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Chaosium Digest Volume 22 Number 03
Chaosium Digest Volume 22, Number 3
Date: Sunday, September 28, 1997
Number: 4 of 4
Contents:
The Adventure of the Breaking of the Red Knight's Siege, Part Three
(Paul Williams) PENDRAGON
--------------------
From: paulw@betanet.co.uk (Paul Williams)
Subject: The Adventure of the Breaking of the Red Knight's Siege, Part Three
System: Pendragon
DAY FOUR
The day starts out badly for the player knights as a light but
constant drizzle begins shortly after they leave the Yellow Knight's
abode. Within half an hour they are soaked through to the skin.
Unsurprisingly, the road is devoid of other travellers.
As the day wears on the knights come across a blue pavilion erected by
the side of the road. A lone squire wearing a blue surcoat stands
guard outside the pavilion, but ignores the player knights'
approach. If asked questions in any language except French he shrugs
and points up the path. He will not stand in the way of armed knights
who wish to enter his master's pavilion, although doing so is a breech
of honor for the player knights. [Honor. Success = entering another
knight's pavilion without being invited is a breech of chivalry.]
The player knights can hear the sounds of fighting from up the path
[Awareness. Success = only two men are fighting. Fumble = two armies
have met on the road.] Investigating the sounds reveals a knight in
blue armour with a blue shield fighting with a knight in more
conventionally colored armour. [Heraldry. Success = the conventionally
attired knight is a minor noble from Cumbria. Critical = the knight is
Sir Perrak, a wealthy Cumbrian Banneret.] After a few minutes of
battle Sir Perrak is soundly defeated and the Blue Knight takes his
weapons and armour as ransom. Once he has taken his prize he spies the
player knights and walks towards them.
"Do any of ye think ye can best me in individual combat?" he asks
them. "I have defeated one hundred men in challenges such as this and
have fought three matches today. As you can see I am unhurt and barely
tired by my efforts. Of course, if you would rather just pass by then
please feel free to do so. I am sure that your lady will forgive you
for your caution and meekness." Knights who wish to out-boast the Blue
Knight may roll their Proud opposed to that of the Blue Knight
[Proud. Success = the knights match the magnitude of the Blue Knight's
boasts. Critical = the Blue Knight is impressed by their claims. If
this knight accepts the Blue Knight's challenge he gains a +5 bonus to
one skill through his intimidation. Fumble = the Blue Knight openly
taunts the pathetic boasts of the knight, who suffers a -5 penalty on
all skills if he accepts the challenge.]
If asked what he offers as prize for the challenge the Blue Knight
responds that he offers the service of himself and his one hundred
knights, as well as the weapons, armour and horse of the last
challenger who lost to him. In return though, he expects the player
knight to wager his own armour, weapons and horse.
The Blue Knight is the toughest of the four brothers so far
encountered and puts up a good fight. He only yields when he has been
reduced to his Unconscious level; otherwise he continues to fight
until he drops. He does not strike at a yielding opponent nor does he
ever use dishonorable tactics.
The Truth Revealed
Once the Blue Knight has been defeated and prizes collected the Lady
turns to the player knights and addresses them as a whole.
"Brave knights! You are truly worthy of the honor of being called
knights. Since we left the fair city of Bath I have chided you and
scorned your every action, yet still you follow me to unknown places
to aid my sister, whose name you still do not know. Only a true knight
would take such insults in the courteous manner that you all have. I
may now reveal the truth about my family. My sister is the Lady
Liones, the Countess of Burford, and I am her sister, Lady Linet.
"The Red Knight who besieges the castle seeks my sister's lands for
himself and plans to carry her off and marry her, thus claiming the
lands by right of marriage. I could not allow this to happen but I
needed knights who were willing to fight for justice and honor, rather
than for the rewards that my sister offers. That is why our route took
us past the four brothers who you have soundly defeated. You have
proven yourselves to be just and honorable and my sister will be
thankful for your help. But we must continue onwards at speed for my
sister's plight fairs no better I am sure."
