I really need to write up a unification of King Arthur Pendragon RPG’s Book of Sires and Book of Knights and Ladies sometime . . . . Anyway, here’s my fourth character for the January Character Creation Challenge.
Sir Caron ap Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor is a new knight in the Kingdom of Logres in 480 AD, the son of a famous knight and banneret of Clarence County until he mysteriously disappeared five years ago. The feeling of a sword upon his shoulders and his cheeks, wielded by the very same Sir Máel ap Laloecen who replaced Sir Caro’s father, has given him hope that soon he might discover his father’s final fate. There are those who whisper that Sir Caron lacks a need for sleep, that he spends his nights in the lonely company of a candle, laboring away at his duties, his knightly discipline, his studies, the ever-quaking landscape of the court, and his quest for his father.
An expert with a spear or atop a horse, Sir Caron has honed his family’s expertise with games of all sorts into a skill feared in any court he visits. He’s also an anomaly in his county, having been raised on the continent by a father pushed into his own mother’s paganism by his father’s Christian sectarianism. It’s almost an uncanny valley effect ~ Caron fits in just fine, which only throws his Breton and pagan ways into greater relief. Famed both for his wisdom as a lord and the force with which he punishes any who crosses him, ribald and hilarious stories are also told where he cannot hear of the stammering anxiety which so flagrantly marks his sexual attractions.
Sir Comgal, Caron’s father, was a hero of Aurelius Ambrosius’ march against Vortigern, having sailed with Gorlois in search of a fleet and even witnessed the duke’s first meeting with the mermaid he has now married. Because of this, Sir Comgal ensured that his son knew his way around a ship. Four years ago, on the anniversary of Comgal’s disappearance, Sir Caron found himself drunk on a ship off the Cornish coast. He knows not what happened that night, recalling only the words and the ethereal tune of a mermaid’s song, filling his ears. Caron’s croaked voice has a difficult time recreating that song, but he knows there is a magic there, akin surely to that of Gorlois’s Lady Ygraine.
Sir Caron ap Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor
Ancestral Homeland: the Midlands of Logres
Grandfather’s Culture: Cymru
Grandfather’s Religion: British Christian
Grandfather’s Tribe and Homeland: Dobunni of Clarence County
Grandmother’s Culture: Cymru
Grandmother’s Religion: British Pagan
Grandmother’s Tribe and Homeland: Coritani of Lonazep County
Father’s Culture: Cymru
Father’s Religion: British Pagan
Father’s Tribe and Homeland: Dobunni of Clarence County
Mother’s Culture: Cymru
Mother’s Religion: British Christianity
Mother’s Homeland: Cornuailles of Brittany
His Culture: Cymru
His Religion: British Pagan
His Homeland: Brittany
Liege Lord: Banneret of Clarence County
Father’s Class: Banneret
Current Class: Vassal
Family Characteristic: Clever at Games (+10 Gaming)
Chaste 7/13 Lustful
Energetic 21/1 Lazy
Forgiving 4/16 Vengeful
Generous 12/8 Selfish
Honest 10/10 Deceitful
Just 16/4 Arbitrary
Merciful 12/8 Cruel
Modest 11/9 Proud
Pious 15/5 Worldly
Prudent 10/10 Reckless
Temperate 14/6 Indulgent
Trusting 11/9 Suspicious
Valorous 16/4 Cowardly
Directed Trait: Cowardly (terribly shy ~ whenever interacting with someone to whom he is attracted, he must make a Valorous -10 roll to avoid deep embarrassment, mangled speech, and an inability to make eye contact)
Directed Trait: Cowardly (in the presence of big fires) +6
Directed Trait: Suspicious (Roman Christianity) +2
Directed Trait: Suspicious (Sorestan Saxons) +6
Concern (my commoners) 7, Hate (Cambrian Tribesmen) 12, Hate (Non-Berrocinga Saxons) 11, Hate (Vortigern) 8, Loyalty (Lord) 9, Loyalty (vassals) 15, Love (Family) 12, Hospitality 12, Honor 10
SIZ 12; STR 13; CON 19; DEX 15; APP 15
Damage: 4d6; Healing Rate: 3; Movement Rate: 3; Total Hit Points: 31; Unconscious: 8
Distinctive Features: Braided beard, long fingers.
