>Cavalier - You are a servant of His Majesty Charles I, King of England, Scotland and Ireland, by the grace of god.
IN THE NAME OF KING AND COUNTRY, LET US PUT AN END TO THIS PROTESTANT BLASPHEMY.

>>5387684
>Cavalier - You are a servant of His Majesty Charles I, King of England, Scotland and Ireland, by the grace of god. The upstarts in Parliament are rebels, and nothing more - traitors, who would invite the Presbyterian Scots into England and tear down the rightful rulers of the land - the king and his nobles. They must be put down - and besides, Puritanism is a miserable way to live when there is all the glory and beauty of court to be had.

FOR GOD AND KING

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>>5387689
>>5387694

>>You are Sir Edward Cormont, a knight and loyal cavalier.

You are, of course, a loyal man of the rightful king. You're a country knight, with estates worth a few hundred pounds a year - not enough to pay your way among the nobility, but enough to keep you well away from the unwashed masses of vagabonds and filth. You've served the king loyally for many years, and have experience of modern warfare from your time fighting during the religious wars on the continent - rare experience for an Englishman of your age.

Along with the King's message, you've received a comission of array - a document giving you the right to raise troops and command them as a Captain of...

>Foot. You are a commander of infantry - pikemen and musketeers, the backbone of any army, and the men who fight the hardest.
>Horse. Of course, a knight such as yourself, to slog around in the mud on foot would be beneath you - you will command a troupe of cavalry, upon whom battles often fall.

>>5387684
>Roundhead - You're a committed Parliamentarian, a firm believer that this ancient assembly is the only way to guard the liberties of Englishmen. You believe in a true church to worship God and destroy Catholic papistry at every turn, and you believe the King has over-stepped his rights and repressed his English subjects.

The smoothest helms hold the smoothest brains, this is a good thing; for only the smallest minds are too small to doubt God.

>>5387711
>>Foot. You are a commander of infantry - pikemen and musketeers, the backbone of any army, and the men who fight the hardest.

>>5387711
Fuck...going quick I see, QM.

>Horse. Of course, a knight such as yourself, to slog around in the mud on foot would be beneath you - you will command a troupe of cavalry, upon whom battles often fall.

Maybe we can avoid the fuck ups where we get so elated we chase after the enemy horse for a fucking billion years (legend has it they are still chasing those horses to this very day) instead of turning to attack the rest of the army.

>>5387711
>Horse. Of course, a knight such as yourself, to slog around in the mud on foot would be beneath you - you will command a troupe of cavalry, upon whom battles often fall.

Horsie:)

>>5387711
>>Horse. Of course, a knight such as yourself, to slog around in the mud on foot would be beneath you - you will command a troupe of cavalry, upon whom battles often fall.

>Horse. Of course, a knight such as yourself, to slog around in the mud on foot would be beneath you - you will command a troupe of cavalry, upon whom battles often fall.
FOOTSLOGGING IS FOR PLEBEIANS.

>>5387711
>Foot. You are a commander of infantry - pikemen and musketeers, the backbone of any army, and the men who fight the hardest. You had fought with the Lion at Breitenfeldt and knew firsthand what a well drilled and disciplined firing line could accomplish in the heat of battle.

>>5387711

>Horse. Of course, a knight such as yourself, to slog around in the mud on foot would be beneath you - you will command a troupe of cavalry, upon whom battles often fall.

Be Brave, Fear God, Honour the King!

>>5387711
>Foot. You are a commander of infantry - pikemen and musketeers, the backbone of any army, and the men who fight the hardest.

>>5387711
>>Horse. Of course, a knight such as yourself, to slog around in the mud on foot would be beneath you - you will command a troupe of cavalry, upon whom battles often fall.

FOR THE KING!

>>5387711
>>Foot. You are a commander of infantry - pikemen and musketeers, the backbone of any army, and the men who fight the hardest.

>>5387711
>Foot. You are a commander of infantry - pikemen and musketeers, the backbone of any army, and the men who fight the hardest.

>>5387684
I'm a Roundhead
Fuck the King!

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>>5387719
>>5387724
>>5387727
>>5387728
>>5387789
>>5387799

Why, you're a cavalryman, of course! A man of your birth and bearing would be ill-suited to the grim, muddy push-of-pike. War is won, as any fool could tell you, by the cavalry - screening the advance and retreat, breaking infantry and musketeers in the charge, and most of all duelling with the opposite horse to win control of the field.

You are, then, the typical cavalier - in years to come your figure will be in printed pamphlets - tall, with long golden hair, dashing moustache, pistol and sword raised upon a rearing charger - cry God! England and St. George!

In the meantime, though, you are confronted by your situation. Good horses are expensive, good horsemen all the moreso, and you have no force at your back to speak of. You sit at your manor in Lyton, on the north coast of Devonshire, shielded by the open expanse of the Exmoor to the south. The King and his main force will be up in Nottingham, Parliament at London. Many of your neighbours are Parliamentary dogs - the towns of Devonshire are stuff-full of puritans. You will find little support here, though not none - and over the border in Cornwall the people are far more loyal to their king.

>What do you do?
>Keep quiet - call up your clients, extended family, tenants - buy weapons, horses, armour, and secure the local area - the hundred of Braunton.
>Call up whoever you can on short notice- raise a banner for any loyal royalist in Devon, stay as long as you dare, and bolt for Cornwall - where recruiting will be easier.

>>5387844
>Keep quiet - call up your clients, extended family, tenants - buy weapons, horses, armour, and secure the local area - the hundred of Braunton.

>Call up whoever you can on short notice- raise a banner for any loyal royalist in Devon, stay as long as you dare, and bolt for Cornwall - where recruiting will be easier.
THOUGH THEY MAY BE TERRIBLY INBRED, THE CORNISH KNOW THEIR PLACE.

>>5387844
>Keep quiet - call up your clients, extended family, tenants - buy weapons, horses, armour, and secure the local area - the hundred of Braunton.

>>5387844
>>Keep quiet - call up your clients, extended family, tenants - buy weapons, horses, armour, and secure the local area - the hundred of Braunton.

>>5387844
>Keep quiet - call up your clients, extended family, tenants - buy weapons, horses, armour, and secure the local area - the hundred of Braunton.

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>>5387874
>>5387885
>>5387873
>>5387857
You may not be able to remain in Devon forever, or you may, but if you are to be of use anywhere you'd be wise to gather all of your resources to you before letting them fall into the hands of others. The gentlemen of neighbouring hundreds that know you at all know you as a royalist - you are only little known in Barnstaple and the other local towns. It is likely that word of your side will break out before long, but without confidence it is unlikely that Parliamentary forces will come for you too soon - at least you hope so. Autumn and winter are coming on, too - you have time.

And so you ride around your tenants, cousins, clients - you send letters as fast as your hand allows, you begin to put together a force of men. There are no veterans to be had - mercenaries are off in Bavaria or Holland, and few Englishmen know how to fight. The country has seen no warfare in decades - since the Northern rebellion eighty years past - castles are in ruins, walls are broken down - no-one knows what to expect, and few are ready for what comes. You are a boisterous and encouraging presence - a dedicated and heartfelt man, with a booming voice and a ready sword-hand - you drum up support with some ease, though any local parliamentarians are immediately aware of your position.

In October you hear of the battle at Edgehill, where the King and Parliament's commander, damn his name, the Earl of Essex, brought each other to a draw, and the king was repulsed from London by upstart apprentices at Turnham Green. Over the winter you put together a small force of 150 horse plus your lifeguard - paid with good money, indeed, paid with all the money you have left. This is no army - more than twenty thousand men fought at Edgehill - but it is a start.

Your men are poorly armed and armoured, excepting your lifeguard, the body of men that will be with you personally, comprised primarily of kinsmen and family tenants, who you have just enough funds to properly equip;

>How will your lifeguard be equipped?
>Light Cavalry - almost all cavalry in this war are of this kind, equipped with pistols, sabres and arquebuses, they fire a volley and charge into the fray, sabres raised. Fragile, but quick, and cheaper. (Numbering 50)
>Heavy Cavalry - almost none of the calvry in this war are of this kind, equipped with cuirass and armour, as well as sabres, pistols, lances. These are heavy, expensive and slow, but can be devastating in the hands of the right commander. (Numbering 20)

>>5387897
>Heavy Cavalry - almost none of the calvry in this war are of this kind, equipped with cuirass and armour, as well as sabres, pistols, lances. These are heavy, expensive and slow, but can be devastating in the hands of the right commander. (Numbering 20)

>>5387897
>Heavy Cavalry - almost none of the calvry in this war are of this kind, equipped with cuirass and armour, as well as sabres, pistols, lances. These are heavy, expensive and slow, but can be devastating in the hands of the right commander. (Numbering 20)

Time to be Knights!

>>5387897
>>Heavy Cavalry - almost none of the calvry in this war are of this kind, equipped with cuirass and armour, as well as sabres, pistols, lances. These are heavy, expensive and slow, but can be devastating in the hands of the right commander. (Numbering 20)

>>5387897

Heavy cavalry. Let us have the rare thing to be more valuable to the cause.

>>5387897
>Heavy Cavalry - almost none of the calvry in this war are of this kind, equipped with cuirass and armour, as well as sabres, pistols, lances. These are heavy, expensive and slow, but can be devastating in the hands of the right commander. (Numbering 20)

Hammer to the anvil :D

>>5387897
>Heavy Cavalry - almost none of the calvry in this war are of this kind, equipped with cuirass and armour, as well as sabres, pistols, lances. These are heavy, expensive and slow, but can be devastating in the hands of the right commander. (Numbering 20)
Immensely based era and choices so far, I'd love to either make ourselves into Heavy Dragoons or Lancers, God Save the King

>>5387897

Heavy Cavalry - almost none of the calvry in this war are of this kind, equipped with cuirass and armour, as well as sabres, pistols, lances. These are heavy, expensive and slow, but can be devastating in the hands of the right commander. (Numbering 20)

If we can not break their pike by the force of our charge, then we shall break their necks by the weight of our corpses!

>>5387945
>>5387934
>>5387931
>>5387920
>>5387910
>>5387908
>>5387904

It took a great deal of money to put it together, but you have your lifeguard - twenty men in bright armour and helms - a formidable hammer to bear, a scythe to cut through the upstart chaff. Still - there aren't many of them, and they aren't as maneuverable as your more lightweight pistoliers. Nonetheless, they are a valuable asset - a pistol shot won't trouble a man with that much armour unless the lord God has forsaken him.

You say your final prayers at the family chapel, and mount a horse - with your men, a few wagons, a hired doctor and a chaplain (for you are, after all, a godly man) you are ready to set out. 150 horse and 20 ironsides, divided into three troupes of fifty plus your own lifeguard under your direct command. Your brother, Edmund, is your lieutenant, and in command of one troupe, while the other two go to local gentlemen - Arthur Becksew and Achilles Davis.

You have no artillery, only a little powder and shot, very little money and few supplies, but you are ready to march by the time of the Epiphany, the 6th of January - you are, it seems, the first out of the gate, though you know garrisons and local militias have been levied elsewhere.

Your men look to you for guidance - they wish to serve their king, to be good christians and Englishmen - you shall show them the way.

>Where to?
>The general muster of Royalists in the West Country has been called for on the other side of Somerset - The Marquess of Hertfordshire has been named his lieutenant in the West. It would be a gruelling march through hostile territory, but the biggest Royalist army around is likely to be on the other side.
>On the other hand, you could try to hold fast here in Devonshire - be a thorn in Parliament's side, draw forces away from the Marquess - a gruelling campaign.
>March into Cornwall, master that country and arm yourself as well as you may to face whatever comes out of Devonshire - you may have to fight to get out of Devon, and you'll be leaving your home behind you.

>>5387897
>Heavy Cavalry - almost none of the calvry in this war are of this kind, equipped with cuirass and armour, as well as sabres, pistols, lances. These are heavy, expensive and slow, but can be devastating in the hands of the right commander. (Numbering 20)

>>5387966
I shall be perpetually late it seems.

