Louen Leoncouer. Greatest King of Bretonnia since the time of Gilles himself. Ever valiant in battle. Ever honorable in Diplomacy, ever chivalrous in war. Ten-thousand foes has he conquered, from the undead to the unspeakable. Greenskins have fallen in droves before him, he has dueled with the Tzarina of Kislev to save his people from slavery oppression in that dark land, and the Dark Elves have seen their bodies broken by his lance.
Abroad he is respected-- a neutral arbitrator, a noble soul. Just and honest in war and peace alike.
He...is not you.
The Queen is the noblest Lady of Bretonnia. A wise woman, of honorable temperament, just act and wise counsel. It is said that only one woman of mortal breath might ever so guide the King. In these lands, she is a clarion call terrible. More than once have men out their all on the line for her. By her will, the markets of Tilea were shattered.
She...is not you.
Maullobaude. Supposed bastard son of King Louen. Duke of Mousillon. A black knight, a terrible foe. Valorous, honorable, and chivalrous; but too, wicked, cruel, and harsh. A thousand beasts has he slain as Questing Knight, and the darkness follows him like the train of a dress. Unimpeded lord of Mousillon, master of that dark place, the misery he has caused is endless.
He...is not you.
You are a Prince, a trueborn heir of King Louen:
[] Sir Bohort de Couronne (Defeault)
[] (Write-In)
Compared to the glory of your father, and of your mother, and of your brother, you have little done. No armies shattered, no princess rescued, no world saved. You struggle to leave the shadow of your elders.
But the time now is come.
For the greenskins move too greedily and too deeply. They threaten the people of the Borderlands-- and your father has heard their cries.
And so he sends unto them...you. At the head of an army of three-hundred knights, bearing his banner, you shall put the greenskins to flight-- you shall break the forces of evil-- you shall finally step out of the shadows and into the light, as is your birthright as a prince, as is your duty as a:
[] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred of tasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
[]Knight of the Realm. Having removed the greenskins from Hivercœur, you have tested their mettle and found it wanting. Though the Orcs are not so pathetic as the goblins, they are still all-together an untested, sloppy, weak force, utterly without heart, discipline, or panache. Though they have a thirst for blood and battle, they shall still fall before you. (Medium, Gain Virtue of Discipline)
[] A Grail Knight. You fought, suffered, and in the end were reborn, blessed by the Lady. Known for your hatred of guns, poisons, and other such dishonorable weapons, if for anything at all, you also have a well known weakness for protecting the innocent-- and there are worse things to be weak for. Certainly, the innocent will need your protection here-- an army of Black Orcs, only just slightly sullied by their weaker kin, march under command of Grimgor, the thing that put Archaon himself to flight. It will be a hard war-- but you will return with the head of this thing to your father, and the world will be better for it. (Hard, Gain Virtue of Noble Disdain)
--
So yeah, sit back and watch me burn I guess. I had so many notes for Prince Quest that I kind of felt bad wasting them.
Prince of Bretonnia, Lord of Mortensholm, protector of the people, The Pure Prince
Prestige: 2000
Relations (Foreign):
Kin:
Bretonnia (+++): Your kingdom, your people, your home. Though you are sometimes called melancholic, sad, or ennuyé, by and large it is fondly-- you are, after all, skilled in battle and prone to strength.
