March of the Appellants

[The Mad Skylord]

MODERATOR EYES ONLY - Dorset

Arundel's Main Army - Stationed in Bridport, Dorset. Scouts are deployed to the regions North of Dorchester to act as lookouts for approaching Royal troops. 150 Hobelars + 100 Yeoman Foot raid Dorchester - they allow word of a rebel force in Dorset to reach the King When raiding has concluded, they will retreat to Bridport. The rebel army will attempt to DISGUISE their size by using less tents and campfires, to create the impression of a camp of 1'000 - 1'500 men.

MODERATOR EYES ONLY - Lewes

90 Levy Longbowmen + 30 Levy Foot raid Lewes. They allow news of their attack to reach John of Gaunt. The small rebel contingent attempts to INFLATE their size by setting up more tents and campfires than they need and by concentrating their men towards the edges of the camp - they hope to make themselves look like 500-750 men.

[Gandalfus]

Arundel's men fall upon Dorchester, though he finds that the local garrison has long since evacuated the town to the local fortified castle. He may attempt to siege it, though word has reached the loyalists of the attempted attack.

--

The peasants of Lewes muster a defence, reporting Arundel's banners to the local keep. 12% of his forces die in the clash, though they manage to loot £24 worth of valuables.

[The Mad Skylord]

In the early hours of the morning, the army of the Earl of Arundel arrives to Kenilworth Castle, primary seat of the Duke of Lancaster. Arundel's well trained troops act quickly, encircling the castle and quickly constructing mantlets.

Once the Mantlets are up, the Yeoman archers take cover behind them and begin firing at the defenders of the castle.

((1140 Yeoman archers begin to take pot shots at the defenders. I'd like to roll for casualties caused by this while ladders are constructed.))

Meanwhile the rest of the army quickly sets about building ladders in preparation for an assault.

[Dirty Chai]

Despite there being over a thousand archers, in the coming days they only manage to kill a few men - the Sussex-born archers think 3 men were hit, but they cannot be sure from beyond ramparts and a great lake of a moat. Not an efficient use of arrows, though.

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The King and Gaunt respectively receive reports of violence and despoiling in Dorset at Dorchester and Sussex at Lewes respectively.

In 12 hours from when they arrived, "most" (including those above) of England will know about the army being at Kenilworth. ETA: 4 AM PST (UTC -8)

[Jokern]

D100 roll to see how many fishing boats he gets, and each can carry 5 men.

D20 roll for chance of the peasants rising up with a host of 500 men (200 Levy Foot, 300 Levy Archers), with a 15/20 chance of rebellion (if he wants the boats, he has to fight for them), along with word spreading fast of Arundel's position to all royal armies.

Roll 1: 49

Roll 2: 6

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The Earl's men are able to get their hands on 49 boats, which in total can carry 245 men down the Thames. However, the peasants are revolting! A force of 500 men grab pitchforks, axes and hammers to drive off Arundel's host from stealing their property. They also send word to the Royal Army who will know about this in 1 hour. Arundel can either keep the boats or leave them behind, but if he wants his fleet he must fight for them.

[The Mad Skylord]

24 Knights
240 Men at Arms
160 Hobelars
1140 Yeoman Longbowmen
820 Yeoman Foot
2'360 men

Orders

Left Flank: 240 Men at Arms 273 Yeoman Foot 380 Yeoman Longbowmen 8 Knights Centre: 274 Yeoman Foot 380 Yeoman Longbowmen 8 Knights Commander: Richard FitzAlan +5 Battles +3 Wealth +1 Non-Battle Death Rolls -1 Post-Battle Death Rolls -1 AI Reaction Rolls +1 Rout Rolls Right Flank: 273 Yeoman Foot 380 Yeoman Longbowmen 160 Hobelars Orders: 1) The Infantry shall form shieldwall to protect themselves from the peasants. 2) The Longbowmen will begin firing massed volleys into the ranks of the peasants. 3) The Cavalry on both flanks will go around the enemy infantry and attack the enemy archers. 4) The infantry will then charge the enemy infantry.

[Jokern]

The battle is over fairly quickly as the peasants are swept off the field by Arundel's superior troops. Half of the peasants that took up arms lie dead or dying, while those who survived have fled to safety in London to warn the citizens of the capital of the army close by. While Arundel's infantry suffered few losses thanks to their greater armor and training, his mounted men-at-arms and hobelars suffered quite a few casualties when they flanked and attacked the enemy archers, the peasants fighting with with a surprising amount of zeal and fury.

Arundel's forces:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

23 Knights
170 Men-at-Arms
114 Hobelars
1,094 Yeoman Longbowmen
770 Yeoman Foot

2,171 men

[Lucius Malfoy]

Battle of Arundel Castle
2,171 Arundel Rebels vs. 4,401 Royalist Troops

The defensive formations ordered by the Lord Arundel seemed like a sound idea at first, yet the Royal Center managed to smash through with overwhelming numbers. All across the battlefield, the Earl Arundel would notice that the Royalist Army was not at all taking precautions, but throwing themselves left and right, ensuring a single Royal soldier was cut down after five of his own went down. The loss of Arundel's men was quick and rapid, so much so that his reserve barely had a chance to prepare for Holland's oncoming center flank that smashed into the Reserve, where Arundel was located. Arundel managed to escape the Royal infantry, but before long, the rebel is surrounded by cavalry. Spears would be pointed at him as a sign that everything was over.

