Campaign #3. - A little axe.
Furious of the loss of his beloved firstborn, King Malcolm ordered a draft of every able bodied scot throughout the northern provinces. Heeding his call for vengeance, thousands of men stepped forward to undertake the defense of their homeland from the imperialistic English. Before the night was done, the Scottish army numbered well into two thousand men strong spread out in only one fortress, and one city. The remaining 1500 stood outside of the gates of Edinbrugh goading the English Army to the south by killing English scouts, and sending them back on their horse beheaded.
After the fourth loss of a scout, King William met with his young but brave son Prince Rufus. "Son, our beloved God spoke to me in a dream about the bloodshed that awaits upon our staying in this encampment." it seemed that William's right hand shook in disdain at the memory of his dream before continuing his speech. "Thunder and hail will rain down irregardless of where we head, but if it is on this battlefield that we choose, we will lose all hope and glory... This is proven by the loss of our scouts."
"Father, you speak of Madness."
"Stay your tongue fool! I know of what I do, we ride out tommorow for Edinbrugh. We shall end this war before long!"
William's army numbered in the 700's after a short headcount, including the losses of his few scouts. He gathered up his retinue, issued to them their orders, and sent them out among the men to improve morale that had become impoverished as a result of rumors of William's recent punishments on officials who disobeyed him.
Two more years would pass as village after village, and town after town along the road between York and Edinbrugh became shorter, while English borders spread deep into Scottish territory. It wouldn't be long now before William would set up an outpost only days away from where the town stood. Of course, became the English scouts all lay dead, and Richard the Spy was currently busy in Dublin rounding up rebels, William and Rufus failed to notice the army just over the hills north of Edinbrugh. There lay hidden the army 1500 strong, led by the famous Aed of Oakley.
"Are we set to encircle them?" Aed would state to his first in command, Captain Kirk.
"Yes sir, my men should be in place before nightfall."
"Then we ride. Encircle them so they can't make an escape. The fools won't see us coming."
William did however anticipate this attack, even if he did not know of the exact numbers. Before nightfall, and before the encampment was completed, he'd call forth his men, and issue to them a rousing speech. "The scots will be here soon, so I thought it'd be prudent for me to let you know that... I have brought you here to fight! I can promise you nothing, save a hard struggle! Would you have me tell you anything else? But if I say we can win, then we can win. We shall be victorious, if all do their part! And all will do that!" surely there was more to his speech, but after the last statement, every last man in his army was screaming at the top of their lungs, while brandishing their weapons.
The final scout in the army, known as Nigel would return scouting to the King, shaking and shuddering in fear as if he had saw death itself, "My lord, the Scots are coming!"
William who believed himself to be following the divine path of god, would reply, "I know. God had told me of this moment, and I saw the outcome of this battlefield. Fear not, for we are just."
"They number in the thousands m'lord!"
William for a moment took to thought, before laughing out haughtily and heartened to his lesser commanders, and retinue. "This worries you? Every last man here is as good as three scots. Why worry about a thousand scots, when there are 700 english standing before you now! Ready your horse, and prepare to relay orders!"
Just over the hills, the scots would be marching. Like a forest growing in mere moments, they stood out like 6 foot tall trees, each with a spear or bow in hand. To the east away from the main army, was cavalry that had numbered in the hundreds.
Guided by his own delusions, and a knowledge of fighting under the guise of night, William would issue orders to each of his retinue, gaining a position to the south of the encampment on a large hill. His bowmen readed their arrows in a long line of burning tar preparing to fire volley after volley of burning needles into the hearts of their opponents. Horsemen lead by Prince Rufus would take hiding in the nearby forests, while the Hobilars would purposely expose themselves to the far east, where the hundreds of scottish horsemen prepare their charge.
Moments would pass, before the first volley of burning arrows was fired into the mass of Scottish footmen and archers that march across the grassland. The ground underneath them trembled, only to be forever marred by burn scars from the needles fired into the air. Dozens of scots died in the first volley, followed by a second, a third, a fourth. That was when from behind sprung a suprise ambush lead by Prince Rufus, and a hundred knights. It would take them no time at all to decimate the foolish Scottish archers who ventured too far ahead of the Scottish army. Then just as fast as they sprung forth, they'd dissapear back into the forest without a trace.
The Hobilars would lead the Scottish knights led by Captain Kirk to the main army, where spearpoints awaited them. The hobilars would rush through the spearpoints that were not brandished at the time, just so they could with the help of two more companies of spear militia come around the main body of spearpoints, to encircle hundreds of foolish Scottish horsemen. They too would be decimated. That was when King William would valiantly ride out with his bodyguards, to meet with Captain Kirk's mailed knights. Blows and clashes would be struck all around, but while only a few of William's men were downed, William would contribute to the deaths of dozens of the knights. This would go on long enough for William and Kirk to exchange blows for a couple bouts, before Kirk would succumb to death at the hands of William's sword.