Friends: Alliance (++):
Estalia: After marching to the Crusades to free Estalia from the grip of the mad Sultan Jaffur, battling together against the Mountain Tribes, and with shared blood between many of the nobles of Eastern Bretonnia and Western Estalia, it should be little surprise that the nations of Estalia and Bretonnia are friends-- that they are near as honorbound as you helps. You could, conceivably, find support there for your Errantry War-- supplies, certainly. Benign (+):
Tilea: Shared battles in the Crusades, as well as a certain amount of shared cultural concepts, has resulted in a certain amount of friendship, though there are sore-spots thanks to recent treacheries. Rivals (-):
Southern Empire: After Prince Luitpold's entourage left a dozen bastards in the court of Couronne on low-born and noble alike, you've harbored something of a personal distaste for them. 'Tis dishonorable, and beneath a prince. Foes (--):
Kislev: They dare to proclaim their superiority in the saddle, the superiority of the goddess of their lands, and mistake your mercies for weakness. They grate at you, and at the people of Bretonnia. Enemies (---):
Norsca: They raid your lands, slaughter your people, and assail your Lady. By and large, you would not care one wit if a giant, whirling vortex appeared in the middle of the ocean Northern Empire: Of course, whatever the flaws might be of the South, the North is the worst of it. Choking under the cruel tyrannies of Gräfin Eathward the White Wolf, who by an iron fist and terrible wrath has brought together all the provinces from Middenland to the Ostermark in her White Will Treaty. A cruel woman, the plans she has for Norsca...well. You might have little love for that land, but they do not deserve the cruelty she has planned. --
Traits:
A Lion's Love: You love Lisanor. It is a fiery love, a passionate love, a love you did not admit for a time; but you do, you do with all your heart and mind and soul. Let them mock the prince who married a pauper-- you would rather face a thousand cruel words than live without her. You so love her you have set out to make her a queen and to sew this wound she has warned you of (-3 Diplomacy, -500 Prestige)
A Pure Prince: Unlike certain bastard spawning Imperial heirs, you have carried yourself as a prince should. Your love remains pure-- and you remain strong for it. (+2 Health, +1 Stability, +2 Opinion, +3 Piety)
A Lovely Lion: Blond haired, green eyed, tall and strong, you are a figure of song and beauty. When trobadours speak of lovely men, the image that comes to mind is usually you.(+2 Martial, +1 Diplomacy, +10% Fertility)
Prince: Your father wanted you ready to rule. You made your mistakes, but you can live with them-- and learn you did, whatever else might be wrong with you. (+2 Stewardship, 1 Random State chosen as Enemy)
Lord: You are a lord, a Prince, of Bretonnia, with all that Implies. Now with your own fief, at that. (+3 Martial, +100 Prestige, +3 Piety)
Dislikes the Southern Empire: They blew up the Viscount, impregnated your friends and left them with bastards, and have absolutely no sense of Elan. (-2 Diplomacy with Southern Imperials, -2 Sigmarite Opinion)
Hates the Northern Empire: Very, very primitive civilization starts at the Stir. Everything further north is a land of Barbarians. Idiotic (How in the Realm can you have the most Norscan attacks when you don't have a fucking coast), Barbarous (It takes a certain sort of stupid to not wear a helmet, as a religious matter-- it's another thing if your head is harder than metal, but), and worst of all dismissive of wine in favor that horse piss they call beer, you pointblank refuse to pass into the realm of Eathward. Fuck Middenland, fuck Nordland, fuck Ostland, fuck Hochland, fuck Ostermark, and fuck Talabecland. Get rid of the genocidal idiot who has you by the short hairs, then you can say something. (-4 Diplomacy with Northern Imperials, -4 Ulrican opinion)
Ally to Estalia: Say what you will, but the Estalians have never blown up knights in the midst of a duel. Further, there is a great much entangling of blood near the Irranan mountains. Estalia has had your back, and so you will have Estalia's back. (+2 Diplomacy with Estalia, +2 Opinion with Myrmidians)
Courtly Training: You have received the proper training for a member of the Royal Family of Bretonnia. (+1 Opinion)
Friend of the People: You heal the sick, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked. Not as popular with nobles a justice, nor the merchants and law-- but they adore it, and the common people have a strength all their own. (+3 Opinion, +1 Stability)
Honorbound: You swore an oath that you would make Lisanor a queen, and end the wars of her home. You keep your promises.