>March into Cornwall, master that country and arm yourself as well as you may to face whatever comes out of Devonshire - you may have to fight to get out of Devon, and you'll be leaving your home behind you.

>>5387966
>March into Cornwall, master that country and arm yourself as well as you may to face whatever comes out of Devonshire - you may have to fight to get out of Devon, and you'll be leaving your home behind you.

>>5387966
>>The general muster of Royalists in the West Country has been called for on the other side of Somerset - The Marquess of Hertfordshire has been named his lieutenant in the West. It would be a gruelling march through hostile territory, but the biggest Royalist army around is likely to be on the other side.

We don't have nearly enough troops to fight by ourselves, we have to join the nearest friendly army.

>>5387966
>On the other hand, you could try to hold fast here in Devonshire - be a thorn in Parliament's side, draw forces away from the Marquess - a gruelling campaign.

>>5387966

>March into Cornwall, master that country and arm yourself as well as you may to face whatever comes out of Devonshire - you may have to fight to get out of Devon, and you'll be leaving your home behind you.

>>5387969
>>5387973
Do you expect to find enough men in Cornwall to turn our 170 troops into a proper army fit for independent operation?

>>5387988
I ask you the same question.
>>5387991

>>5387991
We hardly need to be a proper army, mounted as we are we can act as a raiding and harassment force.

>>5387991
Not sure but more men is always good

>>5387994
Additionally a smaller size means easier supply, allowing for a more effective independent force.

>>5387994
>mounted as we are we can act as a raiding and harassment force.
That is difficult to do when we:
>have no artillery, only a little powder and shot, very little money and few supplies

>>5387997
What part of raiding or harassment requires cannon? That would only slow us down. Additionally supplies can be gained through raiding and breaking isolated enemy formations and supply depots.

>>5387995
We don't need reinforcements, we need to BE the reinforcements. If we stay in Devonshire or go to Cornwall then we spend the entire civil war in a literal corner of England cut off from the rest of the Royalist forces.

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>>5387973
>>5387969
You and your men set out for Cornwall - you've heard tell that the local Royalists there expelled the few Parliamentarians late last year, and it is likely the best place to find recruits, even if the lack of loot will leave you little chance of better funding than begging local townsmen. You bring your force together and ride fast across the Exmoor - the January wind whips chill, but your men are locals - well used to the rough terrain and weather. You cannot stray too far inland, though - the moor is too rough for your baggage and the river Taw is too high to easily ford, and so you are forced to pass through the town of Barnstaple.

It isn't a large town, but it has kept its fortifications in better condition than many - there have been raids by Barbary pirates in recent decades, however infrequent, and none wish to run afoul of Turks and slavers on the Exmoor. It sits around the bridge of the river Taw, blocking your movement westwards. There are no walls to the place, but it is wrapped in an earthen embankment, and has many sturdy stone houses. You've heard Parliamentarian mumbling in the place, and so find yourself with a harsh decision ahead. Either you must force your way into and through Barnstaple, perhaps having to fight across a bridge, or you can attempt to ford the Taw in the open, leaving you very vulnerable. A larger force and this might be little issue, but for so small a body it is crucial you not be caught up and bogged down in an infantry fight.

Your men look to you for leadership, as your body of horse settles on a hillside in view of Barnstaple.

>What do you do?
>Take Barnstaple by storm - even the best prepared men are not prepared for everything.
>Attempt to ford the Taw upstream
>Something else? (Write in any tactic you can think of)

>>5388000
>>Take Barnstaple by storm - even the best prepared men are not prepared for everything.

>>5388000
>Take Barnstaple by storm - even the best prepared men are not prepared for everything.

>>5388000
Ford the Taw at night and as far away from Barnstaple as possible. Don't attempt to ford all our forces through in one go but do so one troupe at a time, while the rest of our forces stand guard and watch out for enemy night patrols.

>>5388012
>support

Updates will come in the morning, lads - enjoy strategising in the meanwhile.

>>5388012
>>388004
>Switch

>>5388018
Thanks for running, its neat to see a quest take place during this time period.

>>5388000
>>Take Barnstaple by storm - even the best prepared men are not prepared for everything.

>>5388012
Fording a river is a very risky proposition, to attempt it at night would be foolish.

>no pike and muskets

Shame, but it'll be fine.

>>5388066
>Fording a river is a very risky proposition, to attempt it at night would be foolish.

It's less risky than storming a fortified town with nothing but cavalry.

>>5388071
Highly debatable, especially if we're found out.

>>5388000
Supporting >>5388012

>>5388000
>Send a couple scouts to reconnoiter and determine the loyalties of the town.
Mumblings within the town do not an enemy make, we need to confirm if the town is truly hostile or not.

>>5388027
rare to see a historical or low fantasy quest at all in this board

>>5388000
>>Take Barnstaple by storm - even the best prepared men are not prepared for everything.

>>5388006
>>5388066
>>5388315
Take Barnstaple by Storm

>>5388012
>>5388015
>>5388024
>>5388088
Ford the Taw by night

>>5388094
Have the scouts check Barnstaple

You can't risk meeting a block of pikemen on the bridge - unless they broke at sight of you they could easily box your horse in and slaughter you, like fish in barrels. Your strength is open terrain - better to stay in the open. It might not be particularly gentlemanly to march at night, but stranger things have been done in war.

>Roll 2d6 to ford the Taw.

Rolled 2, 5 = 7 (2d6)

>>5388382
Let's Ford that taw

Rolled 2, 1 = 3 (2d6)

>>5388382

Rolled 2, 6 = 8 (2d6)

>>5388382

Rolled 2, 6 = 8 (2d6)

>>5388382
Fuck yes. History quest are my drug of choice.

>>5388389

>2

You set out at midnight, having rested for the evening as if settling to camp on the hillside. The moon is waxing, but not over-bright. The river flows high and fast, but you can ride fast and far enough to seek the best ford possible. Still, the crossing comes hard - a wagon is lost to the river - the wagon carrying most of your gunpowder. Worse, a boy is swept off by the water - your drummer-boy. Nonetheless, your men manage to cross the ford by dawn, standing on the other side of the Taw.

>5

Only once the light of dawn breaches the clouds do you and your enemy spot one another - a body of pikemen and musketeers stand nearby, between you and Barnstaple. It seems they were expecting you to ford the river, but not in the night, and that they are now startled to see you already across. There are roughly a hundred of them, and they are likely Barnstaple's only defence. Surprised and in the open, they're the best targets they are ever likely to make - if you want some vengeance for the drummer boy and a chance to loot Barnstaple, now is the time.

>They are mere infantry - circle and pepper them with bullets, outflank them and crush them with your lifeguard, then ride on Barnstaple and see if you can't fill your remaining wagons with some loot. God's vengeance for a boy lost.
>It isn't worth the risk - and you have no desire to reave and burn this little township for a mistake of nature - ride off, past and around the unprepared parliamentarians.
>Something else?

>>5388400
>They are mere infantry - circle and pepper them with bullets, outflank them and crush them with your lifeguard, then ride on Barnstaple and see if you can't fill your remaining wagons with some loot. God's vengeance for a boy lost.

We must avenge drummer boy

>>5388400

>They are mere infantry - circle and pepper them with bullets, outflank them and crush them with your lifeguard, then ride on Barnstaple and see if you can't fill your remaining wagons with some loot. God's vengeance for a boy lost.

Let us earn our spurs!

>>5388400
>They are mere infantry - circle and pepper them with bullets, outflank them and crush them with your lifeguard, then ride on Barnstaple and see if you can't fill your remaining wagons with some loot. God's vengeance for a boy lost.

When anyone is surprised in front of cavalry the answer is always charge.

>>5388400
>>They are mere infantry - circle and pepper them with bullets, outflank them and crush them with your lifeguard, then ride on Barnstaple and see if you can't fill your remaining wagons with some loot. God's vengeance for a boy lost.

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>>5388401
>>5388402
Your men are angry - he was just a boy! These rebellious puritan heretics are scum, and deserve all the wrath God sees fit to pour upon them. Right now, the wrath of god is embodied best in your harquebuses, your sabres and the thundering of hooves on dew-wet grass. You order the charge - Davis' troop thunders off around the back of your foe, between them and their homes. The other two circle around their flanks. Their men are drawn up in a loose square - mostly pikemen with a few musketmen.

The bullets begin to fly, and the air is thick with shot - neither of you have much ammunition, but they don't know that. Your men fire in good order, lines of cavalry circling to the back once their shots have been made. Their arquebuses fire wild, and begin to hit the lightly armoured horse in the front ranks. You give the order to skirmish, a trumpet is blown to signal, and the cavalry draw closer to the square, darting in to spook the musketeers before rushing off - swinging sabres like madmen into the gaps in the formation. A few inexperienced men are caught on the ends of pikes.

You are bloodied, but the infantry seem fit to break. Men tremble - a few try to run and are cut down once they leave the safety of their formation. At last, you decide to commit your lifeguard to break their backs. Your body of heavily armoured men braces into a tight wedge, and are screened by the circling light-cavalry as they approach, before opening a gap and launching at the pikemen.

With you at their head, their inexperience is remedied by good order. You roar with the charge - at once, all twenty men launch a volley of pistol-fire into the line of pikes. The few with lances in the front line out-range the remaining pikes facing you, and in a moment you are buried in their midst, swinging sabres like furies. You have known battle before, and are ready for the frenzy, but your men are clearly over-taken in the battle-fury.

It matters little, though - the parliamentarians are broken by the impact, and they take to flight towards Barnstaple. They have no chance of making it there - surrounded by mobile cavalry, their lives are already spent. You wipe your blood-soaked sword on the white coat of your charger, and your men look for your signal;

>Give quarter - take prisoners. It is likely many of these men are merely misguided - that they might be convinced to switch sides, a significant boon to your force.
>No quarter - they are rebels, you do not automatically owe them such. Besides, you need the wealth of Barnstaple, and need to stay swift on horse-back.

>>5388417
>>Give quarter - take prisoners. It is likely many of these men are merely misguided - that they might be convinced to switch sides, a significant boon to your force.

We aren't barbarians but gentlemen in the business of war; we needn't practise such uncouth brutality upon our neighbours.

>>5388417
>No quarter - they are rebels, you do not automatically owe them such. Besides, you need the wealth of Barnstaple, and need to stay swift on horse-back.

>>5388417
>>Give quarter - take prisoners. It is likely many of these men are merely misguided - that they might be convinced to switch sides, a significant boon to your force.

>>5388417
>Give quarter - take prisoners. It is likely many of these men are merely misguided - that they might be convinced to switch sides, a significant boon to your force.

Offer them mercy, if they spit on our efforts we can kill them

>>5388417
>Give quarter - take prisoners. It is likely many of these men are merely misguided - that they might be convinced to switch sides, a significant boon to your force.

>>5388424
>>5388423
>>5388419

You are a gentleman - these are englishmen, however misguided, and this early in the war it's quite possible they don't truly know what they're doing. You sheathe your sabre, and your men set about rounding them up as prisoners, not as corpses, and about tallying up the dead. There was one officer in their midst - a local squire named John Braith. Your father bought a pasture from his brother, you recall - you think you recall talking with the man while drinking at a dinner once. He doffs his cap and bows his head as he is brought up to your horse.

"We are beaten sir - well fought and well done. You've the mastery of us, fine horsemanship."

You give him the customary smile and doff your own cap - you are both gentlemen, of course.

"Ah - you gave us a good fight, Braith - I can't imagine why you'd stand against forces loyal to the king, though - perhaps it is better that we consider this to have been a misunderstanding?"

The beaten man clearly grimaces at the thought - you know he'd likely have asked the same question if he'd won, but he dreads answering it now.

