A brief tragicomedy of Robert de Normandy

azatol · Nov 3, 2005

While playing Cornwall in CK, an interesting bug combined with just the right situations happening in game, and it laid out a series of events almost by accident that were so compelling and felt like they came right from one of Shakespeare's plays, that I felt I had to write out this brief seven year AAR.

I don't plan on stopping my posts in Knight-Mages, this is just a little something extra and very different. It is focussed down upon individual characters, but I assure you the bug that lead to the weirdest events really did occur, as did everything but the conversations of course.

This AAR will have 19 posts after this, one for each scene of the play. Updates will be more sporadic than for knight-mages as writing the free verse takes time. The plot and game itself is all finished, I just have to write it all up. The time period is 1066 - 1073.

The very beginning of the introduction scene follows to give a hint, and after that is the list of characters:

Lithuaise:

Conflict between the young and old is shown
In rousing fare, to all assembled here
For Cornwall and Cadua too spilled blood
In chase of me they came to seek their knees

[size=+3]
Robert, Count of Cornwall[/size]
[size=+2]A tragicomedy[/size]

[size=+1]CAST OF CHARACTERS

Robert Normandy: Count of Cornwall and brother of the King of England

Matilda Montgomery: Wife of Robert. In her late 30s, Matilda has had a single daughter and no sons.

Emma Normandy: Daughter of Robert and Matilda. She is nine years old.

Isabella Fauconberg: Confident of the Count. Mischevious and clever.

Humbert Colvile: Another Confident of the Count, often serves the count in administration of Cornwall.

William Normandy: King of England, master strategist and crusader, Robert is his brother.

Lithuaise Hereimes: Young woman living in the county of Eu. Her father, Hugues, is an advisor to the Count of Eu.

Hugues Hereimes: Advisor to the Count of Eu, especially on administrative matters.

Jordan Aversa: Son of the Count of Capua, Richard Aversa

Richard Aversa: Count of Capua.

Adele Vermendois: Confident of Lithuaise, from Eu[/size]

J. Passepartout · Nov 3, 2005

anthonyp said:
a series of events almost by accident that were so compelling and felt like they came right from one of Shakespeare's plays, that I felt I had to write out this brief seven year AAR.

When I saw the title I immediately thought of the players from Hamlet. I don't think I've seen a Shakespearean AAR before, so this looks interesting.

CatKnight · Nov 3, 2005

Sounds good! Though I'll be curious to see how the line and verse style plays out.

coz1 · Nov 3, 2005

I think MrT might have tackled one back in the day, but can't remember. But it's been a while since we've had an AAR in play form (I know T did one as a take off of Waiting for Godot.)

This looks very interesting and it sounds like you've got it very well laid out. Looking forward to this!

azatol · Nov 3, 2005

Act 1, Scene 1

ACT 1
SCENE 1

INTRODUCTION

Code:

{On stage, to the Audience}

Lithuaise:

Conflict between the young and old is shown
In rousing fare, to all assembled here
For Cornwall and Capua too spilled blood
In chase of me they came to seek their knees

One fought for dynasties, one fought for love
And both had claimed my name from west and south
Two covenants unknowning of the other
Until William was born to me of love

Robert I found to be a dull and dross man
Love lost was he scarred by his own foul hand
A gross and displeasing affair of knives
Of blood and hair and abandoning her

But love and tender touch gave Jordan one
A son dispute was won by truth unleashed
At last the Count let out a shout, “Not I!”
And spilled his tragedy of wife foreign

For I had gone after my distant love
I fled away to his arms waiting long
And came the Count with men and arms from far
Father of my love raised his sword in rage

{Lithuaise exits}

{Matilda and Jordan enter on left and right sides of stage, unaware of each other}

Matilda: 	Woeful am I...

