It has been a few weeks since the tournament and everyone is healed up and getting ready for the summer campaign against the Saxons.  The spring planting is done and the manors can safely be left in the care of those hired to handle them.

Ariette, Ellowyn, Fiona, and Galeria all departed on the final day of the tournament, while the Queen left after the funeral for Sir Lamorak the following day.  The Princess has remained at Sarum.

-- Sir Dalan --

Sir Dalan is preparing to depart for Sarum when there is a report of bandits along the southern border of his manor that edges on the forest.  Riding out with some men-at-arms, he does not get far before seeing a frightening scene.  There are at least a hundred men-at-arms heading toward him.  Having fought various peoples, he recognizes these as Irish.  Of course, that is impossible.  How could the Irish have made it this far inland without being seen by anyone?  The entire duchy of Dorset is in the way.

A normal bandit group is 6-10 people, perhaps larger in some cases but usually poorly armed and unarmored.  A Saxon warband is usually more like 30-40.  This is much larger and well armed and armored.

-- Sir Garym --

Sir Garym and Arianwen are out riding when they see smoke to the West and to the South.  Soon after a rider appears, his horse lathered with foam.  "The Irish are attacking from the West!" he exclaims before riding off.

-- Sir Sejanus --

Sir Sejanus is composing a letter to Galeria when word reaches him that an Irish army is attacking Chitterne and that it probably won't hold out much longer.  The rider than continues on his way to warn others.

-- Group --

You are all in slightly different time lines.  Sir Dalan is early in the morning, Sir Garym closer to noon, and Sir Sejanus early afternoon.  You know only what is in your paragraph(s).  Sir Dalan only really has one direction in which to travel but Sir Garym and Sir Sejanus have some options but getting more information from the riders is not possible.  Sir Gracian and Sir Perin are unaware as yet of what is going on.

As a general rule, once you realize the scope of the attack, you should all be trying to get to Sarum and help others to do so as well by warning them or helping to hold bridges or crossroads (or destroying bridges).  Your decisions will impact how things play out in terms of how many knights and soldiers make it to Sarum and whether or not you make it or are killed or captured.

Given the numbers involved, although your characters are not yet aware of it, you won't be able to stem the tide but anyplace you go will be able to hold out longer due to your presence.  For reference, there are 75 knights and 165 soldiers under Earl Robert.  A normal request to gather them would take a few days (sending out riders, knights gathering equipment, knights traveling to Salisbury).

Look at the Group 0 Map for reference as to where things are relative to you.  You can generally assume that people can walk along rivers but they generally can't ford them except at roads.  Keep in mind that people are going to be panicking and the news you get is not necessarily accurate.  Also, people will not necessarily be acting as they would if they were sitting in a comfortable chair typing on a computer.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:54, Sun 05 Nov 2017.

Sir Dalan's jaw drops but after a moment he comes to his senses. Turning on horseback to his sergeant of men-at-arms. "Back to Tisbury. Hewgon, you and the others will help to evacuate everyone to Wilton - Tisbury alone cannot hold out against such numbers."

To his squire he says: "Melion, after the evacuation has begun we're going  ride for the next manor to warn them what's coming. Dinton, Baverstock, Barford... we'll take muster at Wilton's walls."

When the frightened inhabitants of Tisbury reach Dinton Sir Dalan at once goes to see Sir Gracian: "My friend we need to head towards Wilton, all of us. I'm not sure even the walls there will help us but we'll be in a better position to hold the ground there to get time for Earl Robert in Sarum."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Sun 05 Nov 2017.

Sir Dalan found Sir Gracian admiring his newly planted rose-garden when he brought him the news of the Irish raiders. "Irish raiders! Here?? Curses on them!"

He turns and looks at the garden he planted as a gift to his wife. "Alright then. Wilton it is. I will send a courier to Baverstock then to warn Sir Perin and tell him to make for Wilton with all haste."

Gracian then begins the evacuation of Dinton with a heavy heart.

Gracian's courier finds Perin overseeing the serfs of his manor as they were starting to plant for the coming year.  He wasn't interfering, simply trying to get to know the people of his manor, and seeing how they worked.

Nodding gravely at the news, he immediately sends his squire off to prepare for the trip.  In the interim, he very calmly orders the serfs to stop their work and return to their homes, taking only what is necessary.  He doesn't share the nature of the evacuation with the people, as he doesn't want to spread panic.

When they finally set out, Perin orders any horses (including his own if need be) and wagons to be loaded up with children and the elderly.

Wilton, as the only walled city in Salisbury outside of Sarum, is a decent sized city with a dozen knights and 25 men-at-arms stationed there.  However, as Sir Perin, Sir Gracian, and Sir Dalan arrive, the place is in total chaos.  Defenses are hastily being erected and manned, while many townspeople load carts, wagons, and any animal worthy of carrying things with their possessions.  People are running aimlessly or standing dumbstruck while others scream at them or ignore them as they run about their own business.

The Southern gates are shut with a half dozen knights watching the roads to the south from the parapet.  The northern gates are clogged with villagers, merchants, serfs, women, and children fleeing toward Sarum and safety.  There is no obvious person in charge and many of the efforts seem contradictory.

Heavy black smoke can be seen from the south and from the west.  The castle at Ebble, some three miles to the South can be seen from the walls, if anyone cares to see what is going on along the Southern roads.

About another half dozen knights and 10 or so men at arms arrive with Sir Dalan, Sir Gracian, and Sir Perin, so approximately 20 knights here.  There should be 5 knights at each of the castles (Devizes, Du Plain, Ebble, and Vagon) and another 10 at Sarum (none of whom are counted in the 75 knights Earl Roberts commands as they are tied to the castles).

Sir Gracian immediately attempts to organize the defense of Wilton. If there is noone there to take charge then Gracian simply assumes command working day and night to gather supplies, dispatch scouts, find shelter for the refugees and of course organize the defenses. If he has any doubts about their chances he hides it well as he is always seen and heard laughing and joking.

Perin surveys the scene with a frown.  Unless they managed to get this mess under control, they'd be easy pickings for the Irish.  "Sir Gracian my friend, can you stay here and try to make some sense of this mess?" Perin asks, gesturing to the chaos unfolding around them.  "I'll try to organize those retreating to Sarum and get them cleared out of here.  Sir Dalan, you had mentioned mentioned Ebble and those knights stationed there.  It's not far, and they might have an idea about what's happening to the south.  And given all of this, we need to tell Robert everything that we possibly can."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:26, Sun 05 Nov 2017.

"Of course my friend. I will have this place sorted out soon enough and then Wilton will hold until help arrives. No Irish barstard will ever take this town!"

"Well said my friends," Sir Dalan says, before turning to mount the walls so he can get a better look at the road to Ebble.

Clapping his friend on the shoulder, Perin nods grimly.  "God be with you my friend, stay safe."  Turning to Sir Dalan he adds to the retreating man "Ride like the wind my friend" before quickly departing to make order out of the chaos of those people retreating to Sarum.