(Episode One of 'The Silk Road')



It is the year 1300AD.

Following the return of the jewels of the Holy Grail to the guardianship of the Knights Templar, a period of relative calm ensued.
In celebration of the newfound peace, Earl Listibald announces a yearlong programme of feasting, jousting and fayres and the Lords and Ladies of Listibaldia settle into a comfortable lifestyle. The harvest is exceptional and the peasantry live off the fat of the land, entertained and only lightly taxed.

Our epic series opens on a bright sunny morning in the Listibaldian capital. Tables are laid outside the Dancing Bear Inn, the food and ale is abundant. Bunting and banners flutter merrily in the breeze and the air is filled with gossip and laughter as the people anticipate yet another exciting tournament…

Submitted by the Quest Authors


The tale opens on a happy scene - a year of feasting and tournaments, our brave Questors wander the court, jousting and dueling, jesting and being cheeky to the Earl. They challenge each other to bouts of combat, most notably an epic duel takes place between the Court Jester and Lord Xetas...but such niceties are interrupted when an enraged war bull breaksloose and runs amok round the arena...

The Prophet of Beef, eccentric though he may be, spots something odd about the bull's behaviour, and puts it down to it being touched by the Great Cow, though few others share this conviction, or even think about it as they are buffeted aside by the beast's mighty flanks and horns.

Koen Francois, a master of all things alchemical, prepares a sleeping powder and pours it into a hollow-tipped bolt, then takes aim and fires. Almost immediately the bull begins to slow and stagger. Meantime, Nathan turns 'matador', gaining the bull's attention with his crimson cape, whilst taking stabs with a spear. However, he is struck by the beast's horns and has to be fished out by his comrades. Fortunately he is not seriously injured!

Yarrum also tries to bring the bull down, but finds his arrows ineffective - and so he uses his precious trophy from the archery competition, a diamond-tipped quarrel - he nocks his arrow and fires: The point pierces the animal's neck and it falls dead. A strange green-tinged mist erupts from the bull, which in their excitement many take to be the spirit of the evil Asparagus, but tis merely an unfortunate and smelly side effect of Koen's sleeping powder, which would have knocked the beast out. The poor bull died unnecessarily.

After the hubbub has died down, the Lords greet the newly arrived Sir Everett, who wastes no time in clasping Sir Grumpy by the hand and offering him a joust. Xetas and Paul's duel resumes, and to everyone's surprise, it results in a draw.

Sir Everett and Sir Grumpy battle fiercely til their horses are exhausted, then drop their lances and draw their blades for a deciding duel. Lord Särkyä, throughout all this, has been fighting a different battle altogether - one of courtship, for he is attempting to woo the sweet Lady Lydia.

Sir Joseph has an encounter with some surly individuals, which may prove to be significant later...

...Away from the vibrant scene, and to the banquetting tables, where the Earl is enjoying himself until a cheeky young rascal known as Yarrum, and an assassin who ought to know better, the Squire, begin taking liberties. This is ended when Paul clouts them on the skulls with his gauntlet and sends them to the kitchens to wash up...as they are led away a scream erupts!

Earl Listibald rises from his seat in blind panic, unable to breathe. He slumps unconsious into the arms of Bill the Brave and the physicians are summoned. Twenty Lords are ordered to council with Lord Michael. Sir Joseph tries to find the dodgy characters he encountered earlier, but to no avail.

Gathered together, the Lords hear the grim news - The Earl is gravely ill, and the court physicians cannot cure him, it is all they can do to keep him in a stable condition. One man is known to have better knowledge of the poison which courses through Listibald's veins, Antonio of Florence, currently residing in the Court of the Doge of Venice.
The Lords are divided into two forces - St Paul and St George - and are ordered to make all haste to Venice. Brooking no delay, the Lords make all the preparations they need and ride with blinding speed to Venice, some five day's journey. The clouds gather and the rain falls, heralding a storm. The Questors speculate who could have committed this foul deed, and how it could have happened in their midst.

The Lords aim to reach the city of Besantio by nightfall, there to rest and recoup before continuing. That night, they decide to take the Alpine trail, despite its dangers, as it is deemed the quicker route. Some sleep better than others, many a heavy thought weighs upon the Questor's minds...

