Death of the Father

[This is incomplete until I add my written notes - KT]

NPCs

Arnald Rodier The young boy, son of Lionel

Lionel Rodier The father of Arnald. Patriach of the Rodier family

Natalie The pretty serving girl trying to fill in for the steward, knows her letters

Simone Older serving woman. By all rights should be the head of the servants, but seems to accept Natalie’s authority

Other servants Adéle, Ornette, Suzanne

Jérome Old groomsman

Background

The villagers of Nohede have managed to get some harvest this year. The problems caused by the druid have diminished. But two factors worked against them: The decrease in population and having little seed to start with in the first place.  The attacks on the covenant have decreased, there are still a few places in the woods the men don’t want to go to, but the stores are still badly depleted with Winter coming on.  Albus has asked Tarrin to take some of the men to Prades to buy stores for the winter and seed for the spring. If they can also get a small amount of livestock, such as sheep, chickens, and a milk cow, they should. Tarrin is also in need of brewing supplies and barrels.  Terrin, mentions the trip to Robert at dinner. Robert feels like getting out before winter sets in and is interested in picking up some better armor with some of the money he made after the whole sword thing. He volunteers to join Terrin on the trip. Francois and Jon Lane overhear the conversation and invites themselves along (Francois after being assured by the magi that they won’t be needed his services for a while).  The group sets out for Prades, stopping at the Abbey of St Martain on the way.

At the Abbey, Father Raymond has just been given word that Lionel Rodier, patriarch of the Rodier family, is very ill. The Rodiers are great supporters of the church and supply much grain to the monks at a heavily discounted price. Could he perhaps check on the Sr. Rodier within the next fortnight (and make sure everything with the Rodier family is properly arranged)?

It is a pleasant enough fall. But there is a chill in the air.

Common Knowledge (pick and choose what you wish to know from these facts and let me know ahead of time)

1) There are five great families in Prada that are the major players in various areas of commerce. They are not noble, but they wealthy and influential:

 - Veron Wine and beer

 - Rodiér Grains

 - Lambert Livestock

 - Esnault Linens and other cloth goods

 - Maillard Wood, barrels, and carter services

2) St Bertrand is from this area. He did many famous deeds in his life before retiring to become the abbot of Saint-Quentin (Benedictines, Delaney). He is best know for:

• His work as a missionary in northern France and Flanders with St Omer

• Increasing the prominence of the Abbey of Saint-Quentin

• Evangelizing the Holy gospel

• Companion and disciple of St Bertinus

• One of the successors of St Claudius, Abbot of Condat

• Putting the demons to flight over a man the Devil had long tormented

• Also known as Ebertram

He died approximately 50 years ago and was canonized within the last 20 years. His feastday is January 24^th.

3) There has been a recent discovery of a delicate pink marble a day north of Prades and there is a small influx of men hoping to find work in the quarry.

4) Prades is also known as ‘Villa Pratis’ in Frankish

5) The village has it’s own cave, but the wine is not particularly famous outside the local region.

6) Solemnity, or All Saint’s Day, is celebrated on the first of November. It is instituted to honor all the saints, known and unknown, and to supply any deficiencies in the faithful's celebration of saints' feasts during the year.