Cornwall's Scheme

**Xion** · August 06, 2018, 08:51 AM

"Father." Austol says as he enters the Earl of Cornwall's study, with Cadoc peering over a map of southern England with a handful of figures scattered across it to represent different things. "Locryn has returned, and has managed to secure the services of a Breton mercenary company of horsemen." "Excellent." a faint smile appears on Cadoc's face and he gestures his son to come over and look at the map. "We shall send these men into Devonshire through my estates, before they turn north to the heart of the province after passing through Plympton." "Why not have them go into Devon after passing through Trevena? It'd be faster.." "Perhaps, but I'd prefer to have them take the longer route through my Devonshire estates as once they reach the heart of Devonshire, they are to split into three bands and harry the villages of these provinces.." Cadoc points to three figures near the border with Cornwall. "They shall be ordered to carry no banners or heraldry save for any personal devices, and to speak their native tongue. Ideally these men are to pose as former retainers of the cur Bretange turned to brigandry with the departure of their lord." Austol pauses for a moment, thinking, before turning to his father. "Then you move in and chase these raiders out." "Precisely, along with paying for the establishment for local patrols to deter further raids and to repair the damages, then negotiate the provinces swearing fealty to me, ideally." Cadoc drinks from his cup of wine. "Go and inform the mercenaries of my orders with Locryn." "Understood." Austol departs, leaving the Earl of Cornwall to continue his plotting.

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Early the next morning, the force of horsemen would depart Truro and head through Cadoc's estates to Plymouth before heading north to the center of Devonshire. There they would split into three forces of fifty horsemen each to strike at the selected provinces, shouting war cries in their native tongues.
50 Breton Light Cavalry strike at Okehampton, Tavistock, and Broadwoodwidger.

**Gandalfus** · August 08, 2018, 04:11 PM

50 Breton Light Cavalry strike at Okehampton, Tavistock, and Broadwoodwidger.

Okehampton: loses 1 man. Gets 80% loot.
Tavistock: Loses 3 men. Gets 30% of loot.
Broadwoodwidger: The defenders manage to retreat, taking all valuables with them.

**Xion** · August 08, 2018, 04:34 PM

The two successful raiding parties carry off their loot and their fallen, eventually returning to Compton where they send a small party southwards to Kingsbridge disguised as merchants to meet with Locryn to inform him of their success and deliver his share of the loot, before riding back to Compton.
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As the peasantry of Broadwoodwidger were able to elude the horsemen, their captain decides to ride northward and strike at some villages along the Torridge river.

**Xion** · August 08, 2018, 08:32 PM

A small wagon with several chests would arrive at the castle of the Earl of Cornwall a few days after the meeting in Kingsbridge, delivering the loot from the raids. Locryn would request a meeting with his lord, and be escorted to the earl's study, where he was looking over several documents and letters. Cadoc looks up from a letter when the door opens and Locryn is led in by one of his huscarls. "My lord." Cadoc rises from behind his desk, picks up his half-empty cup of wine and walks over to the table with the map still sprawled out over it. "It would seem our little venture has produced fruit." "Indeed, my lord." Cadoc takes a sip of wine while Locryn opens the chest he brought in with him. "Messengers have brought word of the raids from my tenants in Cornwall on the border and those in Devonshire, it would seem outlaws across Inglond are taking advantage of the king's campaign.." Some passing merchants brought rumors that fighting had broken out in some part of England, although each one's claim involved a different region and cause. Locryn nods in agreement. "What are your next orders for your horsemen, my lord?" "Continue acting as bandits, striking at Devonshire....or perhaps here." Cadoc points to a lone figurine to the east. "While I begin preparations for the next phase of the plan. I shall send a messenger to you in Kingsbridge when I have further orders." Locryn bows. "Yes, my lord." Locryn then departs the study.

Cadoc returns to his desk, and begins writing several missives that are to be delivered to some of his estates to muster their levies, then assemble at Truro.

**Xion** · August 09, 2018, 06:47 PM

Several days after those who answered the call of arms arrived at Truro, Cadoc orders them to march for Tavistock. "We shall march to Tavistock to begin our search for these brigands there, along with offering aid to the local thegns and populace, then leaving a detachment if they allow it to deter the raiders from returning and moving on and repeating the process in the next province." Cadoc says to Austol and Locryn as he points on the map, the three meeting in the Earl's study before the march was to begin early the next day and Locryn was to deliver the next orders to the mercenaries. "While the brigands shall strike at other parts of Devonshire, before retreating back into those moors they seem to have made their encampment in?" "Yes, my lord." "What if Tavistock is hostile to us, and refuse our aid?" "Then we move on to the next province, while a detachment of the mercenaries shall be sent back there to raid them again. We will wait a period of time and then go back to attempt to aid them once more." Austol looks over the map, noting the two figurines off to the east for a few moments, before looking back at his father. "Wouldn't it be easier if we split our force into two and we each took a contingent, father?" "It might, we can discuss this once we have arrived in Tavistock."

