Derek van Kenau
07-13-2012, 02:27 PM
Hello all. Bear with me (no pun intended).
This is a lot of text. Hope you can enjoy it anyway.
On monday the 9th of July, at around 16 o'clock we got started with the initial session of the basic KAP-adventure about the Bear of Imber. In my 'slightly altered' version of this fine adventure, the village is called Tidworth and is placed almost on the exact opposite side of the Salisbury plain from where Imber is.
On this day (same day as IRL, monday) in late August of 484, Earl Roderick is making his progress of the county and is only now reaching the DuPlain castle for a stay-over. In a perfect world, the Castellan of Sarum (a man called Melchior) should be running business in Sarum when the Count is away, but the world isn't a perfect place and thus the Marshal, Sir Elad of Vagon and his right-hand-man Sir Amig the Fat is running Sarum instead, on special request from Roderick himself. The Castellan isn't pleased. Does anyone important but he care? No.
Early monday morning starts for the squires with somewhat demanding horse-riding routines, doing fine manuevers in front of an exacting Sir Amig. They all try this with different results.
I've set up an idea that the player character squires are included in one of the five defensive teams responsible for each area of Sarum, each of the defensive areas has atleast 10 squires detailed to them. The PC/NPC area of defense is the Roman quarter. Among these are the 5 PC squires:
1. Squire Owain of Newton manor. Pagan. Family speciality: Good with intrigue skills and court gossips. Also finer clothes, the family has the Rich level income. Owain also has a reputation of being popular among females. Has even had a not-so-secret tete-a-tete with the Sarum Castellan's daughter! Hence is not popular with Miles (see below) or Miles' father. Lustful.
2. Squire Coriolenus of Steeple Langford manor. Roman christian. Family speciality: Has a weapon smith on their family grounds, which makes better iron weapons. Coriolenus father has the heirloom sword still in possession. Normal income. Vengeful.
3. Squire Rufus of Broughton manor. Roman christian. Family speciality: Hunting. Very knowledgeable in laying down different prey, appropriate for the adventure. But: poor income as they are often ravaged by Saxon raiding parties + bad harvests!
Rufus was originally the second son, and was being trained for a life in church, when his older brother was killed during practice. Also Miles (see below) were his family's second son, and taken in by the church. He was often the bully during this time in Rufus life. Miles elder brother also gets killed in a hunting accident, and elevation to heir was almost simultaneous with Rufus' own. Rufus is very Pious, and is one year older than the rest of the PCs.
4. Squire Dalan of Ebbesbourne Wake manor. Roman christian. Family speciality: Boating. Has a ferry station in the south and are good swimmers. Normal income, plus some small extra from the ferry. Talkative. Energetic.
5. Squire Gwanon of Winterbourne Stoke manor. Pagan. Family speciality: Horsemanship. The family rears great equines and has good knowledge of all things horsey. Normal income. Somewhat shy. Also Energetic.
The other 5, (of which 4 are an NPC group of their own)and all Roman christian, are:
1. Squire Miles de Newton Tony (son of the Sarum Castellan, Sir Melchior). This one, Miles, is the NPC-group leader, with a 16 in Deceitful and generally not very loving. Always bragging about his faher's estates and such. Likes it when others is being embarrased.
2. Squire Lutorius of Tisbury manor (son of Sir Lycus - inofficially called "Sir Like Us Not"). Like his father, excels in fighting and is known for his Cruel streak, especially towards small animals and children.
3. Squire Laevinius of Wylye manor (son of Sir Leonus (=Leo)). Also, like his father, is fond of beautiful things and rather the "good guy of the bad crop", but not so smart and easily distracted with "beautiful words" into doing bad things, things he often regret later but then it's too late. Worldly.
4. Squire Tancred of Durnford manor (son of Sir Baran (=Bar)). Is becoming as big and burly as his father, but is definately smarter than the knight parent. Also is easily swayed by words from Miles and Lutorius, but not the beautiful ones. Arbitrary.
The fifth, a very unassuming fellow, called squire Thomas of Stratford manor. He's not chosen to side with either group.
After the morning exercise with Sir Amig, the more ordinary squiring chores are taken care of. Emptying latrines, polishing their respective knight's weapons and armor, seeing to the horses, etc etc. Each of their knight lieges are out on the roads on county patrol these days or accompanying the Earl on his progression, and it is up to other squires temporarily taken from the pool to serve the 10 respective knight lieges. Instead, the PC and NPC squires from the Roman Quarter gets a summoning from Sir Elad through Amig, that they shall report to the Sarum Castle great hall after their short lunch break. During this break, squire Rufus heads directly to the Church of St. Mary for his usual lunch prayer. After this, Rufus runs into old Sir Cahin, the only knight of the old ways in the Quarter of Christ. Cahin is well over 55 years and complains about his knee ache, but also is astoundingly glad that the good monks of the Josephe Abbey has given him a flagon of their best mead, for "medicinal purposes only". This has fortunately taken effect and is soothing the pain wondrously in his knee. It has also given him other more obvious side effects of which he cares naught, swaying on his feet.
