King Arthur Pendragon -- (c) 1994, 1996 Peter Corless "He might be picked as a paragon of princes, Both as champion in war's chances and chevalier of distinction, Most splendid, sagacacious and strong of arm. Of all men I ever met on this middle-earth so fine, He is counted the most courteous creature in Christendom, Fiercest of feature and fullest of fiery courage, The noblest in knighthood ever known under Christ! Speak of him as a spender who despises silver, Gives gold no more regard than great boulders, Rates wine as water that wells from the ground. And worships no wealth in this world but glory. Such decorum was never kept in a country of worth As that conqueror keeps in his kingly court." - The Alliterative Morte Arthure The nature of the roleplaying game "Pendragon" revolves around the person of King Arthur. Although most often his name conjures up images of a sagely white-bearded man upon a throne, the Pendragon era spans his entire life, from his birth in 492 AD to his death in 565 AD at the age of 73. The two powerful warlords of Briton, King Uther Pendragon and Duke Gorlois of Cornwall already had a long-standing feud, which they almost put aside, when Uther began his advances towards Gorlois' wife, the Dame Igraine. Gorlois removed himself and his wife from court which gave Uther an excuse to declare war once again. The Duke's strategy was purely defensive -- he shut himself in Castle Terrabil, and his wife, Igraine, in Castle Tintagel. Uther marched on Castle Terrabil, and laid siege. Having Gorlois shut up so gave Uther the opportunity, with Sir Ulfius and Merlin's help, to magically disguise himself as Gorlois to sleep with Igraine. Gorlois spotted Uther's personal train leaving the camp, and issued out of Terrabil to stop him, but died in his sortie. Merlin's plan works, and Uther sleeps with the unsuspecting Igraine. This escapade results in the begetting of Arthur. The Duke's death a few hours before Uther and Igraine's lovemaking prevents the episode from being adulterous, and eventually with the consent of the collected barons, Igraine and Uther wed. Yet Merlin predicted trouble for the young prince, and asked Uther to have the child secretly sent to live with Sir Ector, and be nursed by Sir Ector's wife. As Merlin feared, within few years there was a rebellion. Uther put it down at the battle of St. Alban's, but shortly thereafter he fell ill and died. Although Arthur was declared Uther's heir before the assembled barons upon his father's death, Merlin knew that the three-year-old child needed to be safeguarded against assassination attempts by rivals to the throne. As outright civil war broke out across Logres, Arthur remained secretly and safely with Sir Ector. Arthur's boyhood (Pendragon Phase 1) is obscured in mystery to many but Merlin, Sir Ector, his wife and son Kay. Arthur's childhood upbringing as a page and squire in Sir Ector's household was rather ordinary and private until the famous New Year's Day "Sword in the Stone" exploit in London. The newly-knighted Sir Kay had lost his sword, and Arthur fetched out of a block of stone the only sword he could find -- the Sword in the Stone -- for Kay to use at the tournament. Arthur was only a squire of 17 when he drew the sword the first time. At first, Kay claimed that he had drawn it himself, so the assembled crowd had him try to repeat the action. Kay could not, but Arthur did so quite easily. Still, people were unconvinced. Arthur had to repeat the feat so many times to prove himself that he was eighteen before he was knighted by the Archbishop of Canterbury and crowned King at Pentecost in 510 AD. In showing his noble nature, Arthur forgives Kay's attempt to steal the glory, and appointed him Seneschal. At the same time, he appointed Sir Ulfius, his father's long-time friend, Chamberlain. Sir Baudwin of Briton was made Constable. He also healed old wounds with the people of Cornwall by assigning Sir Brastias, one of Duke Gorlois' most noble knights, Warden of the Northern Marches (all the lands north of the Trent). Sir Lucan was made Butler, and Squire Griflet his assistant. Lucan's brother, Bedivere, was made the Cup Bearer. During the early part of his reign, from 510 to 520 AD, Arthur is the central figure of the major exploits. Most notable are the recurring wars of unification, where he shows great skill as a commander in battle and leader of warriors. There are twelve major battles during this phase of his reign, beginning with the Battle of Carlion (where he first draws Excalibur in battle -- it shines brighter than thirty torches) and ending with the Battles of Badon, Alclud & Loch Lomond, and finally Fort Guinnon in Anglia. In each one, Arthur shows himself as a vigorous warrior, leading from the front. A surprising aspect of Arthur as a young man is his nature as a lover. His trysts with Lyzianor and Margawse and marriage to Guenever present him as handsome, courteous and virile. His kindly and respectful treatment of women is uncharacteristic for the age, and he set the example that enabled the birth of chivalry throughout the world. He also dealt harshly with all who abused women at his court. For example, the otherwise good knight Balin, even though he had a valid blood feud against a certain Lady of the Lake (not Viviane or Nimue), was banished by Arthur for killing the lady in the presence of his court. He also showed his repsect for women's judgement by granting Guenever to preside over the "Courts of Love" (see Guenever for more details). This was actually a position requiring great political as well as personal acumen, since many families still regarded marriage as a way of uniting politically and financially as well as romantically. In such matters he deferred to the wisdom of his queen. Arthur's major failing during his youth is his rashness. Although it gives him great courage in battle, it is inappropriate for a ruler of a now-peaceful and civilized kingdom. The two most egregious examples of such behavior are the murder of the May Babies in 512 and his solitary and lengthy excursions about Logres. The former for the sheer brutality of the act -- even if Merlin did advise him to do it -- and the latter because it allowed his enemies a chance to plot treason and rebellion. It is during this period Morgan le Fay tries repeatedly to kill Arthur, and King Lot plans the rebellion that results in his own death at the Battle of Castle Terrabil. On his adventures, however, Arthur learns from the friendship of King Pellinore and the instruction of Merlin. When he returns to court, he is much better tempered to deal with the problems hatched in his absence. Strangely, during one adventure, Arthur comes across Excalibur a second time. (What happened to it after the Battle of Carlion and this event is unknown, but since Merlin was present at both times, he could have been involved.) This time, Arthur encounters it held aloft in its scabbard by a mysterious lady's arm in the middle of a lake -- Merlin calls her the Lady of the Lake. Another Lady of the Lake, Nimue, then walks up and tells Arthur that it is her sword but that he may use it. The young king rows to the middle of the lake with Merlin and learns from the old magician the significance of the scabbard: the one posessing Excalibur's scabbard cannot be cut or wounded. Merlin therefore values it ten times more greatly than the fine sword itself. Arthur girds himself with Excalibur once again. During the remainder of the first period -- in nine battles from Castle Terrabil to Fort Guinnon -- Arthur relies greatly upon the power of both the sword and scabbard. Shortly after this, Arthur takes two defining actions: his marriage to Guenever of Cameliard and his foundation of the Round Table. They are not unrelated. The Table was a wedding gift from King Leodegrance of Cameliard, Guenever's father, and was the same one used at Uther Pendragon's court. It could seat one hundred and fifty knights around it and had magical properties as well. For instance, the name of the occupants of each chair, called a "siege", magically appeared in gold upon their induction to the order. Determination of who earned a seat was done by the choice of Arthur, or by a vote of the collected knights. The exception to this was the best seat at the Round Table, called the "Siege Perilous". No one could sit in it unless they were the best knight in the land. Death came, in the form of a pillar of fire, to any lesser knight foolish enough to claim the title. It was never occupied, even by King Pellinore, who was told to sit next to it by Merlin himself. It was left vacant in Arthur's court for a full thirty years until Galahad's arrival at court in 554, when gold letters on the siege and on the table itself proclaimed that it should be filled that year. Arthur and Guenever's magnificent wedding banquet also marks the beginning of a famous tradition at court: Arthur decrees that meat should not be served until an adventure has occurred. These adventures are of a remarkable nature. At the wedding, for example, a white brachet (hunting dog) chases a white hart through the court, followed by sixty barking black dogs. The white hart bounds away, leaving the dogs running wildly around the hall. Next, a woman