Welsh Stragglers (Ask me for permission to join first)

**Adamat** · October 23, 2012, 01:36 PM

Carmarthen, 1166

The Welsh have been crushed by the mighty Kingdom of England just little over a month ago. All the cities and large armies have laid down their weapons and surrendered after the Welsh Capital Caernarvon was burned to the ground. Still, small bands of Welsh soldiers fight their own war, as outlaws and guerilla armies.

Earl Harys of Wales, Earl of Carmarthen in service to the King of England rides out to deal with a small band of Welsh stragglers. With him are his squire Harold Hithertho, and fifty English knights.

As the English warband reached the position where the Welsh had last been sighted, the Earl and his men started looking for tracks and clues of where the enemy forces went.

**Warhead7** · October 23, 2012, 03:27 PM

"They leave little clues, there can't have been many but we can't allow them to go around terrorising this place. Would you have me go somewhere to search sir or should we stay together in hope that we may come across them and run them down?"

**Adamat** · October 24, 2012, 08:54 AM

"You will stay with me, Harold. But we will split up. 25 men go with us, the other 25 shall follow Ulrick and search for them. Now, we ride north from here."

After some time, the English were riding through a muddy field. A forest was up ahead, and they would pass through it. Until one of the English knights suddenly screamed, an arrow stuck in his chest plate. By the time the knight hit the ground, the English knights were charging already. The open field was a killzone, and they would need to get in contact.

**Warhead7** · October 24, 2012, 10:17 AM

"Sir! An ambush! Theres a lot more than I expected!"

Harold manages to keep on his horse, dodging the many arrows that scattered the field. The English knights numbers were thinning before they had even made contact. Harold readies his blade and speeds up - making contact but quickly getting surrounded.

**Adamat** · October 25, 2012, 08:22 AM

Harys quickly looked around as he neared the edge of the forest. About twenty dead already, he thought grimly as he reached the first welsh. His blade flashed, and the grizzly man-at-arms was on the ground squirming. He looked for the next target, but the brown clothes the welsh soldiers wore made it hard to see them in the rust-colored forest. He saw his squire charging into the fray head-on, and being surrounded quickly. Harys knew he would never cover the fifty meters in time, and unslung his bow. One of his arrows sprouted from a spear man's chest, distracting the welsh who were on Harold.

**Warhead7** · October 25, 2012, 01:59 PM

Several Welsh men turned to see what had hit them and, seeing a hole, Harold escaped from the men who surrounded him. Harold had minor injuries but nothing too serious. Needing time to gather his bearings, Harold then regrouped on Harys to help him finish off the Welsh that he had taken down. In a brief moment to spare, Harold looked to see where the other English where but it seemed as if it were only Harold and Harys left. Harold swung his sword wildly, in hope that he could take a few more down before he perished.

**Adamat** · October 26, 2012, 08:41 AM

Harys notched another arrow, and another one after the last. It went on for what seemed like hours, though he only fired 7 arrows after all. When a welsh man with a claymore struck him at his side, Harys was glad he had bought new armor. He quickly dispatched the man by throwing his dagger into the man's chest and gripped his horn, sounding it. The cry drowned out all the screams and battlefield sounds before it disappeared again. "Retreat!" Harys roared, and other voices picked up the call. The remaining knights quickly found eachother because of the horn, and Harys counted quickly. 18 left standing, and no way to tell how many Welsh were left.

**Warhead7** · October 26, 2012, 10:38 AM

Harold searched to find Harys, who was already fleeing and managed to escape with the herd of 18 knights.
Harold was shocked to see this defeat, "How could this have happened?" he cried. He was ignored by the people around him as they tried to gallop away from the many arrows that were still getting fired. The welsh cried in victory.

**Adamat** · October 27, 2012, 05:33 AM

Harys started laughing. "Harold. Would you be so kind to hand me the pitch in your saddlebag?" If those Welsh would not die in a fair way, unfair it would be.

**Warhead7** · October 27, 2012, 02:36 PM

Harold was suprised at Harys' reaction and so were some of the knights but Harold still threw over his pitch to Harys. Watching idly, Harold could only imagine what the Earl was going to do and stayed close as Harys turned to face the Welsh again.

**Adamat** · October 27, 2012, 02:56 PM

He notched an arrow, grabbed a patch of grass, dipped it in the pitch and ignited. As he let loose, he smiled. After three of such shots, the forest caught fire and by evenfall the knights sat dining by the fire.

**Warhead7** · October 28, 2012, 05:21 PM

Harold sat by the fire, celebrating but not as loud as the others. He rather just watch and think about how the battle panned out. He soon felt awkward and exclaimed, "A great victory! Praise Earl Harys!". After a little uproar, they dined till late night then prepared for the morning.

**Adamat** · October 28, 2012, 05:25 PM

On the morrow, Earl Harys and his men rode up to what was left of the forest. Everything was either dead or dying, including all the Welsh and the leftover English. "Harold, get up here."

**Warhead7** · October 29, 2012, 05:46 PM

"Yes sir?" Harold wondered what the Earl could have wanted.

**Adamat** · October 29, 2012, 05:49 PM

"The losses of this battle have been high. Too many true knights have died here, in this one-time forest. But, something good will also happen here." Harys unsheathed his sword. "Kneel, Harold. You have handled yourself well."

**Warhead7** · October 29, 2012, 05:52 PM

Grinning and feeling happy, Harold gladly knelt before Earl Harys.

**Adamat** · October 29, 2012, 05:57 PM

Touching Harold's shoulders and then his head with the flat of his sword, the Earl spoke. "I, Earl Harys of Wales, Earl of Carmarthen, Lord of Carmarthen Castle, award you, Sir Harold Hitherto, the gift of knightship. You shall serve none other than the realm, plot no rebellion, give me advice and action. In return, i shall grant you a fiefdom."

**Warhead7** · October 29, 2012, 06:12 PM

"Thank you sir", Harold said, proud of his new title, and rose again. Harold assumed that the only thing left was to return to Carmarthen Castle.

**Adamat** · October 29, 2012, 06:16 PM

"Now, we bury our dead and return to the castle," Harys said, looking for a spade somewhere.

**Warhead7** · October 29, 2012, 06:21 PM

Harold threw his spade which he had in his saddle bag to Earl Harys and got one for himself that he found nearby a dead horse. Harold got to work on the burying. He sighed and said, "A shame that so many of the men died today". He dug his first hole, the first of many.