Civil War in New Cumberland!

T

Thomas Fortescue

New member
If you don't want to read all this, just know that there's a civil war, and I need help military and commercially. Feel free to take sides as you wish.

The doors to the throne room flew open. Three guards stepped in, one behind the other. The guard in the front retrieved a scroll from his satchel, unrolled it and began to read, "Your Highness, we carry grave news. The merchant Clement Barraclough has finalised his marriage to Maria Thackrey, binding their two families together. They have already shut all the trade routes leading from the south, and they threaten others. They have amassed an army in the south made up of knights loyal to their houses, and now they threaten to march on the castle."

The baron replied, "This is indeed concerning. We must flee the barony and head for safer lands. We shall then gather support from other baronies within the kingdom to be able to regain control of our rightful territory. Tell me, loyal warriors, who leads this army? I would assume it would be a knight belonging to one of the houses."

"That would be correct, your majesty. The one leading the revolt is none other that Philipp Thackrey, a servant of yours for many years. I do not mean to question your authority, but do you think it is most wise in this situation to flee the barony? It could be interpreted by the people as an unwillingness to fight, and would therefore make you seem weak. In my humble opinion, leaving would only gather more support for the rebels," replied the guardsman.

"I respect your thoughts. This is why I surround myself with advisors; one man cannot run a barony himself! If not leave myself to gather support, go yourselves and see where we can find help to support the true ruling house of New Cumberland. Make the rounds of nearby baronies before making it to Arnhelm. Servant, call my lady. She must be informed of the change of circumstances," the baron negotiated.

"Yes. At once your highness." The servant walked out of the throne room to the right.

"Guards, you may leave now. Go on horseback; it is faster, and this matter is most urgent.
We need all the support we can possibly get. In fact, one of you, wait. I need someone to travel a different direction and reveal to me the intentions of the house Firth. In case the foreign support is not available in time, we must have at least some leverage at home first," continued the baron.

The three guards left the room, the sound of galloping horses fading into the distance.
Shortly afterwards, the servant returned with the baroness-consort.

"My Lady, I have news. Clement Barraclough and the Thackets have incited a rebellion in the south, threatening our power and trade routes. I must ask of you your house's support in fighting this. The Greenwoods and Hawnbys must stand united if we are to retain our thrones."

"Oh dear! This is truly concerning. I can assure you, Thomas, that it would be extremely disadvantageous for the Greenwoods to stand against your rule. We must face the rebellion head on. I will get someone dispatched to my father to discuss military options. Do you not think that the people still resent you for what you did to the wool trade? I fear Clement might use that as a weapon against you. We must gather the support of foreign lands to prove that you can, in fact, hold your own?" Spoke the baroness.

"I have sent two of my finest guards. All we can do now is to wait for reinforcements to arrive."
 
The Barony of Primorye will send a contingent of cavalry to help defend House Hawnby from imminent dissension within its lands.

[OOC]Such large RP blocks seem daunting to me. I haven't been in a spot where I felt I could reciprocate adequately. :P
 
House Mantag shall support the Baron with a contingent of our Household Guard.
 


Put your fire into my Soul



“How is the morale of the palace guard?” Baron Kol asked from one of the advisors sitting at the long rectangular meeting table. Some commotion comes from outside the thick oak doors leading into the meeting room. A muffled guard yelling for someone to halt, “You can’t go in there!” and then participants of the meeting could hear some struggling. The room’s guard began to stand ready and with the Baron’s permission, opened the doors. In tumbled a royal carrier who was squirming free from a guard’s grasp.

“My Lord, I have … some … news.” He struggled to say between his panting breaths. “Let the man up, allow him to speak.” The Baron said to the guards who subsided with a bit of fear and dread. It appears as if the guards on the outside post had attempted to bar this man from entry although he carried a covered missive of high importance. “What’s the meaning of this? Did you NOT see the man’s royal seal?” another man spoke harshly to the guards. Before they could reply Baron Kol spoke out. “It’s not their fault. I didn’t inform them, so it’s mine instead.” The room fell into an abyss of silence as the courier caught his breath.

