White Castle, seat of the Monmouth Kyriells

[Barry Goldwater]

Having been elevated to Earl of Monmouth (and thus set on equal footing with his big brother the Earl of Cambridge) by King Edward in 1469, Roger Kyriell has opted to take up residence in the White Castle, one of the 'Three Castles' of Gwent alongside Grosmont (where Henry of Grosmont, the first ever Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster, was born) and Skenfrith. This redoubtable fortress, comprised of a stone keep atop the inner ward which was surrounded by a moat and two walled outer baileys, was chosen due to its being the least damaged of the Three Castles, Grosmont & Skenfrith having decayed further thanks to the passage of time and frequent Welsh raids in the early 15th century.

Monmouth Kyriell coat of arms

Household

Roger Kyriell, Earl of Monmouth Age: 33 (born 1443) Spouse: Anne Woodville Traits: 5 pts +2 Duels (+1 from hitting the 25-29 benchmark) +2 Battles (+1 from hitting the 20-24 benchmark) +2 Survival (+1 from hitting the 30-34 bookmark) +1 (5%) Wealth +1 Charisma Possessions: 1-hander & shield (+2 Duels, +4 Survival, +6 HP) Partial plate armor (+20 HP, +4 Duels, +2 Survival) Roger is the second son of Sir Thomas Kyriell and Cecily Stourton, and thus younger brother to Edmund. Unlike his uncouth brother who preferred to spend his childhood days fighting dummies and the servants' sons, the more contemplative and reserved Roger paid attention in church and struggled mightily to learn how to read. He learned how to fight as well of course, as only befits a son of a knight, but was routinely clobbered by his bigger and stronger brother in their sparring matches, and maintains that his true weapon was inside his skull rather than any tool in his hand. When the sons of Kent were called away to fight in the Wars of the Roses, Roger dutifully followed at the age of thirteen and killed his first man a year later in a minor skirmish, to the approval of his more bloodthirsty brother Edmund and zealously loyal father Thomas. He was knighted at the same time as Edmund for his service at Mortimer's Cross, and like him was not present at 2nd St Albans, thus mercifully avoiding the miserable sight of his father's death. He continued to follow the Yorkist army to London, where their master Edward of March was acclaimed King, and together with his brother awaits an opportunity to avenge their father. Roger has profited greatly from his and his brother's loyalty to the House of York, which saw him elevated to first Viscount Kyriell and now Earl of Monmouth - setting him on equal footing to Edmund, who had been named Earl of Cambridge all the way back in the aftermath of Towton. Other members of the Monmouth Kyriell household Anne Woodville, wife of Roger Kyriell - age 38 (b. 1438) Elizabeth Kyriell, daughter of Roger Kyriell - age 6 (b. 1470) Cecily Kyriell, daughter of Roger Kyriell - age 4 (b. 1472) Catherine Kyriell, hunchbacked daughter of Roger Kyriell - age 3 (b. 1473) Richard Kyriell, gifted son of Roger Kyriell - age 0 (b. 1476)

Provinces

Monmouthshire

Provincial bonuses

Glamorgan, Brecknock, Monmouthshire, Radnor, Montgomeryshire, Denbigh, Flintshire: Welsh Marches: In the past, the lands of eastern and southern Wales formed the front line of English expansion into Wales. The 'Marcher Lords' who called these territories home accordingly built up strong castles and maintained substantial forces to defend themselves against the Welsh...or take the fight to said Welshmen themselves. +2 Siege rolls, -2 Raid rolls, extra 500-man upkeep-free retinue.

Buildings

-Reinforced Wall -Grain Mill -Granary -Chapel -Castle Smith -Armory -Arsenal -Market Square -Merchant's Square -Plow Lands

[Lucius Malfoy]

John Neville, the Marquess of Montagu, rides to visit the keep known as White Castle, home of the Cambridge Kyriells. He was aware of the young offspring, two females, who had been fathered by Roger Kyriell, the Earl Marshal of England. Knowing him to be a staunch Yorkist, he felt compelled to meet with him and discuss a possible union with one of his younger sons, perhaps Thomas. He approaches the main gate and requests an audience with the Earl or the Countess, knowing well that Cambridge was a busy man like his brother, George Neville, Archbishop of York.

[Barry Goldwater]

OOC: This is home of the Monmouth (junior branch) Kyriells, whose patriarch Roger isn't the Earl Marshal btw

IC: Montagu is smoothly ushered past White Castle's...well, white walls, and towards the main hall where Roger Kyriell awaited, dressed in the colors of his house: red and yellow. A modest feast had been laid out on the table, ahead of Neville's arrival. While it was clear that Monmouth wasn't going to be discourteous to a guest, he was almost as austere in his living as his older brother the Earl Marshal, as the meal didn't include any overly fancy dishes such as roast stuffed swans or French cheeses.

"Lord Montagu. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

[Lucius Malfoy]

OOC: I probably lost track of who I was planning to visit cause I had like 20 tabs open, examining different houses to visit. My bad.

The Marquess walks down corridors to the main hall of the Earl of Monmouth. He had spoken with the Kyriells before, remembering how they had faithfully served the King in two major battles; Towton and Wallingford. For their loyalty, the brothers were both given Earldoms and the Earl of Cambridge would go onto be a member of the Privy Council. Monmouth, on the other hand, was known to be an accomplished diplomat, who had been used by Montagu's brother, the Lord Chancellor, a couple times for diplomatic assignments. Montagu bows to Roger Kyriell.

My Lord Kyriell, I thank you for accepting my audience. I have come to you with a proposal to make on behalf of my household. My sons are growing, my lord, and I desire to find them suitable matches. Your family has served the King diligently and without hesitation, becoming an example for all. Though your family is new to the nobility's ranks, you have deserved such rewards for your services.

John knew of the young age of Roger Kyriell's daughters and thus knew who to propose.

I offer to you, Lord Kyriell, my son Richard or Thomas as suitors to one of your daughters. Richard is a boy of nine and Thomas is a boy of two. And I felt, as nephews of the late Warwick, that my brother would approve of this proposal with the utmost sincerity. He, above all, like the King, know of your diligence, loyalty and services.

[Barry Goldwater]

Kyriell took a seat and motioned for Montagu to take another, the seat normally reserved for important guests at that. He leaned back in his chair with a goblet of claret in hand and stared thoughtfully at the ceiling for a few moments before replying to the Marquess's proposal. "My eldest, Elizabeth, is but three years old. I believe Thomas would be the better candidate for such a match, being closer to her in age than Richard." Monmouth saw no real reason to object to the match. Even if the Nevilles were 'on the outs' right now there was nothing keeping them from bouncing back, they'd been staunch Yorkists since the start anyway so if he were to die with no sons at least his title wouldn't fall into Lancastrian hands or abeyance, and to top it all off Thomas was his father's name - a name he couldn't reuse for one of his sons (at least not without creating a fair bit of confusion) since his brother Edmund had beaten him to it, as well.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Thank you, Lord Kyriell. My son will be most pleased with this union as well as my wife. I swear that he will be a good husband to your beloved daughter, Elizabeth.

John knew he could sigh in relief that someone accepted his proposal. The Kyriells were good people and the Nevilles of Montagu would remember this.

[Barry Goldwater]

"I believe you," Monmouth responded with a small smile. One servant refilled his goblet while another poured more wine for Montagu, after which Roger lifted his cup into the air in a toast. "To the prosperity and happiness of our children's future union."