HOUSE BLACKADDER

By Scoti O'Sullivan (12 February 1996)

Introduction

House Blackadder is the smallest House in the Changeling world today, but it has a long history. . . a long history of being self-absorbed, sloppy plotting, incompetent cut throats, and comedies of errors. It also has the distinction of being the only house who's sidhe members are reincarnated.

History

The formation of this house go back a long ways, to the last days of the Shattering, 1483 -- the Battle of Bosworth Field, the final real battle of the War of the Roses. Not all the sidhe left the Earth. Some stayed becase they could not leave, others out of duty to humans. Some because they did not have the brains to get while the getting was good.

As every one knows, history is written by the victors, and Henry Tudor (A member of the Order of Reason) eventually "won" the war of the Roses. For Elizabeth I (born: 1533, crowned: 1558, died: 1603), a descendant of Henry Tudor, William Shakespeare wrote that Richard III was a deformed lunatic who brutally murdered his nephews in the tower and stole the throne. . .

. . . this is a total lie. Richard III (born: 1440, crowned: 1480 died: 1485) was a man who adored his nephews and lavished affection on them. He ruled as king with killing the boys. The true elder of the two boys, Richard IV (born: 1450, crowned: 1483, died: 1492), was a borderline blood thirsty lunatic (he may have been a Silver Fang). Richard IV had two boys; Harry (born: 1466, died: 1492) and Edmund I (born: 1468 died: 1492). Actually Edmund I was not really Richard IV's son, but the son of a lunatic Scottish transvestite; but why quibble over details.

Blackadder

"I have a cunning plan."
-- Edmund, Blackadder

Edmund was at the very least smarmy, and quite frankly a groveling fool. Edmund over slept for the battle of Bosworth Field, a battle that Richard III actually won. However arriving at the battle Edmund had to pass water and went over to some bushes, leaving his horse unattended. Richard III, needing a horse, saw Edmund's and began to take it. Edmund coming up from behind Richard III, cut off his monarch's head, not recognizing him and thinking he was just a horse thief.

Realizing what he had done he panicked and hid the king's body in a shed. Not recognizing Henry Tudor (his family's mortal enemy) Edmund I saved him from the battlefield hoping to be rewarded. Henry Tudor escaped. Edmund I learned too late who Henry truly was and set out after him. While in pursuit, Edmund encountered a bevy of Verbena witches who, thinking Edmund I was actually Henry Tudor, predicted he would some day be king. Edmund took the name Blackadder (after rejecting Blackvegetable). Richard IV, not knowing his not-son Edmund had killed Richard III, raised a royal curse on the king's killer.

Edmund, now Prince Edmund -- Duke of Edinburgh, had a servant named Balric (a rather scruffy boggan) and the Lord Percy (an abyssmally stupid sidhe) also helped him. For all their help they never accomplished anything. They did come up with a great deal of cunning plots.

At one point Edmund was found guilty of witchcraft. Before he could be put to the torch by an Order of Reason Inquisitor, his mother, a soft in the head Verbena, caused the Inquisitor to spontaneously combust.

Richard IV could never remember that Edmund was his "son," nor could he remember Edmund's name. One day Richard IV took all of the lands and responsibilities that Edmund had and gave them to another.

Infuriated, Edmund left the castle, firing both Baldwic and Percy. Edmund quested for the 6 most evil men in Britain at the time, with which to steal the crown from Richard IV. Edmund shacked up with what appeared to be an dotty old Morris Dancer, but was in fact Philip of Burgundy. 15 years before Philip had been banished to France because of Edmund I, and 15 years of having to say "par'don," eating snails, and wearing perfume had left Philip quite insane and evil. Philip now stole the leadership of the six evil men from Edmund and turned them against him. Edmund was given a fatal wounds by them.

Percy and Baldric defeated Philip and the evil men by giving them poisonous wine before the wicked lot could seize the crown. Unfortunately Percy poisoned the entire vat so when the Royal Household Drank the concoction they all died; the royal family, the servants, the solders, the knights, the scribes, the priests, the nuns, every one. With every one dead, Henry Tudor was able to step in.