Yet despite the overwhelming odds and momentum, the Royal Army is still dealt a great deal of damage by Arundel's disciplined formations before they manage to break apart.

The Royal Army carried out the day with scores of losses thrown onto the enemy's formation. Tired and weary, Arundel's men fled in all directions, while others simply fell to the tide of opposing soldiers.

Post Battle Results
1,628 Arundel Rebels (25% Cap)
3,740 Royalist Troops remaining (15% Cap)

Post Battle Rolls
Richard FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel (-1 to post-death rolls) - 8, captured

John Holland, Earl of Huntingdon (+2 Survival) - 17, Free
Henry Bolingbroke, Earl of Hereford and Northampton (+1 Survival) - 8, Captured, but free due to victory
Thomas Mowbray, Earl of Nottingham (+7 Survival) - 16, Free

[Gandalfus]

Bolingbroke fought on the front-lines of the right flank, surrounded by his retinue and standard bearer, the flapping banner betraying his location. As the Lancastrian contingent smashed into Arundel's ranks, Bolingbroke found himself momentarily cut off from his soldiers, isolated with a handful of knights enemy lines with no horse to bear him away, his previous mount lost in the chaos. Fortunately, the timely collapse of the centre prevented certain death or capture, for Bolingbroke was about to throw down his blade and yield when Holland's men enveloped Arundel's left, turning a bloody melee into a full blown rout and turning the tide of battle. Aching and covered in sweat and other men's blood, the Earl of Hereford approached the allied nobles and commanders who had converged around their prisoners. Bolingbroke lifted his visor to gaze upon the now defeated Earl of Arundel, emotions hidden behind a worn grimace.

[The Mad Skylord]

Arundel looked passively up at Hereford. His surcoat stained and torn, mail rent and a long graze running from temple to chin - he had discarded his helmet in order to see more readily to command. He spoke calmly and quietly. "Draw your sword, Henry, at least give me that much. Don't force me to die in front of a jeering crowd. Let me die here, with men who were loyal to me, men who fought and died for me."

Arundel knelt calmly in the dust, dignity drawn in every line of his body. Henry of Bolingbroke owed him that at least.

[Gandalfus]

He considered fulfilling the Earl's last request: a quick, clean cut was a much quicker and nobler death than the execution reserved for traitors. Stories were still told of Hugh Despencer, and his gruesome end. That man's entrails were pulled out and burned before his very eyes, or so it was said. After a long and contemplative silence, Bolingbroke simply glanced towards Holland; it was clear he'd defer to Huntingdon on the matter. Doubtless the King would want to deal with one of the chief Appellants himself, and Henry knew better than to get on the wrong side of him a second time.

[Oznerol]

John Holland came, his arms covered in blood and guts up the elbow, the metalic surface gleaming with the spilled blood. He unmounted, a vicious grim on his face, framed by the moustache and the beard.

"Oh, oh, who did we get here? None but the old earl of Arundel"

He pulled Arundel's beard. His fingers were sticky with blood, covering FitzAlan's face with it.

"D-i-d y-o-u t-h-i-n-k y-o-u c-o-u-l-d a-v-o-i-d t-h-i-s?"

With each letter he pulled the earl's beard, shaking his head like a doll.

"Nay, now is the time of pain and punishment"

He placed a finger over Arundel's lips.

"Hush, don't speak"

Holland turned to his retainers.

"The cart! Bring the cart! And undress this man!"

FitzAlan was rudely undressed and given a raw, woolen shirt, that would itch like hell against the naked skin. Then, he was chained to an old cart, his feet and hand in fetters. John Holland oversees the operation with delight.

"Where's the last touch? Ah, give me"

A wooden plank, two feet long, crudely engraved with the words "Dog Apellant", now hangs from Arundel's neck. Huntingdon's retainers clearly enjoyed everything, throwing dirt and feces to the earl.

"Flawless, don't you think?"

His words were greeted by a choir of laughter. John Holland mounted again and he was handed the FitzAlan's banner, that he grabs upside down, so the standard would be dragged through the mud. More banners were tied to the cart and it was pulled by a pair of old mules.

"To London!"

And the royal army started the parade back to the capital.

[The Mad Skylord]

Arundel cast one last sad look at Bolingbroke, before hawking up phlegm and spitting in Holland's face. "It'd take a better man than you to humiliate me, Holland. Silence your wretched tongue and get on with it."

[Oznerol]

Holland slapped him with the gauntlet, shredding the earl's skin and covering his cheek in blood.

"Shut your mouth, traitor"

Huntingdon ordered Arundel's mouth to be bandaged. He then gestured to the cart's rider.

"To London with him!"