Virtue of Confidence: Not one step back! As Carleond himself did, you will not fall back! You will unite the Borderlands, you will string the broken body of Grimgor from your towers, and you will laugh in the face of evil! Since you spoke with the Lady, as well, you have felt...strange. (+3 Piety, +1 Martial, +1 Diplomacy)
Lady Touched: Since you saw the Lady, you have felt...Different. Strange. The full effects will only be seen with time, but you have certainly noticed a greater ability to speak, at least-- and of course, she has been nearer to mind. (+2 Diplomacy)
Arete: The Blade So Blue, the blade of Excellence! The seas do obey its call, and its fury! It fills you with a courage, and a confidence, and a faith you have never known before.(+3 Martial, +3 Piety)
Stats:
Martial: 13+3+2+3+1+3=21- The Lady chose you to bring your blade against the Orcs. Whatever else the cost, you will not fail. Diplomacy: 8-3+1+2 =8 - You married a peasant, and that about describes your usual regard for diplomatic niceties, too. Whatever else you are, a diplomat you are not. Piety: 11+3+3+3+3=23- The Lady is with you. She looks over, and judges you-- found you wanting, once, but in the same way she found herself wanting. Stewardship: 10+2=12- You are, at least, good enough that when people speak, you are broadly aware more often than not of what they mean.
Edwige de Lyonesse
A fierce woman of arms, distantly related to the Ducal family of Lyonesse- her grand-uncle was a third son. Northman blood flows in her, strong-- her mother was a fierce warrior from among the tribes of Norsca. Her whole life she has been torn between the two-- and the tension she ameliorates in aggression, battle and combat. She is the only person to ever disarm you on the field-- not necessarily to defeat you, you have lost plenty before, but that is an impressive.
While she is a great tactician, and a good strategist, her battle plans do tend to trade Bretonnian lives away at a somewhat alarming rate. There lies the key to defeating her.
She is rather happy with you for listening to her plan to defeat the goblins.
Likes: Killing goblins, snow, fighting, honor and ballroom dancing
Dislikes: Cowardice, treachery, greenskins, Dwarfs, her mother's side of the family
Traits: One-Eyed: She lost an eye at Aldium.
???
Stats: Martial: 14- A good Warrior and leader. Diplomacy: 12- she speaks with a firm voice and a kind passion. Piety: 10- she is honorbound and pious. Stewardship: 7- not a great fan of numbers.
Favor: 8/10- A loyal steward, marshal and servant. She's happy you followed her suggestion. Also happy she now controls Sonnetal.
-- Robert de Bastonne
There is an interesting contrast between Robert and his father, the famous Bohemond Beastslayer. His father is a handsome, even almost beautiful man; Robert is plain, bordering ugly. His father wields a massive mace carved from the bone of a dragon and a head wrought of meteor-iron by the dwarfs of the Gray Mountains; Robert wields a fauchard made by Guilliaume no last name. His father is a mighty warrior, but has little patience for administration; Robert, on the other hand, adores numbers like the bastard children he does not allow himself, but prefers a more clinical, even Imperial approach to war-- which is ironic in a sense.
Formerly the Major Domo of his father's house, ruling in his stead, the two of you grew to know each other as he spoke for his Dukedom in your father's city. A committed Bretonnian patriot, he saw the Viscount d'Alembençon betrayed by the supposed "Most honorable man in the Empire" and shot down like a dog. As he was the man's son-in-law, it left its mark.
His identifying mark as a commander is a strong support for the common soldiers-- the men at arms, the bowmen and so on. On the one hand, a good core is, tautologically, a good thing. On the other hand, it does leave the knightly wing of his armies weak; if you do not see the problem there, then you might not know so much about Bretonnia.
He is unhappy that you did not follow his suggestions. He is not offended on his own behalf, really, but for the sake of the wounded and the dead.
Likes: Honor, math, Bretonnia, his father, peasants
Dislikes: Kurt Hellborg, the Empire, The North, Risking others' lives, his father's vassals
Stats:
???
Traits:
???
Favor: 5/10- He's not real happy with you right now.
-- Emma de Parravon
Nobody quite knows her deal, really. She is an enigmatic woman, prone to shadows and magic. Respected and beloved almost as much as she is feared, she is the elder sister of Duke Cassyon de Parravon.
As you said, none quite knows her deal, but you do get the sense she is, at least, on the same side as you.
