The Summit at Halton/The Rebel Army

[Gandalfus]

In the otherwise peaceful and unblemished countryside around the villages of Halton and Runcorn, a large group of armed men gathers. Banners flutter over the horde of tents, the most prominent being those of the Duke of Lancaster, the Duke of York, the Earl of Northumberland, and the Baron Maltravers. Certainly, more will come to add their banners to this visible protest of armed strength, located right in the heart of the King's base of power and support in Cheshire.

Armed Strength

Lancaster's Contingent 42 Knights 1380 Yeomen Archers 2060 Yeomen Foot 560 Men-At-Arms 300 Mounted Archers 855 Levy Archers 285 Levy Footmen Total: 5482 men York's Contingent 74 Knights 3000 Yeoman Archers 3000 Yeoman Foot 1500 Man-At-Arms Total: 7574 Men Percy's Contingent 40 Men-At-Arms 10 Hobelars 150 Yeomen Archers 100 Yeomen Foot Total: 300 men Maltravers Contingent 3 Knights 10 Men-At-Arms 30 Hobelars 40 Mounted Archers Total: 83 Neville Contingent 10 knights 180 men at arms 360 Yeomen foot. 460 Yeomen Archers Total: 1010 Buckingham Contingent 2 knight 40 men-at-arms 40 yeomen archers 160 yeomen footmen Total: 202 Neville of Hallamshire Contingent 2 Knights 120 Yeomen Archers 40 Yeomen Foot 40 Men-At-Arms Total men: 202 Beaumont Contingent 2 Knights (pc) 20 men-at-arms 100 Yeomen Archers 160 Yeomen Foot Total men: 282 Devon's Contingent 40 Knights 180 Mounted Archers 250 Men at Arms 20 Hobelars 940 Yeoman Archers 600 Yeoman Foot Total men: 2030

[General Brewster]

The Duke of York awaited in the command tent, holding a piece of scroll in his left hand, a cup of wine in the right one.
He had just ordered an other 5000 thousand professional soldiers to be equipped, he had already provided the bulk of this army which would now only grow...

[Lucius Malfoy]

Among the arriving hosts and nobility came Sir Henry Beaufort from his manors in Bedfordshire. He came alone, due to his small income which the Beaufort felt wouldn't give him much to contribute to the cause.

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Humphrey's host (eventually) arrives with two hundred men in tow. (ETA 9 hours)

2 knight
40 men-at-arms
40 yeomen archers
160 yeomen footmen

[The Mad Skylord]

Arriving with great pomp and style was Mounted Maltravers' Mounties. The Baron led 80 mounted troops to the campaign against the King. He was quiet and serious - unusual for him - for this was a moment 10 years in the making. For a decade, Maltravers had plotted the downfall of the King, first by convincing Bolingbroke tp curb his power, and then by joining Bolingbroke's faction to depose him.

It was exciting - for soon Richard FitzAlan would be avenged and his heir would be restored to his rightful inheritance.

[Oznerol]

The king arrives with a hundred men, yeomen of Chester. The royal arms wavering above his head, the king wears a splendid golden robe and a jewelled crown with a dozen lillies atop his curly head.

[Gandalfus]

Lancaster waited to greet him, the same number of retainers gathered around him in the centre of the village. Lancaster's own banner fluttered in the breeze above him, joined by the respective devices of those who had accompanied him. All of them were gathered there, out in the open, the discontented peers of the realm. The rest of the soldiers were gathered in an encampment only a short distance north, visible from the village itself, near the bank of the river Mersey and the crossing into Lancashire.

"Majesty." Greeted Henry, first among them to do so, with a courteous bow to the mounted figure. "I must express my gratitude at your presence." The alternative would have been open rebellion. At least here, they could operate under the illusion they were working towards some higher purpose.

[Oznerol]

Richard grunted and placed both hands on the saddle's pommel. A yeoman held the reins, wearing the livery. The king's gaze wandered around, looking at the heraldic devices. They would be dealt with in due time, maybe when he had a set of counter-appellants to forbid their actions.

"And what do you exactly want, Lord Lancaster?"

Said the king. His men wore the white hart badge and were armed as expected from the royal yeomen.

"We were spending summer in our place of Langley"

He was annoyed by the petty grievances of these lords; the realm thrived under the king's peace, but their bravados never dulled.

"Only answered the summon out of our duty as your overlord and sovereign"

[General Brewster]

York stood next to Lancaster, not being out shined with the man.

"Your Grace." He sneered. He wasn't too fond of the king since their incident. He remained silent for Henry to take the word, York would probably gut the king if he got the chance.

[Gandalfus]

"It is this duty that concerns us, lord." Answered Bolingbroke, hands upon his hips. "These duties to me appear to remain unfulfilled, and to the rest gathered here. What we exactly want... Is accountability."

Typical. Richard had been lazing away in Langley. And yet he still did not understand. "Are our rights nothing to thee, lord? We are not slaves or serfs, bound to the land, but free men, magnates, of blood noble and royal. But we are not treated as such."

[Oznerol]

"It is this duty that concerns us, lord." Answered Bolingbroke, hands upon his hips. "These duties to me appear to remain unfulfilled, and to the rest gathered here. What we exactly want... Is accountability."

Typical. Richard had been lazing away in Langley. And yet he still did not understand. "Are our rights nothing to thee, lord? We are not slaves or serfs, bound to the land, but free men, magnates, of blood noble and royal. But we are not treated as such."

