"Take care of yourself, brother. I know it might look like I'm taking the risks, but I think you know that there are more dangerous games than mine being played."

William threw his head back and laughed. "Yeah, true enough. I guess that means I'll have to settle down with Maud soon. Can't let her slip away waiting for me."

William frowns. "You know, it might possibly be. But...outside of some gesture or taking her on an outing, it seems like a pretty safe bet. Expensive, maybe."

"So she's a writer and a woman. You'll want to get her something woman-y, then, if you don't want to play up the writer thing. Maybe...and I'm just stabbing in the dark here...but maybe you want to do some jewelry?"

"Oh? Well, alright then! So, you're thinking something...well, probably something pretty, but..." He shrugs after a moment. "Look, I don't know her. What's she like, outside of her writing?"

"Oh! Marie de Chatelaine? I heard her father's got into a bit of a snag with King Philip. He might not look askance at an English connection."

"Best assortment of wares on the island, though Lincoln and Norwich are doing their best to catch up. Who's the lady?" William asks, suddenly interested.

"You know, for such obvious advice, it's amazing how few people really follow it," William huffs. "and yes, I'm going to Mass. Can't ask God to see to the victory without asking him first."

"She expects to be deferred to. Um...and she appreciates people who respect the rules. But not pedantically like Queen Ermengarde. More like, people who understand their spirit, and keep to that, more than the letter."

"Nothing yet, brother." He waggles his eyebrows. "But what the Queen wants, she gets. And she pays handsomely for it, too."

"It's been touch and go. All kinds of arrangements have been circling around. But the Clares are active, and I appreciate that. And I expect that father will, too. It's high time the "fluid" nature of Wales ended and some certainty came to the region. I don't regret having to get my hands a little d...

"Of course. Blood first." He crosses his arms. "And last, when it comes to it. I'll always have your back, Giles, and I do trust that you have mine."

William nods slowly. "Good for you. Like I say, there's plenty of opportunity to go around. If you managed to light a fire under d'Aubigny's ass, that's great. But I suspect that you're pretty much pulling that cart on your own, aren't you? There's big doings in Wales, kid, and I mean to have us sec...

"Why not?" William looks over at Giles. "The d'Aubignys are good people, but they're already on crusade. Old William has no interest in the Marches, really, and we need lords who have the strength and the will to back us up. The de Clares are waxing strong again. Change is coming to the Marches. The...

"Small chance of that, unless you make it a habit to meet women in the Abbey."

"What can I say, the Breton is good in the saddle." He smiles. "And I do hear of some of the stuff you get up to. Treatises on architecture and love, sidling up to Queens and poets. Not too shabby, brother."

William de Braose was not hard to find. In fact, he had a smile upon seeing his brother, and drew him into an embrace.

"Having a good time, Giles?"

"I should imagine so," says the Lord of Bramber. "I find myself enjoying a good scrap. You a swordsman, Lord Geoffrey?"

The lord of Bramber accepts your hand, "my thanks, Lord Geoffrey," his emotionless reply. "You are quite skilled on horseback, sir."

Unfortunately, de Braose's lance was a little quicker to the punch.

Joust tilt 4 reroll (tn error); tn 12: 1d20 9

Horse damage: 6d6 26

Joust roll 3: Lance tn 12: 1d20 8

That's a hit, though de Braose takes no pleasure in it.

Horse damage: 6d6 26 damage.

William barely flinches, but rather bends easily to accommodate the force of the blow. Clearly, this man is a practiced combatant, if not a first-class lancer. Dexterity roll to stay on horse, tn 12 : 1d20 1 Round 2 de Braose salutes his opponent again, his expression empty of emotion. If he has reg...

de Braose narrows his eyes at you, and for a moment you feel the chill at the soul of a man that could break hospitality and butcher his guests and neighbors. The fact that no one dared to challenge him at the Helm Show only goes to show the depths of his depravity. Still, the dip of his lance shows...

Riding for Hertford is William de Braose, Lord of Bramber. Sallow-cheeked and tall, his murderous reputation leads people to give him a wide berth. Unlike Ranulf, however, he shows no one any hostility. Simply waiting, like a spider in its web, for something to happen.

The two forms remain quite still in the shadows for a while longer, clearly hoping and praying that y'all will clear out and they won't have to make a break for it. William de Braose is showing some concern. The lady looks bored.

The man is surely none other than William de Braose, the eldest son of the Lord of Bramber(!), while the woman you have never seen before in your life. She's pretty enough, but her expression is weirdly detached, showing none of the excitement and concern writ large on the knight's face.

Giles, Spare time from elbow rubbing? Don't fret, I'll bring bows aplenty. And an appetite, for I am told the feast planned will be beyond anything we have seen in England in many years. And the entertainment as well. Marie de France will be there, brother! And some other bards. Lionheart has expre...

Brother, Things got a little weird in Normandy, and I have a feeling that Westminster's not going to be any different. I hate to expose you to danger, but there's gonna be a shake-up, Church, State---Heavens for all I know. Anyway, you'd better come down. It'll be a tightrope, and I have a feeling I...

William de Braose is a baron of the Welsh Marches, and has been a partisan of Richard the Lionheart for some time. About 15 years ago, he masterminded the Abergavenny Massacre, in which several important Welsh chieftains were slaughtered in breach of hospitality. This action dramatically decreased p...