From: robertson@delphi.intel.com Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 13:43:31 -0800 To: pcorless@cisco.com "Cyning Octa of Nohaut" is copyright (c) Roderick Robertson 1996. Excerpted from the work in progress "The Courts of King Arthur", Peter Corless, Editor. (Written for future publication by the Chaosium) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cyning Octa of Nohaut (as of 480 AD) Octa is the eldest of Hengist's children, and expects to lead whenever he takes the field with his brother, Eosa. While Eosa's main battles were with Malahaut, Octa has to contend with the Picts of the northlands, who still raid over the Wall. Octa has led both land invasions and sea-borne raids against the northerners, to little effect. While Octa is the better General, Eosa is the mastermind behind the defiance of Uther. Octa and Eosa have a definite family resemblance (and Cerdic of West Saexe shares it as well). Octa is the taller of the two, and his height is famous. He is so large that most horses cannot bear his weight, and so he walks more often than rides. Glory 25,000 SIZ 20 Move 3 Major Wound 14 DEX 15 Damage 6d6+1d6 Unconscious 8 STR 18 Heal Rate 3 Knock Down 20 CON 14 Hit Points 34 Armor 11+shield APP 11 Age 61 Attacks: Sword 26, Spear 24, Great Axe 22, Javelin 20, Dagger 19 Significant Traits: Energetic 18, Generous 17, Honest 16, Cruel 16, Proud 21, Worldly 18, Reckless 19, Indulgent 19 Valorous 18 Significant Passions: Loyalty (Vassals) 18, Love (Family) 21, Hospitality 12, Honor 14 Significant Skills: Awareness 22, Boating 18, Compose 12, Folk Lore 14, Horsemanship 16, Hunting 17, Intrigue 15, Orate 19, Play (Harp) 16, Swimming 15 Horse: none Equipment: Saxon Chain with splinted arm and leg armor, decorated helm and weapons, clothing worth 3L Magic: None Dates of Note 429 Born 455 Made king of Nohaut 456 Defends lands against British tribes during Vortimer's Rebellion 463 Takes part in the "Long Knives" 469 Helps his father and the southern Saxons, but is defeated at the Battles of Maisbeli and Conigsbrough. Swears fealty to Aurelius Ambrosius. 479 Aids Paschent in his bid to regain the Over-lordship of the island. The allied army is defeated and Paschent flees to Ireland 484 Eosa and Octa raid the Northlands. They besiege Eburacum, but are defeated by Uther. Swears fealty to Uther 490 Octa defies Uther and leads another raid with his brother. They burn their way south through the heartland of Britain. Captured at the Battle of Windsor, Octa is sent to London along with his brother and many Saxon hostages 493-4 Using the confusion resulting from Uther's illness, Eosa and Octa escape from London and sail to the Continent, where they raise an army of Saxons. They invade Lothian, and repeating their earlier raid, march the length of Britain. 495 Overconfident, the Saxon army is defeated at the Battle of St. Albans. Octa is killed.