Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 20:02:52 +1000 (EST) From: Timothy Ferguson King Uriens of Gorre -- (c) 1996 Tim Ferguson ============================================================================= While Uther was delivering Logres from the Saxons, a far more intimate war was being fought out north of the Wall. The Novantae, Votadini and Cornovii had each elected potent chieftains, who were expanding their realms and consolidating them into Kingdoms. The Galloway region, fertile and populous, administered from Gaiholm, expanded by marriage and muscle to rule three surrounding tribes. It came to be called Gorre and its King, Uriens, rose to be a pretender to the High Throne. During the reign of Uther, the kings Uriens, Lot and Nentres vied for dominance of the North. None could deliver a shattering blow to their rivals, as they could not commit their full force to war. The ever-present threat of Pictish, Irish, Dalriadan and Saxon raids or invasions, coupled with expansionistic dreams by the King of Ebucarum, meant they could not risk a decisive assault. Instead each expanded into the spaces between their realms. Nentres, who was perhaps the weakest player, was early encircled by his rivals, as Lot, already lord of the Orkneys and Caithness, invaded the Stirling area, naming it for himself. As these two squabbled, Uriens struck south of the Wall into Cambenent, and through subtle negotiations managed to bring Strangorre into dependence. He also broke the rulership of Surluse and built the castle of Sorhaute, to prevent them allying with a rival. Lots counter-move was masterful. He married the eldest step-daughter of the Pendragon and, for a time, placed his own ambitions in that direction to the rear of his mind. Nentres recovery was similarly swift, marrying the second daughter, Elaine, and asking Uther, as father-in-law, to bring peace to his extended family. Things looked grim for the king of Gorre, as the brothers-in-law prepared to invade from the north, east and , by ship, west. And then valiant Uther died. When the Supreme Collegium met to elect a new High King, many claimants stepped forward, and Uriens was one, but Lot, the stepson-in-law of Uther, was believed by many to have the finest claim. The southern potentates, especially the Christians, did not believe a king based in Edinburgh would protect them from the Saxons, so they refused him. War was averted because the forces were too finely balanced for the outcome to be sure, so no side wished, for the moment, to strike the opening blow. Uriens was careful still. He could not defeat the other Northern kings, especially if Ebucarum assailed Cambenet at the same time. His position was beginning to deteriorate, as the Dalriadans grew stronger and the Pictish raids, instigated by Lot, more fierce. He sent an ambassador to Nentres, offering him Lothian in exchange for alliance. The deal was struck, for if Lot fell, then who was married to Uthers eldest daughter? The battles in Lothian, in hindsight, did little to the balance of Northern power. Uriens married Morganna, which placed him above the southern claimants in many eyes, but seemed to confirm that he was third in line to the High Throne and slipping ever further away as Lots sons were born. Nentres, Uriens and Lot continued to hold each other in check. The pattern was finally broken in 510, at the ascension of the Boy King. All three saw him as a threat to their own claims to the High Kingship and rebelled. After the defeat in Bedegraine, the rebels licked their wounds in Sorhaute, where Uriens could monitor their intrigues. By the time they dispersed, Uriens understood clearly the complex web of intrigue that linked the kings, not only to their neighbours, but also to their nobles. He found weak links in each court and inserted informants. Then he waited. The May Babies were kidnapped but Uriens sons were left safe. As the new rebellion armed, he paid a local group of Picts to raid Gorre in force. Begging exception, his army stayed home, hoping the Boy King and Lot would destroy each others armies. Failing that he hoped to strike down the victor, but