Awareness 7, Boating 10, Compose 1, Courtesy 5, Dancing 2, Faerie Lore 10, Falconry 3, First Aid 10, Flirting 3, Folklore 2, Gaming 16, Heraldry 10, Hunting 6, Intrigue 5, Orate 5, Play (harp) 3, Read (Latin) 0, Recognize 7, Religion (British Paganism) 4, Romance 0, Singing 4, Stewardship 4, Swimming 7, Tourney 0
Battle 10, Siege 7, Horsemanship 16, Sword 15, Dagger 5, Spear Expertise 16
Glory: 1445
Family Wealth: Rich
Decorated Saxon sword worth £4
Warrior song (a faerie once whispered a song in your ear while you slept; a successful Singing roll grants all friends that hear it +3 to their Energetic and +3 to Valor.)
Chain mail and nasal helm (11 points); Shield (6); Sword, 5 spears, dagger; Charger, 2 rouncys, 2 sumpters
Squire: Cunobelinos (First Aid 6; Battle 1, Horsemanship 6; Play (Harp) 5)
Family Knights: 1 middle-aged knight, 2 young knights.
Other Lineage Men: 11
Levy: 53
Timeline of His Family History
405 AD: The last Roman legion leaves Britain,
never to return.
408: Neirin ap Ivor (grandfather) is born.
410: The Supreme Collegium of Britain sends a letter to Rome
begging for help as the invaders are back. Rome replies,
telling them to “look to your own defense.”
415: British leaders convene the Supreme Collegium to
elect a High King. Guided by Archbishop Guithelinus,
the Collegium offers the crown to King Aldronius of
Brittany, the son of Emperor Maximianus, who defers it
to his younger brother who is crowned Constantin II of
Britain. Constantin sails from Brittany with 2000 soldiers. He marries a British princess (the daughter of King Coel
Hen of Eburacum), and becomes the High King of Britain. High King Constantin gives his sister, Severa, in marriage
to King Vortigern of the Ordovices and the Silures in
Cambria, and makes him the Dux of Gloucester, too. He
summons the best men of each tribe to his service and
ennobles them as knights, in return for their promise to
fight for him when he calls upon them. Thus, High King
Constantin manages to bring peace to Britain, for a while.
429: Neirin ap Ivor has his 21st birthday at the end of the year and is knighted, inheriting 200 Glory from his father and gaining 1000 Glory from the ceremony and the new rank it grants.
430: Sir Neirin ap Ivor marries Muadnat ferch Bedwyr, a Cymru British-Pagan Coritana from Lonazep, resulting in 250 Glory from the marriage and 8 Glory from his knightly activities (total: 1458).
431: Sir Neirin ap Ivor gains 7 Glory (1465).
432: Sir Neirin ap Ivor gains 12 Glory (1477).
433: Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor is born; Sir Neirin gains 20 Glory (1497).
434: Sir Neirin gains 12 Glory (1509).
435: Sir Neirin gains 20 Glory (1529).
436: Sir Neirin gains 19 Glory (1548).
437: Sir Neirin gains 11 Glory (1559).
438: Sir Neirin gains 12 Glory (1571).
439: When an army of invading Irish lands at the mouth of the River Severn, Sir Neirin ap Ivor joins King Constantin ap Macsen Wledig’s army of professionals and mustered local armed forces for the Battle of Carlion, where he fights well, gaining 150 Glory (1721).
440: Although King Constantin ap Macsen Wledig is murdered by one of his own guards, an Atrebates knight, and the Irish take advantage of the resultant confusion, Sir Neirin ap Ivor serves garrison duty, seeing little to no combat. He is not happy about this.