"Perhaps indeed - for my men's sake, if not my own. I'd like to make you an offer, Sir - you're welcome to take on my men as recruits in your own force, and I can offer to arrange for the men of Barnstaple to raise a bond to donate to your cause, so long as you allow me a horse and the chance to ride elsewhere and swear to do the town no harm. I cannot swear not to take up arms again, but I can promise never to raise a hand against you yourself."

You trace a hand through your beard.

>What do you do?
>Accept his offer. Money and supplies from Barnstaple, however many infantrymen remain to be added to your force - all for the small price of his honour as a soldier being left to him - it is a fair and gentlemanly deal.
>Deny his offer - put Barnstaple to the sword, take him as a hostage and ransom his men to their families. It'll take a while, but you do need the money.
>Some other offer?

>>5388430
>Accept his offer. Money and supplies from Barnstaple, however many infantrymen remain to be added to your force - all for the small price of his honour as a soldier being left to him - it is a fair and gentlemanly deal.

This is good, let's not look a gift horse in the mouth and take the deal that means less dead Englishmen

>>5388430
>Accept his offer. Money and supplies from Barnstaple, however many infantrymen remain to be added to your force - all for the small price of his honour as a soldier being left to him - it is a fair and gentlemanly deal.

>>5388430
>Accept his offer. Money and supplies from Barnstaple, however many infantrymen remain to be added to your force - all for the small price of his honour as a soldier being left to him - it is a fair and gentlemanly deal.

Pretty good deal. Also a reputation for compromise/levelheadedness is good.

>>5388430
>>Deny his offer - put Barnstaple to the sword, take him as a hostage and ransom his men to their families. It'll take a while, but you do need the money.

>>5388430
>>Accept his offer. Money and supplies from Barnstaple, however many infantrymen remain to be added to your force - all for the small price of his honour as a soldier being left to him - it is a fair and gentlemanly deal.

A man who is willing to return to the King's fold, and bleed for the opportunity, should not be denied such a chance.

>>5388430
>Accept his offer. Money and supplies from Barnstaple, however many infantrymen remain to be added to your force - all for the small price of his honour as a soldier being left to him - it is a fair and gentlemanly deal.

>>5388435
>>5388433
>>5388431
"Aye, Braith - that will do well enough. Have your lads line up for inspection out here, then be about getting that bond up - we're in need of powder, money and travelling rations. Then, you may go as your heart bids you"

The beaten man nods, thankfully, and looks you in the eye.

"Thank you, sir - it is a ghastly thing to fight one's countrymen, to stain our fields with the blood of our kinsmen. It is good to see the King's men don't go about as reavers and ravagers, as the presses would have us think."

He sets off, and by mid-morning the men are arranged. Sixty infantrymen, fifty pikes and ten musketeers, are left, standing in order but with little discipline or training. Your officers tell you they are fine enough men - loyal to king and country, but with little idea of politics. You have your lesser officers and theirs split a barrel of beer from a local tap-house, and befriend one another. They are all neighbours, more or less, and soon enough they've been convinced to join you and serve well, though they mourn the dead.

On your own side, fifteen horsemen are dead - a sad loss. You ensure there's land and stones to bury them in the churchyard in Barnstaple, and arrange for the local vicar to say a service to mourn all those lost in the fight. You are treated to lunch by the mayor of the town, a fat and unassuming elderly man, who seems to care little for politics beyond keeping his town intact.

The next morning your men are rested, resupplied and provisioned with their first round of decent pay, while your coffers have a few dozen pounds in them, and a new wagon of powder and shot is provided. Still, not much, but far better than nothing

>Gained; Some Supplies, Powder and Shot (2 battles worth), 60 foot (50 pike, 10 musket), Some Money

>Where to next? It is the 9th of January.
>Ride west into Cornwall, as planned.
>Ride towards Cornwall but stop in Great Torrington, another small town - for recruits, perhaps for plunder.

>>5388450
>Ride towards Cornwall but stop in Great Torrington, another small town - for recruits, perhaps for plunder.

Hope to increase our retinue but if they don't have any men no problem. Don't wan to spend too much plundering towns and making enemies. Besides we need to make it to Cornwall before the Devon roundheads properly muster

>>5388450
>>Ride west into Cornwall, as planned.

Can't think of a reason not to stick to the plan

>>5388450
>Ride towards Cornwall but stop in Great Torrington, another small town - for recruits, perhaps for plunder.

We'll need a bit more to be a force to be reckoned with, even though we're already doing pretty well

>>5388450

>Ride towards Cornwall but stop in Great Torrington, another small town - for recruits, perhaps for plunder.

I admit this is for purely selfish purposes, to recoup the costs of our initial investments, to try and drum up additional infantry to the cause and most importantly, our own prestige.

When we finally link up with the main Royalist force, I am sure that we could leverage our bloodied experience (for the King's Cause) to receive a more favourable position in the army proper.

>>5388458
>>5388455

You cross south from the city in haste and good order, infantry marching in a column with cavalry troupes behind and in front. The day is bright and clear, and you make good time. The march to Great Torrington is short, and soon enough you are surveying the town - your scouts have seen horsemen riding nearby. The town is a small one, smaller than Barnstaple, in a shallow valley between two hills.

The higher hill, called Castle Hill, is occupied by a small fortified manor, but owing to its position the site has little strategic import for someone wishing to take the town or march past. It is not clear what reception you'll get in the town - it has no walls and no great fortifications, and you do not know what side it's people will be on.

>Take the risk - send in some scouts with a commission to gather recruits, and to solicit donations from local notables.
>It isn't worth the risk - circumvent the town to cross the river Torridge and head on to Cornwall.
>Something else? (Write in)

>>5388475
Or, indeed;
>Approach the town in force, demand recruits and 'donations', and prepare to sack the place if they do not submit

>>5388475
>>Take the risk - send in some scouts with a commission to gather recruits, and to solicit donations from local notables.

>>5388475
>>Take the risk - send in some scouts with a commission to gather recruits, and to solicit donations from local notables.

>>5387684
(Not story related) Hi im new, if i late join, is it custom to retcon yourself into the story where it currently is or can i start from the beginning?

>>5388486
Heya mate, you seem to be unfamiliar with how these things work - all this is is that I write up the story, and you guys all pick options to vote for, there's no roleplaying on your end.

>>5388475
>Take the risk - send in some scouts with a commission to gather recruits, and to solicit donations from local notables.

>>5388486
Yeah its a quest QM writes the story, we choose options and occasionally roll. /tg/ is more of a role playing and tabletop place.

>>5388475
>Take the risk - send in some scouts with a commission to gather recruits, and to solicit donations from local notables.
By God, we cannot allow the puritans to run roughshod over English land!

>>5388475
>>Take the risk - send in some scouts with a commission to gather recruits, and to solicit donations from local notables.

I would prefer to go in force, but would rather not sack the place if things go wrong, just back off.

>>5388486
New blood, welcome friendo

>>5388475
>Take the risk - send in some scouts with a commission to gather recruits, and to solicit donations from local notables.

>>5388484
>>5388479
>>5388494
>>5388499

You send fifteen lads in as scouts, they ride into town bearing a commission to recruit any of the locals eager to make loyal soldiers of the king. You need more foot to balance your force out, especially if you're ever to be involved in any siege-work. The people of Great Torrington are wary of your men, but it turns out their parliamentary-inclined men have already been recruited and marched off to muster - though they work hard to conceal it, there are few able-bodied men around the town, and the gentlemen are largely absent.

The few remaining locals are, perhaps naturally, concerned for their lives and goods, undefended as they are. One scout does spot a man galloping away on horseback, but the man's headstart is too much to make catching him a possibility. You aren't likely to be left alone in Great Torrington much longer - there is little worth buying here, and only thirty men willing to be recruited - loyal king's men who refused the summons of Parliament.

>Recruit 30 men and call upon the parliamentarians of the town to provide a donation of funds, under the implicit threat of a raid, then march away.
>Recruit 30 men and leave, quickly. There's a force on the way, likely, and there's nothing here worth fighting for.
>Recruit 30 men and march up the Castle Hill - it's not a particularly relevant position, but it is high ground with a defensible manor-house abandoned by its lord - see if you can't spring on the parliamentary force when it comes.
>Burn and pillage the town - they are rebels, and you need the money and supplies if you're to be of use in Cornwall.
>Something else?

>>5388524
>Recruit 30 men and march up the Castle Hill - it's not a particularly relevant position, but it is high ground with a defensible manor-house abandoned by its lord - see if you can't spring on the parliamentary force when it comes.

Burning the village of our recruits isn't likely to go over well with them.

>>5388524

>Recruit 30 men and march up the Castle Hill - it's not a particularly relevant position, but it is high ground with a defensible manor-house abandoned by its lord - see if you can't spring on the parliamentary force when it comes.

If I'm reading this correctly (which I may not be), the rider gave one look at our 'recruiters' and ran off to warn his kin.

Perhaps we can use that to our advantage, I do not expect the Parlimanterians to expect a force of both infantry and (heavy) cavalry to be in the area.

>>5388524
>Recruit 30 men and march up the Castle Hill - it's not a particularly relevant position, but it is high ground with a defensible manor-house abandoned by its lord - see if you can't spring on the parliamentary force when it comes.

Good ol suprise attack. If we can't spot them we move on I suppose.

>>5388524
>Recruit 30 men and march up the Castle Hill - it's not a particularly relevant position, but it is high ground with a defensible manor-house abandoned by its lord - see if you can't spring on the parliamentary force when it comes.

>>5388524
>>Recruit 30 men and march up the Castle Hill - it's not a particularly relevant position, but it is high ground with a defensible manor-house abandoned by its lord - see if you can't spring on the parliamentary force when it comes.

>>5388524
>>Recruit 30 men and march up the Castle Hill - it's not a particularly relevant position, but it is high ground with a defensible manor-house abandoned by its lord - see if you can't spring on the parliamentary force when it comes.

>>5388524
>>Burn and pillage the town - they are rebels, and you need the money and supplies if you're to be of use in Cornwall.

>>5388524
>>Recruit 30 men and march up the Castle Hill - it's not a particularly relevant position, but it is high ground with a defensible manor-house abandoned by its lord - see if you can't spring on the parliamentary force when it comes.

>>5388524
>Something else?

>Recruit the 30 men. Make ready a large bonfire in Great Torrington. Bestow upon one of the newly recruited, and hopefully loyal men, a horse and some roughed up clothing. Tell him to hastily scout for the nearest possible parliamentary force, with the message that Great Torrington has been raided, set ablaze by the Kings men passing through and is in need of aid.
>March cavalry to Castle Hill and prepare for a potential ambush. Leave infantry at Great Torrington.

>>5388524
>Recruit 30 men and march up the Castle Hill - it's not a particularly relevant position, but it is high ground with a defensible manor-house abandoned by its lord - see if you can't spring on the parliamentary force when it comes.
We can depend on our cavalry against them in open field, a hundred times more when it's at the rebels' backs!

>>5388524
I'll switch to support >>5388585

>>5388597
I mean doesn't seem like the best idea to turn the home of a sizable portion of our men into a battlefield. And to then send a hometown kid to the enemy to send the message. And then split forces against an unknown enemy.

>>5388528
>>5388531
>>5388533
>>5388537
>>5388542
>>5388545
>>5388555

You and your force ride up castle hill to the Manor. It's a fine house, two floors, stone walls, heavy wooden doors and a fairly large stable. Still, you've a great many horse-men with you, who are set to camp behind the hill, hidden from the road by the terrain. The infantry, and what cavalry the house can accomodate are set up inside - the missing gentleman's servants keep quiet and stay well inside.

The townsfolk below are very nervous, though the new recruits make their way up to join you, and bring with them some money and supplies donated by a local churchman - possibly, if rumour is to be believed, a catholic, of all things. You wait for a few days - having dinner with your officers and getting the new recruits up to speed. Two days after your arrival, a scout spots the enemy - a force of 200 foot and 50 horse, riding from the south - the opposite side of the town from the manor-hill.

