Shrewsbury Castle

[Lord William]

Built by Roger de Montgomery, this wooden fortress serves as the home of Cristina, Countess of Shrewsbury.

Countess Cristina

CRISTINA OF HUNGARY COUNTESS OF SHREWSBURY SUO JURE Born 1048 (27) Marital Status: Widow of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Shrewsbury Children: Gilbert de Clare (born 1074) Traits: +3 survival +2 wealth +1 charisma Temperament: - Reserved: This character is a stoic who generally keeps to him/herself and exercises strict control over their emotions. While this means they're not likely to make reckless moves in court or on the battlefield, they can come across as unfeeling robots to others. +1 battle rolls, -1 Charisma. Cristina was born in the Kingdom of Hungary in 1048, her father a member of the upper aristocracy by virtue of his friendship with the King and the kinship between their wives; both were daughters of Yaroslav of Kiev, offered to them whilst King Andrew was in exile. She spent many much of her young life in Hungary, totally unknown to her that her father was the last in a long bloodline of English kings that reached back to the days before Christ returned to Britain's shores with the venerable Saint Augustine. Edward the Exile, as he became known, was fetched back to England to become the heir to his ageing uncle, another Edward, and his children by Agathe of Kiev followed in his wake. Fate is indeed strange, for Edward died without even meeting his uncle and namesake. Cristina and her siblings were thus left as the distant kin to an ageing king, and for a long time it was believed that the future of her and her sister Margaret would lie within the church. During the wars that followed the old King's demise, Cristina and her sister by chance were blown off course into Alba, and became guests of King Malcolm thereafter. A nun's life was not fated for them, for their brother Edgar succeeded William Magnus in unlikely circumstance. Divine providence made them the most desired brides in the British Isles, and Margaret duly wed the King Malcolm who had desired her for so long. Cristina spent a few more years without a husband, until the honourable Gilbert de Clare asked for her hand - said to be a favour granted by the King after Gilbert heroically saved him in battle. De Clare was named Earl of Shrewsbury, and as brother of the King was first amongst the magnates in his connection to the royal house. The couple had a child, another Gilbert, though their matrimony would not last. In unclear circumstance, the elder Gilbert was slain by Roger of Mowbray, and thus the death of her husband rendered Cristina the richest woman in England, and the only one to hold land and title in her own right.

Income and Estates

Total Income - £1,800 Shropshire: Shrewsbury/Caus - Average Income Bridgenorth - Average Income Ludlow/Corfham/Stokesay - Average Income Clun/Hopton/Brampton - Average Income Drayton - Average Income Shifnal - Average Income

Levy and Retinue

Levy 06 provinces x 100 men = 600 men (max potential) Composition: 10 knights/huscarls, 15 serjeants/thegns, 20 fyrdmen, 20 english footmen, 20 english archers, 15 hobelars de Clare Retinue 25 Norman Knights 75 Serjeants Total: 100 men

Buildings

Shrewsbury Tier I

Castles

Motte and Bailey Shrewsbury Castle Stone Keep Stone Wall

Other Buildings

Shrewsbury Abbey - A Benedictine monastery built to serve as the resting place of the Countess' fallen husband, Gilbert.

[Gandalfus]

Word arrived from the King, carrying a facsimile of the royal charter as well as news of Gilbert's death. A monk read it aloud to the Earl's entire court, and Cristina would duly take control of her own and her son's properties. In due time, he would be sent off to Westminster to be raised in the household of his cousin, the young king.

[Lucius Malfoy]

One afternoon, a retinue of riders came up from the south, flying the banner of the Giffards. William rode at the front, his leg slowly healing, but somewhat uneasy with the movement of the horse. It would take some time before that uncomfortable feeling went away however. His riders rode into the castle once they were permitted to. Lord Giffard dismounting in the courtyard. With a slight limp, he moves up to see his nephew's widow, the Lady Cristina.

[Gandalfus]

The Earl of Hereford is greeted by several armed men, with he and his party escorted into the wooden castle that Gilbert de Clare had previously called his home. With their horses being seen to by the stableboy, Giffard and his companions are ushered into a timber hall that seemed almost as long as it was tall. A table of food and drink had been prepared, and the Lady of Shrewsbury rose from her seat as Hereford entered.

”Uncle of Hereford, you honour me.”

A polite smile crossed her pointed face, sculpted features made prominent by her hair being hidden. She was not yet thirty, and still appeared youthful, skin not yet blemished or worn by the advance of time.

