Marjal Decaer Action
Again they had a pre-dawn
breakfast and despite having to wait for half an hour for Donna Prominencia left
Quimica early. With a jaundiced eye Morgana noticed that as well as an
overloaded pack horse, Prominencia had also a donkey with two large baskets of
extra clothes! Felinora on the other hand had a small sack of her belongings
plus another with the leg of a cow in it. These she added to one of Morgana’s
mules. Scary the lion made the horses nervous whilst on the other hand he gave
the unicorns a wide berth. Morgana suggested that Felinora try to get the horses
used to the lion being with them. It would be no good if it frightened her
mounts as much as the enemies. Likewise she shimmered her gown near
Prominencia’s beasts a couple of times to get them accustomed to the glow.
Shimmering gowns were not seen much in Azelad it seemed.
They were escorted past the southern
screaming stones by the Wardens and the senior Priestesses Heirah and Ancippe
who wished them good fortune. Not
surprisingly they passed the forest without any interference from the outlaws.
When they paused for lunch they could see the Ruego forest a few myles to the
southeast. The countryside had become predominantly grasslands with odd stands
of timber. Small herds of wild animals took flight whenever they drew near. “We
will soon be in Lion country.” Felinora told them. “In fact this used to be part
of it before the trophy hunters drove them south. The best way to get to Zarza
Tanque is by Marjal Decaer. That is an old ruined temple near the burial mounds
of the Kings of Stetia. The jungles to the east are rather dense.”
“So Stetia used to have kings?” asked
Sir Jean Lotine.
Morgana replied, “Oh yes,
the Juanta’s have only been in power since 694ATN. Thirteen years ago the entire
Royal family died of poisoning. It was thought to be the work of Narchadian
agents who were never caught! The Alcoba da Hidalgi met to decide how to replace
Queen Conradina. There were too many factions claiming some relationship with
the royal family, so to keep the peace and thwart the chaotic plot, they set up
the Juanta system. The first four Peron’s were from the leading contending
families. Old Javez Dancia was the brain behind it and became the first Mirador.
Naturally he retired after his years’ service and the system has kept going
since then.”
They camped for the evening near a
small forest. Near enough to obtain firewood to cook their dinners on! Morgana
ordered them to collect enough for another days supply.
Just after dark of Woeday 3rd
of the Twelfth Moon three riders came up from the south.
“I am Escudero Bertram Car of Corvo. You
met my sister Donna Mercedes at Gluliro. She and her friend Donna Ines Oyte rode
to tell us that you were coming this way and were threatened by both the Knights
of Rudolphus and Sir Terence Lamberts force’s.”
“As you have guessed, I am Morgana Lefey
Marshal of Bara. Give my thanks to your sister and her friend the next time that
you see them! We seek Doze Handor Culip, believing that he is in the Jungles of
Oblivia. Do you know where the Valley of Bones is?”
“No. I have heard of it but only that it
is in the jungle somewhere. We know that the Knights of Rudolphus are based at
Menoste but they may have joined Sir Terence by now. May I ask where you are
heading for?”
“Zarza Tanque seems to be the only place
marked on the map in the Jungle so we go there for a start!”
“This is what we thought. The best way
is via Marjal Decaer, that is near the graves of the old kings. Since they are
mounted, we expect the Knights and Sir Terence to make a stand against you
around there. In the jungle mounted men are too often handicapped. We are part
of the Company of Doughty Squires. My older brother Rolando is trying to collect
some others to help. We believe that you Madam are the modern version of the
Doughty Knights of Renown.”
“Thank you for the compliment. We will
welcome your assistance, especially as you will know this area well?”
“Yes indeed Madame Marshal. With your
permission we will return to Pelitor where we expect my brother to arrive. We
will meet you there tomorrow.”
“Very good, we will see you then.”
In the night they heard
distant roaring and Scary woke everyone by answering it! Felinora quietened him
down so they managed to get to sleep again. They made contact with the Doughty
Squires next morning. They had assembled their eight available members ready to
augment Morgana’s force. Escudero Rolando their leader said “We have encountered
a wagon load of halvings from Delvon, who are wanting to assist you?”
