Mystic Britain - Chronicles of Blood and Iron: Spring 495.

Mystic Britain is my current Midgard campaign set in Arthurian Britain in the late 5th century. The background to that campaign, including the main factions in this alternative history, can be found here.

From the Annals of Caer Sulis as recorded by Brother Ashelm

 "In the year of our Lord 495, in the season when the hawthorn blooms white as bone, the shadow of the Dûrlingar fell upon our land. Hengst the Grim had crossed the waters from Vectis with fire in his heart and slaughter in his wake. The fords would run red ere summer came, and many a mother's son would find his rest beneath the cold river stones."

Spring of Blood: The Campaign Begins

Mystic Britain stands as a land fractured by competing loyalties and shifting allegiances. The coming war will test whether Arthur can unite these diverse forces against the encroaching darkness of the Dûrlingar—those fell creatures who have replaced the Jutes in our history's unfolding. The outcome promises to reshape the destiny of this turbulent realm.

For my inaugural campaign, I've chosen to play through "Modred's Coming of Age," set in the fateful spring of 495 AD. The previous years had witnessed increased Dûrlingar activity along the southern coast, but spring brought something far more ominous. Hengst, chieftain of the dark dwarves, crossed from Vectis with his host and established a fortified camp at Noviomagus (Chichester).

Arthur's spies brought word swiftly, and the British king understood immediately—this would be no mere raid. The months that followed would determine who wore the crown and whether the Britons would survive as a people.

First Moves

The campaign opened with Hengst dispatching his sons, Oasric and Penda, to secure a crossing over the Avon. Their orders were clear: find a ford, hold it, and prepare the way for the primary host. There, they would rendezvous with the traitor Modred and his men to launch a coordinated assault on Arthur's stronghold at Aquae Sulis.

When word of Hengst's advance reached Arthur, he responded with characteristic decisiveness. He dispatched his most loyal lieutenant, Sagramoor, to harry the crossing and deny the enemy their bridgehead. The Battle of the Bloody Ford

From the Chronicle of Camlann

"At the Bloody Ford did Sagramoor stand, with water to his knees and resolve in his heart. The Dûrlingar came in their hundreds, axes gleaming like winter stars, and the river that ran clear at dawn ran crimson ere the sun reached noon."

The campaign's opening engagement proved cautious on both sides. Neither commander wished to commit—and potentially lose—his best troops so early in the fighting season. The headstrong Galahad chafed at this restraint, eager to carry the fight to the enemy. Sagramoor eventually placated him with a compromise: Galahad would lead his cavalry across the river with all speed to threaten the Dûrlingar left flank, a role the young warrior embraced with enthusiasm and no small skill.

The Lines Clash

The British advance proved ponderous, and both armies suffered from poor coordination as their battle lines fragmented in the ford's treacherous currents. When the Britons finally launched their assault across the river, they achieved initial success—but the Dûrlingar line held. Then the berserkers struck, their axes carving through the British ranks and driving the attackers back across the bloodied waters.

On the British right, Galahad's cavalry had pulled the Dûrlingar line dangerously out of position as it wheeled to face the mounted threat. Rather than charging home, Galahad's riders unleashed their javelins and retired, leaving frustration and gaps in the enemy formation. The engagement remained inconclusive.

Galahad threatens the Dûrlingar lines. 

The Death of Morfans the Ugly

As combat raged along the entire front, the Dûrlingar hero Ulfharlar threw himself into the melee, bellowing a challenge to Morfans. The armies parted as if by mutual consent, and the two champions stood alone in the stream, sword and axe at ready.

What followed was brutal and swift. Morfans charged with characteristic aggression, but Ulfharlar stood planted like an oak in the river's current. As the Briton champion Pellinor leapt to deliver his blow, the dwarf's axe found its mark in his opponent's side. The fight ended almost before it began. The Dûrlingar roared their approval and surged forward.

