Salesbières

Salisbury is one of the most exciting places to live in Arthurian Britain. It is densely pop- ulated, and many of the great events of the campaign occur here: The cataclysmic Battle of Badon, which ends the Saxon threat for the remainder of Arthur’s reign, happens nearby, and so does the Battle of Camlann that results in the death of Arthur and his knights.   Many interesting places are within an easy ride of Underditch: Stonehenge—most famous of the ancient monuments—and Amesbury Abbey, where Arthur’s mother retires early in the campaign, and where Queen Guenever retires near its end. Many ancient landmarks lie further afield, notably the dozens of prehistoric mounds, stone circles, and the unusual White Horse. The site of Camelot, the future capital city, is also nearby. Salisbury is thus a good county for new knights.   Remember that your characters do not know this much about other regions; characters who hail from other parts of Britain do not know this much about your home, either. This ability to separate personal knowledge from character knowledge is one of the hallmarks of good roleplaying.   Details   The Count of Salisbury keeps a personal household of at least a half-dozen knights and may call upon many more in times of war. At any given time, a patrol of his knights roams the county, keeping an eye out for Saxon ban- dits and foreign knights and administering low justice as required.   Hard-riding knights can reach Sarum from any location within the county (Uffington excepted) within one day. In an emergency, it takes one day for messengers to go out and another for the knights to ride in, assuming they are at home. Thus, within two days most of the county’s knights can be mustered at Sarum. Certainly within four days of sending out word, almost all the knights can reach Sarum.   Special Holdings   St. Stephen’s Abbey in Sarum, Ogbury.   Distant Parcels   Count Salisbury holds much of the county outright, mostly since Time Immemorial; after his marriage to Lady Catherine in 517, he adds Uffington to his demesne.   Salisbury County consists of all the hold- ings of the Count of Salisbury along with his vavasours.