At this moment the 4 antagonistic NPC squires comes along and Lutorius, annoyed by the overglad Cahin, says to him "Out of the way you old coot! Move old fool!". Rufus defends the elderly knight and also get support from the other PC squires, suddenly arriving at the scene, foremost Coriolenus who squarely stares down Lutorius, as Coriolenus is a big man even taller than Tancred, but not as burly.
As expected, the situation deteriorates and general brawling commences. Lutorius tries a haymaker at Coriolenus, but misses and are instead firmly put out of consciousness by the return uppercut from Coriolenus.
Then both Miles and Tancred successfully throws Dalan in the gutter, and in turn are attacked by Rufus and Owain. Only Gwanon keeps out of the fight, observing from a distance. Then it all suddenly stops, as the NPC group led by Miles understands that the PCs have the upper hand. The two groups withdraw to the castle to hear Sir Elad.
Arriving there, well after squire Thomas, they are scolded for their late arrival. In turn each squire is then presented to the Castellan of Vagon, by Sir Amig (here the players get to introduce his character to the other players). Then Sir Elad tells of the assignment to village of Tidworth:
“Well, it appears there is a fuss in one of the eastern villages, Tidworth. They speak of a strange howling in the Harewood forest. In truth I don’t believe it to be any more than superstitious peasantry exaggerating the ululating of wolves -- it’s been a hard winter after all -- but they demand attention, and it is best to appease them. Can’t have Earl Roderick returning home, finding us lacking in our concerns for the villages, can we?”
“Also, most of my knights are otherwise needed or are elsewhere, so you will have to do. The village of Tidworth is only a day and a half’s ride from here, and close to your....Rufus was it? Broughton manor, in the east. Make contact with the village priest there, Old Garr, he'll tell you the details."
“Let us just pray that the Saxons decide to pay a visit another day, eh. They would eat you up, being squires.” The last Elad says really quiet.
Then, after the audience, the 10 squires are taken outside by Sir Amig, and then they all ride to the training field in Sarum, each being tested there in hitting a quintain shield without being slammed by the return bag, on horseback of course. Miles right away says: "Watch this and you'll maybe learn how it's done the masterful way". He mounts his horse, spurs it and totally misses the quintain. Then Tancred tries, hits but gets downed by the bag. Levinius does the exact same as Tancred. Lutorius misses.
And then Gwanon gets astride his well groomed horse, and elegantly hits the quintain shield spot on (crit), as well as ducking for the bag.
Owain hits, but is downed. The same goes for Dalan, and then Rufus manages to hit the quintain as elegantly as Gwanon did, and also dodge the bag.
After that nothing interesting is done by either Coriolenus or Thomas as both miss completely.
So it's a final between Gwanon and Rufus, which Gwanon wins, so he is declared the winner of this part of the competition.
But now there's still a horse race to be done, outside the Sarum town on a heath were and old track has been for as long as they can remember.
Gathering on the horse track, they line up each with their own horse, most of them has rouncies, but Rufus rides a sumpter. Then Amig shouts "Let loose!" It starts good for Owain, who leads for a long time, then Laevinius starts edging in, followed tightly by Gwanon and Miles. Coriolenus also does a good job, but everyone else falls behind. In the end it's once again Gwanon who takes the win, even though Owains horse had the "Marvelous Horseshoes" on! A proud, but not overly boasting Gwanon then gets elected as the leader for the assigment to Tidworth village. Sir Amig says "Then what are you standing around here for?!". After some fast gathering of supplies and some clothes against the rain, they're off...
As stated, the weather is bad and there's even been some fog still clinging to the moors. With Gwanon as the leader, the PC squires team decide to take the north-eastern road to Figsbury old fort and then turn east along the road to Pitton manor where Rufus' sister is the manor mistress as she's married to the landholder. After that they ride north-east straight towards Tidworth. It's a wet day and it gets even wetter. Miles complains about the way they're taking and states that "If he was the team leader they would've taken the much more scenic road north-east, passing his own manor of Newton Tony and then crossing east to the Wallop's manors where Miles family is held in high regard. They could get a great reception and an even grander stay-over with all expenses paid by the Wallops." Also, Miles proposes they split up into two teams of five each, if that shows to be more advantageous in the near future. An idea Gwanon replies he definetly is not against. The clouds isn't the only source of grumbling sounds this day. (cont. in part 1b)
This is a lot of text. Hope you can enjoy it anyway.
