Morningkiller
07-07-2012, 06:58 PM
So, Sussex attacked in 509. Wessex was bought off but still allowed the new King Celyn to pass through their lands for the invasion. Cerdic rubbed his hands with glee.
Half of The Knights of Sword Lake accompanied Sir Gwyn, the humble vassal who had struck down a Bretwalda, and rode out to try to lure the vengeful King Celyn away from their homeland. Recognising Gwyn's heraldry he pursued with the bulk of his mounted heorthgeneats. Blinded by anger and against the counsel of his chieftains he followed them north and into the dreaded Forest Sauvage.
Sir Roderick and Sir Uwain used their local knowledge as Lords of Medbourne and Grantham to evade the large warband. The saxons soon became lost and got into some nasty scrapes with spriggans and hags.
Frustrated by his huntsman's failings Celyn attempted to become impassioned to find and confront the mocking Sir Gwyn of Newton.
He fumbled his passion roll and went mad. The PKs with a critical hunting roll caught him while maddened and knocked him unconscious. They then let the warband know and forced them to withdraw on pain of killing the Bretwalda. They were happy to withdraw anyway as it happens.
Meanwhile the bulk of the army of Sussex besieged Sarum. They were not disposed to starve out the cymri and went straight to assault. On the first day they they were repulsed and took only light losses. On the second, even the recently completed walls of the city could not keep them out. The army of Salisbury fell back to the castle but in good order.
The saxons spent several days looting and burning Sarum. They then prepared an assault. Sarum castle proved too strong for even their superior numbers. Sir Arcavius used a classic roman ploy and critted his battle roll. King Celyn's younger brother fumbled his. Disaster! The knights of Salisbury were joined by the enraged peasantry and citizens of Salisbury (allowed into the castle on the word of the young Earl). They swept out and caught the saxons unawares after repelling their assault. Sussex morale collapsed after Sir Blaen cut down three giants and the young Prince. The army fell back in ragged order. Salisbury's numbers were too few to pursue.
Sarum is burned and the new Bretwalda is mad and in the Earl's dungeons. The army of Sussex has taken heavy damage.
So a saxon king is worth £500 ransom. Is the bretwalda worth more? Is he worth less if he is mad?
How much would it cost to rebuild Sarum. More than £500 I'm guessing.
Half of The Knights of Sword Lake accompanied Sir Gwyn, the humble vassal who had struck down a Bretwalda, and rode out to try to lure the vengeful King Celyn away from their homeland. Recognising Gwyn's heraldry he pursued with the bulk of his mounted heorthgeneats. Blinded by anger and against the counsel of his chieftains he followed them north and into the dreaded Forest Sauvage.
Sir Roderick and Sir Uwain used their local knowledge as Lords of Medbourne and Grantham to evade the large warband. The saxons soon became lost and got into some nasty scrapes with spriggans and hags.
Frustrated by his huntsman's failings Celyn attempted to become impassioned to find and confront the mocking Sir Gwyn of Newton.
He fumbled his passion roll and went mad. The PKs with a critical hunting roll caught him while maddened and knocked him unconscious. They then let the warband know and forced them to withdraw on pain of killing the Bretwalda. They were happy to withdraw anyway as it happens.
Meanwhile the bulk of the army of Sussex besieged Sarum. They were not disposed to starve out the cymri and went straight to assault. On the first day they they were repulsed and took only light losses. On the second, even the recently completed walls of the city could not keep them out. The army of Salisbury fell back to the castle but in good order.
The saxons spent several days looting and burning Sarum. They then prepared an assault. Sarum castle proved too strong for even their superior numbers. Sir Arcavius used a classic roman ploy and critted his battle roll. King Celyn's younger brother fumbled his. Disaster! The knights of Salisbury were joined by the enraged peasantry and citizens of Salisbury (allowed into the castle on the word of the young Earl). They swept out and caught the saxons unawares after repelling their assault. Sussex morale collapsed after Sir Blaen cut down three giants and the young Prince. The army fell back in ragged order. Salisbury's numbers were too few to pursue.
Sarum is burned and the new Bretwalda is mad and in the Earl's dungeons. The army of Sussex has taken heavy damage.
So a saxon king is worth £500 ransom. Is the bretwalda worth more? Is he worth less if he is mad?
How much would it cost to rebuild Sarum. More than £500 I'm guessing.