Norman Blood, English Kings. [England AAR - in progress]

[Titus Atius Labienus]

It is the year of our lord 1080.

On the throne of England sits William the Conqueror, Crown King since 1066. Beside him sits the lovely Matilda. This pair begat four children, Prince Rupert, Princess Cecilia, Prince Robert and a boy child Henry. In 1080 William holds Nottingham, Caen, and London, his Capital.

To the north lies York, rebel held and a buffer between the might of England and the perfidy of the Scots. To the west lies Caernarvon, the gateway to Ireland. To consolidate his position William has decided to conquer first the north and then the west. His holdings in France must wait.

William’s favoured spy, Richard is sent to York to garner information and ferment revolt amongst the populace. It appears York is only garrisoned by a few peasant and militia units, and so Richard reports to Prince Rufus in Nottingham who gathers a force and marches north. He storms York and sweeps aside all before him, crushing the rebels and populace. Once his position is secure he orders the construction of a Motte and Bailey to strengthen England’s northern borders.

In the same year, Princess Cecilia journeys north to Scotland, to gather information and parley with the Scots. In France, Laurence Bidell gains trade rights with France, having his proposal grudgingly accepted by the self-styled King of France, Phillip the ‘Chivalrous’.

And so the year passes, with Scotland begging England for trade rights which are accepted, as part of a plot to lull those barbarians into a sense of security. In the spring of the year 1081 Cecilia secures the hand of Edmund the Chivalrous, who is in the far north of the country. Now there are forces to the north and south of Edinburgh, where Richard, spy par excellence has taken up residence. Meanwhile, in France, Samuel Blacke has begun to trade in wine, to the great pleasure of his majesty and his nobles, who suggest the capture of Rennes as a suitable move.

The year 1082 begins with the birth of Aleusa Frankline, an addition to the might Norman bloodline. Her father, Edmund, journeys south to give his daughter an upbringing fitting to one of her nobility. However, as he passes Edinburgh a message is delivered from Richard, who has observed that King Malcolm of Scotland is now alone without garrison in the capital. Edmund immediately lays siege, and finds the gates swung open in greeting. A crossbow bolt kills the Scottish King, and suddenly England’s closest foe is no more. It is truly a day to rejoice, and will down in the annals of history as a moment of great fortune well seized! So closes the year.

In the year of our Lord 1083, Prince Robert sets out towards Rennes with a sizeable force, joining with men already stationed close to his provincial borders. With utter abandon he assaults Rennes, and finds that his Ballista’s indeed do work. Very well in fact. Rennes falls. Robert and the Kingdom rejoice. All is well in England, her coffer’s swelling and her influence burgeoning. Four years of decisive action have lead to a great change in fortune.



*Played on Lusted's LTC on VH/VH observing house rules (aside from the capture of Edinburgh, which was simply too good to miss!)

Fun so far!

[Ieuano]

william the conquerers first son was William, his nickname was Rufus....