Adventures in Rendlesham Forest

A wagon loaded with tribute and taxes is making its way through Rendlesham forest to Orford castle in Suffolk.

Knowing that outlaws are endemic in this region, the Sheriff of Suffolk leads men from the castle to help escort the wagon to safety.

The Sheriff’s men at arms are ambushed by Bill Rouge’s ‘Merry Men’. Their longbow volley inflicts significant casualties and the Sheriff himself is wounded.

As this is happening, the Hooded Man leads his outlaws through the woods in the centre towards the wagon. He is intercepted by the Captain of the Guard. Outnumbered by the outlaws the men of law and order take significant casualties.

All these goings-on disturb a bear who had until now been quietly minding his own business. The enraged bear makes a beeline to the outlaws. This gives the Captain's men a welcome moment of respite in which to disengage.

Further away from the castle, David d’Eville leads his serjeants against Wee Ernie’s horde of angry villagers. Confident in their martial abilities and only facing mere peasants, the serjeants charge with elan.

The men of law and order had not counted on Wee Ernie’s legendary good luck at dice rolling, nor the presence of the Fat Friar amongst his ranks. When sober (as he must have been today) the Fat Friar’s devotions have been known to bring about divine intervention. Needing a 5 or 6 to hit, this was a divinely inspired score and D’Eville’s men are duly castigated for oppressing the free folk of Rendlesham forest.

Meanwhile, back in the centre, Hood’s men close with and break the Captain of the Guard’s crossbowmen.

Buoyed by their victory the outlaws chase their broken foes and push on, hoping to capture the wagon. Alas!  As they break the cover of the woods they see Sir Vey Lance’s mounted serjeants bearing down on them.

Sir Vey Lance’s men cut through the outlaws like a knife through butter. Only a couple of men escape their wrath but the Hooded Man does manage to get away.

After dispersing the Hooded Man’s outlaws, Sir Vey Lance continues to urge his men forward, even daring to enter the woods to engage Wee Ernie’s angry villagers who are in hot pursuit of d’Eville’s defeated men. Once again the Fat Friar’s devotions bear fruit and Sir Vey’s charge is brought to a halt.

Closer to the castle, the Sheriff of Suffolk’s men at arms take more casualties from Bill Rouge’s longbowmen. Undaunted he leads his depleted men forward. The outlaws evade an initial charge but are eventually caught and have to stand to fight in hand to hand combat.

The combat is fierce. The men at arms’ armour protects them for a while but they are sorely outnumbered and eventually they are forced back and then broken.

It was a near run thing but thanks especially to the heroic effort’s of Wee Ernie’s villagers (and the Fat Friar’s devotions) the Sheriff’s men are forced from the field. It looks like the outlaws will be able to use the gold and silver from the wagon for a more equitable re-distribution of wealth.

The rules used were Richard Speedman’s Adventures in Rendlesham Forest which combines elements of Dux Britanniarum and Sharp Practice. Hopefully this will lead to an ongoing campaign.