h i s t o r y

O.P. IV SAVEIGN

Several of the Regents did join together to form the first Clan of the Court of Warwick. And they were: Good King Morphael; Jasmin, the Duchess of Windsor; Earl Leto Apollo, who was Herald of Warwick; and Dame Telian, both Chatelaine of Pern and Seneschal of the Eleven Lands. So did they take for themselves the Clan name Caerna, which is to say "Light" in the tongue of the Haradii, and it was decided that the spry and frolicsome Dame Telian should be made Thane amongst them. So these four came before the Court and made known their new bond of Clanship and Damsel Arwen Undomiel did ask to pledge faith to this Clan, so that their number was made five.

O.P. VI BELTANE

The Three Clans of Warwick (Caerna, Caradoc, and McQuillon) did take unto themselves several members of the Pages to strengthen their ranks. Then as a rite of passage into the Clan, the Caernas did devise a most evil scheme. They did band together, and in the depths of the night, did steal forth from their stronghold to assassinate each and every member of the Court as could not defend themselves against such a vicious attack. And it was a sad and bloody eve, for the Caernas were most thorough in this respect so that most were slaughtered mercilessly whilst trying to shed their bedclothes so to grab what weapons may be at hand. One Companion did even lackadaisically leave his chambers open and politely ushered the murderers in with "door's open!" so he was slain without regret for his carelessness. Yet another, and indeed this was Sir Koros, Thane of Clan Caradoc did bravely fend off his attackers and was able to barricade himself so that, try as they might, none could breach the defenses of his room. So then was nearly the entire Court met in death at the hands of this perfidious Clan but Koros. Yet the Caernas were most fell and did devise to part Koros' soul from body that next afternoon.

So then did Dame Tamaris lure him into the dungeons of Warwick Castle by divesting herself of there own weapons in front of him, and swearing not to try to take his life whilst they were in the company of one another. Yet, when she had brought him unto the depths of the Castle, two brigands did burst forth from hiding, and, in full sight of the Duchess did mightily stab and wound brave Sir Koros so that he did gasp his last. And it was quickly realized that these brigands were actually two others of the Clan Caerna who had never made oath to Koros and were not bound by the swearing of Dame Tamaris. Upon committing this dread act, the two did make good their escape from Warwick Castle by means of a little used postern door. When others who were in the Castle at the time arrived upon the scene, they found only Koros' sadly maimed body and a screaming Dame Tamaris who did dissemble and give no knowledge as to how the death did occur other than that it was not at her hands.

O.P. VI SAVEIGN

A great many plottings did take place amongst the Clans, for Clan Caerna and Clan Caradoc did enjoy some rivalry amongst themselves to try and best each other. Clan Caradoc had divided themselves into two tribes, the Panteglesians and the Isengaardians, and these tribes did secretly make fine and beautiful banners as their ensigns. Upon seeing this, Sir Koros did draw both of his tribes together and did have the idea that the Clan Caradoc would embark upon a six-week plan, which became two months or more through their arcane and, indeed, undecipherable calendar. But, that plan was to breed two fine steeds for his King for His Tournaments and these steeds were both fast and sturdy and none could be found to match them. Also, thought Sir Koros, since the banners were of such great quality, Caradoc clothes would only serve to brighten that same effect. So then, tunics of dark blue with silver sashes, the colors of the Clan, were made and the two Chieftains were given black capes and Koros himself, as Thane did also have a cape made. But beyond this, a large libram was crafted which would hold the most sacred and arcane of Caradoc relics and only Caradocs were ever allowed to know what might be kept within its confines.

Now as the Caradocs were of a turn towards crafting and creating things, so did the Caernas seek always to expand the mind and use it in discerning ways. To this extent, they thought to dissemble at great length to the court simply for their own amusement, and so it was devised that Lord Morphael and Duchess Tamaris would have a falling out. This began as bickering over their respective Squires and they did escalate their game to general disagreement over all matters of the Court. They did split Clan Caerna into two tribes being the Ur-Caernas, or Wolves of Light; and the Tir-Caernas, which is to say Stars of Light; and each faction did fiercely attack the other, both verbally and otherwise when in the company of others of the Court so that both Clan McQuillion and Clan Caradoc did secretly smile at the thought of this, the oldest of Clans being torn asunder. This passed for many weeks, whilst Telian, Thane of the Clan, did make a great show of trying to keep peace between brother and sister who were all seen to be in the throes of undying hatred of one another. This then culminated in a Declaration of War between Ahrothen, the Province of Morphael and Keltian, the Shire of Tamaris. Each did make overtures to certain members of the Court, though aghast at the idea of Civil war in fair Warwick, did think that once the War had effected the destruction of the Caernas, then could they pick over the spoils. But on the very eve of the War, in front of the entire Court as they sat at Council, Lord Morphael and Duchess Tamaris did rip the Declaration of War in twain and did embrace as Clansmen.

O.P. XII BELTANE

The Clan Caerna was in conflict with itself. It seems that many months before, Sir Montjoy, who at that time had just recently been made a Squire, had petitioned Lady Telian for entrance to the Clan. Now Sir Montjoy was a most directed sort of fellow, and felt that the nil response with which he had been greeted was indeed reason to assume that Caerna was simply not aware of his conviction to become a member. Thus he courted the help of Damsel Chaitlin ni Eibhlin Caerna, and she made him Caerna in secret. Then when he announced this to the Court, the two in turn declared Sir Montjoy Via Lobos to be Thane of Caerna, and quickly initiated both of the newly Squired Kynniarc Lauhr and Pandora Mianche. Then was it proclaimed that the three Squires would be made Chieftains, and in a letter read by Sir Montjoy in Court, stated that the new Caerna challenged Lady Telian's right to Thaneship, and that she could meet Sir Montjoy in battle to defend her rule.