Blackadder II

"I too have a cunning plan my Lord."
-- Baldric, Blackadder II

The royal curse manifested oddly. Edmund was reincarnated into his own grandson, Edmund Blackadder II (born: 1532, died: 1567). By now all the changelings who could leave had left. The Blackadders became a house by default. Also reincarnated were Percy and Baldric, both of whom had become dumber as well as part of his house.

Edmund was attached to the court of Queen Elizabeth I, and for a time was one of her suitors. Edmund became slightly smarter, but no more successful than in his first incarnation.

Edmund, in this incarnation proved to be rather impulsive. Just to show up John Smith, Edmund told every one he was going to sail to a far off land to explore. In truth he planned to sail to the south of France, carouse with tarts, get a tan, and then return to England. Unfortunately he hired the most insane sea captain in all of Brittany.

Another time, Edmund had to take a secret loan from the church. Unable to pay it back, Edmund was in rather a fix because the man sent to collect was the Baby Eating Bishop of Barsonwels. The Bishop desperately hoped that Edmund would not pay up so he could ram a red-hot poker up Edmund's bum. Edmund escaped by having a painting done of the bishop showing him in a compromising position then blackmailed him.

Edmund frequently clashed with the Lord Chamberlain Melshut. At one point Edmund challenged Malshut to a drinking duel. The problem was, Edmund had less than zero tolerance for alcohol and made a royal fool himself. He also got the queen and his too rich and insanely conservative puritan aunt and uncle (Lord and Lady Whiteadder) drunk.

Eventually Edmund II ran afoul of Ludwig the Indestructible, a crazed German of the Order of Reason. Ludwig did kill Edmund, Baldric, Percy, and even Melshut. He tried to kill Elizabeth. However some of the remaining changelings saved her. The "Fairie Queen" was really written by Edmund Blackadder as a dirty limerick to Elizabeth, but Edmund Spencer changed it after Blackadder death.

Blackadder the Third

"I have a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel."
-- Edmund, Blackadder the Third

Several generations later Edmund was reincarnated again. Edmund Blackadder III (born: 1760 died: 1835), this time with Baldric, and oddly enough Ludwig. Ludwig had been reincarnated as Prince George IV. Edmund was now butler to Prince George, while the American revolution was raging. George was an idiot, and Baldric was even stupider.

At one point Webster was trying to get patronage for new dictionary from Prince George. Unfortunately, Baldric accidentally burned the the only copy.

George also made Baldric a Lord, to fight Young Pit, who was trying to cut off the regent's money. George gave Baldric 400,000 pounds. This was money Edmund had hoped to embizzle, but Baldric spent it all on a huge turnip

Prince George got into a duel with another man. To try and help Edmund called in a distant cousin, McAdder (see the family tree). George was nearly killed in the duel, and King George thought that Edmund was his son for a time. Edmund could not fool Parliament though, later he disappeared.

A Blackadder Christmas Carrol

Edmund was born a decades later as Ebinezer Blackadder (born: 1838 died: 1871). One Christmas a Spirit-of-Christmas chimera visited him and tricked him into believing that if Ebinezer stayed nasty his descendents (him, reincarnated again) would rule the universe. Unfortunately Edmund fell for this and became nasty. It cost him thousands of pounds and a Lordship when he called Queen Victoria names.

Blackadder goes Fourth

"That was a wickedly sharp slice of kiwi."
-- Edmund, Blackadder goes Fourth

Edmund was reincarnated once again, Edmund Blackadder IV (born: 1872 died: 1918). His family was now better off socially and monetarily than it was the last time round. However all his plotting did not take the Germans into account. He became an officer in France during WW I.

Edmund was always trying to get out of fighting, and away from the battles. None of his plans worked. This is in no small part due to the fact the Melshut was reincarnated at a daft Major-General, and never let Blackadder get away. Percy was smarter this time than any time in the past, but was also subject to General Melshut. Percy was now Corporal Darling, secretary to General Melshut (their relationship was similar to Smithers and Mr. Burns). Baldwic was also here, but was only a foot soldier, and even stupider than before. George was also here, a Lieutenant to Edmund's rank of Captain. All of them died in a last over-the-top-charge ordered my Malshut.

