Storm over Tintagel - A Cornwall AAR for CK:DV and the TASS mod
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Chapter 2: The decision
On the next morning, there is still no amicable adjustment of the competing factions. In this situation, the hour has come for the minor lords of Cornwall. An assembly arrives at Tintagel castle, apparently to praise the young duke of Cornwall. They might not be peers. None the less they are influential, especially in a situation like this.
And there they come: the die-hard Lord Walentynoy and the stiff-necked Count Legge, accompanied by the proud heads of other cornish clans – the Irenicuwath and the Stnlyanthy, the Fyeldmaarskogget and the Snugliow, the Enywaldegan and the Yamwhodden, the Pharglyas and the Hc af Cernow, the Peleursel and the Fheodorys, the Brynshuggar and the Smokeath, the Al Y Cuzarrek and the Rumsynfoss … just to give the most worthy names.
The rest is a matter of graft and hectoring. On 18th March 1095, the assembly of the minor cornish lords decides that there can be just one proper warden for the young duke Gwynek ...
It shall be marshall Meryasek Colvile, the defender of Cornwall, heroe of the war … while the supporters of the second strongest faction (Cryda Cerniw and her husband Caswyn Butler) acknowledge him as warden with a rather sourish smile.
On the next morning, there is still no amicable adjustment of the competing factions. In this situation, the hour has come for the minor lords of Cornwall. An assembly arrives at Tintagel castle, apparently to praise the young duke of Cornwall. They might not be peers. None the less they are influential, especially in a situation like this.
And there they come: the die-hard Lord Walentynoy and the stiff-necked Count Legge, accompanied by the proud heads of other cornish clans – the Irenicuwath and the Stnlyanthy, the Fyeldmaarskogget and the Snugliow, the Enywaldegan and the Yamwhodden, the Pharglyas and the Hc af Cernow, the Peleursel and the Fheodorys, the Brynshuggar and the Smokeath, the Al Y Cuzarrek and the Rumsynfoss … just to give the most worthy names.
The rest is a matter of graft and hectoring. On 18th March 1095, the assembly of the minor cornish lords decides that there can be just one proper warden for the young duke Gwynek ...
It shall be marshall Meryasek Colvile, the defender of Cornwall, heroe of the war … while the supporters of the second strongest faction (Cryda Cerniw and her husband Caswyn Butler) acknowledge him as warden with a rather sourish smile.
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Please cast charevent 1009 upon him, it is too mean to have a depressed wizard. :rofl:
Enywaldegan?
Enywaldegan?
Not exactly the result I was hoping for, but we shall see where this Wizard takes your kingdom. I can't say that I'm not concerned giving Cryda's apparent support of him! Good update and good luck!
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All hail the wizard! Screw the butlers! All hail the wizard! Screw the butlers!
Too bad Meryasek's intrigue is too low for him to be smart enough to fire his spymaster. It's never good to have a spymaster for an enemy.
Too bad Meryasek's intrigue is too low for him to be smart enough to fire his spymaster. It's never good to have a spymaster for an enemy.
I need more Cornish action! :rofl: We will see soon what events follow from our voters choice.
Well, you have chosen an interesting way, no question. The next years will be rough. And you will read of them soon ...
I 'v already changed the title of Book III. Continues soon.
I 'v already changed the title of Book III. Continues soon.
Chapter 3: Arthurian tendencies
Meryasek Colvile. The marschall. The defender of Cornwall. The true friend of Duke Maelgwn in his darker days. Just a few people in Tintagel remember the day when he offered his service, during the bloody war against the Normans, against “The Bruce” and King Adhemar. His military talent is undisputed, his weird appearance and the way he dresses himself (in robes of crimson silk) have raised many questions. Is he truly a wizard, as some have argued? Well, all accusations on Meryasek using black magic during the war have been liftet after a fair trial, back in 1089. Nonetheless, many people see him pilgraming to the old pagan sites of Cornwall, especially to a mysterious cave below Tintagel castle … Merlin’s cave, some people say.
What is this man hiding? What are Meryasek’s plans, as a warden of young Gwynek?
Maelgwn the Toothless has once married the strange man to Derowen Cerniw, Cadoc’s third daughter. She was later stabbed in her bedchamber by unknown hand, after giving birth to the two boys Madron and Gourgy, now 8 and 6 years old. A third same-aged boy is always hanging around with them, probably a bastard or fosterling of Meryasek.