Morfans's death broke the spirit of the Britons around him. The Dûrlingar pushed them back across the river and gained a crucial flank overlap. The berserkers exacted a terrible toll on the British levies as the dwarven army surged forward. But on the right flank, fortune favoured the Britons. Galahad's cavalry continued to sow chaos without committing to melee, pinning the extreme left of the Dûrlingar line while British infantry closed on both front and flank. It became clear that this flank would soon collapse. The battle had become a race—victory would go to whichever side could break the opposing flank first.

After the Battle

A cautious engagement where both commanders held back their elite forces, unwilling to risk them so early in the campaign. The heroes showed less restraint, throwing themselves into desperate melees. Morfans paid the ultimate price—the only fatality among the champions. The battle also demonstrated the importance of Romano-British cavalry, a tactical advantage Hengst and his sons would need to counter in battles to come.

The Battle of Two Fords 

From the Annals of Caer Sulis:

"Twice did the rivers drink deep of Dûrlingar blood, and twice did brave Sagramoor harry them south. Yet pride oft goes before the fall, and the ravens whispered warnings that went unheeded."

Following his victory at the Bloody Ford, Sagramoor pursued the retreating Dûrlingar southward. Osric realised his surprise attack had failed utterly. To advance further, he would need reinforcements. He dispatched his brother Penda with the wounded back to their father's camp while he prepared to buy time by holding the Fords of Arun.

Soon, Sagramoor's battle lines emerged from the northern hills and woodlands.

Sagramoor had gained a powerful ally—Merlin himself had joined his retinue. The wizard proved cautious, warning that the ravens showed unfavourable omens until noon. But Sagramoor needed to maintain pressure on the retreating enemy. He ordered his army forward despite Merlin's warnings, placing his elite household troops, the comitatus, at the vanguard to storm both fords simultaneously.

Fortune smiled on the Britons, aided by Osric's poor tactical decisions. Still intent on preserving his best troops, the dwarf commander deployed his warbands in mixed bow-and-spear formations, hoping to blunt the British attack before committing his elite housecarls. The strategy failed spectacularly. The narrow chokepoints of the fords prevented Osric from correcting his deployment error once battle was joined.

The Dûrlingar warriors proved no match for the British comitatus. They were pushed back into their own housecarls, creating chaos in the dwarven ranks. The Dûrlingar line held briefly, but the warrior formations began to crumble under the relentless British advance. So, on both fronts, the defences collapsed almost simultaneously as British reserves moved forward to support the assault.

The Dûrlingar Warriors are no match for the Briton Elites

The Challenge

In desperation, Ulfharlar challenged a British champion to single combat, hoping to buy time for a retreat. His challenge was accepted, but this tim,e luck abandoned the dwarf hero. He fell into the blood-red river, adding his own lifeblood to the waters.

Osric, recognising that both fording points were lost beyond recovery, ordered a withdrawal. Rather than retreating directly to his father's main camp, he chose to follow the old Roman road to the coastal town, hoping to regroup and receive reinforcements there.

The Battle of the Old Road

Sagramoor, flush with victory, decided not to wait for support. He occupied the hills beyond the coast, positioning his army to block any Dûrlingar movement inland. Here he would await reinforcements before launching his final assault. But in this decision, he surrendered the initiative.

Osric, now reinforced by the young pretender Modred—Arthur's cousin and, to many, the rightful king—prepared to counterattack. Modred brought cavalry with him, providing the scouting and flank protection the Dûrlingar desperately needed. More ominously, Osric had gained supernatural aid: ancient, unknown warriors from ages past, ghostly shapes filled with relentless hunger for destruction. These undead would lead the assault.

From Brother Aldhelm's Chronicle:

"On that day, God and fortune both turned their faces from the righteous. The dead walked, and the living fell before them like wheat before the scythe. Even brave Galahad, unhorsed and with his standard in the dust, could not turn the tide. Sagramoor learned that victory's sister is often defeated, and they are twins who walk hand in hand."

Some days, luck simply abandons you. The gods turn away, and Lady Fortune shows her cruel face. This was such a day for Sagramoor.

