Auréle de la Croix

Auréle de la Croix was born in 1165 and, as the eldest son, inherited his father's Norman manor. His younger brother Robert was a pious dreamer who traveled France engaging in tourneys and thanking God for his victories. Auréle was far more practical; through clever husbandry and by taking advantage of the weakness of rivals he managed to multiply the size of the family holdings five-fold. Auréle is now a lesser baron with a retinue of 5 knights, five sergeants, and about fifty soldiers. To this is added Josse, his eldest son and heir. Auréle has an annual income of about 100£ and is wealthy, but only 20£ of that is truly disposable income; he covets the status of true Baron and the vast fortune that would entail.

Unfortunately, Auréle is feeling his age. He has twice been bed-ridden for about a month, and to escape death he has latched onto his younger son Rene's status as a magus. Auréle has agreed to provide Rene and his fellow magi with financial and military support in exchange for more life, and he intends to keep his word. He is now traveling to Ireland where his son dwells, in order that the spell of longevity (as he understands it) can be cast upon him.

Auréle is accompanied by three footmen armed with maces and round shields; while he acts as Leader, one of his men is Vanguard. He is a himself a veteran of many wars and, while slower than he used to be, is very skilled with a blade. He is also a master of courtly intrigue and an excellent manager of his estate. This has allowed him to remain financially solvent in an era when his rivals are slowly going broke.

Physically, he is a tall and well-built elderly man with a full head of white hair. He wears crimson and jewelry made of gold, always including a heavy gold cross. His magnificent sword, a relic of his great-grandfather who was on the First Crusade, includes a piece of the True Cross in its pommel; it is this object for which the family is named.

Lord Auréle de la Croix

Age 57

Magic Resistance 10 (from Relic)

Faith Points 1 (from Relic)

Confidence 1 (3)

Decrepitude 2 (4)

Size 0

Int +2 (1), Per +1, Pre +1 (1), Com -2 (2), Str +1 (1), Sta +1 (1), Dex -1, Qik +1 (1)

Virtues & Flaws: Landed Noble (+3); Knight (+1), Relic (+1), Wealthy (+3); Ambitious (-3), Arthritis (-1), Avaricious (-1), Difficult Underlings (-3)

Ambitious +6, Avaricious +3, Cruel +2, Bitter +2

Abilities: Animal Handling 2 (hawking), Artes Liberales 1 (mathematics), Athletics 2 (running), Awareness 2 (spotting stealth), Bargain 5 (contracts), Brawl 2 (evasion), Common Law 4, Etiquette 3 (court), Folk Ken 4 (underlings), France Lore 3 (Normandy), French 5 (Norman), Great Weapon 3 (long spear), Guile 4 (excuses), Hunt 3 (boar), Intimidate 5 (threats), Intrigue 8 (power), Leadership 3 (underlings), Profession: Steward 8 (making money), Ride 3 (combat), Single Weapon 8 (long sword)

Group Combat

Auréle can lead 3 Men-At-Arms, allowing one of them to act as Vanguard.

Attack or Defense Bonus: +12

Mace & Round Shield: Init +1, Atk +11 (+12 = +23), Def +9 (+12 = +21), Dmg +10

Soak +5

Combat

The Sword of Golgotha & Heater Shield Init +3, Atk +15, Def +17, Dmg +7

Lance & Heater Shield (mounted) Init +3, Atk +14, Def +15, Dmg +6

Long Spear Init +4, Atk +6, Def +6, Dmg +8

Dagger Init +1, Atk +3, Def +3, Dmg +4

Evasion Init +1, Def +4 (+7 with heater shield)

Soak +11 (Sta 1 + Armor +10)

Equipment Auréle's family heirloom is The Sword of Golgotha, an excellent-quality long sword (Load 1) with a piece of the True Cross in its pommel. The excellent quality gives the sword a +3 additional bonus to Attack and Defense. He wears an excellent-quality mail hauberk (Prot 8 Load 2.5), a gambeson (Prot 1 Load 1.5), boiled leather greaves (Prot 1 Load 1), and a camail (Prot .5 Load 0).

Encumbrance 6.5 = Load 3 - Str 1 = Burden 2.