Year 487 - The Battle of Humber River

[GM Craig]

You spend an hour astride your horses, while below you many knights earn glory in battle. It stings, being forced by duty to sit out the fighting. You can admire the tactics of the Praetor, but in reality there is little need for tactics. The forces of the Praetor are larger than the Saxons, and the raiders are not organized. Your initial feeling that it would be over quickly is becoming a fact as the Saxons are pushed relentlessly back.

Then, Cedwyn, Artaigne and Rodric all hear the whinny of a horse off in the trees.

Up where you are, the mist still clings to the wood. Your eyes strain to make out shapes. You catch movement, then you see 6 horses emerge from the fog.

Judging by their gear and trappings, these are no common raiders. And the helmet of the one in the centre of the formation has a prominent eagle with wing spread and a long plume.

[OOC: These are not normal Saxons. Their gear, and it's quality, indicate warriors of rank and skill. They carry themselves with great confidence.]

[GM Craig]

[OOC: Valka just sees a much of mounted Saxons emerge from the fog.]

[GM Craig]

[OOC: - one more note - these guys are riding chargers - damage 6d6.]

[Geoffrey]

Rodric's heart was pounding so hard he was almost scared the Saxon's would hear it.  These wouldn't be any young knights, as they were.  These would be seasoned combat veterans, and they had the numbers advantage.  The knight waited in silence, for Cedwyn's plan, or call to charge.

[Cedwyn]

"Well, Sir Rodric," Cedwyn said, "Tis time to test our mettle. We charge. Pass through. Do not melee if you can."

[Geoffrey]

'May God protect us.' Rodric thought when he heard Cedwyn's call to charge.

The knight readied his spear...

[GM Craig]

Can I get Spear / Lance rolls from everyone? If you're not using a spear, you're receiving a charge. You are in a charge against mounted opponents, so you get +5 to the battle roll. There are more of them than you, so two of you need to pick two targets to defend against, splitting your skill (before the +5) between them.

If anyone wishes to attempt a passion roll, now is the time.

Valka maintains her Passion roll from last night, which gives her +5 to combat skills. Her pagan ritual and vigil over her husband gives her an additional +5, so she is +10 total on all combat skills for this battle.

Sir Cedwyn's battle roll, while a success, resulted in a loss, which means no bonus or penalty.

Opponent	Weapon	Armour	Major Wound (HP)	Glory
5x Mounted Heorthgeneat	Axe 19 Lance 15	Heavy Chain (10) Shield (6)	15 (30)	30
Thegn	Axe 19 Lance 15	Heavy Chain (10) Shield (6)	15 (30)	100

All your opponents have the potential for ransoms.

[Cedwyn]

[Cedwyn will defend against two.]

"I shall take their lord," Cedwyn said and then he spurred Peredur into action.

[Spear: roll of 8 (sigh) versus 20. Success. Potential Damage: 34 (8d6)]

[Geoffrey]

Lord protect us, Rodric thought as he spurred his horse on towards one end of the enemy line, leveling his spear at the inner most of the two opponents and maneuvering to keep the outermost from attacking any of the others.

[OOC: Splitting 15 in two, 8 & 7 for totals of 13 & 12.
Roll result 1 (the attack) 15, vs skill 13.  Failure.
Roll result 2 (the defend) 17, vs skill 12.  Failure.

This is going to hurt...]

[GM Craig]

Valka's rolls (1 target):

Valka spear (+10 passions +5 charge)
1d20+10 <= 30
25 ... Crit

[GM Craig]

Just waiting on Artaigne.

[Valka]

"Not today - that piece of Saxon filth is mine!" Valka shouted at Cedwyn, kicking her horse good and well.

OOC: Valka Rouncy, activate! 4d6 = 10 x 2 = 20

[Artaigne]

Wondering briefly why these Saxons would follow men with such a lack of courage, the Irishman was thrilled for the chance for more battle and, finally, some financial gain as well.  With a prayer to Christ and his saints on his lips he spurred forth his horse to meet these foes in glorious combat.

ooc: attack a target not already being chosen.

