I. The Day of the Miracle/ Giants of Steel/ The Sidhe return.

“Let me Belisarius, chronicler of Glastonbury tell the tale of the Age of Legends, when Britannia was shook from its foundations and the old ways and magic returned.“

It was in this age when Uther Pendragon, the last High King of Britannia died. The land fell into chaos as rival kings fought over to be the rightful ruler, for Uther had no heir. Would it be Radedwald, the King of the Saxons? Mark, King of Dumnonia? Idres, the Tyrant of Dorset? Ryons, King of Wales?  Who would be the successor?

As the nobles gathered their armies and fought bitterly over this, Merlin was watching this from Stonehenge. He could see this would leave Britannia in chaos and destruction, and there would be no clear winner. He sensed it; he felt it in his being a deep pulsing, as if a heart beating slowly then louder and louder. Something was coming, he realized. It was time to make his move.

Long before Uther died, Merlin seized Excalibur, the great sword from Uther, and buried it into stone and iron. “This will be the answer!” he cried, as he realized he had knowledge of the true heir of Uther: a boy being raised by a knight of Cornwall, named Ector. Only Sir Ector had knowledge, and was sworn to secrecy.

Merlin was pleased. The signs were there, the gods were awakening. The new faith could be swept away and the old ways return.

But even he would be wrong.

He called them to gather in the great stronghold of London, in the kingdom of Logres, and there he would offer them this chance to make their claim as High King.

“Whoever pulls this sword from the stone, will be King of Britannia!” he said. All the Lords tried, Mark failed, Idres failed, Ryons, Raedwald, all failed. Sir Ector approached Merlin during the tournaments and trials. “Is it time?”

“Yes Ector it is. Let the boy come forth.” So it was that Arthur pulled the sword Excalibur. The runes glowed with the inscription: “Who ever so pulleth out this sword is the rightful king of Britannia.” Merlin felt something, a jolt, a tremor.  He laughed “At last! The Sidhe are awakened! The Faery Lords have returned!”

“This cannot be!” Raedwald raged at Merlin, “The old ways are gone forever, banished by the True Cross!” Merlin took Arthur's arm and raised it holding Excalibur, “Behold! The Son of Uther!”

The others looked on in disbelief. Some shouted “Never!” and marched away. Ryons couldn't believe it; he could hear the roar of dragons.

Arthur felt the pull too, as if he felt the weight of two forces pulling him. “What is happening?”

Merlin replied, “You are the key, by pulling out the sword of Uther, you have set free the Sidhe and awakened the old ways, magic has returned.”

Idres approached Arthur but Sir Ector and Sir Kay stepped in front, and drew his sword.

“Out of my way old man,” Idres said coldly.

“Never,” Ector replied. “This is the rightful king, and I swear to protect him.”

“He will not be King!” Idres shouted and walked out, his mailed fist raised he warned, “This will lead to more killing. Merlin you could not foresee that! I will be King!” His men followed.

Raedwald left as well, his banners flowing as he led his men out of London.

Sir Ector knelt before Arthur. “Arthur. My King, I raised you as my foster son after the death of your father. Please accept my counsel, and your foster brother Kay as your military adviser.”

Arthur looked on and nodded. The ground shook again, violently; the skies over London began to darken. “Merlin-” he called out. But Merlin was gone. Kay looked aghast. Ector grabbed Arthur's arm and looked at the sword.

The runes were faded away. Merlin had disappeared...

II. Cornwall

After many days of hard riding, Sir Kay, Arthur and  Sir Ector arrived in Cornwall. Upon arriving, they noticed that it was in rebellion, bandit lords rose and attacked villages, burning crops and killing innocents. As they rode into one village, near what was Land's End of Britannia, Kay and Ector dismounted and marched into the square, and unfurled the banner of Arthur.

“Hear me Men of Cornwall! Behold the heir of Uther Pendragon! We ask for your fealty and service to your new King!”

Men began to stir and walk out of their hovels into the square. Kay smiled as he saw them arrive, “They'll make great soldiers. Most of these served Uther.”

Ector appraised the men, “Yea, Cornish men are strong and hard, they will do great as footmen, I recommend a few be trained as our heavy infantry, they'll be better armored and armed.” Arthur nodded.

Weeks passed, and Kay was a hard task master in training the men. Ector counseled Arthur: 

“Arthur, this is just the beginning, and my words are advice only. You will have to make the decision and these men you see will live and die by them. This is what it is to be king.  What I suggest is we secure Cornwall. We will have to march against the rebel forces, here at Bodwin and near Tintagel. We defeat them; secure Cornwall, and thus your birthright.”

Kay entered the tent, “How goes the training Kay?”