on a white horse gallops through the feast hall. A man grabs the white brachet and takes it from the court. The woman says that the dog was hers, but before ayone can act, she is swept away by a mounted knight in black armor. (See "The Boy King", pages 53-55.) King Pellinore, the newly-knighted Sir Tor, and Gawaine all depart to find these people and animals and return them to court. Towards the latter part of Phase Two, Morgan Le Fay actively makes a few attempts to kill Arthur. Her first plan is simple: steal Excalibur and it's scabbard and give them to Sir Accolon of Gaul, her current lover. With it, she hopes he can kill Arthur and make Accolon King of Briton and herself Queen. Late in 520, she accomplishes the first part of her plan by substituting Excalibur with a phony. The next year, her plan goes sightly awry when Accolon -- who honored the High King -- refuses to kill Arthur outright. Instead, she tricks her lover into challenging an unknown knight, who happens to be Arthur using borrowed armor (an event which Morgan had to elaborately orchestrate). But even with Excalibur, Accolon is defeated by Arthur, who recovers the sword and scabbard. The knight realizes he was led astray, begs and receives forgiveness from Arthur, but dies of his wounds a few days later. Morgan tries a back-up plan, which also fails. This time, she sends a cloak to court, carried by a maiden. Arthur, already suspicious, has the maiden put the cloak on first. She bursts into flames, and is consumed. By the end of this second period, Arthur is not quite thirty, and almost all of Briton -- from Cornwall to Kent to the Orkneys -- either has a treaty, alliance or owes fealty to the High King. At this point, the High King turns his sights towards further securing his realm. He holds a swearing in of the Round Table knights for the first time, to ensure their allegiance to him and to the new-forged peace of his realm. Also that year, when the May Babies return, Arthur exhibits his maturity by doing all he can to make up for the evil deeds of his youth. But Arthur is faced with making these and all future decisions on his own, for Merlin disappears forever during the next year, in 523 AD. During the height of his reign (Phase 3) Arthur is a man in his prme, between 33 to 48 years of age. With the security of his realm assured, he is able to expand his domain to Ireland and the Continent. When the embassy from Rome arrives, Arthur boldly and flatly refuses to pay any form of tribute. Instead, he boldly conquers Rome's allies France and Lombardy, marches triumphantly to the Holy City itself, and is anointed Emperor by the Pope. A few years later, he puts his western marches in order by making lasting peace with Duke Galeholt of the Long Isles and forcing King Muirchertach of Ireland to submit. Finally, the Cambrian War (see "Savage Mountains pages 74-111) ends the revolt of the Welsh princes. At this point, Arthur begins to recede into the background, as his knights take over as the protagonists of the adventures. Guenever's blossoming love affair with Lancelot ends Arthur's romantic involvements. Increasingly, Arthur grants Griflet or Gawaine the powers of Marshal to lead his forces against the minor rebellions. Instead the Pendragon turns his attention primarily to the hosting of tournaments, and even late into this period, personally remains an active participant. At the Lonazep Tournament, Arthur waded into the melee at the respectable age of 61. (In fact, it was there that Arthur unhorsed the good Sir Dinadan, even though he was later knocked out of his saddle by Sir Tristram.) During the third, fourth and fifth phases, Arthur hosts an amazing number of great tournaments to attract the best knights in the world to his court. They come from all of the British Isles, and from all over the continent, even as far away as Greece and the Holy Lands. Marhaus of Ireland, Gareth Beaumains of the Orkneys, Ywaine of Gorre, Lamorak de Gales (Wales), Lancelot du Lak of Ganis (France), Tristram of Cornwall, Palomides the Saracen, and Alexander of Greece all join the Round Table over these years. These are the greatest knights of their kindred, and each does his best to win honor for his people. But not everyone at court fully grasps the concepts of chivalric behavior. Some of the clans return to feuding -- the Orkneys against de Gales being the primary example. As well, many of the best knights abstain from the court for long periods of time to pursue great adventures -- most notably Lancelot and Tristram. In the latter years of his reign, Arthur becomes increasingly downcast as all of his plans