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[Talvara]

there is a subtle difference between helping the count and helping the population of our country.

but we shouldnt go at it alone, and it would be prefered if the Duke leads rather than the count (seing as the count has stakes in our dimise)
I think our best course of action is a combination of inteligence gathering and converstation with our allies.

maybe its something that can be dealt with with just Denton Percifalt and ourselves. Lets go talk with Denton about the matter.

[kaian-a-coel]

Personally, I'll go with intelligence gathering (passive to low risk), discussion wih allies, and I agree to offering haven to refugees. However, a definitive NO to military action unless openly called to arms by our liege.
And THIS IS NOT THE REAL WORLD.
I am basing my reasoning on common sense and what we already know of this world. Citing actual medieval england laws wont help, because this is not england.

[Talvara]

... a definitive NO to military action unless openly called to arms by our liege.
And THIS IS NOT THE REAL WORLD.
...

there are two reasons I would prefer to handle it with Denton and Percifalt instead of waiting for the count to call us all up as levies.

the first is that the count might just not care and the people will suffer as a result of that.
the second is that if we handle it without the count he cant call us up to go on a suicide mission (again).

[Gervassen]

It's a common sense thing. Kaian has got my vote in this case.

I look at his posts and see a lack of anything interesting or worthwhile as a plotline. "He stayed home" is not the plot summary of many books.

I could argue him point by point on merits. I could draw out the Constitutio Pacis of 1215 that enjoined nobles to allow free travel on public roads. Legally, going down those roads with lawful retainers is not construable as rebellion. We're a knight openly displaying his heraldry, fulfilling his duties as a guardian of the land. A king's justiciar would not confuse that with rebellion. Would the Count attack, anyway? Maybe. But we're mounted on horses for a reason. We're not even planning to immediately engage without observing the conditions for ourselves. This "send scouts and wait a month" thing gets really old, and it is also reacting rather than acting.

But that's pointless. The "law" that he can't actually cite is merely his screen to play a low-risk game. This story is a real homebody so far. Robert the Bruce famously went before the armies at Bannockburn and, in light armour with only a handaxe, beat a fully armored knight charging at him with a lance by dodging his lance and splitting his helmet in one blow. We'd never get to that decision, would we? We're actually a much less worthy knight than most in history.

Kaian can radio the Duke, I guess. This is a modern army. We're a "unit" with a "sergeant" that goes to a "frontline" so we can just radio in an arty barrage if things get hairy.

[Gervassen]

... a definitive NO to military action unless openly called to arms by our liege.
And THIS IS NOT THE REAL WORLD.
...

there are two reasons I would prefer to handle it with Denton and Percifalt instead of waiting for the count to call us all up as levies.

the first is that the count might just not care and the people will suffer as a result of that.
the second is that if we handle it without the count he cant call us up to go on a suicide mission (again).

Good points, not to mention we would be condemning several messengers to pass through lands filled with something burning the villages, and then sitting back and expecting a response from the Count. That almost dooms us to inaction until it's too late. I'm for gathering the other knights, and I said so. I'm also for not committing to a field battle until we have allies. I merely want a large reconnaissance force, with us at the lead so we can make first-hand decisions on immediate and clear field intelligence. An invading army travels faster than a month, and the next time we react is either next month, or if we go into a roleplay session with "The remains of your scouting party race through your town gate with a large army on the horizon.."

[Gotdamnmiracle]

Notify the duke before marching. Send a courier as you prepare for the ride and call to arms. Get his word. One of two things will happen.

Yes, enter his land and fight the ruffians. He does not need to be notified because you have my say. Go. Ride. Attack. The whole ordeal will trounce his fame (considering he can't protect his own lands and requires a thown leader to pick up after him.) and also show our loyalty to the state.

No, do not attack. This is not part of your business and you will do well to stay out of it. Perpare your army in defence your lands, whatever is climbing the river is coming your way. Might as well meet it with some hard force.

[10ebbor10]

and the next time we react is either next month, or if we go into a roleplay session with "The remains of your scouting party race through your town gate with a large army on the horizon.."

Or if we follow your suggestion, the roleplaying session where we find ourselves facing an invading army, without a significant part of our troups and without fortifications. Don't see why that would be better.

I support sending scouts, after all, they'll be less visible, more mobile and can see more than a large force. We can give them messages and disguise them as messengers if needed. We should also prepare our levies and warn everybody else of course.

[Gervassen]

and the next time we react is either next month, or if we go into a roleplay session with "The remains of your scouting party race through your town gate with a large army on the horizon.."

Or if we follow your suggestion, the roleplaying session where we find ourselves facing an invading army, without a significant part of our troups and without fortifications. Don't see why that would be better.