As the undead crashed into the British lines, his men seemed to lose all will to fight. Shockingly poor fortune drove them backwards onto their supporting ranks. With limited room to manoeuvre between the hills, the Britons found themselves trapped and unable to seize the initiative. Slowly but inexorably, they were pushed back off the right-hand hill where their main force crumbled.

Death Arrives Causing Panic Amongst the Britons

In desperation, Galahad led his cavalry in a crushing charge against the Dûrlingar right wing, driving them back. For a moment, it seemed the tide might turn. But then disaster struck—Galahad was unhorsed, his standard falling to the ground. With that sight, British morale shattered completely.

The day was lost. All that remained was to extract the surviving forces and regroup. As June passed into the hot summer months, the Dûrlinga once again held the initiative.

Observations from the Spring Campaign

These three battles revealed important tactical lessons:

The first engagement demonstrated the crucial value of light cavalry. Galahad's horsemen crossed the ford before the battle lines closed, becoming a constant thorn in the Dûrlingar flank—threatening, harrying, disrupting—without ever committing to decisive combat.

The second battle exposed the dangers of poor deployment. Osric's mixed formations failed to achieve their intended purpose, and the confined battlespace prevented him from adjusting his strategy once combat began. The engagement was lost before it truly started.

The third battle proved that even a strong position and a winning streak guarantee nothing. Luck can be a faithless mistress. Perhaps Sagramoor should have had a contingency plan, but the day simply belonged to the Dûrlingar—they owned the dice godsfavour or completely.

One observation applies to all three spring battles: the campaign system encouraged commanders to carefully husband their elite and limited forces. The fact that Osric lost a unit of housecarls and a berserker band at the Bloody Ford may have unconsciously influenced his overly cautious deployment at Rwo Fords.

From the Chronicle of Camlann:

"Thus passed the spring of blood, and summer came with its heat and its harvest of sorrow. The Dûrlingar, emboldened by their victory at the Old Road, marched up the ancient Roman way toward Arthur's very capital. The true test was yet to come."

Now the summer season has begun, and the Dûrlingar once again hold the initiative, marching up the old Roman road toward Arthur's capital at Aquae Sulis. The fate of Britain hangs in the balance.

The chronicler's ink runs dry here, but the war continues. More tales of blood and valour await the telling…

Enter the Leopard – Swashbuckling in the English Civil War

Meet Edward Clement, better known as the Leopard – spy, adventurer, diplomat… and perhaps a forgotten pretender to the English crown. He is the star of my forthcoming Pulp Alley campaign set during the English Civil War, and he promises to bring cloak-and-dagger intrigue to the smoke of musket fire.

Edward Clement, aka The Leopard, spy, adventurer, diplomat

 and a forgotten pretender to the English Crown.

But where did this character come from?

The seed was planted when I stumbled across Hans Holbein's famous painting of Sir Thomas More and his family. In the background, half-hidden in a doorway, stands a mysterious young man clutching a scroll. The art historian Jack Leslau argued that this figure was Dr. John Clement, husband of Margaret Giggs, More's adopted daughter, and, more controversially, that Clement was in fact Richard of Shrewsbury, the younger of the lost Princes in the Tower. 

Thomas More and Family with Richard of Shrewsbury

in the doorway to the right.

That idea lit my imagination. What if a descendant of Clement survived into the seventeenth century? A man of mystery, royal whispers in his bloodline, stepping into the storm of the Civil War? Thus, Edward Clement – the Leopard – was born.

The Leopard's Story

Edward Clement was educated in the Low Countries and at Cambridge before entering Prince Rupert's service during the Breda campaign of 1637. When Rupert sailed for England in 1642, Edward followed, quickly catching the attention of Edward Hyde, one of Charles I's most trusted advisors. 

Court gossip puzzled over his sudden rise. Whispers of noble blood surrounded him, but Hyde saw only a helpful agent – if one with dangerous ambitions. By 1642, the Leopard had become an indispensable spy, navigating the murky shadows of the King's quarrel with Parliament. 

