Post a Comment On: Nate Miller's Tabletop Games

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 October 22nd 1642, Edgcote England.  The Army of King Charles I had set out from Shrewsbury to attack the Earl of Essex's army at Worchester but had then decided to advance towards London.  Quartered in the village of Edgecote many of the King's Welsh troops were without proper weapons.  Captain Owain Hewitt, a pioneer captain in Sir Thomas Lunsford's regiment, had received word of a Parliamentary recruiting station that had been set up at an Inn called "The Pleasant Pig" outside of Banbury.  The innkeeper, Dennis Woode, was a loyalist to the King and had sent a message that the Roundheads had stored a large cache of weapons and munitions in the old stables of his Inn that was guarded by a half a dozen trained band  soldiers.  Captain Hewitt had few resources with many of his pioneer's out gathering provisions and scouting for the enemy so he turned to what few people he had left.  Corporal Charles Osbury and Mable Banks along with private soldiers Plunket, and Towne were assigned the task of stealing the cache and rescuing the Dennis Woode and his wife Ester.
    
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Upon arrival at the Pleasant Pig the Royalist party decided to approach from the Northeast but unfortunately a patrol of sentries with mastiffs spotted them.  After chasing them about a hundred yards through the woods the Roundheads discharged their muskets unsuccessfully then turned back to the inn. 

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After waiting over an hour the Royalist tried to approach the in this time from the Northwest.  Again they encountered the patrol and the mastiffs caught their sent barking loudly at their position.

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Mable Banks attempted to convince them that she needed their aid but as she stepped out from behind a tree she stumbled and her cloak slipped revealing that she was armed.  Using her crossbow she dispatched one of the mastiffs then turned and ran.

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Miss Banks was shot by one of the Roundheads as she fled over the hill towards the rest of her party. 

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The mastiff that was chasing Miss Banks turned on Towne.  One of the Roundheads drew his backsword and engaged Corporal Osbury but he was cut down.  
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The rest of the Parliamentarians had arrived and the two parties exchanged shots.  Towne was struck by a musket ball but remained in the fight.  Corporal Osbury shot one of the Roundheads with a pistol but only lightly wounded him.

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The remaining sentry gallantly picked up Miss Banks in an attempt to get her to the safety of the Inn before she died.

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Corporal Osbury drew his backsword and dispatched the remaining mastiff that was attacking Towne.

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The sentry managed to get Miss Banks to the Inn where the Innkeeper's wife was able to help stabilize her.   
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Corporal Osbury picked up the Musket of the Roundhead he ran through and the two parties exchanged a couple of volleys of musket fire.  Two of the Parliamentarians were shot down in the exchange.   

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The Roundhead sergeant and the surviving private fled for a more covered position of the stables ducking Royalist fire as they ran.

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Despite his gallantry, being loyalist to the King the Innkeeper and stable hand set on the sentry with club and pitchfork.

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Taking the hill the Royalist exchanged more fire with the sergeant and private but due to the good cover both parties had no shots struck their targets.

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Seeing one of his men in trouble the Roundhead sergeant charged the stable hand cutting him down with his halberd.

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Plunket was shot down by the man at the stables.  Osbury and Towne returned fire but missed again.

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After another exchange Towne and the Corporal managed to dispatch the musketeer at the stables.  Towne rushed over to tend to Plunket.  
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Corporal Osbury moved down the hill and shot the Parliamentarian Sergeant.  The Innkeeper and his wife continued their melee with the last Roundhead.    
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Being heavily outnumbered at this point the last Parliamentarian fled down the Road towards Banbury.

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Towne managed to stabilize Plunket just before he bled out on the hill.  He then gathered his comrade up and carried him to the safety of the Inn.

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Corporal Osbury chased the remaining Roundhead down the Road.  The soldier turned and shot him but only lightly wounded him.

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The Parlimentarian soldier continued to flee and it looked like he might get away but Osbury managed to take him down with a long ranged shot.

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The Roundhead Sergeant and one of his men managed to survive their wounds. and they were taken captive by the Royalist party.  The Inkeeper helped Corporal Osbury and Towne load the arms and munitions onto a wagon while Plunket and Mable Banks rested.  Though they had all been wounded the Royalist party decided to return to their camp with their prize, prisoners, and the rescued loyalist.

Back in camp at Edgecote Captain Hewitt praised the party for their success.  Being wounded in the skirmish the four Royalist stayed in camp the next day and did not participate in the Battle of Edgehill which resulted in a draw although due to their efforts many Royalist were able to participate in the battle with proper equipment.

Note:  This was the first session for a Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition game I am running for my wife and son.  It is a strict historic game with no magic or fantasy elements because my son is not a big fan of fantasy settings.  We are using just the Fighter and Rogue classes that are appropriate for such a game but they are very flexible with numerous options to create historic style adventurers.  My son is out of school for the quarantine and my wife is working from home so we will be doing some short games to pass the time and perhaps do something educational as well.