Edward Steel

Hello, I am an experienced Live Action Roleplayer from the UK, having played since 1988. I have been wanting to come to Bicolline for over twenty years and now it will finally happen.

Here is a flavour of my character below, that I have played at two other events. I will adapt him to fit into the Bicolline world.

Mercenary weapon trainer/ Judicial champion. Captain of the Savage Steel mercenary company.

Cesspits and violence

Edward was born 1468 in Southampton into a poor family and was the youngest of Seven children with his mother dying while giving birth to him.

From the age of six Edward helped his father and older brothers in their work as Gong farmers. Gong farming was a competitive business at the time in Southampton which led to conflict and violence between several of the competing groups.

Edwards father, known as Brockton due to his black and white hair, was accustomed to violence, having served as a foot solider in the last six years of the hundred years war in France. Brockton taught his sons to fight and toughened them up even further by giving them regular beatings, normally after arriving home drunk after visiting the local tavern.

Their gong farming business was a success for many years up until 1482 when Edwards father was found bleeding and drowned in a cesspit after an altercation with a rival.

His father’s death had a profound effect on Edward and led him to disengage emotionally from the world.

Merchants and nobles

One year later at the age of fifteen Edward was hired as a thug and became part of a criminal gang that operated in the docks. In that summer on a fine fresh day on the edge of the trader’s quarter by the docks, Edward made the first, second and third of what was to be the start of his lifelong killing spree. His first victims where a merchant, his wife and their twelve-year-old daughter that had just struck a trade deal to import goods from the South of France. Edward had been tasked with threatening this merchant in order to extort money from him, after Edwards initial threat things escalated, the girl screamed and Edward silenced all three with a number of swift and deadly stabs of his butcher’s knife.

This brutal killing of a respected merchant and his family attracted significant unwelcome attention to the gang which led to them seeking to turn Edward over to the judicial authorities.

This situation cumulated in a Tavern brawl which was witnessed by a small group of strange looking travelers who were about to set off for Italy. Three gang members all older and bigger than Edward had found him in the Ship Inn and proceeded to attack him with falchions, in the fight that ensued Edward killed one of his assailants and incapacitated another, the third was about to deliver a killing blow to Edward when they themselves were stabbed through the back by one of these strange looking travelers. It later transpired that the travelers consisted of a Lord of the Duchy of Ferrara (Northern Italy) his judicial champion and a number of other retainers. The lord was so impressed with Edwards talent as a fighter that he had ordered his champion to intervene in the tavern fight and then invited Edward to Italy.

Edward was quick to accept this opportunity which led to him being taken on as an apprentice fighter by this champion that had saved his life. 

Training and transformation

After many years of training and successful Judicial combats Edward, now a well-dressed and relatively wealthy young man, was taken on as Judicial champion of the Duchy of Ferrara being also employed by Duke Ercole to train his son Alfonso D’Este.

Friendship and adventures

1497 – Walter Aged 36 and Edward aged 29 met fighting in the Great Italian wars. Interestingly they were on opposite sides and yet were able to meet during several peace negotiations and as Englishmen abroad found they had much in common and soon became fast friends

1499 – Walter Savage and Edward Steel form the Savage Steel Company.

1499 – First Savage Steel contract with the Duke of Ferrara. Several successful battles.

1500 – The tale of the rescued Princess. (Bianca-Maria Daughter of the Duke of Savoy, Philliburt II)

Duke D’Est of Ferrara approved of the romance. 

Edward Steel illicit affair and kidnapping of the lady in question. (The tale of the rescued Princess, or the three baths a night debacle).

