The Giffard Estates

[Lucius Malfoy]

GIFFARD
Earl of Hereford and Baron Giffard of Goodrich and Buckingham

Giffard Family

Name: William Giffard Titles: Earl of Hereford, Lord de Longueville, 2nd Baron Giffard of Goodrich and Buckingham Age: 26 (b. 1058) Marital Status: former married to Isabe li Bageard (b. 1052) (d. 1074) Children (5 offspring; 3 daughters and 2 sons): via his late wife, Isabe li Bageard - Ermengarde Giffard (b. 1071), betrothed to John Talbot, eldest son of Lord Richard Talbot - Adeline Giffard (b. 1073), twin of Emma (+2 to death rolls) (promised to a son of Sir Harold Ewyas) - Emma Giffard (b. 1073), twin of Adeline (+2 to death rolls) - Gerald Giffard (b. 1074), twin of Walter (bad skin condition) - Walter Giffard (b. 1074), twin of Gerald Skill(s) (6 points): +1 Battles, +2 Wealth (10%), +1 Survival, +1 Charisma, +1 to rout rolls against this character. Temperament(s): Sanguine: - Confident: This character is very self-assured, brimming with confidence and difficult to shake even under pressure. However, taken to an extreme, they can show a suicidal disregard for their life and the lives of others, and fail to take...well, failure into account when planning. +1 battle rolls, +1 to rout rolls against this character. Additional Household Berenger Giffard, Lord of Fonthill-Giffard (b. 1020) Osberne Giffard, Seigneur de Brimesfield (b. 1020) Walter 'the Younger' Giffard (1060) (exiled)

Income and Estates

Castles - Goodrich Castle (located in Goodrich, Herefordshire) (Stone Wall) - Buckingham Castle (located in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire) (Stone Keep) - Walter Castle (located in Tenbury, Worcestershire) (Motte and Bailey) - Hereford Castle (located in Hereford, Herefordshire) (Motte and Bailey) Goodrich: Grants +10 siege defence and +5 to levy rolls in the province it is constructed in, as well as +1 Demesne limit. Buckingham: +7 siege defence and +4 to levy rolls in the province Tenbury and Hereford: Grants +5 siege defence and +3 to levy rolls in the province =============== Total Income - £3,000 Province Limit: 10/15 Honor of Hereford (5 provinces) Kington/Stapleton - Average Income Weobley/Kinnersley - Average Income Hereford - Average Income Wye/Goodrich/Wilton - Average Income Ledbury/Hellens - Average Income Honor of Buckinghamshire (3 provinces) Aylesbury - Average Income Winslow/Bolebec - Average Income Buckingham - Average Income Wing - Average Income Honor of Worcestorshire (1 province) Tenbury - Average Income

Levy and Retinue

Levy 10 provinces x 100 men = 1,000 men (max potential) Composition: 10 knights/huscarls, 15 serjeants/thegns, 20 fyrdmen, 20 english footmen, 20 english archers, 15 hobelars Giffard Retinue 25 Norman Knights 75 Serjeants Total: 100 men

Buildings

Goodrich Tier I Tenant Homesteads: +5% land income Wooden Walls: +1 siege defence for caput Castle Village: +5% land income Enlarged Keep: Increase garrison size by 50% Mustering Fields: +1 to levy call up rolls Armed Peasants: Add 5 english bowmen and 5 english footmen to base levy Local Blacksmiths: -5% to levy upkeep Tier II Peasant Farmsteads: +10% land income Castle Town: +10% land income Regional Blacksmiths: -5% to levy upkeep

Vassals of Giffard

Sir Harold Raufson - Tenant of Bredwardine Baron Richard Talbot - Baron of Worcestor

[Lucius Malfoy]

After his return to his fortified manor in Goodrich, the Constable of England and Lord of Goodrich calls forth the lords of the Welsh Marches to his estate for a military council. With the king's permission to perform necessary operations, in the interests of the Normans, there was much to discuss. Walter ensures rooms are available to his guests and that food and drink was readily available for their arrival.

[General Brewster]

With some pomp Talbot, a baron in his own right now, arrived at the Giffard states. Dressed in some simple robes the handsome young man made his way inside when he had parked his horse.

[Lord William]

Roger de Montgomery arrived at the behest of Walter Giffard, hoping this meeting isn't a complete waste of his time

[Trot]

Li Bageard arrives with his son and his ward Edgar.

[chesser2538]

d'Avranches arrives for the war council.

[Lucius Malfoy]

With all the nobles of the Welsh Marches present, Walter is able to begin the meeting. He gestures for the lords to take their seats.

Our good King, God may he reign long, has agreed to let us, the nobles along this border, to raid and perform necessary operations in the interest of the Norman Kingdom and our Liege.

Lord Giffard contemplates for a moment before speaking further.

I have assured our King that our operations, though, will be secondary to the ongoing threat that is the Saxon menace.

Walter looks at the lords gathered.

With these thoughts in mind, Wales is open to us, my Lords. Open to us for wealth, lands, and much more. We are given a great unique opportunity given our proximity... an opportunity that we must not let slip by! For the future of our descendants and for the future of this kingdom!

