I just finished running year 485 and the Battle of Mearcred Creek and the Saxon King Aelle is Dead.

I was running the battle and player got close to the Saxon King. One of the PK rallied a group and charged the royal group and the 2 PK got though to the Saxon king. As this was round 5 of the battle I let it happen, and think that if it goes badly for either side then, a charge will recuse the troubled party.

Both PK in question was Pagan Knights, one British(BPK) and the other Germanic(GPK). In the first instant the BP charged and hitted the King from horseback. The other PK dismounted to make it an more honourable fight. The BPK only does 3D6 damage and the GPK 4D6. The BPK and the Saxon had made their Hate Passion rolls., the GPK didnt bother. The BPK hit more, but most of the time the King armour turned the blow. All was going fine, both sides trading blows the BPK taking most of the damage from the King. Then the BPK did a critial hit and took the King down to 0 HP from about 20. The GPK started to back away from the King, as they was both unhorsed at the time and the King bodyguard was looking to mount a charge.

All seemed to go well until just after the King hit the ground the BPK declared he was going to Coup de Grace the King. I asked to make a Honour which he fumbled. So I declared that yes he kill the King, but his Son Prince Celyn was close enough to see this happen. But, couldnt get to the BP to stop it. The Salisbury thatw as nearby closed ranks around the two PK as one the GPK claimed the broken Great Axe of the King. The BPK claimed the Battle Standard of the King that was drop by the squire nearby.

I asked the BPK to round 3D6 for a Hate Passion that Celyn would get and he Maxed it. So they both got the Hate( each other) 18. I have plotted that the son would try to find the knight that murdered his Father. This was not the end of the matter, there was a big Feast thrown by Earl Roderick of Salisbury to honour the two knights that killed the King in battle.

The Earl asked the two Knights to decribe the fight. The BPK failed the both rolls so he just mumbled the fight. But, the GPK fumbled the Compose roll, but Crited the Orate roll. So I said that he told the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth in a most beauiful way.

I going to have fun in about 4-5 years time as the new Saxon King is going to come looking for the two knights in question with an army. The the Anarchy Period when comes asking for Tribute.

I don't think there's anything wrong with going off-script as it were. You've given yourself a nice colourful story to work with over the coming years. I would probably have given the king bodyguards to match the number of PCs attacking him though, so it was all 1v1.

I, too just ran the same Battle although the King survived - didn't even get near the PCs. In fact my PCs breezed the battle, with not one of them taking a single hit; non mounted saxons vs mounted knights is a pretty one sided affair.

The king when his Hate Brition roll is passed his Great Axe skill is 28 and his Axe skill is 26. As botht he PK had 15 Sword, I thought this was going to be a good Fight.