A histore of divers warrs in Dyrham, WOTR

"A histore of divers warrs and right owlde bovver in Ye Owld County Durham."

A work in progress

Robert Louis Stevenson's "Black Arrow" is a contentious novel.  Stevenson disliked the book, disdainfully calling his own use of pseudo Olde English "tushery!"  Set during the Wars of the Roses the action takes place over a small county area, with local forces involving no more than a hundred a side at most.  Richard of Gloucester makes an appearance as a visiting Yorkist Captain, but the other characters are all locals.

It's a road map for a skirmish level game.  Missions similar to those in Dawns and Departures are outlined time and again in Black Arrow.  Used as a way into skirmish gaming this seems more like an Imaginations game than one following historical events.  This could be done as a ladder campaign using scenarios taken from "Black Arrow," with a strong narrative, or a more complex active faction method.

The Campaign Game

A fictionalised "Durham" as my county setting.  Some favourite mechanics from Avalon Hill's Kingmaker will be adopted.

Historically the rivalry of the Nevilles and Percys dominated events in the north but in my game both of these and the Cliffords are relegated to the borders of the county.

The main armies, of York and Lancaster are off stage, and actually use "the King" and "the Pretender" rather than naming each specifically. The climax of the campaign in our fictional county would be a national level battle, but these are events our nobles are trying to avoid.  The factions in Dyrham see the squabbles over the Crown as an opportunity to fight within the county.

Somewhere, away in the south, "The Pretender" is assumed to have landed from exile and is gathering support during a march on the capital.  The Defender is also on the march, raising his own support.  This is all far away but has stirred up the county into its own skirmish warfare.  This is just the "background noise."

Language will not only reflect the "tushery" Stevenson so disliked, it will be horribly filled with it, in reports and "letters."  Loads of thees and thous, meant to set a true historian's teeth on edge.

This a solo game, done in the style of Tony Baths Hyboria.  The ten factions will have family trees, favoured retainers and forces all derived from a card deck.  They will have rivalries, feuds marriages and loyal friendships, all dice negotiated.  I'll use the blog to record and develop the game.  The factions will be very much be playing for themselves, the choice to declare for King or Pretender will be there, but like Sir Daniel Brackley they may also try to remain uncommitted until the winner is clear.  

Drawing "Crown Cards" will be the reward for victory or dubious deeds  If you draw Earl of Hartlepool your faction is awarded that title and any retinue that accompanies it.  If you draw Mayor of Darlington good luck, and enjoy the onion savouries, I know I did!

The Great and the Good list

The Prince Bishop, (A crown card)

The Earl of Newcastle (A crown card)

Earl of Lambton

Viscount Lumley

Lord Ravensworth

Lord Stanley of Stanley

The Lord Abbott of Finchale

Sir Robert Wessiyngtun

Sir William of Stanhope

Sir John Aycliffe

Lord Trollope of Hartlepool, 

Scots Earl of Ettrick

Crown cards

Barnard Castle

Bishops Auckland 

Bishops Middleton

Scots Mercenaries

Border Mercenaries 

Ship the Katherine of Seaham

Mayor of Sunderland

Mayor of Darlington

Mayor of Gateshead

Mayor of Shields

Coal mine x 5

Lordship of Waldridge

Lordship of Edmonnsley

Lord Sacristone

Great North Road Merchant x 4

Bishop of Chester Le Street

Lord Derwent

Lord Weardale

Ye olde coal mine owner

Ye Saucy Nancy, Cog of Wearmouth

Earl of Lambton	Uncle, Mayor of Gateshead, Coal Mine, Border Mercenaries (30) Faithful Retainer: Sir Fallus Farthingdale, Lord Waldridge
Viscount Lumley	Son, Daughter, Grandson, Cousin, Great North Road Merchant, Lord Sacristone, Lord of Teesdale Faithful Retainer Sir Nellie Trollope,  Lord Sacriston
Lord Ravensworth	Son, Cousin, faithful retainer, Lord Edmonsley, Manor of Stocktonne, Coal mine  Faithful Retainer: The Sieur de Whitemoore, Lord Prebends
Lord Stanley of Stanley	Son, Son, Son, Daughter, Ye Saucy Nancy Cog of Seaham, Great North Road Merchant, Warden of the North Road (20)
Sir Robert Wessiyngtun	Son, Daughter, Grandson, Cousin, Manor of Wolsingham, Lord Weardale, Coal Mine
Sir William of Stanhope	Son, Faithful Retainer, Manor of Kelloe, Great North Road Merchant. Faithful retainer: Master Judas P. Quilp, Mayor of Belmont
Sir John Aycliffe	Grandson, Cousin, Great North Road Merchant, Lord Teesdale, Mayor of Darlington
Lord Trollope of Hartlepool,	Son, Daughter, Grandson, Grandson, Grandson, Uncle, Ye Owlde Nellie Cog of Hartlepool, Bishop's Champion (10)

1.       Son
2.       Daughter
3.       Grandson
4.       Uncle No reroll
5.       Cousin  No reroll
6.       Faithful Retainer No reroll

Off Map Forces

The Nevilles in Yorkshire to the South

The Percys in Northumberland, to the North

The Cliffords, in Cumbria to the West

The Finchale Priory Chronicles

The Chronicle will be a "histore of divers warrs and right owlde bovver in ye County Durham."  Replete with tushery it allows a game by game narrative format.

