The Dragon Rising: A Pendragon Solo campaign. Episode 7
Year 486 - Summer
Lord Titus Flaccus
A large host led by Lord Gronwin, King Adeon’s most trusted knight and marshal, goes north to help retake the lands of Lord Titus Flaccus, a Staune Dries nobleman and the great grandson of Emperor Anris, the savior of Sochia. Meanwhile Tremayne has been consigned to patrol the banks of the Gungarry river. A duty he is sure is reprisal for going above his lord and having the king grant his family the estate of Thornbriar. As he made his way back to Laverstock, Tremayne came across the village of Ashtide, the site of a Blesh raid. Seeing the suffering inflicted on his people the young lord swears vengeance upon the barbarians.
The scout came galloping back and was ushered into the command tent.
“What did you see?” Lord Gronwin asked scowling at the scouts obvious distress.
“My lord, they are waiting for us at the ford.”
“How many?” Lord Lytton interjected, gaining a flash of annoyance from Gronwin.
The scout hesitated glancing from great lord to great lord. “Several hundred, men at arms, archers and just a few knights, my lord.”
“We should attack at once.” Declared Lord Titus, itching to do battle with his usurpers.
The leader of the Staune Dries troops has a battle of 12+D6 (2): 14.
Gronwin’s battle skill is 17.
Staune Dries commander rolls 1D20: 8, a success.
Lord Gronwin rolls 1D20: 7, a success but loses as the lower roll.
Shouted orders had the men at arms lined up and ready to advance. They slowly moved forward until they could see their opponents standing in a ragged line on the Sochian side of the ford. The Staune Dries soldiers stood shields and spears ready.
Lord Gronwin frowned and stroked his thick brown beard as he surveyed the potential battlefield, “I only see footmen, where are the knights the scout spoke of ?”
Lord Titus trotted over and turned his magnificent pure white charger in a tight circle to get close to Gronwin. “Let us scatter the scum before they can reinforce their position!”
Let’s roll against prudent for Lord Lytton.
Roll 1D20 (10): 8, a success.
Gronwin also rolls against prudent.
Roll 1D20 (12): 11, also a success.
“My lord, let us hold!” Lord Lytton cried out.
Lord Gronwin nodded, “Agreed, something is not right.”
Now for Lord Titus and a prudent roll.
Roll 1D20 (12): 11, a success.
Lord Titus wheeled his horse in annoyance, “Why wait? Strike now I say!”
Gronwin turned and shouted to one of his commanders, “Send a section of men at arms, clear the ford.”
With a shout a detachment of Sochian men at arms crashed their spears and shields together as they marched towards the ford and the waiting Staune Dries troops.
As they got to within around twenty yards the waiting troops began to back away and were soon running headlong back across the ford.
“We must attack!” Lord Titus almost screamed as he watched the retreat.
Testing Lord Titus’ prudence once again.
We’ll add a +5 since he has succeeded once.
Roll 1D20 (12+5): 18, a failure.
“Crassus, sound the charge!” Lord Titus shouted as he drew his sword and turned to watch his contingent of troops run forward. “Forward men, let us drive these dogs into the dirt!”
Do Titus and his troops avoid the impending ambush?
50/50: Yes, but… Titus and his troops are left exposed to the Staune Dries knights that charge them from their position of concealment behind a copse of trees.
“Stop!” Gronwin shouted in vain as Titus led his troops in a headlong rush towards the ford.
A hidden group of archers rose from the tall grass and sent a murderous volley of arrows into the advancing men at arms as they splashed across the knee-deep water. As dozens of unfortunate men died, the knights advancing with Lord Titus reined up as they watched the carnage unfold.
The thundering echoes of hoofbeats were the first indication of the impending attack.
“Wheel, wheel.” Lord Titus screamed as the line of charging knights came over the low hill and splashed into the ford riding directly towards them.
We’ll have another battle roll here. Lord Titus will have a -5 since they have been surprised.
Roll 1D20 (20-5): 16, a failure.
The Staune Dries knight commander. Roll 1D20 (15): 8, a success.
As the dazed, surviving men at arms stumbled back across the ford, they were swallowed up into the swirling chaos of the halted cavalry charge.
“Wheel!” Lord Titus’ shouts were drowned out as the steel tipped wedge of charging Staune Dries knights slammed into their exposed flank, scattering horses and men before them.
“Idiot!” Gronwin growled as he watched the scene unfold before them.
“What do you want to do my Lord?” Angor Merdith asked quietly.
“What can we do?” Gronwin snapped, “We have no idea of their numbers.”
They watched as riders and men at arms made their way staggering back to their waiting comrades.
A knight galloped up to the watching commanders, helmetless and blood stained he reined up in front of them.
“They have taken my father!”
“And what do you expect us to do about it Sir Marcellus?” Gronwin growled at the youth. “Your father blundered into a trap and is paying the price.”
“We must rescue him.” Sir Marcellus demanded.
“We must spill Sochian blood to save your fool of a father?” Lord Angor sneered.
“You are here to support my family’s claim, my Lord.” Sir Marcellus snapped back.
We’ll make a check against Lord Angor Merdith’s cruel trait.
Roll 1D20(18): 1, a success.
“Insolent pup!” Angor hissed as he rode forward and sent the young knight crashing to the ground with a heavy backhanded blow of his mailed fist.
Sir Marcellus jumps to his feet, his hand going to the hilt of his sword.
“Hold your blade, Sir Knight!” Lord Lytton cried.
Let’s go ahead and test Marcellus’ prudent trait.
Roll 1D20(17): 9, a success.
Sir Marcellus’ face twisted in rage as his hand tightened around the sword hilt.
He looked from face to face of the Lord’s looking down at his from their horses and he forced himself to relax.
“You will pay for that.” He hissed under his breath.
As someone just getting into Pendragon, this is really making me want to solo it!
Love what you'd done with the story so far!
This was excellent reading. Love the tension between the knight and commanders.