Before the next bell, servants and slaves push the trestle tables back into the middle of the Great Hall and start preparing it with plates and decorations. Extended families of children arrive in the Great Hall to join their parents increasing the noise level and family environment. At the next bell, everyone attempts to find a suitable place. The new knights find themselves sitting near each other surrounded by a gaggle of eligible ladies. Servants begin to deliver the food and drink. The status of the new knights and their stories of bandits and dragons make them celebrities and overcome any social limitations.
After the feast, they also meet a variety of fathers, mothers, and brothers with either protective glowers or hopeful smiles. There are a half-dozen girls strike each your fancy, and several that strike all of your fancies. The party transitions when the ladies and children follow the Countess and her daughter who exit the feast for the night. You say good night to all of your new acquaintances as they are herded out of the Hall.
As the women and children are leaving the hall Sion turns to the other newly made knights. I didn't know that Earl Roberts sister was such a comely girl. He says Strange that she would be unmarried. I think I will ask Sir Leo about it.
Sion goes to find Sir Leo and see if he can get any information about Lady Jenna.
After the ladies depart, Sir Sion finds Sir Amig drinking with some older knights acting merrier than you've ever seen him. He's not drunk, yet, but seems to have had a heavy burden lifted from his shoulders.
Peeling him away from his friends with a more subtle and diplomatic broaching of the sensitive subject, he smiles and replies, "Yes, sir knight. You've identified a tragedy. Lady Jenna was plight-trothed to the son of the Praetor of Dorset. Like many good, eligible bachelors, he died at the Battle of St. Albans. Don't get any ideas. Her marriage needs to politically secure the county." He jovially cuffs Sir Sion on the shoulder.
Raedwald drinks and after only one glass he's already staggering and loopy. He staggers over to the older knights and giggles a little.
"You...you guys are great. I mean, you let me become a knight. Me!"
After speaking to Sir Amig, Sion seeks out the lord of Buckholt manorin order to introduce himself and talk to him about how things are in the area around Buckholt and Pitton. After talking for a few minutes Sion begs his leave and goes to meet the lords of the other neighboring manors. He makes sure he meets and speaks with the lords of Longhedge, Ford, Laverstock, and the Castelan of Du Plain Castle. He at least makes sure he knows them and they know who he is. He asks the Castelan of Du Plain castle if he has had any news of what has been happening in Camelot since the death of the King.
Once he has spoken to these lords he retires for the night too tired from the fight with the bandits and his vigil to stay up and carouse.
Edward shakes numerous hands and tries to remember various lands and titles, but eventually he's off in a corner having a spirited debate on how to best track a deer with one of the servants. "No no, the rain draws them down. The hills in this area aren't steep enough to scare them off from flood chances, and they'd rather have the fresh water."
Your young celebrity status and protectors of Sirs Amig and Leo keep you out of trouble for the evening raucous partying. You get put to bed happy drunk before doing anything too stupid. Sion and Edward manage to speak many of their now fellow lords. Whether they remember any of it the next morning is a different story.
The six of you awake in the pallets most of you had when you were squires. Everything is loud and bright. When you make it to the Great Hall for what you find out to be lunch, you find several knights passed out on the floor near walls. Most everyone else tend to ignore them, even the dogs.
As you struggle through lunch, a bright and smiling Blaen finds you and says that you are requested to present yourselves to Sir Leo this afternoon at your earliest convenience. As the Constable of Salisbury, you know where his rooms are. Blaen smiles again and assures that there is no hurry, just arrive before supper. Otherwise, the pages will come looking for you.
Bran nods to acknowledge the message and then returns back to slowly eating and rapidly gulping down water. After brunch, he slinks back to his pallet and buries his face in Blaidd's flank. He asks a page to wake him long enough before supper to get dressed and make his way to Sir Leo.
Thank you Blaen. Sion says groggily I will call on Sir Leo shortly before supper. Sion manages to finish eating and then force himself to deal with the tasks of the day. He visits Pwyll in the stables and ensures he is well then takes Rhianwen out to fly for a while. He presents himself outside the Constables rooms at the appointed time feeling much better than he did when he woke.
Edward rolls out of bed, then rolls back in for a few minutes before forcing himself up. He gets some tea and warm brandy, splashing his face with water between drinks.
Raedwald, having never really experienced a hangover, moans "What's happening to me? God, am I going to die?!" When he's reassured otherwise, he takes a bath and tries his best to struggle through the day, looking to see Sir Leo as soon as possible.
With your hangovers subsiding, you four (PCs) find yourselves in Sir Leo's suite of the castle. As the constable, his suite is the third largest just smaller than those of the countess and heir apparent, respectively. Sir Leo d’Allington is a tall lanky man with lean cord-like muscled frame. What gray hair remains encircles his head like a roman laurel. His clean-shaven, strong jaw and aquiline nose clearly show Roman heritage. He motions you take chairs arrayed in front of his large, ornate desk. "At St. Albans, our knights of the county were decimated. With you six new knights, we approach our numbers prior to the battle. As constable of the county, my responsibility are of its organization and defense. As of last night, Sir Amig and I confirmed the last assignments of the garrisons throughout the county. The affected knights will be moving their residences in the next week. The last action for the assignments are you four." He clears his throat and takes a swallow of mulled wine.
