Black Knight
CHALLENGING
THE BLACK KNIGHT
The Black Knight
in Bretonnian Folklore
The Black Knight is an old and well known figure of
Bretonnian folklore and legend. In his aspect as
something to be dreaded, he undoubtedly embodies
the age old fear of the Chaos Knight, the Dark Elf
rider or the Undead horseman who have plagued
Bretonnia since time immemorial. Thus he
represents the archetypal adversary of a bold
Bretonnian Knight. In his less ominous aspect, he
represents the anonymous Knight. Such a Knight
may wish to disguise his identity under black,
shabby robes, lacking any heraldic device by which
he may be recognised. Some Questing Knights do
indeed adopt such a garb. There is always
speculation as to why a Knight should do this,
maybe it is because he must redeem his honour, or
has he forsaken the true faith like the villain
Maldred?
Whatever the reason, is it not the duty of any
virtuous Knight to challenge such a character and
force him to yield, so that his identity may be made
known?
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Each contender challenges the Black Knight in turn. The order in which
contenders challenge him is determined randomly as for the jousting.
Both the challenger and the Black Knight charge each other with lances,
counting only one attack each. The bonus for charging with lance is
disregarded as in the joust since the tableaux is also fought a la plaisance.
Jousting ploys are not used, since both Knights are honour bound to
aim for their opponent's shield. Both contenders roll off to see who
strikes first in the initial round. If one or other is wounded make
a further roll to see whether he is unhorsed and therefore knocked out
of the contest. The prowess of the Black Knight is such that he can
only be unhorsed on a roll of 1! Subsequent rounds of the combat are
fought with blunted maces or morning stars which make for a noisy, robust
and entertaining spectacle in which both Knights end up with their shields
well and truly dented! The Knights now make their full number of attacks,
and use Initiative to determine who goes first. The contest continues
until one or other of the Knights is unhorsed. If a challenger is unhorsed,
the next challenger rides out. As in the joust, warhorse attacks and
warhorse barding are disregarded.
Wounds taken by the Black Knight are cumulative and when he has suffered
his full wounds he is automatically unhorsed which means that his current
opponent wins. Your chances of beating the Black Knight are therefore
better if your Knights are not among the first to challenge him!
THE BLACK KNIGHT
The Black Knight wears black armour, a black surcoat and carries a
black shield bearing no blazon by which he can be recognised. No one
knows the true identity of the Knight who plays the role of the Black
Knight. All that you can be sure of is that he will be a Knight of great
renown and martial prowess! It could be the Duke himself, the best Knight
in the Duke's retinue or a hermit Grail Knight from a remote grail chapel
somewhere in the dukedom. According to legend sometimes the King of
Bretonnia himself has played the role of the Black Knight in the tournament
at Couronne!
| BLACK
KNIGHT |
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
|
Black Knight
|
4
|
6
|
6
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
6
|
3
|
9
|
|
Warhorse
|
8
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
5
|
EQUIPMENT: The Black Knight wears heavy armour, carries a shield
and rides a barded Bretonnian warhorse. He is armed with a mace or morning
star and lance.
SAVE: 4+ (disregarding barded mount).
KNIGHTLY VIRTUES
The Black Knight has the Knight's Virtue as do all Knights, although
this has no effect in the tournament. He also has the Virtue of Knightly
Temper and so gains an extra attack for each initial hit scored. Work
out how many hits he scores and then roll that many attacks in addition.
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