Robert o'Horse, the Redcap

Robert is the unGifted Redcap of Rosa Aurea, and the one who will contact the covenant, sometime around midwinter. He has a natural affinity with horses, and is a superb rider. His horse, Angelus, is a magical mare, and together they can outride anything in the country. Robert is obsessive about Angelus, and takes better care of the horse than of himself. Similarly, he will react violently to any insults aimed at his steed. While on foot, Robert is lame, barely able to move at a decent pace, and thus he will only dismount when he is sure that he is secure. He carries a charm that protects him from metal weapons, and his cap grants him level 35 magic resistance. As such, he would not remove it, unless he really trusted the people he was with. He also has three vis-imbued potions of Chirurgeon's Healing Touch, each in the form of a small pill, kept in a pouch that hangs around his neck.

He is a competent fighter, particularly skilled at breaking through lines, and he can look after himself in the wilderness and the town. He has been travelling the Tribunal for twenty years, and is now in his mid-thirties, so he knows the area well. He will take messages outside the Tribunal, but only to Loch Leglean. He is even reluctant to take messages to Insula Sancta and Caligo, because he cannot ride across the seas. There are a few rumours about the relationship between him and his horse, and they are actually true, something that he will not admit to anyone. None of those who spread the rumours actually have any evidence, but that doesn't stop them.

He is slightly above average height, with dark brown hair and a complexion best described as weather-beaten. He is somewhat ugly, but has a smooth tongue. He normally wears undyed garments, apart from the magical red cap, and is encouraging rumours about his inability to wear anything else, since such false beliefs can be helpful. When he is standing, it is noticeable that his left leg is about six inches shorter than his right, but while seated he manages to sit so that the discrepancy disappears. This also applies when he is mounted. He is normally armed with a shortsword and spear, and carries a small shield. He speaks about Angelus as a person, and will give her opinion on anything. This really is her opinion, of course, but even magi don't always realise that to start with. Angelus herself is a brown mare, and looks like a very good horse. She wears no harness, nor is she shod, although her hooves can cope with cobbled streets without trouble. Robert will not permit her to be stabled, insisting that she be allowed to roam free. If she is stabled, he will know, and will release her and immeidately leave the covenant, unless appeased quite radically. Robert tends to keep to himself, unless he trusts the people whom he is with. In that case, he will tell them rumours and things that he has seen. At the first meeting, he will merely ask if he can take a message anywhere for the covenant, such as an announcement of their existence, and he will ask whether they want him to ask a Quaesitor to witness their covenant charter. He also refuses to eat with iron implements, and those who look will notice that his spear appears to be bronze. It is actually bronze-plated steel, but Robert is trying for another legend.

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