Dame Marcelle

by Dreux Amgard

House Chloden produced many notable personages throughout the centuries — mages and warriors, scholars and merchant lords — all dedicated to making the noble house strong and powerful. None shone as brightly as Dame Marcelle, the Knight of the Gray Keep.

Dame Marcelle was a mighty warrior, brave and pure. She was a model of knightly perfection, a niece and loyal supporter of Lord Odo Chloden. Her exploits were legendary, even in her own day, as she defended Chloden holdings, such as those of Holden and Moor, as she battled brigands and monsters, and even negotiated treaties with neighboring domains.

When a terrible black troll shambled out of the hills to threaten Moor, Marcelle was there to challenge the foul creature. For a day and an hour, the two engaged in a violent dance that knocked down trees and leveled farm houses. As the battle wore on, both combatants were bloody and weary. It seemed like the fight would end when one of them fell over from sheer exhaustion. But then Marcelle called on an inner reserve. She severed the troll's head with one powerful swing of her sword, Dauntless. And all of Moor cheered.

Another tale tells of the time of the Great Feud, when Gudule of Arden and Halicar of Onford (who was Lord Chloden's younger brother) engaged in an exchange of insults, each more terrible than the last. Insults turned to violence, and the two houses came close to the brink of war. At the height of the feud, Lord Hamilcar's son Leufrid was taken captive by brigands loyal to House Arden. These brigands were members of the mighty Hammers of Umbrage, notorious for terrorizing travelers on the roads of Arden until they were given letters of reprisal for pledging loyalty to the land's overlords.

Dame Marcelle, when she heard the fate that had befallen young Leufrid, never hesitated. She tracked the brigands to an isolated tower in the wilderness outside the town and quickly took stock of the situation. A dozen brigands guarded young Leufrid, who was imprisoned at the top of the tower. Confident that the Chloden scion was safe and out of harm's way, Marcelle boldly strode into the brigands' camp and announced her presence. Just hearing her name was enough to rattle many of the brigands. Five of them dropped their weapons and fled as soon as they realized who she was. But that still left seven of the Hammers to deal with, including their leader, Wymund Black.

Brave Marcelle carried Dauntless with her, and she was confident that she was blessed by the Fire Lord. Brigands fell with every swing of her mighty sword, until only she and Wymund remained standing. Seeking a way to get the upper hand, the brigand leader grabbed young Leufrid and held him between his own body and Marcelle's sword. Chloden's most shiny knight smiled. It was hard and humorless.