“Dimini from Delvon! This is strange
news!” said Mogana in surprise. “What can they be after? Are there any exotic
foodstuffs produced in this area? Why do they wish to assist me?”
“I suspect they hope you will help them
in some scheme but they did not declare it. They call themselves the Godwin
Forthright Legion. We sent them to hold the ruins at the Marjal Decaer ford,
hoping that that could aid your cause.”
“Godwin Forthright was once a follower
of mine but I believe he was killed serving Don Incio Fulminar of Stetia.”
By the end of the 4th
they were all concealed in a small wood a myle from the ruins and ford of Marjal
Decaer. Tancred the Talker had been sent ahead as a scout and reported that
there were mounted forces on the hills either side of the ford. Escudero Rolando
told them that the wood led into a slough or marsh where only the ford could be
used to cross it. “The track leads along the right or western side but it would
be almost as easy to go along the eastern side if that is your desire. We hope
that the Dimini with their wagon are in the ruins blocking the ford. The ruins
are on the west side of the ford.”
“It would be wise if we could
overwhelm one force or the other before they can assist one another.” suggested
Sir Jean Lotine. “Yes, I would that we knew which force was which.” said Dame
Anise. “It would help Maudette’s cause if we could destroy Sir Lambert’s menie.”
“But these knights of Rudolphus may
provide the more durable opponents. They might attract recruits from all of
Thentis and Perigord!” objected Sir Jean. “And
perhaps even from Fara! There are yet Eruvians there sore at Maudette.” added
Sir Dino Rinocero.
“Whichever way we strike we must advance
in the dark to emerge at dawn, else we give them too much time. The dimini
should not be left too long to block the ford. Maybe some of us should go to
bolster them? If the ford is to their east it will be easier to hold that way
than the western open side.”
So Morgana {Alan with advice from other
players.} must decide how to deploy her forces including the eight members of
the Doughty Squires. (All mounted 5 squires & 3 sergeants)
Sacrada Felinora with her lion Scary and
Donna Prominencia with her abigail and torchbearer. The lion scary must be kept
4”+ away from the other steeds to avoid having a Terror Resistance Test. All
friendly beasts +2 to Roar terror. It is an overcast cold day with a Light wind
from the SW. 5th Twelfth Moon
Morgana decided to take the bulk of her force along the track to the west of the ford. She ordered Sir Dino Rinocero to peel off to support the Dimini defending it. Sacrada Felinora was to take her lion out ahead to the right of the main force. As the darkness lightened they could see a single rank of white clad knights standing on the crest of the hill ahead. A horn rang out from them followed by an answering call from beyond the slough. Once further forward they could see Sir Terence’s menie at the foot of the Tumuli topped hill to the left of the ford. On top of the tumuli were two foot figures clad in sky blue and lime green.
Morgana deployed her troops into battle array as the white clad knights who must be the Order of Rudolphus advanced cautiously down the hill. At the ruins the Dimini rushed their wagon out to block the ford. There seemed to be quite a lot of them! Sir Terence’s menie moved towards the ford whilst the two foot figures ran helter-skelter down the tumuli to their mounts at the bottom. With her main force ready to advance Morgana shouted “Shimmer! ‘Evoca Gapode Igual!’” The cherub duly appeared above her head and began to play his inspiring trumpet recital but her gown remained dull.
“Forward!
Shimmer!” shouted Morgana and Dame
Anise next to her commanded “Deer!” to the unicorn Hilda. Her gown still
remained dull! Of course she had been wearing it daily for almost a year and a
replacement was being made up for her back in Charles. Their opponents had
halted and were dressing their line. On the left Sir Terence’s menie was almost
upon the far side of the ford. On the right Felinora on her lion were wheeling
out to threaten the outnumbered enemy’s flank.
“Shimmer!
Charge!” shrieked Morgana and both her menie and the Order charged. At least
they started to but the lion Scary roared causing two of the Order to stampede
back up the hill and two more to halt. Morgana found herself heading straight
for a giant green knight mounted on a giant caparisoned horse. Fortunately the
horse jibbed to a halt, frightened by her Shimmering gown. Sir Louis Cocodil and
Sir Fier Feuille attacked him from the left so she and Dame Anise paused to
assess the situation. Mistress Hedkah was leading the damsels and baggage
animals into the ruins. At the ford Sir Dino’s squad had backed up the Dimini
and as a consequence Sir Terence’s force had swerved away from the ford and
along the far side of the slough. “They must mean to come through the wood to
take us in the rear!” exclaimed Dame Anise.
