Year 488 - War on the Continent

[Arne]

Arne nodded, and turned to the lady of the manor.  Giving her a slight bow, he said, <"Milady, Sir Cedwyn wishes to know to whom your Lord husband swears his allegiance to.>"

[Artaigne]

Looking to press the attack and get past this obstacle in the hunt for glory, the Irishman swings his sword in a quick arc looking to flick around the shield and find a hit. 

Sword 3 vs 18 success
Damage 18

[GM Craig]

Inside the manor, the lady of the manor is still unconscious. However, the female foot-soldier answer. "<Our lord fights at the side of Clovis, son of Childeric, King of Frankland.>"

Meanwhile, wagons and escorts for them are arranged. All is quiet on the hill where Sir Geoffrey watches. He keeps his eye on the scouts and flankers to make sure they are sharp, and no surprises catch them unawares. His calm and focus seems to help steady the troops, who pay attention to their duties rather than what is happening at the manor.

Down by the river, Artaigne lands a solid blow, but the knight absorbs much of the hit with his shield. Unfortunately, that leaves him open to the other horsemen harrying him, and they all land crippling blows on the knight, two of them actually running the knight through. He slides from their blades and the back of his horse, bloody and battered, and lands like a sack of potatoes on the muddy ground.

It seems unlikely anyone could survive such a beating.

Farther downriver at the ford, Valka is having trouble controlling her horse while trying to manage the river current. Her horse strays a little too far past the edge of the unseen ford, and Valka feels her mount slip out from under her. Before she can react, she is unhorse and in the water. Fortunately, the current carries her towards the ford rather than away from it, and she manages to get her feet under her.

The one who cleared the ford whips his mount to continue the chase. One of his compatriots also clears the ford and gallops after the fleeing riders. The other horsemen who had become unhorsed is not able to get his feet under him, and is being carried away downstream. His horse has managed to reach the far short and trots up the bank to stand there dripping on the far shore.

For Valka at least, this is no longer a chase, but a hunt. By the time she can get back on a horse, she will have lost sight of her quarry.

[Actions?]

Valka's horse is mired in the river, but she could run to the free horse. Or she could try and help the swimming / drowning Northman. Either way I'll need a Dex check from her to regain her fee - the current over the ford is quite fast.

Artaigne has cleared the field. You can delegate some of your troops to secure the plunder, or order them all to give chase. At any rate, you will arrive at the ford quickly, so I'll need a horsemanship roll to cross if you choose to do so.

Combatant	Target	Armour/Shield	Hit Points
Artaigne	-	8/6	24/29
Mounted Northman #4	-	8/6	24/24
Mounted Northman #5	-	8/6	24/24
Mounted Northman #6	-	8/6	24/24
Frankish Knight #1	-	10/6	dead
Frankish Knight #2	-	10/6	6/28 (unconscious, major wound)

And, for future reference:

Valka (unhorsed)	-	12/6	28/28
Mounted Northman #1 (unhorsed)	-	8/6	24/24
Mounted Northman #2 (in pursuit)	Frankish Knight #3	8/6	24/24
Mounted Northman #3 (in pursuit, behind)	Frankish Knight #3	8/6	24/24

[/quote]

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn picked one of his villien militiamen.

“Go to Sir Geoffrey,” he instructed, “Tell him we have secured the holdings and we need carts for foraging.”

To Arne, “Ask her where Clovis is at this moment.”

[GM Craig]

Doh. Forgot Valka's squire. He can get her on a horse and to the other side next round.

[Arne]

Arne listened to Sir Cedwyn's instructions, then turned his attention back to the Frankish foot soldier.  He didn't expect her to provide a truthful answer to an enemy - indeed, he expected her to curtly rebuff the question or remain stubbornly silent - but there was no reason for him to defy the knights wishes.

"<Sir Cedwyn wishes to know where Lord Clovis is at this time.  And I would know your name, warrior-woman.  You fought with great skill and spirit in your Lady's defense, and will be part of the tales I will tell others.>"  There was no mockery in Arne's voice, but rather the straightforwardness of a Northerner.

[GM Craig]

She looks up at Arne, confusion with potential respect on her features. "<I am Anstruda, daughter of Berenga. I do not know where the King is.>"

She peers at Arne and cocks her head. "<You are no Briton.>"

[Arne]

Ane smiled thinly.  "<You've a good eye to match that spear-arm, Anstruda, daughter of Berenga.  No, I am no Briton.  But that must wait for now.  Sir Cedwyn may have more questions first.>" 

To Sir Cedwyn, he said, "She says that she does not know where King Clovis is, Sir Cedwyn.  I also asked her her name . . . she is Anstruda, daughter of Berenga.  She is also curious about me, for she knows that I am not a Briton."

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn nodded, “I’m in no mood to satisfy her curiosity. Ask who her Lord is, if you cplease.”

[The manor is secure right?]

[Arne]

"<Sir Cedwyn asks you the name of your lord, Anstruda.>"

OOC:  If you'd like to cut out the middleman for the conversation between Sir Cedwyn and Anstruda, just assume that Arne will translate between the two.

[Artaigne]

With a quick prayer to the saints in gratitude for the victory, Artaigne tasks two of the horsemen to loot the fallen and take the spoils, mounts and word back to Sir Geoffery while he pressed ahead with the others.


Horsemanship 8 vs 9, success

[GM Craig]

[OOC: Assuming Arne translates from here on in.]

"My lord is Dagaric, son of Audomar."


**********************

At the river crossing, Artaigne, his squire, and one of the Northmen riders arrive just as Valka clears the river. It seems there has been some trouble with the ford, but Artaigne's group manages it, and Valka rides with them forward from this point.

You climb the far bank of the river, and can see Valka's rider giving chase to the two fleeing riders. They are making for a treeline at the end of a farm field. If you do not catch them before they reach the trees, this will become a hunt rather than a chase.

{OOC: I need Horsemanship rolls from Valka and Artaigne, assuming you're galloping to give chase.]


*************************

Sir Geoffrey continues to oversee the bulk of Sit Cedwyn's forces, and spots two Northmen riders approaching from the direction of the river, with spare mounts in tow. They are not hurrying, and they appear to have an unconscious prisoner on one of the horses. That's probably a good sign - plunder and ransoms. But where are the others? Pursuit continues, perhaps?

[Artaigne]

Horsemanship for Artaigne 1 vs 9...I think success.

[Valka]

1d20 <= 1
5 ... failure

[GM Craig]

Valka is having trouble controlling her horse. After her dunking, and the horse being out of sorts from that, she is not able to manage it doing more than a trot. One of the other Northmen also falls behind, having similar problems to Valka. In short order, Artaigne has left her behind.

Cresting the bank of the river, Artaigne can see the fleeing knight ahead rapidly approaching a small wood. One of the Northmen riders is close behind. Pushing his mount, Artaigne tries to close the distance, but the Frankish knight reaches the trees before Artaigne can get close enough to keep him in sight. Two of the Northmen pull away from Artaigne, but they also loose sight.

Artaigne reins up when he reaches the trees when, over the blowing of the horses and the stamp of hooves, he clearly hears the ring of a sword on a shield.

Artaigne urges his mount forward and quickly locates the scene of the battle. The lone Northman rider had been wounded and unhorsed by a quick exchange of blows, and the knight has ridden off.

This has become a hunt.

[OOC: Can I get a hunting roll from Sir Artaigne? The Northmen don't have any hunting skills, so this is all Artaigne. Valka may catch up eventually, but for you this is all Artaigne.]