441: On his way to London, Dux Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui travels to London, passing through Sir Neirin ap Ivor’s lands, in what will become Clarence County in the future. Sir Neirin joins his entourage for the journey. Once there, Dux Vortigern summons Prince Constans ap Constantin ap Macsen Wledig, Constantin’s eldest son, from the monastery. They discuss the situation and Constans reluctantly agrees to his uncle’s demand that he take the crown. Sir Neirin plays witness to the elevation of Prince Constans ap Constantin ap Macsen Wledig to be the King of Logres, gaining 25 Glory (1746). The Supreme Collegium receives a summons to convene to select a new High King, but due to the intertribal raiding and feuding, they are not able to gather this year.
442: The Supreme Collegium meets. At the urging of Dux Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui, the Supreme Collegium chooses Constans ap Constantin ap Macsen Wledig, as High King; Sir Neirin attends the coronation, earning 50 Glory (1796). Pirates attack Coritani, devastating and depopulating the marshy coastal areas (Sorestan), and sending raiders deeper inland, too.
443: Young High King Constans ap Constantin ap Macsen Wledig is murdered by his Pictish bodyguards, whom Dux Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui executes immediately. The nobles of Logres hastily assemble at Silchester, and after much debate, select Dux Vortigern to be the next King of Logres. Sir Neirin ap Ivor attends the coronation of King Vortigern to be High King, gaining 50 Glory (1846). King Vortigern splits his own Cambrian kingdom between his two eldest sons: the Kingdom of Silures to Vortimer and the Kingdom of Ordovices to Katigern and appoints Eldol to be the new Dux of Glevum. The younger brothers of King Constans disappear, presumably killed by somebody.
444: The Picts and Brigantes stage a massive invasion, with their armies occupying much of Coritani lands, and bands of raiders penetrating all the way to Glevum. Numerous skirmishes result between the invading raiders and the defenders, as the tribes defend their homes; Sir Neirin ap Ivor gains 20 Glory fighting in them (1866). Word arrives from London that the sons of Constantin are alive and well in Brittany.
445: The Pictish raids deeper into Logres increase in intensity, and the Coritani continue to suffer under the Brigantes’ yoke. King Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui orders his armies to muster, but most do not answer the call, staying at home to defend their families against the raiders, or at least that is their excuse. King Vortigern scolds the nobles of Logres to no avail. He also summons the Supreme Council, which sends replies that they are unavailable as the country is so dangerous. Needing more troops to fight the Picts, King Vortigern sends emissaries to the continent to try to hire mercenaries. Grandfather fought in various skirmishes with the Picts and Brigantes, gaining 30 Glory (1896).
446: King Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui scolds the lords of Logres, to no avail, and summons the Supreme Collegium, which sends replies that they are unavailable as the country is so dangerous. His western flank secured against Pictish raiders by his sons and their Cambrian tribesmen, he marches the Glevum army east along the Thames, gathering local troops as he goes, including Sir Neirin ap Ivor, as well as (in London) the Iceni and other eastern tribes and Saxon mercenaries under led by chieftains Hengest and Horsa. Thus reinforced, the Briton army marches north against the Picts and Brigantes. Battle is met near the city of Lincoln, and it is a great victory for Vortigern as his forces drive the enemy across the Humber. Later in life, Sir Neirin will blame his apprehension about the alliance with the Saxons he had witnessed for the blandness of his fighting at the Battle of Lincoln. He gains 90 Glory (1986).
447: As a result of the impressive victory in the preceding year, the Supreme Collegium meets and elects Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui as High King. Vortigern gives the Saxons the Isle of Thanet as their own property, as foederati. Also this year, a prelate from the pope, the saintly Germanus, returns to Britain to condemn and combat British Christianity. Words come north that he healed the crippled leg of the son of Elaphias, praetor of Winchester. Sir Neirin ap Ivor and his family become more intolerant of the other sect, gaining Directed Trait: Suspicious (Roman Christianity) +2. Serving garrison duty, he sees little or no combat.