In the meanwhile, Honoured Sir Garthan had achieved the rank of Knight of the Sword in the Noble Order of Prince Dagonet. This Grand Knight did see fit to hold a Tournament and Feast, wherein he set up his Shire of Keltian as the Prize. After a delightful pot of Stone Soup, as well as an excellent rendering of the tale by the Dagonetian, was a single elimination Melee had, and at its finale it was Sir Montjoy as the victor of the Shire. Now Sir Montjoy was well aware of the political importance of this Land, and decided that as Thane of Caerna he would strengthen the Clan by ensuring that Keltian never fell from Caerna hands. Thus did he conduct his own Tournament, with its sole participants being fellow Caernas. This was a competition of the mind, where each member used pieces on a board and dice to determine who could Monopolize more area of the board than the others. And this was a fierce game indeed, for Caernas are well known for their methods of gaining their ambitious ends. But at this time it was Damsel Pandora Mianche Caerna who proved victorious, and thus became the Chatelaine of Keltian.

O.P. XII SAVEIGN

The Codroesii were reminded that in a world with Symmaroc Kylie, black becomes white and white may blur back again to black. At his dinner party he had offered a large sum of 27,000 marques in exchange for Windsor Keep. Upon the finding of a quite ill Garthan, and the admission that the currency in question had been procured from the victims of Symmaroc's wrath, all dealings were brought to a close. Some months later Symmaroc burst into Court claiming the theft of his monies, and after an official inquiry conducted by the Chief Investigator, Earl Greymalikin, it was found that indeed Sir Via Lobos was the perpetrator.

The Seneschal of the Eleven Lands felt that perhaps the Dark Kylie was not entitled to such monies; thus did Sir Montjoy Via Lobos, Thane of Clan Caerna, pilfer the purse holding these marques while the others were attending to Lord Garthan's illness. Now as the Seneschal was the younger sibling to the Grand Knight, Earl Greymalikin was torn between familial ties and his Honorable Duties, but when confronted by his Elder about the scandal, Sir Via Lobos could not lie. Hence, at the next Court did Queen Kyria and King Tristan hear the charges against the Noble Sir, and by the Book of Law did offer Sir Via Lobos his choice of Hemlock or Exile from the Eleven Lands. But as it was disclosed that Clan Caerna had invested the sums into organizations and charities about the Kingdom, forging these huge donations in the name of various members of the Royal Court, the fair and prudent Sovereigncy instead pronounced that Sir Via Lobos and his Clan should repay the 27,000 marques to Symmaroc and be sentenced as well to community service to maintain the organizations that had benefited from the transferred money. Clan Caerna and its Thane accepted the sentence, and all resolved to put these events behind them.

O.P. XIII BELTANE

Shortly into the training of Pages, a most glorious tournament was announced. This tournament was to be for ownership of Ahrothen. It was declared the Champions' Tournament and all could participate in the thirteen steps, but only Knights and Druins could win. The day had a black pall cast over it, however, when the Caernas played a most malicious trick. There had been many discussions overheard of the Caerna's and Ur-Caerna's disagreements. The splitting of the Caerna clan between the Kingdom of Tintagel and the Kingdom of Warwick had done nothing for Clan Unity. Thus the Companions of Warwick were supporting their Caerna Codroecii in creating their own branch of the clan. When the Tintaglesian Caernas arrived to contest this, many Companions of Warwick joined with the Warwickian Caernas to protect their goal. Much to the chagrin of the Warwickians, the Caernas that they fought with turned against them mid-battle. The effect was a slaughter. Not a Warwickian Companion was left standing against the Caerna onslaught. Although the Warwickian Caernas meant this in jest, many of the Companions who fell to their blades in false trust have never entirely forgiven the clan Caerna for their actions upon the field that day.

O.P. XIV SAVEIGN

Companions gathered in the Great Hall in Keltian for a meeting of the Court, and were greeted with a great lack of people. His Majesty King Kynniarc was not present, nor was Sir Montjoy, his sister Sir Roslyn, nor any of the Caerna clan. As the hours passed, the Companions became more and more fraught with worry. Finally, with guards out searching the Eleven Lands, a note was delivered. It was in Montjoy's hand, and it was burnt and splattered with blood. It asked for help from the Court. There was nothing the Companions could do but go to the place that Sir Montjoy kept his estate. A wooded area in Lankhmar known as Pendlewood. It is a several hour journey on horseback from the Lands of Keltian to the heart of Lankhmar, and many horses did not make it through that night bringing the Companions to the Caernas aid. When the Companions arrived, however, it was too late. The bodies of the dead were strewn everywhere. There were Warwickian guards as well as bodies of unknown mercenaries. The stench of death and the cry of the carrion eaters were the most powerful attacks on the senses, and many a strong guard, as well as a few Companions were stunned by the horror visited upon Sir Montjoy's home. The guards were trying to clean up as best they could. Give seperate but proper burial rights to all. As soon as it was reported that none of the regents were among the fallen, the Companions returned to the CourtRoom to plan their defense against this unknown enemy.