After Lady Linet has revealed who she and her sister really are the
player knights may continue onwards to the castle of Lady Liones.
Knights asking what reward they will receive are told that land and
money will be theirs if they survive the encounter with the Red
Knight. After an hour's ride Lady Linet informs them that the castle
is only a few miles away and that they will be there soon.
A Most Disturbing Scene
A mile down the road the knights pass a sycamore grove, from which
hang the bodies of knights who have tried to defeat the Red Knight in
single combat. They have been hung by their necks from the branches of
the tree and their shields have been tied around their necks so that
passing knights can see their heraldry. [Heraldry. Success = the
knight recognises some of the shields as those of well-known mercenary
and bachelor knights. Critical = the knight recognises the shields of
an earl and a baron amongst the collection. Fumble = the knight spots
the shield of a member of his family.] Knights who see the hanging
bodies may roll their [Honor. Success = only a truly dishonorable foe
would treat a defeated knight in this manner.] Knights who cut down
the bodies and give them a decent burial, by whatever custom their own
religion demands, receive a check in both [Honor] and [Pious].
[Religion. Success = the ceremony is correct. Failure = the ceremony
will do as a temporary measure. A full priest should conduct another
ceremony however. Fumble = the knight commits a major faut pas and the
spirits of the knights cannot pass to the afterlife.]
The Red Knight
After leaving the grisly sycamore grove and travelling along the road
for another mile the knights come across a lone sycamore tree stood in
a large clearing. A large, bright red signal horn hangs from the
tree. From the clearing the knights can see the tops of the towers of
Lady Liones' castle. If any knight attempts to blow the horn he must a
successful [Play (any wind instrument)] roll to be able to get a note
from it. When the horn is correctly sounded a low, rumbling note
echoes forth. Once the sound stops the knights may roll [Awareness.
Success = the birds have stopped singing and the wind has ceased
blowing.]
After a few minutes of silence, broken only by noises created by the
player knights, a small group of figures enters the clearing from the
direction of Lady Liones' castle. Leading them is a huge man with
flaming red hair wearing red clothes and carrying a large red
sword. The group stops some ten yards from the player knights and the
red man addresses them.
"Know ye that this territory is the domain of the Red Knight and that
all who enter into it are trespassing. The penalty for such crimes is
normally death but, on the eve of my wedding day, I will be lenient
and let you live. If you leave now that is. All I ask is that you
leave a suitable wedding gift for my future wife, the Lady Liones,
before you flee." At that he lets out a loud, booming laugh.
If any of the player knights issue a challenge to the Red Knight he is
inclined to listen. He knows the real reason for the knights coming
here, as Lady Linet has brought similar groups of knights before to
try and defeat him. Assuming that the conditions of the challenge are
fair and just (along the lines of "to the death" or "if you are
defeated you swear to end the siege, never to return to these lands")
the Red Knight accepts and tells the player knight to "meet me in
front of the castle's main gate in one hour, and be prepared to die!"
THE BREAKING OF THE SIEGE
The player knights may do whatever they wish for one hour but they had
best arrive on time, especially since they instigated the challenge.
Upon arriving the knights see the Red Knight's army camped before the
castle walls. [Battle. Success = there are around three hundred
knights and one thousand sergeants here. They seem to be organized
into four battalions.] The Red Knight's pavilion stands right outside
of the main gate.
When the player knights arrive in the camp a squire enters the red
pavilion informs the Red Knight that they are here. The Red Knight
leaves his pavilion and loudly calls for his armor, which is placed
upon him by two barons whilst his helmet is fastened on by an earl who
owes him homage. Like the rest of the Red Knight's attire his armor
and shield are bright red in color. Once he is ready he calls for his
horse, which is caparisoned in red, and mounts up. His squire passes
him his lance. He slowly rides towards the player knights, stopping
some twenty yards short of where they stand. He asks the player knight
who challenged him if he is ready to die for the Lady Liones. As he
says this he points his sword towards the battlements.
