After several months, AWC is pleased to present the latest portion of Admonitio ad Infideles to have been translated into English. Trying to organise translators is like trying to herd cats, but we now have the initial fruits of their labours…
AD 472 This Martius, much raiding in the spring by the men of Germania. No farm seemed safe from Northern Britain through Linnius and to Rhegin, and Caer Colun’s farmsteads pillaged. Even Caer Gynntguic’s pastures were not safe, as its flocks were herded by the Saxons…
But Beowulf’s fortune deserted him; no sooner had he laid waste to the sheepfolds of Clausentum than he found himself pursued; like a wolf upon sheep did Calgarus fall upon Beowulf’s men until the sand was sodden with their blood; such was the way he ordered the slaughter of the Saxons that Calgarus’ men joked he was Calgarus the Generous.
Raegnold’s ambition also was boundless as his boats landed in Magnus Portus; yet Virgilus of Rhegin tricked Raegnold, trapping him in the very farm he sought to raid; though Virgilus was slow to close the trap, and careless with his men, for did not he allow his loyal champion Sergius to sacrifice himself, though no harm had truly come to Virgilus? Thus Raegnold was able to escape and plot revenge, despite abandoning what chattels he had found.
In Camulodunum Province, both Rhodri and Teodan threw themselves into the fray against each other, exhorting their men to do likewise; many a blow was laid upon Teodan’s man, Felix, who bloodied remained yet unbowed; try as they might, the Saxons could not break Rhodri’s men, nor find the wealth hidden by the villagers, and so fled, harried by those who they would have plundered. But like mead, victory was bittersweet for Caer Colun’s Tribune; Rhodri’s side was pierced, and he wept too to learn that young Aengus, who he held as kin, had followed his example, hurling himself against the pagans, only to be slain by them. Yet on hearing of young Aengus’ death, some youths came to Rhodri and pledged their skill with the javelin to the Generous Tribune of Caer Colun.
However, elsewhere the power of Britons failed.
In Cataractonium, Theodoric’s men indeed sacked the stores of peasant farmers. Swiftly they fell upon the isolated farmsteads, and swiftly did they leave with their plunder, leaving Marcianus and his company to ride hither and thither across moor and hill in fruitless pursuit.
Likewise fortune smiled on Hringweald and his followers. The men of Linnius had watched their shores, but cunning Hringweald slipped beneath their gaze, and stole inland along the tidal waters of the Haven. Scarcely had alarm been raised by the farmers of Cavsennae than Hringweald’s men had plundered their lands. Cunning the farmers thought they were, but Hringweald knew their minds; from the reeking animal pens came their artlessly hidden wealth. Those Britons who had arrived in defence of the farmstead rued their arrival, as the emboldened Saxons ripped their ranks asunder, and made example of their noble leader…
(AWC’s Dux Britanniarum campaign continues. Three raids by the pesky Saxons have been beaten back, but two got through.
In the course of play thus far, two nobles have already bitten the dust, not to mention a champion sacrificed somewhat prematurely by a Lord who had suffered just one wound; I wouldn’t be surprised if some haegs or laeces find themselves in demand at a future point in the campaign as a result. In addition, one Lord has already been able to recruit a group of javelin armed skirmishers, and two others have earned themselves reputations, and positive ones at that.
Although only two Saxons are in a position to raid next month, none of them are in any danger of failing to honour their obligations to their kings. At this stage, at least.)
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