Then stood on the shore, stoutly calling out a Viking messenger, making speech, menacingly delivering the sea-pirate's message to this Earl on the opposite shore standing: "I send to you from the bold seamen, a command to tell that you must quickly send treasures to us, and it would be better to you if with tribute buy off this conflict of spears than with us bitter battle share. No need to slaughter each other if you be generous with us; | we would be willing for gold to bring a truce. If you believe which of these is the noblest path, and that your people are desirous of assurance, then pay the sea-farers on their own terms money towards peace and receive peace from us, for we with this tribute will take to our ships, depart on the sea and keep peace with you." Byrhtnoth spoke, his shield raised aloft, brandishing a slender ash-wood spear, speaking words, wrathful and resolute did he give his answer: |
Hear now you, pirate, what this people say? They desire to you a tribute of spears to pay, poisoned spears and old swords, the war-gear which you in battle will not profit from. Sea-thieves messenger, deliver back in reply, tell your people this spiteful message, that here stands undaunted an Earl with his band of men who will defend our homeland, Aethelred's country, the lord of my people and land. Fall shall you | heathen in battle! To us it would be shameful that you with our coin to your ships should get away without a fight, now you thus far into our homeland have come. You shall not so easily carry off our treasure: with us must spear and blade first decide the terms, fierce conflict, is the tribute we will hand over." He then ordered their shields taken up, his soldiers advancing until on the river-bank they all stood. |
Drawing their boats securely in the Blackwater Estuary, raiders lead by Jósteinn Eiríksson began to plunder the local area but in a short time they found themselves opposed, finally, by English forces under the Ealdorman Byrhtnóð. Having received word of the first raids Byrhtnóð raised the fyrd of the Eastern Saxons and marched them to the town of Maldon, the next target for the vikings on their journey north along the coast. The raiders found themselves penned on Northey island, where their boats had been drawn up. A large force roughly equal to their own opposing them. With the tide high a shouted exchange took place, the raiders demanding tribute in order for them to leave, yet Byrhtnóð refused. As the tide receded the vikings attempted to break out across the causeway but were easily held in check.
Keen to bring the raiders to battle, Byrthnóð retreated a short distance, drawing his force up into a shield wall. The vikings waded across the water and formed their own wall, shields overlapping, iron weapons dull in the light. The first weapons banged against shields, a ripple of sound like the rattle of rain on stone. It spread along both walls, a cacophony of noise reinforced by shouts and cries, men steeling their hearts for the bitter fight to come.
Date: Sunday, November 16th at 19:00 GMT/UTC
Where: Vikingr_Event_Server
TeamSpeak Address: 195.249.188.149
Víkingr Mod Version: Víkingr 1.0
SIGNING UP
Players not affiliated with a Víkingr clan may join one of the two public hosts although they must clearly state whether they wish to join the Viking Leiðangrsfólk (Levied Folk) or the English Mældunwaran (Townsfolk of Maldon). A working format is: "I sign up as *Event nickname/Ingame name* for the *public host/faction*".
Víkingr clans may sign up for either the Víkingar or the Engle. Clan leaders take note!: Due to past issues with clans either not turning up or with significantly fewer members than had been signed up for an event, we request that you bring as close to the number signed up as possible. This is very important as it heavily impacts on the balance of players and forces the organisers to waste players time sorting the factions. Due to this issue at a previous event the Jómsvíkingar, Vyatichi & Gægningas may not represent themselves on the field as individual hosts. Members of these three clans must join one of the public hosts.
PUBLIC HOST PLAYERS
All public host players are requested to use the default faction banner & to use the basic class for each faction;
- Víkingar (Norðmenn): Liði
- Engle: Gárberend
ADDENDUM
- The hosts do reserve the right to assign players & clans to the opposing faction to balance forces.
- Special class slots will be assigned by the respective leader of the faction.
- A period accurate name is a must. Get one here.
- As an addition to a period name, it'd be preferable to not sign up using clan ranks.
SIGNATURES
Feel free to use these signatures on this forum or others.
Code:
[url=http://forums.taleworlds.com/index.php/topic,315961.msg7494025.html#msg7494025][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/ui0BFM6.png[/IMG][/url]
Code:
[url=http://forums.taleworlds.com/index.php/topic,315961.msg7494025.html#msg7494025][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/ZubqwZm.png[/IMG][/url]
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks to Æþelfrið for the three illustrations. Thanks also to Hrotha for providing historical information. Last but by no means least, thanks to a mysterious benefactor for the thread and the signatures.