In early 1643, he was dispatched west to aid Sir Ralph Hopton, taking up the role of chief intelligence officer. There he crossed swords with an old nemesis: Aaron Bell, the fiery Puritan preacher who had sworn to unmask him.

The Fellowship of the Claw

Of course, no pulp hero stands alone. The Leopard commands a league of loyal companions known as the Fellowship of the Claw – a ragtag band of allies, rogues, and survivors.

• Young Billy – a nimble-fingered street urchin with quick hands and quicker charm. 
• Fletcher – the Clement family's old gamekeeper, a deadly shot when sober, a liability when not. 
• Edgar – the family's secretary and fixer; once a courier of secrets and master cryptographer, now a dangerous old man who knows everyone's business. 
• Maarten van Asbeck – a bastard son of a Dutch noble, long-time comrade of Edward, hardened by the Thirty Years' War. 
• Milo Crumb – the hapless adventurer, often lost, often in trouble… and yet somehow always stumbling into discoveries, such as the coded Parliamentary note he found when his head struck a low beam. 

It's a cast straight from the pages of a penny-dreadful – perfect for pulp adventures.

The Leopard and the Fellowship of the Claw, from the right, Billy, Fletcher, 

Edgar, the Leopard himself and Maarten. Milo had fallen into a hole.

Bringing the Leopard to Life 

This campaign utilises Pulp Alley with only minor tweaks, many of which are inspired by the excellent community on the Pulp Alley Facebook group (special thanks to Ira Gossett and his Three Musketeers adaptation).

The Campaign Board

The backbone of the story will be a custom Snakes and Ladders campaign board. Each die roll pushes the Leopard and his companions closer to their ultimate goal – but hazards, detours, and dramatic trials lurk along the way.

The Scenario Generator

Initially, I wrote a dozen full scenarios to be played in random order, but that proved too rigid and sometimes broke the narrative. A sprawling table system followed, but that became clumsy and overcomplicated.

The final version is much sleeker: a single 3D6 table that generates mission, location, primary objective, and complications all at once. Optional tables for minor plot points and enemy leagues add spice to the game. The result feels flexible, surprising, and – crucially – keeps the narrative flowing.

Testing is underway, and I'll share the draft ideas soon. 

Enter the Leopard

The Leopard is ready to stride into history – rapier in hand, cloak billowing, secrets close to his chest. Over the coming weeks, I'll be posting more about the campaign's mechanics, introducing some other characters, including the stunning and cunning Amelie St. Simon, a noble spy, and her reckless brother, Andre. Then, the villain of our campaign, Aaron Bell, the Preacher, is a Parliamentarian spymaster with hidden ambitions. These introductions will be followed by a series of battle reports where Edward Clement and the Fellowship of the Claw take the stage. 

Adventure awaits. Will the Leopard rise as a hero of the King, or fall as another forgotten pretender?

Maarten and his love interest, Katie Reed. 

One-time prostitute now a kicken maid in Lady Hopton's household.

Mystic Britain: Chronicles of Blood and Iron: Spring

In November 2024, James Morris unveiled Midgard Heroic Battles, a game that merges historical and fantasy battles featuring iconic heroes and leaders. This exciting release has sparked inspiration for my Mystic Britain campaign, set in a dark age Arthurian world infused with intriguing fantasy twists.

As we look ahead, the stage is set for a gripping saga that unfolds in the fifth century. The narrative begins with dark dwarves known as the Dûrlingar, who replace the historical Jutes. These exiles arrived from the North on iron ships, landing on Thanet Island. With their fearless leaders, Hengst and Horsa, they embarked on a campaign to conquer Kent and Southern England.

The Timeline

The timeline unfolds in five captivating phases or campaigns, each based on my original concepts that intertwine 'historical' events and elements inspired by Bernard Cornwell's Winter King trilogy.

Decade of Conquest

In the initial phase, spanning from the 449s to the 50s, the Decade of Conquests began as Hengst and Horsa forge an alliance with an enigmatic group known as the Witches of Tenet (Drýgmál). However, anticipation builds as Horsa meets a tragic fate at Aylesford, his death trailing whispers of betrayal during negotiations with Briton warbands. This pivotal moment will shape Hengst's resolve to lead their warbands in a quest to subjugate the native populations, setting the stage for the Age of Arthur.