You have 90 foot and 170 horse - the numbers are even, but you have dramatically fewer foot and more horse.

>What's the plan?
>Have your infantry set up in the manor ready to resist an attack for as long as they can, have the cavalry ride a distance away and conceal themselves before falling upon the foe - horse, then foot, once they're committed to attacking the manor.
>Ride out onto an open field by the hills - conceal your lifeguard and a troop of horse behind a nearby hill - you'll have fewer infantry, but the cavalry can rout theirs, outflank them, and leave them to be surprised by the charge of your lifeguard.
>Leave, fast. With so few infantry you can't risk fighting them hand to hand - and they've already been drawn away from the main Royalist force in Somerset.
>Some other plan?

>>5388606
>Ride out onto an open field by the hills - conceal your lifeguard and a troop of horse behind a nearby hill - you'll have fewer infantry, but the cavalry can rout theirs, outflank them, and leave them to be surprised by the charge of your lifeguard.

Surprise! Also how much is a "troop"?

>>5388610
Fifty horsemen.

>>5388524
>>Recruit 30 men and leave, quickly. There's a force on the way, likely, and there's nothing here worth fighting for.

We're in enemy territory and we're already pushing our luck. We need to get to Cornwall before a proper Roundhead army comes in to crush us.

>>5388606
>>Leave, fast. With so few infantry you can't risk fighting them hand to hand - and they've already been drawn away from the main Royalist force in Somerset.

Don't push our luck. Footmen are better than cavalry in urban combat. Cavalry is for fighting in wide open fields.

>>5388606

Have your infantry set up in the manor ready to resist an attack for as long as they can, have the cavalry ride a distance away and conceal themselves before falling upon the foe - horse, then foot, once they're committed to attacking the manor.

I believe that the Manor and our defensive position will offset our Foots' numerical disadvantage, which may break them by weight of force, and it makes it impossible for the enemy to break our men with a cavalry charge since ours will not be with the main force.

>>5388606
>>Ride out onto an open field by the hills - conceal your lifeguard and a troop of horse behind a nearby hill - you'll have fewer infantry, but the cavalry can rout theirs, outflank them, and leave them to be surprised by the charge of your lifeguard.

I trust our infantry to hold for a little while. Beyond that I trust our horsemen to deliver a good flanking charge.

>>5388618
The battle wont take place in the town. It would either take place upon the hill and manor or in an open field. No urban combat mate, unless someone makes a custom plan including that.

>>5388606
>>Leave, fast. With so few infantry you can't risk fighting them hand to hand - and they've already been drawn away from the main Royalist force in Somerset.

>>5388606
>Have your infantry set up in the manor ready to resist an attack for as long as they can, have the cavalry ride a distance away and conceal themselves before falling upon the foe - horse, then foot, once they're committed to attacking the manor.

>>5388606
>>Have your infantry set up in the manor ready to resist an attack for as long as they can, have the cavalry ride a distance away and conceal themselves before falling upon the foe - horse, then foot, once they're committed to attacking the manor.

>>5388606
>>Leave, fast. With so few infantry you can't risk fighting them hand to hand - and they've already been drawn away from the main Royalist force in Somerset.

>>5388622
Switching to

>Have your infantry set up in the manor ready to resist an attack for as long as they can, have the cavalry ride a distance away and conceal themselves before falling upon the foe - horse, then foot, once they're committed to attacking the manor.

>>5388606
>Have your infantry set up in the manor ready to resist an attack for as long as they can, have the cavalry ride a distance away and conceal themselves before falling upon the foe - horse, then foot, once they're committed to attacking the manor.
We'll cut the curs down and win ourselves a right merry battle!

>>5388606
>>Ride out onto an open field by the hills - conceal your lifeguard and a troop of horse behind a nearby hill - you'll have fewer infantry, but the cavalry can rout theirs, outflank them, and leave them to be surprised by the charge of your lifeguard.

They have more than double our footmen. We can't do a hammer and anvil when our anvil is too small and weak to hold the enemy in place long enough for our hammer to strike.

>>5388650
My friend I think you read the update incorrectly.. They have 30 more foot, not more than double which would be 345+ footmen. And we have 40 horsemen more than them.

Enemy- 200 foot 50 horse
Us- 170 foot 90 horse

>>5388654
No, you did.
> Two days after your arrival, a scout spots the enemy - a force of 200 foot and 50 horse
> You have 90 foot and 170 horse

>>5388656
Ah true, thanks. The brain unfortunately works at subpar levels when you don't sleep

>>5388606
>Have your infantry set up in the manor ready to resist an attack for as long as they can, have the cavalry ride a distance away and conceal themselves before falling upon the foe - horse, then foot, once they're committed to attacking the manor.

>>5388606
>Leave, fast.

Hopefully we reach Cornwall quickly to gather a superior force, then we'd have somewhat fresh intel and bigger numbers

>>5388606

>Have your infantry set up in the manor ready to resist an attack for as long as they can, have the cavalry ride a distance away and conceal themselves before falling upon the foe - horse, then foot, once they're committed to attacking the manor.

Our infantry will be in an easily defensive position, the enemies don't have the quality cavalry or numbers to intercept us. If our timing is right, we'll have a quick Victory by hitting inexperienced troops in two directions.

>>5388688
I think we can rely on our lieutenants, or at the very least, our brother, to lead the Footmen in a sally-out when we strike the Parlimentarians' exposed rear.

>>5388606
>>Have your infantry set up in the manor ready to resist an attack for as long as they can, have the cavalry ride a distance away and conceal themselves before falling upon the foe - horse, then foot, once they're committed to attacking the manor.

>>5388610
>>5388648
Ride Out

>>5388618
>>5388624
>>5388638
>>5388679
Leave, fast

>>5388675
>>5388644
>>5388643
>>5388636
>>5388630
>>5388619
>>Have your infantry set up in the manor ready to resist an attack

A right merry mattle it shall be, you think - numbers they may have, but you doubt they've been blooded, and they won't be ready to face so many horse, even if you will have to ride uphill into them. You decide to remain with the infantry - it does not suit your temperament, but they will need to be bolstered in order to hold firm and not surrender. You order your horse-captains to ride away - to look as if they realise they've been caught and are abandoning their infantry.

In the meanwhile, you have your footmen clear as much of the hillside as they can, bolster any side doors, and break the relevant windows to get good aim with muskets. You yourself and your chaplain lead the men in prayer, and call on them to stand fast. They are nervous - farmers, inexperienced men, but the main body have faced battle before, and your presence calms their fears.

The parliamentary force marches up to meet you - the body of foot march up the flank of the hill, while their horse range around the base of the hill. At last, a man on horseback rides out from the body of infantry, accompanied by a cleric. He is portly but sturdily built, wearing the austere black cloth of a puritan and stroking a thick black moustache. He speaks;

"Come out, by the grace of God, and surrender - ye men have been abandoned by your horse, and we've no wish to waste your blood upon the soil. What officer is it that commands you?"

You lean from a second story windows, your colourful finery and engraved armour a fine contrast to this peasant-frock.

"I am Sir Edward Cormont, of Braughton, and these are my men - king's men. I would sooner surrender my arms to the King of Spain than to you and your ilk, rebel, though in this life, God Willing, I shall not do either."

"We shall allow you plenty of time to change your mind, sinner, and your men shall see sense even if you do not."

He turns, and has his men set up to place you under a little siege - he intends to wait, and starve you out. Likely he doesn't know how many footmen you have, and perhaps he hasn't the stomach for a fight. If he doesn't engage you, though, he might well rush out to crush your horse when they arrive, leaving you to be truly trapped. You must provoke him, somehow.

>How?
>He's a religious man - you and your lads spent many a night provoking puritans around London when you were a young rake. Mock his faith.
>In war, the simplest route is often the best - start shooting out the windows. See if he can stand waiting through the bullet-hail.
>Some other route?

>>5388700
>In war, the simplest route is often the best - start shooting out the windows. See if he can stand waiting through the bullet-hail.

Our infantry's loyalty is still not guaranteed, if we don't start this fight right away by drawing as much attention to ourselves as possible, the plan will fail.

>>5388706

It may not be wise to fire upon an envoy; it is ungentlemanly, with honour and the traditions (of war) being something Cavaliers held fast to.

Yet, many of our Foot were initially parliamentarians, and I do not think it wise to prove their religious sensibilities, especially when they comprise the majority of our infantry.

>>5388700

>In war, the simplest route is often the best - start shooting out the windows. See if he can stand waiting through the bullet-hail.

In the end, unless one of us can concoct a more suitable and effective ploy, this is our only choice.

>>5388700
>>In war, the simplest route is often the best - start shooting out the windows. See if he can stand waiting through the bullet-hail.

>>5388700
>>In war, the simplest route is often the best - start shooting out the windows. See if he can stand waiting through the bullet-hail.

>>5388712
I understood that he was talking from a safe place, anyway we only have to shoot in the direction of the enemy troops, not necessarily in the direction of the emissary.

>>5388700
I feel so trapped here... so anyway I started blasting

>>In war, the simplest route is often the best - start shooting out the windows. See if he can stand waiting through the bullet-hail.

File: 1200px-Bad-war.jpg (346 KB, 1200x784)

346 KB JPG

>>5388716
>>5388713
>>5388712
>>5388706

You laugh at the man as he goes.

"You are rebels, and given a year I shall laugh as they take you up the gallows - as your men shall, when they see your folly."

The fat officer bristles, and you turn, shouting an order to the musketeers; "Fire, boys, teach them some humility"

Musketfire rings out down the hillside, and a few parliamentarians drop. By the time of the second volley the rebels are shooting back, and horns are ringing to send their footmen in. There are three doorways to the home - one on each wing and the main entrance at the centre. Your men are split between the three - musketeers on both sides pepper one another, though they clearly have your gunmen outnumbered, forcing yours to be much more careful leaning out of windows.

You exhort your men to fight harder, moving downstairs to be among them. The air stinks of sweat and blood, as swords and the butts of muskets clash and batter against flesh. Axes and shovels are swung, the parliamentary men at the back attempt to hurl stones. Your men were not ready for such fighting, but sealed into chokepoints they have no choice - there is nowhere to run, the press of the man behind is enough to keep the man in front fighting until he's dead. Many do die.

As the time wears on you begin to grow worried that the horse is not yet here. You are running out of powder, and perhaps half of your 30 musketeers have been gravely wounded by now. The hail of bullets from outside is slowing, but the men fighting at the doorways are exhausted - the wounded are carried back into the house, and the chaplain and doctor do their best to staunch wounds amidst the maelstrom of shouting and bloodshed.

Cont.

>>5388741
You start up the wounded singing an old folk song to keep their minds from the bleeding, and brandish your sabre, showing your men that you are as ready as they to die for the cause. You reflect on your home - the brook by the house where your father taught you to swim as a boy, the fields where you first mounted a horse. You can almost hear the thundering of hooves through those golden wheat-fields of your memory. It is as if they were right there.

And then, of course, they are. You hear a great roar in the distance, a ripple of gunfire, and the clashing of steel. You rush upstairs to see from the window as your horsemen arrive. The majority of the parliamentary infantry are clustered close in the doorways, and you cannot see any of the parliamentary horse, but the mass of your horsemen, and your own life-guard at its head, charge up the hillside.

The parliamentary musketeers have been circling the building, and are barely able to turn in time to be cut down by the charge, before another round of pistolfire is emptied into the massed ranks of the roundheads around the doorways. The parliamentary officer is thrown from his horse - your infantry sally forward, and in the press the parliamentary infantry breaks and yields.

Blood soaks the doorways, the soil, much of the furniture of the house. Dozens of bullet-holes mark the stone-work, and you doubt if there is an intact window within a half mile. But, in spite of it all, you have won - and a crushing victory at that.

Your footmen are amazed as you stride out of the doorway - amazed that they are alive, in awe of their victory, of the total success of the surprise. One of your lifeguard returns your horse to you, and you mount up to receive the report of your brother, as your men round up the prisoners and tally the slain.

