Rohen d'Aincourt

Fortune may indeed favour the bold, Victory however favours the wise!

Rohen was born in the village of Farnesfield to its lord and lady, Geoffrey d’Aincourt and Acherea d’Croy. Like the rest of his family he too had red hair, however his was an unnaturally vibrant crimson. the youngest of their three sons, he stood to inherit little, and though by far the least athletic, Rohen was very intelligent; though he learned to play the fool in order to sidestep sycophants and responsibilities and focus on his hobbies; riding, music and women.

He did occasionally feel an urge to partake in the sparring of his brothers, but resisted. At age twelve, his father deemed him old enough to tell him his ancestry – his blood was that of the Celtic goddess of victory, Andraste. It was from her that he had his hair, signifying that he had received her full blessing.

Soon after, Rohen’s mother died, and his father remarried to Lady Marion. Although initially disliking her perceived intrusion into the family, Rohen formed a friendship with her. Both she and his father perceived his veiled intellect, and sent him to the manor of Lord Alchere d’Rivière – a friend of d’Aincourt’s – in Normandy, to serve as his son’s page and learn the ways of the court.

Whilst he was abroad, both Rohen’s brothers befell fatal accidents, causing Rohen to lose his faith in God and gain a burning passion to do well with his sudden responsibility as heir of Farnesfield. This string of tragedies seemed designed after Rohen himself was the subject of a failed assassination, and the news that his father had died under suspicious circumstances.

Robert Giscard seized Farnesfield and bundled Marion to Gresham Abbey, who then wrote to young Rohen to beg he return to claim his inheritance. Filled with a righteous anger, Rohen obliged…

Characteristics
Intelligence: +2, Perception: +0, Presence: +2*, Communication: +2, Strength: +0, Stamina: +1, Dexterity: +1, Quickness: +1

Virtues
Strong Magical Blood (Andraste)*M, Apt Student, Clear Thinker, Gentleman, Improved Characteristics, Lesser Power (d'Aincourt Family Gift)*, Self-Confident, Venus Blessing

Flaws
AmbitiousM, Devoted Lord*M, Careless with Athletics, Essential Flaw (Unstealthy), Overconfident, Uncertain Faith

Age, Languages & Social Status
Age: 15 Warping:0 Decrepitude:0 English: 2 French: 5 Social Status: Nobleman

Skills
Area Lore: England (Defensive Geography): 1 Area Lore: Normandy (Noble Houses): 1 Athletics (Climbing): 1 Awareness (In Court): 1 Charm (Women): 3 English (Midlands): 2 Etiquette (Nobility): 2 Folk Ken (Nobles): 2 French (Norman): 5 Guile (Half-Truths): 2 Intrigue (Alliances): 1 Leadership (Commander): 2 Magic Lore (Gods of the Old Religion): 1 Music (Lute): 2 Profession: Noble (Stewardship): 2(1) Ride (Speed): 2 Second Sight (Regio's): 1(3) Stealth (Sneaking): 1

Personality Traits
Highborn +3, Brave + 2, Charming + 3, Uncertain Faith +1

Reputations
Blood of Andraste (Bloodline)*: 3 Heir to the Lordship Farnesfield (Local): 3

Advancement
Spring 1192: Adventure - 8 exp (Put into Prof: Noble & Second Sight) Summer 1192: Exposure - 2exp (Put into Prof: Noble) Autumn 1192: Exposure - 2exp (Put into Prof: Noble) Winter 1192: Exposure - 2exp (Put into Prof: Noble)

Farnesfield
Problems in Farnesfield Lord Rohen has inherited a series of problems from that plague Farnesfield from Lord Walters stewardship of his family lands. To this end, the young lord will have to resolve these issues whilst playing off the sheriff and his men.

Each issue will require an explanation of a resolution to that specific problem. Only one can be resolved each season, however multiple seasons can be assigned to a problem in order to provide a longer term solution rather than a short term fix.

A variant of the Labour Point system is being utilized to manage the estate. Improvement are managed as the following: Base Labour Points: Profession: Noble + Int * 2(Poor) = Seasonal Labour Points. Improvements: Add a number of Labour Points depending upon the resolution utilized. Adventure: Some improvements will require adventures to complete; these adventures will also supply Labour Points.

Living conditions - Poor; Manor house in poor repair (unoccupied for some time) - affects living conditions + reputation with Nobles (penalty to social interactions with Nobles + penalty to living conditions). - Villager dwellings in poor repair (carpenter is old and needs apprentices/journeymen + thatcher to keep up) - Living conditions penalty.