...Upon the morrow, the Questors leave Besantio and head for the mountains. The road is long and narrow, and aside from the whistling wind, eerily quiet. The Squire's unease that the narrow defile is the perfect place for an ambush is justified by a warning shout from above. Bandits train their bows on the Listibaldians, and the bandit leader emerges from behind a rock to gloat. Sir Everett strides up to the brigand and bawls him out, the ensuing argument provides adequate distraction for the other Lords. General Matthew slips quietly into a ditch...but then something odd
happens - mustering all his charisma, the Prophet of Beef rises and preaches the word of the great Cow - and the bandits cease their robbery and sit to dine on beef, some even joining the prophet's cult!

Bemused, the Questors continue, planning to make a stop in Bern to prepare for the high altitude and cold of the higher peaks. Danger is stumbled upon but harm averted as a snow drift falls away which had been concealing a deep fissure, the Lords take a bridge and eventually reach the small city of Bern, where Lord Särkyä once more regales his companions with his historical knowlege. After some negotiation, the Lords employ an inebriated guide to take them through the mountain range towards Milan.

Meantime, King Ed is roughed up by a burly bar-fly who passes him a note, warning the Questors not to try and save the Earl - evidently the Lords are being followed and watched, and they elect to leave immediately.

The journey across the Alps is a difficult one, though it requires little mountain climbing: the Questors are able to utilise the tracks and trails used by the goatherds, and the sure-footed horses prove themselves fantastic all-terrain transport. The main obstacles are the cold and the thick fog which settles in the evening, obscuring everyone's vision.

Fortunately the Lords have reached the foothills on the other side by the time the mist descends, and finding a suitably sheltered spot, the Grand Marshalls order the battalions to pitch camp.

Overnight, the leaders debate the next course of action and it is decided that rather than make a stop in Milan, the Lords will ride across the plain-land straight to Venice, scavenging the land and trading with the villages for water on the way. Paul is placed in charge of rations and Koen Francois rides ahead of the battalions to notify the Doge.
The Doge, ruler of Venice, is less than pleased to here he will soon be playing host to Listibaldia's finest...until Koen sweetens the deal with an obscene bribe!

On arriving in Venice, Queen of the Adriatic, the Questors roam the markets to restock on supplies and the leaders enter the Palace for an audience with the Doge, and seek out his Court Physician, Antonio of Florence, who is able to diagnose the condition and cure for what ails the Earl. It turns out that the poison can only be neutralised with an antidote made from a rare herb to be found in China. Quickly it is decided that passage on a ship to Greece should be purchased. It seems the Questors have not shaken off their pursuers though...at the harbour, Xetas and Särkyä are assaulted by thugs. Unfortunately, the survivor takes his own life rather than betray his employer. Koen is also attacked in the tavern, but this inconvenience is also swiftly dealt with.

Lord Paul has a fortunate encounter with Marco Polo, who gives the Lords valuable information about the lay of the land, the people, culture and history of China.
After negotiation, a sturdy cog is bought, and at sundown the Lords head to the docks and set sail, but not before some defensive weaponry is installed. As they board ship it becomes apparent that Koen has been struck with poison by means unknown. The sickening monk is taken aboard for treatment. The crew of the cog are clearly hardened veterans of the seas, who have survived many encounters with pirates. They will no doubt prove to be an asset on the voyage ahead.

The Lords take to sea-travel with...varying degrees of success, and the side of the cog becomes crowded with green-gilled knights. Nathan has taken station as lookout in the crow's nest, and he spots a ship approaching - pirates. When The Prophet rows out and tries to abate their attack with parables of meatiness, he is thrown out of his boat and his beef stolen. The battle is joined!
The fighting is fierce in the extreme, the pirate ship has a large crew of ruthless cut-throats, but they prove to be no match for the might of Listibaldia. Savouring their victory, the Lords and their crew sail into the harbour of Athens, there to have a brief shore leave to treat injuries, gain sustenance, and rest.
Opportunities arise to experience Greek culture - debate, theatre and food. The Squire has hired some mercenary soldiers to bolster the ships defenses, and Xetas hires some replacement crew.