Cont.

>>5388744

You began the battle with 170 horse and 90 infantry. You have lost 40 of your infantry, most of them musketeers, and a mere ten of your horse.

Your brother reports back that the surprise went off marvellously. He kept his men out of sight but not too far, giving them chance to rest before the charge. He even managed to lure away the parliamentary horse while the infantry and commander were distracted, destroying them to a man and leaving the rest of the Parliamentary foot entirely unprotected. When he charged up the hill there was nothing to stop him.

With only fifty casualties on your side, the death toll among the parliamentarians is savage. Of the two hundred and fifty men they brought, only 120 men remain. 80 footmen were slain or gravely wounded in the fight around the doors, and all 50 horse lured away and destroyed by your brother, either dead, wounded or routed from the field entirely. You have 120 footmen as your prisoners - more footmen than you had in the battle itself!

Your men cheer at the victory. Better even than just prisoners, though, your horse is able to capture the Parliamentary baggage train - five wagons, including plenty of powder, money and supplies. The Parliamentary commander is in your hands, as well as his men, and you may do as you like with them.

>>[The Battle of Torrington Manor - Glorious Royalist Victory]

>>Two Choices

>>Will you allow your men to celebrate, and share the loot?
>Take the evening to celebrate your victory - there is no force nearby any longer capable of challenging you. Distribute some of the spoils to your men - let them loot the slain and share in the bounty of the seized baggage. Feast, drink, and celebrate, by God and King Charles.
>Pray, and rest - you cannot give out money, you will need it in the time to come. This was a bloody deed - it is fit that the dead be buried, and the blood mourned, before you ride away in the morning.

>>What will you do with the prisoners?
>Make them the standard offer - the men are free to join you or leave and swear not to take up arms, the commanding officer is free to go if he'll pay his ransom in funds raised from the town and swear not to fight you personally in future.
>Put the officer, puritan heretic as he is, to the sword - he is a rebel. Recruit what men you can rely on from his ranks, and dismiss the others at once.

>>5388749
>Pray, and rest - you cannot give out money, you will need it in the time to come. This was a bloody deed - it is fit that the dead be buried, and the blood mourned, before you ride away in the morning.
>Put the officer, puritan heretic as he is, to the sword - he is a rebel. Recruit what men you can rely on from his ranks, and dismiss the others at once.

Is our character Catholic or Anglican?

>>5388749

>Take the evening to celebrate your victory - there is no force nearby any longer capable of challenging you. Distribute some of the spoils to your men - let them loot the slain and share in the bounty of the seized baggage. Feast, drink, and celebrate, by God and King Charles.
They deserve it, besides learning the art of looting bodies is very important.


>Make them the standard offer - the men are free to join you or leave and swear not to take up arms, the commanding officer is free to go if he'll pay his ransom in funds raised from the town and swear not to fight you personally in future.
Consistency and reputation are important things for a young officer.

>>5388749

>>Pray, and rest - you cannot give out money, you will need it in the time to come.

>>Make them the standard offer - the men are free to join you or leave and swear not to take up arms, the commanding officer is free to go if he'll pay his ransom in funds raised from the town and swear not to fight you personally in future.

We represent the King.

>>5388749
>Take the evening to celebrate your victory - there is no force nearby any longer capable of challenging you. Distribute some of the spoils to your men - let them loot the slain and share in the bounty of the seized baggage. Feast, drink, and celebrate, by God and King Charles.
>Make them the standard offer - the men are free to join you or leave and swear not to take up arms, the commanding officer is free to go if he'll pay his ransom in funds raised from the town and swear not to fight you personally in future.

God is truly with the King.

>>5388749
>>Take the evening to celebrate your victory - there is no force nearby any longer capable of challenging you. Distribute some of the spoils to your men - let them loot the slain and share in the bounty of the seized baggage. Feast, drink, and celebrate, by God and King Charles.
>Make them the standard offer - the men are free to join you or leave and swear not to take up arms, the commanding officer is free to go if he'll pay his ransom in funds raised from the town and swear not to fight you personally in future.

>>5388752
I really ought to have asked that at the start, but I'll say Anglican - this far from London it's sometimes hard to tell the difference, and certainly he's more likely to be friendly with local ""Anglicans"" than most, even if it's up to you what his thoughts on the matter are.

>>5388749
>>>Take the evening to celebrate your victory - there is no force nearby any longer capable of challenging you. Distribute some of the spoils to your men - let them loot the slain and share in the bounty of the seized baggage. Feast, drink, and celebrate, by God and King Charles.

>>Make them the standard offer - the men are free to join you or leave and swear not to take up arms, the commanding officer is free to go if he'll pay his ransom in funds raised from the town and swear not to fight you personally in future.

>>5388749
>Take the evening to celebrate your victory - there is no force nearby any longer capable of challenging you. Distribute some of the spoils to your men - let them loot the slain and share in the bounty of the seized baggage. Feast, drink, and celebrate, by God and King Charles.
We are not puritans. God has seen fit to give us this victory and it is Him we will thank, as well will we prosper to fight for Him for His divinely ordained King's name!

>Make them the standard offer - the men are free to join you or leave and swear not to take up arms, the commanding officer is free to go if he'll pay his ransom in funds raised from the town and swear not to fight you personally in future.
We are no bloody heathen, we are a gentleman! Damn the Roundheads and their insubordination, but they are yet Englishmen and we shall not be brought down to wallow in their mud!

>>5388749
>>Take the evening to celebrate your victory - there is no force nearby any longer capable of challenging you. Distribute some of the spoils to your men - let them loot the slain and share in the bounty of the seized baggage. Feast, drink, and celebrate, by God and King Charles.

>>Make them the standard offer - the men are free to join you or leave and swear not to take up arms, the commanding officer is free to go if he'll pay his ransom in funds raised from the town and swear not to fight you personally in future.

A bloody price paid, but at the very least we are building up not only our reputation but also the skill and loyalty of our men.

I do have an idea for when we make our move to Cornwall, perhaps we should send out some parties to our flanks to announce our victories and spread the word that loyal subjects of the king should make haste to join us there.

QM, have any of our lifeguard died yet?

>>5388752
>>5388754
Pray and Rest

>>5388762
>>5388757
>>5388756
>>5388753
>>5388771
>>5388768
Take the evening to celebrate

AND

>>5388752
The Sword

>>5388753
>>5388754
>>5388756
>>5388757
>>5388762
>>5388771
>>5388768
Standard offer

Writing.

>>5388776
None - by the time they impacted the enemy in the last battle they were already set to break.

Did the enemy possess a banner worthy of capture? I'm of the mind that we start collecting them to present to the King when we finally link with the main force.

If we maintain this momentum, we can cultivate a reputation that would grant us a psychological advantage against green soldiers, of which most soldiers will be this early into the conflict.

>>5388799
As I was saying we should capitalize on our early victories, minor as they may be in the grand scheme of things. Spread word and galvanize the rural population to come to our banner in Cornwall.

>>5388794
You have the prisoners lined up before you in ranks - there are many gaps, many dead men missing from the line. You ensure their wounded are well treated, and their dead are buried along-side your own in the churchyard. You are all englishmen, after all.

"Now, men - it is a sorry and bloody thing for brother to fight brother, for Englishman to fight Englishman. It brings me little joy to fight such a war, even if I am glad of the victory God has granted me. Your former commander lead you to ruin - his cause was lain low by God, and he has been put into his proper place - as a subject of His Majesty the King."

A chorus of "God Save The King!" goes up from your men, and some of the prisoners join.

"I will not compel you to serve - you are freeborn Englishmen, I would not insult that dignity with my heart's blood. I will only ask you - join me. God has granted you reprieve where he did not spare your fellows - make good use of it."

The speech has its proper effect; of the remaining men, 100 come forward to swear their proper allegiance to King and Country, while 40 agree to lay down their arms and return to their homes, not to stand for any man again. They ask only that you swear not to pillage Great Torrington, which you gladly agree never to do.

Their office is sullen and outraged at his defeat, and hastily promises what you ask of him. You set him loose in Torrington, and to your disgust he breaks his word, and fails to return to you. Nonetheless, your men go into the town and buy supplies, sharing in the bounty of your victory. They feast together in camp - drinking and laughing with their former foes.

You sit with your brother and a few close officers, upstairs in the manor, around a great table. You eat of roasted piglet, blood sausage, spiced pies and plum pudding, and drink a few bottles of wine from the fled lord's cellars. You toast your brother, and he sings your praises, as men outside sit around camp-fires eating roast-fowl and fresh bread. As the sun sets, beams of light fall through the bullet-holes - the shadows are marked by dozens of shafts of sunlight. This place will never be clean of blood and lead, you think. What was done here will be remembered - your name done honour by it - but the dead will still be dead. You finish your cup. The living are still living too.


The next morning, your men muster for the march, enriched by plunder, resupplied, rested and in greater numbers. Your force comprises 150 foot and 160 horse - a fair company indeed. You set off into the dawn fog, marching for Cornwall, for the King.

>That's it for tonight lads - any questions about anything that's come up are welcome, we'll be back in the morning. In the mean-time;

>What does Sir Edward Cormont think of religion?
>He has a gentlemanly and cosmopolitan nature - catholics are wrong, naturally, but they are not evil monsters, as the puritans say.
>Catholicism is a foreign faith, of Spaniards and Italians, despise it.

>>5388809

>Catholicism is a foreign faith, of Spaniards and Italians, despise it.

Trust not the Papist.

>>5388809
>He has a gentlemanly and cosmopolitan nature - catholics are wrong, naturally, but they are not evil monsters, as the puritans say.
>Parliament certainly wasn't as uppity under Rome.

>>5388809
>>He has a gentlemanly and cosmopolitan nature - catholics are wrong, naturally, but they are not evil monsters, as the puritans say.

>>5388809
>He has a gentlemanly and cosmopolitan nature - catholics are wrong, naturally, but they are not evil monsters, as the puritans say.

I mean the King married a catholic princess. And the puritan just broke his promise(we'll remember that)

Also great run QM, not many history based quests and this one has been quality so far. Also whats the state of our family. Is our brother our only living relative?

>>5388809
>He has a gentlemanly and cosmopolitan nature - catholics are wrong, naturally, but they are not evil monsters, as the puritans say.

>>5388809
>>He has a gentlemanly and cosmopolitan nature - catholics are wrong, naturally, but they are not evil monsters, as the puritans say

>>5388809
>He has a gentlemanly and cosmopolitan nature - catholics are wrong, naturally, but they are not evil monsters, as the puritans say.

>>5388820
Your father died on the abortive expedition to Cadiz in 1625 (not 1628, as I said earlier - mixed up my dates) under the command of the much-despised and since-assassinated Duke of Buckingham.

Your younger brother, Edmund, is your lieutenant, while your youngest brother James died of the plague in 1628. You have two sisters, Arabella and Mary, both married to gentlemen met at court - one a landholder in Sussex, another a wealthy merchant from Scarborough in the North. You have a few cousins scattered across the country who you may run into, and various aunts and uncles out there too. Your godfather is Robert Hopton, a notable landholder in Somerset, and father of another local Royalist leader - Sir Ralph Hopton, though you've never spoken at length to the man.

Glad you're having fun! I'm trying to keep light and not bog you all down in the historical details while providing relevant context to folks unfamiliar with the time period. May get harder as we start bumping into solid historical events, but who knows - this version of the Civil War may go very differently.

Also what time zone?

>>5388820
Agreed it is wonderful to see this era being represented. Also, I'd have to say that the frequency of updates is quite refreshing.

>>5388809
>Catholicism is a foreign faith, of Spaniards and Italians, despise it.

>>5388809
>>He has a gentlemanly and cosmopolitan nature - catholics are wrong, naturally, but they are not evil monsters, as the puritans say.

