Brother Taman smiles pleasantly at the knights' questions, answering each in turn.  "Ever since the Dolorous Stroke, all the lands around here have slowly withered and died.  All of the other brothers and the abbot himself became despondent and wandered off.  Only I remain, maintaining the abbey in confidence that, one day, the land will be redeemed and the abbey will flourish again."

Nodding knowingly, he goes on, "yes, I know of the Queen of the Wastelands.  She is only half a day's ride from here.  If you like, I can lead you to her in the morning.  Finding one's way in this blighted land can be difficult and perilous," he suggests.

With a sad shake of the head he continues, "I am afraid that there is no one here but me and I have no skill at medicine."  Indicating the wine he offers, "but the wine will warm you on such a cold and damp knight and revive your spirits."

"This abbey is dedicated to God," he replies simply, bowing his head slightly as he does so.

Next steps:

The brother has offered wine and food.  You may drink and eat or roll versus Suspicious or Temperate if you do not wish to partake.  If you wish to speak more to Brother Taman, you can once the meal is over.

Too tired, too wet, too cold and too hungry to argue or be suspicious Sir Gracian eagerly started to eat. It felt good to be out of the rain and even though this place was chilling and strange it was better than to sleep in some ruined barn or out in the rain.

"So how come you did not leave with your brothers and abbot, Brother Taman. Surely it must feel strange to walk these halls all alone?" he asked after a while. Brother Taman made him curious.

Trying to hide his disappointment that there was no healer present Sir Dalan took to the wine and food like a hungry duck to breadcrumbs dropped by some some fair damsel. He did try and listen in to Brother Taman's reply however.

The food is meager, although the knights can supplement it from their own supplies.  The wine, however, is very good.  Sir Caradwg remains suspicious of Brother Taman and declines sustenance but Dalan, Gracian and Tyngyr all eat and drink, while Brother Taman explains, "although the land is now a fell place, I have faith that it will return to its former glory one day and I will continue to maintain the abbey until it does."

Sir Tyngyr compliments Brother Taman on the wine, which is quite delicious.  "Yes, it is very good.  It comes from our sister abbey in Marseilles.  Sadly, there is not much left and I do not expect more given the state of things here," Brother Taman replies a little sadly.

With the meal over, the knights are getting sleepy and at the first yawn, Brother Taman gets up and announces, "you have had a long day and this place can drain the energy from the most energetic knight.  Come, I have rooms for you to rest and in the morning I will lead you to the Queen of the Wasteland."

Absent any objections, the knights are led through a door to a corridor with five other doors.  Brother Taman indicates four for the knights and bids them good night before entering his own room and closing and barring his door.  No sounds emerge from his room once the Brother goes to bed.

Next steps:

There is a room for each knight with a simple bed, a small table, and a couple of pegs on the wall.  You can hang out in your room and go to sleep or not, hang out in a group somewhere, explore the abbey (which turns out to consist of the room in which you ate and the corridor and its rooms you are now in), or flee into the night.

Sir Gracian went to bed. The place was eerily silent except for the sound of the storm outside the windows but Sir Gracian was exhausted. He was certain his good squire had tended to the horses and probably slept in the barn with the other squires so there was nothing to worry about.

Nothing at all - yet still he slept with his sword next to the bed. Just in case.

At the word that the wine was so rare and doubtful to be replinished Sir Dalan hesitated, then refused a second cup to allow the poor monk some reserves. After his repaste he retired to bed, still weary from the tournament and far from the whole of his health.

As the monk led him to his room for the night, Caradwg said, "Thank you, Brother Taman, your hospitality would put many a knight to shame.  Do you have any books remaining?  I'd love to get in a little bit of reading before going to sleep."    He smiled kindly at the monk and hoped for an affirmative while expecting a negative answer.

Sir Tyngyr bids the others good night and heads into his own room.  Soon, Sir Tyngyr, Sir Gracian, and Sir Dalan are all asleep.  The dread landscape and storm having taken their toll on the knights.

Smiling apologetically, Brother Taman shakes his head, "I am afraid there is naught left here but me, the abbey, and a bit of food and wine.  The others even took the crosses from the walls," he motions to the bare walls.  He then heads to his own room and the abbey is quiet, with only the sounds of the storm outside breaking the silence.

Eventually, Sir Caradwg also falls asleep and the abbey is silent, with just the remnants of the storm providing some background noise.

Once all of the knights are asleep, a cowled figure appears in Sir Dalan's room.  Her soft touch caresses the unconscious knight and she has her way with him.  In the morning, Sir Dalan awakes feeling slightly weaker (2 hp damage), remembering only an erotic but strangely disturbing dream.