”Please, have a seat and break bread with us.”

She returned to her seat, and gestured idly to an empty chair a space or two from her own.

[Lucius Malfoy]

I could use a seat... this damn leg still hasn't healed from the wound inflicted in Wales.

Giffard slightly limps further into the room, taking a seat in a relatively comfortable chair. He exhales deeply, feeling the tension in his leg relax.

I have earned serious wounds from a Saxon and now the Welsh. I swear, I wonder if my next one will be from a Scot or a Dane, mi'lady. Then I will have been given a wound from all the foes of England!

He chuckles at his own remark, knowing the mood between the two of them needed some lightening up. Giffard had lost his wife and Cristina her husband and his nephew.

How fair you these days, Lady Cristina? How is my nephew's son?

[Gandalfus]

"You poor man. I hear the Welsh are almost savage."

Cristina replied sympathetically. At least Giffard had not been attacked by one of his own erstwhile allies. She took a sip of wine.

"He is a strong boy, like our young king. I saw him at Christmas when I stayed at Westminster for some weeks."

Young Gilbert was now under the care of her brother. If she was bothered by this, it was masked behind a false smile.

"Do you have children of your own, my lord Giffard?"

A young girl, some servant or thrall, entered the room and began to play the flute. The Countess' men began making idle chatter with Giffard's own, and the quiet hall began to slowly fill with noise.

[Lucius Malfoy]

A strong boy... Gilbert would certainly be proud of him. He will need strength as the future Earl of Shrewsbury.

Giffard regretted not interacting with his nephew much before. They had once lived on opposite sides of the realm and had been neighbors for a short time.

At the question of children, William looks at Countess. He raises five fingers with a light smile on his lips.

Before my good wife, Isabe, passed away in childbirth, she had given me five children. Three daughters and two sons, four of which were a set of twins.

That was definitely the surprise and likely the cause of Isabe's death... the strain on her body from two sets of twins.

Ermengarde is the oldest. Adeline and Emma are the middle children. Then the newly born Gerald and Walter, both named after their noble grandfathers.

[Gandalfus]

"Terrible. You poor man."

Well, he certainly had a lot of children. Perhaps he did not need any more.

"Tell me of your wife, Lord Giffard. She was Lord Gloucester's daughter, yes?"

Her gaze was somewhat enigmatic. Cristina's intentions had always been difficult to perceive even by those who knew her best.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Indeed she was. My good father arranged the marriage some time after King William came to London.

Back then, Giffard was a young man and Isabe was still a child. It would be a couple years till after the Saxon Rebellion that the two would wed.

It seems she inherited something involving large families. My former brother-in-law, Mar Bageard, has many children himself too.

William never had the privilege of meeting them as Mar had been a rather busy man as a commander. Though the recent activities in Wales seemed to have changed him.

Isabe was a good woman and wife. I never had doubts, my nights were calm, my days were peaceful, my life... felt balanced. I know that, if my father were still alive, he would be proud of my marriage and my children.

[Gandalfus]

Indeed she was. My good father arranged the marriage some time after King William came to London.

Back then, Giffard was a young man and Isabe was still a child. It would be a couple years till after the Saxon Rebellion that the two would wed.

It seems she inherited something involving large families. My former brother-in-law, Mar Bageard, has many children himself too.

William never had the privilege of meeting them as Mar had been a rather busy man as a commander. Though the recent activities in Wales seemed to have changed him.

Isabe was a good woman and wife. I never had doubts, my nights were calm, my days were peaceful, my life... felt balanced. I know that, if my father were still alive, he would be proud of my marriage and my children.

”You are in no hurry to remarry then, I imagine.”

She began to nibble at the food; a small slice of venison was popped into the mouth, and then washed down by another draught of wine.

[Lucius Malfoy]

”You are in no hurry to remarry then, I imagine.”

She began to nibble at the food; a small slice of venison was popped into the mouth, and then washed down by another draught of wine.

If only my children were older and I was not Constable, mi'lady, then I would not hurry to remarry.

Giffard reaches forward as a servant brings him some wine, allowing him to quench his thirsty throat.

My infant sons still need a mother's touch and my daughters need a motherly figure to look up to.

William looks at Cristina, offering a smile at her.

Would you not agree that a man without a wife is like a house without a roof? Without a support beam? Without even windows and doors?