448: Sparing his own army, King Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui uses the Saxons to drive the Picts back to the north and defeat the Brigantes in their own land, prompting their king to swear loyalty to King Vortigern. Beautiful and charming, Rowena Hengestsdottir swiftly becomes a favorite at Vortigern’s court, staying long after others leave. Vortigern settles a group of Saxons, led by Beorhtric, Hengest’s cousin, on the marshlands of Sorestan, which had been depopulated by pirate raids and the recent invasion. Despite rising discontent among some Cymric nobles over the favor thus shown to the Saxons, Sir Neirin ap Ivor’s life stretches into a second boring year. Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor squires with his maternal uncle, Sir Deiniol ap Bedwyr.
449: The Saxons do indeed keep the lands safe around Cantii and Coritani. Hengest gets more Saxons to join his force and becomes more and more a trusted advisor to High King Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui, to the detriment of loyal Cymric advisors. And where Hengest is, his daughter is not far behind. In all councils, she attends personally to Vortigern. Sir Neirin continues to lack for excitement and Glory.
450: High King Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui, impressed with the battle prowess of the Saxons and even more with the talents of Rowena Hengestsdottir, marries her this year in a lavish celebration. Hengest receives half of the lands of the Cantii (called Kent in the Saxon language) as her bride price; its main fortress of Canterbury is the new center of Hengest’s power. The leader of the Cantii protests and is swiftly executed by Vortigern for high treason. A fourth year without an opportunity for heroism drives Sir Neirin ap Ivor, quite selfishly and vainly, to throw his hat in with the Dissidents. However, he maintains the even emotional keel for which he is known ~ seriously, he’s had four or five opportunities to randomly gain a passion or directed trait and not gained any of them.
451: The Huns led by Attila invade Gaul for pillage and plunder, causing the commander in Gaul, Aetius, to send for help from all who will send it. High King Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui sends a contingent. The allied army meets the Huns at Chalons, where the Huns are defeated and driven from Gaul. The survivors, all of whom were knights dissatisfied with Vortigern’s policies, return to Britain with great Glory (Sir Neirin ap Ivor, getting what he was craving so strongly, gains 480 Glory, for a total of 2466); Vortigern welcomes them with honeyed words, but a bitter heart.
452: The Coritani and the Sorestan Saxons continue getting along well; there is even intermarrying going on between the two tribes. The Midlands are peaceful, or “boring” in Sir Neirin ap Ivor’s words.
453: The Irish are expanding their holdings in Cambria, but Sir Neirin ap Ivor’s life has returned to a damnable serenity.
454: High King Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui continues sending warriors, usually those who have spoken against his policies regarding the Saxons, against the Irish in Cambria. Sir Neirin ap Ivor, for example, earns 15 Glory (2481) in the Battle of Aberstwyth, as he is sidelined by his commander. The Irish expansion continues. Comgal ap Nerin ap Ivor has his 21st birthday at the end of the year and is knighted, inheriting 248 Glory from his father and gaining 1000 Glory from his new status (1248).
455: High King Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui moves tribes around to improve his defenses and invades Ireland. After defeating them, he has his daughter marry the son of the High King of the Irish to stop them from being an enemy. News is that warriors from the north, the Votadini, have been moved to Cambria, and that Saxons were settled in their land there to replace them: Nohaut, under Hengest’s son Octa. Another tribe, the Parisi, are made subjects of Saxons on their own land, as Deira is established under Horsa’s son Eosa. Sir Neirin ap Ivor’s Dissident friends complain about the resultant influx of Saxons, but King Vortigern doesn’t listen. Nothing much happens for Sir Neirin ap Ivor, but his son Sir Comgal fights the Irish in Gomeret alongside the Votadini warriors, gaining 25 Glory. Upon his return from that campaign, Sir Comgal marries Mari ferch Yann, a Cymru British-Christian from the region of Brittany that will become Cornuailles, gaining 260 Glory therefrom (1535).
456: Vortimer ap Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui and Katigern ap Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui lead a Rebel army against the Saxons of Kent. Two battles follow, with the Rebel forces victorious, even though Katigern dies in a mutually fatal duel with Horsa. Neither Sir Neirin ap Ivor nor his son Sir Comgal fight in those battles however. Impatient for Glory, Sir Neirin dies in combat with beasts, while Sir Comgal serves garrison duty, earning 10 Glory by trying to break up a brawl between local Dissidents and Loyalists (1545).
