Yesterday afternoon, the Sunday gamers came out and continued play in their campaign of the Pendragon Roleplaying Game game. You can read about the previous session by following the link here. This post is somewhat long, so I've put it behind a cut so that folks who don't want to read any detailed rpg posts don't have to.

CHARACTERS

Sir Barnabus (SteveR) - Just Knight
Dame Aveline (Tammy) - Knight of the Road
Sir Galien (GM/NPC) - Generous Knight

Game Date: Saturday, April 15th, 484

Overnight, many of Sarum Castle's personnel learn that the terms of the engagement between Sir Arlfred and Sir Galien have been altered by Dame Aspara. It is now an engagement of the best-of-three lance attacks to either a knockdown or surrender at dawn; several of the peasants are thrilled that the combats will not use rebated weapons, and rumours are circulating as to why. Rumours are circulating that this is something called "tournament style" fighting, and has been imported from the continent, where it is gaining in popularity. As the player-knights wake, Dame Aspara comes and joins them, and tells them that they will be performing their usual chores after breaking fast, and that the characters will be doing patrol duty on the perimeter of Sarum's lands. So the day consists of the lance fight with Sir Arlfred, then breakfast, and then regular chores and work. As Sir Galien's squire, Marcus, helps him dress and put on full armour for his fight, Dame Aspara comes over and wishes him good luck. Sir Barnabus and Dame Aveline come over to him and also wish him luck, and then head out to join the crowd waiting at the tournament list area.

Once Sir Galien is prepared and makes his way to the tourney field, he finds it is full of people - other knights (including his friends), various castle personnel, visiting nobles and other people, and commoners of all sorts - and he is slightly nervous. He and Marcus go to one end of the tourney field after the Castellan meets with both knights and establishes the terms of the match clearly. Both knights will pull their blows, doing less damage. Sir Arlfred barely acknowledges Sir Galien, and Arlfred's squire Igans merely snarls at Marcus. Once both knights are prepared and ready, the match begins in earnest. With a thunderous sound of hoofbeats, the two knights engage in the first pass, and Sir Galien is successful and unhorses Sir Arlfred [Arlfred suffers 8 damage and 3 damage from the fall] and both knights' lances shatter to pieces. The two knights regroup with their squires, and are re-armed. On the second pass, both knights succeed but Sir Galien strikes well though neither knight is unhorsed and Sir Arlfred suffers another minor injury [he takes 4 more damage]. The two knights take a few moments to gather themselves again, and on the third pass, Sir Galien strikes Sir Arlfred a mighty blow, knocking him off his horse and inflicting another minor wound, falling unconscious. [Arlfred suffers another 8 points of damage total.] The match is over, and Sir Galien is declared the winner. [He checks his Charge Skill, snd gains 25 Glory.]

[Glory Awards: sir Galien: 25 Glory.]

The crowd cheers for Sir Galien and money and favours are exchanged over his victory over Sir Arlfred. Sir Galien moves towards Sir Arlfred and talks to the healer [Aelia, APP 13, First Aid 16, Chirurgery 15] now attending him; she tells him Sir Arlfred will be fine, but it will take some time, perhaps several months, and has her two attendants carry Arlfred off the field while his friends and supporters gather around him. Sir Galien makes his way from the tournament field, leaving his squire to take care of his horse and weaponry, and is greeted by various well-wishers and the other player-knights. One of the knights in the crowd curses Sir Galien for his deeds. While Galien doesn't see who it was, Sir Barnabus is able to identify the fellow.in the crowd, but does not know them, other than he is a tall Northerner [SIZ 17] with dark, blond hair and a bushy beard and several scars on his face and what can be seen of his arms. [This is Sir Efflwyn of Gorre, and a potential suitor for Lady Elspeth of Gorre.] As they return to the main Hall, Dame Aspara comes up to them and addresses sir Galien. she congratulates him on his victory, and for putting Sir Arlfred in his place - and for the entertainment he provided the people of Sarum. She tosses him a small pouch, saying he earned the reward, and sir Galien thanks her and pockets the pouch without opening it up [it holds 1 Librum in coinage], and inquires how Sir Arlfred is faring. "His injuries are severe," says Aspara, "but he won't miss any of the battles soon to come...if he knows what's good for him." Once Dame Aspara goes on her way, Sir Galien tells Sir Barnabus and Dame Aveline that he needs some time alone, and will go and bathe and will meet them at breakfast.