“Yea, they're stubborn, tough, but they're learning. They're shaping into a fine army. We should be ready by spring.”

“Excellent. The rebels, while they are numerous, are not as well trained. If we succeed we will be able to recruit more men, as more will be willing to flock to our banner.”

“What am I to do in all this?” Arthur replied, “Am I not their King?” Kay looked at him closely, “Brother- my Lord, you have yet to swing a sword in battle. But rest assured it will be soon. You will ride with me into battle at Bodwin, but if you should fall, it means the end...”

Ector looked at Arthur's face and could see his frustration.

“I understand how you must feel, from just being a simple squire to being thrust into this position so sudden. But the world has changed; it changed the moment you pulled Excalibur from the stone. I fear it will never be the same again.” And with that Ector left the tent.

There is something about battle, that men feel from inside. Their pulses quicken, their hearts beat faster, the blood rushes to the sinews. It is a near primitive feeling, for in a matter of minutes they will be clashing steel, slashing limbs, and hearing the shouts and screams of men. Kay sensed those feelings as the army neared the moor of Bodwin.

“It is said during after the Day of the Miracle, as it is came to be known, that the Knights learned spells Mark of Dummonia, discovered he had skill with fire, and could cast a ring of dragon's flame around him which burned enemies. Kay was no different.  He was able to use the Fog of Avalon, which would allow him to shroud the battlefield in mist, enabling him to move his men into battle safely hidden from the steady eyes of archers.” -Belisarius, Glastonbury Chronicles

Kay dismounted, and marched into the line of men that were the heavy footmen. These were large men with heavy armor and wielded maces, slow moving but once they got into a charge they were near impossible to stop. Alongside them were three companies of footmen, simple armed men but better trained than ordinary peasants.

The rebels that awaited them were not mere peasants. They were armed, some with spear, and bow, and they were more numerous than Kay's small force. Kay looked at Arthur and noticed his foster-brother's hands shaking. Soon, he thought, you will have to put aside fear.  Ector and a small guard of men would guard Arthur at a tent overlooking the moors. Kay was a skilled warlord, and as such was able to lead men effectively.

Kay's plan was simple. It would require brute force, but he was confident in his companies of footmen and his heavy footmen, but it would be quick and the rebels at the old tower wouldn't know what hit them.

They began their march, and Kay ordered them to double time, and they moved faster towards the banks of the river.

“Halt!” Kay called out as he signaled to the men, raising the banner of the King. Arthur and Ector could see the battle unfold.

Arthur watched in disbelief as Kay cast his spell; the Fog of Avalon. Soon, the men were no longer seen, covered in a complete mist. Arthur could hear the whistling of arrows and as the mist faded away he could see Kay's army crashing into the defending rebel force. Bandit archers and footmen were getting hammered quickly by the well-trained army.

Kay's heavy footmen broke two archer companies, and sent them fleeing. The footmen had no problem as well. But it was a battle, as Arthur heard the sound of men falling, and shouting, the cacophony of steel clashing against armor, and he saw the rivers began to flow red from the blood of the fallen.

Kay wasted no time, he ordered the men to march up the hills he saw a place for the men to regain their stamina, and morale. Their spirits were high, even though they suffered losses, but it was less than the rebels did.

He saw the old tower which lay in the midst of a cull-de-sac of woods nearby a burned village. Kay wondered if he could march the men down the gentle slope into the woods and ambush the remaining rebels, or draw them out. He decided to go with the latter. He would be able to form his men into a battle and then charge them as the rebels left the woods. The heavy footmen would form into a wedge and their momentum would break the rebels.

“Wedge formation!” Kay called out and the heavily armored Heavy footmen moved into their position.

Soon he heard the incoming men emerging from the wood. They were near, “Charge! For Arthur! For Britannia!” he cried as he raised his sword and hoisted the banner into the air.

The men roared and charged. The rebels saw them coming, and tried to form into a line but it was too late, the crashing of armored men, shields being struck by steel, echoed through the woods. Carrion birds began to gather in the high branches, cawing out to their brethren in eager anticipation. The battle was sharp and violent, and decisive, as the rebels were gradually broken by the well trained army led by Sir Kay.

Soon it was over. Kay wiped his face and raised the banner high into the air and the roars of the men echoed in the moors:

The men returned to camp slowly, their spirits still high but tired. They had seen their first taste of battle, Kay walked slowly into the tent where Arthur and Sir Ector were seated looking over a map of Britannia, ahead lay Dummonia, the land of King Mark. But he was in a war with Idres the infamous Tyrant of Dorset, who had a long standing feud with Mark.  But first the battle against the rebels in Cornwall rested along the ruins of Tintagel, the birthplace of Arthur.

