It all started when I picked up Beowulf for a more thorough read some weeks ago. I have read it several times but this time I was serious - I was taking notes.
From there it led me to the Sagathing podcast - which I heartily enjoy.
Then, while discussing what to play, a friend suggested a Dark Age wargame as he had been enjoying Crusader Kings III.
Last Tuesday saw a return to Saga - 1st edition - as I don't own the latest copy. I wasn't clear about Saga until 20 mins before the game. Dux Bellorum was also a strong possible rule system for the game. But I chose Saga. I had a skirmish type game in my mind.
Here was the concept ... years before the Great Heathen army invaded England's pleasant shores, Earldorman Athelwulf and Jarl Healfdene had sparred off as young adventurous warriors in a number of struggles. Each trying to raise his status, wealth and attract other warriors to their bands. This would be played out in Saga.
The first scenario was taken directly from the 'Hord and the Holme Dwellers' saga.
Both Athelwulf (Anglo-Saxon) and Healfdene (Viking) set their eyes upon the barrow of Soti the Beserker for within lay his famed sword and expensive armring. With these items, either man would appear more illustrious. For Athelwulf, a Christian, he could melt down the items and use the silver to pay off a weregild he gained last summer (he had stolen a horse and had not yet paid off the owner.) Note: I had moved the barrow of Soti from Iceland to England - in particular the lands the Midlands or what would become known as the Five Boroughs after the invasion and subsequent settlement in 865AD.
In the first scenario (Sacred Ground), Athelwulf triumphed and took both sword and armring. Healfdene was wounded but fled the battlefield vowing to return for the wealth of Soti. Athelwulf packed his wounded men and the items into a wagon and left for his lands. To aid new players, I modified Saga to only use part of the battle-board and played with just two units and a warlord per side.
Next, Healfdene attacked the wagons (Convoy) trying to wrest control of the sword and armring back from Athelwulf. I increased the warbands by a single point - both players now had three units - but these were warriors (as yet no huscarl would follow such a junior adventurer.) Again, Athelwulf triumphed and Healfdene was struck down. The Anglo-Saxon's pride now swelled after two victories and he decided he would be strong enough to ignore the weregild hanging over him. He kept the sword and armring for himself. Healfdene was left, wounded again but alive, beneath a pile of bodies. On his return, his miraculous survivals enhanced his reputation as did his tales of Viking loot pillaged by Saxons. He drew men to his cause and he would return to fight Athelwulf again.
For the Saxon, a Viking slave recognised the armring and spake prophetic words:
Strong blade, breaker of shields,
Victory has called and wealth taken,
But sly and lurking amid the song,
Lays doom growing undiminished.
(The slave knew that Soti had laid a curse on any who took his armring from the barrow.)
But the bold hero, Athelwulf, was heedless to these words as he held strong to his Christian faith. After his warriors had healed, he would take the fight to a nearby Viking homestead which held a Saxon monk - Osric - captive. His recovery would bring a chest of silver as reward from his brother - the Earl Odda. Perhaps, it would even gain Athelwulf a seat at this powerful Earl's meadbench?
If Healfdene could defeat Athelwulf, he might be seen as a defender of the new settlers and attract more men to his cause. He could even take the monk for himself? Would not the Earl pay him too for the recovery of the monk, Osric? But how would he pass through Saxon lands without consequences?
A showdown with Athelwulf might be necessary to wound his foe and gain the breathing space he needed. But if he failed ... he may be forced to slaughter Osric to try and regain the favour of the Old Gods. Such an act would surely bring a Saxon response and undoubted retribution.