Upon arriving at Keltian, they discovered that the Caernas had come to them in the hall. They were battered and worn. Sir Montjoy looked deathly pale. At first all believed that he had taken some mortal wound to the body. It was later to be discovered that it had been a mortal wound to the soul. His dear wife Henrietta had been slaughtered. A single man had amassed an army so powerful that it could take away all the Montjoy had built and held dear in the Court. To say it was a difficult time for the Court would be understating in the extreme. The view of Henrietta's head being chopped off before Sir Montjoy's eyes became something that would haunt his soul for the rest of his life.

Montjoy was not the same man after his wife was slaughtered. There was nothing that could make him accept that it was Eld Magnil's will and therefore must be dealt with. Shortly after her death, Sir Montjoy entered the Court with the intent to say goodbye. He stated as plainly as he could to the King that he had suffered enough that he had had to really face the darkness within him. He realized that there was a great deal of darkness, and therefore couldn't stay as a true Companion of the Court any longer. There wasn't the light within him. As soon as he had to consciously battle to keep the light in control of the dark, he left the Court, never to return. He spent his time in near seclusion, and rarely was seen by a Companion, but that is far from the end of Sir Montjoy's legacy in Court.

During this time, there had been several reports on the whereabouts of Montjoy Via Lobos. He had begun to function outside the parameters of the King's law. Meting out justice as he saw fit, he became a quandry in the Court. As a Companion he was doing what was proper. Since he had renounced his Companionship he was acting outside the law and should be brought to justice. During this, Montjoy requested the help of Sirrah Tainly. A young Squire who still saw Montjoy as the Nobleman he had been. Sirrah Tainly agreed to help Montjoy in a quest to rid the land of some pirates who had been marauding good trader ships coming into harbor. As Sirrah Tainly and Montjoy were fighting, Montjoy was struck down. Montjoy implored the Squire to continue without him. As Tainly saw no other option he proceeded to fight his way free. Giving up Montjoy as dead, Tainly went back to his home with heavy heart.

Montjoy, however, was far from dead. While he lay there, feeling his life force dripping slowly out of him, he called upon all the powers he could to save himself. He wished only not to die as so many others had died the past season. In his desperation he called upon forces much darker than he could imagine. With his wish he called upon the same forces that Leto Apollo had tapped before his fall into madness. Though this demon force came to Montjoy's aid, it did not save his body, merely kept it living. Montjoy, torn with confusion and fear of what was happening in one part of his mind, and compulsed to follow the Demon's wishes with another, began to organize troops of Orcs. Similarly to Leto Apollo, Montjoy was becoming a minion of evil.

O.P. XV BELTANE

As the Pages were being trained, there were a number of most terrifying reports coming into Court. Reports that the Companions hardly dared believe. It was stated that Montjoy, once King of the lands, had begun using Orcs as an army. Though the Companions actively search and destroy no people, the Orcs have long been a hindrance to the Eleven Lands. Destroying crops and eating cattle wherever they go, there is rarely hesitation for the Companions to kill the Orcs when they are seen. Therefore, it was a most disturbing revelation to discover that Montjoy, one who had often led forays to destroy the Orcs, was now working with them. Fear of hurting the Companion stopped the King from sending out troops to take Montjoy into Royal custody, and therefore the reports grew in number.

More reports had come in from the guards stating that Montjoy had begun consorting openly with Demons. There was little doubt in anyone's mind that he needed to be stopped. King Kynniarc therefore, with a heavy heart, granted Kara, Sir Roslyn, and Sir Farqhuar the right to track down Montjoy. The trio left with heavy hearts, but with the knowledge that they were doing what was right.

Their journey has been shrouded in mystery, and few people outside those three have more than cursory knowledge of it. Therefore, we scribes apologize to you, gentle reader, for the vagueness of the knowledge forthwith. The three traveled great expanses, following leads of people who had seen Montjoy and his Orcs. It took them to different lands and met by different people, many who have become staid enemies of the Court. It became clear to the three Companions that Montjoy had somehow connected himself with Leto Apollo. Much to the horror of their souls, the discovered that Montjoy, in an effort to save his own life, had called out for help, as he lay dying on the pirate ship. The force that had answered him was the force that was the evil of Leto Apollo. Although Montjoy had been allowed to live, his body had not been repaired, he was now merely a shriveled husk of the man that he had once been. His perception of right and wrong had been so distorted that he had tried to project himself into another man's body. A young boy who had meant no one harm at any time. This was something that the Companions could not bear. It was decided that if all else failed, they must kill Montjoy. The story is at this point most vague. Through a dangerous confrontation, which nearly took Sir Roslyn's life, Kara was killed, and Farqhuar himself had to plunge his sword into his younger brother's heart. The Companions returned to the Court, victorious in their quest, but most saddened by the turn of events that made it possible.

It was fast coming upon the summer season, and many people turned to thoughts of fancy and feaste. Thus it was to all Companion's delight that a invitation was received from the land of Faery by Sir Tristan. He was inviting many Companions to come participate in an adventure in Faery. Many Companions answered the call, unaware of what was about to transpire. Once there, the Companions were each assigned a part to play in one of the legends of the Court. The legend that Tristan had chosen was that of his duel with Symmarok for the throne. What Tristan had not learned of Faery, however, proved to be the downfall of his ball, and a great gift to the Court. Whatever is created by a mortal is created in Faery. Sir Tristan assumed that since he was in Faery, there would be no doppleganger of his creations. He could not have been more wrong.