“Lord, this missive comes directly from the Barony of New Cumberland.” He began as he slid the thick, covered missive across the table directly into the Baron’s right hand, knocking over a cup of tea in the process. “New Cumberland. That’s Lord Hawnby’s barony.” Baron Kol said as he opened the missive and leafed through the pages. It appears to be an intelligence report as well as some caravan reports. As the Baron read in absolute silence, he perched his fisted hand over his lips, grasping the severity of the situation.

“Very well. Good job, son – you’re dismissed.” sixteen-year-olds he dismissed the young, barely sixteen-year-old courier, who was then escorted from the room by the guards. The Baron paused for a moment as he wrote some names down on a piece of parchment, one of his stewards trying to peer over his shoulder at the scrap of paper. The Baron took note of this, but didn’t raise suspicions. “Here, summon these people to the meeting room at once.” He ordered as a guard took the scrawled note.

“Long story short gentlemen, I plan on authorizing the building of the river transit system for the Barony, only on the condition that Lilly Scythe take over the project. I think she has the skills to do this and place faith in her. Round up some workers to build a road in both directions, we need a way to reach the village in an emergency. No other budgets will be approved until after these have been done. Go on about your day now, something rather important has come up.” The Baron wasn’t usually this cold to his advisors, who noted that if he was – it had to be serious.

Despite the brush of the shoulder from their Lord, they walked from the room with a low murmur. Some grins had sneaked across the faces of the attendants without the Baron catching sight of them. It had been some time, fifteen or twenty minutes, perhaps more before the guard knocked on the chamber door. The Baron hadn’t moved from his seat other than shifting his body from time to time. “Enter.” The Baron shouted, allowing the guard to lead a small group of people into the room.

“Good, you’re here. Bar the door guard.” The Baron ordered as a heavy metal and wooden door bar was lowered into place, locking the door from the inside. This somewhat scared those he had summoned and they began to look about. The windows were also closed with the thick drapery pulled across them to make the room dim, but still lit by candlelight. “I called you here because I have a mission for you – a very important one. It appears the barony of New Cumberland is in civil war and riot. Rebels are trying to over-throw Lord Hawnby.” He begins as his sobering tone lets them know very well how dire the situation must be. “He has chosen to flee the barony and I want you to ensure he arrives here safely.” Shocked faces and stifled surprised gasps cause the knights in the room to kneel and then the others to follow suit.

“You will not be doing this in your armor, however. I saw Steward Choani glancing at the paper as I was writing it. So you’ll be doing this with only your civilian attire and whatever you can get away with hiding beneath it.” The Baron’s plan sounded risky as he pointed it out, briefing them on how dangerous it could end up being. “That COWARD LITTLE SH…” I can’t get upset, I must remain calm.” The Baron cried out in anger before he calmed himself by taking a deep breath. After the briefing, they were released on their own.

“Well, isn’t this something?” One of the men said. "Intentionally trying to overthrow a barony sounds like something your family would do.” One of the knights said as he walked along side the others through the castle’s hallways towards what seemed to be outside. The woman just glared at him, her eyes as sharp as steel as a snarl creped up onto her face. “You should keep your mouth shut, Cyn.” Said another knight who also shot him a rather ill look.

The interior of the castle grounds was quite large with gardens and paths spread out like a labyrinth in what seems like all directions. But for those who lived and worked here, they were always a myriad of ways to get from point A to point B. They stayed away from the population, preferring to take the side streets and back alleyways to arrive at the shop they needed. The shopkeeper was quite surprised to see them all three in the store at once, and perhaps a bit starry-eyed.

“Oh WOW! How can I help you?” The female shopkeeper asked. “We need some civil---“ the woman was interrupted by the blonde. “You see, this armor gets awfully heavy. I was wondering if you would allow me the privilege of trying on some of your wonderful clothing. Something that breathes would be nice, my lady.” He said as he took the young woman’s hand into his own and kissed it gently. The blush quickly rushed across her otherwise pale skin as she giggled almost uncontrollably. “Abso..lutely. I’ll be back in just a moment.” The shopkeeper said as she rushed off to some back room.