Player knights who look in the direction of the Red Knight's sword see
that atop the battlements looking down on the scene is one of the most
beautiful women in the land. This is the Lady Liones, owner of the
castle and the centre of the Red Knight's attention. Upon seeing the
player knights look up at her she pulls off one of her gloves and
throws it to the challenger. When he picks it up she tells him "it is
for luck, my brave knight". The player knight who challenged the Red
Knight may now generate an [Amor (Lady Liones)] if he so desires. Lady
Liones also develops an Amor for the player knight. Of course, this
token of affection by Lady Liones to a complete stranger enflames the
Red Knight so much that he launches an attack with little warning,
spurring his horse to the charge. The challenger must make a
successful [Horsemanship] roll in order to get his horse up to speed
before the Red Knight arrives. If the Red Knight is losing the fight
he invokes his Amor for Lady Liones, favouring his sword skill.
The playe may, of course, do the same.
The Red Knight is no pushover and defeating him will be a major
challenge to the knight. Defeated player knights who yield to him are
run through without the chance of mercy being granted. Their body is
then hung from the tree with the other defeated knights. If the player
knight is defeated and the Red Knight has at least two-thirds of his
original hit points remaining he readily accepts another challenge
that same day. Otherwise he tells the player knights to "come back in
one week and bring some real knights with you this time. Ha, ha, ha!"
The Red Knight yields only after taking two Major Wounds or being
reduced below his Unconscious total. The player knight need not accept
the Red Knight's surrender and may wish to run him through with his
sword, especially after witnessing the knights hanging from the
sycamore grove. It is the player knight's right to slay so
dishonorable a knight outright, but he should also consider the king's
justice, as a knight may not pass judgement on another knight,
especially for the crimes this one has committed. Should the player
knight spare the Red Knight he may check his [Merciful] and
[Just]. Killing him requires the knight to check his [Arbitrary]. If
the player knight looks to the Lady Liones for an answer to his
dilemma she asks him to spare the Red Knight but to make him swear to
go to Camelot and pay homage to the King within a year and a day.
If allowed to yield the Red Knight swears never to enter the lands of
Lady Liones again and promises a service to the player knight, with
the loan of his three hundred knights if needed. He agrees to become
Arthur's loyal vassal only if ordered to do so as part of the yielding
conditions.
The Feast
Once the Red Knight has been defeated, his army commanders call off
the siege and begin the preparations for returning to their
homelands. They cause the player knights no trouble. Lady Liones
rushes from the castle with her lady-in-waiting to congratulate her
champion on freeing her and to invite all of the player knights to a
grand feast in their honor.
The feast is a splendid affair with over two hundred visiting knights
and their ladies being present, amongst them several important lords.
The player knights, as the guests of honor, are seated at Lady Liones'
table, with her champion being placed at her right hand. Knights may
choose to test their [Moderate] or [Indulgent] as they see fit but the
champion should (wisely) refrain from getting too drunk as many wish
to hear of his epic battle against the Red Knight.
Favourite Food: Marzipan biscuits shaped like a knight's shield and
decorated with the heraldry of Lady Liones' champion.
Favourite Entertainment: Hearing the knights tell the story of their
journey to the castle and how they bravely beat the Red Knight. The
knights may test either their [Modest] or [Proud] Traits if they wish.
During the feast Lady Liones makes her feelings for her champion quite
clear but points out that she must be courted correctly before she can
decide whether or not to marry the knight. Knights who are already
married are placed in a moral dilemma here - do they return to their
wife or leave her to marry an extremely attractive countess with huge
tracts of land? Of course, the knight may freely decide to start a
secret [Amor] with Lady Liones behind his wife's back. Lady Liones'
initial reluctance to her champion is 2d6 lower than its normal
starting value because of the player knight's great act of heroism in
freeing her from the Red Knight. Other player knights have little
chance of courting Lady Liones.
Lady Linet has also developed an Amor for a player knight over the
course of the journey, but hers concerns the knight who was most
courteous to her throughout the journey. If this also happens to be
the player knight who defeated the Red Knight then a very interesting
situation has developed!