Hengst and his Sons land at Chichester. Spot the family resemblance. Figures painted by Matt Slade

The Last Roman

In the following years, from the 460s to the 70s, the 'last Roman' Ambrosius leads a counterattack. This last representative of the Roman government rallied the Britons alongside the Western Tribes and launched a series of decisive attacks along the Thames valley. The alliance succeeded in halting the Dûrlingar's advance and establishing Ambrosius as the first Dux Britannorum.

Arthur

As we move into the years 475 to 85, the young Arthur is poised to become a centrepiece of our epic tale. Following the mysterious disappearance of Ambrosius during a campaign against the Picts, the Britons declared Arthur the guardian of Ambrosius's young son, Modred. Tension will rise as the Dûrlingar are defeated at Mont Bandon, yet they continue to gain strength in the east and along the southern coast. Arthur embarks on the ambitious project of founding New Avalon and harnessing the tribal structures to forge a New Rome.

Modred - Comes of Age

From 486 to 93, Modred comes of age and challenges Arthur to his claim to the throne. Anticipation builds as Modred allies with the Dûrlingar, launching an invasion from their stronghold on Vectis into modern Hampshire, marking the beginning of my first campaign.

Arthur and his Inner Circle on the Eve of Hengst's Invasion

The Faction of Mystic Britain

At this stage, many factions remain underdeveloped, but the foundations are laid for a rich tapestry of alliances and rivalries. Among those involved will be:

The Britons, heirs to the Romano-British civilisation, whose unity is fragile as they rally behind Arthur's banner but grapple with their tribal ambitions.

The Western Tribes, who remain fiercely traditional and cautious about Arthur's growing influence, yet join forces to safeguard their lands and their mystic culture.

Mordred's followers, who have chosen to ally with the Dûrlingar in a bid to reclaim his throne, are anticipating the ramifications of such a duplicitous alliance.

The Dûrlingar, a formidable race of dark dwarves, led by Hengst and the influential Oiscingas dynasty, now dominate much of southern and eastern England.

The Witches of Tenet (Drýgmál), whose ancient coven wields powerful sorcery, are poised to influence the tides of conflict with their mysterious abilities.

Picts of the North, whose ambitions for land in the North could bring them into the fray.

The Druids, who possess ancient magic and serve as guides and healers, stay ever present in the shadows. However, they look to regain their rightful place amongst the tribes of Britain.

The Shadows Whisperers are rumoured to be otherworldly entities living in the West, perhaps remnants of exiled tribes or mythical beings, adding layers of intrigue to the unfolding saga.

The Saxons, though less dominant than the Dûrlingar, still play a role in the conflict, either seeking personal gain or offering their services as mercenaries to the dwarves and Britons.

Whats Next

Mystic Britain is set to be a land rife with fractured loyalties and shifting allegiances, creating an anticipatory atmosphere as the factions pursue their visions of survival and domination. The unfolding war will hinge on whether Arthur can unite these diverse forces against the encroaching shadow of the Dûrlingar, with the outcome promising to reshape the future of this turbulent land.

For my first campaign, I have decided to play. Modred's 'Coming of Age' is set in the spring of 495 AD. The previous years had seen increased activity along the southern coast, and in the spring of 495, Hengst, with his army, crossed from Ynys Weith/Vectis and set up camp at Noviomagnus (Chichester). Observed by Artus spies, the British king knew the next few months would be more than just another raid but a fight for his crown and the fate of the Britons.

First Moves

The campaign opens when Hengst dispatches his sons, Osric and Penda, to find a crossing over the Avon and secure the bridging point for the main host. Here, he would meet with Modred and his men to start an attack on Arthur's stronghold at Aquae Sulis. 

Once Arthur obtained news of Hengst's advance, he dispatched his loyal lieutenant, the moor, Sagramoor, to harry the crossing.