Date: Wed, 04 Dec 1996 23:56:04 +1000 From: Timothy Ferguson To: Peter Corless King Anguish of Ireland (Aonghus O'Dunalaing), King of Leinster. Copyright (c) 1996 Timothy Ferguson, with information taken from previous "Pendragon" sourcebooks, "The Boy King" and "Pagan Shore" (c) Chaosium. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Anguish was the Irish lord who gave Arthur the foothold for his invasion of the inland of that island. In Ireland's politics the most potent force were the U'Niall, who claimed High Kingship over the Irish. When, in 499, Anguish succeeded his father as co-ruler of the Northern Leinster people his main concern was resisting the expansion U'Niall kingdom based around Tara. He passionately hated the Tara-kings who claimed, among other things, an ancestral right to round up the Boramha, a vast cattle tribute. He married a daughter of the Ui Cennsealaigh, the Southern Leinster people, who were also his traditional enemies, but who also suffered attempts to collect the Boramha. Her name was Isolt and she had been fostered into the family of King Bors of Ganis. Together with her husband, she began the importation of the customs of Brittany, Logres and France. When the Boy King took Logres's throne Anguish joined an alliance against him. Anguish was concerned that a resurgent High King might oppose his overlordship of Cornwall by placing Cador, the Boy's cousin and general, on the Cornish throne. Arthur shattered the rebellion and left Anguish weakened and vulnerable to attack by the Ui Niall. Through excellent diplomacy and the good fortune of Idres's death Anguish remained tributary overlord of Cornwall, by aiding Mark's bid for the pennisula's crown. In 511 he returned from Britain with soldiers whose kings had died at Bedegraine, having promised them lands to replace those lost to Arthur's forces. Using these superior troops to defend his core lands, he weathered the attacks of the Ui Niall. In the four years following his return he convinced the lords of Leinster to grant him emergency powers to deal with the resurgent Ui Niall. Together with his wife he restructured his lands to provide the economic base for a caste of armoured cavalry. Using the Bedegraine refugees as officers he retrained the flaith (mounted warriors who dismounted before battle) in his fiann (professional army) as lance-users, incorporating the devastating French tactic, the cavalry charge, into his strategies. The other rulers in Leinster either flocked to his banner, developed knights of thier own, or were crushed beneath his forces' hooves. As his influence extended, the High Kings of Tara became increasingly concerned. By 520 they had become so worried that they began preparations for an assault in full force against Leinster, by then all but unified under Anguish's banner. The Ui'Niall campaign progressed only slowly for many reasons. Irish armies were difficult to muster in the calving and hay-making seasons. Anguish's knights provided mobile and hard-hitting units, which harrassed and ambushed the invaders. Anguish had imported masons from Britain and the Continent, who built castles which acted as hard points of resistance along his border. Despite these advantages it was obvious that, in time, Leinster might have fallen, so Anguish went cap in hand to Arthur, requesting support. Arthur wasn't enthusiatic. In the previous year he'd put to the sword an army of Irish-reinforced Picts and was planning to send Grilfret to give them a fresh lesson in the near future. He, personally, wanted to stay in Winchester to oversee the completion of his new capital, Camelot. Arthur allowed some of his more enthusiastic followers to raise armies and travel to Ireland. This was sufficent to save Leinster and firmly cement feudalism in Leinster. For the next nine years, Anguish's fortunes prospered. Although he was unable to extend his lands to the north, Ui Naill resistance still being firm, he was not endangered by them as he had been and was able to aquire much of south-eastern Ireland. Among Ireland's nobles he became a pivotal figure, someone to ally with to dampen Ui Niall aggression, someone whose presence made the High Kings of Tara willing to offer more for subservience. The two sides battled each other in proxy skirmishes and tains (cattle raids), while, in the Long Isles, the feyspawn Duke Galahaut developed his naval empire. Then 529 the staus quo shattered. Galahaut sent to Anguish an offer of alliance and a plan. Galehot would take Britain, becoming Pendragon, after which he would turn his forces on Meath, as Anguish's reward for support. Weighing up the odds, Anguish agreed. Their forces devastated Cambria. Arthur prepared a counter-strike, but it was ineffectual. All was ready for the invasion and a decisive strike at the Boy. Then the plan went sour. Galahaut sold Anguish out, allied with Arthur and came sailing back into Ireland, intent on the conquest of Leinster. At around the same time, Mark refused to pay his tribute for Totnes. Anguish sent his brother-in-law Marhaus to meet Mark's champion, Tristram, who killed him. This was a terrible blow, as Anguish had no son and Marhaus was his heir-apparent. Anguish considered his