My player knights are soon going to be asked to assist the Countess of Rydychan retain her lands from the usurpers.

Through years of service to the County followed by a military coup, which the players instigated, the Knights of Salisbury are the power of that county and the Player Knights in turn have a heavy influence upon their decisions. One of the Knights in particular is the most skilled in battle and will no doubt be looked upon as Salisbury's military leader.

Therefore if they decide to take the army of Salisbury to Rydychan and claim the Country by force they're quite likely to have that happen.

My questions are what will happen if they do....

I'm presuming that they will leave behind the minimum garrison of footmen, which is about a third of the total.

Rydychan will presumably call out all it's force to oppose them, or would they still leave a minimum garrison in some of the more remote parts of the county?

When the fight does happen would people play it out with the Skirmish system or use the battle system (with the tweaks from my old copy of the Boy King to determine who actually wins the fight)?

If going for a Skirmish has anyone ever used an opposed battle roll for the Skirmish? As is the followers fate table takes no account of what the leader is fighting against, which up until now hasn't been a problem but with this fight I do want some quick and simple system that will take into account the forces involved and give rise to a winner.

They might also decide to look for mercenaries, might the Saxons make themselves available? They've been paying Cerdic his tribute every year and in exchange for double tribute and/or the right to plunder Rydychan might he permit some of his warriors to accompany the army of Salisbury?

Thanks in advance!

I would think that if it is a fight for the fate of the entire county, that all of the available defenders would be present. Here is something to think about, though. If sSalisbury able to attack. Can they field an army and still leave enough defenders in salisbury just in case Cerdic attacks at their back? Surely if he gets such an opportunity he can not resist no matter what tribute was agreed upon? Or if the saxons of Cerdic could be bought then while they are fighting with Salisburt in the field they could defeat Rydachan, and if Salisbury's forces are too weakend, they might destroy Salisbury's army in one fell swoop. How Honorauble is Credis's word? That is the question! ;)

HAHAHAHA wow sorry about all the messy spelling! :D

If sSalisbury able to attack. Can they field an army and still leave enough defenders in salisbury just in case Cerdic attacks at their back?

The army of Salisbury has travelled before when the Saxons have come, they left a minimum garrison which I played out as being enough to secure the castles and Sarum itself but left the rest of the County at the mercy of the Saxons who pillaged to their hearts content and just ignored the fortifications.


Surely if he gets such an opportunity he can not resist no matter what tribute was agreed upon?

My take on Cerdic has been that he's trying to portray himself as a British King and not as being the same as the other Saxons. So at the moment he hasn't taken full control of all of Hampshire and when he receives the appropriate tribute he will stick to his word. He would rather be acknowledged as King and accept the homage and loyalty of his subjects.

However he his still a Saxon and all of that will change once he sees himself as being betrayed, as will happen in 508 when Nanteleod attacks unless Salisbury somehow triggers it first. At that point he will enslave any of the native inhabitants that are left in Hampshire and pillage everywhere that he can.