The scottish main army would encircle around the lesser sized army of England. However, like a ghost in the night, Prince Rufus would encircle the main army led by Aed of Oakley. Each Scottish man would now douse the soil in excrements, at the sound of hooves trampling into their ranks, while the spear points of the main army would charge forward. The bowmen would place their bows down, and King William himself would even enter the frey. That was when the cowardly sheep of Scotland would retreat, only to be fleeced by the horsemen of England. 900 Scotsmen would be captured by a much smaller English force, while Aed of Oakley would retreat with his tail between his legs.
Ransom was refused. The 900 men were each put to the sword as a result.
Aed of Oakley after arriving back at Edinburgh would then be commissioned to lead another force out from the city to attack King William while he was still recouvering from the last battle merely a week ago. Aed agreed to this, only on the condition that Captain Rory and his powerful troop of Highlanders accompany him. It was agreed, and so Aed would set out to meet again with William.
Aed would set up a camp just outside of where William was still encamped, and small blows were being exchanged between the two encampments by way of arrows.
After being struck by a stray arrow in the leg, William furiously would rally his men up to engage the enemy at night before they'd have time to prepare in the morning. "Men, I ask of you too much, but I ask of you to win for England another victory for the ages! Those scots over there need to be killed. But we do them a kindness because that way they escape their shrieking, shrill and horrid wives - women better suited to gutting fish than pleasing men." each man laughed, embracing the thought of another slaughter of Scottish blood. They too now believed that William was following a divine right put into place by God himself, and that embiggened every man's spirit.
Though outnumbered 2 to 1, the army of five hundred men would gather together into two lines, of archers first, footmen in the back, and cavalry on the flanks. They'd march up the hill to the position where the scots were, but they would hold steady long enough for the archers to lure the foolish Scots from their tents by way of burning arrows. Then William's dream would come true. Lightning and Hail would rain down from the cosmos, filling the sky with darkness, and blinding every man on the field. Arrows were now useless it seemed.
William shouted out to the heavens, "I know of what you desire! I shall give to you a sacrifice of heathen blood!" He'd point to his son and he'd shout, "Take the hobilars and ride with them behind the flanks of the Scots. Do not return until you have killed their leader."
Rufus although worried about William's rather suicidal order, would obey only by fear alone. With only 80 horsemen, he'd ride to the north-east, and come up behind the flanks of the Scots main army, under the guise of the hailstorm. Then as the armies themselves engaged in the main battle, Rufus would once more ride out to decimate the foolish archers who strayed too far behind the main army of spearpoints. The hobilars were then ordered to mop up any of those who'd dare to retreat.
Then Rufus would give the order to his men to charge forth into Aed's troop. Aed completely unaware of his rear flank, would continue shouting orders to his men in his horrible pig-latin, before being struck down by a sharpened lance point, followed with a cruel trampling from multiple horses. Death came quickly for him, for he died in a single blow.
That was when Aed's army panicked, hearing no more orders from their leader. Before long spearpoints came to blows, and Rufus and the Hobilars would start singling out seperate squadrons, removing their souls of their earthly bodies one blow at a time. Hundreds would flee, and once more the horsemen would chase, and capture each and every one of them. Rufus was hailed as a hero. Aed of Oakley was given a proper buriel by Rufus days later, followed by a period of mourning.
Ransom for 600 men was refused. They too were then put to the sword.
William would once more be forced to halt his siege on Edinburgh, due to a need to reorganize his squadrons, and to receive supplies from York. Only this time, York's monthly shipments didn't arrive. William of course, had sent his only scout down to York to meet with Captain Geoffrey to demand supplies. When the scout would return, he'd shout out to William, "Scots! They're everywhere in York! We've been betrayed!"
Patrick MacDougall it seems had gained quite the reputation down in York during his previous attempts at gaining trade relations. He became very well known among the elite nobility in the town, and had managed to persuade them to throw down the Oppressive English banners, and their high taxes, in favor of Scottish banners. Every man who did not follow in suit, was murdered on the spot during this defection.
William though angered, remained calm. He'd state, "We will exact our revenge on Edinburgh. Men, we leave tonight." Once more, he had planned for a night attack upon the Scottish. After packing up their camp, they'd march for hours only... this time, men were waiting by a nearby forest in ambush. Only they didn't attack, instead they blockaded the road to Edinburgh.