The members of that evening who played a crucial role in bringing back Tristan from the Dead were Sir Montjoy, Symmaroc, and Earl Farqhuar. Thus, when they were recreated by Companions in the land of Faery, the Land of Faery provided some recreations of its own. As the play was being carried out, the creation of Symmaroc watched cautiously from the sidelines. Not wishing to intrude, simply waiting. What he was waiting for was the inevitable moment when all of the Companions must step back through a portal into the real world. When this happened, the evil creation of Symmaroc stepped through as well. He slipped away so quietly that none knew of his passing. None, barring another creation of Faery, that of Sir Montjoy. He saw the evil Symmaroc pass through, and knowing only that his goal as Montjoy was to destroy this evil creature stepped through after him. As is the way with Faery, Montjoy's stepping through took him not to the same place as Symmaroc, but to the center of the Court Room. He was greatly surprised then, to see his Bailiff, Kynniarc sitting on the King's Throne. He at first demanded that Kynniarc remove himself from Tristan's throne. Much panic ensued with the Companions believing Montjoy to be possessed by Leto Apollo and Montjoy knowing nothing of the changes since King Tristan and Queen Kyria's reign. It was soon discovered that this was not the Montjoy that we knew, but one of the past. With that, the Companions realized that Montjoy would have the opportunity to relive his life so that he remained within the light, and with guidance from the Companions avoid the mistakes of his predecessor. This Montjoy was more than willing to listen to his Companions, all of whom he trusted with his life. He took the title of Sir offered to him by the King, and the Court once again had Sir Montjoy in their midst.

O.P. XVIII BELTANE

Sirrah Aeric Bannier, being a squire of a dark and brooding countenance, was approached by two of the Caernas, those being Lady Shae and Countess Catalyn, who enthusiastically invited him to join their ranks. He accepted, but only on the condition that he first finish his endeavors in the Order of Prince Percival and become a knight. This he did, and so Aeric was made the Grand Knight of his Order as well as a Caerna. Countess Catalyn also bestowed upon him the ownership of the Province of Ahrothen, a traditional stronghold of the clan.

It was also during this time that the same two members of the clan who had inducted Sir Aeric, did announce their intention to conceive a child. The two had been married for some time, but as the limits of biology forbid a natural conception, the pair turned to more sorcerous solutions. But alas, nothing that was attempted bore fruit, and they began to despair of ever having a child. So it was that Countess Catalyn journeyed in secret to Sir Aeric in Ahrothen, to ask that he give of himself to produce a child for the couple. However, unbeknownst to either Companion, the dark dragon Shadowcast, who had long ago made itself the sworn enemy of the Clan Caerna, chose this opportunity to lash out at its hated enemies. From its prison deep within the earth, Shadowcast wove an evil spell of enchantment upon Sir Aeric and Countess Catalyn, so that they would be overwhelmed with a lust for one another and carry out the very act that night which Catalyn had only meant to propose to Sir Aeric. Overcome with shame at their adulterous act and fully ignorant of the spell which caused it, Sir Aeric and Countess Catalyn swore never to speak of what had happened that night, thereafter avoiding each other in the company of others.

O.P. XVIII SUMMER

As the seasons turned from spring to summer, Countess Catalyn revealed to the Court that she was with child. There was much rejoicing, as the Companions assumed that the magics the couple was employing finally did work. However, both Catalyn and Aeric knew better. Shortly after this announcement, Sir Aeric began to have disturbing dreams that disrupted his sleep, so much so that he actually began to doze off in the midst of court. After two weeks of this, he decided that it was time for him to embark on the quest for his Caerna Dagger, something that he had already put off for too long. He returned two months later, his hair turned gray from his encounter with the ghostly inhabitants of the ruined city that held his dagger. He was accompanied by a mysterious woman who focused her attention on him alone and likewise remained invisible only to him. Sir Aeric received a warm welcome from all in attendance save one: the Countess Shae. She was insulted, it seemed, by Aeric's failure to greet her or her wife, and challenged him to a duel of honor to resolve the matter. Later, upon the melee field, the Countess succeeded in besting Aeric, whereupon he collapsed, dying. As others raced to aid him, the ghostly warrior-woman who had followed him all evening stood above him, claiming his soul as her own. A valkyrie, she intended to take him to the great warrior's hall in the sky, but was challenged by none other than the Lady Catalyn herself, who was able to triumph and bring Sir Aeric back to life.

Shortly before the beginning of the new season, a gathering was held at the Outpost, home of Baron Ptolomei, which was dedicated to the telling of tales of wonder and stories of adventure. It was at this gathering that Sir Aeric shared the details of his Caerna Quest with the gathered Companions, including the fact of the missing dagger. It was then that Lady Shae did reveal an awful truth: that it was she who had taken the dagger from its resting place! She confessed that she knew about the dalliance of Sir Aeric and Countess Catalyn, and overcome by a jealous rage stole the dagger to prevent Sir Aeric from fully becoming a Caerna. Needless to say, the entire Court was shocked at the news of this infidelity, especially as it was apparent that the child Countess Catalyn carried was in fact Sir Aeric's child. Before either of the guilty parties could stammer out excuses or explanations, Lady Shae produced a letter from the Caerna Dragon itself, which revealed the influence of Shadowcast's magic on the proceedings. She went on to say that shortly after she had stolen the dagger, she fell unconscious, weakened by one of the fertility potions that had instead poisoned an otherwise unpoisonable Caerna. While she lay unconscious, one of Shadowcast's minions, a Tiger Nomad, chanced upon her and at the order of its master, stole the Caerna Dagger from her grasp and delieved it to the dark dragon in its lair. After briefly convening in private over these revelations, the three Caernas did resolve to put their differences aside and unite to retrieve Sir Aeric's dagger from Shadowcast. Peace seemed to have returned to the Clan of Light, although Lady Shae, who had traded titles with her wife and was therefore now Countess Shae, was cold and unfriendly towards Aeric for ever after.

