[Britannia-pendragon] The End of The Great Pendragon Campaign

[Lev Lafayette]

563 AD

At the Camelot feast of 563 AD, Sir Agravaine declared in public that the
Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot were involved in an affair. Afer the King
took the Orkney brothers aside, Sir Rhun attempted to raise the main
servant of Sir Lancelot to action, but he claimed that so many accusations
occur, and 'twas but scuttlebutt. Eventually the noble knights managed to
pass a message of the seriousness of the accusation to one of the lesser
de Ganis servants. With naught else to do, they retired, but only to be
awoken by a great commotion. Sir Agraviane had caught Sir Lancelot in the
chambers of Queen Guinevere late at night and demanded that he surrender.
Instead, Sir Lancelot charged out and slew all those who stood in his path
- the noble knights kept a very safe distance away. Lancelot escaped, and
departed Camelot with most of the de Ganis clan.

A trial was held, and Queen Guinevere was found guilty of treason, and was
to be executed by being burned at the stake. A magnificent pyre was
construced, fit for a queen, and guards were placed less Sir Lancelot
rescue, which of course he did, slaying many knights in his path,
including Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris, the most righteous and popular
knights at court, who had obeyed the King's command to attend, but refused
arms and armour.

Britain was now in civil war. Sir Gwaine advocates a war against the de
Ganis clan who have taken refuge in Joyous Garde in the Kingdom of
Garloth. For fifteen weeks Arthur and Gawaine's forces lay seige, until
battle is entered. A force of the de Ganis manage to capture Arthur, and
Sir Bors takes askance on whether to slay the King, but is refused by Sir
Lancelot. King Arthur's forces retreat where they meet an legate of the
Pope, who asks Arthur to end the war. Under advice from Sir Gawaine, King
Arthur accepts the return of Queen Guinevere. Sir Lancelot and the de
Ganis clan retreat to their holdings in France, where the King Cheribert,
through a diplomatic maneuver, establishes the de Ganis region as an
independent kingdom.

564 AD

At least twenty-five Roundtable knights have left with the de Ganis clan,
their names still present but the seats empty. The twenty-one knights
Rountable knights who were slain the previous year are not so fortunate.
Sir Gawaine and the seneschel, Sir Constatine, advocate war against the
traitor and murderer. With the King and Queen living in separate quarters,
the King prepares for war in France. Sir Mordred points out that all is as
he predicated, however for on advice of his physician. Thus the King
departs for Benwick without his nephew-son.

The seige of Benwick is long, and Sir Gawaine challenges Sir Lancelot to
single combat every day. Eventually Sir Lancelot comes, under the advice
of insults to his honour and loyalty provided by Sir Madgog. Sir Lancelot
did come and bested Sir Gawaine after a long fight through the day, but
did not slay him. Weeks later, when Sir Gawaine had recovered, he
challened Sir Lancelot again, who once more defeated Sir Gawaine after a
long fight, but did not slay him. The seige continues, and the seasons
change.

Then dire news is recieved. Apparently, Sir Mordred had received news that
King Arthur's forces had been completely routed in Benwick, and Sir
Mordred, had been legitimately crowned King, and has destroyed the
Roundtable. He sought to marry Queen Guinevere and she apparently agreed,
but had since taken up residence in the White Tower, the royal residence
in London and refused, with loyal knights, to leave. It was clear that
King Arthur needed to leave at once to return to Britain and reclaim the
throne. Sir Cian Demetrias rides to Benwick's gates and passes the message
to the de Ganis clans informing them of what has changed.

565 AD

King Arthur's forces return and land at Dover, and a small skirmish
occurs. Alas, it is in this inglorious operation that Sir Gawaine,
greatest of the knights of King Arthur's forces, is mortally wounded. As
he dies, he has a scribe take a message for Sir Lancelot full of dole and
apologies, beseeching him to come to Britain.

King Arthur marches towards London, where he meets Sir Mordred at Barham
Downs. After a short battle, Sir Mordred retreats to Canterbury, as King
Arthur gives chase, it is apparent that Saxon peasants are uprising across
the land. King Arthur returns to Camelot, where he and his forces receive
a heroes welcome, and there was much rejoicing.

