|
1455 - Spring
Bear and Ragged Staff
<Welsh Rebellion - Talbot to Ludlow - Battle>
Talbot of the Cresent Moon Faction is forced to re-locate rapidly to Ludlow Castle. His alliance with the Welsh in Gwenedd has caused the men of Powys to take arms and ransack his lands! Talbot and Half the Ludlow Garrison will be chasing the looters. Hastings is thus left somewhat out on a limb at Harlech!
Buckingham, Cromwell and Sutton with allies capture Arundel Castle.
Plunkett and O'Connor Don under siege in Dunsanay Castle with his allies and awaiting rescue. Starvation is still some way off.
Lovell arrives in Hereford where he joins Berkeley.
[1 card in hand]
Sunne in Splendour
Castle Gate
n.b. Fitzalan is at Rhuddlan recovering from his defeat at Harlech at the hands of the Cresent Moon Faction.
Fair Oak
Sealed Knot
Cresent Moon
Keys
1454 - Autumn
Bear and Ragged Staff
<Scots Raid - Neville to Roxburgh - Battle>
Buckingham returns from his peasant bashing in Kent to join Cromwell and Sutton have outside Arundel. Plunkett and allies have declared for the Faction in Ireland with the intent of aiding the Yorkists in Dublin.
[3 Cards in hand]
Sunne in Splendour
<French Piracy -Battle at Arundel avoided when Pirates retire in poor weather. Arundel castle surrenders to Buckingham>
A sudden dash sees Clifford and his adherents (including Woodville and the Archbishop of York) appear in York and Declare Richard of York 'King of England'. Henry of Lancaster's response was said to be 'Fish!'
[1 Card in hand. 1 Event in hand]
Castle Gate
<Storms art sea - Sealed Knot's vessels forced into Dartmouth>
The Kings faction is on the move. The king remains at Windsor. Fitzalan has moved from Rhuddlan to besiege the Yorkists in Harlech. Fitzgerald, Earl of Desmond has combined with O'Neill and De Verdon and caught Plunket and friends in Dunsanay where a siege is progressing. Desmond is declared Chancellor of Ireland.
[No Cards in Hand]
Fair Oak
<Event not revealed>
His Majesty, The Prince of Wales has surrendered Kenilworth to the Fair Oak.
[2 Cards in hand, 1 Event in hand]
Gwenedd Rebels
The rebels in Gwenedd have listed the siege of Denbigh and combined with Talbot to relieve Harlech. (See Battles below). Disbanded after looting.
Sealed Knot
<Bourchier is Excommunicated by the Bishop of Chichester for association with the Excommunicate, Howard - Excommunication Appealed to Rome>
A quiet time was had by all, sitting inside the Castle of Arundel. The northern group have moved to Newcastle to cover the Welsh Borders. O'Brien, King of Thomond has moved to Delvin Castle.
[No Cards in Hand]
Cresent Moon
<Non-event.>
Talbot and Hastings have joined the Welsh Rebels and gone to defeat the Royal Forces at Harlech - Battle.
[3 Cards in Hand]
Keys
<Treachery - >
Neville is reinforced at Roxburgh by Greystoke. Mowbray remains at Castle Rising. Howard (Still Excommunicate) is at Arundel.
[1 Card in Hand]
Battles
Scots Raiders Vs Neville
A straight-forward battle between an English Border Lord and the Scots Magnates!
Played 29/11/09.
A straightforward battle in which the Scots were defeated by the Longbow - Much as happened in reality!
Talbot + Hastings + Gwenedd Rebels Vs Fitzalan Vs Harlech Garrison
N.B. The Harlech Garrison is its own side. It will sally as a flank march if at all.
N.B. The Gwenedd Rebels are an Ally of Talbot + Hastings.
Harlech Castle occupies 1 corner of the table as a 12" x 12" area - which corner is determined at random.
It is on a steep hill. Wherever located, no one may deploy within 6" of its walls which are definitely fortifications.
Fitzalan deployed using the Castle to anchor his left flank and the Mountains to Anchor his right. Talbot formed the Right of his forces, Hastings took the centre and the Welsh Rebels took the left.
The Welsh crashed into Fitzalan's right flank while Hastings attacked in the centre driving right through it with his longbow but seeing his billmen forced from the field by poor quality Fitzalan militia. Talbot refused contact, tempting the Fitzalan left forward where it was finally isolated by a sally by the Castle Garrison. Talbot's faction Captured the Fitzalan artilley and looted the battlefield.
The battle saw the Welsh force break up into looting parties and Fitzalan forced to Flee the Field with his Currors to take refuge in Rhuddlan. The Edward, Earl fo March remains safe in Harlech.
1454 - Spring
Bear and Ragged Staff
<Unrest in Kent comes to nothing>
Buckingham, Cromwell and Sutton have surprised all and sundry by suddenly moving to Arundel. The Castle has refused the rude invite to surrender and the Castellan has threatened dire consequences to the besiegers and called for aid from London.
[2 Cards in hand]
Sunne in Splendour
<Event not immediately declared>
Awaiting the unfolding of Events, the Connisborough and Berkeley groups are sitting tight.
[2 Cards in hand. 1 Event in hand]
Castle Gate
<Treachery! Some behind the scenes manoeuvering appears to have left Pole in the Lurch.. Roumours of a Noble withdrawing support are circulating at court>
All's quiet at the castle gate. The king has moved to Windsor. Fitzgerald, Earl of Desmond is continuing his tour of Southern Ireland.
