I'm using the Barons War campaign "Oh worthy Man of English Blood," transferred into my fictional setting of Cestria and North Dyrham. Three scenarios. It's real value at £3 for the supplement.
Cestria, A Medieval history of the North by Sir Augustus Farthingale, University of North Dyrham, 1923
King John pressed the Bishopric of Cestria for taxes, and sent a High Sheriff to the Wear, his troops did great harm to the local people and their possessions. Robert of Lumley "Hoody Bob" to his band of ner'-do-well locals repaid the French in kind.
Patrols set off into the woods of the Dene, and the Lumley thicks, never to be seen again. Supply convoys were ambushed, and sentries shot at their posts. When the King heard of this partisan raising hell in “his”
country, he dispatched one of his most able servants, the Sieur de Quincy to put an end to the English menace.
country, he dispatched one of his most able servants, the Sieur de Quincy to put an end to the English menace.
An excerpt from the (fictional)
Roger of Finchale's chronicle
1209 AD, describing the exploits
of the Hooded Robber of Cestria.
Roger of Finchale's chronicle describes "the Hode" as a
country squire who was so incensed by King John's actions
in the summer of 1209 that he raised a band of partisans to oppose the occupation.
The truth however is that Robert of Lumley was a poacher and sometimes road robber preying on Pilgrims come to view the shrine to the body of Cuthbert at the great Minster in Cestria.
Operating out of the forests and wastelands of the Dene and the Thicks the robbers used their fieldcraft and knowledge of the local countryside to make life incredibly difficult for the King's men.
Armed with bows, slings and other improvised weapons, they couldn’t hope to match the nobles in open battle, instead using ambushes and hit- and-run raids to sap the enemy’s strength and break their morale.
This campaign pits "the Hode" and his band against
the hot-headed Nils, Sieur de Quincy. Nils fought beside William Longsword in the right wing at Bouvines, where he was ignominiously routed and lost the banner of the Earl of Chester. King John has dispatched this experienced, if impetuous knight as High Sheriff to run down the Cestria rebels.
The scenarios
These grow in complexity as the campaign continues,
representing the increasing scale of the Sheriff's attempt to catch " the Hode" and his lads.
I'll be using the Barons War sample forces provided.
The three scenarios are:
The Forest Road:
The town and Minster at Cestria consume a fair amount of supplies. A supply wagon loaded down with provisions is
ambushed while travelling through the Dene up the Great North Road.
(500pts)
Rats in a Trap:
Despite the partisan’s attempts to cover their tracks,
the High Sheriff is able to track them back to their
hideout in the Thicks. With dawn breaking over the
hills, he launches his assault.
(750pts)
La Grace Dieu:
With the Sheriff's forces closing in, the Hooded
Robber launches a daring assault on the High
Sheriff's supply chain. Moored in an estuary, a
fat-bottomed merchant ship is an incredibly
tempting target.
(1000pts)
The Muster
Retinue 1 - Robert of Lumley - 499pts
Robert of Lumley
(Commander) - 53pts. Poacher
3x Outlaws (Veteran, Command Group) - 66pts
Leather/Padded, Bows, Hand Weapons Loyal Retainers
5x Outlaws (Regular) - 80pts
Leather/Padded, Bows, Hand Weapons
5x levy speamen. (Regular) -100pts
Small Shields
7 x Cutthroats (Regular) - 140pts
Fast
5x Petty Criminals (Green) - 60pts
Spears. Small Shields
Retinue 2 - Nils, de Quincy - 499pts
High Sheriff (Commander) - 47pts
Barded Horse. Medium Shield. Musician
3x Mounted Knights (Regular, Command Group) - 81pts
Medium Shields
4x Mounted Sergeants (Irregular) - 92pts
Medium Shields
Hunters
Fat Henry (Commander, Irregular Veteran Sergeant) - 39pts
Sword Medium Shield Mail Formidable Reassuring
5x Foot Sergeants (Irregular, Command Group) - 100pts
Swords Medium Shields Mail
5x Crossbowmen (Irregular) - 80pts
Leather/Padded Nimble
5x Crossbowmen (Green) - 60pts
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| A burned out village on the Great North Road. |
 |
| The Outlaws block the way. |
 |
| And the Hood gives his usual two fingered salutation |
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| But the High Sheriff has come in force |
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| Stil... That looks like an arrow storm will be in the mix. |
The game continues next week!