The elder Giffard then lets the floor open to his fellow nobles.

Now... we must consider how to best approach Wales. Despite its relative disunity, I have heard stories that all the Welsh rulers are related in some way.

[Trot]

It was Gerold's turn to speak, "I am in favor of going into Wales at some point myself. I see rich lands on my border, and the damn sheep farmers in that region have no use for them." Gerold had been examining maps of the Sourthren Welsh coast for some time since he got assigned his lands by the King. They shared a border and were quite prosperous. "Still there are some in this number whos lands remain in the Saxons hands. If we are to go into Wales we should have our full strength."

[General Brewster]

Talbot sat in and remained quiet. He'd rather hear out the better man at the table before he would mingle. After all he was Giffards vassal after all.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Talbot sat in and remained quiet. He'd rather hear out the better man at the table before he would mingle. After all he was Giffards vassal after all.

My Lord Talbot.

Walter notices the silence of Richard.

What do you say?

[General Brewster]

Talbot was caught by surprise.

"eh.." he accidentally said aloud. "Well Lord Giffard... I mean no disrespect at all but is it a wise move to gain ourselves more enemies whilst some of us hold estates in lands still under Saxon control? Must we not persue the saxon enemy first before we seek to overthrow the Welsh?" Talbot asked, somewhat nervous about the reaction of his vassal overlord.

[Gandalfus]

The Atheling is an almost unnoticed background fixture. Though he stands at Gerold's side, he is not counted amongst the important lords, and thus mingled in with the minor nobles or retainers of the magnates present. Since the King's coronation, he has changed somewhat in appearance; the clothes are distinctly more Frankish, the hair cut shorter, the adolescent facial fuzz trimmed back. Speak only when spoken to was a general rule to follow, he had found, but it was also essential to pay close attention to the great matters at hand that were being discussed. His own opinions were unimportant, unless they were called upon, and so personal judgements were cast to the back of his mind.

[Trot]

Gerold drums his hand on the table thoughtfully thinking. He turns to Edgar and asks, "Tell me from what you know of your kin how will they react to the new kings orders dividing their land. Will the resist if our companions move to occupy their lands."

He had wanted the boy for his knowledge of the Saxons, and their culture. He himself had begun trying to learn the local language from the youth as the boy was being taught proper French. It seemed a waste not to try and make use of his knowledge now.

[Gandalfus]

Gerold drums his hand on the table thoughtfully thinking. He turns to Edgar and asks, "Tell me from what you know of your kin how will they react to the new kings orders dividing their land. Will the resist if our companions move to occupy their lands."

He had wanted the boy for his knowledge of the Saxons, and their culture. He himself had begun trying to learn the local language from the youth as the boy was being taught proper French. It seemed a waste not to try and make use of his knowledge now.

Edgar shifted his feet, straightening his posture as he became aware of the question and the subsequent scrutiny he was under. Quickly he answered, in better French than he'd spoken at the coronation.

"Yes, my lord, the Earls will fight for their lands until they don't think they can win."

Morcar and Edwin had scared him, but not half as much as Harold had. Godwinson had possessed a strength of character that Edgar could only envy; the will to make men follow you. It comforted Edgar a little to know that the Normans had slain him. He resolved to confess that unchristian thought to the chaplain later.

The Atheling then hesitated, waiting for an interruption. When none came, he continued.

"If you were to attack Wales, they might strike you in the back, my lord. They went north before William was crowned, but I do not know where."

They had crowned him and then abandoned him in a few days, when William's army arrived at London's gates.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Walter rubs his chin slightly, listening to the words of his vassal, Richard, and li Begeard's squire, Edgar of Wessex.

And there are those here who hold claims over lands to the North of us.

His old gaze looking at de Montgomery and d'Avranches. The other lords of the Welsh Marches who controlled lands within the heart of Edwin's domain. Even Talbot, his vassal, held a claim over Worcester.

Then let us muster our forces on the borders of Worcester, move against the Saxons in Mercia, and move to take lands that are rightful ours!

Giffard wouldn't mind some future lands in Mercia or Wales for his younger son, Walter, after all. A man without a wife, compared to his older brother.

[Gandalfus]

Edgar grit his teeth. He was pleased, proud, even, that his advice had been seriously considered by this Lord Giffard. But that was soon washed away by his shame. Once, albeit briefly, he had been named the King of the English. It was a King's duty to protect his subjects, and instead he was guiding the enemy to them, like a wolves amongst the sheep. He looked down at his boots, silent as the hall was filled with the exulting and bellowing of the Normans.

William was king now. There was nothing he could do to change that. It was enough to survive.

[General Brewster]

Talbot looked happy, moving north was a good thing so he could claim all of his lands.

[Trot]

"Then we should move north in force and secure our compatriots lands, if the earls are tied up in the east with the Kings force we should secure them with ease." He pauses looking over the men here. "After the Saxons are dealt with we can turn to the Welsh."

[Lucius Malfoy]

"Then let us muster our men in Goodrich immediately and prepare to march North!" Walter slams his hand on the table with delight, ready to see more action.

[General Brewster]

Talbot nodded and silently said "hear hear"