The field of Hazels, battle at the Burnt Moor

Scenario 4 - The Rebellion.  

Robin of The Hode has escaped the Bishop's dungeon in Cestria and seeks the aid of Lords Lumley and  Lambtun.  Both declare support for King Richard, and a battle is arranged on the Burnt Moor, a field of honour being readied for a fight between the two sides.

Honour is not really something the Bishop believes in however.

The field of Hazels, battle at the Burnt Moor

The King's Men

Richard Lord Lambtun

Gaston, Lord Lumley

Clugney, Lord Stanley

Hoody Bob and his poachers

The Prince's Men

Conrad Bishop of Cestria, Lord Finchale

Gilbert, Lord Ravensworth

Roland, Lord Wessingtun

BURYING THE HATCHET - 750 points 

The hazelled field is a tradition brought to Britain by the Vikings. This game represents the formal arrangement between combatants to do battle at a certain place and time.

The Lambtuns have brought in allies in the form of Lumley and Stanley, the Bishop opposing them as the winner of the previous game is with Ravensworth and Wessingtun.

The feuding nobles have brought their armies to this place to settle their differences with blood and iron, expending the lives of their followers in pursuit of their goal.

Determined to settle things once and for all, the lords have  agreed to meet on a stretch of open ground called the Burnt Moor, a sinister place, identified in folklore to be the battleground between Sir Richard's ancestor and the local dragon.  

House Rules, Blood and Crowns for the Barons War

Figures are armed and armoured as seen. 

Each Knight (6 only in this campaign) has a single command point that may only be spent on his own retinue.  Foot are mustered into groups from the combined forces of the Knights involved under the command of a Centenar, Captain of 100 who also gets a command point. 

I may also allow one Captain of archers per side as the Vintenar rule.

Raising Troops

The Earl Bishop summons his vassals to the Minster Square in Cestria. Each of the Knights is required to supply a retinue of sub vassals freeholders and freemen.  Those not wishing to serve may pay scutage to allow the Bishop to employ others in thier place, or pay to maintain service longer than the 40 days required.  If a general levy is called all men 16 to 60 including Villeins are mustered in the villages, the best or a tithe being marched to join the local Knight.

The Bishop himself maintains a Famila of Knights and Mounted Men at arms who also dealt with administrative and military problems within the bishopric.

I will follow the Assise of Arms 1181, as updated by the 1285 statute of Winchester.

Knights and Freeholders (wealthy landowners) are required to possess a hauberk, a helm, a shield, a sword, horse and horse armor (I take this to mean a caparison).  North Durham has six knights in my campaign but each of these Lords has brothers and uncles that can also serve with this level of equipment.

Freeholders with lands valued at more than 20 pounds were required to have similar equipment, including chainmail, sword, and shield.  The campaign has 24 freeholders, these are not Knights but could be called Sergeants at arms.  They are divided between the six lordships.

Freemen of lower wealth (those with land or goods valued at less than 20 pounds but more than 10 marks) are required to possess a spear sword, shield, and helmet. The Statute of Winchester alters this to include bows, influenced by Edward's Welsh wars, and the subsequent spread of the weapon.

Other Freemen are required to have a spear or bow and arrows.  These are Footmen or Archers, English.

Villeins muster with other weapons suitable for defense, though the quality and specifics depend on their financial means.  These are levy or archers.

Mercenaries can also be raised, based on the forces of Captains who act as characters in the campaign.  These may include ship Captains.

The English Crown may sent an Earl or rival Bishop North as an Emissary to the Scots.  This almost never goes peaceably.

The Scots raid from across the Tweed and the Tyne, or from the Pennines on a regular basis.

French, Scots and Scandinavian pirates are always a threat.

The "Prince" Bishop of Durham is constantly seeking to "recover" the body of St Cuthbert.  The pilgrimage revenues make this a Manor area of conflict.  Durham also maintains six knights and their retinues.

My forces for the Barons War

18 Mtd Knight figures   
6 Mtd Sergeants             
18 foot Knight figure        
12 Foot Sgt Spearmen  
12 Peasant bowmen     
18 levy Spear                  
18 Crossbowmen           
Two ships

Planned Solo campaign, The Scottish King's Ambitions
1.   The Dawn Raid - 200pts
2.   Spring The Trap - 250pts
3.   Bullying the Bishop - 300pts
4.   A Spilled Pint - 200pts
5.   The loss of Wessingtun- 300pts
6.   The Final Battle - 400pts

The Game.  Rebellion

Deployment done.  The Outlaw force has not yet arrived.  Time to roll on my pre battle events:

D6 Pre fixed battle events

6.  A portent is seen.  An extra favour is given to one of the sides.

5.  Delays.  A contingent is removed from deployment and rejoins on the baseline after an Edna roll at each turns end.

4.  An encounter battle.  Starting with a single group on the baseline one group arrives per turn, anywhere on the baseline.  It's a solo game so randomised allocation of the order in which units arrived.

3.  Treachery.  Silver changes hands, promises are made.  Roll for a random contingent to change sides.  It is removed from deployment and on a dice roll of six after turn three appears to a flank on the side of the enemy.

2.  Mist.  Deployments shift d6 x 3 inches.  Odd numbers to the left flank, even numbers to the right.

1.  The rain it raineth dismally, also mud.  Bow ranges halved, bow effects halved.  Movement halved

 Treachery intervenes.  The Bishop has paid off Stanley with 100 silvers, rather than the traditional thirty.

 

The Bishop loses one favour point.  Clugney, Lord Stanley, may yet appear but now on the Bishop's side.

Lords Lambtun and Lumley take the field, with a quarter of the Loyalist forces missing.  

Lumley advances but the Bishop manages to flank him with archers.

The Bishop charges and Lambtun counter charges.  The Bishop loses two and is thrown back.  Not a good start.

Clugney Lord Stanley appears on the Bishops base line.  Boo, hiss, traitors!

But in a duel of crossbow bolts against arrows the Kings bowmen win out.

Lord Ravensworth holds Lumleys advance using veteran spearmen.

The Bishop is unfrocked and takes a thumping from Richard of Lambtuns himself.

And it's all over as the Bishop is captured.  The Princes plans are in tatters.  The King can now return in safety.