I recently ran the Battle of Lindsey for my group, finishing at battle end. Next time we play the action will start immediately after and I like to ask for some suggestions. I'm going to run the victory feast, with a few opportunities for a hunt or falconry event too, but I wanted to expand the mid section of events, tied in to either of the two options given ("Kings Progress" or "Retaliation"). Each session we play tends to switch from mirco or macro focus; a group adventure or a large scale engagement with a fairly random swing between the two. This time I'd like to incorporate some of each; some small battles (building on the knowledge gained during the last battle) and some focused character group action, just to keep things interesting. To that end, I've thought up numerous ideas but I'd like to ask for suggestions/help on how to tie them together - or hear any other thoughts on what to do.

This is where I'm at now idea wise. I thought of having Syagrius (who is now trotting round Britain annoyed with Uther) get invloved with the defeated Saxons to win concessions from the King. Uther has Eosa and Octa held prisoner and I thought if the Saxons could capture someone important (say Brastias) they could use him as a barter tool to get those two back. I don't really like the idea of them breaking out of Uther's dungeon at a later date as that seems too contrived just to fit the story. The capture happens during one of the hunting events with the king. Having captured the enemy battle standard, the PKs are invited on this hunt along with Uther and several other important types. During the hunt, Syagrius/ or Saxons attack and ambush the king. He escapes on his horse, thanks to Brastias coming to his aid, but is heavily wounded, and Brastias taken prisoner. The king languishes back at Lincoln castle (no chance of dying, he will recover, I'm just doing this for drama) and demands that Brastias be found. However, at the same time - despite the Saxon armies having been defeated - the assembled nobles are wary of a saxon counterattack (with the potential help of syagrius) on the castle or surrounding areas and want to concentrate their forces for here for a while. I realise Syagrius was just fighting the Franks, but I may have to fudge him working with the Saxons - that they both hate Uther might have to be the motivation.

This leads to a dilemma. Although it is known that Brastias was taken eastwards, perhaps also known that it was Syagrius or at least Romans that took him, the nobles are reluctant to send any number of men after him. I'm thinking of having a demand come in from a town to the east where a small army of Romans are camped demanding the ransom for Brastias. The PKs are given a small detachment of men to lead out eastward (say around 500) to overcome the army and recapture Brastias. However, there are also several small bands of saxons in the area. Say 3 groups of 200 men. Not enough to worry the PKs individually but a potent force should they all convene - especially joining forces with the Romans.

So what I'd like to do is have these 3 armies out there trying to meet up while also trying to join up with Syagrius's men, with the challenge for the PCs to either find and defeat these smaller armies individually or somehow outmaneuver them and get Brastias back before they can join up. Brastias is being held at a small keep/garrison - hence my talk of how to run sieges using BoB in the Battles forum - which the PKs may try and assault or enter surreptitiously with some help from Merlin (Merlin will need them soon and will offer help as apart of a deal). Here I'm thinking of recreating the Excalibur scene where Merlin conjures the mist for Uther to ride upon, but this time the mist will cover the keep and allow the PKs access to it. A bit cheesy I know, but I know that scene from the film so well that I want to recite the lines for my PKs (tailored to their task obviously). If they do this I then have the micro option - a bit of limited combat between them and a few guards in the keep dungeon etc,. If not then they can try and storm the walls with their men.

If the Pks win back Brastias, I guess the king will agree to barter back the saxon kings to prevent a counterattack (at a massive fee) if not then Brastias is used as the barter tool. That's basically just to tie up the situation for later play.

The issue I'm facing really is tying it together, the motivations for these groups working together and how to inject that drama of having to move fast as the different armies move around the landscape.

Any help/suggestions would be much appreciated.

- Andy

Ok, 3 days and no replies, so my two pence worth if it helps.

To answer a few of your loose ends you want to try and tie up...

