Gathering of the Lords Appellant

[Lucius Malfoy]

With secret communications established between a number of lords, concerning the actions of the Queen Regent, a number of forces convene upon Worcester Castle to prepare for their march south. In total, many came under various banners and nobles in an effort to free the King from the grips of his mother and return England, once more, to proper balance. All those invited gather outside of Worcester Castle, the present seat of the Duke of Clarence.

Commanders

George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence +3 Battles, +2 Survival, +3 Personal Combat, -1 Charisma and +1 to rout roll Richard Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester +4 Battles, +2 Personal Combat, +2 Survival John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk +3 Battles, +1 Survival, +2 Duel, +2 Charisma, +1 detection rolls, +1 to rout rolls against this character Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland +3 Battle, +2 Survival, +1 Logistican (+5% movement speed), +1 Personal Combat, -2 Charisma, -1 detection roll William Hastings, Earl of Northampton +3 Battles +2 Personal Combat +1 Survival -5% Movement Speed -2 Charisma +1 Detection Roll William Berkeley, Viscount Berkeley +2 Battle, +1 Personal Combat John Sherwood, Bishop of Durham +5 Battles, +2 Survival, +1 Rout John Holland, Marquess of Dorset +3 Battles, +2 Charisma, +2 Survival, +1 Rout John Neville, Marquess of Montagu +3 Survival, +1 Personal Combat, +0 Battle, -2 Charisma, -5% movement speed, +1 detection roll Edward Hastings +3 Charisma +2 battles +1 Personal combat +1 route rolls Sir Thomas Bourchier +1 Survival Sir Francis Web +5 Battle, +3 Survival Sir Richard Hastings

Forces

Total: 6302 men and 3 cannons Composition 3 Cannons 570 Men-at-Arms 50 Hobelars 370 mounted archers 2,200 Yeomen Archers 2,673 Yeomen Footmen 239 Militia Footmen

(Please post your force composition and character with traits)

[Gandalfus]

Sir John Holland:
250 Yeomen Archers
150 Yeomen Footmen
25 Men-At-Arms

Total: 425 men

[Pontifex Maximus]

Bourchier Forces

Sir Thomas Bourchier - +1 survival

200 Yeoman Archers
73 Yeoman Footman

Durham Forces

Bishop John Sherwood: +5 battles +1 Rout Rolls +2 Survival

1 Cannon
39 Militia Footmen

[Trot]

Hastings Force

Commanders

William Hastings
+3 Battles +2 Personal Combat +1 Survival -5% Movement Speed -2 Charisma +1 Detection Rolls

Edward Hastings
+3 Charisma +2 battles +1 Personal combat +1 route rolls

Richard Hastings Lord Clarence's Squire

Forces
200 Miltia Footmen
100 Yoeman Archers
50 Hobelars
45 Men At Arms

Total 385 men

[Barry Goldwater]

Gloucester will bring:

150 M@A
170 mounted archers
850 yeoman foot
550 yeoman archers
1 cannon

For a total of 1,720 men and 1 cannon.

[Lucius Malfoy]

As the lords gathered before Worcester Castle, Lord Clarence comes forth from its walls to join the growing encampment. He had given his goodbyes to his wife, Lady Howard, and to his children, Margaret, Roger and, his bastard, Edmund. A great host had gathered, ten times the size it was when Clarence and his brother, Lord Gloucester, attempted to hold London. He exhales deeply, the King needed the lords of the realm more than ever if he was to be liberated from the Queen Regent. He rides into camp, heading to the main camp where the lords had been instructed to meet.

George enters the tent, dressed in a full suit of armor, his livery decorating the metal upon his person. His eyes noticed many persons; Percy, Neville, Hasting, Durham, Holland and Gloucester. He stands within vicinity of those who answered the call.

My lords, it is time we right the wrongs being done to this realm! The Queen seeks the destruction of the nobility and to rule over that of her son, the rightful King of England. He lives in fear, under her seditious shadow. We are not here to remove anyone but the Queen Regent and her cohorts. To ensure my nephew, His Majesty, is removed from her grip. And to reverse all the destruction upon our realm!

He moves forward, looking at Gloucester for a moment. Then turns his gaze to those gathered.

Do any of you have objections to the purpose of this march? To the legitimacy of our cause? Speak now or forever hold your peace.

[Gandalfus]

"Who will govern in her stead, then?"

Called out Holland, a little uneasy. He'd only joined such a gathering to stand at the side of his brother-in-law, who had evidently lied his way out of being flayed alive by the brothers York for supporting the Lancastrians.

[Trot]

"Lords Clarence and Gloucester as the Kings will and the Lords of the privy council decided before the Queen usurped the regency and proceeded to spit on the Lords of the realm." Hastings says grimly. It was a dark business this. He had hoped it would not get this far and that peaceful resolutions would be found.

A short distance behind him Edward Hastings stood. The young man looked a little nervous as he studied the great peers of the realm.

Behind Lord Clarence the Young squire Richard Hastings stood. Silently he glanced at his father when he spoke. It would be the first time he had seen the man in several years.

[Gandalfus]

"But the King appointed his mother regent."

Responded Holland, apparently for the sake of argument.

"He could simply do so again, could he not? What will be her fate?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

"The block with her!" Thomas Bourchier spoke up "The Queen murdered my brother. She has led the Realm into anarchy by exercising precocious influences over the King. How many have been imprisoned besides my brother, how many have been killed to slake the bloodlust of the murderous woman? She must pay for her multitude of crimes and trespasses to our laws with her life!"