Rewards
Whatever the outcome of the advances of the amorous ladies, each
knight is rewarded for his part in aiding Lady Liones and her
sister. Her champion receives enough manors (worth 9L per annum each)
to allow for one for himself and one for each of the other player
knights in the party. He also receives two villages (worth 2L per
annum each) as his personal fief. The champion receives the title of
Banneret and the other knights may, if they choose, become his vassal
knights. The champion answers directly to Lady Liones.
Should the other knights decline the offer of becoming the champion's
vassal knights the champion keeps all the title and all the manors for
himself (to hand out as he sees fit at a later date) and the other
player knights each receive their own private manor (worth 6L per
annum) on Lady Liones' land.
All the player knights who participated in the quest also receive 10L
in coin, 5L in gifts (mainly rings, brooches and other adornments) and
an Andalusian charger each.
GLORY
* Accepting the lady's plea for help without hesitation - 10 points
* Accepting the lady's plea for help after other, more notable knights
have refused - 15 points
* Defeating the bandits - 10 points per bandit
* Defeating the Cadfael brothers - 50 points per brother
* Defeating the Black Knight - 50 points
* Defeating the Green Knight - 100 points
* Thanking the Green Knight for his hospitality - 30 points for a
critical success, 20 points otherwise
* Defeating the Yellow Knight - 250 points
* Thanking the Yellow Knight for his hospitality - 30 points for a
critical success, 20 points otherwise
* Defeating the Blue Knight - 500 points
* Defeating the Red Knight - 750 points
THE BESTIARY
The Black Knight
The knight better known to others as the Black Knight is actually Sir
Jehan, the youngest of four French brothers whose only distinguishing
heraldry is the color of their armour, shield, weapons and horse
caparisons. No one knows the true motives of the brothers but each of
them is generally hostile to knights from the British Isles,
especially those who follow King Arthur.
The Black Knight, although the youngest and least experienced of the
four, is a tenacious fighter and has vowed never to yield to a foe, no
matter how much he may be outclassed by his opponent. He is an
honorable opponent and does not strike an unarmed knight unless the
rules of a combat allow him to. However, he is not yet a Chivalrous
knight.
Current Glory 1800
SIZ 17 Move 3 Major Wound 12
DEX 15 Damage 6d6 Unconsciousness 7
STR 16 Hit Points 29 Knock Down 17
CON 12 Armor 14 + shield
APP 8
Attacks: Sword 20, Lance 15, Spear 10, Dagger 10, Battle 15,
Horsemanship 15
Significant Traits: Valorous 15
Significant Passions: Love (Family) 15
Significant Skills: Awareness 10, Courtesy 10, Heraldry 12, Tourney 8
Horse: Charger (6d6)
The Green Knight
The Green Knight, also known as Sir Robert, is the second of the
French brothers that the player knights encounter. His castle is
located deep within the Campacorentin Forest and is known to only a
few trusted friends. The Green Knight is determined to become a Round
Table knight. By challenging all those who pass through his lands to a
fair and honourable fight he hopes that word of his courage and
chivalry reaches the ears of a Round Table knight, who will then come
to judge the Green Knight for themselves.
The Green Knight fights perfectly honourably, not striking downed foes
and even dismounting to fight if his opponent is on foot. The Green
Knight has qualified as a Chivalrous knight and receives the +3 armour
bonus.
