Pevensey Castle - Gaunt's Encampment

[Gandalfus]

Having returned to England, the Duke of Lancaster temporarily takes up residence in his property of Pevensey Castle along the southern coast, not far from the spot where William of Normandy landed three centuries prior. Here, Gaunt maintains a court that almost matches Westminster in size and complexity, with courtiers, petitioners, and dozens of officers rushing around in a futile attempt to organise the maintaining and recruiting an army of semi-professional soldiers, the beginnings of which are encamped either within the castle walls or on the surrounding plains. Gaunt himself can usually be found within the keep's great hall, surrounded by clerks and minor nobles.

[Oznerol]

The handsome John Holland arrives with full entourage, including his wife, the spoiled Elizabeth of Lancaster, who acompanies her husband to meet her father, the duke.

[Gandalfus]

Lancaster looked up as Holland and his daughter approached, swiftly waving away the horde of clerks that had congregated around him to discuss finances and other such bothersome details. Gaunt was just shy of his fiftieth year; flecks of grey now mingled increasingly with the thin, dark hair that hung to his lower neck, though much of it was obscured by the chaperon that did rest as regally as a crown upon his head.

"My son and daughter of Huntingdon." Gaunt greeted, a slightly smile upon his lips. ​"My household ever grows."

[Oznerol]

Lancaster looked up as Holland and his daughter approached, swiftly waving away the horde of clerks that had congregated around him to discuss finances and other such bothersome details. Gaunt was just shy of his fiftieth year; flecks of grey now mingled increasingly with the thin, dark hair that hung to his lower neck, though much of it was obscured by the chaperon that did rest as regally as a crown upon his head.

"My son and daughter of Huntingdon." Gaunt greeted, a slightly smile upon his lips. ​"My household ever grows."

Lady Elizabeth smiled and kissed her father's hand, like a loving daughter. She then grabs Gaunt's arm, released from her husband's grip.

"I'm so glad to be back home, father mine"

"We both are. It was due time Old King Edward's blood returned to these shores; our children don't even remember their homeland"

Both were superbly dressed. Lady Elizabeth wore some jewels that once belonged to her mother, including a jewelled purse. Her gown was heavily embroidered and lined with soft ermine.

"We were told some troubling news concerning my uncle Gloucester"

[Lucius Malfoy]

A missive arrives by courier bearing the markings of the Percy Family and the Earl of Northumberland, Henry Percy.

To the Noble and Righetous Duke of Lancaster,

I speak to you as a loyal subject of His Majesty, who is kept a prisoner within the gilded cage of London. Under the tyranny of the Duke of Gloucester and the Lords Appellant, England suffers and cries for the return of royal authority. I fear that if I were to contact the King, I would certainly put great risk upon the cause that I am now to take up. That is why, as the King's loyal uncle, I speak to you earnestly, I am preparing to raise a royal army to field in the name of His Majesty to aid in break free the King from his shackles. I only ask that Your Grace, as a son of Edward III and a loyal uncle of the King, give me your blessing for what I am to do. For I cannot do this without such a blessing.

When all is ready, I shall see to it that this goal is achieved and I hope that I may have your blessing to carry it out when the time is right.

Signed,
Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland

[Gandalfus]

Gaunt sends word about the encampment that he requests the presence of Sir Beauchamp and Sir Stafford, respectively.

[Barry Goldwater]

Gaunt sends word about the encampment that he requests the presence of Sir Beauchamp and Sir Stafford, respectively.

Sir William de Beauchamp of course appears as called for, dressed for the occasion. "You requested me for something, my lord?" He asked, once all of the usual frivolous greetings and pleasantries were out of the way.

[Gandalfus]

Lady Elizabeth smiled and kissed her father's hand, like a loving daughter. She then grabs Gaunt's arm, released from her husband's grip.

"I'm so glad to be back home, father mine"

"We both are. It was due time Old King Edward's blood returned to these shores; our children don't even remember their homeland"

Both were superbly dressed. Lady Elizabeth wore some jewels that once belonged to her mother, including a jewelled purse. Her gown was heavily embroidered and lined with soft ermine.

"We were told some troubling news concerning my uncle Gloucester"

"My troublesome brother, yes." Gaunt chuckled ruefully as his daughter gripped his arm. "Your cousin has had a dispute with him, and I'm the one to mend it." Lancaster clicked his tongue. Growing up in the shadow of older, more able brothers was difficult, he knew that better than anyone. But with Woodstock, the problem had only increased over the years, as the Duke had amassed power and wealth through his marriage to De Bohun.

Sir William de Beauchamp of course appears as called for, dressed for the occasion. "You requested me for something, my lord?" He asked, once all of the usual frivolous greetings and pleasantries were out of the way.

"Sir Beauchamp." Gaunt greeted him nonchalantly. "You are aware your brother is among those that call themselves the Lords Appellant, yes?"

[Barry Goldwater]

"Sir Beauchamp." Gaunt greeted him nonchalantly. "You are aware your brother is among those that call themselves the Lords Appellant, yes?"

"I am now," Beauchamp affirmed. "I must say, this news has taken me by surprise. Thomas has made no secret of his disappointment with some of His Majesty's policies in the past, particularly his peace-making with the French, but I never once had reason to think he'd go to...these lengths." Truthfully, the news that his big brother had partaken in some sort of coup against the Crown had blindsided William, who never had a particularly good eye for politics in the first place. That one of their distant Beauchamp cousins that he barely knew even existed, a John Beauchamp of Holt, was apparently one of those named a traitor by the Appellants (Thomas included) baffled him even further.