Jordan:   	              ...Must I miss love for birth 
		For countesses are so dreary and dull

Matilda:	For sons not daughters must I bear
		
Both:		And yet I have found only failure there

Jordan:  	Is no woman for me out there, I fear

Matilda:	Am I to old and so shall fail him still

Both:		We fear the worst and give faint praise to hope

{Matilda and Jordan exit}

J. Passepartout · Nov 4, 2005

Well, very nice piece of work there, better than what I probably would have produced. Matilda will have the worst of it, if my guesses are correct.

unmerged(10426) · Nov 4, 2005

Interesting.

azatol · Nov 4, 2005

(EDITED: To say that not every Quatrain has a stressed first line, they just CAN. Most don't. Oops. Stressed means you start Hard Soft Soft Hard Soft Hard ...)

Thanks for the interest and comments everyone. The amount of time that went into the short intro scene has made me realize how much of a project this is, but I will plod onward, one scene at a time.

J. Passepartout: Gee, I wondered how you guessed that.

. You could probably summarize the plot from the intro, I worried about giving too much away, but will see how that goes.

I read up on Shakespeares form of Free Verse, and the feminine form, which I've tried sounds jarring, although from reading, commenatators said pure Iambic pentameter can be boring. So I am also using a stressed first line of some quatrains.

All the long dialogue will be and was written four lines at a time, whereas the back and forth which will be a big part was written one line at a time or sometimes half (like the line that ends with a different person than it starts with)

coz1 · Nov 4, 2005

Well, it's never easy to read, so I doubt writing it is any better. But it's impressive. The first scene went well.

azatol · Nov 4, 2005

Act 1 Scene 2

Scene 2

Code:

[b]{Setting: Outside the Palace on a warm July day}
{Robert and Isabella enter}[/b]

Isabella: 	You grow older my lord. Cornwall asks now
		What is future’s plan for this place, give haste
		For Cornwall has a daughter not a son
		And daughters flee away to marry young

Robert:	        Cornwall should fear dear Emma no longer
		For she was your future all this time here
		
Isabella:	But daughters bearing sons may tear apart
		And bring change as outsiders rule our heart

Robert:	        But what calamity may be abated
		For barren the woman quite surely is
		Barely she gave a daughter not a grave
		
Isabella:	And so did I know it before the hint
		Seek not your answers in wife now but next
		For I know things and ways and means beyond

Robert:         In shy false words what do you speak of now
		Speak up of what fills your mind full of deeds


[b]{Robert and Isabella exit going inside, Matilda and Humbert enter}[/b]


Matilda:	Wicked is filled her mind of things beyond
		As a temptress is she to our fair count

Humbert:	That Isabella has worked hard for him
		And so he trusts her with many a thing
		
Matilda:	But I can say I have gave chase to find
		Account of what she does and who she is
		And so I found the truth of it for she
		Brings blood and shadows horrible as craft
		She works as mistress mighty as a spy
		And nothing above ground nor fair was done

Humbert:	So you think she has taken anew his heart
		And so stolen away his gifts to you

Matilda:	Cupid has not a thing to do with this
		It is a schemer’s fate to play the Count
		A fiddle has she made to pluck his strings
		And give a song and dance but smash to bits 

Humbert:	Perhaps he is a drum for she seeks one
		With rhythm she plays him a cadence strong

Matilda:	Now you have seen the temptress true, find me
		For we shall meet to ask of our attacks
		And of the talks with him, make haste
		May he soon be a falcon free to fly


[b]{Matilda and Humbert exit}
{Three days later at the Palace of the King of England}
{William enters, along with an advisor}[/b]


William:	If he has none then soon one not of us
		Shall take the place of him out west
		For daughters have sons who come from afar

Advisor:	But take from him before this mighty fall
		Then you will see England has stayed of kin

William:	Then if within five years he has no son
		I shall revoke him for his poor failure
		And then shall Cornwall be safe and for me

coz1 · Nov 4, 2005

Sounds like he might have a bastard if he has any sons at all.

Gaute65 · Nov 5, 2005

Subscribed!

J. Passepartout · Nov 5, 2005

I personally would suddenly discover that my marriage was not done properly and therefore was eligible to be annulled. Then I would arrange for the young bastard to inherit.

I had been looking at the stresses and noticed that they sometimes seemed to be different, but I didn't say anything. And now the reason has been given us.

azatol · Nov 5, 2005

Its also because I'm not always great at pronounciation, and I definitely am going to make mistakes.