On monday the 9th of July, at around 16 o'clock we got started with the initial session of the basic KAP-adventure about the Bear of Imber. In my 'slightly altered' version of this fine adventure, the village is called Tidworth and is placed almost on the exact opposite side of the Salisbury plain from where Imber is.
On this day (same day as IRL, monday) in late August of 484, Earl Roderick is making his progress of the county and is only now reaching the DuPlain castle for a stay-over. In a perfect world, the Castellan of Sarum (a man called Melchior) should be running business in Sarum when the Count is away, but the world isn't a perfect place and thus the Marshal, Sir Elad of Vagon and his right-hand-man Sir Amig the Fat is running Sarum instead, on special request from Roderick himself. The Castellan isn't pleased. Does anyone important but he care? No.
Early monday morning starts for the squires with somewhat demanding horse-riding routines, doing fine manuevers in front of an exacting Sir Amig. They all try this with different results.
I've set up an idea that the player character squires are included in one of the five defensive teams responsible for each area of Sarum, each of the defensive areas has atleast 10 squires detailed to them. The PC/NPC area of defense is the Roman quarter. Among these are the 5 PC squires:
1. Squire Owain of Newton manor. Pagan. Family speciality: Good with intrigue skills and court gossips. Also finer clothes, the family has the Rich level income. Owain also has a reputation of being popular among females. Has even had a not-so-secret tete-a-tete with the Sarum Castellan's daughter! Hence is not popular with Miles (see below) or Miles' father. Lustful.
2. Squire Coriolenus of Steeple Langford manor. Roman christian. Family speciality: Has a weapon smith on their family grounds, which makes better iron weapons. Coriolenus father has the heirloom sword still in possession. Normal income. Vengeful.
3. Squire Rufus of Broughton manor. Roman christian. Family speciality: Hunting. Very knowledgeable in laying down different prey, appropriate for the adventure. But: poor income as they are often ravaged by Saxon raiding parties + bad harvests!
Rufus was originally the second son, and was being trained for a life in church, when his older brother was killed during practice. Also Miles (see below) were his family's second son, and taken in by the church. He was often the bully during this time in Rufus life. Miles elder brother also gets killed in a hunting accident, and elevation to heir was almost simultaneous with Rufus' own. Rufus is very Pious, and is one year older than the rest of the PCs.
4. Squire Dalan of Ebbesbourne Wake manor. Roman christian. Family speciality: Boating. Has a ferry station in the south and are good swimmers. Normal income, plus some small extra from the ferry. Talkative. Energetic.
5. Squire Gwanon of Winterbourne Stoke manor. Pagan. Family speciality: Horsemanship. The family rears great equines and has good knowledge of all things horsey. Normal income. Somewhat shy. Also Energetic.
The other 5, (of which 4 are an NPC group of their own)and all Roman christian, are:
1. Squire Miles de Newton Tony (son of the Sarum Castellan, Sir Melchior). This one, Miles, is the NPC-group leader, with a 16 in Deceitful and generally not very loving. Always bragging about his faher's estates and such. Likes it when others is being embarrased.
2. Squire Lutorius of Tisbury manor (son of Sir Lycus - inofficially called "Sir Like Us Not"). Like his father, excels in fighting and is known for his Cruel streak, especially towards small animals and children.
3. Squire Laevinius of Wylye manor (son of Sir Leonus (=Leo)). Also, like his father, is fond of beautiful things and rather the "good guy of the bad crop", but not so smart and easily distracted with "beautiful words" into doing bad things, things he often regret later but then it's too late. Worldly.
4. Squire Tancred of Durnford manor (son of Sir Baran (=Bar)). Is becoming as big and burly as his father, but is definately smarter than the knight parent. Also is easily swayed by words from Miles and Lutorius, but not the beautiful ones. Arbitrary.
The fifth, a very unassuming fellow, called squire Thomas of Stratford manor. He's not chosen to side with either group.
After the morning exercise with Sir Amig, the more ordinary squiring chores are taken care of. Emptying latrines, polishing their respective knight's weapons and armor, seeing to the horses, etc etc. Each of their knight lieges are out on the roads on county patrol these days or accompanying the Earl on his progression, and it is up to other squires temporarily taken from the pool to serve the 10 respective knight lieges. Instead, the PC and NPC squires from the Roman Quarter gets a summoning from Sir Elad through Amig, that they shall report to the Sarum Castle great hall after their short lunch break. During this break, squire Rufus heads directly to the Church of St. Mary for his usual lunch prayer. After this, Rufus runs into old Sir Cahin, the only knight of the old ways in the Quarter of Christ. Cahin is well over 55 years and complains about his knee ache, but also is astoundingly glad that the good monks of the Josephe Abbey has given him a flagon of their best mead, for "medicinal purposes only". This has fortunately taken effect and is soothing the pain wondrously in his knee. It has also given him other more obvious side effects of which he cares naught, swaying on his feet.