>>5388838
>I'm trying to keep light and not bog you all down in the historical details

Just speaking for myself here of course, but do feel free to indulge yourself.

>>5388851
I completely agree, include as much as you like it really adds to the atmosphere of the quest.

Hey QM was wondering how old we were?

>>5389012
You are around thirty.

>>5388809
>He has a gentlemanly and cosmopolitan nature - catholics are wrong, naturally, but they are not evil monsters, as the puritans say.

>>5388809
>He has a gentlemanly and cosmopolitan nature - catholics are wrong, naturally, but they are not evil monsters, as the puritans say.

>>5388817
>>5388819
>>5388820
>>5388822
>>5388823
>>5388833
>>5388849
>>5389134
>>5389211

Sir Edward is a tolerant soul - more concerned with smashing the rebels and heretic dissenters than with hunting papists.

---

The morning of the 12th of January dawns cold, wet and foggy. The air is chill, and the grass crunches with frost underhoof as your victorious men march westwards into Cornwall. Some are sorry to leave Devonshire and enter this foreign country - the Cornish speak their own language, and though they are stout royalists they've always been mistrusted by the English west of the river Tamar.

The military situation is complex and changing fast - you hear word that your god-brother, Sir Ralph Hopton is himself at the head of a much larger army, having been separated from The Marquess of Hertfordshire. The Marquess crossed into Wales, leaving Hopton with much of his cavalry, and the dashing commander - has since built a sturdy force of several thousand men. You hear rumour that he passed over Bodmin Moor, towards Devon, but that he's been blocked by the garrison at Plymouth, a town on the Southern coast. It is likely he'll be returning to Cornwall soon - and possible that Parliamentary soldiers will be following.

>What do you do?
>Race south to link up with Hopton and his army for the next offensive into Devonshire
>You've no intention of playing second to Sir Ralph, at least not with so few men - set about recruiting men in Cornwall and prepare for whatever battle is to come.
>Head for one of the towns - Falmouth, perhaps - resupply, pick up new men, and build a stronger base to march out from.

>>5388809
>He has a gentlemanly and cosmopolitan nature - catholics are wrong, naturally, but they are not evil monsters, as the puritans say.

>>5389377
>You've no intention of playing second to Sir Ralph, at least not with so few men - set about recruiting men in Cornwall and prepare for whatever battle is to come.

>>5389377
>Head for one of the towns - Falmouth, perhaps - resupply, pick up new men, and build a stronger base to march out from.

>>5389377

>You've no intention of playing second to Sir Ralph, at least not with so few men - set about recruiting men in Cornwall and prepare for whatever battle is to come.

>>5389377
>>Head for one of the towns - Falmouth, perhaps - resupply, pick up new men, and build a stronger base to march out from.

>>5389377
>You've no intention of playing second to Sir Ralph, at least not with so few men - set about recruiting men in Cornwall and prepare for whatever battle is to come.
We need more men to hold so we can charge the flanks with our cav.

>>5389387
>>5389384
>>5389379

Recruiting more men is a wise move - you simply don't have the infantry for siege-war, and it is increasingly apparent that this will be a war primarily of garrisons, towns and sieges. Every day you hear tell of some new skirmish over a manor, a castle, a city-wall or even a village church. You are glad to have gotten what field battles you have - your men are not veterans, but they aren't grass-green.

You arrive in Cornwall and send out riders to every town and village you can reach with your commission, to recruit those not yet picked up by the armies of Hopton and the others. You've a little fame, and it is clear that the royalists are winning in Cornwall - there was a battle at Launceston last November that cleared out the local Parliamentarians, so there are some men willing to join, even if the majority have already been picked up by Hopton.

>Roll 3d6 for recruitment, please.

Rolled 1, 6, 4 = 11 (3d6)

>>5389391

Rolled 1, 1, 1 = 3 (3d6)

>>5389391

Rolled 6, 6, 4 = 16 (3d6)

>>5389391

>>5389403
What are the odds?

Rolled 5, 4, 1 = 10 (3d6)

>>5389391

Rolled 6, 3, 4 = 13 (3d6)

>>5389391

>>5389393
The countryside is all but drained of men, it seems - you are not the first to come this way, and what men are left will soon be needed to sew the first crop of the year - war may consume the gentlefolk, but the peasantry must keep us all fed. You raise a paltry fifty infantrymen from the country.

Disappointed, one of your captains seeks out the leaders of one of the local militias, the Cornish Trained Bands - each county maintains its own bands, and they are the only reasonably trained soldiers kept in Britain, though they are, true to the name, militia. Still, they are armed, basically trained and numerous - they simply ask not to be used outside of their local area, asking that you promise not to march them any further than Devonshire and demanding consistent pay for any fighting outside of Cornwall itself. In exchange, they can offer you 400 footmen and 50 light horse, a dramatic increase in the size of your force.

You yourself reach out to the nearby seaside towns - Falmouth, St. Ives, Truro and the others. They are more densely populated, and more likely to recognise the possibilities of advancement offered by military service. You gather another 100 footmen, mostly musketeers. In the town of St. Ives you meet a merchant, one Archibald Morris, who offers you a bargain - for a significant sum of money he'll sell you a field cannon, re-fitted from a gun taken from a ship. It will be heavy and cumbersome, but a formidable bit of ordnance for sieges and in battle, if you can bear the loss of mobility and finances.

>Take the cannon
>Leave it, you need to remain mobile, and you don't have the money.

In any case, by the 17th you have a significantly larger army at your back - from 310 men you have risen to around 900. 400 trained-band militiamen, 50 militia horse, 160 of your own horse including 20 heavy cavalry and 300 of your own footmen, including a sizeable contingent of musketeers. A sizeable, and increasingly expensive force, and not one in particularly rational good order. The plunder from Torrington will bear you for now, but not forever.

You have little time to properly divide your force into companies before a missive arrives from your god-brother, Sir Ralph Hopton, calling on you in the King's name to come to his aid. He is marching out from Falmouth to meet a force of parliamentarians marching in from Devonshire. He calls on you to meet him at the village of Boconnoc, ready for the coming battle.

>Do as ordered, and join Hopton's force. With your numbers and his, no force in Devon should stand against you.
>You will not be ordered around as if you were a commoner - if the men of Devon have marched out to meet Hopton, they've left their homes unguarded. Quick-march into Devon, plunging straight into the rich and Parliamentary southern half of the county.

>>5389409
>Do as ordered, and join Hopton's force. With your numbers and his, no force in Devon should stand against you.

Hang together or surely hang separately, loot will come after we win.

>>5389409
>Leave it, you need to remain mobile, and you don't have the money.

Tempting but we are probably better off without it

>Do as ordered, and join Hopton's force. With your numbers and his, no force in Devon should stand against you.

It will be just as empty once we have smashed their army

>>5389409
>Leave it, you need to remain mobile, and you don't have the money.
Too expensive as a purchase after already raising this big group. Let's stay mobile and use that to our advantage.
>Do as ordered, and join Hopton's force. With your numbers and his, no force in Devon should stand against you.
Not divided so not conquered.

>>5389412
Also if it's possible loan the cannon just for the upcoming battle

>>5389409
>Leave it, you need to remain mobile, and you don't have the money.
At this stage of the conflict artillery is not vital, but maintaining our forces is.


>Do as ordered, and join Hopton's force. With your numbers and his, no force in Devon should stand against you.
Rude or not we have a war to win, and letting men loyal to the king die in vain for pride, is not something an honorable noble should do.

>>5389409
>Leave it, you need to remain mobile, and you don't have the money.
>Do as ordered, and join Hopton's force. With your numbers and his, no force in Devon should stand against you.

Nice to see this is back. You're an early riser QM. Let's not go to Devon when the Militia is wary about leaving Cornwall. A shame about that 1. Also leave the canon speed is more important.

>>5389409
>>Leave it, you need to remain mobile, and you don't have the money.

>Do as ordered, and join Hopton's force. With your numbers and his, no force in Devon should stand against you.

We shall stand together victorious, or fall together in defeat.

>>5389409
>Leave it, you need to remain mobile, and you don't have the money.
>You will not be ordered around as if you were a commoner - if the men of Devon have marched out to meet Hopton, they've left their homes unguarded. Quick-march into Devon, plunging straight into the rich and Parliamentary southern half of the county.

>>5389423
>>5389417
>>5389416
>>5389414
>>5389413
>>5389412
The cannon is a burden you cannot bear - too heavy and too expensive. Besides, sturdy men beat cannonfire every time. You'll march south to meet your god-brother without it, but certainly with plenty of men. You set out in as neat a column as you can manage, leading the line with your lifeguard. You've gone from a small force of cavalry to one of the largest independent armies in the southwest, even if you are still no major force compared to the thousands of men mustered by those with positions on the King's general council.

You meet Hopton on the road out of Falmouth - his host is large, and freshly equipped. He rides out ahead, accompanied by a few gentlemen, to meet you. You both doff caps, a sign of politeness, and he smiles to greet you amiably.

"Ah, god-brother, Sir Edward - it cheers my heart to see you, and with such a force at your back. I've heard of your victory at Torrington - a sharp little blow for His Majesty, and one that made my passage through Devon much the easier. You have my thanks."

You thank him, and offer your own bright, boisterous smile in return. Seems a decent fellow, and from the look of his wounds he's a dedicated servant of the King - however Parliamentarian he may have been in prior years. Many decent men had grievances with the King's ministers, but came to their senses before turning to revolt, just as Hopton did.

"As His Majesty's Lieutenant-General in Somerset and Cornwall, and the deputy of my lord Hertfordshire, I'm in a position to offer you a higher commission. The King needs a decent commander in Devon - you're a local man with the skill to raise and lead men in arms, if yo'll follow me in this I'll pass your name on to his Majesty - fair deal, Edward?"

"Aye, a very fair one - what do you have in mind to do with us, then?"

Cont.

>>5389479


You are brought into Hopton's war councils, where the character of the veteran general is made clear to you. His men are fond of him - recently resupplied from some parliamentary ships caught in port at Falmouth. He has near 3,000 men in all, though he lacks for good cavalry and has fewer muskets than he'd like - the force is blooded, though not much more experienced than your own. He has, more than this, two field guns in working order - enough to turn a battle if deployed well.

The intelligence is that a Parliamentary force of 5,000 is coming in from Devonshire, under the command of William Ruthven. They outnumber you, but Hopton thinks they'll likely be brand new recruits, and without adequate horse, while your combined cavalry now number quite a few hundred. He remains, however, unsure of where to meet the rebels - two options arise, and your vote may well sway things.

>On Braddock Down, a piece of clear park-land, not ill-suited for cavalry maneuver but sufficiently far off that it may have been occupied by Parliament by the time you get there. It is surrounded by patches of hills, suited for hiding troops or mounting artillery, if you get the chance.
>On Bodmin Moor - a vast expanse of rough terrain and open land - perfect for cavalry, but with nowhere to hide and no real chance at complex maneuver, where the weight of parliamentary numbers might win out.

>>5389480
>On Braddock Down, a piece of clear park-land, not ill-suited for cavalry maneuver but sufficiently far off that it may have been occupied by Parliament by the time you get there. It is surrounded by patches of hills, suited for hiding troops or mounting artillery, if you get the chance.

Our cavalry can launch a reconaissance in force first to make sure the Roundheads haven't reached

>>5389480
>On Bodmin Moor - a vast expanse of rough terrain and open land - perfect for cavalry, but with nowhere to hide and no real chance at complex maneuver, where the weight of parliamentary numbers might win out.

Trust the horse. Man's best friend besides dogs.

>>5389480
QM do we have information about artillery pieces in the enemy force?

>>5389480
>On Bodmin Moor - a vast expanse of rough terrain and open land - perfect for cavalry, but with nowhere to hide and no real chance at complex maneuver, where the weight of parliamentary numbers might win out.

I like this better. Although if Braddock wins we can perhaps bait them into our canons and hidden men with good thinking and rolls.