Loyalty - Loyalty (poor) Some are loyal (profited from) the old Steward and hostile to Rohen. Other villagers were fond of his Father but know nothing about Rohan (much to prove) The Church requires a new priest (old one unpopular – on the take) - workers also overworked by last Steward, demand more time off (bonus to popularity, penalty to production/wealth).

Production - Production (poor) - Pastureland sold to Gresham nunnery – rent must be paid to use it. - The plough was sold, so rent needs to be paid to the neighboring village to use theirs. - Shortage of Farm animals (many sold for quick coin) a new ram, and Bull especially needed. - Peasants are working overtime (including some feast days) giving a bonus to production (and penalty to loyalty). - In need of a journeyman carpenter, an apprentice thatcher and a mason.

Costs - Expenses for Sir Robert and other retainers/officials (priest, Sir Robert, Squire/sergeant + officials – bailiff etc. - Tithe to the church – 10% of income. - Taxes to the crown – delivered to the Sheriff (usually 10% - raised to 20% for crusade funds – 25% including carucage). - Personal expenses (fashionable clothes, equipment, entertaining, hunting etc.). - Debts to your Norman relations (cousins etc.) who sheltered you and paid for your journey to England as well as paying your retainers on your behalf). - Debts to Sir Humphrey at Fairhaven (fee of accession and tax payment).

Security - Security (poor - average) - Sir Robert is your only retainer, Robin Hood will give you 3 of his men to guard your hall. More will be required, especially a squire/sergeant to aid Sir Robert, some yeomen would also be useful.

Population - Currently in decline, c.300 people in Sir Geoffrey’s time, c.230 now – combination of sickness, heavy work and taxes, to reach full production more residents will be needed (at least 280 for full production).

Notes Above is a summary of the state of Farnesfield, given at Rohen's first Manorial meeting. In order to reach the ‘typical’ grade for a 'Lord of the Manor' Rohen require the following; - An income after (tax) of £20 (production) - A knight + a squire/serjeant + 4-6 Yeomen (standard equipment), equipment to maintain up to 20 levy peasants (20 spears, shields and leather jerkins) - (Security) - Population c.300 persons - (Population) - Resolution of the highlighted issues, or additional revenue streams to mitigate any loses.(Production, Costs)

Farnesfield Resolution and Labour Points
Labour Points Profession Noble (2) + Int (2) * 2 = Seasonal Total (8). LP Seasonal Totals: 1 Seasons: 8 LP 2 Seasons: 16 LP 3 Seasons: 24 LP 4 Seasons: 32 LP

Total Labour Points: 18 Accurate as of: 1193

Targets to Hit: Poor to Average: 120 LP Average to Wealthy: 360 LP Wealthy to Poor: 1080 LP

Resolutions - Resolutions to be placed here each season - 1192 – Summer: Villager Homes in Disrepair (Living Conditions/Loyalty) Labour Points are assigned to this resolution Rohen and his companions will head to the towns of Newark and Grantham to locate a new Carpenter and Thatcher; For this Rohen will look for the third or fourth of each crafter in the town (As large towns, both should have multiple individuals in this profession). Rohen will look at convincing them to re-locate to Farnesfield, as they will have far more business than competing with others within a large town.

Inform the Crafters to take over the existing workshops and begin repairs on occupied homes first, once these have been repaired, start repairs on unoccupied homes (The unoccupied homes will be restored with Rohens' own Funds)

1192 – Autumn: Less than 300 people in Village (Population) Labour Points Assigned to this resolution Due to the decline in population from the time of Rohens’ father approximately 17 – 20 homes should be vacant within Farnesfield. To this end Rohen will offer these homes to young, new families (Especially 2nd or 3rd Sons with new wives; as 1st sons will inherit the family home) at a 50% cost rate; the remaining 50% will be paid off by the new owners over the next 10 years. A further 15% reduction in initial cost will be applied if the new owner possesses a unique skill or craft (Mason, Tailor, Blacksmith, Military Experience etc).

All newcomers will meet with Rohen in an interview before purchase so that there are no possible issues what could arise from individuals being added to the community (will also allow Rohen to see if skilled crafters have been attracted to the area to generate new income sources). The vacant homes were repaired and made ready for new occupants last season during the villages re-construction efforts.

1192 – Winter: The Plough (Production/Costs) Labour Points Assigned to this resolution Rohen will request that the Carpenter begin construction of a new Plough frame during the winter, the cost of the new plough will be covered by Rohen as it will be cheaper in the long term than paying the nearest village consistently to rent there one out (which could cause farm labours issues with timing). Meanwhile Rohen will Travel with his Companions to Newark or Grantham to buy a new Plough blade from a blacksmith (If one has not been attracted to Farnesfield yet). Wealth and other Issues - Wealth and other Issues to be placed here -

Typical Gear
Good, well made clothes. Dagger, Horse, other gear a nobleman would have access too.