[Gandalfus]

John Holland gave a grimace, remaining silent. Aumale had been executed at the Tower, or so he'd heard, the orders likely carried out by his father as Constable. Bourchier's brother understandably advocated an 'eye for an eye', but the thought of executing a woman; the anointed Queen and mother of the King, no less, gave him some disquiet. She'd ironically be following in the footsteps of Margaret of Anjou, the only Queen to be executed... But she was Lancaster's mother, and a proven traitor.

"You'd execute the King's mother?"

He gawped, voicing his innermost thoughts to those present.

----

A herald arrives bearing a message from the King for the Lords Clarence and Gloucester:

Uncles of mine,

We wish to know why the arrest of the traitor Percy has required so many lords of the realm to take up arms -and converge upon a location so far from where the traitor makes his home. We demand an explanation for this mustering, for though We are sure that thou are not treasonous, it sits with Us ill that you should gather such a force when the appointed task is already fulfilled. Thou shalt either provide an explanation or immediately disband and be welcomed back into Our grace.

Given at Leeds Castle

Signed with the King's own hand.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Aye" Thomas replied "The wench murdered my brother. She's no Queen of mine. Who knows what other unholy things she's been getting up to. It is most unnatural the level of control exercises over her son, and when has she actually conferred with council of regents she established? She's done nothing but imprison and kill them. She seeks the crown for herself I say!"

[Barry Goldwater]

"I would suggest a nunnery for my and Clarence's dear sister-in-law." The Duke of Gloucester, who had only recently arrived, coldly. "But perhaps the King would take offense to that, even if less so than if we simply decide to relieve her of her head. At a minimum, regardless, we must send her and any of her lackeys that survive this storm as far away from the capital as possible. Grafton, the Marches, Aquitaine..."

"More importantly and immediately, I think we should take steps to neutralize as many of Woodville's lickspittles as we can before they can join their forces together. Tankerville, Ruthyn - Kent now, I suppose - and Monmouth all backed her last time, and their seats are all a stone's throw away from here in Wales." In Gloucester's practical mind, they should focus on eliminating the Woodville faction, then debate about the future. "Between us all, I estimate we have some four thousand men. Why not divide into two armies of two thousand each, one for White Castle and the other to Powis and Ruthyn Castles? We can place Woodville's Welsh lapdogs in chains before they raise and move their armies, then regroup at Worcester. It would not defeat her, but it would weaken her for the fight to come."

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Bishop of Durham thought the prospect of a nunnery more fitting as well, but for now he kept silent about it. There was a fight to win first. "Aye, let us cut her off from her friends and then move to London. She may even come to her senses and not put up a fight when she realizes the game is up."

[Trot]

"We must cut the queen off from any support she could hope to receive." Hastings begins agreeing to the suggestion. "But it will leave many of our own keeps open to retaliation if the queen learns of it and rallies her remaining supporters." Hastings own sons were all present at this meeting and his eldest daughter was in Mowbary's keep, but he didn't envy the prospect of his wife and younger daughter in the queens hands if it came to that.

[Lucius Malfoy]

In order to not upset my nephew, we will send her to a nunnery. Her rights and privileges revoked, her family displaced. If the Woodvilles lose their right to nobility, surely those married to them will cast their spouses aside and, thus, the power of the Queen Regent will be broken. However, if worst comes to comes, she will be arrested and detained in the Tower. The last will of my brother will be reinstated in terms of the regency.

Clarence had planned to be heavy-handed upon the Woodvilles. To ensure they lost everything, in terms of links to power, title and land. Especially Lord Salisbury, whose lands Clarence had a claim up through his son, John.

The King has sent a letter from Leeds Castle, demanding who the presence of such a great host. He demands an exclamation... I believe our response will be a manifesto of our grievances. In which will be a rally call for all those who suffer under the rule of Lady Woodville! For I know many do suffer, and with the execution of my Lord Bourchier, the incarceration of my Lord Buckingham and my own son, John, will certainly light the fires of those angry and distrustful of the Queen Regent.

As for the plan suggested by his brother, Clarence nods.

If we are to march upon London without opposition, especially without these three men behind us, then the Queen's regency will begin to sway even more. Perhaps we can even persuade others to join the cause.

In terms of those who occupied these lands, Ruthyn Castle was just northwest of Worcester Castle. Powis was just due East while Monmouth was southeast. Powis and Monmouth were situated next to one another while Ruthyn was isolated. Once these three were in chains, then the Queen's support would have tanked slightly, while preserving the numbers of the Lords Appellant.

Lord Gloucester will take half our men to Ruthyn. I will move south towards Monmouth. Then, let us convene upon Powis. Agreed, everyone?

[Barry Goldwater]

"I agree. Let us depart as soon as we can." Gloucester said simply, nodding. "All that remains is to decide which of the noble lords with us goes with each army, brother. My lords, your thoughts?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

"I shall go with Clarence." THomas Bourchier said

"And I with Gloucester." John Sherwood replied

[Lucius Malfoy]

Clarence Force

Total: 2051 men and 1 cannon 1 Cannon 185 Men-at-Arms 25 Hobelars 85 Mounted Archers 750 Yeomen Archers 886 Yeomen Footmen 120 Militia Footmen

Gloucester Force

Total: 2051 men and 1 cannon 1 Cannon 185 Men-at-Arms 25 Hobelars 85 Mounted Archers 750 Yeomen Archers 887 Yeomen Footmen 119 Militia Footmen

​I would say the lords will choose who they desire to go with. We must make haste!

Henry Percy goes with Lord Gloucester while John Neville moves to join up with Lord Clarence.

[Trot]

Hastings nods at the suggestions and prepares to ride with Clarence host.

His son Edward asks Lord Gloucester if he could ride with his host.

Richard of course accompanies Clarence.