But in general bloodied cavalry trumps green infantry even if they are a large number. Plus the canons should help even if the enemy has. Their lack of horse makes them particularly vulnerable.

>>5389484
None, unfortunately.

>>5389480

On Braddock Down, a piece of clear park-land, not ill-suited for cavalry maneuver but sufficiently far off that it may have been occupied by Parliament by the time you get there. It is surrounded by patches of hills, suited for hiding troops or mounting artillery, if you get the chance.

In such large numbers, even our superiority in cavalry will be hard-pressed to carry the day.
Instead, we should take advantage of our horse to screen our advance and, if possible, delay the Parliamentarians if they are not in position.

I'm also not confident that our cavalry will be able to weather the stress of repeated charges; our lifeguard are near-irreplaceable, and it would not do to expend them so early into the campaign.

>>5389480
>>On Braddock Down, a piece of clear park-land, not ill-suited for cavalry maneuver but sufficiently far off that it may have been occupied by Parliament by the time you get there. It is surrounded by patches of hills, suited for hiding troops or mounting artillery, if you get the chance.

>>5389480
>On Bodmin Moor - a vast expanse of rough terrain and open land - perfect for cavalry, but with nowhere to hide and no real chance at complex maneuver, where the weight of parliamentary numbers might win out.

Well I'll assume the Parliamentary forces don't have artillery, the plain will give our guns good viewing angles.

Most enemy forces are recruits that means they can be easily broken with the right amount of pressure. All our cavalry has to do is attack the battalion hit by the artillery and they will break, so we will demoralize and defeat the enemy infantry block by block.

One more thing would it be possible to build small earthworks, to compensate for the weakness of our infantry? I'm not talking trenches, I'm talking sacks of dirt and shallow holes these things should be quick enough to do, to lessen the impact of the enemy infantry charge.

>>5389501
Even if they had artillery they don't have the horse to protect them especially in an open field which is to our advantage. That means they will either have to hold back some foot or leave them vulnerable. Either way whatever place of battle wins I can see a path to victory so I'm not really stressing this vote.

>>5389480
>>On Bodmin Moor - a vast expanse of rough terrain and open land - perfect for cavalry, but with nowhere to hide and no real chance at complex maneuver, where the weight of parliamentary numbers might win out.

>>5389480
>On Bodmin Moor - a vast expanse of rough terrain and open land - perfect for cavalry, but with nowhere to hide and no real chance at complex maneuver, where the weight of parliamentary numbers might win out.
Remember Sun Tzu lands, the infantry, supported by cannon fire, should hold them well enough for our cavalery to hit their flanks and rear hard enough to cause a rout

>>5389480
>>On Braddock Down, a piece of clear park-land, not ill-suited for cavalry maneuver but sufficiently far off that it may have been occupied by Parliament by the time you get there. It is surrounded by patches of hills, suited for hiding troops or mounting artillery, if you get the chance.

>>5389480
>>On Bodmin Moor - a vast expanse of rough terrain and open land - perfect for cavalry, but with nowhere to hide and no real chance at complex maneuver, where the weight of parliamentary numbers might win out.
We would be fools to ride into rebel hills. We must trust in God and our strength of limb and horse.

>>5389480
>>On Bodmin Moor - a vast expanse of rough terrain and open land - perfect for cavalry, but with nowhere to hide and no real chance at complex maneuver, where the weight of parliamentary numbers might win out.

The enemy outnumbering us by 1000 isn't quite a decisive advantage, nor is our pair of cannons something that I foresee deciding the battle in either direction in so few numbers even if well situated, whereas we should have a strong cavalry advantage if the intelligence is correct.

>>5389480
>On Bodmin Moor - a vast expanse of rough terrain and open land - perfect for cavalry, but with nowhere to hide and no real chance at complex maneuver, where the weight of parliamentary numbers might win out.

File: Ralph_Hopton,_1st_Baron_H(...).jpg (80 KB, 800x997)

80 KB JPG

>>5389481
>>5389493
>>5389497
>>5389532
Braddock Down

>>5389530
>>5389525
>>5389501
>>5389490
>>5389482
Bodmin Moor

You can see the merits of either field - Braddock offers plenty of chance to conceal troops and surprise your foe, but Bodmin Moor cinches it - you're a cavalryman, by God, and it suits you better to charge on a vast open plain than a small one. You argue the case persuasively - Braddock is the conservative option, a field that conceals your weaknesses, while Bodmin elevates your strengths. You should, by taking that open field, make the best use of your mobility, your experience - and you should escape any chance for parliament to mitigate their inexperience through any stratagem.

Your argument sways Sir Hopton, and much of his war council. He and you toast, and swap tales in his tent, late into the evening. You reminisce about life at court - about the strange ways of the Germans, since you've both been at war in that land before. Late in the evening he speaks, with heavy heart, about a friend and comrade who has chosen the other side - Sir William Waller, now a parliamentary general. Hopton is a considerate, weighty man at the best of times, but in the dusk light his deep set eyes are almost mournful.

When morning comes you march to the moor, and your force is folded into the rest of the army. You leave your brother and your other captains with the infantry, and are granted command of a significant body of cavalry, your brilliantly armoured lifeguard at the head. The main army will be flanked by enough horse to keep the roundheads occupied, and you'll be free in reserve to attempt to out-maneuver them. If all goes to plan you'll be the hammer, and Hopton's infantry the anvil. The chance comes to give a speech to your men, as parliamentary horse begin to ride onto the moor opposite Hopton's force.

>What do you say?
>Call on them as King's Men, against rebels
>Call on them as true Christians, against heretics
>Joke with them - laugh, keep your ease. They need their confidence intact to not be spooked by pikes.
>Some other theme?

>>5389578
>Call on them as King's Men, against rebels.

We are fighting criminals, not demons. Our aim is just and good but we are fighting our countrymen, too much cruelty will only cause more people to join this rebellion. Fight bravely, but fight like men!

>>5389578
>Joke with them - laugh, keep your ease. They need their confidence intact to not be spooked by pikes.

>>5389578
>>Call on them as King's Men, against rebels

>>5389578
>Call on them as King's Men, against rebels
We are not only fighting against an enemy who turned our gentlemen against one another, but also against misguided brothers, cousins, friends, englishmen, fight now on upon field to not fight in your homes.

>>5389578
>Call on them as King's Men, against rebels.
We must stand strong, for God and for King and for Country! If we forsake any of these three, we'll have none of the rest.

>>5389578
>>Call on them as King's Men, against rebels.

Be Brave, Fear God, Honour the King!

>>5389588
>>5389587
>>5389586
>>5389584

Your men are arranged in formation, and you wheel about in front, upon your fine white charger. Hopton, for all his skill at arms and charm in person, simply isn't such a performer in his nature as you are. You move with force behind you - you look the perfect figure of a jolly, chivalrous English gentleman. When men see your face they think of Drake, of English heroism against Gael, Spaniard and Papist. You know your audience, and know the proper bearing for them. Your voice booms across the windswept moor - standing up to the breeze.

"God has endowed us, The English, with the finest country known among men, and the finest constitution and form of government. We are not slaves, as Frenchmen are, nor mad peasants as rule in Venice - we are Englishmen, and in our hearts we are all loyal servants of His Majesty. The King, by grace of god, defender of the true faith, wise and noble lord to us all - have we not seen his name insulted? His honour, derided? Have we not seen rebels and heretics insult his dignity? This Parliament is a mongrel thing, and base - servant to Scots and to ambitious criminals - John Pym, John Hampden, that false and barren son-of-a-rebel the Earl of Essex!"

At this insult to Parliament's Lord General the men cheer. Devereux, the Earl of Essex, is widely mocked for having been forced to divorce his wife, and to publicly admit to being impotent, as he had wedded her in disobedience to the crown. A sharp reminder to your men of the ridicule and scorn owed to their foes, and at once a reminder that they are more deluded, more foolish, than monstrous.

"His Majesty the King calls upon you, his loyal subjects, to stand against his false ones, and to set them to flight. By the grace of god, no rebel may withstand the righteous man - and are we not righteous men?"

The men cheer. A good, clean speech - engaging enough, without calling for bloodlust or disorder. You'd be proud of it, if you didn't have better things to think of.

You withdraw your cavalry to the west of the field, up a rise. The Parliamentary force advances in some disorder onto the moor - you think, though, that there is a solid core amidst the fresh recruits. A forest of pikes swing on both sides of the moor, as the blocks of pikemen form. Ahead of them, the musketeers drop to knees, and begin to fire at one another across the field. The whirr of gunfire marks the brisk air, and the slow skirmish draws on. Both sides size one another up.

An hour passes.

And another.

Your men chafe. Horses whinny and scrape their hooves in the dirt.

About 11 o'clock in the morning, there is movement - the cannons begin to fire - and they are only upon your side. They go wide, at first, but draw closer to their targets, and the men of parliament grow ever more nervous. Ten minutes pass, before a cannon-ball strikes one of their horses in the chest, reducing it to a pile of gore in the soil. The Parliamentary commander, at this, seems to order a withdrawal. The infantry begin to back away from the field, while their horse spread out to screen them. You have the better of them, and they know it. Your infantry won't catch them on the open field, but your horse may. Now is the time.

>Go! Charge! Smash their screening horse, draw them back onto the field into your advancing infantry.
>No - race around them, get behind them. Cut off their route out. Skirmish, fire on them, kill their horses, take their baggage - whatever must be done, you musn't let this army return to Devon to fill every garrison hole and bleed your men dry for a year of sieges.
>Let them go. You'll make them bleed as they ride away - fill their backs with bullets, harrass their scouts, don't let them camp. They've two days of marching across moorland before they reach Devon, and little hope of succour till they reach a larger town even then. Better not to risk your men.
>Something else?

>>5389599
>No - race around them, get behind them. Cut off their route out. Skirmish, fire on them, kill their horses, take their baggage - whatever must be done, you musn't let this army return to Devon to fill every garrison hole and bleed your men dry for a year of sieges.

>>5389599
>No - race around them, get behind them. Cut off their route out. Skirmish, fire on them, kill their horses, take their baggage - whatever must be done, you musn't let this army return to Devon to fill every garrison hole and bleed your men dry for a year of sieges.

>>5389599
>No - race around them, get behind them. Cut off their route out. Skirmish, fire on them, kill their horses, take their baggage - whatever must be done, you musn't let this army return to Devon to fill every garrison hole and bleed your men dry for a year of sieges
I like our MC

>>5389599
>No - race around them, get behind them. Cut off their route out. Skirmish, fire on them, kill their horses, take their baggage - whatever must be done, you musn't let this army return to Devon to fill every garrison hole and bleed your men dry for a year of sieges

>>5389599
>No - race around them, get behind them. Cut off their route out. Skirmish, fire on them, kill their horses, take their baggage - whatever must be done, you musn't let this army return to Devon to fill every garrison hole and bleed your men dry for a year of sieges
The hammer to our godfather's anvil!

>>5389606
A truer Englishman there's seldom been.

>>5389617
God brother but yes we shall crush them!

>>5389599
>>Let them go. You'll make them bleed as they ride away - fill their backs with bullets, harrass their scouts, don't let them camp. They've two days of marching across moorland before they reach Devon, and little hope of succour till they reach a larger town even then. Better not to risk your men.

This is obviously a trick, they're baiting us. It doesn't make sense for them to genuinely flee given that they outnumber us.

>>5389618
Godbrother, yes! My head's still addled from Torrington, musket went off too close to me head, you understand.

>>5389619
Green troops advancing into cannon and gunfire with superior Royalist cavalry? Clearly a roundhead advantage!

>>5389619
By God, do you think so?

>>5389622
Hold, there's a core of pikemen. What if they plan to form a wall right as we're crashing into them? No, but we aren't, but cutting off their retreat! A charge would've fed right into their plan.

>>5389599
>No - race around them, get behind them. Cut off their route out. Skirmish, fire on them, kill their horses, take their baggage - whatever must be done, you musn't let this army return to Devon to fill every garrison hole and bleed your men dry for a year of sieges.