“Not if we can finish with this Order in
time!” answered Morgana looking at the melee to her right. There although Sir
Gilbert had received a lance thrust their superior numbers were beginning to
tell. The enemy hornblower charged Scary the lion who was swiftly supported by a
squire who brought him down. Unfortunately Sergeant Fillip’s horse of the
Doughty Squires found proximity to the lion too much and carried him away
towards the slough. Squire Bertram broke his sword in the fight. But then
“Retire!” shouted one of their opponents and what he had hoped would be an
orderly retreat turned into a rout. Sir Louis and Sir Fier chased down the giant
knight and slew him beside some bushes.
“We surrender!” called out the enemy
commander. One of the stampeded knights had halted in time to be engaged by two
Doughty squires but the other disappeared over the hill and away. Only three of
the Order remained mounted to throw down their weapons.
“I think my job here is done?” called
down the Cherub Igual.
“Prithee fetch the damsels here
for us noble cherub. They have the bandages and wound dressings that we now
need!” answered Dame Anise who was stanching Sir Gilbert’s wound. Morgana looked
back towards the wood from whence they had come. Soon Sir Terence’s force
emerged from it but headed off to the west. Having seen the demise of the Order
of Rudolphus he had realised he was hopelessly outnumbered. The cherub brought
up the damsels with the First aid satchels and then vanished. Unfortunately by
the time the aid had arrived the sergeant who had born the Order’s banner
(Argent a cross Or) had bled to death. Their hornblower was in a coma from blows
to his head and a knight Sir Simon St. Angiels had a deep chest wound. There
followed some disputes as to whom should obtain the ransom money for the
captured knights. Morgana asked the knights themselves for their opinions to
settle them. Sir Simon Angiels was not sure who had wounded him so she decided
that his ransom should be sent to Grand Duchess Maudette. The captured knights
were their Preceptor Sir Denis de Brecy, taken by Sir Jean, Sir Philip Martigues
taken by Toxo and Sergeant Zabadan and Sir Yves Montbeliard taken by squires
Luis and Pedro. The dead were the banner sergeant, Sir Geofroi Grasset, Sir
Renier Penthievre and the giant Sir Geraint.
It was still early morning but Morgana
decided that they would camp at the ruins for the rest of the day and night.
There were the wounded to tend, the dead to bury and several matters to decide.
Apart from the weapons and armour, they had captured eight destriers and the
giant knight’s great horse. With the border but four myles away the Doughty
Squires their task accomplished must leave them. So indeed must Sacrada Felinora
and her lion whose assistance had made her victory so much easier. Then she must
find out what the Dimini wanted from her? So they laid out their camp using the
ruins to make it most difficult to attack should Sir Terence try anything in the
night.
Morgana decreed that Sir
Louis should keep the giant knight’s shield and Sir Fier his helmet. Her menie
should take two swords and two spare destriers as spares plus an axe for Toxo
who had captured it. She appropriated the Order’s banner with a lance pennon for
each of her squad leaders, Escudero Roland and Sacrada Felinora to whom she gave
the giant’s sword. It would be a fine trophy but was too big to be practical for
anyone of less than giant stature. She also gave her one of the destriers to
help carry it and her baggage. The rest of the booty was given to the Doughty
Squires to share out as they thought best. On the Order had been 136 Gilden
Pezzi worth in coins. So she gave 36 between the captives and the remaining 100
was to go to The Godwin Forthrite Legion. Though they had not had to fight,
their presence blocking the ford had kept Sir Terence’s menie out of the action
altogether. The knight’s jewellery she allowed them to keep with those of the
fallen ones to go back to their families. Apparently unlike other Eruvian orders
the newly formed Order of Rudolphus allowed its members to be married!