“We’re supposed to keep a low profile. Let me handle this and you handle the other part, okay?” Cyn said as he brushed his hand through his hair at the low growls of the other two. It was an hour and a half before the three emerged in what looked like rather plain clothing. Most of that time was spent trying on clothes that were far too noticeable and Cyn flirting with every woman in sight. They begin to blend in with the crowd and finally meet up with their caravan driver at just about dusk.

“We are terribly sorry that we are late. But someone wouldn’t stop flirting with the ladies.” She said annoyed as they both look angrily at Cyn. It appeared the rest of the group that had split into two to avoid drawing attention had already arrived quite sometime before the three knights had. “Oh don’t be so formal. My name is Rai’ifus and this here is my granddaughter Arulyy.” The younger girl of about ten or eleven hid behind her grandfather, a man who was slumped over slightly from age. His hair had long since turned white from the age with streaks of silver through it as his chocolate brown eyes reflected the eagerness of a younger man.

“Now don’t be shy, dear – go on and say hi.” He prodded his granddaughter out from hiding behind his leg. She awkwardly walked up to them and waved, shyly. “Hello.” Her rather long brown hair hung to her mid back and her piercing green eyes gazed at Cyn. He knelt down to her and smiled somewhat sweetly. “Wow, look at you. Such a cute girl.” He said before taking her hand in his and kissing it softly before she yanked it away in embarrassment. “Isn’t she too young for you Cyn?” The male knight replied with a look of annoyance on his face. “Yes, but in another five or six years, she’ll be quite the looker.” Cyn replied, at least he wasn’t all bad, maybe.

The group mounted up onto the horse-drawn carriage. A mighty team of two horses pulled it as they tried to make a softer floor in the back where the goods had been loaded. The covered carriage was the best way to travel off-road, as it kept dust from going everywhere. As the carriage pulled out of the outer western facing gate of the castle-town and left the bustling behind, the name across the side shines brightly against a guard’s lantern. “Mistdrift Trading Company” was emblazoned in gold into the wood and canvas of the carriage.

Night had fallen and some of the group joked and conversed or at least tried to. It seemed the mixture of characters and personalities hindered a decent dynamic between the two halves of the now united group. As the night birds call, Cyn yawns and stretched out on the now padded floor. “Hey don’t take up so much space!” Said one of the other girls in the group. She was a bit younger, perhaps nineteen or so, but she had an unusual color of hair and her eyes – they revealed her as a native of the land.

As the rocky barely a road came around a bend in a wolf could be heard howling off in the distance as the night birds went deathly quiet. In an instant of the passengers set up and glanced around. Her red hair hung very low and it was clear she was on alert. A raven caws out in the night, breaking the silence as some bushes in the distance rustle. If an ambush was going to happen, it would be soon. The elevated hills made great places for archers and the brush along side the road could hide at least ten or twelve men. Up against the edge of the bend like this, it was a strategic no-brainer.
 
The guard who came racing in before walked through the doors again, "I do not mean to challenge you, your Highness, but Baron Hawnby has chosen not to flee and instead fight, though the former may have crossed his mind. All he requires is military support to regain control of the Barony."

He looked at all the faces staring at him in the courtroom. He felt a little flustered because of his surprise re-entry, but continued speaking, "The Baron and Barony thank you for your support and wonderful trade project. It will certainly give us the upper edge in the fight."

Again, the courtroom was silent. This told him that his welcome had ended, and he parted through the doors.
Meanwhile in the Barony

"Sir, the south of the Barony is in revolt against you, we must attack now!" Shouted one of the baron's advisors.

"You're right," the baron replied, "We need to act now. We have a combined force of 537 men, they have somewhere around 493. We are fairly matched. If we want to win this, we need to have a strategic advantage. The north of the barony is hillier, and would give us a terrain advantage, but would leave the rest of the barony open to attack."

"We could use the river to our advantage," said another advisor.

"We could block off the roads leading north, and then the rebels would be forced to use the river, and then we could ambush them on the river," added Laurencius Greenwood.

"I like that idea," said the baron, "I say we ambush them on the river. Before they arrive here, block all the roads. Move quickly; they will be here very soon."

The knights spread out and began felling trees to block roads. The rebels were still amassing in the south, consolidating their power.

[OOC:] Sorry it's short, I don't have very much time.
 
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