Toni Sihvonen (order #92780) 62.142.248.1

Toni Sihvonen (order #92780) 6
lanes within minutes. Thick mud slows Arthur’s knights,
some of whom see wild women and wolves riding in the
clouds.
Arthur’s army reaches Donnington, but only the greatest
nobles and Arthur’s personal retainers can sleep in the
safety of Donnington Castle. The rest sleep wherever they
can: nobles and knights in houses seized in Donnington;
footsoldiers in a cold, wet camp in the fields.
After the Battle
The Saxons follow the retreating army and camp outside
Donnington. The entire Saxon army is jubilant; they faced
the best Arthur had to offer and beat him! Many armrings
are given for bravery and land is promised to warriors.
Player Hooks
The Haestingas join Aesc’s contingent, and may be
pushed back from Kennet by the scouting enemy knights.
Alternatively, player characters may probe the flanks, possibly
ambushing (or ambushed by) Britons in the hills to
the north or the forest to the south. Let victorious characters
be recognized by their lord, or by one of the cynings.
They will need all the Glory they can get!
From here on, the ranks of player characters will thin. You
might allow “dead” players to play Saxon commanders:
thegns or ealdormen at first, but eventually the remaining
cynings!
Day 2 - The Battle of Donnington
The rain continues into the morning. Arthur’s priests see
Saxon magic behind the sudden local storm. Nobody gets
a hot breakfast. Bowmen are out of the fight: the rain has
dampened their bowstrings and made them useless.
Knights can’t ride for fear of hurting their horses.
Arthur puts his dismounted knights in scildburhs - “Like
the damn Saxons,” they grumble. Both sides slog forward,
the Saxons throwing javelins and axes. Many Britons fall
to the hit-and-run attacks of Picts and Irish, who are in
their element. Riders from King Barant’s northern army
arrive, cheering Arthur and his men. Arthur tells Barant to
form camp on Mount Badon, an abandoned hillfort
north of Mildenhall; then Arthur retreats to Badon, covered
by the Round Table and de Canis knights.
A mile from the battlefield, the rain is nowhere in evidence.
Arthur’s knights re-mount, forcing Saxon pursuers
into scildburhs and slowing them to a crawl. Yet the
Saxons capture Donnington. Some stay there, looting and
burning, while the rest reach camp at the foot of Badon.
That night, they marvel at the half-seen movements outside
Arthur’s camp on the hill.
After the Battle
Corpses soak in the muddy fields of Donnington. Saxon
camp followers squabble with Donnington’s peasants.
Again, the Saxons are overjoyed: Though Arthur still
remains outside their grasp, he has retreated for the second
day in a row. And there is more loot! Yet Saxons gain
little extra Glory from the muddy, inconclusive fight
unless they beat a knight or named Briton.
Player Hooks
Saxon magicians may be calling the storm from a nearby
hill like Uffington Castle, requiring complex preparations
and trustworthy bodyguards. They may even encounter
Christians or enchanters from Arthur’s side, leading to a
“magician’s Badon.” That night, Saxons may volunteer to
spy on Arthur’s preparations, a very dangerous mission. If
they somehow find Arthur’s reserves, delay the spies with
Cymric ghosts or faeries who live inside Badon. The spies
will return from the Otherworld too late to change history,
but at least gain a +5 Followers’ Fate advantage for
their own men.
Battle of Donnington
Modifiers
Arthur: -5, Aelle +5:
Arthur outnumbered -5
Mud and rain: -5 to all (negates Arthur’s superior
troop bonus)
Battle Length
Four Battle Rounds
The Fight
Round 1: Arthur dismounts his knights into scildburhs, while
the lighter-armed Cambrians and Cornish trade blows with
Aelle’s Picts and Irish. The main Saxon and British hosts
spend the round slogging across the fields.
Round 2: First charge: the main battle lines collide inconclusively.
Muddy ground reduces Knockdown scores by 5.
and forces Recognize rolls to tell mud-splattered friend
from mud-splattered foe.
Round 3: Arthur’s troops are falling back when they see
Barant’s reinforcements. Arthur. Uriens, and Barant plan to
rendezvous at the abandoned hillfort of Barbury Castle
and fortify it.
Round 4: Arthur’s men retreat along dry roads. Many
Saxons stop and loot the town of Donnington, while the
rest reach Badon.