of Renown’. The Lambert’s are an ancient Thentii family who came across the Sundering Sea from Thent with Baron Gilbert Duval. Sir Oliver Lambert married an elf lady Vinega and was made constable of what is now Airvault Castle in 525ATN. In the civil wars that led to the establishment of the Kingdom of Foix in 613, the Lambert family became owners of Airvault and much of the lands thereabouts. They supported Bertrans against Queen Danice and also the later revolt against Queen Clothilde. This in 639 led to the Salec law being passed formalising male primogeniture. The family arms of Sable an Owl Or were granted in 635. Sir Bertrand’s heroics were performed in the 670s. Then there was a civil war in Azelad and the Lawic Alliance had collapsed. There was skirmish fighting all over Limura, Hunara, Elysia and Hamora. With his black surcoat, Sir Bertrand became the ‘night knight’, raiding after dark and sleeping by day. His principal feat was rescuing the Abbot of St. Rollo from a large force of Chaotics. He was well known for attacking superior forces in the dark. Some called him Boneyard Bertrand because he got large numbers of his own side killed! However his hero status has remained. though age and senility caused the family to remain neutral in the break up of the Kingdom of Foix and the overthrow of Basylt Devisage. You yourself felt no enthusiasm for Basylt but even less for the Stetian Princess Maudette. She might have been King Reginald’s stepdaughter but he never actually invested her as Princess of Bara though it may have been his intention. She was also a convicted witch! As one with Magh Pozum she should by rights have joined the Church of Eru but it appeared that she was rejecting it and following the pagan worship of Valarian. That might do for those beyond the ancient borders of Foix but not in it! When Maudette sent to Airvault demanding all the heriots she claimed due on her accession, your father was too infirm to go and swear fealty to her. You swiftly went on a hunting trip with your friends of the Gotatah clan of Limura. So it fell to your brother Sir Reginald Lambert to take the money and swear on your father’s behalf.
* * *
Arbit the Forester arrived at Airvault Castle at noon Startday 15th of the Ninth Moon demanding to be taken to Sir Bertrand. He was taken to the garden where Sir Bertrand sat whenever the weather was clement by the duty sergeant. Lady’s Constance and Sophiana were present with a bevy of children. Realising from Arbit’s face that he bore some grave news Sophiana herded all the children away to the castle Hall.
Arbit went down on one knee in front of Sir Bertrand “Milord, I bear dire tiding, would it were not so. Your son Sir Christopher is hauled off to Charles for treason! The Abbot Pacific and Vicar Barnabus are to be tried with him!”
Sir Bertrand sat for a moment and a shocked Lady Constance wondered whether his muddled brain had understood what had been said. Then he tried to rise to his feet, “My son… my son called a traitor! Agh agh!…..” and he fell to the ground.
Lady Constance glared at Arbit, “You fool! What a way to break such news!” she went down on her knees beside her father but could feel no pulse. “You have killed him master Arbit! Well don’t just stand there mumchance, you had best go and tell Sir Terence for he will be the Lord here now!”
An hour later Sir Terence called a family counsel to decide what they should do. Present were his wife Lady Alice Avoirdupois, his sister Lady Constance Lambert, his brother Sir Reginald Lambert and his wife lady Sophiana Egalle of Fara, his son Squire Teodore and his nephew Squire Gilbert, the son of Sir Christopher. Sir Terence opened the meeting, “My father is dead and it falls to me to decide the future actions of this family. My father died on hearing that Maudette’s female Marshal Morgana has arrested my brother Sir Christopher on a charge of treason. She has taken him to Charles with the holy Abbot Pacific and the Vicar Barnabus who is also a Lambert! She has killed Sir Christopher’s wife lady Ermintrude, Sir Leon Perdieu and many others. Sir Christopher had many manors at Claux and two are the dowry properties of Constance and Sophiana. Sir Leon was banished for making a fully justified statement about the bewitching powers of Queen Bettrys! The Church of Eru has proclaimed her daughter Maudette guilty of witchcraft and doubtless she used it to defeat Basylt. My father wisely kept us out of that conflict but we now seem to be under threat. I suspect that Maudette intends to seize all the Claux manors for herself or her shady supporters. How should we resist this?”