After his nomination as warden of Gwynek, 'The Wizard' first cares of the long-neglected technology research. Instead of weapon forging and farming, he advances the knowledge of defensive terrain tactics, new ways to use the nature’s power, and education. He plans to teach the Seven Liberal Arts in Cornwall, to Gwynek and his sons.
He also reveals the name of the mysterious boy; an orphan, as Meryasek states, and son of a secret soldier of his troups. His name would be Kaye Pendragon, and he would be a prodigy. Well, the rumors at the court tell a different story: that Meryasek has brought this child in a cloudy night out of Merlin’s cave, and that Kaye is taught the old religious manner of Cornwall. But nobody dares to protest.
The peers stay silent as well. They mistrust Meryasek, but well … what harm can he do? There are still the powerful relatives of young Gwynek: his mother Eadilberga, his uncle Gwrgan and, of course, Cryda Cerniw, the spymaster. Especially the latter two keep beeing watchful; Gwgran openly rivals the eldritch “Wizard”, while spymaster Cryda is weaving her webs secretly. (*)
(*) Footnote: I did manually set them as rivals of Meryasek, to spice things up a bit; the mysterious young Kaye Pendragon was manually created as well
Meryasek can’t openly offense the nasty siblings, nor make them fail. He has to wait for the moment, that’s for sure. Luckily, there is another scion of the Bleddyn family: the young and often oversighted Rumon Cerniw, brother of Maelgwn, Gwrgan, Cryda and Rhodri, the biocese bishop. Rumon Cerniw, 'The Oversighted', shall be the most important ally of Meryasek in Tintagel.
Ah, we almost have forgotten the young duke Gwynek himself. The toddler does not understand anything of those schemes, he’s just weeping for his mother. But then, sinister marshall Meryasek teaches him some lessons, which Gwynek would not forget for decades. Lessons of bane and mastery, reinforced by dark powers of the ancient times. Soon, Gwynek is the loyal toy of ‘The Wizard’, for his own good … and, much more important, for the good of Cornwall.
Meryasek Colvile. The marschall. The defender of Cornwall. The true friend of Duke Maelgwn in his darker days. Just a few people in Tintagel remember the day when he offered his service, during the bloody war against the Normans, against “The Bruce” and King Adhemar. His military talent is undisputed, his weird appearance and the way he dresses himself (in robes of crimson silk) have raised many questions. Is he truly a wizard, as some have argued? Well, all accusations on Meryasek using black magic during the war have been liftet after a fair trial, back in 1089. Nonetheless, many people see him pilgraming to the old pagan sites of Cornwall, especially to a mysterious cave below Tintagel castle … Merlin’s cave, some people say.
What is this man hiding? What are Meryasek’s plans, as a warden of young Gwynek?
Maelgwn the Toothless has once married the strange man to Derowen Cerniw, Cadoc’s third daughter. She was later stabbed in her bedchamber by unknown hand, after giving birth to the two boys Madron and Gourgy, now 8 and 6 years old. A third same-aged boy is always hanging around with them, probably a bastard or fosterling of Meryasek.
After his nomination as warden of Gwynek, 'The Wizard' first cares of the long-neglected technology research. Instead of weapon forging and farming, he advances the knowledge of defensive terrain tactics, new ways to use the nature’s power, and education. He plans to teach the Seven Liberal Arts in Cornwall, to Gwynek and his sons.
He also reveals the name of the mysterious boy; an orphan, as Meryasek states, and son of a secret soldier of his troups. His name would be Kaye Pendragon, and he would be a prodigy. Well, the rumors at the court tell a different story: that Meryasek has brought this child in a cloudy night out of Merlin’s cave, and that Kaye is taught the old religious manner of Cornwall. But nobody dares to protest.
The peers stay silent as well. They mistrust Meryasek, but well … what harm can he do? There are still the powerful relatives of young Gwynek: his mother Eadilberga, his uncle Gwrgan and, of course, Cryda Cerniw, the spymaster. Especially the latter two keep beeing watchful; Gwgran openly rivals the eldritch “Wizard”, while spymaster Cryda is weaving her webs secretly. (*)
(*) Footnote: I did manually set them as rivals of Meryasek, to spice things up a bit; the mysterious young Kaye Pendragon was manually created as well
Meryasek can’t openly offense the nasty siblings, nor make them fail. He has to wait for the moment, that’s for sure. Luckily, there is another scion of the Bleddyn family: the young and often oversighted Rumon Cerniw, brother of Maelgwn, Gwrgan, Cryda and Rhodri, the biocese bishop. Rumon Cerniw, 'The Oversighted', shall be the most important ally of Meryasek in Tintagel.
