Stranded in former Galloway just east of the North Channel between Scotish controlled Ireland and Edinburough, Prince Rufus would find himself between a rock and a hard place. Spies count 200 men lead by Prince Edward holding the garrison at Dublin. To the east was an army numbering in the thousands led by the fabled son of Scotland, Aed of Oakley. To the north of Edinburough was Captain Kirk, a man with a reputation of headstrong actions, but a record of victory and nothing less. Each army outnumbered his, and outclassed his with better troops, and more cavalry.

"What are we to do?" Rufus would ask his loyal spy, Richard the Inconspicuous.

"I have many friends in these lands. They are descendants of warriors from former Strath Clyde, and they hate the scotsmen almost as much as we do for their conquests. I suggest we rally whatever florins we have on hand, and buy their friendship. "Seeing as King William is moving north from York at this very moment to meet with the thousand man army of Duke Oakley, it would be wise to take these mercenaries and reinforce William's army, while our loyal men return to Dublin to recapture it."

Rufus was dissuaded by the idea due to the fact that it's chance of success lied solely on the capability of mercenaries whom he knew nothing of, and his second in command, Captain Jacob, who showed no promise in commanding troops at all. It would only be after many hours of deliberation, that Rufus reluctantly agreed. Thats when he'd send a pair of messengers out. One went to the nearby encampment of warriors in an attempt to buy their help. The other messenger would move east asking William to keep his troops back long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

The messenger would return to meet with Rufus, "My lord, the mercenaries looked upon the money we offered them with awe, and have graciously accepted our offer."

Rufus would nod and state back to the messenger, "How many men now serve us?"

"300 plus change in spearmen, 80 crossbowmen, and possibly 80 men armed with claymores. It's a grand bunch." the messenger replied, while being seated at a banquet that Rufus was hosted with some of his captains and officials in his tent, during preparation.

Captain Lewis responded to Rufus, "Sire, let me take charge of 100 of those spearmen, my troop of spearmen, and our two units of archers. I promise to you that we will easily retake Dublin!" his voice exclaimed with great passion knowing that he was in a position to earn status among the lords, while denouncing the irreputable Captain Jacob. Rufus agreed.

Thus the army splintered into two. The main army lead by Rufus, with 200 mercenary spearmen, one troop of spearmen militia, one troop of men armed with claymores, and 80 crossbowmen would move east into Northumbria to merge with William's army that stood 400 men strong. The secondary army now led by Captain Lewis, moved south into Ireland, immediately besieging the walls of Dublin with two rams previously built.

Two years would pass, and the earth seemed unusually cold. The farms suffered heavy drought as a result, because the winds stopped blowing in rain. The peasants suffered, and trade as a byproduct suffered as well. The newly converted city of Caernarvon especially acted in a scornful way, with many peasants acting out in manners that resembled revolt. Were it not for the 100 man garrison that held the city, these rumors of revolt would have no doubt come to fruition.

The lack of rain and snow aided the battle tactics of Captain Lewis. Arrows easily ignited, and stayed lit in the bitter cold skies, finding their marks on the foolish Spearmen of Edward's behind the walls of dublin. His archers could barely keep up with their own armies losses, and the men in the towers were too busy attempting to destroy the rams before they could reach the gates. As such, they failed grievously in both counter attacking, as well as preventing Captain Lewis' advance to the gates. The gates fell, and soon hundreds of spearmen were storming into the city walls, being led by none-else than the single troop of Mercenary spearmen. Those men fought valiantly despite their poor reputation as unreliable troops. They fought well enough to drive Edward back from the gates, to the main center of the city, while the peasant archers were being reassembled by the city walls.

Hundreds of spearmen then assembled along the dirt road inside of the city, and marched in unison together towards the center square where Edward's remaining 20 general bodyguards, 40 archers, and 40 spearmen stood awaiting the last moments of the battle. It was either them, or the English marauders who dared to invade.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 


English archers fired over the buildings with burning arrows, covering the sky in darkness for a moment due to the sheer volume of wooden shafts that filled the air. As they fell, so did dozens of spearmen and archers. Edward himself would be struck by two of the arrows, causing him to reel to the back of his troop's formation. Another volley of arrows would fill the sky, with another half dozen Scotsmen falling to their demise. Edward again would be struck, this time in the thigh.

Just as Edward was reforming his troop, a small squadron of spearmen came at him and his men with spearpoints, and shields. Edward would be struck dozens of times before his bodyguards could come to his aid. It was then and there that he would draw a final breath, and falter from his horse to the ground below.

"The Prince is dead!" shouted one of the bodyguards. This was the moment that every man outside of the square would fall back to the square, hoping for some semblance of relief from the men who guarded it so fiercly. Alas, there was no help, for the square was taken... Every scotsmen was either taken prisoner or killed during the final moments. Dublin was once more English, and there wasn't a single scotsman on the Irish island that could do anything about it. Unfortunately, Captain Lewis who had boasted so arrogantly about his abilities as a leader... had also died during the battle.

Though it would be a month after the actual battle took place; in the east word of Prince Edward's demise filled the ranks of Scotland's own with fear, and mourning. England however celebrated it's victory.

"Let the bastard burn in hell for his heresy." spouted King William to his captains and lieutenants.

"Father, this is a sign from God." Prince Rufus who had arrived to merge with King William's men many weeks sooner would state. "This is a sign of our impending domination over the God Given land of Britain. We shall rule by his grace."

King Malcolm mourned the loss of his son, and as a result called upon Aed to prepare his forces to move south to not only stop England's invasion, but to exact swift brutal revenge upon William and Rufus.

William won this campaign, capturing Dublin, and removing Malcolm's firstborn, Prince Edward. Now only Prince Alexander remains as the sole heir to Scotland's throne.

{Real screenshots of the game will be included in the next campaign!}