Soon after, the figure appears in Sir Gracian's room with similar results.  In the morning, Sir Gracian awakes feeling slightly weaker (5 hp damage), remembering only an erotic but strangely disturbing dream.

Next is Sir Tyngyr, who is awakened by the soft caress.  The young knight sits up as the cowl is drawn back to reveal a beautiful woman with deep, dark eyes.  "Sir Tyngyr," she croons, "I have long awaited your coming."  She lays a hand gently on Sir Tyngyr's chest and pushes him back down on the bed.  Although he is sure that this is a bad idea, he is unable to resist Theodora the Succubus and like the others, awakes in the morning feeling slightly weaker (2 hp damage), remembering a beautiful face and an erotic but strangely disturbing dream.

Finally is Sir Caradwg, who is likewise awakened by the gentle touch.  Sir Caradwg sits up as the cowl is drawn back to reveal a gorgeous young woman with lusterous hair and dark eyes.  "Sir Caradwg," comes her alluring voice, "I have long awaited your coming."  She lays a hand gently on Sir Caradwg's chest and pushes him back down on the bed.  He is unable to resist the Succubus and like the others, awakes in the morning feeling slightly weaker (5 hp damage), remembering a beautiful woman and an erotic but strangely disturbing dream.

In the morning, the four knights find themselves lying in a field, their squires and horses nearby but no sign of the abbey, Brother Taman, or . . . anyone else.

OOC:  The knights find no additional information about Brother Taman but perhaps will figure out that the cowled woman was a succubus.  A successful Pious roll awakens the knight who could attempt to roll his Chaste versus Theodora's Lustful.  Failure results in her stealing d6 health.  Dalan and Gracian failed their Pious, while Tyngyr and Caradwg were successful with Chaste but were overcome by Theodora's Lustful.

Sir Dalan - Lose 2 hp.
Sir Gracian - Lose 5 hp, gain +1 to Worldly for fumbling your Pious roll.
Sir Tyngyr - Lose 2 hp, gain +1 to Pious for criticaling your Pious roll.
Sir Caradwg - Lose 5 hp, gain experience check in Pious and Chaste (if you attempted to resist Theodora).

Feeling well rested but a bit weaker, the four companions set out across the tractless Wasteland in search of the Queen of the Wasteland.  They wander throughout the day seeing little but rot and decay.  In the late afternoon they spot a small village in the distance.  The village consists of a collection of buildings but there is no sign of life, human or animal.

Approaching the village, a knight rides out toward the group.  He is wearing heavy chain, which is well maintained, but the rest of his gear is frayed and weathered.  He sits astride a ragged-looking charger, whose gear appears to be in poor shape.

Behind the knight, on foot, is his squire.  The squire appears to be in his 30s and wears ragged clothing.  His age bespeaks a man who has dedicated his life to being a squire.  He carries several lances and a morning star.

The knight stops his horse some distance from the group and immediately hurls a challenge, "I am the Guardian of Olbray and, as my liege has charged me, I defend this village with my life.  Turn about or meet me in mortal combat."

OOC: Sir Gracian recognizes the knight as Sir Vardilain the Staunch of Listeneise.  He has heard that Sir Vardilain has 3000+ glory is an accomplished warrior (Lance/Horsemanship/Morning Star > 16) and has a significant (20+) loyalty to his liege.

Sir Gracian - +1 to Heraldry for rolling a critical success.

Next Steps:

Feel free to chronicle your day, including thoughts on the prior night (Sir Caradwg can decide whether or not he attempted to resist Theodora's charms, although sadly her desire for him was too great).  It is starting to get dark and although not stormy out, it would be nice to have shelter for the night.  You can talk to Sir Vardilain, accept his challenge, attempt to ride toward the village, or turn around.

Sir Dalan looks more exhausted than ever and has an increasingly melancholy air the nature of the surroundings does little to disapate. "I could at least have finished off his wine," he mutters to himself darkly.

He rides on in silence (though he does grow more bitter if anyone actually describes the fair yet evil Theodora.) Once they at Olbray the knight's expression grows stern and he rides forward.

"Noble knight, where I in my health I would gladly accept your challenge but you see I am in no health to fight you now. Can this challenge be postponed to a later date when you and I may meet as brothers in arms and cross weapons with honour?"

Though a bit weary, Caradwg almost seemed cheery.  The strange dream, if it was a dream, left him feeling drained, but in a strange way, fulfilled.  He knew that the dream woman left totally satisfied.