At this moment the 4 antagonistic NPC squires comes along and Lutorius, annoyed by the overglad Cahin, says to him "Out of the way you old coot! Move old fool!". Rufus defends the elderly knight and also get support from the other PC squires, suddenly arriving at the scene, foremost Coriolenus who squarely stares down Lutorius, as Coriolenus is a big man even taller than Tancred, but not as burly.
As expected, the situation deteriorates and general brawling commences. Lutorius tries a haymaker at Coriolenus, but misses and are instead firmly put out of consciousness by the return uppercut from Coriolenus.
Then both Miles and Tancred successfully throws Dalan in the gutter, and in turn are attacked by Rufus and Owain. Only Gwanon keeps out of the fight, observing from a distance. Then it all suddenly stops, as the NPC group led by Miles understands that the PCs have the upper hand. The two groups withdraw to the castle to hear Sir Elad.
Arriving there, well after squire Thomas, they are scolded for their late arrival. In turn each squire is then presented to the Castellan of Vagon, by Sir Amig (here the players get to introduce his character to the other players). Then Sir Elad tells of the assignment to village of Tidworth:
“Well, it appears there is a fuss in one of the eastern villages, Tidworth. They speak of a strange howling in the Harewood forest. In truth I don’t believe it to be any more than superstitious peasantry exaggerating the ululating of wolves -- it’s been a hard winter after all -- but they demand attention, and it is best to appease them. Can’t have Earl Roderick returning home, finding us lacking in our concerns for the villages, can we?”
“Also, most of my knights are otherwise needed or are elsewhere, so you will have to do. The village of Tidworth is only a day and a half’s ride from here, and close to your....Rufus was it? Broughton manor, in the east. Make contact with the village priest there, Old Garr, he'll tell you the details."
“Let us just pray that the Saxons decide to pay a visit another day, eh. They would eat you up, being squires.” The last Elad says really quiet.
Then, after the audience, the 10 squires are taken outside by Sir Amig, and then they all ride to the training field in Sarum, each being tested there in hitting a quintain shield without being slammed by the return bag, on horseback of course. Miles right away says: "Watch this and you'll maybe learn how it's done the masterful way". He mounts his horse, spurs it and totally misses the quintain. Then Tancred tries, hits but gets downed by the bag. Levinius does the exact same as Tancred. Lutorius misses.
And then Gwanon gets astride his well groomed horse, and elegantly hits the quintain shield spot on (crit), as well as ducking for the bag.
Owain hits, but is downed. The same goes for Dalan, and then Rufus manages to hit the quintain as elegantly as Gwanon did, and also dodge the bag.
After that nothing interesting is done by either Coriolenus or Thomas as both miss completely.
So it's a final between Gwanon and Rufus, which Gwanon wins, so he is declared the winner of this part of the competition.
But now there's still a horse race to be done, outside the Sarum town on a heath were and old track has been for as long as they can remember.
Gathering on the horse track, they line up each with their own horse, most of them has rouncies, but Rufus rides a sumpter. Then Amig shouts "Let loose!" It starts good for Owain, who leads for a long time, then Laevinius starts edging in, followed tightly by Gwanon and Miles. Coriolenus also does a good job, but everyone else falls behind. In the end it's once again Gwanon who takes the win, even though Owains horse had the "Marvelous Horseshoes" on! A proud, but not overly boasting Gwanon then gets elected as the leader for the assigment to Tidworth village. Sir Amig says "Then what are you standing around here for?!". After some fast gathering of supplies and some clothes against the rain, they're off...
As stated, the weather is bad and there's even been some fog still clinging to the moors. With Gwanon as the leader, the PC squires team decide to take the north-eastern road to Figsbury old fort and then turn east along the road to Pitton manor where Rufus' sister is the manor mistress as she's married to the landholder. After that they ride north-east straight towards Tidworth. It's a wet day and it gets even wetter. Miles complains about the way they're taking and states that "If he was the team leader they would've taken the much more scenic road north-east, passing his own manor of Newton Tony and then crossing east to the Wallop's manors where Miles family is held in high regard. They could get a great reception and an even grander stay-over with all expenses paid by the Wallops." Also, Miles proposes they split up into two teams of five each, if that shows to be more advantageous in the near future. An idea Gwanon replies he definetly is not against. The clouds isn't the only source of grumbling sounds this day. (cont. in part 1b)