I support sending scouts, after all, they'll be less visible, more mobile and can see more than a large force. We can give them messages and disguise them as messengers if needed. We should also prepare our levies and warn everybody else of course.

We see it and react to it far from our town. When we begin roleplaying a battle at our town, it isn't long before we have no options that take advantage of our mobility. We sit behind our palisade as the marauders burn our fields, and do various other wicked things to those who didn't reach our palisade.

If we reach them outside our borders, we have unlimited maneuver room as light dragoons that can outrace heavy cavalry, and harry foot soldiers. We could try to draw some forces away, we could send a few men back to town as we harry them without really engaging, lead them a merry chase south or east, or whatever. there's any number of options preferable to starting a roleplay segment with them nearly upon our village.

[Maldevious]

I will let the discussion proceed for a bit longer, as it is closely contested, but at the moment, it is 6-4 (with one I haven't counted switching between the two at various points of the discussion) in favor of the cautious route Kaian is advocating over the bolder one Gerv is behind.

[10ebbor10]

You assume we can outrun them. However, if they are indeed more than bandits, and heading for our town, it's highly likely it's the Count. The very same Count who specializes in Cavalerie forces, and has no reason to love us. If he kills us at that moment using his overpowering forces and mobility, and then blames the thing on us, not many'll care. Dead men speak no tales, so he owns the truth.

[Truean]

Plotline?

He sat at home He took nothing and made something. This story is pretty good so far....

Look before you leap.

Have you looked at our army? Dragoons? We have mostly archers. We only got horses a lil bit ago.

You are assuming a lot of things....

Caution? yes. Yes, because though it isn't real, we are pretending that it is. There aren't hit points here.

[Gervassen]

Plotline?

He sat at home He took nothing and made something. This story is pretty good so far....

Look before you leap.

Have you looked at our army? Dragoons? We have mostly archers. We only got horses a lil bit ago.

You are assuming a lot of things....

Caution? yes. Yes, because though it isn't real, we are pretending that it is. There aren't hit points here.

Robert the Bruce didn't have hitpoints, either, when he faced down Henry de Bohun charging at him in full armour. He had heart.

Do you have heart, or is there just a big pink marshmallow there?

You assume we can outrun them. However, if they are indeed more than bandits, and heading for our town, it's highly likely it's the Count. The very same Count who specializes in Cavalerie forces, and has no reason to love us. If he kills us at that moment using his overpowering forces and mobility, and then blames the thing on us, not many'll care. Dead men speak no tales, so he owns the truth.

The count has heavy cavalry. Destriers are meant for carrying heavy riders into short charges, not cantering for miles. The lesson here is actually illustrated in the example of Robert the Bruce, who was on a light palfrey, maneuvered past the knight's lance and struck him a mortal blow with amazing agility.

[Gervassen]

I will let the discussion proceed for a bit longer, as it is closely contested, but at the moment, it is 6-4 (with one I haven't counted switching between the two at various points of the discussion) in favor of the cautious route Kaian is advocating over the bolder one Gerv is behind.

Kaian v. Gerv is always a lot of fun, but really, I wouldn't simplify it that far. Kaian doesn't even want to mobilize the peasant levies or anything else without orders, and most people go that far at least. The real sentiment is somewhere between us.

[Gervassen]

... a definitive NO to military action unless openly called to arms by our liege.
And THIS IS NOT THE REAL WORLD.
...

there are two reasons I would prefer to handle it with Denton and Percifalt instead of waiting for the count to call us all up as levies.

the first is that the count might just not care and the people will suffer as a result of that.
the second is that if we handle it without the count he cant call us up to go on a suicide mission (again).

What? Help the count? Are you guys mad?  Never! (unless called, even then we must try to find a way to avoid it...  Don't you understand that Count will use our forces as cannon-fodder? )

Our duty is to protect our land and our people first.  Aren't we interested in undermining count's economical and political strength?

Fortificate our own land as fast as we can! All resources in that. And let them come. And be ready for an open rebellion against the count when he'll fail to defend his land

I change my vote to these two things. If a vote is counted for me, let it be counted for these, instead.

[kaian-a-coel]

Robert the Bruce didn't have hitpoints, either, when he faced down Henry de Bohun charging at him in full armour. He had heart.

Do you have heart, or is there just a big pink marshmallow there?

That's three times you cited this example. I would like to name heroic lightly armoured heroes that got messily killed for being too reckless, but unfortunately the more common a thing is, the less it is put down with details like names in the annals. Chronics take note of unusual things.
Besides, as far as I'm concerned, I do have a big pink (and fragile) marshmallow in there. And I'm fine with it.