n addition to the fabulous heroes of yore, there are a number of more contemporary figures of whom you have heard. A few of these persons have actually been seen in Allardsby; in most cases, though, these are tales passed along at second, third, or fourth hand. These descriptions thus represent the collective conventional wisdom of your home village.

Archibalt the Murderer: A fearsome outlaw among the Hill Clans. He is a man of furious temper, who once beat a chance-met traveler to death with his fists because the man failed to say "good morning" to him. He sometimes travels with a ragtag band of cutthroats, but more often goes alone, being too bloodthirsty even for the hillmen. He steels sheep, cattle, or horses from isolated byres in the northern and western parts of Allardsby, and mercilessly slays any who try to resist. He is particularly hostile to priests—he himself never prays, and the sight of a praying man arouses his fiercest anger.

Brandis, Saint: A warrior-maid, clad in faery mail and wielder of the sword Anaglore, given to her by St. Melenor himself. She slew the Dragon of Vadwy some years ago, and has traveled from one end of Avalon to the other doing good deeds and righting wrongs. Some say she cast a demon out of the last King, Varion II, before he died. (The "Saint" title is unofficial, but almost universally used.)

Cador the Bold: A freebooter and extremely successful brigand who supposedly has traveled very widely. He calls himself Sir Cador, and it is generally accepted that he was a knight-errant who broke his vows. While merchants hate him like poison, many common folk—and perhaps even a few nobles, who generally don't love merchants—have a sneaking admiration for his dash, flair, and ambition. His band, which is often rumored to have a hideout among the Kirkstane hill-folk, includes many excellent woodsmen, and has frustrated several efforts to run it to earth.

Constane, King of Bastythia: Some six years ago or thereabouts Constane led a revolt that seized the crown of the fabled southern Duchy. Some say that he was the rightful-born king, of a line hidden for many years; others, that he was simply a daring and successful captain of mercenary soldiers. Supporting those that hold the former view are stories that his battle for the throne was aided, when all seemed lost, by miraculous intercessions by the saints. All agree that Constane is a giant of a man and and a fearsome warrior.

Damias, Sir: A famous and mighty knight. A solitary knight-errant, not a member of any knightly order nor the holder of any office. After the death of King Varion II Sir Damias disappeared. Many whisper that he was bewitched by the Snow Queen; a few claim that he has joined Saint Brandis in her questing.

Elfhelm Longshanks: A mercenary captain of great renown. He sometimes passes through Allardsby on the By-Road, usually with a score or so of his men with him. His company held the Artanians at bay during the battle in which Sir Ector the Regent was slain, preventing them from advancing into Camberland.

Glendwyr ap Gruffyd, Father: A priest, the most vocal and famous advocate of religious reform. He travels very widely, and is a skilled and popular orator. He especially denounces the selling of church offices (simony), payment for forgiveness of sins (indulgences), priestly misconduct, and tolerance for magic.

The Green Mage: A desert hermit who is, or was, the most powerful magician in Avalon. He vanished several years ago, but rumors of his reappearance and/or influence are constant. There are many who claim that he is backing the "Successionist" nobles who wish to put a new king on the throne to replace the line of Melenor.

Hastred the Herald: A hermit and religious leader. He was a simple farmer until he began getting visions; the Church regards his teachings and visions as heretical and probably Corrupt. He travels barefoot hither and yon with a rag-tag host of followers. A few years he wandered into Allardsby and was promptly chased off by the baron.

The Knight of the Boar: A great, tall man, clad in black plate armor from head to toe, with a helm shaped like a boar's head. He appeared mysteriously at a tournament in Melenor's Keep just before King Varion II's death and defeated all comers, only to be himself overthrown by the even-more-mysterious White Knight. Since then occasionally seen when evil omens are at hand.

Lasztigar: The King of the Tinkers, the traveling people. A tricky, thieving man who goes around dressed in rags and patches. Thieves, robbers, beggars, cutpurses, and brigands from Ewesham to Bedegraine pay him tribute.

Lothar, Saint: A holy man who lived in Garnock, to the south of Allardsby, when men now old were young. He was a monk who lived in a monastery where the monks had fallen into Corruption, sin, and lust. He refused to partake of the other monks' errors, though they sneered at him. Finally, when the abbot of the monastery openly brought a woman within the cloister walls, Saint Lothar prayed a mighty prayer that brought the very walls down, crushing the abbot and leveling the buildings. His shrine is quickly becoming a popular place of pilgrimage, with various miracles reported—for instance, one pilgrim was guided in a vision to a buried treasure.

Morhalt: A wizard, son of the last Duke of Bastythia (also named Morhalt, who was slain by Constane). Constane's mortal enemy. Dark rumors suggest that he is not the son of the last Duke, but the man himself, kept alive by black magic.

Onathar XI, Pontifex: Head of the Church. An ancient man, widely rumored to be in ill health.

Othric: The Wizard of Vadwy. A master magician, he took up residence in Vadwy at the very start of the gold rush that followed the death of the Dragon. He is said to be a good and faithful churchgoer, as well as an honest man and a skilled wizard—although there are those that say that these things just don't go together.

Pryderi: A minstrel of great skill and a faintly shady reputation, who passes through Allardsby on the By-Road on occasion. He was at Melenor's Keep around the time of King Varion II's death.

Tarbalock, King of Mathalgwyn: Atlantian sorcerer-king. A seer and weather-master.

The White Knight: A tall man in blinding white plate armor who appeared from nowhere to defeat the Knight of the Boar in a tourney. Afterwards he vanished without a trace.

Will "Bloody Bill" Longbeard: A pirate captain, of such enormous and bloodthirsty reputation that words of his deeds has penetrated even as far inland as Allardsby. King Tarbalock of Mathalgwyn, whose folk are mariners, would grant any boon asked by the man who brought him Bloody Bill's head.