Ah, we almost have forgotten the young duke Gwynek himself. The toddler does not understand anything of those schemes, he’s just weeping for his mother. But then, sinister marshall Meryasek teaches him some lessons, which Gwynek would not forget for decades. Lessons of bane and mastery, reinforced by dark powers of the ancient times. Soon, Gwynek is the loyal toy of ‘The Wizard’, for his own good … and, much more important, for the good of Cornwall.
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His mother Eadliberga of Essex is the first who understands that she can do nothing to weaken Meryasek’s influence on her son. Together with her five daughters, she flees to Wales some weeks after the Wizard’s nomination.
She won’t be the last fugitive.
Meryasek does not care about the panicking anglo-saxon lady. He cares more about the treasury. “Let’s raise the tolls and reduce our donation for the clergy. We need coins, to build up the duchy.” His depressions vanishes, when the first Royal Post is opened at Exeter during the years 1097 to 1998, to get the demesne value on maximum.
For Gwynek, he chooses martial education, of course – although the “nasty siblings” disagree. After a harsh argument on this matter, Gwrgan Cerniw flees from Tintagel to Northumbria, where the marshall position is offered to him. As a marshall, he shall have better opportunities to oppose ‘The Wizard’.
Meryasek’s lessons on Gwynek are not all for the worse. The young duke becomes a very gregarious child. At several hunting sessions, he befriends with all his vassals: the counts of Devon, Somerset and Dorset. Is it all his doing, or the result of secret crafts?
(based on: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Nobleman_picnic.jpg/654px-Nobleman_picnic.jpg )
“I like the conrish nobles”, young Gwynek states after one of those hunting sessions. “Where d’ they come from, originally?”
A weird smile plays around Meryasek’s lips. “Well, Mylord, have you ever heard about the isle of Lyonesse? An island of beauty, once close to the coast of Land’s end. Our ancestors, the Brythonic people, lived there side by side with fairies and tame animals. But then, Lyonesse was destroyed by enemies from another island. It sank beneath the waves, and did never ever return to the surface.”
Gwynek is shocked. “Destroyed by enemies? Who were those ... those ... warmongers?”
“Well, Mylord, it were the so-called Ulaidh people, from an island north of Lyonesse, called Ireland. They still live there, guarding the priceless loot of Lyonesse.”
Umph … did you believe Meryasek’s fake story? Well, young Gwynek does. He does believe it so strongly that he swears in the year 1098, that one day in future, the descendants of the Ulaidh shall pay for the nemesis of Lyonesse.
But preceding this campaign of revenge, some other incidents will bother the up-growing duke … severe incidents, unpleasant, unforeseen.
The Wizard’s path in the next years will be a thorny one …
She won’t be the last fugitive.
Meryasek does not care about the panicking anglo-saxon lady. He cares more about the treasury. “Let’s raise the tolls and reduce our donation for the clergy. We need coins, to build up the duchy.” His depressions vanishes, when the first Royal Post is opened at Exeter during the years 1097 to 1998, to get the demesne value on maximum.
For Gwynek, he chooses martial education, of course – although the “nasty siblings” disagree. After a harsh argument on this matter, Gwrgan Cerniw flees from Tintagel to Northumbria, where the marshall position is offered to him. As a marshall, he shall have better opportunities to oppose ‘The Wizard’.
Meryasek’s lessons on Gwynek are not all for the worse. The young duke becomes a very gregarious child. At several hunting sessions, he befriends with all his vassals: the counts of Devon, Somerset and Dorset. Is it all his doing, or the result of secret crafts?
(based on: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Nobleman_picnic.jpg/654px-Nobleman_picnic.jpg )
“I like the conrish nobles”, young Gwynek states after one of those hunting sessions. “Where d’ they come from, originally?”
A weird smile plays around Meryasek’s lips. “Well, Mylord, have you ever heard about the isle of Lyonesse? An island of beauty, once close to the coast of Land’s end. Our ancestors, the Brythonic people, lived there side by side with fairies and tame animals. But then, Lyonesse was destroyed by enemies from another island. It sank beneath the waves, and did never ever return to the surface.”
Gwynek is shocked. “Destroyed by enemies? Who were those ... those ... warmongers?”
