Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 22:46:30 -0600 To: Peter Corless From: Wil Radcliffe ******************************************************************************* Dagonet: The King's Fool and an all-around interesting character! (c) Copyright 1996, Wil Radcliffe Dagonet, the King's fool, is so beloved by Arthur that he is made a knight by the King's own hands. It's not everyone who can claim such an honor... so we must suspect that despite the title of fool, there is much more than meets the eye in the case of Sir Dagonet! Some of Dagonet's more well-known adventures include some rather rash and foolish behavior. But for the most part, in Malory, he exhibits great courage and loyalty to Arthur. He seems to take his role as a knight rather seriously. He is sent by Kay to joust with La Cote Male Taile. He is defeated. He and two squires cross a mad Tristram near a well. He is defeated. Dagonet finally has some manner of victory when he rides upon King Mark disguised in Mordred's armor. King Mark flees from the fierce fool (who has donned Mordred's armor), having been told by Sir Dinadan that the coat of arms is Lancelot's. But as Palomides happens upon the scene Dagonet is once more defeated, along with a good portion of other Round Table knights. In some of the French Vulgate tales, Dagonet is not only shown as an ineffective knight and a fool, but he is painted as a coward. He is disliked by many in the court, he takes credit for deeds that are not his, and in general he is most unknightly. In one example, Lancelot, in a lover's trance, is found by Dagonet who takes Lancelot as his prisoner. Lancelot makes no move to defend himself or to fight... he simply sits upon his horse as Dagonet leads him off. Lancelot is taken to court where he is referred to simply as "Dagonet's Prisoner", as he would tell no one his name, nor remove his helmet. Later, the still undiscovered Lancelot, goes off adventuring with Yvain. Lancelot slays three giants. Yvain returns to court with this news and the revelation that the mysterious knight is actually Lancelot. Dagonet boasts that the three giants may as well have been slain by his own hand, as he had taken Lancelot prisoner. Of course the knights and ladies of the court remain unimpressed. Taking both of these versions of Dagonet, yet another character developes... a complex man, at once dedicated to the principles of knighthood, yet dedicated to his own well-being as well. You might want to think of Dagonet as less a fool, and more as a Dark Ages con-man. How else would a combat deficient fool become knighted by the King himself, if not through a bit of smooth talk and trickery? A Dagonet of this nature offers players and GameMasters many fun role-playing opportunities. Imagine this smooth-talking "fool" as a courtly contrast to the caustic Sir Kay. Perhaps when player characters are feeling a bit out-matched by Kay's acid tongue, Dagonet can come to the verbal rescue with some barb to even out the score. Kay would not dare exact any revenge upon the fool... for not only is Dagonet beloved by Arthur and much of the court, but fools, clowns, bards, and the like are allowed a greater freedom of speech than regular folk. Kay is the stern authority figure trying to keep order in the court, and Dagonet is the wild card, always causing mischief and always working on some wild scheme (if not an illegal scheme, then some kind of an elaborate prank). Perhaps, Dagonet might even target green, young player knights to recruit into his latest venture. GameMasters can have a great deal of fun using Dagonet, whether to pump up player characters who are feeling a bit down, or to deflate players who might be a bit full of themselves. Although there are no records in Malory or the Vulgate of Dagonet's family or his homeland, judging by Arthur's love for him, we may assume he was from the same region as Arthur, perhaps being a boyhood friend of Arthur's and Kay's. GMs may want to make up their own background for him, but one suggestion would be to make him an orphan who perhaps grew up in Sir Ector's household as a servant or stable boy. While being trained as Kay's squire, Arthur would have had a great deal of contact with young Dagonet. Of course, GameMasters are always encouraged to develop their own ideas and backgrounds for characters as befits their specific campaigns. As far as Dagonet's game statistics go, you will note he is a poor knight indeed. His physical stats are average at best. His personality traits are strong in some areas (particularly Valor... fools are often brave), but weak in others (his Prudence is non-existent). And his skills are much more courtly oriented (particularly Awareness and Intrigue). In combat, even the most inexperienced of player knights could expect and easy victory. But Dagonet is not designed as a "Lancelot", a "Gawaine", or even a "Kay". He is designed as a tool to be used by the GM as a courtly diversion. In any case, Sir Dagonet, the King's Fool is a unique character in The Courts of King Arthur... and in his foolishness often is found wisdom! Name: Dagonet Homeland: Norgales Culture: Cymric Religion: Christian Father's Name: Unknown Father's Class: Unknown Lord: Arthur Current Class: Court Fool, Knight of the Round Table Current Home: Camelot Age ?? Year Born 490 Coat of Arms: A silver serpent twined about a black staff upon a blue background. Glory 3,250 Personality Traits Chivalry Bonus [] (total =80+) No Religion Bonus: No Chaste 10 / 10 Lustful Energetic 19 / 1 Lazy Forgiving 11 / 9 Vengeful Generous 5 / 15 Selfish Honest 16 / 4 Deceitful Just 10 / 10 Arbitrary Merciful 12 / 6 Cruel Modest 0 / 20 Proud Pious 10 / 10 Worldly Prudent 0 / 20 Reckless Temperate 4 / 16 Indulgent Trusting 4 / 16 Suspicious Valorous 21 / 0 Cowardly Directed Trait: Directed Trait: Passions Loyalty (Arthur) 15 Love (adopted family) 10 Hospitality 19 Honor 12 Equipment Carried Armor Type [14] Clothing [] Equipment: Statistics SIZ 12 (Knockdown) DEX 14 STR 10 CON 12 (Major Wound) APP 15 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 Distinctive Features: Charming smile, soothing voice Skills Awareness 22 Boating 1 Chirurgery 0 Compose 18 Courtesy 20 Dancing 19 Faerie Lore 12 Falconry 5 First Aid 10 Flirting 17 Folk Lore 15 Gaming 21 Heraldry 5 Hunting 2 Industry 0 Intrigue 22 Orate 20 Play (Harp) 17 Read (Latin) 10 Recognize 3 Religion (Christian) 6 Romance 16 Singing 19 Stewardship 2 Swimming 5 Tourney 3 Combat Skills Battle 3 Horsemanship 16 Weapon Skills Sword 10 Lance 10 Dagger 5 Spear 5 Horses Best Warhorse Type Destrier Damage 7 d6 Move Armor HP SIZ CON DEX