A knight to remember - part 1. Setting ye scene

This week's game featured some good old-fashioned brutality with a thin veneer of chivalry.  I used the A Fistful Of Lead rules with each of the players having their own deck of cards and dice.  I modified the scenario from one in the rulebook - adapted to the personalities involved.  And so, without further ado I give you (and you can keep it):

 A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER

“The greatest story ever embroidered” – Cross Stich World Magazine*

An ageing lord has been left without an heir.  He has decided to offer to the knight he deems most worthy all his lands and the hand of his daughter.  And the key to her chastity belt.

The lady – a blushing virgin (with, if the rumours are to be believed, much to blush about) has placed her favour (an embroidered scarf) in the ruins of a local chapel – notable as the home of a shrine to Our Lady Of Perpetual Bewilderment.  Whichever knight can retrieve the favour and present it to her is the winner.  (But see also the Code of chivalry).

The lord and his daughter are waiting at his tent.  They will take no part in the battle except to judge any conduct they consider “unbecoming to a knight.”

The knights at least 12 inches from each other and from the centre of the ruins.

The Favour.  The lady’s favour is a scarf tied to a pole in the centre of the ruins.  A knight must spend an action to grab it.  Only a knight can do so.

The favour can only be taken away by putting the bearer out of action.  Only a knight may present it to the lady by moving to contact her.

Ye Code of Chivalrie.  The lord will look unfavourably upon knights who break the code of chivalry.

Only a knight may take the favour to present it to the lady.  No knight would send a lowly peasant to fetch the favour.

A knight may not engage a non-knight in combat if another knight is closer.

A knight will not engage another knight who is currently in combat with another.  He won’t ‘gang up.’

Knights.  Knights have trained their entire lives for combat.  A knight cannot be put out of action until he receives three Wounds.  Treat any Out Of Action result on the Wound chart as a Wound instead.  Once he has sustained three Wounds, he’s Out Of Action.

If a knight is put out of action, his retainers will leave the field and take no further part in the action.

Map

It’s the Middle Ages and you want a map?  Get real.

  

Ye Cast Liste

Lord John of Westbourne       a God-fearing gentleman, lord of Broomhall, Endcliffe and all ye lands as far East as ye inner ring road.

The Lady Ermentrude             a tidy piece.

Friar Paul of Wigan                a devout monk. Lord John’s confessor, so a busy man.

Peter of Almondbury              the county executioner.

 

Mark of Great Ayton              sword, heavy armour, shield

                        Retainer 1        spear, light armour

                        Archer 2          bow, dagger

Simon of Youlgrave                sword, two-handed axe, heavy armour

                        Retainer 3        sword, light armour

                        Archer 4          bow, dagger

Martin of Nether Edge           sword, heavy armour, shield

                        Retainer 5        two-handed axe, light armour

                        Archer 6          bow, dagger

Thomas of Crookes                 sword, heavy armour, shield

                        Retainer 7        spear, light armour

                        Archer 8          bow, dagger

Jeremy of Burngreave             spear, heavy armour, shield                         

                        Retainer 9        sword, light armour, shield

                        Archer 10        bow, dagger

Others:

Yonder peasant, also Ye Umpire and Ye Narrator

Sundry scurvy knaves

Lord John kneels in prayer, accompanied by his personal confessor Paul of Wigan, county executioner Peter of Almondbury and the inevitable lute player.

The gallant knights.  From left to right: Jeremy of Burngreave, Simon of Youlgrave, Thomas of Crookes, Mark of Great Ayton and Martin of Nether Edge. 

Figures were from my accumulation of 54mm plastic toys.  I can see at least half a dozen manufacturers represented in the photos.  Having set the scene we'll get to the action in the next post.  Place your bets now....

    * fake news, obviously.