1232 A.D. - Court
(November 3rd 2004)
(or "I don't care if it's a kangaroo court, so long as it's just!")
Word had come from both North and South: the Barons of Carlisle and Edinburgh were united in treachery against Mithras, and had risen in rebellion against the overlord. Mithras sent word that his Barons were to unite to destroy the rebels, as the Rose Treaty simultaneously barred Mithras from fielding an army of his own and bound his Barons to defend his rights.
It had been decided that the warleaders of the Baronies closest to Carlisle - York, Chester, and Lincoln - would meet in Yorkshire to coordinate their forces, and thus the warleaders of both Chester and Lincoln were at this year's court. A large majority of the time this evening was taken up with the discussions of who would be the commander of all the summoned forces. This debate was somewhat overshadowed, however, by another concern...
Keeper Morwyn had encountered more problems with the local witch hunters than he had originally expected, so the rumours went. Rumours were widespread amongst the mortal clergy that Whitby Abbey, Morwyn's haven, was actually a den of infernalists. Early in the evening at court, Morwyn sought out Friar Dunera - who had just returned from his homeland with two of his more martially inclined Brethren, and who now himself seemed to be one of the Damned - to discuss the matter. There was some tension as it seemed several times that Dunera's new protectors would engage with Morwyn's vassals, and the Baroness herself went to investigate what was transpiring between Morwyn and Dunera. The truth was soon revealed. Morwyn alleged that Dunera had set the churchman purposefully on Morwyn in hopes of destroying an ally of the Tremere, and Dunera did not deny the charges.
The Baroness once again displayed her love for trial by combat, and declared that Dunera or his champion would face her champion, her Scourge Sigurd. Dunera picked Florian, his newly arrived companion from the Lands Beyond the Forest, but many thought the conclusion was forgone and that Dunera would shortly be extinguished. But the fight went very unexpectedly. As swords were readied, Florian underwent a strange transformation, bones and flesh rippling as it became a scaly monster... At the same time, Sigurd, seeing the sight, dropped to his knees before it and as his sword left his hands and hit the ground it shattered. Sigurd, seeing a divine omen, relented to Florian, who proceeded to pummel him nearly into Torpor. It seemed that Dunera had one a reprieve...
The spectacle over, the work of selecting a warmaster for the combined armies continued, and shortly thereafter Halvor Rasmussen, of Cynuise's line, was selected. Halvor's relative inexperience and youth struck many as odd, but only the coming battles could show the wisdom(or lack thereof) in the choice...
Quotes
"I don't care if it's a kangaroo court, so long as it's just!"
"I guess Quinn's the poncy Storyteller..."
"Raise your hand if you're surprised."
"You can go in...just don't let anyone start fighting without me."
"I trust Morwyn to act as the gentleman he is."
"You will tell me what you have done, in chronological order, which relates to Morwyn and may or may not be in violation of the laws of my realm!"
"(sigh) Where to start...?"
"Hey, Siggy, brought your sword today?"
"He is a brave warrior and a brilliant statistician!"