Likes: Being all enigmatic
Dislikes: Giving a straight answer
Stats:
???
Traits:
???
-- Lisanor de Courrone
Your wife, pregnant with your child. She is not pretty nor stunning, though none have ever been more beautiful in your eyes. A favored follower of Shallya, you two met when she tackled you-- she thought you were going to do something...very stupid at the docks (You weren't).
Though neither you nor she would admit it at first, over two years the two of you became lovers. She brought a passion to your life, and you a kind ear and benefactor. By her direction, you finally found a purpose-- dozens of hospices, alms-houses, and orphanages now run because she directed you to their plight. It was a war not your father-- bless him, but he was a warrior, not a healer-- nor your mother-- kind and gentle, but focused on her old home of Bastonne-- nor Maullobaude-- a Great Man, perhaps, but not a good one--would ever in a million years fight-- a war on poverty, on illness, on suffering.
A native of the Borderlands who had to flee owing to the constant war, she has spent long hours lamenting the disunity, kin strife, and suffering.
A woman with a keen understanding of how to best help people help themselves, a love of charity and knots, and a keen mind, she is perhaps the most intriguing woman you have ever met.
Likes: You, helping people, Shallya, handcuffs, peace, the Borderlands
Dislikes: Suffering, the Border Princes' status quo, Orcs, Civil War, Most mid-nobles
Stats: Martial: 1- Shallyans are sworn to pacifism in the main-- while the layfolk are not as sworn, actively going to war would be a sin for her. Diplomacy: 12- The kind queen Lisanor, there are those who mock her low birth. They generally give against her wit. Piety: 14- She is faithful to her goddess. Stewardship: 10- She's pretty good with money.
Traits: Altruist: She aids people, it's what she does. (+2 Diplomacy, +2 Piety) Wise: Sometimes suffering is just suffering, good for nothing-- but for other times it is a (hated) teacher. (+2 Diplomacy, +1 Piety) Peasant Born: She is lowborn. (-2 Diplomacy) Stern: She is made of stern stuff and enjoys control. (+2 Piety) Pacifist: She will not join battle. (Martial set at 1, permanently)
-
Favors: 1- The king would not be above helping his son a little.
Available Forces:
Errantry Force: 1200 Knights (2KE:1KotR)
7,500 Men At Arms
8,000 Bowmen
500 Villein
700 Mounted Yeomen
5 Units of Truffle Hounds
Mortensholm (Your Personal Demesne):
2,000 Spearmen (Better than the average soldier of the Borderlands, though still not up to their Bretonnian equivalent, the Spearmen of Mortensholm are lightly armored in maille, along with fine circle shields. As Mortensholm worships Myrmidia, by and large, they are more alright with war than the average rusty militia.) (Cost: 20 Gold)
??? Archers (In times of war, much as in Bretonnia, hunters, sportsmen, and others will join up with the hosts armed with bows of various quality, as well as a good bow. Numbers vary, but considering you just finished a siege, you can expect few to rush to war again swiftly.)
MORTENSHOLM:
Status:
Stable: Things are better now than when you arrived, fortunately.
Stability:
9/10- There is a tension to the city. Be cautious of it, or it will ruin you.
Opinions of the People:
Nobles: N/A, They kind of all died distracting the Greenskins as far from the walls as they could, or else ran.
Middle Class: 7/10- Hm.
Commoner: 8/10- Married to a peasant with ties to the Borderlands, there is potential here for good.
Knightly Opinion: 8/10- on the one hand, you were never super impressive as a prince and "marrying a random peasant girl" has not changed that. On the other hand, you just killed so many Greenskins it's kind of ridiculous
600 Gold a turn in income (Mostly owed labor of one sort or another, though Robert and Lisanor did massively expand your trade income as well as taxes, along with your own efforts to expand taxation)
1,974 Gold in Treasury (Your father sent you with wages sufficient for everyone for an extended time, but you will no doubt spend it quick. Fortunately, the Bretonnian army is paid by their own knights and not from your pocket. Also fortunately, you stole just about anything of worth in the Badlands.)