O.P. XVIII SAVEIGN

A messenger came into Court with word from Duke Mollari, who had been missing over the summer. It seemed that the duke had returned to his homeland of Aquitania, and while there, did become stuck in the mud when he failed to evacuate a shallow pool before the tide receeded. The messenger, who was apparently Duke Mollari's "parching attendant," was exceedingly rude towards Countess Shae and Lady Catalyn, specifically with regards to the ladyÕs pregnant state. Sir Aeric, who was known for his short temper, was so insensed by the parching attendantÕs rudeness that he did bodily remove the attendant from the Courtroom. The following week, another Aquitanian appeared in Court, this time to investigate the murder of the parching attendant. Much suspicion was cast upon Sir Aeric, who did hotly deny the accusations. Shortly thereafter, Duke Mollari did return to the Court of Light, but he was no longer an Aquitanian in form. Magius Fangorn Flynnarel, who went to see the errant duke, used powerful magic to transform Mollari into a human being. The various Companions of the Court did react to this development with mixed emotions, but Sir Aeric demanded a duel of honor with Magius Fangorn for what he had done to Aeric's older sibling, as well as some other insults delivered to him in a letter earlier in the week. The duel was called off, however. Sir Aeric swore that he would not return to the Court of Light until the one who killed the parching attendant was found, and his own name was cleared of guilt.

Sir Aeric did return to Court two weeks thereafter, and in the company of Magius Fangorn, towards whom all animosity seemed to have disappeared. The pair related a tale of adventure as they tracked down the real culprit behind the parching attendant's death. The attendant was slain by a creature belonging to a race known as the Lutionists. These amphibious creatures strongly believe in the law of survival of the fittest, and were determined to keep Mollari from receiving any outside assistance while he was stuck in the mud. It seemed that Magius Fangorn did save Sir Aeric's life during this adventure, despite the Caerna's earlier intent to kill him, and therefore smoothed things over between the two.

The next chapter in this drama played out in the following Court, when Magius Fangorn was called to appear before a tribunal in Aquitania for the murder of Duke Mollari. It was revealed that the Aquitanians did not recognize the duke's current, human form as being Duke Mollari, and blamed Fangorn for his death as he was the one who cast the spell of transformation. It was therefore most curious when the transformed Mollari, himself a lawyer of some reknown, did offer to represent the accused Companion in his upcoming trial.

During all of this, Countess Shae did report to the Court that she would be leaving the Eleven Lands for good, as she was needed to rule the country of her birth, that being Alexia across the sea. The former ruler, ShaeÕs mother, was killed by an assassin, and the country was poised on the brink of war. Lady Catalyn's reaction to this news was a most curious form of amnesia, wherein she forgot all her associations with Countess Shae. So it was that Countess Shae left the Eleven Lands, her wife, and her unborn child, behind.

Meanwhile, Magius Fangorn was found guilty of the murder of Duke Mollari and sentenced to death. Only by the timely intervention of Sir Aeric and Mollari himself, who had somehow returned to his original Aquitanian form, did the Rafaelite avoid a horrible stinging death at the quills of a giant sea anenome. With the return of Duke Mollari to his rightful form, all charges against Magius Fangorn were dropped.

As the season drew to a close, Sir Aeric and Dona Karissa did embark upon a quest to save Knight Panthra, who was Sir Aeric's page sister and Dona Karissa's adopted younger sibling, from the clutches of an emir in her homeland who was under the influence of a demon.

O.P. XIX BELTANE

Sir Aeric, Dona Karissa, and Knight Panthra returned to the Eleven Lands to find that Ahrothen was under siege by an army of orks led by a barbarian king. Aeric was forbidden by King Mus to lead the defense of his own land, for fear that Shadowcast would sieze control of his mind, and so he grudgingly moved his quarters to a small apartment in Keltian for the duration. He did return to Ahrothen to assist in the defense of his castle, however, leaving a magical duplicate called a simulacrum, or clone, to serve the seneschal, Baron Ptolomei, as bailiff in his stead. The siege was broken and the ork army was driven back by the combined forces of Sir Lucerne and King Mus himself.

One night, towards the end of the war, a mysterious woman did visit the Court of Light. She claimed to be Lady Catalyn's daughter Runa, who had travelled back in time by the use of magics taught to her by the Waywood Circle. She had done so to inform the Companions that there was a link between the end of the war and the retrieval of AericÕs Caerna Dagger from Shadowcast's lair. She also stated that Premier Marduk and Dona Karissa needed to go with him, or all would be lost. Sir Aeric, not one to normally accept help from others, especially in matters of personal honor, balked greatly at the idea. In the end, however, he did relent, and embarked on the quest with the two Companions in tow. In the end, the quest was successful, although Sir Aeric did discover that his twin sister Celfina, who he had thought was long dead, was in fact alive and a henchman to Shadowcast. In addition, Dona Karissa lost a year of her memory as a result of the dark dragon's magics, forgetting the entirety of her courtship with Sir Aeric. In the end, Sir Aeric retrieved his Caerna Dagger, and could rightfully call himself Caerna at long last, but it did seem a hollow victory to him.

