This post introduces a new character for my Piggy Longton ImagiNations.
Sir. Bartholomew Rolfe, a Yorkist through and through, was widely known and well respected by the men of West Rottington, as his background and transformation to knight was most unusual in character, it being rare for someone to have moved across the social divide to gain such status. His surname gives indication of his humble peasant beginnings.
The son of a local farmhand working on the estate, as then belonging to Lord Trebian’s father, Conrad. He was in the right place at the right time to save Conrad’s life by bravely fending off a murderous enemy ambush.
He fought with such ferocity that the elderly Conrad, impressed and grateful, took him under his wing and fully funded his education and subsequent pathway to Squire, during which time he served within the household cavalry as Squire to Sir. John Radcliffe, fighting in the service of Conrad.
Upon Conrad’s death, his son, the present Lord Trebian, continued to financially sponsor Rolfe, who through good deed and combat worthiness, at the age of 22 and with the indulgence of the Crown, had recently been knighted.
His heraldic device is plain, with a black and white field and the scythe emblazoned upon it, representing his immediate heritage of commoner. This was viewed with some humour by some of his more class conscious contemporaries, though few would want or dare to insult him to his face.
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| Sir. Bartholomew with his favoured weapon, the flanged mace, moves to the attack with his colours carried by his aspiring Squire, Thomas Payne |
However, to the ordinary men who followed him, especially those who remembered him as a boy, he was revered. They would follow him, above all others, to the ends of the earth! That alone put him into a different league to his fellow warriors, even leaving some worried of the consequences should he ever lose their favour and lead a rebellion or tread an otherwise treacherous path (F’r we liveth in the most treach’rous of times).
Rolfe was in his prime, fiercely loyal to the Trebian household and as a warrior without equal, was becoming increasingly relied upon by Lord Trebian …… who has, by the way, just sent for Rolfe to discuss a ‘local situation’!
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| Lord Trebian has his campaign map spread across the table and is surveying his neighbour’s estate! |
Resource Section.
My sister webspace ‘COMMANDERS’ is being re-configured to showcase various figure and boardgame systems that I am enjoying and gives a flavour of where current ongoing projects are up to. Link.
