The Rose and the Lily

[Barry Goldwater]

After a 22-year hiatus, it would seem the Hundred Years' War is starting up again: two years after publicly reviving the English claim on the French throne, King Edward has finally raised his forces (including England's first standing army) and set out to attack France. An English army of 20-30,000 men, a host only exceeded in size by the Yorkist army at Wallingford and the total strength of both sides at Towton but composed entirely of professional soldiers, will soon depart for Calais and from there, likely march into Normandy. At the same time, the Royal Navy (another recent innovation in the form of a standing fleet) is prepared to secure the Channel and thus, keep both the English army's naval supply lines and waterborne escape routes clear. Soon, for the fourth time in under 200 years, the English Rose and French Lily will attempt to strangle one another again...

Hex map of France

(thanks guys for raising this in the Discord chat. Obviously, English forces will start at Calais. Movement rules remain the same as usual, see the Positions of the Armies thread for them)

Political map of France, circa 1475

(as you can see, there's some friendly Burgundian territory in Picardy, between Calais and Normandy. Also disregard Burgundian-occupied Lorraine linking their French & Dutch territories, they haven't overrun Lorraine yet at this point in the year)

The English army in France

See here.

[Gandalfus]

After some weeks of mustering soldiers and gathering the needed supplies, the English were finally ready for their foray into French soil. In the summer of 1475 they departed from Portsmouth, landing later in the pale of Calais, the last English toehold on the continent. A well bustling, well defended port-town well within friendly Burgundian territory, Calais was a safe base of operations for the English forces to strike out into the surrounding territories of Normandy, Champagne, and central France. As the soldiers begin to disembark from the ships, Edward sends heralds to call to his side the most senior of his lieutenants - the premier peers of the realm - to consult with them concerning the strategy and objectives of this offensive campaign. The King himself wanted to move as quickly as possible, and so decided to hold this meeting inside the town hall of Calais itself, as the captains ensured every man and gun was accounted for on the beaches.

[Barry Goldwater]

Both Kyriell brothers attend the King's war council. Though they had been made earls a while ago, both Edmund and Roger still wore austere suits of armor (though better made than anything they had as knights) to war with almost nothing in the way of ornamentation beyond the gilded crests topping their sallets: a sitting lion for Cambridge, and a soaring martlet for Monmouth. The only other bit of color they wore over their plain steel were tabards displaying the Kyriell colors, red chevrons on yellow and a red canton, with a carefully woven golden lion in Cambridge's canton.

[Mary The Quene]

Sir William FitzAlan, second brother to the earl of Arundel who takes part in the Irish campaign, attends aswell. Though the FitzAlan have been slightly irritated by the king's recent decision a war with France could never be missed.

[Barry Goldwater]

The Earl of Oxford and his brother, Sir Richard de Vere, arrive after FitzAlan. Oxford's armor was blackened with silver inlays, to match his usual outfit of depressing black beneath it, while his brother wore plain steel with little in the way of decoration beyond a De Vere red-and-gold tabard and a silver star-shaped brooch. The latter's friendly grin was a sharp contrast to the former's also-usual morose expression, and he had a very good reason to look that way: he had fathered a son with his new Beaufort wife, a boy he'd named Robert who now represented the future generation of De Vere, shortly before setting out for France.

OOC: Because I forgot the De Vere bros are coming along for this ride too, lol.

[Xion]

The Earl of Devon and his uncle, the Viscount de Courtenay attend the meeting. The Viscount's armor was a standard suit of armor with a gold tabard bearing the three torteaux of Courtenay upon it while the Earl wore a blackened suit of armor with crimson and gold inlays and embellishments. The Viscount Wenlock also attends after visiting the armory of Calais and inspecting the state of some of the other projects his father had implemented during his tenure as Lord Captain.

[Gandalfus]

Edward looked up at those who were in attendance; clearly, the other nobles were still making their way into the main hall. No matter. Clearing his throat, he tapped upon a map one of the captains had found in a heap of dusty parchments. It vaguely resembled France.

"Gentlemen, my own view upon this war is clear. Normandy is our goal, specifically the capture of Rouen and the ports along the northern coastline. While I would like to split our force, it would only lead to us being slain piecemeal - so we should keep compact, as one." Clad in plate, the King cut a fearsome figure; it was impossible to tell his belly had rounded, in fact, it added to his already formidable presence.