The force of Cornwall would approach the town of Tavistock, remaining on the opposite bank of the river Tavy while Cadoc, Austol, and twenty huscarls approach the town under the banner of Cornwall and request a meeting with the local thegn.
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After harassing a few peasants in Bideford, the contingent of fifty horsemen follow the river Torridge south to find villages to strike at. Meanwhile, the other ninety six horsemen ride to the settlements in the outskirts of Exeter, attempting to strike at traders and the local peasantry.
Raid roll on Exeter (96 Breton Light Cavalry)
Raid roll of Torrington (50 Breton Light Cavalry)

**Trot** · August 09, 2018, 07:03 PM

Raid roll on Exeter (96 Breton Light Cavalry)

5% of the force is lost 180% of the province income is collected

Raid roll of Torrington (50 Breton Light Cavalry)

3% of the force lost 20% of the income collocted

**Trot** · August 10, 2018, 09:13 AM

After a time a few local thegns ride out with a small group of retainers clearly wary of these new riders having once been raided the crowd of people begin to disappear some running to hide in the nearby abbey thinking that will save them if more looters had come.

One of the thegns an older man with graying hair the apparent leader rides forward to meet these riders. "Who are you to come here with armed men?" It is clear the raids had mad the locals wary of armed strangers.

**Xion** · August 10, 2018, 09:35 AM

[QUOTE=Trot;15642232]After a time a few local thegns ride out with a small group of retainers clearly wary of these new riders having once been raided the crowd of people begin to disappear some running to hide in the nearby abbey thinking that will save them if more looters had come.

One of the thegns an older man with graying hair the apparent leader rides forward to meet these riders. "Who are you to come here with armed men?" It is clear the raids had mad the locals wary of armed strangers.[/QUOT
As the local leaders ride out, Cadoc sends one of his men back to order several wagons forward, wagons carrying food supplies and other aid the Earl of Cornwall had purchased on the way to Tavistock to offer the people (500 pounds worth of aid). "I am Cadoc, Earl of Cornwall, and I wish to help you and your people recover from the damage inflicted upon your homes by these outlaws, and bring an end of their terrorizing these lands. I offer my aid in helping establish a local militia to help patrol your roads and villages, and some watchtowers, along with, should you agree, leaving a contingent of my men here to aid in protecting your lands while the rest of my force marches onward to hopefully find where these brigands are coming from and put an end to them."

ooc : Cadoc's offer is 500 pounds worth of food, leaving a force of 50 or so men, and the Armed Peasantry and Wooden Wall buildings (representing the 'militia' and watchtowers' Cadoc has -2 Charisma.

**Xion** · August 12, 2018, 10:30 AM

After his meeting with the local leaders of Tavistock, Cadoc's force moves onward to Exeter, and the Earl of Cornwall requests a meeting with the local leaders.
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Meanwhile, the brigands move into Dartmouth and begin raiding the outlying settlements.

**Trot** · August 12, 2018, 10:51 AM

1-5 the leaders refuse the aid 6-10 leaders reluctantly accept aid 11-15 leaders accept aid 16-20 leaders eagerly accept the aid

roll 11-2= 9

The man turns to initially refuse offer yet some of the peasantry had heard Cornwalls promise of food and cheers had gone up through the crowd. Now news was spreading through the community that though their fields had been burned they would not starve and the man is forced reluctantly to set his pride aside and accept the Cornish aid. "Very well we will accept this aid of yours."

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He arrives at Exter to find it in a similar state of disrepair. Soon a local baron rides out to meet this new armed party a small retinue at his back.

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Dartmouth seems to have heard that neighboring lands were raided for despite the fact the defenders were apparently caught unawares and mustered only a weak defense killing 4% of the Cornish force the looting party only manages to get 10% of the provinces wealth.

