Gary^The^Procrastinator
Prelude to the Battle of Durrough
A LEGO build for Lands of Roawia Castle Builders Game. It sets the stage for my GC7 entries: Battle of Durrough: The Black Swan (Unrestricted); Duel at Cobblestone Bridge (Restricted); To Our Fallen (Vignette). It is a collaboration in story (but not builds) with JBIronworks, who will build other parts of the City of Durrough in Lenfald's battle to take back the city from the evil Queen.
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Prelude to The Battle of Durrough
“So, do you know what all this is about?” Caelan called to Sir Haymar Glen as he and Captain Tavish dismounted under the solitary big red maple tree by the Bantam Road. Right behind him was Sholto, Caelan’s 14 year old squire.
Haymar, who was already waiting at the tree with his own retinue of his sister Ana and other warriors, grinned at him. “You know as well as I do, Baron Munro. I trust the Duke. And after all we both use Scout Snipers, and they know everything.”
Sir Caelan smiled as well while reaching out to shake his hand, “Almost everything.”
Tavish pretended to be insulted, “Lad, what do you mean by, ‘Almost’?”
A Sniper who had lookout duty called to them that Duke Cartney and two other riders were approaching.
“Barely made it here in time,” Caelan observed.
“It wouldn’t have done to be late to the party,” Tavish added.
“Especially this party,” Sholto chimed in, excited to finally be out of school and back into the action. He had only recently re-joined Sir Caelan, his knight, now a full baron in charge of over 125 Scout Snipers. He had missed their creation as a new Lenfel fighting unit, and he was determined not to miss anymore fighting, further education or not.
“Have you done your homework?” Tavish chided him. His answer from the boy came in the form of an icy stare.
Duke Cartney dismounted in a hurry, but he did bother to wipe away some road dust from his luxurious clothing before striding over to a table Sir Haymar already had set up for them. All things properly done of course.
His two lieutenants saluted him and the entire party gathered around.
“Greetings all. So, I know the two of you have met before due to your sharing of Scout training, yes?” Cartney began. In fact they had, as Haymar had asked and received permission to start his own Sniper unit, which required Caelan to “loan” him several trainers.
“Yes sir, of course I have yet to get my trainers back,” Caelan stressed the last word. Turning to Haymar, he stated, “I can’t help but notice that you didn’t bring them with you today.”
Haymar, no dummy, shrugged, “I only have eighteen Snipers trained. I still need them.” In point of fact, he had no intention of ever returning them as they were still his best archers, but he wasn’t going to tell Caelan that.
“Well, to start things, I suppose you two want to know why I have made such unusual arrangements to speak with you today…” Cartney started, but both Haymar and Caelan cut him short.
“Time to fight!”
“Scum Queen gets hers.”
The Duke was taken aback a bit. “But gentlemen, our leaders are still held captive…”
“They sent a letter.”
“Time to rebel.”
The Duke was not happy that his little surprise fell flat. “Assuming this information is right…”
“Scout…”
“…Snipers.”
That pretty much finished it and the Duke stopped all pretense. “Ah, yes, time to kick these scoundrels out of our glorious Lenfald.” But he still had one more trick up his sleeve. Turning to Sir Caelan, he threw his fire as casually as he could muster, “Oh, and um, your meetings at the Black Swan Tavern with your furry spy Wolfgang have been compromised, I’m afraid. You’ve been ratted out to Lord Oslet.” As Caelan’s face fell to concern and dismay, he added, “Oslet, by the by, has been made commander of all the Queen’s forces in southeast Lenfald. He’s going to make sure you get a hot reception on Market Day, I can tell you.”
“He’s not going to get anything, Sir, I shall notify Wolfgang…”
“Already have,” the Duke was now enjoying this exchange.
“Excellent Sir, I’m glad that you did…” and mid-sentence something struck Caelan as odd. “So you have known for some time?”
Now the Duke took on a sly look, “Oh, well, one doesn’t have to have Scout Snipers at one’s disposal to know what’s what, eh?” For many months now the Duke had been in a perilous position as the leader of the City of Durrough, pretending to betray Lenfald and turn for the evil Queen, all the while acting as a double-agent. It cost him dearly, for the once-popular leader was now openly despised by many of Durrough’s inhabitants. Only shrewdness and wisdom had kept him alive.
“Ah,” was all Caelan could come up with, until he openly wondered, “How did they find out? We were so careful…”
And now the Duke was in his full mischief mode, thoroughly enjoying the moment. Going for max shock-value, he stated as casually as he possibly could, “Well, um, I told Oslet of course…”
Thinking it must be a joke, Tavish blurted, “Ha, not likely eh!”
Cartney turned to him and stated flatly, “Very likely. I told him everything, Market Day, a certain Lady’s love letters, bacon, the lot.” Turning back to Sir Caelan with an open-handed gesture, he added, “You don’t mind, do you?”