"You four will form the Patrol. For years, late Earl Roderick maintained a patrol of five knights who traveled constantly through the county. Between the court's procession around the county, the Patrol, and the garrisons, we could always field enough knights to defend the county. While in the current chaotic times, five knights would be better than four; you are all we have left. Therefore, you are tasked with living in the saddle until Winter Court. Every manor and garrison will provide you hospitality and messengers if you need to communicate with the earl's procession. Do you have any questions?"
"Do we need to ride any particular route, or just wander the borders of Salisbury?"
"Do we have any specific travel route we should be taking?"
"The short answer is no," Sir Leo replies. "The earl's court proceeds through the county. The schedule of the procession is well known to give towns and castles enough time to prepare. The area near the procession is scouted and well-protected by the household knights and guards, so you can avoid those areas. Beyond that, it actually has proven better if you don't have a particular route that can be predicted by bandits."
"Would we be allowed to first hunt down the bandits that attacked us a few days ago? They must eat steel or hang for their deeds."
Sir Leo, What about our own manors? We all owe taxes to the Earl, and I know Pitton lost almost all of it's trained armsmen at St. Albans. If the levy were called up I would not be able to provide the armsmen I am obligated to provide. We also have tenant that we are obligated to care for and ensure are prepared for the winter.
To Bran, Sir Leo replies, "Your schedule is your own. Sir Jaradan may need assistance."
To Sion, Sir Leo replies, "Your steward should be able to manage without you. If not, we can find a suitable replacement. And if you happen to occasionally visit your manor, that is your call."
I have no further concerns then Sir Leo. I simply do not wish to fail in my obligations to the Earl or my people.
A job that's traveling where we want and we get to roll the heads of bandits? Where have you been all my life? As the hangover wears off the pain from his injury returns, but Edward has a small smile on his face.
"I am prepared. I swear to serve Earl Robert ably and well." Raedwald strikes his chest with a fist for emphasis.
"I understand our orders. I am ready to serve as well," Bran says, bowing slightly to the more senior knight.
"Excellent, sir knights. Make us proud." Sir Leo politely dismisses you to do whatever you want to do.
What now?
So What should we do now? Sion asks when they have filed out of Sir Leo's quarters. Did you want to go see if Sir Jaradan could use our help Bran?
“Yes,” Bran replies. “I’m sure that Edward wouldn’t mind some payback either.”
Edward rubs at the wound. "I wouldn't call it that. I imagine they had some reason to be robbing those villages, so I'm not holding a grudge. Still, can't have the lot running around robbing villagers that barely have enough as it is. It'd do my heart good to see them in chains."
"Of course they had a reason. The King is dead, and no heir is in sight, so they feel free to try and take whatever they can get, as there's no lord to provide for them when in need."
Raedwald sighs.
"The storm is long past brewing. It's only getting worse."
So are we in agreement? We are going to see if we can be any help to Sir Jaradan. Sion asks the others. Should we leave tomorrow morning or take another day to heal up?
"That's up to Edward. I'm fine now, but he took the worst wounds before," Bran replies. "Another day with the Earl's healer might do him well."
"Another week might. Another day won't make much difference unless there's magic involved." Edward thinks about the composite bows. "Guess I'll stay in the back, let you guys front line this one."
Edward grits his teeth. "Might be a good idea. Another night of rest could do some real good."
It's settled then. We will leave tomorrow morning and see what aid we can offer Sir Jaradan.Sion says looking at the others. I am going to go make preparations. I will see you all in the morning.
Raedwald prepares for the journey, making sure to take a long bath, as he'd likely not be able to take one for quite a while. He even shaves his weak beard off, figuring it'll grow back during the Patrol. He cleans his new armor until it sparkles and girds Gullfaxi for the Patrol. When the others are ready to set out, he's already out with his horse, ready to go.
Bran accompanies Raedwald in getting ready for their journey. He makes sure to pack plenty of food, and that all his gear is in good working order. He doesn't bother to shave, knowing that it won't make a difference on the trail. Once everything is ready he waits for the others with Raedwald.
Sion makes sure that Pwyll and Rhianwen are ready to travel the next day and then makes sure his own gear is clean and in good repair. Sion eats a good breakfast the next morning before going out to meet the others. He is quick to saddle Pwyll and arrange his gear. He is ready to ride in only a few moments, Rhianwen perched on the horn of his saddle.
Good morning my friends, Should we be on our way?
You depart Sarum in a gray, overcast day. By lunch of focused riding, you reach Tilshead. Over a quick lunch, Captain Issa tells you that Sir Jaradan is still at West Lavington. The note that he received last night confirm that they are sweeping Blakemoor Wood. He provides some scrolls and provisions for you and Sir Jaradan’s patrol.
By evening, you reach West Lavington; its steward Brugyn stables your horses and finds you quarters in the manor house. Through supper, he explains that he is the staging area for the search receiving and sending messengers and provisioners during the day. You can accompany the first one tomorrow morning if you would like, sir knights.
"So, Brugyn, the bandits have yet to be located? Have there been any more skirmishes with them? Any more raids on farms?" Bran asks the steward over dinner.
Edward sits, sighing in relief after hours of horseback riding. "Another night of rest couldn't hurt. We'll catch the first one in the morning than, sound like a plan?"