I wouldn't call it
super bullshit. The 'wrong' choice came with a second opportunity to fall back, after all. Tactically, that kind of thing really did happen when knights went after light cav; and being taken out by a sling at ten-to-one odds is pretty reasonable. The only really questionable thing is not keeping at least one knight back as a bodyguard. But hey, that's why there's a line of succession, so it's not even a game over.
Within a few days, you retinue is approaching the wooded borders of the Alleynian plains. As soon as you enter the rolling grasslands you espy a dust-cloud in the distance that seems, miraculously, to grow until it resolves itself into a galloping company of lancers, the border patrol of Alleyn.
(Your opponent is not entering the rolling grasslands of Alleyn.)
As your opponent is not journeying to Alleyn, your spies who are abroad everywhere will be on the lookout for the Monsaljan retinue.
(Your opponent is on their way to the city of the Dwellings of the Fey.)
The Monsaljan scouts are just as vigilant as your Dorgomen.
(Your opponent has been informed of your own destination.)
The Crown Prince, leader of the Alleynian border patrol, bows courteously while his men remain seemingly impassive, and he says 'I will escort you to the court of King Timurlane, my father.' His lancers flank you on the journey to Bukovar, the great wooden castle that sits on an island in the river Eger. On the journey you are able to engage him in polite conversation and learn that King Timurlane has heard of the prediction and 'would seek to be on friendly terms with the victor, if there must be one.' The Crown Prince is, it seems, hopeful of making a good marriage with a foreign queen or princess.
(You are not playing as the Matchless Queen, Berengaria the Fey.)
The journey across the rolling plains is not long, and you are soon before castle Bukovar, the great wooden fortress that sits on an island of the River Eger. The drawbridge slams down and you ride into the great bailey. King Timurlane, recently returned from the hunt, awaits you there.
King Timurlane is a broad-chested man with a ruddy countenance, clad in bear furs and felt leggings. His forearms are protected by golden vambraces studded with rubies and an esquire carries his badge of kingship, the emerald lance. His nobles are already quaffing from stirrup-cups as you dismount and walk forward to greet him. He orders his pages to bring you all cups of wine and grins widely, revealing a dazzling line of golden teeth also studded with small rubies. Small strands of boar flesh hang from some of the rubies, like internal whiskers. As he speaks his greeting, you run over in your mind what your scribe has told you of Alleyn's history.
Seven years ago, the Oligarchane Confederacy war party won popular support for an attack on Alleyn. King Timurlane led the force of lancers which repulsed their hoplites himself. The war party lost influence, and peace-loving Demosthenes of Locris became one of the two leading figures in the Confederacy. He signed a peace with King Timurlane, but the king fears a resurgence of the war party, and distrusts the ways of the Confederates. The Bone People too have raided the rich plains of Alleyn, but they were also repulsed after two bloody battles. Above all, however, the people of Alleyn hate and fear the dragons who regularly hunt over the open plains, carrying off people, horses, and cattle, with impunity.
King Timurlane's bluff greeting is hardly over when it begins to rain quite heavily on all of you assembled in the great bailey. The king seems oblivious to this, his nobles too affect not to notice as he keeps you talking in full view of the pages and serfs. You hear one of your knights muttering that King Timurlane is insulting you.
Will you:
• Ask to be taken inside the keep?
• Hope you are not losing too much faith and tell King Timurlane why you have come to visit him?