1504 – Ferrante jailed. Ferrante being the closest compatriot and supporter of Savage Steel it became difficult for Savage Steel to remain in Ferrara 

The battle of Ravenna Marsh. (Fighting against German Landsknechts)

Bed pan and chair leg brawl

Payment, Poison and Persuasion. (Northern Italy 1504)

On the day of a battle against the Duchy of Milan it becomes apparent that Edward is missing. As Edward had just taken receipt of the Company wages and a very large fee for services rendered to the Prince Alberto of Carpi; it became apparent that they needed to find Edward straight away. Rushing back to the nearby city of Carpi they searched high and low and there was no sign of him. Then a swaggering bravo arrives with a message to say that his people have Edward and will return him (alive and unharmed) in exchange for the money they know we have. Walter agrees to this despite Edward being the one with the knowledge of where the money is. They agree to an exchange of the chest of money for Edward the next morning. A chest is procured, filled with sand and then the sand covered with a layer of coins acquired by whatever means necessary. Plans are laid. In the morning the chest is lifted onto a cart and splits as the old chest was rotten. Walter sets off to the meeting with those who are part of the plan. The others say they will follow as soon as they can find another chest. The meeting place is reached and the company awaits the kidnappers. Eventually they arrive but they do not bring Edward. Negotiations take place then the cart arrives carrying a barrel rather than a chest. There is an argument about how to proceed. Someone appears to give the signal to attack and the kidnappers are shot by hidden bowmen. Before the kidnappers die they reveal that they have Edward secreted in a nearby farm. They travel to the farm to find a somewhat bewildered Edward wandering around, wondering where he is and who it is he has just killed. When asked about the money he reveals it was in the form of a promissory note that seems to be missing from his pouch. On further investigation it seems the cook who was feeding the kidnappers had used the paper to light the breakfast fire. Considering the debts that needed to be paid in Carpi the Savage Company decided to remove themselves back to Ferrara without giving their farewells, their only solace was the money they liberated from the previously successful kidnappers. 

1505 – Duke Ercole of Ferrara dies mysteriously. Probably at the hands of Lucretia Borgia or one of her agents. Savage Steel Company leaves Italy travelled through the Iberian Peninsula to Portugal.

1506 – Based in Lisbon in Portugal after fleeing from Italy, Savage Steel were employed as maritime guards for merchant ships travelling to Benin with Rich merchants in need of protection from pirates and competitors. In between voyages they were involved in fighting judicial duels training Portugese and Spanish households and reading in the libraries of the Moorish caliphates depending on their interests.

The Sausages and the Insult. (1506 Portugal)

There was a tavern (Bela Lingüiça) in Lisbon that served the most wonderful food. The Savage Steel company always ate there at least once a week while in port. That each of the landlords daughters was more beautiful than the next was also a matter of interest. One day a rich Noble - Juan Ponce de León Count of Arcos- (and his friends) visited the tavern to sample some of the taverns delights. Delicious food was eaten. Excellent wine was drunk. The daughters were treated very poorly. The landlord (Estevao/Stephen)was incensed with their behaviour but prevailed upon his other customers to let him deal with it. Eventually the noble got up to leave and refused to pay. When asked why not he gave a list of faults with the food, wine and service and appearance of all within the tavern. Then he gave one insult too many for the landlord who demanded satisfaction in a duel. An argument followed. Savage steel stepped in and ensured a duel would be fought. The Noble brought his enormous Swabian bodyguard (Gottfried) to act in his stead. The Swabian was strong, young, fit proven in many duels and fights, he was well armed and armoured and counted one of the finest swordsman in Portugal. Edward stabbed him in the face and much money was gained in side bets. The Noble was astonished and shaken, paid his debts. Savage Steel lived in the tavern for a while to prevent reprisals. There are many rumours (both good and bad) of the landlords fate. 

Siege abandoned by ship, Walter best harness sold to fund passage. (Armour lost)

1507 – With profits from the voyages to Benin Savage Steel was once again able to employ its own troops and sail to the Mediterranean.  

Won too much money by betting on Judicial Duels. (too many stabs in the face). Speaks for itself. 

1507 – The Ship was used to capture enemy ships in the Mediterranean and then used in  sieging a coastal town in Sardinia. Siege was won but the ship was crippled. The Remaining members of Savage Steel were able to limp back to Marseille with the help of a ship owned by the Duke of Valois.

1508 Tale of the Chaotic charge. With supplies running low during the siege of Perouges just north of Lyons; a breech was finally made in the walls The charge through the breech was however quite disjointed and the defenders put up a good solid defence. The attack was failing. Walter, wanting to break the siege quickly and seeing disaster looming, led the Savage Steel company on an assault through the breech and into the city (this going against his own maxim of never going in through the breech until the fighting is almost over). The charge of the Savage Steel Company was very successful. Once through the breech the officers were allowed to cry Havoc and the army gathered what riches they could from the conquered city. The members of Savage Steel are variously proud embarrassed or in fear of their immortal souls based on what they did during and after the siege.  