Like Is-A-Bell-A or Isa-bell-a or Isa-bella (if the a is silent). (I went four syllables but with reservations)

Things like that make it hard, and its hard to use big words when you have to ensure they have the right stresses.

unmerged(24857) · Nov 5, 2005

Wow. I am amazed.
I like the way you managed to put CK traits into the poem

.

azatol · Nov 6, 2005

Act 1, Scene 3

Scene 3

Code:

[b]{Setting: County of Eu on another warm day}
{Lithuiase and Adele enter, strolling through the village of Eu}[/b]


Adele:	        I wished for you a Prince to chase Siren
		For all who know would say you surely are
		But men give thought to paper wrought of Kings
		Of ducal stamps and land does he seek reign
		And yet you would draw eyes and choices too
		For sea does surely tear paper apart
		Affix his eyes on the lithe nymph shall I

Lithuiase:	You preach of me and blush I must to stay
		For truly you have such that none surpassed
		I play as fiddle second yet I shall
		Be bright under your star shining from far
		But mourn I shall when sweet Siren finds Mars

Adele:	        But look we’ve found the count and thy father
		Yet more than meets the first sight shall be seen
		For two men more have come to court proper
		And one is noble yet he wears a ring
		For listen one I find in great rejoice 
		Your Prince pursuer has come forth for sure
	
	
[b]{Hugues, Richard and Jordan enter, meeting the two}[/b]


Hugues:	        Capua has my liege mentioned before
		And so to think on mighty things alike
		Support we do a friendly way in aid
		When times grow harsh and need is greatly dire
		But here is my own daughter and a friend
		Welcome these men in from Capua well

Adele:	        Hello dear sirs I greet you with warm heart
		My shy friend here has not a word to say
		So I shall speak on her behalf to you
		Hello young friend we’ve seen you from afar
		Your father comes for work but why do you
		If fun you come to seek you shall love Eu

Hugues:	        Enough Adele you speak too profanely
		You irk me mightily and meek our guests
		Who fear your tongue that should be tied away
		Perhaps upon a post to make you stay


[b]{Adele exits}[/b]


Jordan:	        It is of no concern to me...

Richard:                                    ...son wait
		For I must give you much advice and hint
		
Jordan:	        Oh dear...

Richard:		  ...It is not just a simple game
		Caution, for count you must be someday soon

Jordan:	        No you shall be the count till forever
		For I am just a son and shall not pass
		Unto the mighty stage of Kings and Queens

Richard:	You think not now but you shall be in time
		
Jordan:	        But I seek more than just the gift bearing

Hugues:	        He must be made like friend Adele as well
		For he can too be blunt and say things rough
		But one for one we can excuse as trade



[b]{Hugues and Richard exit distracted by their discussion of diplomatic matters.}[/b]



Jordan:	        Oh mythical Aphrodite yet lives
		I must begin my quest on horseback swift
		Oh what can your second name really be
		But for me I can say I am Jordan

Lithuaise:	As river strong shall you carry me far
		But sweet Adele did call me Siren song
		In truth my name is Lithuaise you know
		I seek after your words flowing fragrant

Jordan:	        Siren is another, Adele was wrong 
		For barb nor trap has set upon me yet
		And I know Lithuaise is new
		A fresh flower of another color

End Act 1

J. Passepartout · Nov 6, 2005

If Jordan doesn't want power, than he will get it all too soon. Hopefully this ditty with Lithuaise is pulled off.

Pirate Z · Nov 6, 2005

Very interesting -- you don't see many AARs written in verse. This baby's subscribed.

azatol · Nov 6, 2005

Thanks for the comments, and I find it rather interesting the directions everyone thinks the story is going. The plot has changed a bit since I started writing but mostly in minor things

My Summary of Act One goes like this:

Scene One: What is this play about?
Scene Two: What is problem/plot #1?
Scene Three: What is problem/plot #2?

coz1 · Nov 7, 2005

Did I understand that Jordan is in line for the countship of Eu while Richard has no heir?

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