Lady Constance spoke, “Greenings is one of my three manors but Christopher kept it in poor shape. I have not been charged with anything so I cannot see that Princess Maudette can lay hands on what is mine!”
Lady Alice spoke, “I think my husband is thinking that the family should cast off the rule of the Princess. Your family like mine own have always been devoted to the laws ordained by the Church of Eru. We both have members who having Makgh Pozum joined the church, as was their duty. My brother Eustache serves as a knight of St. Judas and he will not like our serving under Maudette.”
Squire Teodore spoke, “We should march on Charles to rescue Uncle Christopher! Then burn both Maudette and Morgana at the stake!”
Lady Sophiana spoke, “My dear boy I am not a soldier but even I know that such a thing would not be possible. The Princess will have her coronation in ten days time and Charles will be full of her supporters and foreign dignitaries.”
Sir Reginald spoke, “Charles Citadel is very strong and has deep dungeons, Basylt made sure of that! It worries me also that I swore an oath of fealty on Sir Bertrand’s behalf for all his holdings and dependencies! Many at the court there were right glad that a peace had been established. If we attack the Princess she may have many to repulse us!”
Squire Gilbert spoke, “But is my mother’s death to be un-avenged! Is my father to be murdered and my inheritance stolen! I think we have no option but to do as Squire Teodore suggested. If we die doing it we will die with honour! I am sure Sir Bertrand would have done the same had he lived!”
Sir Terence spoke, I agree with Sir Reginald that Charles is far too strong to be attacked and I also think that now is not the time. I think that we must strive to unite Bara with Thentis once more and re-establish the monopoly of the Church of Eru. It is said that Maudette is to choose a husband soon after the coronation. It is to be hoped that her choice falls on an Eruvian. What you all seem to be forgetting is that with Sir Bertrand dead Sir Reginald’s oath on his behalf becomes void. Now Maudette will expect me to swear allegiance and to pay all the heriots again for my succeeding my father! I shall not do so. Further I shall obtain information as to whom in Bara does not attend the coronation so we can look for possible friends. I shall correspond with our contacts in Thentis to see what support we may obtain there. As for Christopher, he is a cunning man, it may be that he will wriggle out of whatever pit he has dug for himself. One thing seems clear, that the fates of the churchmen will turn many people against the Stetian pretender! For now we will await events as they unfold.”
* * *
Sir Terence sent Mortain an agent to Charles who found that old Canon Lambert a relative of the family and now the senior canon of the Cathedral hated Maudette and most particularly Morgana! He copied out a list of the principal Baratreans at the coronation enabling Terence to work out who was not there! Mortain paid several people to collect information and pass it back to Airvault. His wife Lady Alice wrote to her Avoirdupois relations suggesting a movement be set afoot to reclaim Bara for Thentis and the church of Eru. She thought that Sir Hans Neuman, heir to the throne of Thentis after his mother could become Prince of Bara? Sir Terence wrote to his sister Lady Madeleine and her husband Sir Roland Gruyere who lived near St. Polle. As a result they did not attend the coronation in protest at the imprisonment of Sir Christopher. It soon became apparent that he with the others was not going to be tried until after the coronation.
There was the Grand Suitor’s tournament after the coronation and the shocking news of the murders in Caphtor and the institution of a crusade. (All the Lawic lords of Hamora were poisoned at a feast celebrating Prince Eudes victory of Lungstrete of four years ago!) Maudette accordingly delayed announcing her choice of husband until the crusading armies were on their way. The first army from Perigord marched up through Limura. King Eudes would lead another army up through Delvon. The Baratrean contingent under Sir Rais Barre would join the established Lawic Host in southeast Limura with contingents from Fara, Stetia, Oblivia and the Elf Lands. Sir Rais Barre marched off from Charles on the 18th of the Tenth Moon and his army passed Airvault on the 21st. He obtained little but words of support from the Lambert family! Sir Terence reckoned that if they could overthrow Maudette whilst the crusaders were away Sir Rais would make no trouble when he came back. After all he had commanded Basylt’s cavalry at the battle of Verreric!
