CDXCI - la bataille de Terrabil

General Summary

Many interesting events occur this year, and thanks to the many important social events just briefly described at the end of the description, this is likely a year that will require multiple sessions to play through while the players engage in social activities. COUrt Court is held at London. speCial gUests None. The king is in such a rage that no one wants to see him anyway! gOssip “That duke! He deserves only the worst.” “Can you believe the arrogance of Cornwall? How dare he insult our good and victorious king?” “Don’t you think this is just more bad news, though? The king fighting the dukes? Who will be next, Lindsey?” news Prince Madoc: “We are going to war. That damned Cornwall will finally get what he deserves! Bring your troops to Sarum.” Brastias: “Another fleet of Saxons has landed in the south. Are their dead just rising up to fall upon us once again?! I swear upon the sacred bones of my mother and of Saint George to attack them this summer.” Earl Roderick: “More Saxons in the south! I am leaving all my foot soldiers home to garrison my castles. I will comply with the muster with only my knights.” Ulfius: “Old King Hengest of Kent has died, and in bed at that. His son is going to be the next king of Kent.” rOYal COnversatiOn “I have been insulted deeply, and for no good reason. The Duke of Cornwall has broken his word and violated our hospitality. His sudden flight from our court proves he is guilty; no other information need be sought. Worse, though, his people slew some servants in their escape, and they stole treasure when they fled. Gorlois is guilty. “Disloyalty and dishonor are not welcome in this kingdom. It is the obligation of every noble to serve with distinction and to uphold noblesse oblige. Anyone who disobeys these laws is a traitor. “Gorlois is a traitor.” intrigUe “The duke and his wife fled from Uther’s court be- cause the king made unwholesome advances upon Lady Ygraine. The king is half-mad for the duke’s wife. This is not about rebellion at all, just lust.” Even Prince Madoc has argued with his father about priorities and proprieties. events King Uther marches his army on Cornwall. He is hasty, not even waiting for all his men to arrive. He leaves orders for the other contingents to follow as soon as possible. The duke won’t fight on the field. He has divided his army to defend two strategic castles, Tintagel, on the coast, and Terrabil, at a strategic road junction ten miles inland. His treasure and wife are at Tintagel, while his main army is at Terrabil ready to sally forth and strike the king in the rear if he turns toward the treasure storage. King Uther sends three-quarters of his force to be- siege Terrabil and the rest to Tintagel. Player Hook: A choice of options exists for the player knights here. Gamemasters may wish to give them a choice of going to battle at Terrabil to get Glory, or to go to Tintagel and possibly witness an event that earns them none. No more need be said. If they want the Glory, they remain at Terrabil.



Christmas COUrt The player knights spend the winter in Terrabil, where Uther has ordered Roderick to garrison the castle. Other knights are at Tintagel on similar duty. Meanwhile, Uther reviews the claims of the knights who served Gorlois. This is another good opportunity for the Game- master to introduce other knights or characters whom he wishes the player knights to know. In addition to any others the Gamemaster desires, at least mention (and show the arms of) these knights and groups: • The Garrison Commander: Sir Thebert (No- table, Glory = 3,500) of Marlboro. • Sir Verius (Glory = 1,800), from Clarence, who hap- pily says of himself that he is “from the land of Dobunni.” • Sir Alain de Carlion (Glory = 2,200) from Es- tregales (Silures), vassal of King Nanteleod of the Silures. The knights can visit Tintagel if the Gamemaster wishes. Maybe they have acquired an Amor (or Lust) for Ygraine, so they make up some excuse to visit. This is also a good time to introduce the three daughters of Ygraine. • Margawse, the eldest. A pretty and conniving woman, a bit rebellious, in her late teens. Of marriage- able age, she is the object of numerous rumors regarding whom the king will marry her to. • Elaine, the middle child. A young woman, less pretty than Margawse and less clever than her younger. She is also of marriageable age, and rumors of dowry and betrothal also surround her. • Morgan, the youngest. A dark and brooding girl who watches everything and says nothing in the pres- ence of her betters. Too young to marry, she nonethe-

less is eyed as a candidate soon for those who would want to get close to the king. Gifts this winter are from Sir Thebert, the tempo- rary lord of the castle, and are sufficient to maintain the knights at their normal station. As a result, anything earned from the player knights’ own manors can be laid aside as treasure.

Date du Rapport

01 Jan 2025