GPC SPOILERS BELOW!






After the St. Alban's incident the player knights are the most senior and most loyal knights in the County. They have reaffirmed their oaths to the young Robert and the Lady Ellen and already moved against dissenters within the county - to shame or intimidate them into falling in line.

The majority of the officers in the county are dead and the player-knights are obviously in the running for some of these positions. I am wondering what offices would exist within Salisbury?

From the list in the 5.1 rulebook there is likely a sheriff, several castellans, a butler, a seneshal and we know there is a marshal. There may be a constable or two for getting the armies of the county up and running.

The castellans are tied up with land grants so I imagine that it is customary for their heirs to assume the role - possibly with a deputy if they are not yet of age.

Chamberlain and Justiciar seem tied up with the rank of King so I'm not sure if these ranks would exist in the county.

Has anyone any ideas on this? Obviously getting these jobs will limit the adventuring potential of the player knights but since steering the county through the anarchy is essentially a 15 year adventure it seems right that they are rewarded for their loyalty and service.

Input on what sort of rewards - lands or stipends should come with the offices would be appreciated.

Another thread "Clarifying what all comes with the "standard" manor " ( http://nocturnal-media.com/forum/index.php?topic=1464.0 ) talked about some of the offices that a normal household. You can be fairly sure that those offices still need to be filled.

BUT more importantly, many (if not most) offices are held by Esquires. *NOT* by Knights who might run off and get themselves killed.

Now those offices which deal with the army will often be held by knights, as would those offices which deal with local defense. But things like "butler" could as easily be held by an esquire, and thus not be available after St. Albans.

Now one thing that might have happened is that a number of Banneretts got themsleves killed, and if they don't have an heir (or their heir is a minor) then those positions would be available for the PCs.

You may want to talk with your players about what sort of game they want for the next "time-block". Do they want to be actively defending Salisbury, or do they want the freedom to go off and adventure?

My new group is approaching St. Albans, so I thank you for giving me things to think about.

a little something of a preview of the Book of Warlords


Office
Rank of Holder
Pay
Key Skill
Automatic
Opportunity


Marshall
Knight
2
Battle
Proud
Merciful


Castellan
Knight
1
Siege
Lazy
Indulgent


Seneschal
Knight
2
Stewardship
Prudent, Suspicious
Selfish, Trusting


Estate Steward
Knight
2
Stewardship
Selfish
Prudent


Parcel Steward
Esquire
0+
Stewardship
Selfish
Prudent


Dapifer
Knight
2
Stewardship
Proud
Energetic


Kitchener
Esquire
1‡
Clerk or Stewardship
Cruel
Generous


Pincera
Esquire
1‡
Courtesy
Recognize
Prudent


Pantler
Esquire
1‡
Stewardship
Prudent
Energetic


Butler
Esquire
1‡
Stewardship
Lazy
Prudent


Larderer
Esquire or cleric
1‡
Clerk or Stewardship
Indulgent
Just



Chamberlain

Cleric

2

Clerk
Honest
Courtesy
Deceitful
Vengeful
Proud


Wardrober
Esquire
1
Loyalty
Awareness
Courage


Constable
Knight
2
Horsemanship
Cruel
Energetic


Deputy Constable
Esquire
1
Horsemanship
Cruel
Energetic


Huntsman
Esquire
1
Hunting
Awareness
First Aid



Chaplain
Priest
2
Religion,
Piety
Humility,
Humility
Honesty,
Merciful

Another thread "Clarifying what all comes with the "standard" manor " ( http://nocturnal-media.com/forum/index.php?topic=1464.0 ) talked about some of the offices that a normal household. You can be fairly sure that those offices still need to be filled.

BUT more importantly, many (if not most) offices are held by Esquires. *NOT* by Knights who might run off and get themselves killed.

Now those offices which deal with the army will often be held by knights, as would those offices which deal with local defense. But things like "butler" could as easily be held by an esquire, and thus not be available after St. Albans.

Now one thing that might have happened is that a number of Banneretts got themsleves killed, and if they don't have an heir (or their heir is a minor) then those positions would be available for the PCs.

You may want to talk with your players about what sort of game they want for the next "time-block". Do they want to be actively defending Salisbury, or do they want the freedom to go off and adventure?

My new group is approaching St. Albans, so I thank you for giving me things to think about.


Interesting stuff. I think that the military offices are likely the ones that will be aimed for. One player knight has sunk all of his glory into his battle skill and is now in the mid to high 20s. He could make a formidable marshal if the players want to try to take the fight to some of these saxon warlords.

One player married the Lady Adwen (after single-handedly capturing Octa's banner at Lindsey) and so is a banneret. The rest are all married so they are unable to make a play for any widows just yet. That said, I imagine that lands without knights - particularly on the fringes of Salisbury - will be ripe for raiding and usurpation so there is scope to introduce these ladies soon enough.

Incidentally I have had three eligible ladies die just after getting married on their first childbirth roll - Lady Gwiona, Adwen and another one from an adventure. Are there any rules for getting top-class midwives?

Book of Warlords? Awesome!

Thanks for the sneak peak Greg. Looks like I'll need to pick this up.

a little something of a preview of the Book of Warlords
Thanks muchly for the preview - this look very very interesting!

Book of Warlords? Awesome!

WARLORDS is actually my last-minute brainstorm about BARONS
This is the Warlord Age, after all, and so I chopped off all the sissy stuff like building mills, or caring at all what your peasants think or feel. Life is such that they always feel gratitude for the lord's walls when the bad guys come.
A nonexistent "Book of the Barons" will be the same subject, but for King Arthur.
Just as the nonexistent "Book of King Arthur Pendragon" would be an update on UTHER


Thanks for the sneak peak Greg. Looks like I'll need to pick this up.

I hope everyone will

Looks like I'll need to pick this up.

+1

*Raise Thread* ;)

I've got a question about the offices: What's about the herold? Is it a office in its own?

*Raise Thread* ;)

I've got a question about the offices: What's about the herold? Is it a office in its own?

Heraldry is a profession that appears after the Boy King period

A Herald is not an officer
it is a subordinate
To have a chief herald it requires a very large household (like Count Robert)
He'd be a knight, whereas most professionals are simply esquires
He'd get normal lifestyle upkeep for his rank

Great, thank you!

I think herald is a nice retirement-job for a PK :-)

a little something of a preview of the Book of Warlords


Table deleted due to wonky formatting in a [\quote].

To be clear, automatic and opportunity are "check XXX" and "successful roll to check YYY", a la Book of Manor improvements?

Also, is there some modicum of glory for the knightly offices? Possibly some from the esquirry offices for a spare? I have house-ruled that the Marshall of Salisbury is worth 50 glory per year.

Table deleted due to wonky formatting in a [\quote].
Looks like it was fixed


To be clear, automatic and opportunity are "check XXX" and "successful roll to check YYY", a la Book of Manor improvements?

Yes


Also, is there some modicum of glory for the knightly offices? Possibly some from the esquirry offices for a spare? I have house-ruled that the Marshall of Salisbury is worth 50 glory per year.

I think that is right

(Edited by Merlin to correct nested quotes! - loving the irony ;-) )