start to wilt and the fruits of his endeavors come to nought. The Grail Quest ends in the achievement of the Grail, but at the costs of the lives of Galahad, Percival, and almost half the other companions of the Round Table. Lancelot also returns strangely reserved after his experiences. Arthur also further buries his head in the sand regarding Lancelot and Guenever 's affair. The not-so-subtle "Shield of Rebuke" which Morgan Le Fay gives Tristram for the Hard Rock tournament in 543 (which pictured a knight and a lady standing on the head of a king) passes directly before his eyes unnoticed. Arthur becomes stern with any who impeach his queen without direct evidence. Even in 555, when he finds Morgan's castle in Cambria and beholds Lancelot's mural of his love for Guenever, he calls it a forgery. Eight years later, he finally pays heed only after Mordred and Aggravaine's ghastly assault on Guenever's chambers, which ends with Lancelot on the run after killing Aggravaine and twelve other Round Table knights. A wrathful Arthur condemns Guenever to death and forever banishes Lancelot even over the objections of Gawaine. During these last years, Arthur torturously loses all of his lifelong friends: the noble Gareth, Gaheris, Griflet, Tor and many others are killed during Lancelot's Rescue of Guenever. Gawaine, enraged now too for the loss of his other brothers, convinces Arthur to avenge their deaths by making war on the Ganis lands. Arthur agrees, but is torn seeing the bitterness between his closest friends. His foster brother, Sir Kay, dies in an attack by the Romans during the disasterous campaign. Even more devastating news arrives when Arthur hears in France that Mordred has siezed the throne in his absence. All of these events weighed heavy upon the High King. But the heaviest blow lands when Gawaine, Arthur's favorite nephew and closest aid during the last days, dies in battle against Mordred's traitorous forces at the landing in Dover. Weeping over Gawaine's body, Arthur declares, "in Sir Lancelot and you I most had my joy, and mine affiance, and now have I lost my joy of you both; wherefore all mine earthly joy is gone from me." Gawaine returned to speak with Arthur in a dream, and told him that if he could wait a short while, Lancelot would return. The old friends reconciled could together defeat Mordred's alliance. At at crooked stream near Salisbury, named Camlann, a grim Arthur met to make his truce with Mordred. But when a soldier drew his sword to kill an adder in the grass, the opposing armies -- ready for any treachery -- began the last fateful battle of the era. Both armies were devastated. Near the end of the day, among the piles of the dead and dying, Arthur kills Mordred with a spear thrust, and was mortally wounded in return. Arthur's last remaining companions, Lucan and Bedivere, helped him from the field, but Lucan dies of his ghastly wounds which burst in the effort. Weakening, Arthur repeatedly begs Bedivere to throw Excalibur into the lake until he has completed the task. The High King is then helped by Bedivere to a mysterious barge containing three queens and many other mourning women. The barge bears him away towards the Isle of Avalon to be healed. Whether he died, and if so where he was truly buried, is all shrouded in mystery. Some say he is buried at Glastonbury. But others believe he survived his wounds and will return again one day. For that reason, Arthur is known as "Rex Quondam Rexque Futurus" -- "The Once and Future King." - - - - - - - - - - - - Family of King Arthur Uther Pendragon - Father Igraine - Mother Ector - Foster Father Kay - Foster Brother Morgan le Fay, Margawse, Elaine - Half-sisters by Igraine and Duke Gorlois Mordred - Son (Illegitimate by Margawse) Borre - Son (Illegitimate by Lyzianor) Gawaine, Gaheris, Gareth Beaumains, Agravaine - Nephews by Margawse & Lot Thenew - Niece by Margawse & Lot Ywaine - Nephew by Morgan le Fay & Uriens Galeschin - Nephew by Elaine & Nentres Hoel of Brittany - Cousin - - - - - - - Timeline of King Arthur's Life 491 - Begat at Tintagel Castle 492 - Born to Dame Igraine at Tintagel; Arthur secreted away by Merlin to Sir Ectorıs manor 495 - Uther dies; civil war ensues; the missing child Arthur pronounced heir 510 - Arthur draws sword in the stone; knighted and crowned King of Briton by the Archbishop of Canterbury; appoints first royal officers 510 - Battles of Carlion & Bedegraine 510 - Tryst with Lyzianor 510 - Battle of Carohaise; Arthur meets Guenever for first time. 511 - Tryst with Margawse 511 - Raid against Angles 512 - Igraine visits court; Arthur banishes Balin 512 - Arthur