>>5389625
Pike formations forming up quickly? That's like expecting a turtle to go fast. No, they can't hold the field without horse and canons despite having more foot. Nervousness and disordered marches can't be faked just like that. This man is not Hannibal

>>5389599

>>No - race around them, get behind them. Cut off their route out. Skirmish, fire on them, kill their horses, take their baggage - whatever must be done, you musn't let this army return to Devon to fill every garrison hole and bleed your men dry for a year of sieges

>>5389606
>>5389602
>>5389600
>>5389608
>>5389617

In your heart you feel the huntsman's urge - the foe is fleeing, you should charge, slam into the back of them and crush them under-hoof, but that would be foolish, and you're not so stupid as to be lured into such a thing. You can't be certain - they might well be in flight - but you've heard of this Ruthven, a veteran of the continent, and you know you wouldn't simply flee in his shoes. You split your force into two - leading one with your lifeguard up the edge of the battlefield to get around the back of the Parliamentarians, while another body, all of light horse, races to finish encircling them.

The gallop exposes both sets of men to gunfire, but you have the better of it - harquebusiers and pistoliers filling the air with shot and laying out a good many of the under-armoured Parliamentarian recruits. It's a close run thing - they nearly get away from you, but you manage to link up with the horse on the other side, cordonning off the Parliamentarian retreat. You fire off pistol shots as muskets roar - a bullet glances off your breastplate and you offer up a wordless prayer no other hits better.

It isn't enough - Hopton's foot are advancing as fast as they may, but they need more time to reach the Parliamentarians. The Parliamentary horse darts west, hoping to break through and ride like mad away around you, while the foot continue in a surprisingly solid formation northwards off the field. There are many stragglers - the recruits seem disorderly, and not fit for whatever maneuver they've been put to, but the solid body of veterans in the middle - scots, by their colours, have formed a rear-guard. If you'd been less wary, they might've lured your horse into a charge and smashed you by appearing to flee - though who can say whether their flight was, at first, genuine.

>What now?
>If you want to buy Hopton time, you need to stop the Parliamentary foot, and put all your might to it. Charge in and out, sabres drawn, and drive them south into Hopton, like cattle. You might have just enough horse to avoid being surrounded and destroyed.
>Those horse can't be left free to act - they might swing into the back of Hopton, or otherwise throw a dangerous wrench into the battle. You must dedicate some of your men to stop them - what remains won't be enough to stop the Parliamentary foot in proper melee, but only to skirmish
>Something else?

>>5389639

>If you want to buy Hopton time, you need to stop the Parliamentary foot, and put all your might to it. Charge in and out, sabres drawn, and drive them south into Hopton, like cattle. You might have just enough horse to avoid being surrounded and destroyed.

The rebel cavalry are as green as their English foot; only the Scots seem to be conducting themselves in good order.

I am confident that if we allow them to flee from our cordon, they will not reorganise in any timely manner to have an effect on the battle.

Besides, cavalry can not hold fortifications, and they are certainly not in enough numbers to do so as infantry.

Also, I would like to thank the QM.
This is the most fun I've had for quite some time when participating in a quest.

>>5389639
>Those horse can't be left free to act - they might swing into the back of Hopton, or otherwise throw a dangerous wrench into the battle. You must dedicate some of your men to stop them - what remains won't be enough to stop the Parliamentary foot in proper melee, but only to skirmish

Hard choice but we can't let the horse bo back and attack our foot. Worst case scenario and we have to let the enemy foot go to focus on the horse. But even then we would be able to pursue in the following days due to our cavalry.

>>5389639
>Those horse can't be left free to act - they might swing into the back of Hopton, or otherwise throw a dangerous wrench into the battle. You must dedicate some of your men to stop them - what remains won't be enough to stop the Parliamentary foot in proper melee, but only to skirmish

>>5389639
>If you want to buy Hopton time, you need to stop the Parliamentary foot, and put all your might to it. Charge in and out, sabres drawn, and drive them south into Hopton, like cattle. You might have just enough horse to avoid being surrounded and destroyed.

The elite of the enemy forces are in the rear guard, if we want a definitive victory we will have to make this sacrifice. It won't be pretty but we have no other choice.

>>5389639
>If you want to buy Hopton time, you need to stop the Parliamentary foot, and put all your might to it. Charge in and out, sabres drawn, and drive them south into Hopton, like cattle. You might have just enough horse to avoid being surrounded and destroyed.

>>5389639
>>Those horse can't be left free to act - they might swing into the back of Hopton, or otherwise throw a dangerous wrench into the battle. You must dedicate some of your men to stop them - what remains won't be enough to stop the Parliamentary foot in proper melee, but only to skirmish

If we destroy the enemy horse we'll be free to harass them later

>>5389639
Roughly how many enemy horsemen are there?

>>5389656
Probably around 200 - you outnumber them significantly, with 310 of your own and 100 of Hopton's. There are another 150 horse with the main body of Hopton's troops, split into two wings of 75.

>>5389639
>>Those horse can't be left free to act - they might swing into the back of Hopton, or otherwise throw a dangerous wrench into the battle. You must dedicate some of your men to stop them - what remains won't be enough to stop the Parliamentary foot in proper melee, but only to skirmish

Don't send any of our heavy cavalry there though, dedicate them to fighting the enemy infantry.

>>5389639
>>Those horse can't be left free to act - they might swing into the back of Hopton, or otherwise throw a dangerous wrench into the battle. You must dedicate some of your men to stop them - what remains won't be enough to stop the Parliamentary foot in proper melee, but only to skirmish

File: asd.jpg (2.7 MB, 2995x1516)

2.7 MB JPG

>>5389666
>>5389663
>>5389655
>>5389647
>>5389649

The horse must be the priority. They are the army's sword hand, if they remain then the rest can still fight, but once they've been destroyed you can chase the rest through the country at your leisure till their blood flows in every well in England. It is less dramatic, perhaps, but perhaps wiser.

You split off four troops of light horse, 200 men, under your brother Edmund, to chase the Parliamentary cavalry - it is green, and in disarray. If you can catch it, you can kill it - you send your brother off with a cry of godspeed, though your words are lost in the maelstrom of gunsmoke and horseflesh. What men remain to you are heavily outnumbered, and their lives balance on the edge of a blade - if you allow yourself to be surrounded, you'll be ground to mincemeat. If you stay still, you'll be shredded by the mass of musketfire. And so, you do neither. It is a difficult thing to convey orders in the midst of the fight, as your troops circle, weave, charge and withdraw, but you've a damn talented bugler, and the horn rings out louder than the crack of musketfire.

Your lifeguard hold the heart of your formation together, and with them to steady the rest you manage to retain something like good order. Your breath slows, and the rest of the battle, of the world, seems to fall away, as you yourself charge in, sabre raised. The back of the Parliamentary force is steadying, and it seems your attack has forced what cowards were among them to find the steel in themselves, stand and fight. Peals of pistol-fire from your light horse support ou in the charge - three times your armour glances off bullets that should have killed you, and three times you thank god for his mercy.

Your lifeguard charge in, swing their sabres into the packed mass of men, whirl around, and charge again. The troupes of light horse charge like mad saracens whenever they spot an opportunity - you've put fire in them, and your presence keeps them from panicking, even as men begin to fall in ever greater numbers. Marksmen, armed with better muskets and carbines, hit many men clean between the eyes and send them to god. A good many are skewered on pikes - you catch a heavy sabre-blow to the off-hand - you bleed through your white doeskin gloves, and you can barely feel your fingers, though they grip your reins iron tight.

You have the sense that your men cannot last much longer. There is so much blood. Horses wail in their dying. You cannot see your lifeguard.

>Roll, by the Grace of God; 1d6 and 1d20

>>5389671
(For anyone new, you can only roll one kind of dice at once - I'll need one person to roll 1d6 and one to roll 1d20)

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>5389671
Lord be with us

>>5389671
GOD SAVE THE KING!

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5389679
Forgot dice

>>5389680
It was better to continue having forgotten.

Are we to be taken prisoner?

>>5389682
Not sure the 18 seems good. The 1 bad. Anything could happen I think. Might have to play as Edmund from now on lol.

>>5389685
It seems like 1d6 is army performance, I figured 1d20 is our own performance.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>5389677
Here is a d 20

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5389687
Well it was a nice thread

>>5389687
Thank God this does not count lol

>>5389678
>>5389680

>>You are Edmund Cormont, Captain of Horse

Your race across the moor. Your horse are well practiced on this terrain, well trained, and their horses were born and bred on Exmoor. The parliamentary horse is not ready for you - they were not expecting to be chased. Some turn towards the infantry with Hopton, and are cut down by a hail of pistol-fire and a few quick riders running them through. The rest are scattered and beaten in half an hour's work - bottled up, slain and taken captive on a hillside overlooking the battlefield.

Your work done, you take a long drink of wine from a skein, and turn to survey the battlefield. All is chaos - Hopton's infantry have joined the fray, and you watch as his cavalry wheel around into the back of the enemy line, joining with the remaining forces under your brother's direct command. Seeing the bloody mess at the back of the field you spur your horse, and rush back towards the field.

>>You are Sir Edward Cormont, Loyal Cavalier

You wipe the blood from your eyes. Your memory is filled with a haze of blood and metal. Your hand bleeds heavily, your thigh is in agony - but you are surrounded by dead rebels, and that, you think, is a small mercy. You lean heavily on your sword, planting the blade in the dirt. No man draws near you - your armour is dented and chipped, with bullet-marks more than you can quickly number. You spot your horse, and it is as calm as if you were at home again. You leap into the saddle, and let out as much of a roaring cheer as your dry throat allows, charging, again, into the fray.

"For the King!"

---

You sit with Hopton and your brother on a hillside. You raise a toast to the bravery of the dead, even as a surgeon sews the cut on your palm, and another binds the wound across your scalp. You were damn near killed. Five of your lifeguard were slain around you, and of the 210 men you lead through the final hours of the fight, only 100 escape intact, though there are none without at least some wound, and about 30 now maimed or bleeding out their last. The infantry fight was brutal - the scots fought hard and well into the night, but you won, in the end. Even after Hopton reached the scots, it was a close run thing - they were veteran mercenaries, supported by the weight of numbers of the new recruits. Only by a cunning device of Hopton in drawing back and surrounding the Scots was their strength broken, and onyl when your brother returned, with a horn-cry and a charge into their backs, did the foe break, and surrender. No more than twenty of them, of five thousand, escaped the field. More than a thousand of them are dead or wounded, and six hundred of your own - of whom your 110 cavalry made a solid part.

The remaining parliamentarians are corralled prisoners, to be re-recruited or shipped to Ireland to fight catholics. Their officers will make fine ransom. Their baggage train was heavy with pay-chests, powder and supplies - almost all the military force in Devonshire has been broken in one day. When you compare it to the cost of months of siege and counter-siege, of attrition war in the hills - this was a mercy, sent by god. Hopton is cheered by many - his encirclement of the scots broke the back of the foe, and you must admit it was a beautiful maneuver. You, though, are cheered louder, and sung of. Men remember the fury of your sword-blows - how you charged, unwavering, against foe after foe. It was fear of you and your vengeful horse, as much as the loss of the scots, as broke these surprisingly determined soldiers.

You feel every blow. You will bear scars from the field of Bodmin Moor for the rest of your days - for one thing, your brother jokes, you can barely hold a spoon with your left hand any longer. When you look into the night's sky, though, and know that you still live, you thank god for your good fortune.


>>[Battle of Bodmin Moor - Smashing Royalist Victory - This battle was bloodier, but far more conclusive, than its real-life counterpart - you have altered the flow of events, and the name of Edward Cormont will not soon be forgotten]

----

That's the session for today lads - you'll excuse me for the night. I hope you had a good time with it.

>>5389703
Was the 1d6 for the parliamentarians?!