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