Midshire Game 5: Who will rid me of this Corpulent Priest?

The Anarchy in Midshire: Game 3

Scenario 6: The Feud
Location 9: the Midden Bridge
Random Encounter 8:  The ancient hermit
Additional terrain roll 3 Water. 

Factions: (3 for this scenario)

1. Hugh Biggot Earl of Midshire.  Controls the the great coastal fortress of Bumburgh. 24 Points

2.   Bishop Phallus de Farthingdale, of Midshire Minster. 24 points

Rewards
6AP  +  Addition to retinue Minstrel (10)

Running totals		Retinue
The Earl	24	Herald, Heiress.
The Bishop	24	Fool, Artillerist
Lord Rollo	18	Reeve
Mercenary Band	12	Reeve
Scallywag Outlaw	6	Minstrel
The Sheriff	12	Herald. Priest

Game Narrative

It's finally come to a head between the Bishop and the Earl.  Rumours have been rife in Midshire of late that the Bishop is sending aid to the forces of the Empress, and that a convoy of wagons carrying Church plate silver and gold has been sent to Midden, the County Town, under the watchful gaze of the Bishop's own retinue.

The Earl has reacted swiftly and in the Kings Name intends to seize the loot for himself.  He was heard to shout, "who will rid me of this Corpulent Priest?"  Fat shaming! 

With the Earl's son, Desmond Fitz-Biggott, or "the young Earl, in tow the retinue have hurried to the great Midshire Road and found the convoy of wagons at the Midden Bridge.  The river is impassable here and the Midden Bridge is a choke point on the road.  

The Earl's men must charge across, the Bishop's must defend the loot.  It is potentially the key battle in Midshire's Anarchy.

The Earl's retinue and battle plan were composed by Dr P
The Bishop;s retinue and plan were prewritten by myself as part of the solo mechanisms.

Midden, County Town of Midshire

The campaign map devolved onto a tabletop.

The Midden Bridge

The Sheriff's men appear

The Bishop and his matchstick of the true cross mounted in a massive wooden cross.

The Earl advances his Foot knights, the Crossbows hold back to use the hedge line as cover

The Bishop has a strong position at the bridge.  Even the outlaw Robbing Hood has joined him to lead one of the bow units.  The trouble is that the Foot knights holding the centre rolled a double 1 after taking a casualty and ran away!  Not a good start.

The bows loose from behind the palisade.  Poor shooting

And again.  Its still pretty poor, but knocks a figure from the foot Sergeants.

Robbing Hood's outlaws refuse to play.  

As the foot knights take on the Bishop the Crossbows loose into the Foot Sergeants and cause havoc!

The Earl's foot knights cross the bridge and smash the bows.  The outlaws are done!

And oops... that's the end for the Hood.   

The battle between the Mounted and foot.  The Earl wins driving back the Bishop, battered

The Bishop survives but on a roll of (4) I decide that he is captured... after all he is a Bishop! 

And that brings the Midshire Anarchy campaign to an end for now, with the Earl in charge and no serious contenders.  I declare 1139 as King Stephen's year.  Let's see what 1140 brings!

Running totals		Retinue
The Earl	24	Herald, Heiress, Minstrel
The Bishop	6	Fool, Artillerist
The Sheriff	6	Herald, Priest
The Sieur de Whitemoore	6	Master Bowman
Scallywag Outlaw	0	Minstrel
Lord Silas Grope	0	Reeve