457: High King Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui summons his army, with the Saxons, and marches against the Rebels. The Rebels are crushed in a great battle at Crecganford. Further south, the Dumnonii revolt, are defeated in battle and are exiled to Brittany. Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor once more finds himself serving garrison duty, only this time he sees little or no combat.
458: Instead of tribes which can be spread far and wide, High King Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui splits the tribes up into smaller parcels, called counties. He starts in the east with the Rebel tribes. Many Dissident and Rebel Britons, including Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor (his son Caron in Lady Mari ferch Yann’s belly at the time) depart the island, moving with their families and possessions to Brittany. Sir Comgal thanks the gods that his wife is from there, and is able to secure them some comfort there. The Western Roman Emperor Majorian builds a fleet in Italy and hires many mercenaries. He successfully arranges for King Budec of Brittany to reinforce the Romans as Aquitainian King Theodoric II marches his army against Arles, a strategic city on the Rhône River. The Bretons led by Aurelius Ambrosius filii Constantini filii Maximiani and Riothamus, Majorian’s army defeats the Aquitainians; Sir Comgal earns 295 Glory (1840) in the battle, charging under the leadership of Gorlois and smashing into the enemy.
459: Aurelius filii Constantini filii Maximiani journeys to Aquitaine and seeks permission to join them on their upcoming campaigns, as required under the treaty from last year. Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor accompanies him in Galicia against the Suebi under General Nepotianus, earning 120 Glory (1960). He almost dies in the battle, but survives. The experience leaves him terribly shy; Caron will inherit this trait.
460: The Roman-Aquitainian army, Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor among them, under General Nepotianus and Sunieric defeats the Suebi in a battle. Once again charging under Gorlois to smash into the enemy, Sir Comgal earns 205 Glory (2165) in the Battle of Lugo.
461: On his return to Italy, Emperor Majorian is deposed and killed by Ricimer, who then installs Libius Severus as a new Emperor. Aegidius rebels against Ricimer and Emperor Severus, visiting Brittany to ensure that its leaders will back him against the usurper Severus if necessary. King Budec, Prince Aurelius filii Constantini filii Maximiani, and King Riothamus agree to ally with Aegidius. Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor serves garrison duty, seeing some combat for 10 Glory (2175).
462: Aquitaine, although friendly along the common border, campaigns against Soissons. Even without the defensive alliance concluded last year, Kings Budec and Riothamus realize that if Soissons falls, Brittany will be next. They muster an army, led by Prince Aurelius Ambrosius filii Constantini filii Maximiani and King Riothamus, to go and help Soissons stop Aquitaine’s expansion. Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor is much happier to serve a combat-less garrison duty, as he does this year, than his father ever was.
463: To bring an end to the bloodshed, High King Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui and King Hengest call for all British nobles to meet at a feast of peace on Salisbury Plain. Through treachery, the Saxons kill over three hundred of the ruling nobility in the “Night of Long Knives” before seizing the High King as their prisoner. Having rendered the British people effectively leaderless, Saxons freely plunder and raid where they will. Even Brittany’s coasts are not safe from the ravages of these barbarians. As a result of the Saxon perfidy, Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor gains Passion: Hate (Non-Berrocinga Saxons) 11, and blaming Vortigern for this treachery, becomes a Rebel with Passion: Hate (Vortigern) 8. With the Western Roman Empire fatally weakened by internal bickering, civil war, and general chaos, Aquitaine feels the time is ripe to expand its borders even further. The King decides to move further north into Gaul, where they meet a coalition of Roman, Franks, and Bretons at the Battle of Orleans. Many Briton expatriates remember Constantin’s sons and beseech Prince Aurelius Ambrosius filii Constantinus filii Maximiani to save Britain from the Saxon hordes and reclaim his birthright. Sir Comgal happily serves a peaceful garrison duty for the second year in a row.