At breakfast, Dame Karrin of the Green Tower comes up to Sir Barnabus to talk. They engage in awkward polite talk and niceties. Dame Karrin then proceeds to ask him if he's happy about and anticipating Lady Berria's impending return to Sarum and pursuing their courtship. Sir Barnabus is somewhat positive in his answer, but a bit vague. [He checks the Honest Trait.] Dame Karrin says she is pleased, as Lady Berria is quite eager to see him again and pursue their relationship. Sir Galien joins them at breakfast for a quick meal, since he was late, and the group of knights goes silent as Dame Aspara appears, and strides to the centre of the dining area. She announces that, due to the rivalries she has seen among her knights, the lack of seeming discipline, and the way the squires are [not] being taught properly, she needs to prepare them for proper battles. Thus, she intends to introduce mock tournaments and lance combat trials to both increase morale and hone their weapon skills. Many of the knights moan in dismay, but Dame Aveline is enthusiastic about the changes to come [and checks her Reckless Trait].

The player-knights finish their morning meal and go about the first of their day's chores, and then meet their squires and prepare to head out on patrol duty. As they don their armour and peruse their equipment, both Sir Galien and Dame Aveline notice that their armour and shields are not quite up to their normal standards. The three squires (Edward, Rostalle and Marcus, respectively) apologise and blame it on too much mead the night before. The player-knights and Sir Galien accept this excuse with good grace. Once the player-knights are properly attired for their duty, the group and their squires exit Sarum by the Fool's Gate. They decide to start their patrol by making their way towards Levcomagus first, this despite the protests by Sir Galien that he is "mightily fatigued" by his morning exertions in his fight with Sir Arlfred and Alcydh (his charger) may not be up to more "histrionics" this early in the day (he strokes the horse's flanks as he say this last). Sir Barnabus and Dame Aveline pooh-pooh these notions, claiming that Sir Galien looks and sounds fine and it is his modesty speaking, and the knights set off toward the border area with Levcomagus.

After a couple of hours following the old Roman road towards Levcomagus, the player-knights and Sir Galien come across a spot where the road splits in two, one part of it heading to the north and west, the other curving away somewhat to the northeast. Sir Galien halts the group, telling Sir Barnabus and Dame Aveline that there is no fork on the road to Levcomagus, and the player-knights debate what to do and which road to follow. They are interrupted by the sound of tinkling laughter, and are confronted at the intersection by a beautiful woman [APP 18] with wild, dark brown hair, different coloured eyes (one blue, one green) [the three characters all fail their Awareness rolls; Barnabus checks the Trusting Trait] and a somewhat diaphanous light tan robe that glistens in the sunlight. While she won't tell them her name [Lady Cyan of Evenlight], she offers them a choice: The path to the left will lead them to adventure and danger, and the path to the right will lead them to "where you are going." While the others don't react, Sir Galien has the impression that the woman is either faerie or something magical. Before they can speak, the lady turns and walks between the forked roads, vanishing as she goes leaving a hint of tinkling laughter. Sir Galien immediately says he chooses to pursue the adventurous path and after Sir Barnabus and Dame Aveline hesitate and take too much time for his taste, turns to them and asks if they will come with him "or are you cowards?" Dame Aveline reacts to the insult appropriately, and challenges Sir Galien to lance combat (withholding the damage, of course), and the two engage immediately. Sir Galien knocks Dame Aveline off her horse [taking 1 damage from the fall], neither side being hurt, and honour is restored. She accepts his offer to help her to her feet, but he can see that Aveline will not forget this. Almost as an afterthought, Sir Barnabus challenges him as well. "Three times in one day," says Sir Galien with a shrug. Neither Dame Aveline nor Sir Barnabus comment. Sir Galien knocks Sir Barnabus off his horse [he takes 3 damage from the fall], and while honour is satisfied, the other two look suspiciously at him. As they prepare to travel once more, Sir Galien apologises to both of them for calling them...

Musings and Ravings

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