[1 Card in Hand]
Fair Oak
<Treachery! The stench of treachery seems to be wafting through the various factions. Not that the Fair Oak have anything to lose!>
Holland, Norreys and Scales have headed for an Easter meeting at Kenilworth Castle and are in discussion with the Prince of Wales Guardian as to the future of Englands Regency should the king's illness continue. Suggestions that the Guardian is under siege in the castle have been denied by Holland but the Guardian was unavailable for comment and attempts at access to the castle walls was being met with arrow-fire.
[1 Card in hand, 1 Event in hand]
Gwenedd Rebels
The rebels in Gwenedd have placed Denbigh Castle (Keys) under siege.
Sealed Knot
Bourchier has moved with Buckingham (Stafford), Cromwell and Sutton to Arundel and is besieging the Castle
<Rebellion! Concerned at the actions of the Bear and Ragged Staff, a Rabble has taken to looting on the estates of Leeds Castle. Stafford has been forced to return home to teach these peasants the error of their ways. Peasants go home after arrival of Stafford in beligerent mood>
A quiet time was had by all, sitting outside the Castle of Arundel. The lack of Stafford has allowed the garrison to garner additional supplies.
[2 Cards in Hand]
Cresent Moon
<Rebellion! The rising of the Rebels in Kent has been echoed by a rising in Norfolk. Mowbray has been forced to Castle Rising to put down the rioters. Peasants go home after arrival of Mowbray in beligerent mood>
Generally quiet, Talbot and Hastings have joined the Welsh Rebels in the siege of Denbigh Castle in Wales.
[2 Cards in Hand]
Keys
Howard has moved with Buckingham (Stafford), Cromwell and Sutton to Arundel and is besieging the Castle.
<Irish Unrest! Concerns that the Native Irish may be about to rise have cause De Verdon to remain at Roche Castle.>
Neville is declared Constable of Roxborough Castle making him very powerful north of the Tees. He is, however, at Warwick.
1453 - Autumn
Bear and Ragged Staff
<Event not immediately declared>
Stafford (Buckingham), Cromwell and Sutton moved south. Cromwell looked like he would be caught out in the open near London, but a sudden burst of speed (Free Move played) brought the entire faction to safety in Leeds Castle, Kent.
[1 Card in hand]
Sunne in Splendour
<Parliament must be summonned if there is no sole king - No Effect>
Clifford, Parr and Welles have congregated at Connisborough while Berkeley remains in the West Country at Berkeley Castle.
[1 Card in hand]
Castle Gate
<Saxon Mercenaries Go Home - No Effect>
Split into and English and an Irish group, this faction is powerful in both areas. Fitzalan (Arundel) and Pole (Suffolk) have rushed to London and secured the person of the King. Fitzgerald (Desmond) is making his way across Ireland to join with De Verdon at Roche Castle, but the poor terrain has left him only part way there. Rumours in court indicated that steps are to be taken to secure the person of Edmund, Earl of Rutland from his sanctuary in Dublin and to force Stafford to surrender his castle at Leeds to Royal control and thus reduce the threat to the King's party.
[1 Card in hand]
Fair Oak
<Event not immediately declared>
Led by Holland(Wiltshire) resident at Kimbolton Castle, Norreys and Scales are hurrying thence. Scales has reached Kimbolton and Norreys has been forced to rest his forces at Burton.
[1 Card in hand, 1 Event in Hand]
Sealed Knot
<Welsh Uprising>
Mowbray to Denbigh Castle
Fitzalan to Chirk Castle
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to Conwy Castle- No Effect
Chancellor of the County Palatine of Chester to Rhuddlan Castle
Fitzalan has moved to Rhuddlan as Chancellor of the Country Paletine of Chester
Mowbray has moved to Denbigh Castle
Gwenedd Rebels between Chirk and Denbigh
Audley, Grey and Roos have met at Tickhill castle for a grand Tournament and Feast.
Bourchier has formed an alliance with Stafford and is at Leeds Castle a-wooing.
The Lucas of Whitby has been sighted off Rochester with a cargo of salt fish and sea-coal.
[1 Card in hand]
Cresent Moon
<Scots Raid - Warden not declared - No Action required>
Stanley is penned in the Isle of Man and Percy is Protecting the North from the Scots.
Whilst resting at Burton, Norreys (of the Fair Oak faction) has been pounced upon by the architypical Robber Barrons - Shrewsbury (Talbot) and Exeter (Hastings). Seeing no way out, Norreys has found a defensible spot and prepares to make the Barrons pay dearly for this act of outrage!
Battle report
Standing on a windswept hillside, Norreys two battles were considerably out-numbered by those of Shrewsbury and Exeter. Urged to spare the lives of his men, Norreys sent forth heralds and negotiations began. After some days, and the intervention of the Church, Shrewsbury and Exeter were persuaded that they should allow Norreys to continue on his way.
[2 Cards in hand (1 gifted by Fair Oak)]
Keys
<Lord Howard Excommunicated - His excommunication has been appealed in Rome>
Lord Neville is holding court at Warwick wither Mowbray has moved for a joint celebration of Christmas.
Greystoke remains at Appleby and Howard 'the Bad' has joined Stafford at Leeds for a Tisane.
[1 Card in hand]
1453 - Spring
MCDLIII has been a terrible year so far. Byzantium has fallen to the Sultan with Constantine X and Patriarch Athanasius slain in its defence. Alvaro de Luna, Constable of Castile has passed on and the English Empire has collapsed with Calais remaining as the last foothold beyond the Channel.
The Rebellion of Jack Cade has been put down and Ireland is quiet. Scotland is in disarray and the King has a Son.
Oh yes...and he's going mad!
| 