**Xion** · August 13, 2018, 06:49 AM

"Excellent. I shall leave a force of around fifty men to protect your village and to train the militia, while materials for the construction and some workers will hopefully arrive within a fortnight." Cadoc then signals his men to start distributing the food and other supplies from the wagon. A few days later, the army of Cornwall marches onward.
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Cadoc rides out to meet with the local baron of Exeter, followed by his son Austol and ten huscarls. "Good day to you, I am Cadoc, Earl of Cornwall." Cadoc pauses for a moment. "I have heard of the devastation inflicted upon Devonshire and would like to offer my aid, by providing food and other supplies to the people of your city and any refugees who have been forced to flee their homes, materials and manpower to construct watchtowers, and rebuild the damage from the raiders. I would also like to leave a small force of my soldiers to help patrol the province to deter the raiders from returning."
ooc : Cadoc's offer for Devon is 500 pounds of food, and provide funding for Wooden Walls, Tenant Homesteads, and Fishing Village to be constructed(1,500 total), along with leaving a force to protect the countryside. -2 to Charisma
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The Breton raiders set fire to the few villages they struck, and bury their dead before heading into the moors.

**Trot** · August 13, 2018, 07:18 PM

Same chances for Devon

roll 13 -2= 11

The help is accepted by the local barons who need to see their men fed.

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Now looking at time Stamps the army of Godwinson arrives 4 hours after the raid so if you withdraw you will only get 2/3rds of the loot.

As for the withdraw chance 10/20 chance -5 due to mid looting +5 due to light cav only army. So 1-10 gets caught by Godwinson's light cav 11-20 withdraws.

Roll 20

The Breton's have plenty of time to abandon their looting and escape the Godwinson force.

**Pericles of Athens** · August 13, 2018, 07:39 PM

Magnus sends his men out to find and interview any survivors, so they might discover who these bandits were and where they had fled.

**Xion** · August 14, 2018, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by Trot

Same chances for Devon

roll 13 -2= 11

The help is accepted by the local barons who need to see their men fed.
.

Cadoc's men begin distributing the food and other supplies to the people, while the Earl of Cornwall sends a few men around to collect the necessary supplies to begin repairing the damage inflicted to some of the outlying settlements.

Cornwall Forces

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The Bretons ditch the loot and flee.

**Trot** · August 14, 2018, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by Pericles of Athens

Magnus sends his men out to find and interview any survivors, so they might discover who these bandits were and where they had fled.

Roll 18

No one seems to know where they went or who they are other then that they spoke a language no one understood, but tracks are found leading towards Darkmoor.

**Xion** · August 14, 2018, 11:35 AM

Upon arriving in Okehampton, Cadoc requests a meeting with the local leaders to present a similar offer to that he had presented to Exeter and Tavistock, a force of soldiers to protect the local lands from future raids and five hundred pounds worth of food supplies, tenant homesteads.
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Once Cadoc's men arrive in Compton, the earl orders his men to search the forests and moors for any sign of the bandits, along with asking the local villages if they have seen any sign of the bandits.

**Trot** · August 20, 2018, 06:15 PM

Roll 11-2 9

Once again the local leaders seem reluctant to accept the Cornish mans offer but under pressure of the local populace.

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Questioning the populace yields less results it seems the bandits have gone into hiding or left the area. None of the people appear to know anything.

**Xion** · August 20, 2018, 06:39 PM

Cadoc's men distribute the food from the wagons and a garrison of thirty men (10 Frydmen, 10 English Foot, and 10 Archers) is left.
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With the bandits either driven into hiding for the moment or having moved on, Cadoc orders his force to patrol Devonshire under the command of his son Austol, to secure the roads for the caravans of materials and to scout the rest of the shire to see if they discover any remnants of the bandits.

**chesser2538** · August 21, 2018, 02:50 PM

With the bandits either driven into hiding for the moment or having moved on, Cadoc orders his force to patrol Devonshire under the command of his son Austol, to secure the roads for the caravans of materials and to scout the rest of the shire to see if they discover any remnants of the bandits.

Captain Austol was tired. Weeks in the saddle had left him irritable and fatigued. His pursuit of these dastardly brigands had been proving rather difficult. Having chased them clear across Devonshire, there was little to show for it. He wanted this to be over, as did his men. They always seemed one step ahead of him, and while they made little effort to hide their escape, the swiftness of it was challenging to combat.

Soon though he hoped they would have them. The raiders had been splitting their forces in the hopes of losing their pursuers, only to then reform further off and continue their escape. After a while Austol had devised a pattern, their course always ended up moving east toward the coast. He expected they planned to make for a port and slip away. Well he could play that game. Breaking off a half dozen men he instructs them to each ride for a major port along the coast. If he was lucky he could at least devise some information and hopefully their destination.

A few days later, during a heavy rain storm they would lose their quarry again, this time for good. When they set out again they would find that the tracks had been washed away in the rain. However that would not be the end of it. For in the quiet town of Axminster a lone man sat and watched. When the raiders eventually made their appearance he was ready. Soon after he made his way back west to make his report.

It is discovered that the raiders number over 130 men and speak a strange dialect that is likely Breton. They stopped for a night in Axeminster before continuing east along the coast toward Dorset.