Current Glory 3000
SIZ 16 Move 3 Major Wound 15
DEX 15 Damage 5d6 Unconsciousness 8
STR 15 Hit Points 31 Knock Down 16
CON 15 Armor 12 + shield + 3 chiv
APP 15
Attacks: Sword 21, Lance 15, Spear 13, Dagger 10, Battle 16,
Horsemanship 21
Significant Traits: Energetic 16, Generous 16, Just 16, Merciful 18,
Modest 14, Valorous 16
Significant Passions: Love (Family) 17
Significant Skills: Awareness 12, Courtesy 10, First Aid 10, Heraldry
10, Hunting 15, Tourney 13
Horse: Charger (6d6)
The Yellow Knight
The knight known as the Yellow Knight is actually Sir Arnoul, the
third of the French brothers. The Yellow Knight owns land within the
Campacorentin Forest, near Wandborough. Unlike his two younger
brothers he is not so chivalrous or honourable, although he will not
strike an unarmed or yielding foe. He is haughty and proud and
believes that he is a better paragon of knighthood than any other
knight in Britain. He willingly tells those who enquire about his
business in Britain that he is here to teach British knights how to be
truly chivalrous, like all French knights are. He is easy to anger and
insults result in swift challenges being issued. However, he is also
extremely generous, even to those who have defeated him.
Current Glory 6600
SIZ 16 Move 3 Major Wound 15
DEX 13 Damage 5d6 Unconsciousness 8
STR 14 Hit Points 31 Knock Down 16
CON 15 Armor 12 + shield
APP 13
Attacks: Sword 22, Lance 18, Spear 10, Dagger 10, Battle 18,
Horsemanship 18
Significant Traits: Energetic 13, Generous 19, Indulgent 12 (wines 17),
Proud 20, Valorous 16
Significant Passions: Love (Family) 14
Significant Skills: Awareness 13, Courtesy 13, First Aid 13, Heraldry
13, Hunting 13, Tourney 13
Horse: Charger (6d6)
The Blue Knight
The last, and toughest, of the French brothers is Sir Persant, better
known as the Blue Knight. Unlike his younger brothers he does not
fight for honour or glory but merely to better himself for the
ultimate challenge, which he knows it is his destiny to face. He does
not know in what form the ultimate challenge will come but he is
preparing for all eventualities.
An honourable opponent, he will not cheat in a fight or at any other
contest. He is an extremely Proud man and boasts heavily about his
combat prowess and how he has fought giants and dragons without taking
a single wound. Much of what he says is highly exaggerated but does
contain an element of truth.
The Blue Knight's lands and castle are near Bourton-on-Thames.
Current Glory 9200
SIZ 17 Move 3 Major Wound 16
DEX 16 Damage 6d6 Unconsciousness 9
STR 16 Hit Points 33 Knock Down 16
CON 16 Armor 14 + shield
APP 16
Attacks: Sword 23, Lance 21, Spear 18, Dagger 10, Battle 18,
Horsemanship 20
Significant Traits: Proud 21, Prudent 16, Valorous 18
Significant Passions: Love (Family) 16
Significant Skills: Awareness 12, Courtesy 10, First Aid 10, Gaming 15,
Heraldry 10, Hunting 15, Tourney 13
Horse: Destrier (8d6)
The Red Knight
The Red Knight, whose real name is unknown, originally hails from
Roestoc and this is where his castles and land are located. He is
currently in Tribuit sieging the castle of Lady Liones, who he wishes
to marry in order to acquire her rich lands for himself.
He is a thoroughly evil knight and has little regard for
chivalry. Those that he defeats in personal combat are hung from a
nearby tree and left for other knights as a warning that he is not to
be trifled with. Foes that are yielding or have lost their weapons are
unlikely to be given much mercy.
As a young knight he saved a witch from certain death at the hands of
a mob of angry peasants and she rewarded him by granting him
supernatural strength. Of course, he only rescued the hag once she had
promised to gift him in some beneficial manner. The witch died by the
Red Knight's sword shortly after granting him his boon.
Current Glory 15,000
SIZ 18 Move 5 Major Wound 20
DEX 10 Damage 9d6 Unconsciousness 10
STR 35 Hit Points 38 Knock Down 18
CON 20 Armor 14 + shield
APP 12
Attacks: Sword 24, Lance 24, Spear 15, Dagger 14, Battle 19,
Horsemanship 23
Significant Traits: Energetic 16, Vengeful 18, Arbitrary 16, Cruel 19,
Proud 16, Valorous 19
Significant Passions: Amor (Lady Liones) 14
Significant Skills: Awareness 15, Courtesy 12, First Aid 15, Heraldry
15, Hunting 11, Tourney 12
Horse: Destrier (8d6)
Lady Linet
Lady Linet is the sister of Lady Liones, whose castle is being
besieged by the Red Knight. She is one of the most beautiful women in
Britain and dresses in the finest clothes. Her skin is alabaster white
and her brown hair matches her brown eyes. Careful use of make-up
accentuates her full lips and high cheek bones to add to her natural
allure.