Logistics 

Dice to recruit retinues, and dice to retain them, all simple game night mechanisms.

Maybe do a physical map with 10mm figure groups as counters. I'm more than happy to get a household sorted for Fallus, Lord Waldridge in 10mm complete with the traditional banner, bit these will be 28mm table games.

My ideas for a local setting for local players... Old family retainers.

Sir Fallus Farthingdale, Lord Waldridge,

The Sieur de Whitemoore, Lord Prebends

Judas P. Quilp, Mayor of Belmont

Sir Nellie Trollope,  Lord Sacriston

Sir Alain Fitz-Cee, Mercenary and Pyrate

Lord Michael of Strainer the Scotchman

Sir Elliot Fitz-Elliot, Lord Elliot

Sir James Catchmole, suspected Lollard and used Herring salesman.

Earl of Lambton	Enemy  Lumley Ally Wessyngtun
Viscount Lumley	Enemy  Stanhope Ally  Trollope
Lord Ravensworth	Enemy  Wessyngtun Ally Aycliffe
Lord Stanley of Stanley	Enemy  Lambton Ally  Ravensworth
Sir Robert Wessyngtun	Enemy  Trollope Ally  Stanley
Sir William of Stanhope	Enemy  Aycliffe Ally  Lambton
Sir John Aycliffe	Enemy  Ravensworth Ally  Lumley
Lord Trollope of Hartlepool,	Enemy  Stanley Ally  Stanhope

Campaign missions

1. Forces travelling to recruit
2. Forces travelling to forage
3. Forces travelling for special missions
4. Forces escorting a VIP
5. The disgraced noble
6. Travelling to join the Earl

Scenario and Encounter cards

1. Defence in Depth
2. Fighting Withdrawal
3. Spirited Defence
4. An Encounter
5. A Battle
6. All Out Assault
7. Flank Attack
8. Attack & Defen
9. Tax Collector
10. Seize & hold
11. Break In
12. The Peasants Are Revolting
13. The Bridge
14. The Conquering Hero
15. Raise the Siege
16. Rearguard
17. Arrest Warrant
18. Tete du Pont
19. The Diplomat
20. Screen the Army
21. Prison Break
22. Relieve the Fort
23. Intimidation
24. A Lady’s Escort
25. Go with a Bang
26. Coup de Main

27.  Incursion by the Nevilles

28.  Incursion by the the Percys 

29.  Incursion by the Cliffords

30.  Incursion by the Scots

The Battle of Tickle Cock Bridge 1455

The old wooden "Tickle Cock Bridge" crosses the River Coc, near the village of Potter's Knob.  It is a vital route within the county of Midshire leading to the Great South Road, and is the only way out for anyone wishing to leave.

The origins of the name of the bridge are disputed, but are most likely a result of the terrible price the original builder forced unwary travellers to pay to cross.

The catalyst of the events of May 1455 was the refusal of Lord Hugo de Farthingdale to pay his taxes to the Earl of Midshire.  Fearing that the Earl supported the Duke of York, his Lordship declared for the Lancastrian King and gathered his retinue and tenants at Potter's Knob.  Here he was joined by the Sieur de Quincy another of the County's great nobles.

The Earl found support in the person of FitzQuilp, the Sheriff of Much Rutting, a twisted hunchback peasant of a fellow, a vile strutting hairy imp.  A man who smelled of turnips.  A man so nasty that even his dog bit his ... Well you get the idea.

The Earl and his lackey the Sheriff gathered their own forces and advanced to the River Tickle, determined to cross no matter the cost, and put an end to the Lancastrians.

The forces line up between potter's Knob and the Tickle Cock Bridge

The Earl, a rather snazzy Essex miniatures WOTR King!

And the Barons...

The Barons win active status

The game in progress as the Earl aggressively closes

The Earl's horse ride down the mercenary crossbowmen, but at a price

The Baron's horse complete their charge.

The Earl's Knights are thrown back and destroyed. 

Meanwhile the Earl joins the push in the centre as his dismounted Men at Arms take on then Barons.  Alas the Earl is killed and it's pretty much game over!

A work in progress.  About half of my  80 bases done.  Better get that order in to Peter Pig!

My campaign notes for "Kingmaker - Midshire" copied below...

The FitzQuilp Letters were discovered by the academic Lady Bracknell of the University of North Durham in a collection of papers from the estate of Winston Fitzquilp, antiquarian and antiques auctioneer.  Her ladyship saved the papers from public auction by smuggling them out in a handbag... A Handbag?  oh suit yourselves...
They purport to detail the events of the English Civil wars now loosely entitled the Wars of the Roses in the County of Midshire.  However, since Midshire has never actually been identified as a real location the letters' historical veracity have been called into question on several occasions.

