THE TABLEAUX DE BATAILLE

The tableaux de bataille is an imaginative and spectacular contest that is very popular with the Bretonnian ladies. The tableaux usually has an elaborate theatrical setting inspired by one of the many chansons, the troubadours’ songs which tell of the legendary feats of arms of various paladins of Bretonnian chivalry. This contest is held on the last day of the tourney. The winners of the previous day’s jousting challenge the Black Knight in turn, in order to win the top prize. The Black Knight is the best Knight of the dukedom, chosen by the Duke himself, disguised in black armour with no identifying heraldry. He usually unhorses several challengers before someone succeeds in beating him to win the prize!

None Shall Pass!

If the prize of the tourney is the hand of a fair damsel, the heiress to a vacant feudal domain, a mock dungeon tower is set up on the tourney field, surrounded by a moat, over which is a drawbridge The lady plays the role of a ‘damsel in distress’ locked up in the tower. She leans out of the window shouting encouragement to the Knights trying to rescue her.

Each challenger tries in turn to cross over the drawbridge and reach the tower to rescue the damsel. Whoever succeeds wins the prize. Unfortunately you can only cross the drawbridge by unhorsing the Black Knight who is the guardian of the tower.

The Ring of Stones

If the prize of the tourney is an enchanted relic, the contenders and spectators make a splendid procession over to a nearby stone circle on the morning before the contest, which is held in the afternoon. This will be the same place where trials by combat are customarily held.

The prize is placed in the middle of the circle on an altar stone. There is only one way into the circle, between two large stones wide enough apart to admit a rider on horseback. Guarding the circle is the Black Knight who cannot leave the circle. Each challenger enters the circle in turn. The only way to claim the prize is to unhorse the Black Knight.

CHALLENGING THE BLACK KNIGHT

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!

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.