It appeared that Grand Duchess Maudette as she was now, had delayed the trial of the ‘dissidents’ as they were now termed, until those wounded in the fighting at St. Rollo and Claux were well enough to attend. On Startday 22nd of the Tenth Moon Airvault received a pigeon message:
Maudette to Wed Doze Handor
Dissident Trial today 22nd.
Sir Terence assembled his family Council again to discuss this. In view of their intentions, Maudette wedding Doze Handor was good news. He was pagan of the notoriously dissolute state of Oblivia, which would not please conservative Eruvians. His whereabouts were uncertain and it was not known if he intended to go on the crusade or not.
Sir Terence spoke, “I deem it be the time to organise a strike regardless of how the trial goes for I have received a most interesting piece of information. Within the week Maudette will be setting out to visit two manors in the Duchy of Rathen. These manors Surmener and Cuisant had belonged to Maudette in the days when Reginald had ruled. After his death when Maudette was reported burnt as a witch the church had taken them over. Surmener was assigned to the Order of St Judas and Cuisant to the Order of St. Chiara, the orders who in fact were keeping her secretly confined. As a politic goodwill gesture King Eudes, confiscated them from the church and offered them back to Maudette. Eudes sister and her husband, the Duchess and Duke of Rathen will hand them back and complete the legal formalities there. Maudette has agreed to go and has set it out that after obtaining them she would be ready to sell them. However I deem that this is our chance to set an ambush for her. She will doubtless go via the St. Visseile to Civeaux road and we should catch her somewhere on it. I have earlier written to our sister Lily, now Prioress Livelihood of Cruas Abbey. She has talked her Abbess Frida into agreeing to support our stand against the Pagan Maudette so we can assemble our forces there in readiness. Some of those against Maudette are already there. So Lady Alice can you contact your right minded relatives to give what support to us they can?”
* * *
The news came through that Sir Christopher Lambert had been sentenced to death by beheading for treason! His estates were confiscated to the Grand Duchess and a new Tax Gatherer for Claux would be appointed. Vicar Barnabus Fitz-Lambert was sentenced to trial by water for complicity in attempted murder. Abbot Pacific of St. Rollo was fined 300 Gilden Pezzi for deliberately misleading a Grand Duchy Official. Sir Corbyn, Squire Gauntlet, Krookid Wai and Lady Erisse and some of the followers were pardoned and taken into Maudette’s service.
Word came that Sir Thierri Ommange of Thentis and Lady Nicollette Decre of Perigord were bringing small forces to Cruas to fight Maudette! The knight of St. Judas Eustache Avoirdupois was establishing a hold on the village of Rues, where he intended to ambush Maudette! Hearing this you held another conference. At it, it was decided to head for Cruas straight away, with what mounted forces they could muster. However you declared that they should not wear the yellow owl on their surcoats and shields. If they did it might be construed that they were Baratreans attacking Thentis! So you would mostly be fighting in plain black!
You arrived at Cruas on the eighth of the Eleventh Moon. Prioress Livelihood was in a taking because one of the nuns had fled the Abbey five days ago. She originally came from Bara and Livelihood thought she might be going to warn Maudette of the threat! You hoped that she would not succeed. On the Ninth you led a small reconnaissance force up to Rues and conferred with Sir Eustache who was in full control. He reported that The Duke of Wardour had moved his menie to Ferneaux, a hawking manor only fifteen myles from Rues! Perhaps that nun went to him and not to Maudette! However Sir Eustache said he intended to raid Ferneaux that night. The stables were some way apart from the mansion and built wholly of wood, so he intended to burn all the steeds and make it look like an accident. You agreed to find a hiding place in the nearby forest for your mounted troops. Then on the ringing of the bell in the village you could emerge to assail Maudette’s force as it entered the village. Having picked the best hide in the forest you returned to Cruas. That night you took all your force back to the forest in the dark so no one should see you entering it.