Runa was given to the sorceresses of the Waywood Circle upon her birth, to ensure that Shadowcast could not work his evil upon her. It was later revealed that the child, named Runa by her mother Catalyn, was not, in fact, Sir Aeric's issue, but the result of one of the fertility potions employed by the two women.

It is worth mentioning that the court sword taken up by Her Majesty was not Caledvolc, but a newly fashioned sword that Mus had requisitioned from the dwarven smiths known for such amazing works. Caledvolc, while still a noble sword, had been much used and abused during its many long years of service, and had a sad way of falling apart in the midst of a knighting ceremony. And so Caledvolc was retired with all honors, and the new sword, christened Xirlyndrae by Queen Catalyn, was brought into service.

It was upon the quest of guarding the rock that the Queen's own younger sibling and page captain, Mistress Eowyn, didst trade her esteemed page badge to a mysterious Dragonlady in exchange for faerie wings. Now the good mistressÍs heart was in the right place, as she meant to return them to their rightful faerie owner, but the Queen decreed that the Doomsday pages must go in quest of the Dragonlady and re-aquire that noble symbol which no page should ever be without. And so the pages did adventure into the lands and after many exciting and dangerous incidents did fulfill the tasks set before them by the Dragonlady most honorably. Having heard of the conduct of the pages throughout their journey, and seeing that the task set for them had been successfully completed, Queen Catalyn did gather her regents and the court, and then didst grant the Doomsday pages the rank of squire, and there was much rejoicing.

In other events, Sir Aeric began to receive missives from the Happy Little Elves, who were apparently in some danger and looking to be rescued. Unfortunately, the missives so far had not included any clues as to the location of the Elves, nor how Sir Aeric could contact them. Many of the Companions scoffed anyway at the thought of sending Sir Aeric to save the Happy Little Elves, such a quest being something of a silly nature and not in keeping with the normally dour CompanionÍs persona.

O.P. XX SAVEIGN

Prior to the beginning of the Saveign season, the Court Summer Season of O.P. XX was indeed a busy one. Sir Aeric Bannier Caerna, Castellan of Ahrothen, continued to be besieged by letters from the Happy Little Elves who asked for his assistance. The Happy Little Elves, unfortunately, seemed to compound the problem by neglecting to state where they were so they could be rescued. Many Companions (among them Dame Eowyn and Baron Ptolomei) had offered aid to Sir Aeric in order to locate them, but all of their efforts were for naught as the Happy Little Elves were also quite hidden and could not be located, even by powerful means such as scrying by the High Druin. Merenia Shae Caerna was deceased, drowned during a battle in her homeland and her body left to the seas to be consumed by various sea life—this much was known to the Companions. What was not known was that her spirit was a spirit of the oceans, and her physical death was but a stage of metamorphosis in the lifespan of her great destiny. The Lady of the Lake had aided the once-living Merenia in her healing process, and thus who emerged from the dark abyss of the oceans was no longer Merenia Shae Caerna but Morgance the Forgotten Queen, Spirit of the Oceans Deep. Her physical form was made from the ocean waters, and though she was able to touch and interact with the Companions, it was only through excruciating spiritual effort that she was able to do so. The Happy Little Elves didst continue to cry out for aid, and it was seen that there was some correspondence between the Herald and the prince of the Happy Little Elves, Calvin. Though Damsel Jausserande Heruthane Zandofar could not contact them directly (like everyone else, no one could find them), she had letters posted throughout the lands in public areas to be seen by everyone.

In the prime of these season didst a mighty Page Class emerge: The Indecisive Pages. And they were: Master Allystar Gaylen Kayne (Captain of Pages), Mistress Zoyel Laronetta, Mistress Thalia Chaunacy Dragonsbane, Master Nazgul Er'Muhrazor Dragonsbane, Mistress Robyn Lochwood, Mistress Sheridan Montgomery. During this time Sir Aeric Bannier Caerna, after months of letters with no indication as to where or how the Happy Little Elves could be rescued, was able to find and assist the Happy Little Elves with their problems, dealing with various creatures and eventually with the Elves themselves. Also revealed that night was the impending marriage proposal between Calvin, Prince of the Happy Little Elves, and Dame Jausserande Heruthane Zandofar. Of course, they would have to wait until Calvin was old enough (being a Happy Little Elf, his aging process would not be too long until his Adulthood) and Damsel Jausserande could one day marry.

It was toward the end of the season that the Clan would endure perhaps its greatest strife to date. For it was by this time that the lineage of Catalyn Lauralansa Dragonsbane had grown immensely, and the various members decided to declare themselves a clan in honor of her completion of the First Level in all of the Druinhoods. Thus Clan Dragonsbane was announced, with the members being: Catalyn Lauralansa Dragonsbane Caerna, Ambernathia Tatianna Xandelery Caerna Dragonsbane, His Majesty King Dragonsbane II, Dame Eowyn Caitiri Willowstead Dragonsbane Caerna, Mordecai Dragonsbane, Thalia Chaunacy Dragonsbane, Nazgul Er'Muhrazor Dragonsbane. If after one yearÍs hence there were at least five members remaining, the Clan would be officially recognized by the Court of Light (the first Clan to be required to do so). However, it was pointed out that since the Dragonsbanes were to be a Clan, despite the tradition allowing a Page taking the surname of one's older sibling, henceforth no Page could take their older siblingÍs surname until they had achieved the rank of Squire.