464: The kings in Brittany find themselves arranging marriages for several of the British refugee knights. Unfortunately, heiresses with manors are not abundant. The Breton lords introduce the idea of giving lands to knights who do not have manors of their own, in return for that knight’s service and fealty to the lords. This will become known as vassalage. Aegidius dies en route to a peace conference and Theodoric II launches a new campaign on the Loire River, at Angers. Nonetheless, Sir Comgal serves a third peaceful year at garrison duty.
465: Aurelius Ambrosius filii Constantinus filii Maximianus, having heard the pleas of his father’s countrymen, and together with the aid of his brother and his Breton cousins, plans in earnest to return to Britain in force. Riothamus and Gorlois eagerly offer their support. Gorlois, Aurelius’ trusted companion, sails to port towns in Northern Gaul to seek help from Syagrius of Soissons and possibly the Franks, organizing a fleet for the next year; Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor accompanies him, among other knights. Alas, Gorlois and his ship with all aboard are thought lost in a storm in the British Sea. Sir Comgal awakes on a rocky shore and finds himself with some others, including Gorlois, who was staring dumbfounded out to the sea. Sir Comgal saw what Gorlois saw: a beautiful young lass rising from the waves. Gorlois rushed to her, and Sir Comgal gained 50 Glory for observing the first time Gorlois and Ygraine met (2225). Entertained by the ruler of the island for the next year, Gorlois explained to Ygraine’s father the dilemma of raising a fleet (and his wish to marry his fair daughter).
466: Finally, Ygraine’s father agreed to support Aurelius Ambrosius filii Constantini filii Maximiani’s claim and loaned his fleet to Gorlois. Alas, for now, Gorlois’ suit for fair Ygraine’s hand is declined; Gorlois still needs to prove himself in wars to come. Gorlois and his knights, including Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor, sail back to Brittany in the spring under Gorlois, bringing a marvelous fleet to help ferry Aurelius’ army across to Britain. Comgal gains 50 Glory (2275). It takes some time to load all the troops and one of the last items loaded on Aurelius’ personal ship is a long rectangular box over twenty feet in length. They cross the British Sea from Brittany and land in Totnes, Cornwall, with an army of Bretons, Britons, and mercenaries from Aquitaine and other locations. There, Aurelius brings out the box and from it, unfurls a glorious battle standard that looks like a magnificent red dragon in flight as it flutters in the wind. Some ten thousand people, horses, and their equipment arrive, although only three thousand of them are knights. A Saxon army led by Prince Æsc of Kent tries to block his way to Logres at Exeter, but the Saxons are defeated and flee back to Kent. Sir Comgal famously defeats a Saxon berserker in the Battle of Exeter, claiming 370 Glory and a decorated sword worth £4; he earns another 200 Glory in the continuing battles thereafter (2855). Aurelius then marches across Cornwall and Southwestern Logres, gathering supporters to his banner and subduing Vortigern Loyalists in minor battles.
467: Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor fights at the Siege of Carlion, earning 60 Glory and Passion: Hate (Cambrian Tribesmen) 12, and 100 Glory in the continuing battles thereafter (3015).
468: Aurelius Ambrosius filii Constantini filii Maximiani and his army pursue Vortigern and besiege him in his new castle on Mount Snowdon. A battle ensues, and a priest calls down fire from the heavens and this, once it takes hold, continues on blazing until it burns up the tower and Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui with it. His army scatters. Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor is present at the battle, earning 30 Glory and Directed Trait: Cowardly (in the presence of big fires) +6. Aurelius Ambrosius summons the Supreme Council, and they elect him High King; Sir Comgal earns another 100 Glory as he is honored by being allowed to be present for the coronation (3145). He takes the title of Pendragon (“high dragon” or “head dragon”), derived from his great battle banner. Aurelius orders and compels the cessation of hostilities between those who wish his governance.