"Do you see the justice unattended? The charters forgotten? Trade disrupted? No"

Said Richard.

"The Treasury is brimming with coin, trade flows smoothly, no war ravages our kingdom, Gascony remains under our control"

He leaned back on the saddle.

"No duty remains unfullfilled"

[Mary The Quene]

Arriving a bit later than other peers was Neville, Earl of Westmorland. He led a host of 600 soldiers and more were to be recruited. Sure Westmorland had been once a loyal supporter of the king in the past but after the recent incident with the king and his marital alliance through his wife Joan Beaufort he decided to change allegiance. It was time to make the king pay for his threats.

Neville Host

6 Knights Sir John stallhope Sir Edward Leyton Sir John Bellingham Sir Henry Hayton Sir Lionel Herdford. Sir Peter Ledford 100 Men-At-Arms 300 Yeomen Archers 200 Yeomen Foot

[Lucius Malfoy]

The Earl of Northumberland bows to the King, greeting him appropriately. Harry Percy stood on the other side of Lord Lancaster, opposite of York, listening quietly to the exchange between Lancaster. and Liege.

[The Mad Skylord]

Maltravers was the exception. There was no bow, no soft words of reassuring fealty. There was but a cold nod, as the cold grey eyes seemed to burn into the King's own with promised malice. The lithe, lean and muscular body sat poised, graceful and elegant upon his palfrey. His body language made clear what he wanted, but he said nothing and made no move. He had muscled his way forwards, being the nearest to the King after Lancaster - perhaps to show that despite being a mere Baron, he was one of thethe initial Ringleaders of this faction.

[Gandalfus]

"Unfortunately that is nothing to do with yourself, I daresay." Retorted Henry. "No council, nay, no Parliament has been called in the last decade. France is weak and yet we pursue peace. It seems as if only Your Majesty has a say on anything that happens within this England. And that is to say nothing of the assault upon Lord York some years ago, when our cousin wished to take some part in the running of the realm. Will this continue? We wish to know if we will be effectively excluded to the point where Your Majesty needs not vassals, but unquestioning subjects."

Lancaster grimaced. Undoubtedly, the competence of Kent and Gaunt had seen the realm well managed, while Richard was able to laze around in his palaces.

[General Brewster]

York tensioned up as he thought of that assault. His hand firmly on the pommel of his great sword.

[Oznerol]

"Simply, I had no need of it. The crown can deal with all the agents involved in ruling this realm, without summoning the Parliament. I do not lack the need of great men, but..."

Said Richard with a smirk.

"Alas, you sourround yourselves with vagrants, Lord Lancaster, while old Gaunt was companion of kings and princes"

He tilted his head.

"Maybe these so-called peers could work in the latrines, but they are ill-suited for ruling a realm. I could trust my uncle Gaunt's son, but these men are of a lesser mettle"

He played with his ring.

"What do you want? Some grants? Some customs removed? Some privileges? Some tracts of land? I thought you had enough lands to call your own, cousin Hereford. FitzAlan's cousins are well-married, beyond their station, and the sons have long profesed the wish to wear the robes of holy men, to atone for their father's sins; I have been merciful and the tonsure suits them well. York's brother is now an earl, and well-married- with an heiress, thanks to our doing"

The king looked at his nails, while the grim yeoman held the reins.

"A Parliament could be summoned, indeed, to address minor issues of late. But, If you solely want power, without caring about the realm's wellfare whatsoever, well, I cannot help you"

[Gandalfus]

"So, you came here to insult me and my companions. It is good to know that you think so little of your vassals. Perhaps that is why we are discontented?" Henry gave a wry, thin lipped smile.

"I would free my tongue but for our shared blood and your sovereignty, majesty. Certainly, your generosity and mercy is boundless." Continued Henry, in a barbed tone. So ironic, that Richard extolled his virtues to all those he'd wronged, whose fathers and cousins he'd ordered dead.

[Oznerol]

"I do not see a list of demands, just platitudes, vague commentaries"

Said Richard.

"You do not have lawyers? Clerks? Where is a list of complains?"

He rolled his eyes.

"You want to be taken into consideration! Of course you do, who does not want a share of the cake?"

Or is the cake a lie?

"Tell me. I am listening. What do you want exactly, point by point"

[Gandalfus]

"No, you are not listening." Bolingbroke said, coldly, slowly, placing hands upon hips. Like a parent or tutor would scold a child.

"You dismiss our concerns as platitudes. Vague commentaries. I have made quite clear that we desire change at the very heart of England." He raised a finger then, and pointed vaguely at the King's chest. "And that begins with you. As you consider yourself this land's heart, God's viceroy on earth, above mere men like ourselves that dare to complain when disregarded and cast aside." The finger fell, and the Duke of Lancaster folded his arms across his chest once more.

"I believe you know what we want. There will be change, whether by choice or by the enforcement of the law of this land."

[The Mad Skylord]

Finally a voice rose that was neither King nor Lancaster. Maltravers' voice was an odd combination of sardonic and droll. It cut through the air like a whip. "You know our complaints as well as we do. You rule like a tyrant from Shene and Westminter, allowing your dogs to run the Kingdom ineptly so you may laze until you feel like quashing one of the nobles beneath your feet. You, Your Grace, care more for the contents of Robert de Vere's breeches than the well being of this Kingdom.

We will accept no more humiliation and injustice from you, a man who believes himself to be a despot. You have wronged every man among us, my own house worst of all. You are not fit to be a king."

Maltravers' lips curled up into a sneer. "Sodomite."