The entire crowd seemed stunned. Tavish suddenly had an evil look in his eye. Ana, quicker to anger than her brother, went for her sword, but Haymar stopped her, waiting to see what the Duke had in mind.
“Love letters?” Sir Haymar said, glancing at Caelan.
Sir Caelan’s mind started to turn over in fury…and then suddenly turned to complete admiration.
He marveled out loud, “You’re going to turn an ambush into an ambush.”
The Duke shrugged. “Jig’s up. It is a trap for Oslet indeed. I’ve completely won over his trust by giving away whatever I could without hurting the cause. But actually you are going to turn that ambush into an ambush.” He then withdrew a scroll from his vest and unrolled it on the table before them. They had expected a field battle or siege, but the map was of Durrough itself.
“The goal is not just Lord Oslet. We are taking the entire city back, starting with Sir Caelan at the Black Swan. I am going to gather my hidden-in-plain-sight army from inside the city, while Sir Haymar here strikes with his forces from the North Gate. Being Market Day, it should be open and lax in security. We will draw Oslet out of Durrough Bastion in waves, first as reinforcements against Sir Caelan, then for Sir Haymar, and then my forces shall rise up and block all retreat back to the Bastion.”
“Sir, you are not very popular in the city,” Sir Haymar started…
The Duke paused. “Yes, he said thoughtfully, “but since my own agents were the loudest of protestors against me, I rather think I’ve got that covered.” To Sholto’s misunderstanding expression he explained, “Plants, dear boy, to fool Lord Oslet and his ilk. Anyone who merely pretended to turn for the Queen, will still be loved by the people you see. And as a side benefit, I now know who my friends—and enemies—are amongst the population.”
Sir Caelan thought he had it all mastered, but now he saw that he still had much to learn, and it needed to be from the Duke, a real master of the play. Still, one last thing bothered him.
“So it is to be street fighting. Very dangerous, for both civilians and combatants.”
All present understood the risk, and the Duke nodded thoughtfully. “We shall all swing together, or swing separately, if you know what I mean.”
Caelan nodded; this was full scale war; all must be risked, for losing could only result in the hangman's noose. He finally finished, “We shall fight with everything my lord…but did you really have to tell that weasel about Lady Kenzie’s love letters?”
“But of course,” the Duke said delightfully to much laughter, “Perfume and all.”
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Previous Caelan stories:
Prelude to the Battle of Durrough
A LEGO build for Lands of Roawia Castle Builders Game. It sets the stage for my GC7 entries: Battle of Durrough: The Black Swan (Unrestricted); Duel at Cobblestone Bridge (Restricted); To Our Fallen (Vignette). It is a collaboration in story (but not builds) with JBIronworks, who will build other parts of the City of Durrough in Lenfald's battle to take back the city from the evil Queen.
-------------------------
Prelude to The Battle of Durrough
“So, do you know what all this is about?” Caelan called to Sir Haymar Glen as he and Captain Tavish dismounted under the solitary big red maple tree by the Bantam Road. Right behind him was Sholto, Caelan’s 14 year old squire.
Haymar, who was already waiting at the tree with his own retinue of his sister Ana and other warriors, grinned at him. “You know as well as I do, Baron Munro. I trust the Duke. And after all we both use Scout Snipers, and they know everything.”
Sir Caelan smiled as well while reaching out to shake his hand, “Almost everything.”
Tavish pretended to be insulted, “Lad, what do you mean by, ‘Almost’?”
A Sniper who had lookout duty called to them that Duke Cartney and two other riders were approaching.
“Barely made it here in time,” Caelan observed.
“It wouldn’t have done to be late to the party,” Tavish added.
“Especially this party,” Sholto chimed in, excited to finally be out of school and back into the action. He had only recently re-joined Sir Caelan, his knight, now a full baron in charge of over 125 Scout Snipers. He had missed their creation as a new Lenfel fighting unit, and he was determined not to miss anymore fighting, further education or not.
“Have you done your homework?” Tavish chided him. His answer from the boy came in the form of an icy stare.
Duke Cartney dismounted in a hurry, but he did bother to wipe away some road dust from his luxurious clothing before striding over to a table Sir Haymar already had set up for them. All things properly done of course.
His two lieutenants saluted him and the entire party gathered around.
“Greetings all. So, I know the two of you have met before due to your sharing of Scout training, yes?” Cartney began. In fact they had, as Haymar had asked and received permission to start his own Sniper unit, which required Caelan to “loan” him several trainers.
“Yes sir, of course I have yet to get my trainers back,” Caelan stressed the last word. Turning to Haymar, he stated, “I can’t help but notice that you didn’t bring them with you today.”