[Gandalfus]

Roger moved a greasy lock of brown hair put of his eyes and his jaw gaped as he considered the question. "My brother the Earl has been granted titles, and the betrothal means much to him and my family, but the girl is a mere child and will be for some time. I think it is uncertain if he will bestir himself."

"Good." Lancaster replied, his previously harsh gaze softening slightly. "I shall wish to speak with him in person, though that has done much to assure me." Woodstock's only ally out of the picture would make things all the more easy.

"I am now," Beauchamp affirmed. "I must say, this news has taken me by surprise. Thomas has made no secret of his disappointment with some of His Majesty's policies in the past, particularly his peace-making with the French, but I never once had reason to think he'd go to...these lengths." Truthfully, the news that his big brother had partaken in some sort of coup against the Crown had blindsided William, who never had a particularly good eye for politics in the first place. That one of their distant Beauchamp cousins that he barely knew even existed, a John Beauchamp of Holt, was apparently one of those named a traitor by the Appellants (Thomas included) baffled him even further.

"So I can rely on your loyalty to the king, sir?" Gaunt questioned calmly, gazing quietly at the brother of Warwick. "I shall pray against it, but this may come to blows between us and the Appellants."

[Oznerol]

"Such a turbulent family, sometimes I wish plague was more selective. Hasn't been any bouts of illness in my uncle's lands of late? Such a shame"

She said with malice, laughing.

"Anyway, there's no-one able to oppose you father, they will kneel and plead for their lives as soon as you step into London"

"Indeed, not even all the so-called Appellants together can dare to raise a hand against you, my Lord. Moreso considering your son, my brother Derby, will never be so daring to face his own father in the field"

[Gandalfus]

"Such a turbulent family, sometimes I wish plague was more selective. Hasn't been any bouts of illness in my uncle's lands of late? Such a shame"

She said with malice, laughing.

"Anyway, there's no-one able to oppose you father, they will kneel and plead for their lives as soon as you step into London"

"Indeed, not even all the so-called Appellants together can dare to raise a hand against you, my Lord. Moreso considering your son, my brother Derby, will never be so daring to face his own father in the field"

"Yes, Henry is with them, or so I've heard." The Duke scowled. That fact had irritated him - Henry should know better than to be pulled into the orbit of such a man, uncle or not. "Once I have received their reply, we shall make for London. This show of force should be sufficient, I think." Lancaster had amassed eight-hundred men in total, and that was not including Huntingdon's own soldiers that would surely join him.

[Oznerol]

"I'm sure my brother has been misled by our uncle Gloucester, but... I thought he'd be wiser. To join forces with Woodstock! The shame"

She said with a chuckle.

"I mustered a hundred men, maybe some more. Considering how scattered my lands are is the best I could get in such a short time. But, my brother's estates are nearby, my Lord"

[Gandalfus]

"I'm sure my brother has been misled by our uncle Gloucester, but... I thought he'd be wiser. To join forces with Woodstock! The shame"

She said with a chuckle.

"I mustered a hundred men, maybe some more. Considering how scattered my lands are is the best I could get in such a short time. But, my brother's estates are nearby, my Lord"

"Your brother is Constable of the Tower, yes?" Gaunt mused; the Hollands had grown in stature under the reign of their half brother, and Kent was surely the richest man in England behind himself. ​"His aid would be worthwhile."

[Oznerol]

"Indeed, my Lord. He would gladly answer my summons; I bet he already mustered a number of men, just in case"

Kent was far more cautious than both his brothers.

"He won't openly move against Arundel, not now, but in any case he could be helpful"

[Pontifex Maximus]

Stafford entered the domicile and bowed. "You summomed me, lord?" he began

[Gandalfus]

"Indeed, my Lord. He would gladly answer my summons; I bet he already mustered a number of men, just in case"

Kent was far more cautious than both his brothers.

"He won't openly move against Arundel, not now, but in any case he could be helpful"

"Then they are friendless. We can move without any fear of reprisal." Gaunt allowed a small smile. These Appellants had crumbled like the walls of Jericho, when it came down to it. Pitiful.

Stafford entered the domicile and bowed. "You summomed me, lord?" he began

"I did." Lancaster acknowledged with a brisk nod. "I know that your brother, the Earl, is betrothed to my niece - Woodstock's daughter. Do you think he would openly support Gloucester, if it came down to it?" Gloucester had few enough allies as it was, but discouraging them from him was still necessary.

[Oznerol]

"Then they are friendless. We can move without any fear of reprisal." Gaunt allowed a small smile. These Appellants had crumbled like the walls of Jericho, when it came down to it. Pitiful.

"I'm afraid that my brother the king will have finished the job even before we reach the outskirts of London. Woodstock could already be rotting on the Tower"

Said Holland with a short laugh.

"Indeed. Father, we have no time to lose then, maybe my brother of Derby has already heard about our timely arrival"

[Pontifex Maximus]

Roger moved a greasy lock of brown hair put of his eyes and his jaw gaped as he considered the question. "My brother the Earl has been granted titles, and the betrothal means much to him and my family, but the girl is a mere child and will be for some time. I think it is uncertain if he will bestir himself."

[Pontifex Maximus]

"If it pleases you, I could arrange for my brother to come meet." Roger offered