Soon comes the time to press on, however - the next port of call is Constantinople, a mere day's sail. On the way, another ship is espied. Expecting another attack, the lords prepare their weapons, but the sails are in tatters and the decks empty, and as they approach, the Questors see another ship, and another...it is a graveyard of ships, all beached on the shores of the Aegean isles. Several Lords are eager to investigate the
ships for any treasures they might contain, but the leaders wisely decide to press on, for the mission is urgent and looting can wait til the return journey.

Sunset gives way to dusk, and dusk descends into the gloom of night. Under the luminescence of the scarred moon and pinprick'd stars, the cog arrives at the dock in Constantinople. As the crew tie off the ropes to the bollards of the jetty, those Lords who had arrived here in 1298 remember what had occured on their mission of reconciliation...
Stepping in turn upon the cobbled ground, the Lords look about them - the streets at this hour are largely deserted, only the town watch are present, their patrols marked by their flickering torches. With confidence of recent memory, the veterans of the Guard of Honour mission lead their brethren to the hostel where they can eat and sleep.

During their sojourn, the leaders are approached by a herald from the Knights Templar, who bids them visit their Grand Master in Cyprus, and offers the comfort of three galleys as transportation.
Arriving at the harbour of Cyprus, the galleys drop anchor, and dinghies are rowed out from the shore to ferry the Questors to land.
A small contingent of the Knights Templar, regaled in white robes emblazoned with red crosses, are at the dock to greet them and a few exchange smiles and salutes to those they had fought alongside before. Leading them is Brother Sebastian, who leads you too the hostelry - which turns out to be under the supervision of none other than Lord Daffy, the Questors' old comrade in arms! This puts all in a joyful mood and ale is quaffed, food is consumed and silly songs are sung.

After the night of raucous revelry, the battalion leaders meet with Jacques de Molay to find out why he summoned them to Cyprus. It seems he is willing to aid the Lords in their mission to China...for a favour. The favour turns out to be a big one - de Molay wants the Questors to intercept the Sald army who have been attacking, and defeat them. Angry at the temerity of the Grand Master, the Marshalls reluctantly agree, for the Sald threat is one which affects all.

Thus, Jaques de Molay puts an army of one hundred Templar warriors under the Lord's command, and they all set sail for Lebanon, there to march into the desert and halt the Sald advance. Five miles inland was all they needed to travel, but the heat and the weight of their armour had sapped their strength somewhat. Now, spotting the red flag emerging from the shimmering dunes, the Listibaldian-Templar Alliance halt and swiftly arrange themselves in battle formation and after a sharply barked order from Lord Xetas, the thirty archers let loose a volley of arrows, rising in a dark swarm and descending like hail upon the front ranks of the approaching Salds - another volley and another, the enemy dropping unheard and unmourned.
The remaining Sald Knights crest the summit of the dune, and a few hearts drop - approximately three hundred warriors face the alliance, outnumbering them almost three to one. This would be a battle to remember, if the Listibaldians survive...

As St. Paul's Expeditionary Forces charge forth, lead by Sir Everett, heading towards the Sald faction's unguarded rear flank, Xetas' battalion stood their ground; the order had been given earlier. At the frontal line, ten swordsmen, fifteen halberdiers and fifteen archers behind them, donned in a white, red crossed surcoat, they readied their weapons, the archers string their arrows to the bow's tough string, waiting for the Sald warriors to come close. Behind them are the rest of the St. George's force and the Templar knights: Lord Xetas, Sir Nathan, Sir Grumpy, Sir Charles, Sir Nigel, Lord Paul, General Matthew, Lord Amik, Lord Salesman, The Prophet of Beef took their own respective positions among the Templar Knight's warriors, with their own personal retinues. As for Xetas, Akira was loyally next to him in all moments of the battle, he had sworn an oath to protect his lord from all dangers that may come to him.

The Sald warriors charge onwards, hoping to break Lord Xetas' battalion and to escape Sir Everett's force, pursuing them from behind. As von Sald's soldiers came close, a roar sounding "Fire!" can be heard from the Grand Marshal. Volleys of arrow flied horizontally like bullets escaping from their barrels; almost all of the fifteen arrows sent a soul to Heaven. The archers retreated and the rest of St. George's force charged.