“Well, Mylord, it were the so-called Ulaidh people, from an island north of Lyonesse, called Ireland. They still live there, guarding the priceless loot of Lyonesse.”
Umph … did you believe Meryasek’s fake story? Well, young Gwynek does. He does believe it so strongly that he swears in the year 1098, that one day in future, the descendants of the Ulaidh shall pay for the nemesis of Lyonesse.
But preceding this campaign of revenge, some other incidents will bother the up-growing duke … severe incidents, unpleasant, unforeseen.
The Wizard’s path in the next years will be a thorny one …
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That heretic wizard is making his presence felt in the court of Cornwall. Good updates! I am interested in seeing how young Duke Gwynek handles his desire for revenge against his enemy in Ireland. He has the Wizard on his side, so things will surely go well on the military front.
Also, I liked how you added "the Skipped" to Gwrgan's name, pretty appropriate given the situation.
Also, I liked how you added "the Skipped" to Gwrgan's name, pretty appropriate given the situation.
Fantastic! War with Ulllgcchhh! I just hope Kaye doesn't depart to another court. . . .
Oh boy. The marshal looks like he's trying his best to fill Merlin's shoes, and a Pendragon enters the scene.
This is going to be epic.
This is going to be epic.
phargle said:
Or get accused of heresy and such, considering his paganess. However, I doubt the Wizard would be in much of a mood to bend to the Pope's wishes, which might mean excommunication!
I like your story. The story of the Wizard is very interesting. The plan to attack Ireland is a good idea for me.
What's up next ? Will we see the Ska play a part in this story to ?
Nice AAR, keep on going !
Nice AAR, keep on going !
I love the way you portray 'The Wizard', very imaginative and very innovative! Not to mention that he is a rock and roll-character as well. The duke will turn out very interesting, growing up with that guy as his main influence.
Chapter 4: The Bristol plot
In 1099, The Seven Artes Liberales are finally invented in Cornwall , and Meryasek builds up a secret library in a forlorn tower … packed with ancient scripts and magical scrolls.
After finishing the library in 1100, the hideout becomes Meryasek’s second home … ‘The Wizard’ nearly spends half of his time in the tower, outlining his schemes. Sometimes he allows his sons or Gwynek to study ancient scripts he has bought or collected. But more often, he retreats alone … or together with the shy and mysterious boy Kaye Pendragon.
The Wizard's most spectacular move is revealed in the year 1099, when he advises his confidant Rumon Cerniw “The Oversighted” to marry into a very promising family.
Bristol, a beautiful swathe of land close to Somerset, is ruled by the english vassal Edward. Edward isn’t gentily, but a commoner; nonetheless, King Adhemar has given him Bristol as a fiefdom.
Edward, a man in his fifties, married twice; from his first matrimony, he has two beautiful daughters, Cynwyse and Eadgifu. His second wife is a youngish anglo-saxon lady who gave birth to a male child, sweet Edmund. Edward the Commoner has also a bastard son, but well … who really cares of bastards?
Meryasek arranges a marriage between Rumon Cerniw und the unmarried Cynwyse. Shortly after the wedding, Cynwise gets pregnant and bears a child, the boy Glastenen.
After the baptism, Merysak meets privately with his rival, spymaster Cryda.
“Mylady … it might be possible to gain Bristol without force.”
Cryda listens with distrust. “And how would you do that, Wizard?”
“I am not a … ah, well, we don’t have time for this. Let me explain you my plan. If young Edmund of Bristol would not survive his, ehm, quite old father, we could declare Glastenen as heir-by-law. What 's your opinion on this?”
Cryda is astonished. “Well, but how … how do we know that the young lord dies before his father?”
Meryasek smiles. “Just send one of your filchers to Bristol, and bring me a strand of Edmund’s hair. But without attracting attention, Cryda, do you understand me?“
Some weeks later, a strange barber appears in Bristol, to cut the young lord’s hair. He secretly steals a strand of Edmund’s hair and brings it to Meryasek's weird library tower ...
Sweet Edmund is found one morning in his bed, in a ghastful condition …
The poor child has died from a magical attack! At least, Lord Edward hears that the perfidious barber was paid by Cornwall’s spymaster!
Bad luck for Cryda – her reputation as a spymaster is shattered. Meryasek accuses her of being cackhanded, and he replaces Cryda by a loyal courtier. She is no longer spymaster in Cornwall – the last rival of Meryasek stumbled on the Bristol plot.
