A Most Ignoble Feud of Barons

The Lambtun/Lumley feud of 1200

A blood-red eclipse of the moon on 2 February 1208 was  perceived as an ominous warning. Coming around the time of the deaths of the bishops of Chester and Durham, it had also coincided with the feast of the Purification of Mary.  Soon after this Rome placed England under papal interdict. 

In the North Lord Lambtun has had another of his rather odd dreams, and come to the conclusion that his neighbour, Lord Lumley, is to blame for England's woes.

Relationship between our two nobles. 

D6 = 5 

Childhood Friends: Your nobles have known each other since they were small, when serving at the Bishop's Court.  

The Background

D10 = 2

Supposed Cowardice: One noble suspects the other of being a coward.  This could be a rumour doing the rounds of the King’s court, or something observed while fighting along side each other.

Duration

D6 =4

The last two years

The Flashpoint

Sign from God: One noble received a miraculous sign from above, which they interpreted as a carte blanche to settle the score with their rival.  May be a statue in their chapel started bleeding, or they had a prophetic dream.

From the Chronicle of the Monk of Twizell

The Year of Our Saviour 1205.  Lord Richard of Lambtun dreamed of the Holy Rood, held aloft by a burning snake, with naked angels wearing black leather.  Drinks a little does Lord Richard.

The Lambtuns took this as a sign to deal with their Lumley rivals, and the cowardly Sir Conrad of Lumley.  The plot was hatched for an ambush on the feast of St Wulfstan the Vegetarian, at his shrine on Penshaw Mount, called locally "The Wyrm's Hill.".

The Scene of the 1205 feud

The Games

The Ambush: One noble is cruelly ambushed while riding across a remote or isolated part of their domains. (500pts) 

Burying the Hatchet: Hoping to nip this escalating conflict in the bud, both nobles agree to a pitched battle. (750pts)  The Battle of the Burnt Moor.

The Bad Neighbour: The tide has turned in favour of one noble, with their rival penned up in a castle, under bombardment from a massive trebuchet. A well timed sally could change the course of the conflict, or bring it to an untimely conclusion. (1000pts)

The rules are in A5.  Unexpected!

Game 1 The Ambush

A lonely road, winding through dense woodland or across a windswept moor. The nearest habitation indicated only by a plume of smoke smudged across the horizon. A hunting horn brays, and the ambushers break cover, a shower of arrows or bolts arcing overhead. What's it to be - fight, or flight? 

Retinue 1 - Richard, Lord Lambtun

Commander Sir Richard: Barded Warhorse Medium Shield Musician, 4 Household Knights,  Medium Shields Lances 

5 x Spearmen Regulars

5 x Spearmen Green

6 x Crossbowmen Regulars

5 x Peasant bowman Irregular 

Retinue 2 - Gaston, Lord Lumley 

Commander Sir Gaston: Barded Warhorse Medium Shield Musician, 4 Household Knights,  Medium Shields Lances Infantry

5 x dismounted Men at arms

5 x dismounted Men at arms

5 x Spearmen Regulars

6 x Crossbowmen Regulars

 

Lord Richard and his brother in law Sir Clugney with their men at arms.

The pilgrimage to the shrine.

Gaston of Lumley leads his men into the Ambush.

A sharp fight.  Clugney is unhorsed, but the Lumley knights are thrown back.

 Sir Richards archers push through the woods to take on the opposing crossbows.  

But the ambushers are put to flight.   A rousing win for Lambton.