Escudero Roland agreed to
take the prisoners to be held at his home in Corvo until their ransoms were
paid. These would be at the standard rates of 2,000 Gilden Pezzi for a knight
and 4,000 for the Preceptor. These matters arranged she asked to meet the
leaders of the Godwin Forthright Legion with Sir Jean Lotine and Dame Anise
Galette. They turned out to be Wandril a Dimini Peddler, Primrose Oxdriver, and
the Stetian human wagon owner Hermanez.
“I am Morgana Lefey Marshal of Bara. I
am grateful for the part you played in deterring the Lambert Rebels from
crossing the ford. Had they done so we would have had a much harder fight! In
token of our gratitude here is 100 Gilden Pezzi taken from the enemy. Now I have
heard that you came in search of us, prithee tell me what is your reason?”
“I am Daffodil Oxdriver Treasurer to the
Godwin Forthright Admiration Society. In Hickwood at a Special General Meeting
we decided to form the Godwin Forthright Legion in order to avenge his death. We
called for recruits in the Delvon Intelligencer expecting to collect them in
Delvonton. Unfortunately the members of the Parlement took fright and arrested
my brothers Elric and Brethan who are the Secretary and Chairman of the Society.
We realised that if we were to achieve anything we had to move fast. We hoped
for assistance from either yourself or Don Incio Fulminar being the most heroic
of adventurers. So Wandril and I rounded up our First Company and set off over
the border into Hunara. Via Limura we travelled to Bara. We have the Mistress
Hubbard the Hickwood Dame’s certificate, although we did not in fact show it
until we arrived at Charles. We asked to petition Grand Duchess Maudette and
received word that she would see us in a fortnight’s time. However we discovered
that you had left that very day to find the Grand Duchess’ Fiancé. We tried to
catch you but with you being mounted it was not possible. We reached Firmaz to
hear that you had fought your way over the Arwyn. Hoping to overtake you we
hired passage on a Lymphad the St. Lioba to Forestero. We thought you must be
heading for Zarza Tanque so at Forestero we hired Master Hermanez and his speedy
wagon to bring him down to here.”
“So that explains your presence but what
do you hope that I can do for you?”
“Our objective is to avenge Godwin
Forthright’s death. We understand that he was killed by Durgid Amazons fighting
for Narchad. We know that at present there is peace betwixt Bara, Stetia,
Oblivia and Narchad. We were hoping you might help us in a raid against Durgan
where the Amazon’s came from?”
Morgana’s brain reeled at
the enormity of this objective.
“There is peace also between Thentis and
Narchad” commented Sir Jean.
“What do you know of Durgan Miss
Daffodil?” asked Dame Anise.
“I have not been hired to go there!”
declared Hermanez.
“Not as yet.” agreed Wandril
complacently. “Durgan is peopled by the
Durgid Amazons who are of Undo descent. They keep their men in subjection!”
“Yes by poisons, magic and the
assistance of the Undead! It must be a grim country to visit at night!” Dame
Anise told her. “They worship Khali
Magha of the Risen Dead!”
Morgana nodded, “They slew
my Sergeant Hrolf and he was a highly skilled swordsman! To actually get to
Durgan you would have immense difficulties. Apart from that I am afraid I cannot
assist you in such an endeavour. I am Marshal of Bara with heavy
responsibilities, so I am afraid that my Lady Errant days are over. Moreover the
Amazons who slew my old friend Godwin were being misled by the rebel Count
Duffric. My half-sister Willow was there and Godwin and two others were up on
the crags deterring the Amazons from hurling missiles down at the main party.
The daughter of the Sektarar then enlisted those same Amazons to help fight
Count Duffric’s rebels at the Battle of the Jagdtiech Glade. In both those
actions they had heavy losses. I do not think it right that a vendetta should be
waged against them.”
“But what can we do now if that
objective is to be abandoned?” asked Wandril.
“We still have plenty of money for
expenses!” declared Daffodil “We ought to try to achieve something in Godwin’s
name?”
Wandril nodded “Yes.
Perhaps if Marshal Morgana would permit us to accompany her we may do some deeds
to assist her?”
“But would your wagoner wish to risk his
life and equipage likewise?” asked Dame Anise, thinking that having the dimini
with them would be more of a trial than an asset.
“I am sure that we can come to an
adequate settlement with Senor Hermanez!” said Daffodil and so it proved.