Franks

France is the territory ruled by the Franks, a Germanic tribe that settled and took over here a short time ago, owning Tournai by 420. They now rule over the former Gaulish inhabitants, largely without adopting their soft and decadent ways. The Franks (like all these Germanic peoples) are actually several smaller tribal groups (Salians, etc.). Local loyalty is more important than loyalty to a central authority.

French show up in Arthurian literature often. They are treated as old rivals to Britain and with a general hostility. However, most people, like the Angevins or the Bourbonnais, are from another country. Thus French, when they are hostile, are “from the Ile de France.”

### Vocabulary

Lord: Seigneur

Lady: Dame

Knight: Chevalier

King, the: Le Roi

## Personal Data

### Homeland

France is divided into several regions. Austrasia is the large area north and east of Ile de France. Its capital city is Metz. Neustria is the area northwest of the Ile de France, with the city of Soissons as its capital. Orléans is a rich area south of Ile de France, with the grand city of Orléans as its capital. The Ile de France is the land around the city of Paris, which itself is on an island in the middle of the Seine River. Here resides the bloodline descended from King Merovius, the only people who are allowed to be the King of the French.

d20 Roll Homeland

01-05 Austrasia (Metz)

06-10 Neustria (Soissons)

11-15 Orléans (Orléans)

16-20 Ile de France (Paris)

### Culture & Self Image

“We are the victorious French, great warriors, conquerors of Gaul. We know what is useful, what is correct and how to express our knowledge to others. Life is pleasant, and we live it with élan. We scorn the cities as places to live, for they are filthy and ridden with disease. No one is as great as we are, simply because we are French.”

#### Names

##### Male

Arbogast, Carloman, Charibert, Childebert, Chilperic, Chlodomer, Chlotar, Clovis, Dagobert, Drogo, Fredegar, Guntramm, Lothar, Odo, Pippin, Richomer, Sigibert, Theudebert, Theuderic.

##### Female

Aregund, Audovera, Austrechild, Baldechildis, Basina, Berchildis, Bilichildis, Brunechildis, Brunhild, Chrodechildis, Chunsina, Chunsia, Clotild, Deuteria, Ermenberga, Faileuba, Fredegund, Galswinth, Galswintha, Gomatrudis, Guntheuc, Ingoberg, Ingund, Marcatrude, Marcovefa, Merofled, Nantechildis, Radegund, Radegunda, Regnetrudis, Theudechild, Veneranda, Vulfegundis, Wisigard.

#### Your Lord

d20 Roll Lord

01-15 A banneret

16-19 A count

20 The Royal Household

##### Contemporary Rulers

The rulers are of the Merovingian dynasty. They are called the “long-haired kings” since they let their hair grow, as opposed to the conquered Romans of Gaul, who have it short. This list of rulers is interesting and confusing. The members of the dynasty were continually at war with each other.

#### Father’s Class

d20 Roll Father

01-15 Miles (Cavalryman)

16-19 Comites (Count)

20 Regis (King)

#### Equipment

##### Cavalry

Chain mail and open helm (10 points), Shield (6 points), Sword, 5 spears, dagger Charger, rouncy, sumpter

## Traits and Passions

### French (Pagan)

Chaste 10/10 Lustful\*

Energetic 10/10 Lazy

Forgiving 10/10 Vengeful\*

Generous 10/10 Sel sh

Honest 10/10 Deceitful

Just 10/10 Arbitrary

Merciful 9/11 Cruel

Modest 7/13 Proud\*

Pious 7/13 Worldly\*

Prudent 5/15 Reckless\*

Temperate 7/13 Indulgent\*

Trusting 10/10 Suspicious

Valorous\* 15/5 Cowardly

\*Élan is a Trait Modifier to these traits, with a starting value of +5.

### Religious Bonuses

If all the underlined Traits are 16 or higher, then the appropriate bonus applies.

### Starting Passions

Loyalty (Lord) 2d6+5

Love (Family) 2d6+5

Hospitality 2d6+5

Honor 2d6+5

## Attributes & Statistics

### Men

Roll 3d6+4 for SIZ, and 3d6+1 for each other attribute.

### Women

Roll 2d6+2 for SIZ and STR; 3d6+1 for DEX and CON; and 3d6+5 for APP.

### Special Directed Trait: Élan

Élan is a Trait Modifier with a starting value of +5. It may be added to any of the astericized Traits before it is rolled. (It does not affect the opposite Trait, and may not be used on any Trait if it is being rolled due to failure of a Trait on the left side.) However, when Élan is used, the user always gets an automatic check to Proud. Also, a Complete Failure or Partial Success results in immediate Melancholy.

## Skills & Combat Skills

Starting Skills

Skill Male Female

Awareness (4) (6)

Boating (0) (0)

Chirurgery ― (10)

Compose (0) (0)

Courtesy (5) (5)

Dancing (2) (2)

Faerie Lore (2) (2)

Falconry (6) (2)

Fashion ― (2)

First Aid (6) (10)

Flirting (2) (2)

Folklore (2) (2)

Gaming (2) (2)

Heraldry (4) (5)

Hunting (8) (1)

Industry ― (8)

Intrigue (8) (5)

Orate (2) (2)

Play (varies) (2) (2)

Read (varies) (0) (0)

Recognize (2) (4)

Religion (2) (2)

Romance (1) (2)

Singing (2) (2)

Stewardship (3) (10)

Swimming (2) (2)

Tourney (2) (2)

Combat Skills

Battle (10) (1)

Siege (2) (2)

Horsemanship (10) (4)

Sword (10) (0)

Lance (5) (0)

Spear (1) (0)

Dagger (1) (10)

Don’t forget to add Individual Skill Choices!

## Luck & Glory

### French Luck

d20 Roll Result

01 Money: £15 in old Roman coin.

02 Money: £3d6+5 in old Roman coin.

03 Money: £5d6 in old Roman coin.

04 Healing Ring: Usable only by the owner; requires a successful Merciful Trait roll each time before it is used, and then grants 1d6 points added to First Aid. A Fumble on Merciful destroys the ring, and also does 10 points of damage to the wearer.

05 Luxurious Fur Cloak: Worth £2, never deteriorates, grants +2 APP.

06 Fantastic Goblet: Grants +5 to Temperate.

07 Grandpa’s Shield: Grants 8 points of armor (instead of 6). Requires a successful Love (Family) roll to be used.

08 Fingernail of Saint Cecelia, a Christian Relic: With successful Piety roll, grants +5 to Play (any Instrument)

09 Ear of Saint Martin the Soldier, a Christian Relic: With a successful Piety roll, grants +2 to Sword Skill of any Christian. Failed Piety = immediate Melancholy.

10 Marvelous Sword: Grants +3 to Sword Skill. Requires a successful Modest roll, a failure of which breaks the sword. Can be repaired by a competent smith, at a price of £1.

11-12 Fantastic Stirrups: Grants +3 to Horsemanship.

14-15 Courser and war pony

16-17 Barbary Charger

18-20 Andalusian Charger

## Knighting

### Warrior Tradition

Upon obtaining adulthood the sons of the noble and warrior classes undergo a public initiation that dedicates them to their life tasks. This is the Equivalent of knighting. This does not qualify for the 1000 Glory of being knighted.

## Previous Experience

Get 50 Glory for witnessing each non-battle event. For each battle, get 1d6 x 50 Glory.

### 458

Childeric, son of Merovius, settles in France.

### 463

French defeat Visigoth invasion, preserving their position.