As the sun began to set the sound of hoof beats, and men marching down the roads signaled an advance. The guards grabbed their weapons, “Who goes there!?” The lead horseman raised a glove to salute the guard, “We heard of the rebels defeat, and we wish to fight under the banner of the King of Britannia."

Kay was pleased, as was Ector and Arthur. Much needed reinforcements. Companies of archers and more heavy footmen, as well as a company of light cavalry. The men in camp cheered as they saw them arrive.

“Welcome. Most welcome!” Arthur cried to the men arriving. Kay and Ector walked into the tent, and looked at the map. “Now,“ Ector said to Kay as he leaned down, “We have the choice of where the battle lies. We can fight them along the shore of the sea, at a place called Silent Bay which would allow you to make full use of the cavalry you have. Plus it has enough woods to offer cover for the archers. Next is the Barren Peaks, where it is said that dragons once fought over, it is mostly plains and forests. Then there is last, but not least the Fields of the Fallen. It is where Uther fought his fiercest battle."

Kay looked at the map, “If I were to choose, I'd decide with the Fields of the Fallen, it gives us good hills, forest and the river which would be good to defend against the enemy. My lord, which do you decide?”

 

 

Arthur looked over it and said, “I'd leave it to your decision. But I'm unsure, which is best?”

Ector looked close at Arthur, “My lord, first in order to lead you must understand this important rule: use the terrain to your advantage. Fight at a battleground of your choosing.”

Arthur paused and decided, “I will go with Kay's choice. It seems a good location to fight from.” Ector smiled. “Then it is decided. We will rest and train and refit our men, then march away.”

It was a matter of days as the army made its march to the Fields of the Fallen, Arthur looked over and saw the large imposing statue of his father Uther on the hill. “That is the Monument of Valor,” Kay said. “Over there, “ he gestured down the slope, towards a circle of large stones, “is a stone circle, some say it was left by the ancients who lived here long ago.”

Kay laid out his battle plan. First the cavalry would ride to the Stone Circle, and then from there scout and ride along the ridge towards the Monument of Valor.  The main force would move along the river towards the village, the river would provide a good line of defense if the enemy should appear sooner than expected. But Kay wanted to have the line of battle set up where he could provide his bowmen an advantage.

As the army began their march towards the river, and Kay's proposed line of battle, he turned to look towards the ridge and saw the black banners of the enemy.  Would his plan succeed? He knew he could trust the cavalry on their own to get to the circle he had the advantage of speed on his side. But taking no chances he called forth the Fog of Avalon, and the battle field was shrouded in mist.

The cavalry made their way, they saw the banners too, but kept to their orders and approached the Stone Circle. As they neared the horses began to neigh and whinny nervously. “What is it?” one rider asked.

“I think they're nervous about this place. Can you sense there's something here?”

“Yea, I do. Strange, the stones seem to glow at times.” Indeed for it was that the Stone Circle was possessed by magic, who ever uncovered it would be granted the use of the elements, and be able to call upon a storm. As the rider dismounted briefly to plant the banner of the King to signal Kay, he saw a stone with strange runes on it, he touched it and it glowed brightly, and a sound of rumbling thunder was heard. But there wasn't a cloud in the sky! How could this be?

He quickly mounted as he placed the banner and joined the rest of his company, his horse still nervous about the strange magic from that place. He made the sign of the true cross, his chosen faith, although he began to wonder if that was the right choice after all.

Kay noticed his cavalry waving their banners he neared the village. Where was the enemy marching toward?

He saw they were not heading up the ridge but towards the river crossing. 

“Move!”

As the army marched quickly to form his line of battle he heard something, a voice in his head saying: 

You have awakened the Storm of Avalon. I am yours to command.

He shook his head, and looked up into the sky, then saw the skies began to darken, and a ferocious rain poured down and winds began to howl.

The other men became frightened. Kay raised the banner of the King.

“There is nothing to fear, not storm, not men, not beast! For you are men of Cornwall!” he cried out to the men.

Even Kay was astonished to see the terrifying bolts of lightning that shot out from the skies. Was this Merlin's ruse?

He shook his head to clear it and concentrate on the business at hand. By now the rest of the army was deploying at the village as he hoped, he saw the archers move into their positions, granted not as good ground as the large slope that lay across the river, but he knew he didn't have the time to move there. The rest of the army, his heavy footmen and three companies of footmen, deployed along the river bank.

He heard the army of the rebels coming on, and readied his men. “Hold the Line!” he called out, the Heavy footmen deployed into a wedge to ready for a charge, with Kay at their head.

Arrows flew through the rain filled skies, some missing, some striking their targets, he signaled to his two companies of bowmen in the rear of the lines, “Fire!”

