Sword Song: The Battle for London

[Mors Vigilia]

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The Battle for London

Aggressor: Lord William de Vassy, 1st Baron of Nottingham
Commander: Sir Edmund of (?)
Notable combatants: Sir Hugh of Sutton-on-Hull
Army: 1000 men

Defender: City of London
Commander: Gundulf O'Donnivan (?)
Notable combatants: Lord Richard de Clare, 1st Baron of Rouen
Army: 3719 men

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London, 1106.
The joint armies of Nottingham and Hull prepare ladders to take the walls of the city. The smallest of skeleton guards remains within the city what with the country still feeling the adverse effects of Richard I's levying of the lands. Meanwhile, Richard de Clare has docked in the city with a small portion of his men (maximum of 50, please declare how many in your next post, Ace) with the rest on slower ships behind. They will arrive soon in waves to defend this city from siege.

[Gandalfus]

William draws his sword, and points towards the walls.

We begin our attack there. Onwards, men!


William spurs his horse forward to get a good vantage point over his army as they scurry towards the walls with ladders.

[Mors Vigilia]

The smallest contingent of guardsmen stood on the walls. The rest of them weren't much greater in number and they stood further into the city, still debating whether the walls would hold, if help would arrive, or just to surrender before a sword was drawn...

[Gandalfus]

The men all rushed the walls in a torrent of bodies and metal, ladders and all. As they approached the walls, the men would level their ladders and begin climbing; to deliever death to those who stand on the walls.

[Mors Vigilia]

The men of London had made their choice, to save the people they would all take to the walls. If they could all stand by the top of the ladders then surely they could prevent any attackers from coming atop the walls, right..?

[MuttonChops]

The men of London had made their choice, to save the people they would all take to the walls. If they could all stand by the top of the ladders then surely they could prevent any attackers from coming atop the walls, right..?

Adrian, having arrived in the city three days ago found himself caught in the middle of the battle, unable to flee after the gates had been closed. He followed the men of London and rushed to the walls. Unlike the men around him, he has had experience in warfare before, but keep an eye open for an escape route should the worse happen.


OOC: I hope you guys don't mind me joining in.

[Gandalfus]

the soldiers continue to advance towards the walls, many of them lusting for loot and plunder.

[Mors Vigilia]

Though many shook with fear atop the wall, some still raised bows and shouted defiance as their few initial arrows failed to find a mark.

[Gandalfus]

William shouts for his own archers to bombard the enemy atop the walls, whilst his men charge towards the enemy.

[Ace_General]

de Clare and 50 men arrive, and he finds the city hall and sets up a command post on the tower atop it. The King then says to the commander of the London Guard

For the good of your city, I ask that you open the armories and army every man with military experience and create barricades in the streets. I have almost 4,000 men on theway, I only need you to keep a Landing inside the walls open for a few hours

A gaurd commander sees Adrian, an able bodied and unafraid looking man wandering around and him and a burly Master-sergeant says to him

Oi, get over here mate, you look dont have your head up your arse, your now da newest Junior Sergeant of the London city gaurd.

A few men stand behind adrian so he cant escape and he's handed a simple head, a battered old shield, and crudely made ms aace and is lead to a crude barricake made of logs, overturned cart and the odd bit of furniture manned by less then a dozen desperate and scared looking men with hand me down weapons from teenage street urchins to middle aged merchants and craftsmen to overage veterans

OOC: Laws of war, if a city resists, then its fair game to be plundered

[MuttonChops]

A gaurd commander sees Adrian, an able bodied and unafraid looking man wandering around and him and a burly Master-sergeant says to him

Oi, get over here mate, you look dont have your head up your arse, your now da newest Junior Sergeant of the London city gaurd.


OOC: Laws of war, if a city resists, then its fair game to be plundered

Adrian muttering beneath his breath took the weapon and shield offered to him. Its quality was suspect but it was better than the short dagger he had at hand. Turning to the many shaking men beside him, he spoke "Pray if you want. Or don't I don't really care, but I don't want anyone running away from this barricade. We'll hold them as long as we can then regroup further back. We're here to buy time. No stupid heroics, I want everyone to stay together. And hold the bloody barricades together, or your going to have to use those sticks of yours"

[Lord William]

OOC: though it would be unwise to pillage your own kingdoms capital

ic: a young page appears from a hidden chapel, he approaches the group of men with high hopes of joining the fight

execuse me sir, I would like too help. What can I do ?