[Barry Goldwater]

"Understood, Your Majesty." Aside from these words Cambridge and Monmouth both merely nodded with approval, the former with a grin. The elder Kyriell brother especially wasn't going to have any objections to this strategy, considering he more-or-less suggested it in the first place back in the Privy Council.

[Xion]

"Of course, your majesty." the Viscount de Courtenay replies, nodding as well in approval of the plan. His nephew remains silent and looks at the map with a pensive expression upon his face, as if he was thinking of a alternate plan to the one suggested by the king or some other matter. Wenlock simply nods in approval of the plan.

[Lucius Malfoy]

The Marquess of Montagu arrives at the meeting after inspecting his soldiers. He had left his son, George, in charge of the estates while he was away. He walked in, listening to what was being said for now.

[Mary The Quene]

Understood, Your Majesty. FitzAlan nodded in agreement, it made sense not to split the army in smaller piece, or so FitzAlan himself thought.

[Poach]

Richard Leyland had made best pace from rural Essex down to Dover, with orders to seek out the Royal Army which should have already began relocating to Calais by the time he arrived. Having been able to barter passage on a small cog that was transporting some supplies over for the campaign, Richard soon found himself in England's last foothold on the Continent.

He cut a decent figure, well armed and armoured as the minor gentry generally were, and there were plenty of other soldiers milling about in the area as contingents of the Royal Army and various other retainer companies went about their business. Armed with his orders to report to Thomas Bourchier, the overall commander of the Capital Commandery, Richard made his way to the headquarters and awaited the opportunity to present himself.

[Oznerol]

Thomas was stuffing his mouth with a leg of lamb already; his bearded chin greasy with the sauce running down his mouth. The baron was clad in armor, but had removed his chesplate, to eat more comfortably. He was sitting on a small stool, attended by a diligent page, wearing his arms and a Bourchier knot; he had Woodville's and Bourchier's arms quartered. The Baron Connington looked, over the lamb, to the newcomer:

"Who might you be?"

[Poach]

"I am Richard Leyland, sir," said Richard, offering a brief bow and holding out the orders he'd come with, "I've recently commissioned from the militia near Colchester, I was instructed to report to you for the campaign."

[Oznerol]

"Ah, well. I guess you had to"

He was handed a linen cloth to clean his mouth, fingers and chin once the lamb was finished and the bone thrown away.

"Colchester... hummm... that's where you father's lands are or were?"

Baron Connington was a middle-aged man, even if he was the youngest of all the sons of the late duke of Aumerle. All the Bourchier brothers, save the archbishop, had joined the king's entourage, but the only one genuinely excited was Lord Scales himself, with the rest less interested in freezing their asses on the saddle. Ironically, the Primate would have gladly joined Aumerle, Connington, Donnington and Ferrers, hadn't he been tied by his priestly vows.

*cough*

"Anyway. We have Frenchmen to kill, and et caetera, et caetera... You might take command of a division, we have several of those. Any preference?"

[Poach]

"Yes, sir," he replied with a nod, "My father has an estate half a day's travel outside Colchester."

Bourchier then moved on to business.

"Whichever I'm needed for, sir," said Richard, "I'm at your disposal."

[Oznerol]

"Yes, sir," he replied with a nod, "My father has an estate half a day's travel outside Colchester."

Bourchier then moved on to business.

"Whichever I'm needed for, sir," said Richard, "I'm at your disposal."

He scratched his chin.

"You'll lead a company of... hummm... men-at-arms. So, ready your sword and armor"

[Gandalfus]

With most of the lords in agreement, Edward had them dismissed and sent back to their respective contingents. However, he bid that the Lord Montagu stay, and speak with the King for a private audience.

"John." The King began, curtly. "I have a task for you."

[Lucius Malfoy]

With most of the lords in agreement, Edward had them dismissed and sent back to their respective contingents. However, he bid that the Lord Montagu stay, and speak with the King for a private audience.

"John." The King began, curtly. "I have a task for you."

Lord Montagu pauses as he moved to leave. He bows to the King, understanding his request. Once all had departed, John Neville approaches the King.

I am at Your Majesty's service. What is the task at hand?

[Gandalfus]

"At this very moment, Louis is reeling. For we have landed." Edward chuckled, and then glanced back down to the map. "But he doesn't know what we want. An oversight on my part. He needs to know on what terms we have invaded; for what purpose. I need someone to relay this to him."