Sir Gaulric Ravenhart

[mooremit]

   He sat with dark olive eyes leveled; vexingly glancing toward the doors to the noble Hall of House Ravenhart.  Though in these dark times Ravenhart Hall sat with gloom hanging about it as if winter had come early.  Times that the noble house of Ravenhart had known for longer than the lord could remember, difficulties that had forced the Ravenhart’s to persevere.  As the strong blood of the northmen flowed through their line they had carved a place out in the north among the raiders and warring clans.  It was this blood that the lord was fraught with worry, awaiting the news that he feared would bring ill tidings of his line.  
   The lord sat back with a grunt, not able to take the storm that grew in strength between his eyes.  As he brought his scarred and aged fingers back to relieve this invasion to his thoughts, his mind began to drift back to the day his son volunteered to join King Urien’s campaign.
   Near the dawning of spring the call had come to House Ravenhart from King Urien, the liege who reigned over the northern houses.  King Urien sought to push back some of the lawless clans that had pushed into the lands of the north, a trespass a noble lord cannot forgive.   Doubtless it was that the lord expected much from Ravenhart, who generally required what it had to protect its own lands and had bore the scores of a revolt some years ago.  More surprised was the Lord of Ravenhart when his second son sought to take a newly formed company of archers to aide in the recapture of the Northlands, perhaps as surprised a King Urien to receive these men.   The lord had no other choice but to grant his son of 15 summers leave, as the winter had been forgiving and an unusual surplus of men and gold were House Ravenharts.  
   Through the months of spring and early summer word reached the noble Hall of Ravenhart, twelve moons past King Uriens overcame the clansmen, expanding on his former territories.  With news of victory also came news of struggle, as an ambush by some of the allied clansmen had claimed many soldiers under King Urien.  Though the men fought bravely and rallied around their lord to fight their way out of the sprung trap nearly a quarter of his army fell within an hour. A hard earned victory that had scattered the clansmen across the countryside, pursued by the Northern Knights. Among this news also came the word that common soldiers were not the only dead, the noble sons of the Northern Houses were even among the dead.  It was this news that had poured oil on the flames of worry that scorched the concerned father’s mind.  
Though the eldest son of House Ravenhart still had breath, he was no warrior and it was the warrior blood that kept House Ravenhart pushing through the ashes.  The sons complemented each other in every way save words, as their public quarrels had frequented the small hamlets streets.  For the youngest son Gaulric had the fury of the clansmen, losing his temper almost to the point of blows.  Even with this tension between his sons he had seen them work together with tremendous results, which he had hoped would become more frequent with the boys becoming men.
Now it would seem that dream held in the balance, as the lord awaited news of his sons well being.  He imagined the distance from his hall to the area in which the army was said to have last been seen, a traveling merchant had come through within the week telling of the host of soldiers.  The king had been eager for news and given audience to the merchant but was unable to get anything of much use in regard to his son Gaulric.  The Lord counted the time it would take to reach the spot futilely, worrying that King Urien would push further east before disbanding his army.  As this fear crossed his worried brow the Lord was halted in thought by a creak from the wooden door at the front of the hall.  
Even forgetting his status the lord rose to meet the messenger that seemed a soldier of some worth based on his dented armor.  The sternness of the messenger was only amplified by his hurried nature; as if he wished to deliver his news fast enough to escape the fury of the lord.  He took this as a bad omen, that the news from the messenger would tell him fears were true and that Gaulric was lost to him.  Further solidifying this dread was the parcel the soldier held out with the wax seal of King Urien, the lord wondering if he saw a tremble in the soldier’s hand.  
The lord snatched the letter from the soldiers hand and pulled it open to seal the fate he had been preparing for.  He scanned through the word quickly that had been penned by a secretary under King Urien.  

Lord of Ravenhouse:
News has surely reached your noble house of the success of my campaign in the north lands, though success came at a dear price.  Do not gear for blessed be the days of my House and the Halls of Ravenhart, as your son Sir Gaulric was a noble knight in my service.  He was the first to call the troops to rally at my side and beat back the treacherous blades of the clansmen raiders.  It was his company of troops that broke through the cowardly raider’s lines led by Sir Gaulric and allowed the Knights a way through the chaos.  It was not long before my troops were no longer fighting for their lives but pursing the clansmen scattering them to the four winds.  These deeds were all relayed to me by Sir Ywain, who feels strongly that Sir Gaulric return with us to train as true Northern Knight in Gaiholm.  In return for keeping your son from his home I am returning the troops he led and a gift for your good service.  Within the month we will have solidified our position and in no time your son shall return home a promising Knight.  

-King Urien

Lord Tathal-
   While I am eager to return to the Hall of Ravenhart am I serving our lord King Urien here in the busy city of Gaiholm.  The ways in these lands reminds me of our own but is still quite alien to me at times, though I can see that value in these ways.  I have seen a way to bring peace to our lands, King Arthur has changed the land and its people, King Urien’s lands prosper under the growing ‘civility’.    We are blessed to have had your wisdom lead our noble house this far but I fear that the uncivilized north sometimes lower our status and prevents us from rising from rising from the ashes. In our untamed lands I now see that the way we can bring peace is to raise our house out of the ashes with honor.  I continue to learn of these ways under Sir Ywain and will return to you in good time. We Shall Rise Above the Ashes

-Sir Gaulric

[mooremit]

My Lord-
Long has it seemed since I have walked your great halls and I am worse for it.  At time I fear the bloodlust of these lands will rise up and sweep all within my noble House Ravenhart.  True it is that our blood holds true to the North Lands but it is ours to strive toward civilization that will bring prosperity and peace to our lands.  It is the concern for peace with which I write, as we have received word that my father is in the hands of the enemy, the age old enemy we know too well.  An enemy I can have no other choice but to plot their downfall, as no sum of gold dragons could wrestle our father from their angry maw.  Glad I am that I returned home when I did, as I was able to learn much from father and take on some of the responsibilities of the house.  But it is with vengeance I struggle, vengeance to only make peace for our noble house.  When the time comes I am sure that your quest for peace will align with ours and we can ride gloriously once again into battle.