The knights went first, together with some mounted lords, Xetas was not one of them; he preferred to fight on foot. The infantry gave way to the gallopers. Then, the rest followed. When the forces clash, some knights can be seen forcefully dismounted from their steeds, some were killed by enemies' spears. The infantry arrived at the right time to aid the mounted troops. Von Braveheart charged at a Saldish swordsman, his sword still not drawn. The swordsman raised his shield to block Xetas' strike; instead of drawing his katana, Xetas took out one of his tantō, which he now used as throwing knives, after a brief session of training with Yarrum, back in Listibaldia. The swordsman deflected the dagger and exposed himself to strike, thinking that the tantō was the primary attack from Xetas. He also fooled by Xetas' appearance, who did not carry a shield.

He raised his longsword, but before he could strike, his body was already cut into half. Leaving the dead man, Xetas pushed onwards. The battle raged, with the screams of men dying by Everett's mace at the rear flank...As Grumpy smote havoc upon an unfortunate victim, he turned to his side to face the sudden onslaught of yet another enemy soldier, an arab mercenary, hired from the vast pools of mercenaries within Palestine.
Although they may be worth 30 of these rought-and-tumble soldiers, The Lords of Listibaldia and their allies were outnumbered.
Further down the field, was Sir Everett, not losing momentum, the force of his movement wreaking havoc, his weapon aiding his venture down the enemy lines, slaying hither and thither.
Here was Sir Grumpy, having, through the midst of chivalry clouded eyes, recklessly charged the line nigh on single-handedly, and although many of the enemy were engaged in other pursuits, there was a decent group ready to put to the test skills rarely tested. He was knocked off his horse by a heavy salvo from an armoured soldier, and was knocked amidst the enemy. As his horse was stabbed and began its laboured death throes, Grumpy thought to himself, 'to die or not to die?'
With a hoarse voice, he bellowed, 'I choose neigh!' And he raised his sword....

With a grim smile and a wink to Xetas, Paul charges forth: 'St George!' His sword double gripped and trailing behind him like a slipstream. To view Lord Paul in his aspect of a warrior is to forget all notion of a court jester; a grim spectacle he has become, hauberk flecked with dust and gore.
His first hapless foe is a Sald who had rushed ahead of his formation. He falls to a slicing arc that catches him full in the throat, his agonised face obscured by pink mist.
Paul's momentum carries him forth to where Nigel is fighting, and they move to guard each other's back. Step by step they advance, every second stride marked by the corpse of a fallen Sald.

Denied their respite of camp, the Sald army are fatigued, it is clear. They have marched clear across Lebanon and should normally have halted just inland for the night before advancing upon Cyprus. Intercepted and set upon, no matter that the Alliance's numbers are few, the Sald are hard pressed to counter the furiosity of the Listibaldians who fight with valour and passion, and the Templars who fight to defend their home.

The Templar archers continue to rain death upon the Sald ranks til all their arrows are used, then drawing their shortswords they charge into the melée...Surveying the battle from the summit of the dune, Sir Stephan’s heart sinks. The intervention of those cursed Listibaldians had not been foreseen, and now his men were strung out, exhausted and being hacked to death below him, the dust turning to ochre mud and screams carried on the whipping desert winds. Turning to the musician in his personal retinue he mutters an order and raises his crimson banner.
Putting a ram’s horn to his lips, the musician blows an ear-shattering blast – the signal to retreat.

Dropping their weapons in the sand, the rag-tag remainder of the Sald force turn and flee. The advancing cavalry cuts many down, and then Lord Xetas cries ‘Cease battle! The desert will surely claim them as they limp home.’

Weapons in the air, the Listibaldians and their Templar allies cheer their triumph and gather themselves together, retrieving the wounded, burying the fallen.

Sir Everett gazes into the east and then gives the order to pitch camp.
They would rest then begin the arduous march to Damascus to finish the Salds for good.

Quest 28 ends here, but the adventure continues...

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Medals Awarded for this Quest

Quest Author:
The Quest Team
This medal was awarded for authoring this quest

Brotherhood Award:
Nathan the Knight

Diplomacy Medal:
Beefman

Medal of Valour:
Vienna1638

Grand Marshal Award:
Vienna and Lord Xetas
This medal was awarded to the Grand Marshal of each batallion

Marshal at Arms and Sergeant at Arms Award:
Lord Särkyä, Mooman, Nathan and GrumpyGills
This medal was awarded to the Marshal at Arms of each batallion

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