Opinions on Others
Mages Arianwen - Cirice - Edric - Essel - Evelyn - Companions Iris - Tancred - Lady Tessora of Artois - Will Scarlet - Grogs

Past
Rohen was born in 1177 AD in the d’Aincourt manor in the large village of Farnesfield to Lord Geoffrey d’Aincourt and Lady Acherea d’Croÿ. Rohen is the youngest of Lord Geoffrey's three sons. Like all members of the d’Aincourt family Rohen was born with red hair, however whilst his father, brothers and sisters all possessed standard red hair, Rohen was born with extremely vivid crimson hair which marked him apart from his siblings.

From a young age it became apparent to Rohen that he was significantly smarter than his siblings, whilst his brothers; Geoffrey the Younger and Achart were stronger or quicker than he was, Rohen often proved smarter and learned quickly to hide his intellect and play the fool; this way he was unbothered by sycophants looking to court the approval of his father and brothers and was allowed to indulge hobbies which garnered his interest; such as music, horse-riding and engaging in courtly love. As he had no chance to inherit anything from his father and seemingly possessed no skills which marked him out for a future as a retainer to another nobleman Rohen realised that he was of little use to his father other than possibly entering the church to further ties with it (a thought which brought Rohen great disgust) or to be married off to strengthen ties to another noble house. As such Rohen was content to spend his time with young women and indulging in other noble pursuits.

However every now and then, Rohen felt a burning within his blood when seeing his brothers train with each other in combat. He felt as though he should pick up a blade and join them in the heat of battle. But every time he managed to clear his thoughts and temper that feeling within his blood. When Rohen was twelve winters old, he was summoned by his father on a cold winters night, when he asked his father as to why he had been summoned in the middle of the night, his father told him to be silent and follow him. Lord Geoffrey the Elder lead Rohen deep into the woodland nearby their ancestral manor house to what seemed to be small pagan shrine, the shrine was well tended and was hidden in a grove where the world itself seemed more real. It was here that his father informed Rohen of their family ancestry; They were the descendants of the ancient Celtic goddess of the old religion: Andraste. Andraste was the goddess of victory, war and being undefeatable in battle. Geoffrey then informed Rohen the true history of their family.

Centuries ago, long before there family had bent the knee to William the Conqueror. A young lord within their family met a beautiful maiden with crimson hair who challenged the lord to a duel, the lord accepted and the pair of them crossed blades. Whilst the young maiden was victorious, she was impressed by the lords valour, skill and determination. Over the next few months the pair spent a great deal of time within each others company, the Maiden revealed themselves as Andraste and explained that she was not a deity, simply a governor of the universe as it should be and that she greatly detested those who pretended to be deities, she explained that since the time of Rome and the rise of Christianity she simply wondered the earth searching for false gods to slay and challengers in the art of war to entertain herself. Eventually from this union was born a Son; from whom all members of the d’Aincourt family are descended from. Whilst the family honoured their ultimate matriarch, they kept to their Christian values and faith in accordance with her destain for false gods.

From Andraste, the d’Aincourt family had inherited their bright red hair and longevity; over time the bright crimson hair of their ancestors faded to a more standard red hair. However once every few generations, one would be born with Andraste’s full blessing, this blessing would be marked by Andraste’s crimson hair being present upon the child; a trait which Rohen possessed. Lord Geoffrey then informed Rohen that he was aware that his son was disguising his intellect and abilities, however he was also aware as to why he had done this. He told Rohen that next summer he would be sending the young man to his friend Lord Alchere d’Rivière’s manor in Normandy to act as a Page to one of the lord’s retainers so that he could learn courtly affairs. Before they left for the manor again his father imparted one last piece of wisdom, a piece of wisdom that stuck with Rohen and would become the mantra he would act by “While Fortune may indeed favour the bold, Victory however, favours the wise”.

In the spring of 1189 tragedy struck the d’Aincourt household; Rohen mother Lady Acherea had contracted a wasting sickness and died shortly after. From this event his father became colder and sterner, whilst he was still fair and just, the loss of his wife had hit him hard. A few months later his father re-married to a younger wife named Marion. Initially Rohen disliked Marion, his grief over the loss of his mother and the information that he would soon be separated from his family during this difficult time caused much internal conflict for him. However Marion’s genuinely friendly and caring nature eventually caused Rohen to overcome his initial hostility and become genuine friends with his fathers new wife. Marion came to understand that Rohen was not the fool that he made himself out to be, but a rather intelligent and focused young man. Before leaving for Normandy, Marion stated that if anything happen or went wrong she would send a message to him with a courier that she trusted with her life, Rohen promised in return that he would come all haste if she or the family needed him.

