I'm playing some Pendragon for fun and research; what follows are the chronicles of the Heirs of Britain.
We're playing King Arthur Pendragon 5.2 with some expansions and a few house rules. Behold:
Featuring:
C1 as Sir Elvorix the Roman
C2 as Sir Iwan the Cymric
Trent as Sir Vandagild the Aquitanian
Elvorix the Roman, son of Taurinus of the “Saxon
Shore”.
A well-spoken man, of a height with Vandagild, described
for his Roman nose and charming accent. He is famously Forgiving, Just and
Temperate. He is passionately dedicated to his Lord and, like all good men,
despises Saxons. He has a good knowledge of Law, court, heraldry, and the ways
of folk.
Like many Knights, he is famed for his Valor and is
a skilled young warrior.
He hails from the city of Norwich, and is lord of
Shrewton manor.
Male Parta Male Dilabuntur – What has been wrongly gained is wrongly
lost.
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Vandagild the Aquitanian, son of Vandevig of
Ganis.
A tall man of great constitution, with gallic
features and a scarred left brow; a bear claw on a youthful hunt. His sense of
Justice drives him, and he is famously Vengeful but Merciful. His hatred of Saxons
and Vandals, for their marauding ways, are well-known. He is renowned as a
hunter and horseman. His powerful oratory makes him a popular speaker and
storyteller.
Like many Knights, he is famed for his Valor and is
a skilled young warrior.
His father earned his lands in Salisbury as a
mercenary, joining the now High King Aurelius in his March from Aquitaine to retake his rightful throne of Logres and Britain. For his valorous service, Vandevig was granted the
manor of Winterborne Gunner. Vandagild will inherit these lands.
Iustitia Virtus Misericordia – Justice, Valor and Mercy.
__________
Iwan the Cymrian, son of Rufus of
Salisbury.
Famously handsome, Iwan’s wavy blonde hair and
broad shoulders draw favourable comment. Though famously Modest, his Generosity
and Justice are known across the court. He is fanatically Loyal to his liege,
and is known for holding Honor and Hospitality in the highest regard. He still
seethes at the betrayer Vortigern, the tyrant and usurper who gave Saxons land
in Britain. He is popular in court, an excellent dancer being both well-spoken in
polite and joyous conversation; though his modesty keeps his words few, many
listen when he speaks. He rides a remarkably obedient charger.
Like many Knights, he is a skilled young warrior.
Of good Salisbury stock, Iwan is lord of Pitton
manor.
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Fall 479, The Bear of Imber
The senior squires of Vagon Castle train under the watchful eye of Sir Elad, Marshall of Sir Roderick* and Castellan of Vagon Castle. As usual per Vagon mornings, we are tested in the arts of battle. First we are sent charging at lance against a stationary target and then, at our success, we face the dreaded quintain. The terrible construct is menacing, but the three squires each succeed at the lance, and keep their saddle as the wooden arms swing back. Elad is pleased and approving of our skill, and offers us opportunity.
Eager to send the almost-knights into the earlship at large, Sir Elad tells us of the rumors of a man-eating bear terrorizing the local village of Imber. The Lord of that village is absent at business, and Elad offers us this chance to prove our candidacy as knights. We accept energetically. As he sets us off the next day, Sir Elad suggests a horse race to determine a leader. Eager to show the superiority of the Roman ways, Elvorix rides as hard as he can, while his companions Iwan and Vandagild, modestly shying from command, hold back to allow the Roman to win. He notices their ploy and admonishes their mischief, accepting leadership nonetheless.
A leader “decided”, the squires push north, through Elvorix's lands of Shrewton, past Tilshead and over the hills to Imber. There, we meet with Old Garr, a greying local, who welcomes the squires and laments the absence of his own Lord. He tells us of the bear rumors and offers to take us to the location of last sight. Elvorix leads the trio into the forest, looking confident but poorly masking his discomfort. We amble aimlessly for a few moments. Vandagild, famed as a hunter and squired to the Earl’s Huntsman Sir Golistan, asks Elvorix if he’d like some help tracking down the bear. Elvorix accepts, his relief palpable; his sense of direction is famously bad, and his Roman pride prevents him asking for aid. We track the bear to its lair; Vandagild approaches skilfully and takes the bear unawares, his steed navigating the woodland terrain and his lance piercing the ursine hide! The bear roars, rears, and retaliates as the other squires engage. A battle ensues, and the men slay the fierce creature with uncommon skill, the bear unable to muster effective resistance! Iwan, in his quiet modesty, fights well. As the squires take trophies from the beast, Vandagild offhandedly questions if the bear is a man-eater at all. Elvorix, then, a surgeon of Roman training, examines the beast’s gut for signs of manflesh… to his shock the bear hasn’t eaten any people at all!
As the squires return to Imber to share the news, they stumble upon a villager’s house... Two men, armed, loiter in the yard; sounds of distress emit from within; the poor folk are being raided by our dreaded enemy, the Saxons! The squires spur their mounts, as the third Saxon emerges with a struggling Cymric farmer… The Saxon arrows and their clumsy axes are no match for the three sturdily armoured and mounted men of knightly training; few wounds are sustained as our nobler arms spill foreign blood into the earth. The peasant is grateful, of course; it is the lot of the peasant to be saved by the noble, of course; and to grovel in gratitude. We surmise that these savages have been the thorn in Imber’s side; a foul and unexpected fate for such northern lands, to be spoiled by the boots of Saxons. At least their lifeless bones may now bring fertility to British fields. The squires return to Imber and tell the villagers that the threat is over, before encouraging them to return to their plots and toil. Old Garr is grateful! The three squires, flushed with the thrill of battle and the glory of hunt, return to Castle Vagon, to tell Sir Elad of their success, and the ill tidings of Saxons so far northwest…
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Vandagild's portrait taken from Oliver Sin without permission:
https://www.livandchiuartstudio.com/oliver-sin
Talented man.
