gridlore | Kicking the French Crown Around

So, before I was rudely interrupted by a massive cold, work (and isn't it nice to be able to use that excuse again!) and general life, I was expounding on the joys of using the plague-riddled, collapsing society, war-plagued 14th century as an idea mine for gaming. Let's get back to that, shall we?

Now, as you may recall, France in the latter half of the 14th century sucked. Upwards of half the population was dead, the economy had been thrown off kilter, peasants were seizing control of the means of production and demanding more freedoms, and there was this war with England. See, despite having the curb appeal of a rusted out Edesl, Edward III of England (and controller of large areas of France) decided that he wanted it all.

This led to a series of underfunded English invasions of France, which seemingly always led to a decimated English Army being cornered by a much larger French force, and then triumphing because the English had learned battlefield discipline while the French nobility's tactics boiled down to "me first, and make sure the heralds are watching."

At this point, I have to point out that at this time we had a situation that was so cliched that any editor would trash a story using it. At the time of the Battle of Poitiers, 1356, France was led by King John the Good. Lurking in the shadows was the King of Navarre, Charles the Bad. I wish I was kidding. Charles II of Navarre owned large portions of Normandy and also wanted to claim the French crown, or at least be on the winning side. Charles changed sides every other week, plotted with the English while demanding respect from John II, ordered the murder of nobles who opposed him and basically was a cartoon caricature of an epic villain. Serious, John the Good and his evil opponent Charles the Bad?

But onwards. One of the side effects of the Hundred Years War, along with providing Shakespeare with loads of material, was that France and England ended up with unemployed knights and mercenaries that had been supporting themselves for years by looting. One guess as to what happened. Yup, these Free Companies began wandering around, looting and pillaging as they went. Sure, some went to fight the endless war between the Italian city-states and the Italian Pope (we had two popes at this point, Urban VI in Rome and Clement VII in Avignon. It's a long story.) Or they could sign up with the Teutonic Knights for their annual crusade against the Lithuanians, the last pagans in Europe. But looting French cities was so much easier!

Now, tell me if random bands of lawless warriors making their wat by skill and cunning across a dangerous landscape sounds at all familiar. This is a natural for establishing an adventuring party! The standard organization unit of the times was a "lance," defined as a knight and two men-at-arms. No reason one of those men-at-arms couldn't be a cleric or barbarian. Historically, most lances attracted followers and hangers-on. In a magical environment, having a journeyman spellcaster along makes sense in war, as does having a man that can act as a scout (Rogue or Ranger) and of course, a Bard to write songs about how wonderful the leader is!

Just invent a battle like Poitiers as a starting point. It doesn't matter if the characters were on the winning or losing side. They've been cut loose, are strangers in a strange land, and broke. Begin adventure! Of course, a game of terrorizing villagers and killing defenseless monks isn't quite what most people are going for, so up the fantasy element. If the plague left undead in its wake, as I suggested previously, town burghers might be happy to part with gold and favors for a company that can clear the zombies out, and along the way learn that a more powerful creature has been spawned . . .

You see where this is going. The real plague left cities emptied, monasteries abandoned, and vast areas left to the encroaching wilderness. The acts of the English and Franch nobles only made things worse. Your characters can make it better!

Now I'm going to complain about something that was in D&D 3rd edition and Pathfinder but is missing here: the Leadership feat. At 7th level, you could take a feat that allowed you to gather a company of followers included skilled lieutenants and a mob of common soldiers. The number was based on Charisma and Level and added a bit of growth to the game. A Lord Paladin, whose adventures have become a legend, should have a loyal company. Same can be said for most classes. Having a body of troops adds to the game as you both have to deal with their needs (guess it's time to invest in a castle, Fred) and allow the followers to be of use (half of you guard the camp, the rest, go with Charlie to rescue Fineous.)

Oh, Charles II of Navarre? He never got close to the French crown and he died a fitting death:

"Charles the Bad, having fallen into such a state of decay that he could not make use of his limbs, consulted his physician, who ordered him to be wrapped up from head to foot, in a linen cloth impregnated with brandy, so that he might be inclosed [sic] in it to the very neck as in a sack. It was night when this remedy was administered. One of the female attendants of the palace, charged to sew up the cloth that contained the patient, having come to the neck, the fixed point where she was to finish her seam, made a knot according to custom; but as there was still remaining an end of thread, instead of cutting it as usual with scissors, she had recourse to the candle, which immediately set fire to the whole cloth. Being terrified, she ran away, and abandoned the king, who was thus burnt alive in his own palace."

Serves him right! Burning Man, 1387 style!