O.P. XXI BELTANE

In a great ceremony and a grand celebration, Sir Aeric and Illuminatrix Karissa were married. Their courtship had taken place over many months, and it was only natural that the two would grow together in matrimony. The Court wished them well, and for a while it seemed that peace was finally achieved in the Eleven Lands.

O.P. XXVII SAVEIGN

Under the reign of King Lorath Hawksmoor Zandofar, authority over the Shire of Lankhmar was given over to Dame Eowyn Caitiri Willowstead Dragonsbane Caerna of the Great Whyte Isle. During the Saveign season, the Court was visited on a near-weekly basis by a cloaked, enigmatic stranger, identifying himself only as "DiVita." He claimed to be a resident of Lankhmar, and had some complaints as to how the kingdom was being run. He claimed he wished only to observe, to see first-hand how the Companions deliberated and ruled.

It was also during the occasion of a great feast thrown by the page class known as "PAH" that the Clan Caerna inducted, quite publicly, Dom Osmar Casimir. While inductions into the Clan are usually done in private, the theatrical bon vivant character of Dom Casimir seemed best fit by such a public ceremony. Additionally, it had been several years since the clan had added to its membership, and so a public display of the addition of new blood to the black and gold stirred the Court.

Late in the season, missives went out one day to the companions, informing everyone that Lankhmar was burning. Fires spread through and across the land, consuming many homes, businesses, and structures. Lord Galchauren, Dom Casimir, and Duchess Zelda, custodians of the nearby lands of Arothen, Elven, and Windsor repectively, quickly dispatched help to the borders, aiding in evacuation and fire-fighting efforts. By the end of several weeks' conflagration, Dame Eowyn brought the final toll into Court: 137 dead, 85% of structures burned, and three ships full of evacuated refugees having been blown out to sea in a squall. On top of this report from Dame Eowyn, DiVita, freshly in from the fires, explained he had seen who had started the fires, sneaking into and out of the Hall of Records. Though accused of standing by while his home burned, the tall stranger simply scoffed. He left, saying he'd observed enough of how the supposed "Companions of the Light" kept order in their kingdom.

O.P. XXVIII BELTANE

In Beltane, with three ship-loads of Lankhmarians still unaccounted for, Dame Eowyn and Dom Casimir set down to rebuilding Lankhmar, better than it had been. With a nearly blank slate to work with, the two Caernas had mind to remake the former den of iniquity into a port of pride and splendor. They laid and paved straight roads, filled drainage ditches, and dug subterranean sewers to keep the waste, refuse, and garbage out of the streets. But as much as she tried to do good for the Kingdom, Dame Eowyn would suffer yet another blow. With strange changes being observed in Windsor, and difficulties with magics going awry throughout the kingdom, a messenger came to court, claiming to be able to explain the entirety of the problems. The Kingdom of Warwick was merging with the mirror-kingdom of Dark Warwick, where Companions had met their "evil" counterparts before. While investigating the veracity of this claim, the court was visited by Sir Eiric Bannier of the mirror-realm. He provided information as to the current state of Dark Warwick's politics — how the despotic Queen Fliedaas had been deposed, and the even darker-minded Calandrya had taken the throne, dissolved the Shadow Council (the equivalent of the Court of Light's regencies), and declared herself Empress. Trusting in this intelligence, the Companions accepted Eiric as a friend of the Court. Such trust proved misplaced, however, when Dame Eowyn one day came home to discover that her twin children had been abducted by this Eiric, posing as her Clan-brother and thane. Eowyn and the High Druin, Lord Aeric, ventured forth into Dark Warwick to reclaim her children. Meeting with the evil Empress, the quick-witted Eowyn claimed to be the Aowyn of that world, and offered to "defect" to the Empress's side from the rebellious faction known as HARQ. Convincing Calandrya, Eowyn and Aeric freed a couple of rebel prisoners and followed them, separately, back to the rebel base camp. It was there that Eowyn met Aowyn, and discovered the disturbing truth about her children. The Aowyn of Dark Warwick had, indeed, been pregnant about the same time as Eowyn, but around the seventh month of her confinement, the pregnancy disappeared, without birth or miscarriage. Two months later, Eowyn gave birth to "twins."

When she finally rejoined Lord Aeric, he had even more disturbing news: it was her children, the obedient Rom and the oft-destructive Raimy, who were the cause of the merging of the two realms. One should always have been the offspring of Aowyn. It was up to Eowyn alone, who knew the two the best, to determine which belonged to her, and which needed to stay in the mirror-realm. To ease the pain of separation, Lord Aeric cast a charm upon the children, that each would not remember the other, and that Rom — whom Eowyn determined was the one who had to stay — would only ever remember Aowyn as his mother. The charm would last until they came of age — some fifteen years in the future.

The season was not entirely dour, as one of the squires of PAH, Sirrah Sophoswin Archimedes, was inducted into the clan; on that very same night, Sophoswin was knighted into the Honorable Order of Prince Gaheris, and declared himself grand knight of the order. He was unchallenged.

Nearing the end of the Beltane season, the one known as DiVita returned to Court, again bringing up the issue of the three ship-loads of Lankhmarian refugees who will still missing. Every week for a month, he would come in and remind the Court of their responsibility to those who had been lost. Finally, DiVita came in one night to reveal his true identity; removing mask and hood, he unveiled the face of Sir Whinn "DiVita" Caerna, former Herald of the Court. He explained that, in his absence from the Court, he had been in forced service to the entropic entity known as Nemesis. This was in payment for a deal he had struck with the being when he had been Herald. In the two years of his absence, Whinn had endured over two centuries of subjective time, suffering untold numbers of tortures, deaths, resurrections, and torments. On this night, however, he was being set free. And it was nearly at that exact moment that Nemesis itself appeared in the courtroom, in a guise which the Companions, by this time, had come to recognize. Nemesis confirmed that Whinn's term of service had expired, per their arrangement. And as such, he was being returned to the Court from which he came.