"Cheer up Sir Dalan.  Though this place be gloomy, there is no need for you to be.  You have stout friends by your side," Caradwg said.  As he finished he saw the horseman approaching and listened to his challenge and to Dalan's response.

When Dalan had finished he said, in a friendly tone, "Good Knight, we are weary travellers looking for a place to sleep for the night.  We mean you and your village no harm, but were hoping for somewhere warm to get the chill out.  Could you, per chance, see it in your heart to let weary travellers get warm and rested?" 


OOC:  I can't really see Caradwg resisting a beautiful seductress, especially one that he might even believe was a dream...so he made sure she was well taken care of and that if probably why I lost more HP

Sir Gracian was exhausted and cursed his bad luck. It was a combination of it all - the Wasteland, the disappearing monastery, the nightly dreams that left him exhausted beyond belief. The whole ordeal was almost too much for the young knight and the weather didnt make it any better.

He had been silent all day until they were approached by the knight infront of the village. He raised his hand in greeting and spoke out loudly. "Well met, Sir Vardilain, also known as the Staunch of Listeneise. It is an honor to meet a knight whose honor is praised by bards through out the land. We wish you no ill and we come here in peace."

Sir Tyngyr, never a particularly talkative type, seems unusually quiet.  In fact, the overnight encounter weighs rather heavily on the knight.  He is somewhat old fashioned in his morals perhaps and the encounter leaves him feeling somewhat . . . unclean.

Seeing the town raises his spirits somewhat as he has little desire to spend the night out in the open.  However, the knight's challenge seems a little more than a friendly contest of honor.  "We seek the Queen of the Wasteland, Sir Vardilain.  Do you know aught of her whereabouts?" he asks.

As long as the knights do not press forward, Sir Vardilain does not seem inclined to attack.  However, he gives no sign of welcoming the newcomers either.

"None may proceed farther, I will fight any who dare try.  I will be here until relieved or slain," he says defiantly.  "You are free to go elsewhere, you may simply not enter the village of Olbray."  Looking at Sir Tyngyr he says, "I have not heard of any Queen of the Wasteland."

OOC:  Sir Caradwg thinks that the knight appears to be somewhat unhinged.  If nothing else, he seems a little too adamant about preventing anyone from entering as opposed to simply making sure no harm comes to the village.

Sir Tyngyr is willing to take up Sir Vardilain's challenge should the party think pressing forward into town is a good idea.

Next Steps:

Sir Vardilain will not allow the party to continue toward the town.  Although you are free to continue chatting with him, he doesn't really have much of value to say.

If you wish to go into town, someone will need to fight Sir Vardilain and it sounds like more than a first-blood sort of challenge.

You are free to continue off in some other direction although you have seen no other dwellings since the abbey and it is getting on toward evening.

"My friends" Sir Gracian said as he turned to his companions. "Sir Vardilain is indeed an honorable knight loyal to the commands of his Lord. Let me fight the noble Sir Vardilain so we can enter the village and not have to face vanishing monasteries and mysterious dreams again."

He smiled brightly and leaned a little closer to his companions whispering so only they could hear it "Is it just me or is he mad?"

Caradwg paused a moment, "That tis up to you Sir Gracian, although, if it comes to a fight, then first call to battle would fall to Sir Tyngyr.  I will fight, as well, if it comes to it."

"You are indeed correct, my friend," Caradwg said quietly in response to Sir Gracian. "It must be the affects of this dank, dark land on his mind.  Be careful if you do fight him...madness can make a man stronger than a bull."

"You are right, Sir Caradwg" he said and nodded before looking at Sir Tyngyr. "First call to battle is of course you, Sir Tyngyr and I can think of no better knight than you to best the Mad Knight. He is known for his skill at arms and for his loyalty to his liege lord. He will not be an easy fight."

"I don't like to think of myself a coward," Sir Dalan speaks up, "but we are all of us not at our best. 'Tis it truly so wise to battle this poor mad knight when he himself professes ignorance of the lady we seek? I say we ride away."

"Fighting is not always our first choice, especially when your opponent is clearly unstable.  However, this is the first place we've seen where we might be able to get some respite from this oppressiveness."

He shook his head almost as if what they were doing was not his first choice.  "We have to think of our mission.  Can we accomplish the mission without proper rest...perhaps there is a healer in the village as well.  I will abide by whatever we ALL decide," he calmly finished his speech and then relaxed, waiting to see what was decided.

"Fight is indeed not always our first choice but Sir Caradwg is right. We need rest and we need a healter. And what is more important then we need to ask the locals about the Queen. I say we fight the Mad Knight ... what do you think SIr Tyngyr?"