Closing Winter Phase

[GM Craig]

Folks, I need to finalize winter phase before we start the summer campaign. If anyone is doing any significant spending, making any improvements, or things of that nature, please get them recorded in your personal threads.

Also, if you are hiring mercenaries or garrison guards, please let me know as well.

[Geoffrey]

What are the repercussions if Rodric and Cedwyn aren't able to gather the expected 100 men?  Seeing as we're both well short to begin with, I don't think there's any way we can be pressing commoners into battle and expect to have any kind of defense at home if the situation requires it.

Also, if the group chooses to escort the King, are they still expected to hand over their men to the Prince for the raids?

[GM Craig]

The Earl was clear that he wanted all his knights to fully meet their obligations. Failure to do so will have repercussions as the Earl sees fit. Options include fines, a term in the dungeon, or even being stripped of your charter. He may also do nothing - the Earl is not known for being heavy-handed.

You could press your populations for more men, and / or hire mercenaries. That will make them discontent, but they are peasants and cannot be expected to understand the requirements of the kingdom. Also note that knifers are dirt-cheap, and meet the "body count" obligation.

Your troops will be required no matter what you do. If you go with the king, your troops will be placed under the command of another knight, and likely serve garrison, though they might be ordered to the raid without you.

[Geoffrey]

There was a comment somewhere about mercenaries being a part of the problem, but I don't think it was in Rodric's presence.  How would it look if he sent mercenaries instead of his people?  Or at least, in part.  With my Levy being 53, I was thinking of sending ?8 worth of knifers (64) and then 40 of my people.  That would leave me with some, but not many, at home for defense.

[GM Craig]

You are expected to field 100 peasant soldiers, so anything beyond that is gravy.

You also may want to consider a new squire.

Your wife would be expected to command any defence of the manor in your absence, so you don't need to worry about leadership.

[Geoffrey]

Oh right, a new squire.  A squire was ?1?

I'm not worried about leaving leadership behind, I'm worried about leaving a low but decent number of combat trained/ready individuals behind.

Okay, I'm going to dig even deeper into ye ol' treasury and hire 64 knifers and top it up with 36 of my people to make the even 100.

[GM Craig]

Leaving 13 or so at home?

[GM Craig]

A squire costs ?1 a year.

[Geoffrey]

Leaving 13 or so at home?

17.  According to my CS I can provide 53.

Treasury thread/post updated for the costs of the knifers and a new squire.

[Valka]

Your troops will be required no matter what you do. If you go with the king, your troops will be placed under the command of another knight, and likely serve garrison, though they might be ordered to the raid without you.

Same for the Northmen? If we went with the King, would they be under the command of one of our mounted veterans and put in the Prince's raid? I was tempted to ask IC but since we're answering here...

[Arne]

I don't think so.  Technically, we're a mercenary outfit right now, so I'm guessing we'd stay together as a unit.

Of course I might be wrong.   

Now Arne's leaning towards going on that raid against the Saxons.  There's a lot of positive things about it . . . killing Saxons, loot, and of course smashing their ships, which messes up their troop transport/supply runs/slaver runs.

[GM Craig]

The choice applies only to you. If you do not go on the raid, the warriors (both men and women) will be placed under the command of someone else. They will stand either garrison, or go raiding, but someone else will be in command. You two are considered elevated above the mercenaries, due to the advice of Merlin.

[Valka]

Oh, well, I asked anyway (same time). haha

[GM Craig]

No problem.

[Cedwyn]

I have 40 in my militia right? I'd need to hire 60 or so knifers right?