Villages: Minor settlements run by knights, selected by succeeding at a great quest given to them by a local from the village selected by the whole of the village, excluding children.
Three Minor villages:
-Broglio(+5 Gold in goods, labor and currency)
-Gaden (+5 Gold in goods, labor, and currency)
-Jungfrau (+5 Gold in goods, labor and currency, +2 from small Temple of Myrmidia)
-Hautville (+8 Gold in Agriculture)
-Blacnville (+10 Gold in Agriculture)
-Sonnetal (+25 Gold in Trade, Currency, Looted Vampire Bullshit)
Large Vassals:
Robert de Bastonne: Lord of Aldium
Tithe: 40 Gold/a season
Household: 20 Knights, 500 Men at Arms, 50 Yeomen
Loyalty: Presumed
Duchess Magali Plantagenet: Duchess of Marsiarno
Traits:???
Stats:???
Tithe: 150 Gold A Month
Household: 25 Knights of the Realm, 100 Knights Errant, 150 Yeomen, 200 Villein, 1000 Men-At-Arms, 1500 Bowmen
--
[X] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred of tasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
[X] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred of tasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
[X] A Grail Knight. You fought, suffered, and in the end were reborn, blessed by the Lady. Known for your hatred of guns, poisons, and other such dishonorable weapons, if for anything at all, you also have a well known weakness for protecting the innocent-- and there are worse things to be weak for. Certainly, the innocent will need your protection here-- an army of Black Orcs, only just slightly sullied by their weaker kin, march under command of Grimgor, the thing that put Archaon himself to flight. It will be a hard war-- but you will return with the head of this thing to your father, and the world will be better for it. (Hard, Gain Virtue of Noble Disdain)
[X] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred of tasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
[X] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred of tasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
[X] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred of tasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
[X] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred of tasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
[X] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred of tasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
[X] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred oftasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
[X] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred oftasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
[X] Sir Bohort de Couronne (Defeault)
[X] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred oftasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
[X] A Grail Knight. You fought, suffered, and in the end were reborn, blessed by the Lady. Known for your hatred of guns, poisons, and other such dishonorable weapons, if for anything at all, you also have a well known weakness for protecting the innocent-- and there are worse things to be weak for. Certainly, the innocent will need your protection here-- an army of Black Orcs, only just slightly sullied by their weaker kin, march under command of Grimgor, the thing that put Archaon himself to flight. It will be a hard war-- but you will return with the head of this thing to your father, and the world will be better for it. (Hard, Gain Virtue of Noble Disdain)
[X] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred of tasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
[X] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred of tasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
It's not a matter of difficulty to me, I just feel like starting off as a Grail Knight is sort of cheating. That's something you're supposed to work up to, not start with.
[X] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred of tasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
[X] Sir Leodagan de Couronne
[X] A Grail Knight. You fought, suffered, and in the end were reborn, blessed by the Lady. Known for your hatred of guns, poisons, and other such dishonorable weapons, if for anything at all, you also have a well known weakness for protecting the innocent-- and there are worse things to be weak for. Certainly, the innocent will need your protection here-- an army of Black Orcs, only just slightly sullied by their weaker kin, march under command of Grimgor, the thing that put Archaon himself to flight. It will be a hard war-- but you will return with the head of this thing to your father, and the world will be better for it. (Hard, Gain Virtue of Noble Disdain)
So, I got all kinds of flashbacks on a special group of grail knights that came from a place called Monthy Python... Yeah, the quest won't be like that, but I would be laughing the whole time, thinking of it as such.
Adhoc vote count started by Voikirium on Mar 29, 2018 at 5:12 PM, finished with 21 posts and 17 votes.