By the way, the plot goes on. After Cynwise dies in childbed, Meryasek commands another assassination, this time of the husband of Cynwise’s sister Eadgiful, who lives at the Shetland isles. The coup is successful, so Rumon Cerniw can marry the sister of his departed wife. Just in case that something happens to Glastenen …
Now the situation in Bristol seems to be clear. Count Edward is too old to father another child (he’s already ill …), and Glastenen Cerniw, Rumon’s son, is the rightful heir. Finally, ‘the Wizard’ compels Gwynek to grant his cousin Glastenen the title “Count of Exeter”. And after Edward the Commoner dies in Bristol, doomed and lonely, his county falls to Exeter – and becomes part of the Cornish demesne. Well done, Meryasek – the Bristol plot was successful, and he even could remove the unreliable spymaster Cryda.
The Bristol Plot - A success for Meryasek and Rumon
In 1099, The Seven Artes Liberales are finally invented in Cornwall , and Meryasek builds up a secret library in a forlorn tower … packed with ancient scripts and magical scrolls.
After finishing the library in 1100, the hideout becomes Meryasek’s second home … ‘The Wizard’ nearly spends half of his time in the tower, outlining his schemes. Sometimes he allows his sons or Gwynek to study ancient scripts he has bought or collected. But more often, he retreats alone … or together with the shy and mysterious boy Kaye Pendragon.
The Wizard's most spectacular move is revealed in the year 1099, when he advises his confidant Rumon Cerniw “The Oversighted” to marry into a very promising family.
Bristol, a beautiful swathe of land close to Somerset, is ruled by the english vassal Edward. Edward isn’t gentily, but a commoner; nonetheless, King Adhemar has given him Bristol as a fiefdom.
Edward, a man in his fifties, married twice; from his first matrimony, he has two beautiful daughters, Cynwyse and Eadgifu. His second wife is a youngish anglo-saxon lady who gave birth to a male child, sweet Edmund. Edward the Commoner has also a bastard son, but well … who really cares of bastards?
Meryasek arranges a marriage between Rumon Cerniw und the unmarried Cynwyse. Shortly after the wedding, Cynwise gets pregnant and bears a child, the boy Glastenen.
After the baptism, Merysak meets privately with his rival, spymaster Cryda.
“Mylady … it might be possible to gain Bristol without force.”
Cryda listens with distrust. “And how would you do that, Wizard?”
“I am not a … ah, well, we don’t have time for this. Let me explain you my plan. If young Edmund of Bristol would not survive his, ehm, quite old father, we could declare Glastenen as heir-by-law. What 's your opinion on this?”
Cryda is astonished. “Well, but how … how do we know that the young lord dies before his father?”
Meryasek smiles. “Just send one of your filchers to Bristol, and bring me a strand of Edmund’s hair. But without attracting attention, Cryda, do you understand me?“
Some weeks later, a strange barber appears in Bristol, to cut the young lord’s hair. He secretly steals a strand of Edmund’s hair and brings it to Meryasek's weird library tower ...
Sweet Edmund is found one morning in his bed, in a ghastful condition …
The poor child has died from a magical attack! At least, Lord Edward hears that the perfidious barber was paid by Cornwall’s spymaster!
Bad luck for Cryda – her reputation as a spymaster is shattered. Meryasek accuses her of being cackhanded, and he replaces Cryda by a loyal courtier. She is no longer spymaster in Cornwall – the last rival of Meryasek stumbled on the Bristol plot.
By the way, the plot goes on. After Cynwise dies in childbed, Meryasek commands another assassination, this time of the husband of Cynwise’s sister Eadgiful, who lives at the Shetland isles. The coup is successful, so Rumon Cerniw can marry the sister of his departed wife. Just in case that something happens to Glastenen …
Now the situation in Bristol seems to be clear. Count Edward is too old to father another child (he’s already ill …), and Glastenen Cerniw, Rumon’s son, is the rightful heir. Finally, ‘the Wizard’ compels Gwynek to grant his cousin Glastenen the title “Count of Exeter”. And after Edward the Commoner dies in Bristol, doomed and lonely, his county falls to Exeter – and becomes part of the Cornish demesne. Well done, Meryasek – the Bristol plot was successful, and he even could remove the unreliable spymaster Cryda.
The Bristol Plot - A success for Meryasek and Rumon
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