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Part 6 - The Battle of Hertford

Page history last edited by Ben 14 years, 5 months ago

The battle of Hertford

Cwichelm’s three battalions meet the South Saxons, West Sax and Jutes. Wolfwine leads the party in a unit bolstered by 12 ceorls as part of the third battalion facing and vastly out numbered by the Jutes. While Wolfwine’s unit has survives well against an initial wave from Jute bowmen losing only two ceorls, Cwichelm’s army is split as the South Saxon mounted wedge runs through, boding poorly. A ragged second Jute unit of spearmen engages Wolwine’s unit in berserk rage. Geat achieve’s the first knock down of the unit. Wolfwine and Oslaf bring down two more Jutes before they are run through with spears. Aelfrith takes a minor blow and two more ceorls are lost but the Jute spearmen retreat. Aelfrith and Oslaf give chase fighting for would be king and country, however they are disheartened at the retreat of Cwichelm’s first and second battalions. In a display of mercy the South Saxons do not pursue, leaving only the retreating Jutes and Cwichelm’s third battalion on the battleground. Wolfwine pushes his unit’s attack in a last effort for honour. The battle finally ends with a complete and orderly retreat of Cwichelm’s army. Aelfrith in particular is badly wounded and disfigured, he also retreats in to a deep melancholy at the defeat of his king. So much so he refuses medical treatment for his wounds. However, the overwhelming generosity of Geat snaps Aelfrith back to his old self. Cwichelm returns to his lands for the winter.

 

During winter the Briton, Corlis, previously captured and freed by Wolfwine returns to seek him out and give him the ransom, he would have received had he sought it, in return for his mercy. Wolfwine refuses the money but invites the Briton and his family to settle in his budding village, Arianberg. Now with five families settled, Wolfwine clears enough land – four hides – to break even. He briefly has second thoughts about refusing the Briton’s money but his growing fondness for the Britons wins out.

 

At the start of the summer of 503 increasing insurgency of British rebels in to his lands diverts Cwichelm’s resources from waging further war. The party is despatched to investigate a distant Christian Angle village suffering raids from Iceni Britons. On approaching they find the village completely sacked. A scuffle with some out-riding Iceni rebels ensues. Baylis slips out of consciousness seering pain in his shoulder and neck, his last fading vision that of his companions being obliterated as they fight for their lands, and his last fading thoughts only of deep sadness and desire for death, for him and the filthy Saxons. He awakes to the face of a diminutive Saxon tending his shoulder, still with seering pain but a clearing head. His confusion is broken at the sight of a much larger Saxon poised over the diminutive Saxon’s shoulder battleaxe in hand. Without time to shed a tear for his homeland, only to think of the cruelness of those bastards, the axe swings to his neck. Wolfwine rides for the village where the Britons are holding Saxon women and children hostage. Wolfwine ignores their warnings and presses the attack, his attempt to free the hostages in a surprise manoeuvre failing, causing the Britons to make good on their threats. The rest of the party attack and kill the Britons but not before the slaughter of women and children – just enough are saved for the party to feel successful.

 

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles

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