Blackadder 005

"Blackadder, Edmund Blackadder."
-- Edmund, Blackadder 005

Most recently Edmund, (born: 1960) has been reincarnated again, Edmund Blackadder V. Like all the other times he is a sidhe changeling. This time he is working for the MI6 branch of the British secret service as one of 9 super secret agents that are licensed to kill.

Edmund's track record as a operative so far is less than illustrious, and the end of the cold war is not helping at all. But this may be in part due to the fact that Edmund is not the only one reincarnated; so to has Baldric (Edmund's assistant), Percy (Mr. Moneypenny), Melshut (M), Elizabeth (another spy), and even George (Edmund's contact).

Boon

The members of House Blackadder, automatically get an extra dot in Manipulation and Wits (even if this pushes them over five).

Ban

This is house in cursed. It covers all the members, Edmund, Baldric, Elizabeth, Melshut, Percy, and George. The curse has manifested in such a way that Edmund (and the others) will continue to be reincarnated until Edmund commits a truly selfless act that makes up for killing his king. Until that happens, he will keep trying and failing, each time comically, to do anything important (Such as gain power, reputation, or return to Arcadia). Each time, with at least a few member of his ensemble. Given the approaching Winter this may be his last chance to make amends. Given his general disposition, Heaven will burn down before Edmund is self-sacrificing.

Standard

The Blackadder standard is a silver adder snake twined around the blade of a gray dagger over an all black field. This is the standard of the family as the humans see it (The Blackadder is an old human family as well), and as the changelings see it.

Disclaimer

This is intended to be a humorous addition to Changeling via the Internet. It is based on the English comedies with Rowan Atkinson. From time to time PBS or A&E shows the programs. If you get the chance, watch them. The above make more sense if you have seen at least some of the programs. This document is not done for the BBC or Rowan Atkinson, is not meant to make any one any money, and is part of no agreement between myself and the BBC or Atkinson. Its just for fun.

There was some talk at the BBC about making a another Blackadder series, set in the 60's about a rock band -- "The Blackadder 5." I have made the 5th incarnation a spy because I think it is funnier.

If you use this, realize that it should be played for jokes, a spoof on literature, culture, and the Cold War (especially the Cold war mentality). It's more satire than slap stick, but comedy nonetheless. Make fun of James Bond and the like. Most of all, have fun. And perhaps, just perhaps, Edmund will at long last break the curse. . .

Personalities

Edmund Blackadder V

Court: Unseelie
Legacies: Regent/Rogue
House: Blackadder
Seeming: Wilder
Kith: Sidhe

Attributes:
Physical: Strength 3, Dexterity 3, Stamina 3
Social: Charisma 2, Manipulation 4, Appearance 3
Mental:Perception 2, Intelligence 2, Wits 4

Abilities:
Talents: Brawl 2, Dodge 2, Intimidation 2, Subterfuge 4
Skills: Drive 2, Etiquette 2, Leadership 2, Melee 2, Firearms 3, Stealth 3.
Knowledges: Computer 2, Investigation 2, Law 3, Linguistics 2, Mythlore 2, Occult 2, Science 2.

Advantages:
Backgrounds: Resources 3, Holdings 1, Gremayre 2, Retinue 1, Contacts 3, Allies 3
Arts: Primal 1, Legerdeman 2, Chicanery 2, Sovereign 3
Realms: Actor 3, Nature 2, Prop 2, Scene 1

Glamour: 5
Willpower: 6
Banality: 4

"Soddoff" Baldric

Court: Unseelie
Legacies: Bumpkin/Wretch
House: Blackadder
Seeming: Wilder
Kith: Boggan

Attributes:
Physical: Strength 3, Dexterity 3, Stamina 3
Social: Charisma 1, Manipulation 1, Appearance 1
Mental: Perception 1, Intelligence 1, Wits 1

Abilities:
Talents: Brawl 2, Dodge 2, Kenning 1
Skills: Drive 1, Surival 4, Firearms 2, Crafts 3
Knowledges: Computer 1, Investigation 2, Mythlore 1, Occult 2

Advantages:
Backgrounds: Resources 1, Gremayre 1, Allies 3
Arts: Legerdeman 2, Chicanery 3, Primal 1
Realms: Actor 3, Nature 1, Scene 1

Glamour: 5
Willpower: 4
Banality: 4