options and went with the odds. He surrendered to Arthur, allied with him and watched with great satisfaction as Arthur humbled Muirchertach of Tara. The Tara-king was not deposed, but his army was decimated and Anguish managed to claim several disputed areas. Some of Arthur's finer knights encamped permanently in Ireland, marrying into the local nobility. Leinster was secure. Anguish held his lands for another thirty-five years, benefiting from the Pax Britanicum and a life prolonged, apprently, sorcerously. He was a little dissapointed that his daughter married Mark instead of Tristram, but accepted it with good grace. Perhaps his only deep regret in his later days was the death of his daughter, of a broken heart, on the grave of her Tristram. His sucessor was Bran Dubh, a sneaky and evil man who did good things through foul means. =============================================================================== SIDEBAR Anguish's longevity. Irish kingships pass not from father to son, but from the deceased to the most suitable man wiithin four generations of any chieftain of the clan. Generally very old men are excluded, as are any with infirmities such as missing hands or poor eyesight. The right to select his own heir is one of Anguish's reforms of Irish custom. Anguish must therefore have been a formidable man at the time of his enthronment, which makes his 66 year reign an amazing achievement, purely in terms of avoiding old age. His wife dies two years after him, so even were she to have been married at 15 years of age she would have lived for 83 years. This is best explained sorcerously. Isolt's family have a poison that causes wounds never to heal without thier aid, have access to love potions and are fine chirurgeons. Perhaps they have some charm which allows them to retard the aging process. The statistics below assume that Anguish has been aging normally since 40, but from now on is in a sort of state of grace, where age does not weary him until a sudden illness takes him peacefully in thirty-five years time. In the middle of Arthur's reign he is an Old King. He's just one of those old kings who never bothers to shrivel up or die. SIDEBAR ENDS BELOW =============================================================================== =============================================================================== INSERT: Anguish statistics are those of a "Good" old king. His passions reflect his Irish culture, with a fierce love of his family and only a weak sense of feudal obligation to outsiders. His hospitality and honour are high as he allows Tristram, killer of his heir, to leave his tournament unmolested, despite the urgings of Queen Isolt. He later laments that Tristram does not want Isoud the younger for himself. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Anguish has excellent courtly skills, although he does not dally much in Romance. Anguish's weapon skills include the craoiseach, the Irish, double-handed spear. This does an extra dice of damage, but may not be used from horseback or with a shield. He also has skill in the sling, a ranged weapon that does 3d6 damage, with one-third of the damage penetrating all armour save the magical. He can drive chariots, but prefers using a lance from horseback. =============================================================================== Personal Data Name: Anguish (Aonghus O'Dunalaing) Homeland: Leinster Culture: Feudal Irish Religion: Christian Father's Name: Dunalaing Father's Class: Clan Chieftain Son Number 1 Lord: None, then Arthur. Current Class: King of Leinster Current Home: Wexford or Dublin Age 64 Year Born 467 Personality Traits Chivalry Bonus: Yes. Religion Bonus: No. Chaste 16 / 4 Lustful Energetic 18 / 2 Lazy Forgiving 20 / 0 Vengeful Generous 11 / 9 Selfish Honest 14 / 6 Deceitful Just 16 / 4 Arbitrary Merciful 10 / 10 Cruel Modest 10 / 10 Proud Pious 6 / 14 Worldly Prudent 15 / 5 Reckless Temperate 12 / 8 Indulgent Trusting 15 / 5 Suspicious * Valorous 18 / 2 Cowardly Directed Trait: * (Of Ui Naill) +10 Directed Trait: Passions Loyalty (Arthur) 11 Love (family) 25 Hospitality 21 Honor 16 Love (Isolt) 13 Loyalty (Round Table) 14 Equipment Carried Armor Type [14 pts +3 Chiv] Part. Plate Clothing [5 Librum value] Equipment: As befits his station. Coat of Arms: A castle silver on pale blue. Statistics SIZ 10 (Knockdown) DEX 11 STR 14 CON 12 (Major Wound) APP 14 Damage ((STR+SIZ)/6) 4d6 Healing Rate ((STR+CON)/10) 3 Movement Rate ((STR+DEX)/10) 3 Total Hit Points (SIZ+CON) 22 Unconscious (HP/4) 6 Distinctive Features Leinster accent, excellent luck, convincing voice. Skills Awareness 15 Boating 3 Chirurgery 0 Compose 5 Courtesy 12 Dancing 5 Faerie Lore 5 Falconry 1 First Aid 17 Fishing 2 Flirting 5 Folk Lore 15 Gaming 12 Heraldry 14 Hunting 6 Industry 0 Intrigue 17 Orate 18 Play (Harp) 5 Read (Latin) 4 Recognize 14 Religion (Christian) 5 Romance 12 Singing 5 Stewardship 3 Swimming 3 Tourney 9 Glory 8 000 Combat Skills Battle 16 Drive Chariot 8 Horsemanship 14 Weapon Skills Sword 18 Lance 21 Dagger 5 Spear 15 Craoiseach 19 Great Spear 12 Great Axe 5 Sling 11 Horses Best Warhorse Type Destrier Damage 8d6 Move 7 Armor 5 HP 52 SIZ 42 CON 10 DEX 10 Breed Attack Skill