“FIRE!”  The bowman sergeant screamed and arrows were loosed.

By now the storm was breaking. The two armies could now see each other, arrows still flying through the air.

“CHARGE!” Kay cried as he raised his sword, and the men began to roar and charged at the rebel army.

The rebels counter charged, and both forces crashed into each other and the melee ensued.

The action was intense, Kay's men had the advantage, but they were getting pelted by the arrows that rained from the archers that were in the enemy's rear line.

By now the cavalry on the hill near the Stone Circle had made their way to the large statue of the Monument of Valor that lay on the cliff side. Again as they approached they noticed something odd about the statue it seemed as if lightning was flickering around the large stone sword, and like the Circle, they saw a strange rune carved stone nearby. The same rider touched it as he did the one at the Circle, and lightning began to streak across the sky. The bolt shot as if it was aimed at the company of enemy archers that formed along the river bank, the bolt struck, completely obliterating them. Their weakened numbers, already worn down by more arrows raining down on them from Kay's bowmen, who by now reformed were aiming their shots at them.

One rider named Edric looked down at the melee. He smirked and said to the others, “Brothers, I think it's time we earn our pay! For the King!” They drew swords and thundered down the hill slope.

 

Kay saw their banners, and smiled. He and his footmen had broken the enemy infantry but they were still getting hit by archery fire from the enemy bowmen that lay behind them. Men were trampling on fallen brothers as they pushed back and forth against each other. Some back to back as they fought.

But by now his cavalry had made their charge and shattered the remaining bowmen who were trying to flee the carnage.

They were earning their pay with steel, and cut through the archers like a scythe. Sir Kay and the heavy footmen were charging towards them, spelling their doom.

It was a victory. A hard fought one, but one nonetheless. Cornwall was now in the dominion of Arthur's banner. The army could now march on to the ruins of what was Tintagel Castle, and rest and make camp.

As night fell, the weary army made camp and had the unpleasant business of counting up the butcher's bill, finding and burying their dead and treating the wounded.  In camp, Sir Kay, Sir Ector and Arthur received news of more reinforcements, and surprisingly a rider from Dummonia, the realm ruled by King Mark...

“What news from our friend in Dummonia?” Sir Ector said to the rider. The rider handed Ector a scroll and it read of a coming war between Idres, the Tyrant of Dorset and King Mark the ruler of Dummonia. Mark and Idres were both requesting the aid of Arthur's forces, and both were willing to offer a reward for his assistance.

 

 

“We thank thee for your message.” Arthur said to the rider, “you may rest and enjoy our hospitality in the meantime.”  The rider saluted Arthur and a servant led the rider towards a tent.

Arthur, Ector and Kay re-entered Arthur's tent. “Surely we will expect Idres' to send a messenger as well.” Kay said. Ector nodded in agreement.

Arthur sat down and thought as he read the scroll from Mark. “I think we should aid King Mark of Dummonia.” he said to Kay and Ector.

Ector nodded in agreement. “Very good my Lord, you learn your lessons well. Helping Idres would offer few gains, but your reputation would be tainted. This is just as important. Helping those that request our help, especially those who would rightfully serve you as your vassal, would help your reputation with the other lords.”

But Idres' messenger arrived.  It was a knight named Glais, his armor was black, and he had a menacing appearance, he looked at Arthur and disdainfully said, “My king, Idres of Dorset, seeks your assistance Arthur of Cornwall.”

“That is Arthur Pendragon, son of Uther Pendragon the High King of Britannia.” Kay said coldly to Glais.

“King of what?” Glais said with a sneer. “A small waste of land battered by the angry seas. Do not play games with me Kay, your motley crew is nothing compared to Idres' armies.” Kay growled as he held the hilt of his sword.

“Calm yourself my son,” Ector said politely.

Arthur looked at Glais coldly, “So what does Dorset say? Speak!” He grabbed Glais and pulled him nearly off his horse. Glais choked on his words. “Idres-wishes to discuss terms...” Arthur's eyes blazed in anger, “What terms?”

Glais handed him a scroll listing Idres' terms.  Arthur took it, and shoved Glais back, nearly knocking him from his horse. “Go. You may have our hospitality, Knight.”and Glais scornfully rode to a nearby tent.

Sir Kay seemed bemused by his foster-brother's temper. “It seems father,” Kay said to Ector, “our young King has some of Uther's fire after all. This becomes you, my King.” Kay said to Arthur.

Arthur said, “I think will move on Dummonia. But first we will rest.”

“What message should we send Mark or Idres?” Arthur paused then said. “ They will hear our actions more than our words.. That will be our message.”

AAR written by: Chris "Reich36" Reichl, Contributor