[Gandalfus]

Cristina simply smiled and nodded her acquiescence.

"Of course, my lord."

One of the Countess' tenants, a Norman named Ranulph, began to talk about hunting. Apparently, the game was extremely good around these parts, on account of the dense forests. The Countess did not look that interested, but the discussion went on through the evening until the sun was almost going down, by which time they had all finished their meat and drink.

"Well, my lord Giffard, I feel I should perhaps retire. The hour is growing late."

Cristina rose, and the others at the table did likewise.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lord Giffard rises from his seat as the Countess spoke. It had been a relatively pleasant evening. The tenant had indeed made William interested in the dense forest, it had been a long time since he had hunted. Peace in the south and along the Welsh Marches seemed ready and this sounded like the perfect time to hunt. Yet before Cristina retired, the Earl of Hereford clears his throat, preparing to speak further.

Mi'lady, I hope you will take this thought to bed and give me an answer in the morning.

He looks at the King's sister.

I would hope that the two of us may be united in marriage. We are neighbors after all and I feel I owe it to my nephew to have some sort of presence in his son's life and in the security of his inheritance. From experience, the Welsh can be harsh. I have the means to protect Gilbert's inheritance, protect you, mi'lady, and offer myself as a suitable husband. I hope you will consider my offer.

[Gandalfus]

"I will think on it, my lord."

Sometimes she wished her mother was still here, to offer advice in times such as this. But she did not need it. She was a countess, an earl's widow, a king's sister. She could make her own choices.

"I bid you goodnight."

And with that, she took her leave. Giffard would be escorted to a guest chamber within the castle, a large and spacious hall reserved for guests. Edgar once stayed here on a visit, or so was the gossip. Hereford would certainly find it to his liking.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Giffard accepted the answer and proceeded to the chamber within Shrewsbury Castle. The Lord Hereford hoped for a favorable answer from Lady Cristina soon.

[Gandalfus]

The Countess rose early to break her fast, and Giffard was gently woken by a servant and invited to eat once more in her company. It was relatively the same company as last night, but the atmosphere much more subdued without alcohol to grease the wheels of idle gossip. Cristina sat once more at the table's head, this time in a gown of plain black.

"I have thought upon your offer, Lord Hereford."

The King's sister greeted him with a gentle smile as he joined the table, and all eyes were upon him.

"I sought guidance from the Lord before I retired to bed, and I do not believe it proper to remarry so soon after my beloved husband's death. I am sorry if I have disappointed you, my lord, but we all must bow the will of our Lord God."

[Lucius Malfoy]

William was disappointed, but understood the reasoning of Cristina. Her demeanor made him wonder if she planned to enter a convent and seek solace in the arms of God.

Your words are a sound answer and I am compelled to accept them. Know, mi'lady, that you will still have me as a nearby ally if you ever need to defend your son's inheritance.

The Earl of Hereford bows his head to the King's sister.

I would advise that you be wary of the Welsh... they are most certainly a tenacious people and skilled in ambushes. I would keep a vigilant guard and eye on the border.

[General Brewster]

Sir Roger de Mowbray accompanied by his retinue arrived at the castle under the terms of the peace treaty. He wishes to speak to the lady Christina.

[Gandalfus]

Mowbray was somewhat warily allowed within Shrewsbury's walls. For some time, he is made to wait; ostensibly because the Countess is readying herself. Eventually she appears, still in black dress, and the son and heir of the imprisoned Baron Mowbray is called before her. She looks upon him in a rather aloof manner, waiting for him to reveal his intent.

[General Brewster]

Mowbray was somewhat warily allowed within Shrewsbury's walls. For some time, he is made to wait; ostensibly because the Countess is readying herself. Eventually she appears, still in black dress, and the son and heir of the imprisoned Baron Mowbray is called before her. She looks upon him in a rather aloof manner, waiting for him to reveal his intent.

Mowbray's forces stood aback, relaxed but trying to keep their distances. Seeing they might not be welcomed so warmly. Before Mowbray dismounted and walked over to the countess he removed his sheated sword from his belt and gave it to the captain of his guard. He walked over to the countess slowly, the mood was tense and he knew it. As he came close he bowed before her.

"Countess Christina." He kindly said as he reached for her hand and kissed it. "I am aware that I am perhaps not the most welcomed person here, yet I would ask you for a moment of your time and hospitality." Mowbray rose and awaited the countess her reply, he was in the lioness's den now.