Captain Rory was waiting in the forest with 300 men. Upon a small parley before the battle began, Rory would demand that William acknowledge defeat, and that he return to Nottingham without assailing York. Naturally William refused defiantly, before spouting obsceneties about Rory's mother and her Scottish Lineage. Insulted by William's cavalier attitude, Rory would then wave out a large scottish flag. This was a signal for a second ambush. This time by a troop numbering near a thousand. Once more William found himself fighting against the odds, in an unfavorable position. Rory would shoot his crossbow at William, nearly missing him, but instead hitting William's horse. The poor beast whelped, before rushing back to the main English army.
William would shout out to his men in a rush, "Men! You see the enemy?" he'd point to the large force 800 strong, before continuing, "We have put fear in their bellies, and their backsides already hurt from it! That is why they have come here for us with tactics unbecoming of a truly chivalrous leader!" he'd brandish his sword out, and each man remained silent, while the cold steel was brandished from their sheaths. Creaking noises from the sinews of each bow would twang out, as arrows were now being volleyed out into the force lead by Captain Rory. William would issue orders to his captains, who would then splinter the army into two forces. One protecting the eastern flank where the army of 800 men were marching toward, while the remainder protected the archers who assailed Rory's army with arrows.
William once more would look to his son before spouting in an unappreciative manner, "Fool, get over here! Prove yourself worthy of lineage, and remove the head of that man there." He'd point to Captain Rory, before scowling out, "As my dream predicted, it is you and only you who will be able to down him before nightfall. Do so, and I shall give you a fiefdom in Caen!"
Rufus would spout out, "Father, give me the Hobilars so that they may aide me."
William would refuse stating, "No, I require them to assail the other force."
Rufus would look to his father, and huff out angerly, before riding off to meet with his squadron of bodyguards. They would ride together to the western flank, and come up behind Rory's troops. Again they would assail the few Scottish archers that remained from the last few battles over the past months, and they would completely slaughter them. Only this time, Rory was expecting the ambush. His entire troop would divert to meet with Rufus' troops. Rufus noticing this, would then take flight, moving towards higher ground.
William saw this occuring, and he'd order the few remaining Mailed knights out to assist his son. The mailed knights proved their worth this time, doing nothing but distracting hundreds of Rory's spearmen. Just enough so that Rufus could once more charge towards Rory. This time, he'd charge directly into Rory's squadron. Lances would peirce through hundreds in men in mere minutes. Rory being one of those poor unfortunate souls to be instantly killed. It would be followed with squad after squad of men routing, each to be cut down by Rufus' troops.
With one front now completely guarded, William would then reorganize his army up on a hill facing east, where the other army of 800 men were advancing from. When that army would march into seeing distance, a large Scottish flag could be seen in the distance. That signified only one thing.
"Royalty." William would mutter out to himself. He knew he would finally get to face the cowardly Malcolm. Or so he thought.
Arrows were now raining down onto English men, but they were prepared by having their shields up. Only a half dozen died in multiple volleys, before the English spearmen would charge down from the hill to the spearpoints of the enemy. Rufus would flank from the north, while William himself would ride up towards where he believed Malcolm to be.
After charging into the General's troops, killing dozens, he'd notice a silver armor, different from the Gold plate that he knew Malcolm to wear. The man's helmet was off, and the face of a mere boy could be seen. Clearly this was not Malcolm... It was his only living son of 3, Alexander. One had died to English hands, and the other died foolishly to Rebels.
William would push through, but Alexander being the whelp that he was, would realize that he was losing this battle due to his clear inexperience. As such, he'd pull back, withdrawing from the heat of battle directly for the road back to Edinburgh. He hadn't even been struck once.
This resulted in the Scottish losing heart once more, seeing leader after leader fall, or run away at the hands of a lesser sized English force. Suddenly rumors of English superiority were true at the hands of English men wielding English steel. The Scots ran, only to be rounded up like cattle and sheep.
Ransom for 600 men were refused, and they too were slaughtered for the insolence of the leaders of Scotland. What fools they were.
Nothing was left to stop William from Besieging Edinburgh. Edinburgh itself only had a garrison of 50 horsemen, and 100 spearmen left. They overextended themselves in the campaign to repel William from the Scottish borders. They sealed their own demise.
This battle was a quick one, resulting in King Malcolm falling valiantly in battle against the spearmen of England. His son Alexander would also fall due to a stray arrow. There was only one man of Scottish lineage still alive. This would be Malcolm's adopted son. Patrick, now King Patrick.
Edinburgh had fallen, and Scotland becomes crippled with only a few ragtag militias left north of Edinburgh in territory that has yet to be discovered by the English. William has won three great victories to be heralded for all of the ages in this extremely successful campaign.
{Stay tuned tomorrow for the demise of Scotland!}
England: Fleecing the sheep of the world.
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