[X] Sir Bohort de Couronne (Defeault)
[X] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred of tasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
[X] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred of tasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
[X] Sir Leodagan de Couronne
[X] A Grail Knight. You fought, suffered, and in the end were reborn, blessed by the Lady. Known for your hatred of guns, poisons, and other such dishonorable weapons, if for anything at all, you also have a well known weakness for protecting the innocent-- and there are worse things to be weak for. Certainly, the innocent will need your protection here-- an army of Black Orcs, only just slightly sullied by their weaker kin, march under command of Grimgor, the thing that put Archaon himself to flight. It will be a hard war-- but you will return with the head of this thing to your father, and the world will be better for it. (Hard, Gain Virtue of Noble Disdain)
[X] A Grail Knight. You fought, suffered, and in the end were reborn, blessed by the Lady. Known for your hatred of guns, poisons, and other such dishonorable weapons, if for anything at all, you also have a well known weakness for protecting the innocent-- and there are worse things to be weak for. Certainly, the innocent will need your protection here-- an army of Black Orcs, only just slightly sullied by their weaker kin, march under command of Grimgor, the thing that put Archaon himself to flight. It will be a hard war-- but you will return with the head of this thing to your father, and the world will be better for it. (Hard, Gain Virtue of Noble Disdain)
[X] Knight Errant. Young-- only twenty-one-- and untested, your lance thirsts for war, for glory, for battle. Your father has seen the weakness of the soul of these greenskins, Grimgor especially-- and so he trusts you with this most sacred of tasks. (Easy, Gain Virtue of Confidence)
[X] Sir Leodagan de Couronne
[X] A Grail Knight. You fought, suffered, and in the end were reborn, blessed by the Lady. Known for your hatred of guns, poisons, and other such dishonorable weapons, if for anything at all, you also have a well known weakness for protecting the innocent-- and there are worse things to be weak for. Certainly, the innocent will need your protection here-- an army of Black Orcs, only just slightly sullied by their weaker kin, march under command of Grimgor, the thing that put Archaon himself to flight. It will be a hard war-- but you will return with the head of this thing to your father, and the world will be better for it. (Hard, Gain Virtue of Noble Disdain)
The Call to Arms
2523
It is a strange thing, to wake up now. Not at home, nor in the kingdom, nor indeed in any place you had ever traveled. Few friends, here, only just those you brought with you.
Rising up, you grab your razor and mirror and begin to shave blond hair, slowly gliding the pearl handle and the steel over softer flesh.
You remember it like yesterday. Months have you been on the road...
-- It was, despite it all, a quiet day.
It should not have been.
It would be the prelude to a war, an Errantry War-- and though war is never too far from the horizon in these dark days, it should have engendered more. The world should have stopped, a storm should have broken-- something, anything, and not simply a monotonous day of quiet, as has been the past twenty-one years of your life.
The envoy was, perhaps, not a great speaker, but they did have one thing going for them:
[] Louen Leoncouer, unlike the traitorous wretches of the Empire, is a true gentleman-- he will not let a Lady's call for aid go unanswered. (Meet Viktoria Stormcrowned)
[] Valiance in battle is well respected-- and this man, coated in blood and marred by sword, is a warrior. (Meet Lukas Stormcrowned)
[] This man speaks with a confidence unearned, a surety that is unbought. Charisma wafts off of him. (Kudi Stormcrowned)
And it all begins with a simple statement:
"The innocent are threatened, and my siblings are dead."
It is about that point when you know, you know beyond any doubt, that you father will not sit idle by. Whatever else happens, these people will have their aid. It might go on for mere moments later, or it might be hours-- but you see, by the glint in the King's eye, that even now he thirsts for to grab his sword and to go kill Orcs.
"Enough, stranger!"
It is not a full court he will make this proclamation to: Besides yourself, the only onlookers are a scattered collection of peasants looking to bring complaints before the king, everything from overly high taxes to rapine and murder,
"The Greenskins will face justice-- for what they have done, and what they have sought to do."
Oh joy, perhaps you shall get to be your father's emissary, to be hidden from the fighting, to be kept from all valors, to never know combat but against the weakest, most pathetic, most unfitting enemies of a prince.
"Prince Bohort, step forward."
You do, in the same gray daze that ever controls your days; mediocrity, decided for you. You kneel, as is right, before your king. Twenty-one years has he kept your from danger. From honor. From glory.
"I, King Louen of Bretonnia, protector of the sacred, destroyer of the unholy, do charge you to bear my banner; to take up army; to grind these greenskins under the dust; and to secure the peoples, and places, and cities of the Border Princes!"
He smiles when he sees the look on your face, and the gray fades away to nothing.
"Squires! Take diction, and let it be known throughout the land: I declare an Errantry War upon the greenskins of the Borderlands!"
And it is without even the clap of thunder that Bretonnia enters war.
--
Two months of preparation. Two months and then you left. Another month, in good order, to pass the Mondidier Pass, through the Winter's Teeth Pass, to your destination.
As you step outside your own tent, bearing-- for the first time-- your heraldry, and not your father's-- you see tents stretching as far the eye can see. Some are simple but effective leather, those of the common soldiers, or of the workers, the smithies, the fletchers-- the grinding wheels that keep the army functional in the face of campaign and of war. Smoke rises from some of them, billowing out into the cold morning-- either food or metal or simply to get warm.
The others, though? Great cloth pavilions, of silk and cloth and canvas? Those are of the knights, and they are of as many colors as you can imagine. Snow white, red and blue, green and gold, three-hundred families represented in war. From them comes flutes and carousing and joy, as nobles ready themselves for battle-- prepare lances, prepare armor, for soon you shall fight! Prayer, too, is heard. Most are Knights Errant like yourself.
Altogether, you have thirty-thousand men to break the Greenskins. You will be riding to the aid of the city of Mortensholm-- at twenty-thousand people, it is one of the larger cities of the area. They are besieged by twice your number in Goblins, though their cowardice keeps them pinned; the city groans, though, in pain and woes.
Today that changes.
You'll be breaking camp after you eat, but before you can do that you need to meet with your officers:
(PICK 3)
[] Sir Robert de Bastonne! The son of Bohemond, he is nearly ugly-- he has said as much-- but fiercely honorable and just.
[] Sir Pierre de Montfort! The son of Folcard, a black-plated and cold warrior with little of his father's sense of kindness.
[] Sir Geraint de Bordeleaux! Young and hungry for glory, he is somewhat simple-minded but massively strong and with a good heart.
[] Lady Edwige de Lyonesse! Distantly related to Repanse de Lyonesse, she is the only person to ever disarm you at tourney.
[] Damsel Emma de Parravon! Duke Cassyon's somewhat older sister and wielder of magic, she appeared one day out of nowhere in Couronne and wordlessly followed when you parted.
[] Lady Adélaïde d'Aquitaine! A distrusted, cruel wolf of a woman, yet she is more skilled than a dozen lesser knights put together.
[X] Louen Leoncouer, unlike the traitorous wretches of the Empire, is a true gentleman-- he will not let a Lady's call for aid go unanswered. (Meet Viktoria Stormcrowned)
[X] Sir Robert de Bastonne! The son of Bohemond, he is nearly ugly-- he has said as much-- but fiercely honorable and just.
[X] Lady Edwige de Lyonesse! Distantly related to Repanse de Lyonesse, she is the only person to ever disarm you at tourney.
[X] Damsel Emma de Parravon! Duke Cassyon's somewhat older sister and wielder of magic, she appeared one day out of nowhere in Couronne and wordlessly followed when you parted.
[X] Louen Leoncouer, unlike the traitorous wretches of the Empire, is a true gentleman-- he will not let a Lady's call for aid go unanswered. (Meet Viktoria Stormcrowned)
[X] Sir Robert de Bastonne! The son of Bohemond, he is nearly ugly-- he has said as much-- but fiercely honorable and just.
[X] Lady Edwige de Lyonesse! Distantly related to Repanse de Lyonesse, she is the only person to ever disarm you at tourney.
[X] Damsel Emma de Parravon! Duke Cassyon's somewhat older sister and wielder of magic, she appeared one day out of nowhere in Couronne and wordlessly followed when you parted.
