Colchester, Estates of Anne Bourchier

[Pontifex Maximus]

Arthur Plantagenet, one of the illegitimate sons of King Edward IV, was born in Calais to an unknown mother. Spending his whole life as a bastard at his father's court, it did not stand compared to any other noble son in any significant way. He was taught to read and write, to ride a horse and fight with sword and lance, everything he would need for his manhood to one day earn his own place in the world.

Name: Arthur Plantagenet
Titles:

• Viscount Bourchier (jure uxoris)

Age: (born 1461)
Marital Status: Married to Anne Bourchier (1463)
Children: Elizabeth Plantagenet (1882)
Temperaments:
Choleric
- Ill-tempered (+1 Duels, -1 Battles)
- Impulsive (+5% movement speed, -1 to detection rolls)
Sanguine
- Confident (+1 battle rolls, +1 to rout rolls against this character)
Traits (6 points):
Battles +2
Survival +2
Personal Combat +2

Levy and Household Guard

Naval Forces Men of the Levy Standing Forces

Essex Improvements

1. Colchester - 350. Tier I

Regional Bonus

Essex: Forested: Plentiful woodland in this county provides those who hold estates here with a plentiful supply of timber. -5% on construction costs for those whose primary estate is located here.

[Trot]

It was early winter and snow fell lightly on the ground. The wars had ended and Edward Hastings had fought in two wars. His mother had died and his father nearly so, and it was this that caused Edward to ride for Golchester. Edward needed a wife, and his father felt that the recently widowed Lady Anne would make a good match. He had been in talks with Sir Thomas to ally their houses together for some cause, and the marriage would cement such an alliance. Plus, though Edward did not know this, William hoped the prestige of the marriage could be used to levy his son into a position at the Royal court in London.

So for these reasons Edward road through the snow and the cold to meet the Lady Bourichier

[Pontifex Maximus]

Anne granted the man an audience, despite her unfamiliarity with him. For that reason her confessor, Father Calvin, was present to oversee the meeting. Anne wore a black dress, for she was in mourning for her late husband, a man whom she had truly come to love. Her small daughter, Elizabeth, was also present in a cradle and as such the hearth had been fed with logs. Anne took little solace in the king's decree as of now - the Viscountess Bourchier had tripled her lands.

Hastings was led inside to this somber mood, where the chaperoning priest seemed highly attentive.

[Trot]

Edward bowed deeply to the Lady Anne, "My lady," he says catching the mood of the room. He had very little idea of how to proceed with a woman who had recently lost her husband so he goes with whats safe and simple. "I am sorry for your loss. I fought by your late Husband he was a good man." He pauses looking over at the cradle. And the little girl playing within unsure of how to continue.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Anne was ready to slap such a man, someone who was slavering over her lands as a dowry, recently tripled in size by the king. She was angry, ready to hurt someone, but this man behaved in a way she did not expect. He was cirteous, respectful, even deferential. "You
Fought with mine uncle?" she inquired, still suspicious of hos motives

[Trot]

Edward nods slowly, "I was under the Duke of Gloucester on the left flank." His mind flashed back to the battle. He had been among some of the thickest fighting and much of it was still a blur to Edward. The battle had earned him a knighthood from the king himself it had been a proud moment for him, but he felt it was not the time to that up. "My father is friendly with your Uncle Sir Thomas, but I admit I do not know him well." Edward was still unsure of how to proceed. He himself was reading the room and avoiding offending the woman. He wanted to say this had been his fathers idea he himself was not so comfortable with pursuing a widower. So soon after the death of her Husband.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Well at least you are a man of courage, much like Arthur."her eyes filled with tears as she dabbed them beneath her black veil "I did not love him when first we wed, but our love grew steadily from first a respect and then a fondness. Oh, will I ever live again?" drying her eyes, she finally stood stood uneasily, calling for some watered down wine. "Tell me of the battle." she said

[Trot]

Edward pauses thoughtfully his mind jumping back to the battle. He paused considering how he would describe it, the stories he had heard had always made war seem honorable and glorious, but he had found very little honor and glory in the battle they fought. "It was hot," he said finally, blood was hot and the sweat dripped down his eyes under his armored helm. "I was on the left flank where the enemy was holding a position across the river, we were trying to storm the bridge while canons fired and crossbows reigned on us, and only a few men could reach the front at any given time." He paused again remembering how could he covey the feeling a battle brought on? It was terrifying never knowing whether your next moment would be your last but, the world was also sharper and clearer like all your senses were enhanced.

"Lord Gloucester realized we wouldn't be able to break through the bridge and dispatched myself and some other companies to go upriver and find a place to ford where the enemy was weak. And so we did." His heart was pounding with the fall of his horses hooves he swung his sword cleaving through the neck of a archer who might have been a year or two older then himself. "We then came around on the other side of the river behind the enemies flank. They panicked and ran." Men trampled each other trying to escape they ran and they fell his sword cleaving through them as they ran. Blood spurted from wounds and the screams of the dying filled his ears. "The enemy sent cavalry to try and stop the rout and rally the fleeing men, but it was two late, Lord Gloucester had led enough men across the bridge to establish a foot head, and soon the fighting on our side was done and Lancaster was in retreat." He paused wondering what more there was to say. He had made it seem so lifeless, but he knew not how to properly convey, just what happened during a battle. The fear and the joy the feeling of life that nothing else truly matched. "I know only second and third hand reports of what happened on the other flanks," he says finally. "There was little news coming to me throughout the battle." And afterwards men talked little of the fighting. They danced, they sang, they drank, they gambled, and they ed, they celebrated another day of being alive.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Anne sat, partially with sudden fatigue, partially from horror. "So it was there in similar circumstances that my Arthur fell, pierced by the bolts of foreign mercenaries. While I sat here, learning to play the harp and attending my daughter. How truly trivial it sometimes felt to be a woman in this world dominated by men. But Anne was unlike many other women in the Realm, she was all too aware that her marriage would bring land and wealth to her new husband, and she had a mind to be as picky as she might, regardless of the interference of her uncles. After all, if the King and Queen could marry for love why not she? Edward was not together unattractive, and he was nearer her age. He wasn't some fat lord. "I thank you for your visit, Sir." She said at last. "Perhaps I will see you at the feast in London" She said in such a way the clearly intended she would like to talk to Edward again

[Trot]

He shakes his head sadly, "A mercenary crossbow or a spear, he deserved better." So many men deserved better than they got on they field. Poets and bards would make his death seem honorable and brave, but Edward had begun to wonder how many poets had actually seen war it did not seem to be a good way for anyone to die. "I suspect I will see you in London my lady when the king calls for a feast the lords of the realm gather."

[Pontifex Maximus]

She tried not to appear too interested. Maybe she wasn't. Maybe she was just being overly emotional, seeking the comfort of a man in this trying time. Arthur's body was not even cold, did it make her a wicked woman to long to replace him in some form? She tried to suppress this swirling tempest of emotion to muster a cordial goodbye. "Until we meet next, Sir Edward."

[Trot]

Edward bowed once more. Unsure of what to take from this meeting, "Until next time my lady fare you well." He waits for her dismissal and then turns to depart.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Anne turned towards the large window, away from Edward. Her cheeks were flushed. She knew the priest would be looking on her scornfully. She would have a lot of material for the confessional this week, that much she knew.