encounters King Pellinore; gets Excalibur and scabbard from the Lady of the Lake 512 - Arthur kills May Babies 513 - Battle of Castle Terrabil; Arthur buries King Lot & 11 others 514 - Arthur weds Guenever (Adventure of the White Hart) 514 - Arthur founds Round Table (wedding gift of Leodegrance) at Carlion-on-Usk 515 - Arthur's penance for killing May Babies 516 - Battle of Humber; Arthur founds Abbey of La Beale Adventure 516 - Siege of Eburacum 517 - Battles of Lincoln & Caledonian Woods 518 - Battle of Badon; Saxons defeated 519 - Battles of Alclud & Loch Lomond 520 - Construction of palace at Camelot (Winchester); Arthur moves Round Table to new capital 520 - Battle of Fort Guinnon 520 - Morgan Le Fay steals Excalibur; leaves imitation in its place 521 - Arthur is kidnapped by Morgan Le Fay; fights Accolon & recovers Excalibur; Morgan & Ywaine banished; Morgan steals Excalibur's scabbard again, and throws in lake 522 - Return of the May Babies (age 9) 523 - Arthur assigns Sir Griflet to lead his armies against the rebel Duke of Silchester 525 - Arthur defies embassy from Rome 526 - War in France; Arthur kills the giant at Mont St. Michel 526 - Battle of Autun, Roman Ambush, Battle of Saussy 526 - Arthur invites many continental scholars to return to Logres to establish colleges at Cambridge 527 - Battles of Milan, Urbino 527 - Enters Rome, anointed Roman Emperor by Pope; army returns to Briton 529 - Arthur disinters Bran's Head 529 - Arthur besieges Duke Galeholt of the Long Isles at Surluse 530 - Battle of Tara; Castle of Bones 531 - Arthur captured by Lady Camille of Anglia; saved after siege of her fortress at La Roche 531 - 544 (Any 2 years) - War in Cambria 536 - War against France, reconquer Ganis 540 - Tristram saves Arthur from enchantment by Annowre in Perilous Forest 542 - Arthur endows King's Hall college in Cambridge 543 - Castle of the Hard Rock Tournament 544 - Friendship Tournament for King Mark 547 - Raids of Saxons 551 - Tournament at Joyous Isle 552 - Surluse Tournament 553 - Lonazep Tournament 554 - Arthur announces the beginning of the Grail Quest; Invasions & rebellions 555 - Arthur finds Morgan Le Fay still alive and living in Wales; she shows him Lancelot's mural to prove his love of Guenever, but Arthur thinks it a forgery 557 - End of the Grail Quest reported to Arthur by Bors. 562 - Christmas Tournament 563 - Arthur finally condemns Guenever of adultery on the proof of Mordred. Civil war ensues between followers of Arthur and Lancelot 564 - War against Lancelot; Sieges of Joyous Garde and Benwick; attacked by Romans 565 - Battles of Dover, Baram Down and Camlann. Arthur mortally wounded by Mordred. Taken by women to the Isle of Avalon. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 21:24:15 -0700 From: Matt Weltner "King Arthur -- Character Statistics" Copyright (c) 1997, Matt Weltner. Excerpted from the work in progress "The Courts of King Arthur", Peter Corless, Editor. (Written for future publication by the Chaosium) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - King Arthur Pendragon -- Character Statistics Name: Arthur Homeland: Logres Culture:Cymric Religion:Christian Father's Name: Uther Father's Class: High King Lord: -- Current Class: High King Current Home: Camelot Age 70 Coat of Arms: Three Crowns Glory 150,000 Personality Traits Chivalry Bonus yes (total =80+) No Religion Bonus: No Chaste 7 / 13 Lustful Energetic 22 / 0 Lazy Forgiving 16 / 4 Vengeful Generous 26 / 0 Selfish Honest 16 / 4 Deceitful Just 28 / 0 Arbitrary Merciful 21 / 0 Cruel Modest 19 / 1 Proud Pious 12 / 8 Worldly Prudent 17 / 3 Reckless Temperate 12 / 8 Indulgent Trusting 18 / 2 Suspicious Valorous 21 / 0 Cowardly Directed Trait: +5 Trusting (Guenever and Lancelot) Directed Trait: Passions Loyalty (Lord) -- Love ( family) 15 Hospitality 20 Honor 20 Love (Guenever) 19 Loyalty (Vassals) 27 Equipment Carried Armor Type 18 Clothing 50 L Equipment: Statistics SIZ 12 (Knockdown) DEX 13 STR 11 CON 12 (Major Wound) APP 14 Damage ((STR+SIZ)/6) 4d6 Healing Rate ((STR+CON)/10) 2 Movement Rate ((STR+DEX)/10) 2 Total Hit Points (SIZ+CON) 24 Unconscious (HP/4) 6 Skills Awareness 18 Boating 3 Chirurgery Compose 10 Courtesy 22 Dancing 17 Faerie Lore 12 Falconry 14 First Aid 16 Flirting 13 Folk Lore 16 Gaming 12 Heraldry 21 Hunting 18 Industry Intrigue 18 Orate 21 Play (Harp) 10 Read (Latin) 14 Recognize 17 Religion (Christian) 6 Romance 12 Singing 6 Stewardship 15 Swimming 3 Tourney 22 Combat Skills Battle 27 Horsemanship 21 Weapon Skills Sword 23 Lance 23 Dagger 18 Spear 20 Axe 20 Horses Best Warhorse Type Shire Damage 10d6 Move Armor HP SIZ CON DEX