Haymar, no dummy, shrugged, “I only have eighteen Snipers trained. I still need them.” In point of fact, he had no intention of ever returning them as they were still his best archers, but he wasn’t going to tell Caelan that.
“Well, to start things, I suppose you two want to know why I have made such unusual arrangements to speak with you today…” Cartney started, but both Haymar and Caelan cut him short.
“Time to fight!”
“Scum Queen gets hers.”
The Duke was taken aback a bit. “But gentlemen, our leaders are still held captive…”
“They sent a letter.”
“Time to rebel.”
The Duke was not happy that his little surprise fell flat. “Assuming this information is right…”
“Scout…”
“…Snipers.”
That pretty much finished it and the Duke stopped all pretense. “Ah, yes, time to kick these scoundrels out of our glorious Lenfald.” But he still had one more trick up his sleeve. Turning to Sir Caelan, he threw his fire as casually as he could muster, “Oh, and um, your meetings at the Black Swan Tavern with your furry spy Wolfgang have been compromised, I’m afraid. You’ve been ratted out to Lord Oslet.” As Caelan’s face fell to concern and dismay, he added, “Oslet, by the by, has been made commander of all the Queen’s forces in southeast Lenfald. He’s going to make sure you get a hot reception on Market Day, I can tell you.”
“He’s not going to get anything, Sir, I shall notify Wolfgang…”
“Already have,” the Duke was now enjoying this exchange.
“Excellent Sir, I’m glad that you did…” and mid-sentence something struck Caelan as odd. “So you have known for some time?”
Now the Duke took on a sly look, “Oh, well, one doesn’t have to have Scout Snipers at one’s disposal to know what’s what, eh?” For many months now the Duke had been in a perilous position as the leader of the City of Durrough, pretending to betray Lenfald and turn for the evil Queen, all the while acting as a double-agent. It cost him dearly, for the once-popular leader was now openly despised by many of Durrough’s inhabitants. Only shrewdness and wisdom had kept him alive.
“Ah,” was all Caelan could come up with, until he openly wondered, “How did they find out? We were so careful…”
And now the Duke was in his full mischief mode, thoroughly enjoying the moment. Going for max shock-value, he stated as casually as he possibly could, “Well, um, I told Oslet of course…”
Thinking it must be a joke, Tavish blurted, “Ha, not likely eh!”
Cartney turned to him and stated flatly, “Very likely. I told him everything, Market Day, a certain Lady’s love letters, bacon, the lot.” Turning back to Sir Caelan with an open-handed gesture, he added, “You don’t mind, do you?”
The entire crowd seemed stunned. Tavish suddenly had an evil look in his eye. Ana, quicker to anger than her brother, went for her sword, but Haymar stopped her, waiting to see what the Duke had in mind.
“Love letters?” Sir Haymar said, glancing at Caelan.
Sir Caelan’s mind started to turn over in fury…and then suddenly turned to complete admiration.
He marveled out loud, “You’re going to turn an ambush into an ambush.”
The Duke shrugged. “Jig’s up. It is a trap for Oslet indeed. I’ve completely won over his trust by giving away whatever I could without hurting the cause. But actually you are going to turn that ambush into an ambush.” He then withdrew a scroll from his vest and unrolled it on the table before them. They had expected a field battle or siege, but the map was of Durrough itself.
“The goal is not just Lord Oslet. We are taking the entire city back, starting with Sir Caelan at the Black Swan. I am going to gather my hidden-in-plain-sight army from inside the city, while Sir Haymar here strikes with his forces from the North Gate. Being Market Day, it should be open and lax in security. We will draw Oslet out of Durrough Bastion in waves, first as reinforcements against Sir Caelan, then for Sir Haymar, and then my forces shall rise up and block all retreat back to the Bastion.”
“Sir, you are not very popular in the city,” Sir Haymar started…
The Duke paused. “Yes, he said thoughtfully, “but since my own agents were the loudest of protestors against me, I rather think I’ve got that covered.” To Sholto’s misunderstanding expression he explained, “Plants, dear boy, to fool Lord Oslet and his ilk. Anyone who merely pretended to turn for the Queen, will still be loved by the people you see. And as a side benefit, I now know who my friends—and enemies—are amongst the population.”
Sir Caelan thought he had it all mastered, but now he saw that he still had much to learn, and it needed to be from the Duke, a real master of the play. Still, one last thing bothered him.
“So it is to be street fighting. Very dangerous, for both civilians and combatants.”
All present understood the risk, and the Duke nodded thoughtfully. “We shall all swing together, or swing separately, if you know what I mean.”
Caelan nodded; this was full scale war; all must be risked, for losing could only result in the hangman's noose. He finally finished, “We shall fight with everything my lord…but did you really have to tell that weasel about Lady Kenzie’s love letters?”
“But of course,” the Duke said delightfully to much laughter, “Perfume and all.”
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Previous Caelan stories: