486 - The Sword Lake

Beginning of the year

A surprising guest was present at Spring court: Praetor Syagrius of Soissons from the continent. King Claudius of the Franks had conquered Soissons, and Syagrius had sought refuge from King Uther, as well as aid to recover his lands. Uther promised to consider the matter and offer all his hospitality to the good Praetor in the meantime.

The knights spent their summer on garrison duty, riding guard patrol around the borders of the land. The days went on without surprise, with the biggest incidents being the quibblings of some peasants over some trivial matters.

The Sword Lake

Then one day, when the summer was reaching its peak and the days drawing to their longest and hottest, the knights participated on their most extraordinary adventure yet. They met an old man, dressed in rags and in pursue of his goat who asked the knights to help him. The knights agreed, and chased the goat to a nearby forest.

When the knights entered, the goat was nowhere to be seen, but a loud scream gave away its location. It was being held by a hideous creature, a horned, three-eyed giant! All the knights gasped in disbelief at the sight, with sir Morris panicking and riding away. Sir Pellogres wasted no time and quickly charged at the creature, which tossed the goat aside and snapped a small tree to use as a club. It was too slow, however, as sir Pellogres practically exploded his lance into its chest with a truly mighty blow. Sir Plaine joined the fight, and although the creature was a formidable foe, the two knights worked brilliantly together to make short and quick work of the abomination.

When the fight was over, the old man came laughing to the site of the fight. Sir Morris had found his goat and offered it to him, but he seemed not interested in the animal. Instead, he revealed his true visage, that of the druid Merlin, commended the knight of their valiant capabilities, and ordered them on a quest with him. The knights followed Merlin deeper into the forest, until sir Plaine noticed that the trees started to shimmer a strange light of their own. The knights realized that they were no longer in the forest where they thought.

The party was confronted by a riding knight of green colour, who wielded a sword in both hands, and suddenly grew an additional, third sworded arm for himself! Sir Plaine was horrified of the thing and considered running fleeing the site, when sir Morris stopped him and persuaded him to stay and fight the foe. Sir Pellogres was once again quick to answer the call of battle, and was already engaged in combat with the opponent by the time the two knights decided to fight. Although the knights were on foot, they overcame their riding foe and dispatched him, with sir Plaine delivering the finishing blow. As the green rider fell to the ground with his horse, water gushing from its wounds, the knights realized that the rider and the horse were of the same creature, and the beast melted into a green slime puddle.

At this time, the knights realized that Merlin had went ahead and disappeared. The knights followed his trail and came to a shore, from where they saw Merlin on a boat at the midst of a small lake. Suddenly, a cold breeze blew through, and a fog started to rise. Merlin was chanting in a forgotten language, entering a trance-like state, as a hand reached out of the water, clutching a beautiful sword, gleaming with light. Merlin grasped the sword with both hands, placing it under his robes, and the boat seemed to float to the shore, moved by an unseen force. Merlin thanked the knights, claiming that whole Britain was in their dept.

Year's end

The knights exited the forest rather quickly and reported to earl Roderick of their encounter with Merlin. The Earl was mightily impressed, ordering the Midsummer feast to be celebrated in honour of the the knights. The knights arranged for a small tourney during the celebrations, with many claiming victories and defeats, but none more courtingly as sir Pellogres, of whom even earl Roderick seemed to take special notice.

Sir Plaine had a daughter during the year, the first of what will surely be many children.

During Christmas court, the mood was foul. King Uther's forces had suffered defeats and stalemates against the Saxons in the east, and it reflected to Salisbury's court as well. Sir Roderick was pessimistic about the defeat in Caercolun, but realistic about his own Salisbury men, who had suffered very light losses. He made plans with all his knights and equipped everyone needing with healthy steeds.

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