brastias reports of victories, but everyone knows that nothing of strategic significance has occurred. More refugees find their way to Silchester, and some as far as Salisbury. Christmas COUrt Royal Court: King Uther is again unhappy. He keeps checking to see if weapon production is ongoing, and many merchants and minstrels (i.e., his spies from other courts) visit him. Many of them are from the continent. Salisbury Court: Earl Roderick is pessimistic about the defeat in Caercolun, but realistic about the relatively light losses suffered by his men. He discusses events and plans with all his knights. He is with the knights as they check their horses, and provides healthy steeds to all who need them.

Date du Rapport

01 Jan 2025