Then came the attacks. Across the northern border, between Barden and Magleon, raiders and soldiers alike were attacking holdings within the kingdom. King Lorath declared these attacks to be acts of undeclared war, and proclaimed that Warwick would answer these affronts with strength. With the full force of the Royal Guard, along with divisions of the Green Dragon Guard, and conscripts from each of the eleven lands, Warwick mobilized and mounted full retaliation upon the Magleonian offensive. The offenders were pushed back, and King Lorath vowed to personally lead the final push, asking for all Companions to join him on the battlefront in a show of force. The pages were set on the task of providing tactical support, to serve as messengers, supply runners, and such.

When the pages made it to the front, they discovered the Companions in disarray, apparently amnesiac from some magical effect. While leading the disoriented companions back from the border, the pages were confronted with none other than the wizard Merlin. Finding a glowing sphere on the ground, Merlin identified it as containing the memories of Dom Casimir. Pressing the sphere to Casimir's forehead elicited immediate effect, as Casimir's memories came flooding back to him all at once. This would prove a traumatic event for the Herald.

Two weeks later was a night of festivities, as Dom Casimir was dubbed a Knight of the Realm in the Noble Order of Prince Gawaine. His Excellency didn't seem to steady, as he dropped to his knees, but as the Gabrielite bard was known for frequenting the pubs and taverns as a performer and patron, it was hardly remarked upon. That same night, Lord Aeric Caerna was declared a Knight of the Dragon of the Noble Order of Prince Gawaine. The honors were not yet finished, however, as King Lorath also inducted the High Druin into the Royal Order of the Charter, for his long and distinguished service to the Court. When Lord Aeric finally stood, having received his honors, the king announced he wasn't done yet. He called forth Dame Eowyn, had her kneel, and granted her peerage, creating her as Lady Eowyn Caitiri Willowstead Dragonsbane Caerna of the Great Whyte Isle.

But the surprises were not to end there. Lord Aeric Caerna, Thane of the Clan of Light for some time, stood before the Court and summarized several of his trials and troubles of recent years. As such, he felt the need to re-evaluate his station and his place in life. He first handed off custodianship of Keltian to Sir Sophoswin. Secondly, he passed Thaneship of the Clan over to Lady Eowyn, much to the surprise of everyone present. Thirdly, he announced that, following his officiating of the impending marriage of Sir Sophoswin and Dame Johanna, he would be stepping down as High Druin. And finally, completely shocking everyone, Lord Aeric handed off his star, sash, and dagger to Lady Eowyn, signifying his departure from the Clan of Light.

What a difference a week makes. Just one week after this night of many honors, Court began with Dom Casimir being uncharacteristically absent. Dame Kalandria volunteered to go searching for her younger sibling; it didn't take her long. Casimir was found not far from the Citadel, stinking, falling down drunk, with a bottle in one hand and another in his belt. For one who has a resistance to all toxins and poisons, granted by ingestion of crushed Caerna diamonds, this was an impressive feat. Indeed, Dom Casimir admitted he had not been sober for three weeks. He also admitted that he was a sham, a fraud; although having been ordained nearly a year before, he had no connection to any form of magical, mystical, or divine power. Something was blocking his access to magic, and had been since his ordination. In his drunken stupor, he accused King Lorath of being responsible for his inability to access magic — Lorath's own disconnect with magic had to be the block Casimir suffered from.

However much King Lorath protested his innocence, or his righteousness in opposing magic in all its forms, the truth could not be denied. And so it was the very next week that Lorath came into Court, ashen-faced and humbled, asking forgiveness for his crimes against the Kingdom. It was merlin who reminded him that the King and the Land are one, and as such what affects the one affects the other. Since Lorath had sworn off magic, it affected Warwick, driving the magical forces of the land out of the kingdom. In response to this, Lorath abdicated, handing the crown down to his own Premier, Duchess Zelda Dragonsbane Ia Gondol.

With the recent return of Captain Black Bart, who had been with the ships of Lankhmarian refugees, the Companions finally had some lead on where to find their missing subjects. And so, the newly-abdicated Minister Lorath, Lady Eowyn, and Lord Aeric volunteered to head an expedition to find and recover them. In quick succession, Sir Sophoswin, Dames Kalandria and Johanna, and Damsel Paisley volunteered to accompany the expedition.

O.P. XXVIII SAVEIGN

O.P. XXIX BELTANE

Before the Court had even fully come back from celebrations of Yule, Caerna surprised no one by inducting Damsel Éomod Quettarnil Vinyathilien, just recently squired with the page class of the previous season. Éomod had shown unprecedented initiative even before becoming a page. For it was before the Seneschals had organized a Rush party, that Sirrah Ignazzio, Sir Whinn, and the then-peasant organized the Companions in the task of creating, directing, and recording for posterity a great play, involving the Companions in a farcical production, fictionalizing a great peasant uprising. It was for her work in promoting knowledge of the Court and Companions of the Light to the peasantry, as well as for recognition of her innate cunning and leadership potential that the Caernas welcomed her as one of their own.