Game 2 will be:

The field of Hazels, battle at the Burnt Moor

The Reinforcements

Conrad Bishop of Cestria, Lord Finchale

Gilbert, Lord Ravensworth

Roland, Lord Wessintun

Clugney, Lord Stanley

Death and Taxes, Barons War

The Bishop of Cestria has instituted the so called "Scotale" tax, on all beer served in the town.  The common folk are unhappy!  Enter Robin Hode of Lumley, a thirsty thief who refuses to pay the Bishop's tax. 

my Robin Hood figures from the second Barons War Kickstarter have never had a proper outing.  I've added more Knights and resin figures to this collection and have looked back at the Cry Havoc Sherwood campaign as well as the Death and Taxes scenarios.  scenarios

My game is set in Medieval Cestria, and Robin of Lumley will take the part of the hooded brigand.  Given that one of the inspirations for the original legends was Robin of Redesdale (and I live on Redesdale Road) a Durham setting for the hood seems reasonable.

Sherwood Forest will be the Cestria Dene.  

Characters.

The Leper Knight.  

The Order of St Lasarus has little real presence outside the Holy Land with one exception.  The Bishop of Cestria supports a Leprosaria on the Pilgrim road, and St Cuthbert's remains are credited with healing Leprosy  (but only in those who are sufficiently faithful.)

Stationed at the Lazarite Hospital is the Knight, Brother Thomas, illegitimate son of the previous Bishop and crusading companion to his cousin, the current prelate.  He is a former Knight Templar who joined the Lazarites on contracting Leprosy in Jerusalem.  Brother Thomas is described by the Benedictines as a "most puissant bastard," and he is deadly serious about protecting pilgrims, even if he is alone in this role.

Robin of Lumley

Robert Hode, from the village of Lumley is one of a family of ner-do-wells, all too strong for light work.  The Hode's are often referred to as belonging to the Lumley Thicks, and over the years many a wolfshead and brigand has been a thick.

Odo FitzQuilp

A former clerk, somehow now appointed Bishop's Sheriff.

The Robin of Lumley Campaign

Sc 1 - Greetings Sheriff ! The newly appointed Sheriff crosses the Cestria Moor

Sc 2 - The Provost's Surprise: The Sheriff uses his tax collector as a trap to capture Robin.

Sc 3 - Finding Brother Belcher: Race to find a monk who is the only one to know where the messenger of King Richard will land.

Sc 4 - King Richard's Messenger: The monk awaits the messenger on the beach. But is he really a monk

Sc 5 - Fight or Die: A plot of nobles has been discovered by Prince John. He sends his followers towards a beach where a secret meeting is being held

. Sc 6 - The End Of The Outlaws: The Sheriff has found where the camp of Robin is located on the Dene.   He is decided to capture him

Sc 7 - The Executioner Of Cestria: Robin has been captured. The execution is near. Will his friends try and succeed in freeing him?

Sc 8 - The Last Chance Convoy: Robin sends a food convoy to Lambtun Castle which has been besieged for a couple of months.

Sc 9 - The Final Assault: The Siege Tower built by Prince John moves slowly towards the walls of the castle.

Encounter on the Great North Road

Odo Quilp, newly appointed Bishop's Sheriff is travelling towards Cestria on the Great North Road.    

Sc 1 - Greetings Sheriff

The newly appointed Sheriff crosses the Cestria Moor

Odo FitzQuilp, Sheriff of Cestria, escorts pilgrims along the Great North road, near Kibble's Farm. Sir Thomas the Lazarite leads the column.

The column gets quite far in before the ambush is triggered.

The pilgrims.

A volley parties tells two knights.  The Lazarite is unhorsed.

The Knights charge, but fail to hit anything.  The bandits run for it!

And Master Gimpe, one of The Hood's followers tries to steal the Lazarite's destrier, but fails.

Sc 2 - The Provost's Surprise: The Sheriff uses his tax collector as a trap to capture Robin.

The Clerk, Hugh of Sacriston, Bishop's tax collector and part time priest

The road across the Dene.  Robin of Lumley shoots and kills both the Tax Collector and his ass.

And that is how the Lumley boys treat civil servants!

But the Sherrifs trap closes as his soldiery appears on table.
The Outlaws have chosen their group well with deep mud in front.

And Robin calls up his whole gang in a warm Cestria greeting.