But battle must be enjoined and so it is; King Arthur calls for knights
across from Logres, and he's not too fussy. From the bastard son who was
strong but of age, but never received knighthood does come to the old
warrior whose beard is white with age and remembers when King Arthur
conquered Rome and became the Emperor - almost forty years ago! - he does
come as well. King Mordred too, he casts his net far as wide as well.
Mercenaries or all sorts from the continent, allies from the northern
kingdoms, Saxon, Cornish, and Irish rebels - all to his banner to fight
against King Arthur.

There is a glimmer of hope however, as Sir Constatine negotiates for a
treaty with King Modred. Expecting treachery, the two Kings meet at
Camlann, with Sir Cian Demetrias, now the best knight in Britain, at his
side. Alas, a sword is drawn by a knight unthinking to slay a serpent -
the devil's own creature - and battle ensures.

For three whole days it continues, and a great number are slain. In the
second day Sir Llywel the Valorous notes that Sir Modred's forces, as they
decline in number, increase in strength - he has multiple layers of
reserves. But King Arthur's forces receive unexpected assistance, at
critical points. Arriving dressed all in white, Sir Percivale and the
Grail Knights intervene when King Arthur is wounded, clearing the field
and healing him with holy power, then disappearing. In another moment, Sir
Kay appears with knights of the White Tower. Sir Kay and the King, long
estranged, make their peace and return to the fray. In another, from the
wilds, comes the young Sir Ywaine and his forces, riding upon a great lion
and with a massive flock of ravens to assist.

All fight bravely and with Passion. But the numbers of the enemies are
great. Sir Rhun, becoming despondant at the carnage that he sees around
him, is broken in mind and then in body, and Sir Madog The Modest and Sir
Llywel the Valorous are likewise felled as French mercenaries, elite Irish
bonnacht, Danish axemen, and Red Knights from the Isles confront them. Of
the old friends, only the greatest knight of Britain, Sir Cian Demetrias,
continues. With the famed Heart Blade in hand, he drives off Italian
arquebusiers, Milanese crossbowmen, Swiss pikemen, and the finally breaks
the sinful brother of Pride, from of the Castle of Maidens, who hated him
much, driven mad by the loss of his brothers and castle.

On twilight on the third day, as the sun sets, Sir Cian sees King Arthur,
wounded and out of breath,

see his enemy King Mordred, across the field, leaning on a spear. The two
Kings attack each other and King Mordred impales King Arthur, who then
marches up the shaft of the spears, striking King Modred and killing him.
King Arthur cursed King Modred, and then fell to the ground. Sir Cian
rushed to his aid,

where the king commanded him to take the sword Excalibur to the lake and
cast it in. Sir Cian did so, and the sword was caught by a hand in white
samite. A gateway to Avalon had been opened, and a fog fell upon the lake.
The King commanded Sir Cian to help him the lake, and he did so, where
there was now a barge with four ladies dressed, including Lady Annest, his
siste. King Arthur was taken into the barge when this disappeared into the
fog to return to Avalon.

566 AD

King Arthur's court is no more. King Mordred the Usurper is dead. Sir
Lancelot returns, and visits Queen Guinevere. They both retire to separate
abbeys and live out their lives in hermitage. Sir Bors and the de Ganis
forces defeat the sons of King Mordred in Hampshire and Salisbury, and
then defeat and kill King Mark of Cornwall. The remaining knights and
nobles assemble, and Sir Constatine is crowned King of the Britons.

But magic and romance of the Arthurian age has come to an end. History
reasserts itself. The Gothic plate falls apart until reinvented, the Heart
Blade becomes but a fancy sword.

"Malory says that Sir Bors and the last few knights of the Round Table go
to the Holy Land and die fighting Saracens.

I say they went back to Ganis and died as old men, surrounded by
grandchildren."

Thus ends The Great Pendragon Campaign.



-- 
Lev Lafayette, BA (Hons), GradCertTerAdEd (Murdoch), GradCertPM, MBA (Tech
Mngmnt) (Chifley)
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