Part 1: Kingdom's End Chapter 15 War Camp Politics Report

General Summary

With Ivar’s fleet arriving on the shores of Mercia, the Warband moved quickly south to Wrexham to find the King’s army and warn them of the impending strike. When they arrived, they found that much of the army was out raiding and only about a hundred men remained in quick gathering distance to defend the King. The Camp was well fortified against attack but faced overwhelming odds. Graeme took them to a tent which they realized was the Kings own and the Warband finally had the honor of meeting King Ceolwulf in person Aesc was predisposed to disliking him as his family had a long standing disagreement with him over land owed to him and Ceolwulf refused to acknowledge him as a landed Thegn in title or respect. The Warband delivered their warning and Ceolwulf indicated he intended to not seek battle but flee south. He also saw that they had brought the Sword of Beric and asked them to give it to him instead of Ceolred. It would mean breaking their oath to Ceolred but it told Huw as the most observant that there was clearly bad blood between Ceolred and Ceolwulf that might mean the sword had more value than original stated. The Warband met away from the King to discuss the offer, it would raise Aesc’s star higher to have a personal friend of the King but it would mean breaking their oath to Ceolred. Huw added that he believed that Ceolred likely did not intend to give it over to the King as originally suggested so that Ceolred might gain honor but instead to keep it for himself for when the King died. If this was the case, Mercia could face a civil war as different nobles claimed the throne and refused to honor Ceolwulf’s wish that his cousin Aethelred take the throne. To complicate matters, Aethelred was not in camp, he was off raiding the Britton with much of the King’s forces and riders had failed to fetch him. War plans were being hotly debated, with some Mercians not wishing to leave the land to be burned and pillaged while they retreated south and others not wanting to risk and open fight with the Danes. In the end, the Warband turned the sword over to Ceolred in front of King Ceolwulf in the hopes that it would force Ceolred into showing his colors and either angering the King or giving him the blade. Ceolred chose to keep it, which meant the worst if the King died in the coming days. The King, rather than risk moving south was convinced to try to gather as much men as they could and hold their position against the Danes. Knowing this was hopeless

Campaign

Saga of a Dark Age

Protagonists