Attack roll 19 vs skill of 16, failure.

[GM Craig]

The sight of the powerful horses of the Saxons is unsettling. You all hear the thundering of hooves at the horses rapidly come together. Then, a moment of silence before the crash and crunch of lances meeting armour, shield, flesh and bone.

Valka ignoring Sir Cedwyn's direction throws your line into a bit of chaos, and some of the oncoming Saxons are unopposed when the two lines meet. Rodric, jostled aside by Valka's manoeuvring, cannot get his spear in line, and two Saxons ride down either side of him, each one scoring solid hits. Rodric takes the blows, flops back in the saddle for two more strides, then rolls out like a sack of grain. He hits the ground hard, and does not move.

Valka, a silent rage on her face as she urges her wound forward, scores a hit against the Saxon leader. His armour and shield both blunt the blow significantly, and it is only a small wound he receives. Valka, so intent on the Saxon leader, completely ignores the Saxon on her other side. He scores a solid lance hit, unhorsing Valka. She is flung from the saddle with some force, and lands flat on her back in the leaf-covered forest floor as the Saxons ride past.

For all the chaos Valka's jockeying caused, her attack does leave the Saxon Thegn exposed, and Sir Cedwyn takes full advantage of that opening. Sir Cedwyn's spear hits solidly, with a satisfying crunch, and Sir Cedwyn runs the Saxon leader through. He hunches forward over the wound, and looses his seat, sliding down over the horse's rump to fall face first in the leaves. Cedwyn manages to quickly pull his spear free.

Cir Cedwyn, however, was also thrown by Valka's reckless shifting, and he is unprepared for the Saxon that takes him on the right. The blow lands solidly. Fortunately, Sir Cedwyn's armour blunts the attack, and he remains in the battle.

Artaigne is the only one of you who has a single match-up, but he does not fare well against the Saxon. Artaigne's boiled leather armour does not provide much protection, and the blow is heavy though not debilitating.

[Actions?]

Character	Roll	Opponent Roll	Opponent	Result
Sir Rodric (-20/28) - mortally wounded	15/13 (fail)	20/20 (crit)	Saxon Heorthgeneat (30)	(48-10) 38 damage to Sir Rodric
Sir Rodric	17/12 (fail)	18/20 (success)	Saxon Heorthgeneat (30)	(20-10) 10 damage to Sir Rodric
Valka	- (fail)	9/20 (success)	Saxon Heorthgeneat (30)	(24-10) 14 damage to Valka
Valka (12/28)	20/20 (crit)	11/12 (success)	Saxon Thegn (0/30)	(20-10-6) 4 Damage to Thegn
Sir Cedwyn (17/29)	8/20 (success)	17/13 (fail)	Saxon Thegn	(34-10) 24 damage
Sir Cedwyn	- (fail)	18/20 (success)	Saxon Heorthgeneat (30)	12 damage to Cedwyn
Artaigne (15/29)	19/16 (fail)	19/20 (success)	Saxon Heorthgeneat (30)	(22-8) 14 damage to Artaigne

[GM Craig]

Seeing their leader go down, the Saxons immediately turn back and close. You are now in melee, with no opportunity to charge.

You could withdraw - the Saxons seem more intent to recovering their leader than chasing you down.

Valka is in the worst shape - she's badly wounded, and your left flank has collapsed, leaving her to possibly face three Saxons alone, but all of you are injured.

Character	Roll	Opponent Roll	Opponent	Result
-	-	-	Saxon Heorthgeneat (30)	-
-	-	-	Saxon Heorthgeneat (30)	-
Valka  (12/28)	-	-	Saxon Heorthgeneat (30)	-
Sir Cedwyn (17/29)	-	-	Saxon Heorthgeneat (30)	-
Artaigne (15/29)	-	-	Saxon Heorthgeneat (30)	-

Sir Rodric (-10/28) - mortally wounded
Saxon Thegn (0/30) - unconscious, major wound