Greetings Traveller, and here my storey. It is short, for I am yet young. My name is Drake Marshall. I was born on the 6th of November in the year of our lord, 1400. My earliest years were spent at my mother's ancestral home in Chepstow. My father's name is Richard Marshall, a younger brother of Sir William Marshall, namesake to our famous ancestor, William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke. My mother is Lady Dyfyn, who has inherited three manor houses including Striguil, and lands at Chepstow, along the Wye Valley. In the early Summer after my 9th birthday I accompanied my father to Pembroke, as I have been given the honour of serving as a page in Uncle William's household.

Uncle William is very kind and has afforded me great affection and given me personal training in riding, archery and swordsmanship. He often takes me from my assigned duties in the household to ride and hunt. I love my Uncle dearly and work hard to master my tasks and serve with courtesy and honour at all times.

At a very young age I showed a special aptitude for riding and handling horses and was given encouragement to improve my skills. By the age of 9 I was already passing talented in the arts of horsemanship, and keen to improve myself further. At 13, I became the 2nd highest-ranking page in the household, and on my 14th birthday Uncle made me a squire and gave me the supervision of the mare stables.

Forsooth, though my riding pleaseth Uncle greatly, my swordsmanship is less than graceful. Thus have I been encouraged to develop my skills of hunting rather than those of fighting. This is good for I love to follow the hounds and my argent Staghound Maderun never fails me.