Let me know what you think.

The year is 1144, Matilda of Boulogne has returned to Normandy and King Stephen has been acclaimed King by the Barons. All is at last peaceful in our green country, and yet trouble seems to have hovered over our troubled land. The nobility seem not to feel it, but the cross is heavy on us who have forsaken the world. We see trouble in the deep woods, more than the habitual bandits who gather there and murder travellers in these dark times, more even than the troublesome soldiers who have bee left without work and cause mischief amongst the surfs.

There is talk of children disappearing, of dark rights being taken in the deep forest.

Old things creep from forgotten places, things that where once remembered and seek remembrance again.

The monastic orders however must stand silent, we must here not the cries of the peasantry for the flock is not our concern, and we do not partake of the world anymore. However, others do and I have given over the last of my life to noting the names and the deeds of those who would otherwise be forgotten. Some are not Christian, others renegades but all have given there oath to investigate this darkness. It saddens me that we cannot sing there praises, give song to there valour but many of these walk outside of God and the church must keep its involvement secret. Thomas Becket himself would have us excommunicated at least if he knew of this.

William Bersbery Monk of Ramsey Abbey

This would be a series of events to be set at the end of the troubled period of Civil war between Empress Maud and King Steven.

The players are part of a group created with the help of the survivors of Ramsey Abbey, the headquarters of Geoffrey de Mandeville, once earl of Essex, now an outlaw.

Funded but not accepted by the church there job is to hunt down and investigate strange events in the aftermath of the war torn country.

The rules will be as freeform as possible, but certain skills etc. will be available.

Players can be anything from the following list:

Third Son: A member of the nobility or a successful merchant who has been given some training, a small sum of money and sent on his way.

Fitz: Born on the wrong sides of the sheets but from a noble family, whether you have been accepted or not would be up to you. An excepted child may inherit something; otherwise, you are not welcome.

Footman: A soldier of fortune, perhaps on the wrong side during the war, perhaps you where wounded, whatever happened you have ended up working for the Brother Bersbery.

Clergy: A member of the priesthood or much less likely a monastic order, you are well educated and trained in a religion.

Scoundrel: Anything from a peddler selling fake relics, to a footpad with a club, you live by your wits.

Scholar: alchemist, historian or even maybe an occultist, most scholars at this point where clergy, so what are you studying that would necessitate you working alone? Or do you just like the solitude?

Also, the church was a common place for third sons... one to inherit, one for the army and one to the church. Lots of potential backgrounds there, especially with the clashes still evident between the Saxons and Normans at all levels of society.

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The Whispering God is your friend... trust the Whispering God...

Ruins of Empire

1st - 3rd Feb, 2008, Gladstone scout centre, Chester

The third son is up there becouse they are a classic archetype in many story and they make a good all round character.

And lastly a character's first two questions are:

Are you Norman, Saxon or (Jew or Saracen can be taken as backgrounds)

Did you support Empress Maud or King Stephen

Character creation works by choosing an advantage from the basic class list and then deciding if you want any disadvantages wich allow you to by more advantages etc.

sense of purpose - check

mix of wide range of odd characters possible - check

room for deviation - plenty

range of possible mission styles - varied

You seem to have it all well covered.

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IRL: Edwin Hofstra

- mostly crewing at the moment

I do my best!

My systems dont usualy seem to be the problem. Its getting the club infastructure together to run them.

Too impatient thats my problem.

The Rules (at least the rough first draft as that gives me some free proof reading etc.!) will be up on our website within the week if people want to have a gander, as I say they are still very much at the tweeking and messing with stage, so feed back is REALLY usefull!

www.Wyvernstales.netaspace.com

Well you also have Scotish and Welsh possible kicking around - nice land grab durring this period was also possible. For another good source on the period - which I guess you've seen - there are the Brother Cadfal novels.