Talhoffer style wife and husband Judicial combat, Whilst campaigning in Saxony Edward spends time competing in all the judicial trials he can. His success leads to a refusal to allow him to try out his ideas. During a lull in the campaign the company starts to frequent a tavern which also hosts some of the Almain soldiers they are fighting against. Various complications mean that the denizens of the village are happy to assist Edward to pose as the female combatant in a duel with an Almain soldier. 

Stories Someone’s pay chest goes missing. (The missing chest). In Calais a paychest goes missing. The Chest was delivered and signed for by someone claiming to be from the Savage Steel company. The chest was never seen again and the company had to leave in haste assisted by a friendly sea captain and chased by the provost marshal.

1507 - 1509  –  Fight in French wars. Major Battles against Swiss, Holy Roman Emperor, Burgundy, Main employer was the Duke of Valois. 

1509 – Scotland. Small battles. Notably battles fought against the Danish troops of the Queen of Scotland and both alongside and against the clansmen of the Lord of the Isles. The clans are always fighting each other and having long memories for an enemy there is no doubt that firm friends and foul enemies lie in wait for any members of Savage Steel who return to the highlands. The chief employer was John Lindsay, 6th Earl of Crawford and Duke of Montrose.

1511 Other minor battles/skirmishes in England and training contracts for household troops. 

Whilst recovering from a battle in a tavern Edward kills noble man’s son in tavern argument. The name of the tavern was the Bell and the name of the noblemans son was John Bell (It was forever after called the The Battle at Bells end or the Bellend battle)

Ireland 1512 

Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare KG (born c. 1456 – c. 3 September 1513), known variously as "Garret the Great" (Gearóid Mór) or "The Great Earl" (An Iarla Mór), was Ireland's premier peer. He served as Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1477 to 1494, and from 1496 onwards. His power was so great that he was called "the uncrowned King of Ireland". He employed the Savage Steel Company to advise how to defeat the almain pike armed  mercenaries that had joined the army of Ulick Fionn Burke of Clanricarde. It is possible that Savage Steel also brought handgunners to battle for the first time in Ireland, and certainly western Ireland.

1510 - 1512 – Ireland and England.

The Last Wagon (England, south east of Rugby, 1512)

The Savage Steel Company was hired to both guard a group of wagons travelling from Coventry to London and to train the guards of the Mercers guild. The route was plagued by thieves and bandits. There were rumours about traitors and blackmail. Plans were set in motion to trap any spies or to confront any bandits. After several failures to catch any raiders or traitors, one plan had great success. Goods were shifted around in the wagons while stopping overnight at the Red Lion tavern in Dunchurch. This left the largest slowest wagon with a heavy load and a slow team of Oxen to pull it and further delays meant it set out an hour after all the other wagons had left. It was attacked by 20 or so thieves who discovered the two hidden gunners and two sword and buckler armed soldiers in the wagon (as well as the two drivers). A further group of soldiers rushed forward who had been following some distance behind (though they left the tavern before the wagon). Somehow Captain Savage was shot with a bullet during the melee despite the bandits having no guns. One of the Mercers travelling with them was missing from their room at the next tavern. Rumours still remain that it was one of the mercenaries (Savage Company) that was working with the bandits. 

1513 – Employed by the Duchess of Wessex and Brittany the Savage Steel company gathers at the village of Templecombe deep in the Wessex countryside. Until recently the kingdom of Wessex had refused to use Mercenaries (at least within the kingdom itself). The loss of the Duke and the splitting of the kingdom has meant that Mercenaries are the only way to get an army to form with any kind of efficiency. The Savage Steel company has been employed as a training force rather than a military force in its own right. The mercenaries perhaps not being trusted to fight well in battle. The least worst option has been to employ Walter Savage as a Wessex man though exiled many years previously for striking a priest in a tavern brawl and rendering him an imbecile. The Savage Steel company have earned a reputation for competence and skill at arms in recent years.