05.08, Aetherday
Departed from The Monastery of the Horn's Discipline
14.08, Moonday
Arrived in Gronne-Haute.
17.08, Earthday
Received mission
18.08, Fireday
Travelled to Terfer. Hot and humid most of the day, heavy rain in the evening and night.
19.08, Waterday
Rested in Terfer, conferred with Sieur Etienne des Cornes. Departed along the Old Right Road. Hot day, with slight wind.
20.08, Aetherday
Dawn broke on the raiders, a mile east of the Abbey. A hot, still day.
The day was dawning as the knights arrived at the abbey. Francois ordered Patric to take five demi-lancers and ride around to find a possible back door. With that, the attack was initiated. Patric and his lancers were hampered by a stone wall and had to ride along it in their search for an opening. Meanwhile, Francois had led the main force into the courtyard. Mass had just ended and some monks were coming out inton the yard when the riders appeared. There seemed to be some confusion as to who these knights were, but when the monks realized that the enemy had come to their doorstep they hurriedly ran for cover.
Francois sent some of the knights to the main door and then proceeded to chase the monks back into the temple. Having gained control of the yard Francois called Patric back. The plan was to enter the main building in force. Great was their dismay when they realized that they had entered the chapter house and had to get through a thick oak door to gain access to the rest of the house. Sieur Ariste and one of the other heavy knights were set to work as the rest waited in the courtyard. Suddenly one of the demi-lancers was hit in the leg by a crossbow bolt. The main force took shelter in the chapter house while 5 demi-lancers remained outside with the wounded man. Shortly after the inner door was breached and the knights proceeded to enter the main building. The defenders attempted to stop their progress, but the bolt bounced off the first knights armour without slowing the raiders.
***
Early in the hour of the Horse, the fortunes of the raiding party shift from poor to foul. As the party is riding east, Patric spots a dust cloud indicating the approach of enemy cavalry. The raiding party change their course northwards, hoping to elude the attackers. Unfortunately, this puts them closer to another lance of Ramorosean cavalry, coming southwards. Between the Devil and the deep blue sea, the raiders return to their original course.
Disadvantaged by tired horses, inferior knowledge of the land, and more enemies closing from behind, the raiders meet the Ramorosean interceptors in an uphill struggle. Lances are broken on a newly harvested hillside meadow. Francois directs Patric and the light cavalry to press on the enemy's left flank, while the heavily armoured knights take the enemy head-on. Lances are broken and the general melee ensues.
The battle is fairly even, the raiders are upheld by the brawn and valour of the two Kingslayers. The tide turns, however, as the northern Ramorosean lance crashes into the raiders' own left flank. A lance pierces Francois's shield arm, and the raiders are routed in short order, losing half their men.
Patric rejoins Francois and aids him on his return to Terfer. Eventually, they
21.08, Moonday
Returned to Vàdére to seek proper medical attention for the Baronet.. A very hot day.
22.08, Godsday
Rest in Vàdére. Slightly cooler, but very humid, cloying weather.
23.08, Airday
A thunderstorm breaks over Gronne, with heavy rain, and strong winds. The spoils brought back from the raid are evaluated at cirka $60 000, of which $12 000 are returned to Baronet Francois, to be divided as he sees fit.
24.08, Earthday
The stormy weather continues, abeit with bated strength. The storm ends in a slight drizzle during the night.
25.08, Fireday
A cloudy day with a gentle breeze blowing from the sea, which is yet to bring bad weather.
26.08, Waterday
Winds freshen , bringing a brief shower of hail around midday, it freshens as the day passes, and blowing ever stronger through the evening.
As the winds blow, the Baronets Fracois and Ariste Jr. sit drinking, Francois talks and Ariste Jr. mostly listens. As they grow warm with wine, Ariste Jr. asks his cousin how it is to love so strongly. Francois compares his remote adoration to that of a mortal to a deity, but is at a loss of words to express it. Ariste Jr. encourages Francois to seek inspiration for his love letters in the old songs and poems, and reminds him that a knight should not only serve his liege and the gods, but also love and life itself. Lieutenant Patric is uncomfortably silent and comparably sober.
The strong winds bring a thunderstorm around midnight, accompanied with rainfall and strong winds. The storm lessens to wind and drizzle as the night grows old.
27.08, Aetherday
Calm after the storm, the day is still and cloudy.
28.08, Moonday
The weather is cloudy, with a gentle breeze from the south.