The next morning you remained concealed. Sir Eustache has sent word that he successfully burnt all the horses in the stables at Ferneaux! So now you are in the forest waiting for Sir Eustache to ring the bell. It is a calm sunny day, a good omen for this action. You tell your men “Today we will avenge Sir Christopher and Vicar Barnabus! Today we strike a blow for the Church of Eru against the practitioners of foul witchcraft. An we win here today Bara may rejoin the Kingdom of Thentis and who knows I may become Royal Seneschal! Death to the pagans!”
Lambert menie, Sir Terence Lambert, Sir Reginald Lambert, Sir Hildebrand Rynge, Squire Teodore Lambert, 4 hobilars 3 arbalisters = 11
Ommange Menie, Sir Thierri Ommange, Lady Joanna Ommange (Devisage) Lady Catherine, Sir Francis Montereau, 2 hobilars = 6
Avoirdupois Menie, Sir Bertrand Avoirdupois, Sir Gerard, Sergeant Sambert, Arbalister Herbert = 4
Decre Menie, Lady Nicollette Decre, Miss Tengshi, Sergeant Ofsse, 3 hobilars = 6
Squire Teodore Destrier, Ind Mo 10"(5"), Fa 5/10 (5/10), TI 2, TR -1 (+2), SR -2 (+2), D -5 (-6), C -4 (-5),
W-3 (-4), A -1 (-2), Ob 1.2 (1.0), Me +1 -0 +2 = +3 sword st 0
Arbalister Fol Mo 11” (6”), Fa 6/12, TR –2 (0), SR –2 (0), D-5 (-5), C –4 (-4), W –3 (-3), A –1 (+1),
Ob 1.0 (1.2), Me 0 – 0 +2 = +2 sword st 0, Speaks Simnith, Edin
Hobilar Rouncey Fol Mo 11” (6”), Fa 6/12, TI 1, TR –2 (0), SR –2 (0), D-5 (-5), C –4 (-4), W –3 (-3),
A –1 (+1), Ob 1.0 (1.2), Me +1 – 1 +2 = +2 1st rd +2 spear st 0, shield parry 7+ St 4.
Speaks Simnith
Lady Joanna Off, Mo 12"(5"), Fa 7/14 (5/10), TR 0 (01), SR -1 (+1), D -5 (-4), C -4 (-3), W-3 (-2), A 0
(+1), Ob 1.4 (0.8), Me -3 -1 +2 = -2 dagger st 0, Speaks Simnith, Edin, Reads Tengthin
Lady Catherine Ind, Mo 12"(5"), Fa 7/14 (5/10), TR 0 (01), SR -1 (+1), D -5 (-4), C -4 (-3), W-3 (-2), A 0
(+1), Ob 1.4 (0.8), Me -3 -1 +2 = -2 dagger st 0, Speaks Simnith, Edin, Reads Tengthin
Sergeant Sambert Rouncey Ind, Mo 11"(6"), Fa 6/12 (6/12), TI 1TR -1 (+2), SR -2 (+1), D -5 (-5), C -4
(-4), W-3 (-3), A -1 (+1), Ob 1.0 (1.3), Me +2 -0 +2 = +4 sword st 0, Shield parry 7+ St 4
Arbalister Herbert Fol Mo 11” (6”), Fa 6/12, TR –2 (0), SR –2 (0), D-5 (-5), C –4 (-4), W –3 (-3), A –1
(+1), Ob 1.0 (1.2), Me 0 – 0 +2 = +2 sword st 0, Speaks Simnith, Edin
Lady Nicollette Off, Mo 12"(5"), Fa 7/14 (5/10), TR 0 (01), SR -1 (+1), D -5 (-4), C -4 (-3), W-3 (-2), A 0
(+1), Ob 1.4 (0.8), Me -2 -1 +2 = -1 dagger st 0, 4 throwing knives mounted –1 4” 4+ st -3
Speaks Simnith, Edin, Reads Tengthin
Speaks Jedonese, Simnith, Edin
Sergeant Ofsse Rouncey Ind, Mo 11"(6"), Fa 6/12 (6/12), TI 1TR -1 (+2), SR -2 (+1), D -5 (-5), C -4 (-4),
W-3 (-3), A -1 (+1), Ob 1.0 (1.3), Me +2 -0 +2 = +4 sword st 0, Shield parry 7+ St4 Tinderbox
The Action in pictures and words