Lady Linet has agreed to help her sister by travelling to various
tournaments and trying to enlist the aid of knights who will challenge
the Red Knight to single combat. Lady Liones made her swear that she
will not reveal any information about herself or her quest until the
knights have passed several challenges and proven their worth.
Lady Linet also tests the knights' chivalry by berating their every
word and action. She hopes that none of them will be so unchivalrous
as to answer back or strike her and these knights are not the sort
that she wishes freeing her sister.
Once the quest is over, Lady Linet reveals herself to be a kind and
generous woman who enjoys the finer things in life, including fine
wine, exotic foods and romantic poems and stories. Knights who wish to
court her must be brave and chivalrous, as well as being able to
demonstrate that they appreciate the finer things as well.
Lady Linet's women's gift is Good with Animals and has already been
included in the statistics below.
Current Glory 1250
SIZ 10 Move 2 (+2) Major Wound 14
DEX 11 Damage 3d6* Unconsciousness 6
STR 9 Hit Points 24 Knock Down 10
CON 14 Armor 1 (clothes)
APP 23
Attacks: Dagger 10 (* subtract one die for dagger), Battle 11,
Horsemanship 20
Significant Traits: Chaste 17, Vengeful 13, Valorous 9
Significant Passions: Hospitality 16, Honor 17, Love (Family) 18
Significant Skills: First Aid 16, Chirurgery 10, Falconry 12, Flirting
10, Heraldry 6, Industry 10, Romance 8, Stewardship 14
Holding: 6 manors
Lady Liones
Lady Liones is also known as the Countess of Burford. She inherited
the title when her father, the late Count, died without male
issue. She has governed the lands for five years now and has proven to
be a fair and popular leader. However, Burford is a rich area and her
beauty has not gone unnoticed.
Three months ago the Red Knight arrived in Burford and proclaimed that
he has going to marry Lady Liones. She politely declined his "offer"
and shut herself away in her castle. Enraged, the Red Knight besieged
the castle, promising to leave only when she had agreed to marry
him. Lady Liones summoned her sister to her and ordered her to travel
the lands until she found a band of knights who were willing to rescue
her. Because the thought of Lady Liones' land and beauty would sway
many unsavoury knights into helping her sister was forbidden to reveal
who the knights were aiding until they had passed several tests of
valor and chivalry.
Lady Liones is loved by her people and many of them are secretly
hoping that she settles down and marries one of her would-be rescuers.
She is a warm and passionate lady who spends far too much of her time
governing her lands instead of enjoying life. The only knight who has
a chance of courting her is the knight who defeats the Red Knight in
single combat.
Lady Liones' women's gift is +1d10 APP and has already been included
in her statistics below.
Current Glory 3780
SIZ 11 Move 2 (+2) Major Wound 15
DEX 9 Damage 3d6* Unconsciousness 8
STR 9 Hit Points 27 Knock Down 11
CON 16 Armor 2 (heavy robes)
APP 28
Attacks: Dagger 12 (* subtract one die for dagger), Battle 12,
Horsemanship 11
Significant Traits: Chaste 16, Generous 15, Valorous 14
Significant Passions: Hospitality 16, Honor 19, Love (Family) 18
Significant Skills: First Aid 16, Chirurgery 12, Flirting 10, Heraldry
10, Industry 12, Romance 12, Stewardship 16
Holding: Small stone castle, 20 manors and 10 villages
BIBLIOGRAPHY
This story is based on the tale of Sir Gareth and is taken from the
book _King Arthur and his Knights_ by Stuart Campbell, published by
The Children's Press in 1964.
--