The County of Midshire circa 1460

From "the History of Midshire" by Lord Herbert Farthingdale, published 1903

Midshire had of course changed little since the days of King Edward III.  The County seat remained at the town of Midshire, dominated by its Castle, ruled over by the Earl.  In 1450 came the event which was to trigger the Great Civil strife in the county, which coincided with the conflicts now known as the Wars of the Roses.  Lord Hugh, the Earl of Midshire, was trapped by the French in battle at Sangatte near Calais, and done to death.  There was no direct heir.

The Earl's Mother was the formidable Henrietta, Countess of Milfshire, now married to the argumentative Sir Jeremy de Paxman, and through her three possible heirs to the Earldom could be traced, the Farthingdale's, the Whitemoores, and a tenuous claim by the twisted Sheriff FitzQuilp.
 

The Farthingdale's patrimony was the Castle of Bumburgh, commanding the coast, and believed to be impregnable.

Farthingdale's troops wear white and blue as house colours.  The house badge of the Farthingdale's is the unmistakable "Toggle and two" as worn by all Retinue troops in the Count`s employment. 

The Sieur de Quincy banner, Midshire Minster

The Whitemoores had held Gothic Castle Whitemoore for generations, enjoying the rents on the market town of Pratts Bottom below the castle hill.

Squire Fitzquilp was appointed as Sheriff of Midshire by the Earl, but had secured a Royal warrant for the post, signed by both Yorkist and Lancastrian claimants. His ancestry was unclear at best, probably an upstart peasant, but he also claimed illegitimate descent from the Earl, and like everyone else called the Countess of Milfshire his "Grandmama.". He had purchased the Moathouse at Much Rutting.

These three forces were to tear Midshire apart in ceaseless wars to claim the Earldom.

Detailed view of the town of Midshire

Characters

Squire FitzQuilp - the twisted crookback, Sheriff Of Much Rutting
Lord Hugo de Farthingdale, a chivalrous idiot,
The Heroic Sir Quincy de Whitemoore and his poltroon brother Oliver.


The cards

Mercenaries

Event cards

Ships

Character cards to add to entourage

Office cards

Manors and Towns

Squire FitzQuilp

Office card Sheriff of Much Rutting  20

Mercenaries. The band of "Grumpy old John the Archer" 10

The Manors of:

Slippery Bent 10
Hooker  10
Pratts Bottom 10

Lord Farthingdale

Office Card:  Lordship of Bumburgh  20

Abbey of Great Juggs  20

Entoruage:
Sir Rodney Pyles of Fircombe Hall

The Sea Port Town of Mudpool

Sundry Other Characters:
Sheridan Fitzquilp, the Sheriff's humpback Brother, obsessive tile collector
Mayor Livingstone, dodgy dealer of Much Rutting
The Formidable and amorous Matron Marion
Sir Nigel of Farage (pronounced as in "Garage") (the dastardly mercenary)
Friar Feck, an ill tempered boozy Cleric
Pious Bishop Odo de Whitemoore of Midshire Minster
Grumpy old John the Archer
Old Mother Paxman, everyone's Grandma, once Countess of Midshire
The Homely Abbess Griselda
The wandering Minstrel Eric o'Clapton
The infamous Wolfs-heads, Big Willy and Little Willy.
Veteran Sir Quentin de Whitemoore, of Cold Keep
Brother Baldwin
Abbot Aubrey (Audrey) of Great Juggs
The Witch of Long Winkle hill
The FitzQuilp Hermit
The Bastard, Sir Edward de Farthingdale of Ballsup Tower.
Sir Rodney Pyles of Fircombe Hall
Sir Tristran de Balsac
Sir Boasting de Braggart, Royal Steward of Midshire Castle

Sir Jeremy de Paxman of Mudpool Hall.

Setting

Whitemoore Castle
Ballsup Tower
County Seat Mid-shire Castle
The town of Midshire with its Minster
The Moathouse of Lower Rutting
The Township of Much Rutting
The Sea Port Town of Mudpool
The Royal Castle of Great Tosser
The marshland castle of Bumburgh
The Convent of St Cecily of the Melons
The walled town of Great Tosser
The Abbey of St Quentin
The Market town of Pratts Bottom
The Woodland of Mincing with its hamlet of Balls Cross
The vital Tickle Cock Bridge over the river Coc.
The pig stealers hamlet of Mellow Trump
The murderous hamlet of Midsummer Bloodshed
Long Winkle Hill and it's standing stones.
The monastery of Great Juggs, centre of the transgender order of Saint Leslie.

Manors

Dribbly Rump
Lower Tosser
Mellow Trump
St. Mellons,
Percy's Passage,
Nether Quarters
Great Juggs
Titling
Slippery Bent
Hooker
Pratts Bottom,
Much Rutting
Feltwell,
Balls Cross,
Friars Entry
Mincing bottom
Bottoms
Winkle
Long Winkle
Upper Thong,
Lower Thong
Knobs End,
Bog-head
Gropers Grab
Scratchy Bottom,
Bitchfield,
Spanker 
Sandy Balls,
Great Snoring,
Little Snoring
Crackpot,
Backside Lane,
Shite on Sea
Tickle Cock Bridge,
Potter's Knob