Why does Syagrius worth with the Saxons? A few ideas:
a) the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Not always true in practice, but often forms the basis of a temporary allegiance.
b) Syagrius is a mercenary. Mercenaries work for money. The Saxons (may) have lots of money (plunder).
c) Related to the above, then the two combine forces to work together to compliment their strengths. Historically saxons at this time period did not have lots of quality cavalry. Exactly how many cavalry Saxon had (especially in the later - 1066 era) is a matter of academic argument but I think all would agreed that Saxons weren't known for their cavalry. Syagrius may have a reasonable number of (ex Roman) mercenary (shock) cavalry which compliments the Saxon Infantry. Again, depending upon your take, he could have specialists that the Saxons want and need for their plans - espececially if seeking to free Octa and Eosa, or consider that hard castle have lots of plunder. Syagrius may have seige engineers which are of use to the Saxons - this is not going to be a full scale siege train, but even having some large long range Ballista (Giant catapults) and Onagers (Stone throwers) around may do wonders for morale, and keeping the enemy heads down whilst the Saxons rush the gates with giant battering rams. There's a bit in this video at around 1.30 on battering rams... http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5719116070843926459# - but are the archers/boiling oil men on the wall so keen if there's a ballistae or five aimed at them. Equally, the Roman engineers could build a shed over the ram and have the skills and knowlege to coat it with urine/vinegar soaked hides to buy a bit more time for those pushing the ram...
d) More convoluted, but as part of a larger plan, the Saxons agree to help Syagrius capture Soissons if he helps them now.... Syagrius may not fall that trick again (remember how Prince Madoc treated him) but he may negotiate a more precise deal this time or be more desperate.

Why does Uther part with Brastias ? If he fears a counter-attack and is willing to trade them to stave it off, won't a counter attack be more productive if they have their leaders back ? Why not deprive them of their leadership ? The alternative view is that Uther wants or needs Brastias back....

One for two seems a poor exchange anyway. Why not man for man ? So the Saxons get one of their Kings back, but not both for Brastias ? The other is kept prisoner as a hostage, until he escapes in 493 (Great Pendragon Campaign p60) to then join up with the other one but the revenge that takes place on page 62. Also, Brastias is only a war leader/chieftain (in Saxon eyes) not a King, so it ought to be a deal of a King for Brastias AND something else. Money could be one thing but hostages could be another - children from the King you let go is a good start. If the Saxons attack then you can recreate a scene along the following lines - from the life of William le Marshall -

<<His father John Marshal had originally been a supporter of King Stephen when he took the throne in 1136. But the collapse of England into civil war in 1139 (often referred to as The Anarchy) persuaded John to switch sides. The civil war was between King Stephen and Empress Matilda, both of whom claimed to be legitimate successor to Henry I of England. According to William's biographer, when King Stephen besieged Newbury Castle in 1152, Stephen used the young William as a hostage to ensure that John kept a promise to surrender the castle. John however, used the time allotted to reinforce the castle and alert Matilda's forces. When Stephen ordered John to surrender immediately or watch as he hanged William in front of the castle, John replied that he go ahead, saying "I still have the hammer and the anvil with which to forge still more and better sons!" Fortunately for the child, Stephen could not bring himself to hang young William.>>

If you want to tug at your characters heartstrings, then I'd have the hostage as say an Elder Daughter (attractive, intelligent) who becomes a bit Britonised during her confinement, and a love interest for one of the players. Bit of guard duty, bit of flirting.... Couple of years of this, then he has to get her ready to be dropped over the castle walls in the rebellion of 493.... Depending upon your players you could have her convert to Christianity along the way. Ygraine might even have taken a liking to the girl and pleads for clemency.... Alternatively have the younger son, but either way, get the Saxon King to utter the lines suitably amended....

Rescuing Brastias - remember that the Saxons will be an assorted group bound only together by successful plundering, but will also need to split up to live off the land (one area will only have so many cattle and sheep to be slaughtered), so armies will have to be split up for forage and food purposes. Plus, say that I am the leader of a small group of Saxons BUT I'm the chief of the group that captured Brastias. My big brothers in the Saxon fraternity may want my prize to trade, but will I hand him over without getting something I want? Is their honour amongst thieves ? Can I cut my own deal with Uther ?

Whichever King is not traded, escapes for the 493 counter attack - which the King who did escape has used to improve his forces...

Chris

Chris - Many thanks for your suggestions. I particularly like the idea of why the Saxons would involve themselves with Syagrius (and the historical perspective stacks up to). I love the later political intrigue as well and I will put that to good use. My next session is this Sunday so I'm busily putting everything together now.