Honorably-

Sir Gaulric Ravenhart,
Castellan of Raven Hall

[mooremit]

Nov 2
Events conspire to send our noble house into flurry of action.  The simplest requests when combined together or more than enough to call these desperate times.  Honour demands my attention to all claims, Mabs Barrow was the first of my recent quest.   It is this shrine to our founder than had the most surprising results, as I expected to battle many great foes of the Weir.  We headed in fast and strong with myself and the Master at Arms leading the charge followed by the rest of the troops and some of our house.   An unexpected meet broke the action as we were honored with the great Merlin's presence.  After a talk of the happenings of the world he was off and so were we, as  luck would have it.   I say luck because of the dishonor I fear my sister may continue to bring into our honorable house, be it insult to injury with ransom of my father weighing heavily on my heart.  As we spoke to Merlin she spoke out of turn, more than once and openly seemed to accuse him of bringing conflict our way.  Of course I see this as the folly of a woman but I fear I can not tolerate much more of this behavior, I shall talk with my brother on this matter as he is the more cool-headed of us.  My sister should likewise look to our Aunt who spoke few words to Merlin, though she has been in his presence several times in her days at Camelot.  I pray that we succeed in our quest so that the dishonor of her behavior will not bring judgment upon noble House Ravenhart.  Within the week I shall lead a troop of men to fell this giant we've come aware of and soon after I look forward to the tournament.  We shall rise from the ashes

-Sir Gaulric Ravenhart Castellan of the Noble House Ravenhart

[mooremit]

Nov 7
Brother-

Much have you missed, it would seem that your classic timing has allowed for you to miss the glory of great battle.   Though I have faced many battles this one has left me and uncle a bit scarred, though I am glad for them.  Glad that we have triumphed over the louses of Lidell Clan and even more so that we brought the fight to two mighty giants, else these wounds would be for naught.  With glory we shall be soon returning home and collecting the bounty both of the fierce trophies, for the glory of House Ravenhart.  I see now that though these events may conspire against us the gods stand by us and give us the strength to protect what is ours and prosper.  
Before I begin to chatter on like a young maiden I will say that not only good has come of these events.  My concerns over our sister are more well-founded, as she would rather connive with our enemies than slay them openly.  I sought to give one of the leaders of the clan his life when he yielded to our superior skills in battle.  Our sister would not have it thus and unrelenting began flaunting herself and dancing circles around him, as we both know she is all too good at doing.  Even to the point of discussing how much it would cost to bring the savages under our noble house.  When I could suffer the impertinence no longer and severed the warriors head from his shoulders, no doubt an honorable and merciful end even to a barbarian.  For we both know it a better end than most men have met in their dealings with her.
Rather than respect my decision as commander on the field she then sought to make a fool of herself by challenging me.  I fear my temper took hold of my after her foot was narrowly blocked by my helmet, as I then began to pull her from her mount.  Thank the gods that Uncle was nearby and chastened her a good deal, which brought all tension to all halt.  A part of me wonders if my treatment by him likewise was due to her favored status with him, though I am not proud of my actions.  Cleodette our Aunt served as the diplomat in this, with her classic wisdom, encouraging Isabeau to respect my decision.  It would have been easy to be snide in such a situation but as a knight we must take the high road.  
I tried to repay our loyal Aunt for her service by taking a blow from the lesser giant, a move I hope she will see as worthy.  As we all must stick to our strengths, if they are honorable, it was the only way I could think of in gratitude.  I digress though as during the battle our sister did lure the giant from the safety of his tower, which allowed Uncle and myself to deliver the killing blows.  I fear that as a lady she would do better to follow our Aunts example and stick to the rear of battle and not risk her safety so.  In any case Uncle seemed rather pleased with himself after the battle, claiming the killing blows on each giant.  I trust that in time he will credit his victories to House Ravenhart, victories of which I see many on the horizon.  Twas a good day and you were sorely missed as we might have used an extra bow!

-Sir Gaulric Ravenhart,
Castellan of Ravenhall

[mooremit]

The Grande Tournament
Having made our way to the tournament the noble House Ravenhart was well represented by myself and my Uncle.  Even my brother made a showing in the joust, though it did little for him in furthering his less than pristine combat reputation.  In any case, so far we have triumphed over some difficult foes, many of which are noble and worthy of praise.  Regrettable is it however, that our enemies are present here as well and have had some success in the tournament.  I pray that I am given the opportunity yet again to show the prowess of my noble house and strike down my enemies.  In case it is the fates that have granted a retainer to House Ravenhart, a hedge knight that I bested in the joust.  He will make a worthy addition to our house and allow us to continue to grow in power.  While all this is the focus of the festivities of Malahaute I fear it is not the only notable occurrence.
 
I fear that the attack on my sister is merely the tip of the mountain in this case, with the presence of so many enemies it is convenient to be schemed about behind our backs.  Almost worse are the schemes of those within our house I fear, they seem to generally fall for these dishonorable games of subterfuge.   My hope is that we shall be rid of this place soon, victorious and having gained a great deal of glory for House Ravenhart.  I do hope that this will allow us to gain some footing in freeing our father from Malahautes dungeon, though I am unsure if we are better off.  In any case as a good knight I shall seek justice and victory in the face of my enemies, for only then can peace be felt by these lands.