Lot, greatly confident of victory, marched too far south for Uriens to take immediate advantage of the damage he inflicted on Arthurs army. As Arthur re-enforced himself, Uriens began to draw together a third rebel coalition. He travelled south, to the funeral of his allies, to reassessed his position, and became sure that Arthur was too strong for him to defeat in the short term. He decided to sue for peace. Meeting the Boy King, he was greatly impressed. Thinking things through, he knew that Arthurs youth gave him an advantage that Uriens could not counter. Time was, literally, on Arthurs side. Uriens also met Pellinore, who assessed the position rapidly and knew that war with Uriens was futile, but that Uriens also knew Arthur could block his ambitions. They cut a deal. Surluse was gifted to Arthur, but Lothian was split up and Uriens given a veto over candidates to the three Stewardships. A campaign against the Picti and aid against the Dalriadans was were also included in the package, with conquests to be held by Gorre with garrisons from Arthur. Pellinore was afraid that Uriens would use the hiatus in hostilities to build up a new force, but Uriens used the time to build up his fortifications. As Pellinore had planned, Gorre became a hammer poised forever over Ebucarum, making Barant unable to march south in fullest force against the Pendragon. Uriens wife attempted to slay Arthur, offering Uriens the crown. This is perhaps the turning point of his life, because he refused her, giving up his final chance at the High Throne. Morganna became furious and attempted to slay him, but for once the old king had out-thought his wife, as this poisoned their son against her. The crunch had come and Uriens had faltered. He had chosen not to oppose Arthur. Pellinore had seen this, and decided to reward Uriens, prompting Arthur to raise him to the Round Table in 517. During the rest of the story, Uriens is almost invisible. He is always around and he is still a potent, if aging, fighter, but we dont see him adventuring. He stays near the centre of things, but out of sight and out of the various feuds that seethe in the Court. In effect hes still manipulating the power structures of the Realm, spinning his web of coincidence and happenstance. He has given up on the High Kingship, but is now ambitious on behalf of the Realm and its King. Uriens is never seen to die in the stories. He just fades away. His brother, Bagmadeus, long his steward, becomes steward for his son without a disruption. Uriens also trains successors for his various roles, so that when he leaves, there is little disruption. Kay, his understudy in intrigue, takes over as Arthurs cynical and well-informed advisor. G.Ms are encouraged to find a different ending for Uriens story in each campaign. Personal Data Name King Uriens of Gorre Homeland Gorre (Novatae Galloway) Culture Cymric Religion Pagan/Heathen Father's Name: A Chieftain of the Novantae Father's Class Clan Chieftain Son Number 1 Lord None, then Arthur. Current Class: King, at times Pretender. Current Home: Gaiholm in Gorre, then Camelot. Age 65 Year Born 469 Personality Traits Chivalry Bonus [] (total =80+) Yes, late in life. Religion Bonus: Special (NOTE TO EDITOR: 1 in superscript) Chaste 3 / 17 Lustful Energetic 18 / 2 Lazy Forgiving 2 / 18 Vengeful Generous 17 / 3 Selfish Honest 19 / 2 deceitful Just 3 / 17 Arbitrary Merciful 17 / Cruel Modest 3 / 17 Proud Pious 3 / 17 Worldly Prudent 16 / 6 Reckless Temperate 9 / 11 Indulgent Trusting 6 / 14 Suspicious * Valorous 21 / 0 Cowardly Directed Trait Suspicious (Morganna Le Fay) +5. Directed Trait Deceitful (Enemy rulers) +6 Passions Loyalty (Arthur) 16 Love (family) 21 Hospitality 14 Honour 16 Hate (Morganna) 18 Loyalty (Vassals) 12 Fraternity (Round Table) 15 [NOTE, I Still think this is a Loyalty (Group)] In early phases, Uriens suffers from a weak Covet (High Kingship) passion, as per Pagan Shore rules. It is eventually destroyed through a mixture of Loyalty (Arthur) and Prudent checks. Equipment Carried Armour Type [14 pts +3 Chiv] Part. Plate Clothing [5 Librum value] Equipment: As befits his station. Family Heirloom: Lance that never breaks. Statistics SIZ 14 (Knockdown) DEX 12 STR 14 CON 13 (Major Wound) APP 12 Damage ((STR+SIZ)/6) 5d6 Healing Rate ((STR+CON)/10) 3 Movement Rate ((STR+DEX)/10) 4 Total Hit Points (SIZ+CON) 27 Unconscious (HP/4) 7 Distinctive Features Regal Bearing, Ability to be unobtrusive. Skills Awareness 25 Boating 2 Chirurgery Compose 10 Courtesy 10 Dancing 10 Faerie Lore 10 Falconry 6 First Aid 16 Flirting 10 Folk Lore 18 Gaming 10 Heraldry 10 Hunting 12 Industry 12 Intrigue 21 Orate 16 Play (Harp) 10 Read (Latin) 5 Read (Glyphs) 10 Recognize 12 Religion (Christian) 2 Religion (Pagan) 3 Religion (Heathen) 3 Romance 3 Singing 21 Stewardship 5 Swimming 21 Tourney 5 Glory 11 000 Combat Skills Battle 16 Horsemanship 20 Weapon Skills Sword 16 Lance 22 Dagger 5 Spear 21 Horses Best Warhorse Type Destrier Damage 8d6 Move 7 Armour 5 HP 52 SIZ 42 CON 10 DEX 10 Breed Attack Skill Uriens's religion: Although Uriens is a Pagan, and gains the Pagan religious bonus, he has not been forsaken by the Heathen spirits of his ancestors. He is the overlord of five tribes and the Samhldah of each interacts with him to some degree. The spirits might be inherited as patrons by sons of Uriens, even bastards, as they do not recoginse the Christian idea of legitimacy. Although Uriens is Religious, both from a Pagan and several Heathen perspectives, he has no passions for his spirits, as this is not part of the Heathen religious practice. Each Pictish spirit gives its followers certain skills which take the place of a family characteristic. As the heir to six chieftainships, Uriens has the equivalent of six family characteristics. These are: Salmon: +10 Swimming Hare: +1 DEX; +5 Awareness Raven: +3 Love (family); +5 Awareness. Blackbird: +3 Modest and either Singing +10 or Hunting +5 Boar: +3 Indulgent and either +1 CON or +1 STR Sow: + Uriens gains two points to his healing rate due to his worship of Pagan deities, but also gains religious bonuses from the Salmon and Hare Spirits. Salmon: When rolling Aging, roll three dice and take only the best two. Hare: +1 Movement Rate. The first bonus, and good luck, explains Uriens comparative good health and long life. Of his spirits, Uriens can invoke four, so long as he keeps their geases. These are the Salmon, the Sow, the Blackbird and the Hare. He is unable to evoke the Raven, as it demands he attack anyone who carries or wears black objects, or the Boar, as it insists he serve no-one and not share with non-family members. To invoke a spirit, Uriens must successfully roll on the trait it favours. He may not invoke each spirit more than once per day. Salmon: Energetic +5 Swimming, Longevity Eat no fish, persevere. Hare: Prudent 1 point of Movement or Do not initiate fights or feuds. DEX, or +3 Awareness (Uriens and the Hare grew for 5 minutes, or three closer as he aged.) times these scores for 1 minute. Sow: Modest Although Uriens -could- Never insult a poet or bard. Blackbird: Modest call these two, he never Always join a song if asked, does, as his Modesty is Share with those less fortunate too low. than yourself. Uriens's skills: Uriens has far stronger skills than most characters, through his extended life, status as a landholder, and many filial talents. His scores are weakest in the fashions that Arthur has introduced, like Tourneying, Heraldry and Romance, or courtly skills, like Falconry, that held little relevance to his life before the Pendragon. As a holdover of the pre-chivalrous days, Uriens has a high Industry score. This reflects an ability to work with his hands, in various useful crafts, now considered ungentlemanly. His combat skills how that he is a holdover from the previous age, trained to set his spear, charge with it, the continue fighting without pause. This sometimes gives Uriens a free strike while his rival draws their sword. His lance, given him by his father, has the magical property of not breaking, which appears minor, but for this fighting style, is often decisive. [NOTE: Uriens Arms: The three gloves, used for Bagmedeus in Beyond the Wall representing the three tribes that formed Gorre originally. His background colour is blue.]