[Ace_General]

OOC: though it would be unwise to pillage your own kingdoms capital

ic: a young page appears from a hidden chapel, he approaches the group of men with high hopes of joining the fight

execuse me sir, I would like too help. What can I do ?

The King turns to the page and says

Show me where you came from, is their tunnels around this city?

[Lord William]

The King turns to the page and says

Show me where you came from, is their tunnels around this city?

The boy shook his head, there was a secret tunnel built by the archbishop to allow safe passage in and out of London but the king was not privy to that knowledge and hence the boy did not share

no sire, I came from there
the boy pointed eagerly
i am here to fight, my name is John. I can fight you know, not well but I want to learn

[Trot]

Patrick O'Neill was in a tavern getting an Ale when the fighting started. Now he grabs his bow and makes ready to defend the city. He rushes to the wall a few peasants joining him. There he aims at the attacking men. Letting his first arrow fly he smiles when it finds it's mark.

[MuttonChops]

An uneasy calm descended on the streets of London, interrupted by the odd scream from the wall. The men forming the second line of defense readied for the coming attack. Adrian separated from his barricade for a moment to get a better view of the approaching enemy. He posted the odd men throughout the side streets of London to warn the main barricade of any flanking attacks.

Patrick O'Neill was in a tavern getting an Ale when the fighting started. Now he grabs his bow and makes ready to defend the city. He rushes to the wall a few peasants joining him. There he aims at the attacking men. Letting his first arrow fly he smiles when it finds it's mark.

Adrian reached the wall, carefully watching the mass of shinning armor beneath the parapets, who were about to clash with the wall. He handed a large quiver of arrow he had found on the way to Patrick. The only capable archer who seemed to be hitting anything of note.

[Trot]

An uneasy calm descended on the streets of London, interrupted by the odd scream from the wall. The men forming the second line of defense readied for the coming attack. Adrian separated from his barricade for a moment to get a better view of the approaching enemy. He posted the odd men throughout the side streets of London to warn the main barricade of any flanking attacks.Adrian reached the wall, carefully watching the mass of shinning armor beneath the parapets, who were about to clash with the wall. He handed a large quiver of arrow he had found on the way to Patrick. The only capable archer who seemed to be hitting anything of note.

"Thank you" Patrick says. His own quiver was running empty and still more were coming. Taking aim he lets another arrow lose. "How is the defense deeper in the city I don't think the walls wil hold much longer."

[Ace_General]

The king nods to an aide and the lad is given a helmet, sword, round shiled and maile shirt and the king says

Alright, keep your feet and shoulders square to your opponent, bend your knees, dont look at his hands or head, but his chest. When you attack with your sword, dont swing wide, you get gutted that way,

The king draws his sword to demonstrate

Instead, you throw a shot with your sword like a punch, but you twist your wrist to present the blade. Power comes from not swinging "hard" but from flicking your wrist and follwing through with your wrist. Remember, you must be calm and your moves must be flowing like a river. Chain your strikes, like move high to low and left to wright

The king demonstrates a crucifix combo, which is a downward cut followed by a very quick side swipe on recovery from the downward cut thats aimed at the hip.

And dont forget your sheild is a weapon too. If your enemy is in your face, base his helmet with your shield and hack his ribs open. Or use the rim to trap his sword and stab him in the guts.

I think you are now my Squire John, watch my back and give me directions around this city.


OOC: Im actually​y a SCA heavy armored combat fighter, all the things I talked about is how they actually fought back in the day

[Lord William]

John smiled eagerly, he was a squire of the king such a prestigious honour bestowed upon him

yes sire I shall do my best

[Pyrrhus the Molossian]

OOC: MV tell me whenever I arrive and with hoe many men and where and I'll post accordingly.