In Spring of 1190 Rohen arrived at the household of his fathers close friend Lord Alchere. The older lord immediately welcomed his friends youngest son to the court and announced that he would be the page to his younger son Lord Deocar. Rohen and Lord Deocar got along quite well, both shared a similar sense of humour and taste in music, both were younger sons and both enjoyed tales of historical battles. Rohen also found himself greatly enjoying his time at court, the intrigue, guile and charm that courtiers used against one another as akin to a great game being played within the shadows. Under the advice of Lord Deocar, Rohen kept up his facade of being the fool and much to his surprise other courtiers were more inclined to make mistakes or slip-up’s around him.

Three weeks after Rohen had left for Lord Alchere manor in Normandy he received a letter from Marion informing him that his Eldest brother Lord Geoffrey the Younger had died in a hunting accident in Sherwood forest, Whilst riding through the Forrest another lord mistook him for a deer due to the lack of visibility and shot him dead with an arrow through the heart. Unfortunately due to the number of other hunters and damage on the arrow due to falling from his horse, none of the lords knew which one of them mistakenly killed the young heir. Rohen mourned the death of his brother; whilst they hadn't been extremely close, he was still family and Rohen mourned his loss regardless.

In the spring of 1191 his brother Lord Achart visited him in Normandy; Lord Alchere held a huge banquet in honour of his friends son and heir visiting them. Unlike with Geoffrey the Younger, who was always quite aloof; Rohen got along quite well with Achart, both being younger sons and with the prospects of inheritance low, meant that both of them enjoyed each others company whilst going about their mutual interests and hobbies. Over that week Achart informed Rohen of the goings on in Farnesfield and his new duties as his Fathers heir. Both brothers raised a toast to their fallen brother before discussing what Rohen was learning under Lord Deocar.

After spending the week with Rohen, Lord Achart returned to England along with his companions. Rohen was beginning to enjoy life much more, he found he had a talent for courtly politics and his family life since the death of his brother and mother had finally settled down once more. Less than three weeks later however, he received a letter for Marion informing him that his brother Achart had perished whilst travelling back to England from Normandy, he had fallen overboard whilst drinking with his companions, who were unfortunately unable to rescue him. For two days Rohen was in a rage, his faith in god’s justice had started to erode after the death of his mother, and now with the death of both his brothers, it had been shaken. After mourning the loss of Achart, Rohen realised that he was now his fathers only heir, he promised that he would rule with fairness and he would make sure that his brothers were proud of the accomplishments he would achieve. He would be victorious and that history would remember his name, and the name of his family!

In the summer of 1191 Rohens life took a drastic turn for the worse. In the middle of the night, he awoke to the sound of someone entering his chambers. In a moment a hooded figure was upon him, a large black knife in hand. Rohen managed to jump out of the way of the initial attack and threw his bedpan at the would be assailant. Using this momentary reprieve Rohen darted for the door calling out to the guards, with the assailant hot on his heels Rohen managed to run into his master Lord Deocar, who had been altered by the commotion and was armed with his longsword having heard his friend call for assistance. With a well placed strike Lord Deocar struck down the would-be assassin, saving Rohens’ life.

Over the next few weeks Rohen’s suspicion over the recent events deepened, he heard rumour that his father had decided to join King Richard upon the crusade to retake Jerusalem within the holy land; however such passage would have also taken his father near Lord Alchere estate and his father would have paid him and his old friend a visit when passing through with King Richard. Lord Alchere and his son were also somewhat suspicious of this action, and promised they would looking into this further with other friends of his father.

In Autumn of 1191 a letter arrived addressed to him carried by what seemed to be a rather jovial friar, he introduced himself as Friar Tuck and the letter was from Marion, who wrote that after the death of his father; and that the man seen leaving on crusade was an imposter. Robert Giscard had seized his family lands and had placed Marion into the Abbey at Gresham to silence her. She pleaded with him to return home with all haste and reclaim his family lands. After spending the winter in Normandy and requesting to be relieved from service by Lord Deocar (which had been granted), he prepared for his return to Farnesfield to reclaim his family lands, luckily he would not be heading home alone, as Ser Robert, his families faithful Knight would be his escort along with several other trustworthy companions sent by Lord Deocar. With his return to England in sight, he would begin his investigation into who murdered his family and ordered the attack on his life, and whatever sinister force might be behind it.