more summer developments and the beginning of Autumn 1004

The Normans decide to try widening their foothold in the North and return to the siege of Denmark. But clearly the Danes have laid in more beer and neeps, as they see off their invading cousins for a season (Normans, please designate an element to be lost).

The English watch events with interest but choose not to venture beyond their dooryards. So cautious are they that when a contingent of Welsh shepherds turn up calling "Gŵyl San Steffan!", the English give them a huge chest full of hacksilver. The shepherds, marvelling, go on their way.

That closes out the summer of 1004. Leaves begin to turn, there's a chill in the air, and


the wind whips up the waves so loud,
the ghost moon sails among the clouds,
turns the spear blades into silver,
on the border.

Autumn, 1004 arrives.

recent events in Cumbria

The army of the Duke of Normandy rode north into Cumbria in the spring, determined to batter his arch-rival the King of Scotland into submission. The sun shone on the mail of his knights and glittered on the tips of the spears of his footmen.

Less glittered in the brown and green clad hosts of the Scots, but grim determination was seen in their mien, and a fierce willingness to battle could be seen in their eyes.

So determined was the King of Scots to come to grips with his enemy that, he too, marched from his strongholds and sought out the foe. They found them sooner than they expected, as a trap sprung by the cunning Normans caught the Scots away from their beloved hills and forests, out in the open.

Too pleased with his cleverness, the duke charged forward heedlessly, and many of his knights (2 Kn) were slain in their collision with the Scots spearmen. But once the fighting lines became broken and the melee more general, the weight of the armoured horsemen began to tell, aven as Norman footmen fell beneath Scots swords (1 Sp).

The Scots lost many of their stalwart footmen that day (2 Sp and 1 Ps), but it was the loss of a good half their horse (1 LH) that finally broke their spirit. The remaining Scots broke, falling back beyond the forth and the Tay to Scone, while the Normans settled in to plunder Cumbria (and the Lothians).

4-3 win for the Normans, who now control Cumbria and gain 1 PP for battle and 3 PP for control of Cumbria. Scots retire to Scone.

England's turn.

Wales retreats, attacked again!

Having taken their lumps from the Scots, the Welsh fell back to the quiet dales of Powys. Or so they thought.

But the English, who had been silently nursing their grievances after drubbings at the hands of the Danes and Normans, suddenly cast off the garments of woe and leapt into action, charging across the border into Wales! Still nursing the wounds of their last battle, the Welsh were confronted with a new and unexpected (though admittedly tiny) enemy army on another patch of their own soil!

New map below.

Danes not dead yet, but dedicated defenders

The army of the Normans sailed across summer seas from London to Denmark, hoping for an easy conquest. They were disappointed, as the defiant Danes held forth in their steading at Aalborg. Waving spears, axes, and the occasional mocking turnip at their southern cousins, the men of the northlands jeered at the frustrated horsemen whose valiant steeds gave them no advantage when charging palisades. Many of the lance-bearers perished before their duke called a halt to the escalade.

the Scots on the rampage

The Scots pursue the Welsh to the environs of Dublin. The Welsh, bruised and battered, decline to give battle and retire to their homeland. The Scots trick their way into the city and run riot among the casks of strong brown porter piled on the quayside.

Current affairs on the board, as we wait for the Danes' move.

the end of the beginning

The Irish invasion of Scotland met a rather bloody conclusion, as the Scots detached a small portion of their army to surround and attack the Irish, as the bulk of their spearmen stood on a nearby hill, snacked on cheese and pickle sandwiches, and watched the battle.

Four Irish bands were slain [will fill in which elements from my notes later], while only one band of Scottish skirmishers were slain. The Irish retreated precipitately, falling back to the Isle of Man. The Scots, given the opportunity to pursue their defeated enemy, leapt into their birlinns and coracles and followed. (Neither the initial Irish invasion nor the Scots counter-invasion lost any elements to the windy waves of the Irish Sea or to Corryvreckan--Cailleach Bheur was apparently sleeping.) But the Irish, loathe to fight further until they had repainted their shields and polished the brass hilts of their swords, moved back to Armagh. The Manx were, it appears, annoyed but not dismayed by the departure of their overlords and gave the arriving Scots a broad two fingers. (The Scots lose an element for a failed "siege".)

Thus arrived summer 1002. The Vikings made a few exploratory raids from their stronghold at York. They seem to have sent scouts, mounted on local horses, in several directions, checking the roads to the north and west. But in the end, they stayed in place, calculating many options but making no movements.

All wait now to see what move the Norman army makes, if any, from its base in Fecamp.

more warfare in the north!

While the Welsh watch their sheep (or their neighbours') peacefully grazing, the Irish sail off around (their) sea, stopping at various congenial watering holes for a bit of a sunbathe. Arriving on the coast of 'Cumbria' (taken rather broadly--I imagine to have a quickie marriage at Gretna Green or to do some shopping at The Lanes in Carlisle), they decide they like it and begin debating whether to call it a "holiday home" or "the first step in the great Irish Empire".

Interestingly enough, the King of Scotland happens to be in the area, on a holiday of his own with a few thousand close friends and retainers. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to the Irish dilemma.

the first attack!

And the Danish fleet, which wintered among the Trondelager in Norway, sails for England, landing near York!

"From the fury of the Norsemen, o Lord..."

...will Aethelred's treasury deliver York?

Or the stout hearts and study shields of the fyrd?

(The English army has started at London, but can march north and defend York if the king orders them to.)