469: Hengest gathers his Saxons and marches from Kent towards Cumbria to join with Octa and Eosa in Eburacum. Aurelius Ambrosius filii Constantini filii Maximiani marches with his army and catches up with Hengest. Two major battles occur. Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor earns 225 Glory for great deeds in the first, the Battle of Maisbeli. He survives that battle, but is too wounded to continue on to the Battle of Conisbrough. Aurelius thanks his foreign allies and British and Cymric subjects for their loyalty and willingness to see the tyrant, Vortigern ap Vitalis ap Vitalinus ap Gloui, defeated and the rightful king ~ himself ~ crowned. He disbands the army back to their homes, rewarding those who deserve it. Having caught the new High King’s eye, Sir Comgal is appointed as a knight banneret, receiving the gift of an estate worth £100 and the responsibility to maintain and lead an eschille (10 knights). This results in an additional 300 Glory (3670). He settles back in Clarence County with Lady Mari.
470: Prince Uther, Aurelius’ younger brother, and Merlin invade Ireland. The Britons are met by an Irish army led by King Gillomanius, but the Irish break and flee quickly as the knights charge them. Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor earns 120 Glory in the battle. After the Cymric army fails to dismantle the ring, Merlin does it himself. The huge stones are stored on board the ships and brought to Britain. The stones are re-erected at the Giant’s Dance on Mount Ambrius as a memorial for those killed in the “Long Knives” treachery. Aurelius reorganizes the tribal nobility into landholding barons with widely scattered landholdings, and appoints six dukes to oversee the regional defense of parts of the realm (called dukedoms). Sir Comgal gains another 100 Glory simply by dint of his gifted estate (3890).
471: Continental Saxons and Frisians continue to come over as reinforcements. Incessant raids continue on both sides allowing some to achieve great Glory, but no major set conflicts occur. Nonetheless, enough does happen for Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor to gain 50 Glory. With the annual 100 Glory from his estate, Sir Comgal is now a famous knight (4040). Prince Uther makes a name for himself as a great warrior in countering these raids and leading picked warriors on raids/battles into enemy territory.
472: The raids and counter-raids with the Saxons continue, earning Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor another 50 Glory beyond the annual 100 estate Glory (4190). Prince Uther seems to always be where the fighting is thickest, with Baron Ulfius at his side.
473: Æsc of Kent, reinforced by continental Saxons and confident of victory, marches his army into the Thames Valley. High King Aurelius Ambrosius filii Constantini filii Maximiani raises an army to resist, but loses the battle in a major Saxon victory. Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor earns 45 Glory beyond the annual 100 estate Glory in the battle (4335). Many feel the battle was lost because Duke Gorlois was not there, but Sir Comgal and others wonder if Prince Uther had some blame due to Duke Gorlois’ and Prince Uther’s rivalry, each trying to outdo the other. Sir Comgal shows his support for Cornwall by squiring his son Caron to Gorlois’s household knight Sir Emrys ap Steffan.
474: The Saxons of Kent roam and pillage the land. Only fortified places are safe, and the peasants suffer greatly. Cambrian tribesmen use the chaos to their advantage and start raiding Logres. Duke Edmyg of the Marche coordinates the defense against the Cambrians, while Corneus Duke of Lindsey and Eldol Duke of Glevum concentrate on countering Saxon raids. A large-scale seaborne Saxon raid ravages Linden and Lonazep . . . but seems to avoid Sorestan! This further enflames Duke Corneus’ and other (Lonazep and Linden) Coritanis’ mistrust of Sorestan Saxons. The former relationship of trust becomes one of mistrust. Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor serves garrison duty, defending his post against the raiders for 15 Glory beyond the annual 100 estate Glory (4450); he also gains Directed Trait: Suspicious (Sorestan Saxons) +6.
475: In addition to the smaller Saxon and Cambrian raids, the Cambrians send a large raiding party to Wuerensis. Duke Edmyg harries them with his forces, preventing them from looting and pillaging at will. Sir Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor disappears mysteriously. As his father’s estate was a gift, Caron ap Comgal ap Neirin ap Ivor does not inherit it.
479: Player-knight is knighted, inheriting 445 Glory from his famous father and 1000 Glory from the knighting ceremony (1445).
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