Post by Catsmate on Sept 12, 2015 11:20:41 GMT
Inspired partly by What Can Possibly Go Wrong?, the latest of Jodi Taylor's time travel novels featuring the historians of St. Marys, which features an excursion to Bosworth and a certain car park.
King Richard III of England is regarded as one of history's more notorious monarchs. Widely portrayed as a villain and murderer, not least blamed for the deaths of his nephews, by Shakespeare and others, but with attempts by his supporters, notably the Richard III Society, to rehabilitate his reputation. The last Plantaganet king, he ruled for little more than two years until his famous defeat and death at the battle of Bosworth Field. There the treachery by the Stanleys gave victory to the future Henry VII and created the Tudor dynasty.
The sheer amount of argument over the details of the period, his responsibility for the deaths of his nephews and of Queen Anne, his personal courage and even appearance (the 'hunchback'), the Tudor propaganda against him, the events of Bosworth Field and the details of his death, provide many opportunities for adventures.
Some ideas.
1. Historical research.
If time travel is possible academics will want to study this period to support their pet theories (or refute those of others). The perfect opportunity for problems, especially in the war-torn late fifteenth century with a faction-riddled and paranoid court. The PCs could be historians, their long suffering support staff, students or otherwise involved in the efforts. Or more usual AITAS time travellers who encounter such researchers, leading to numerous possibilities for confusion, strife and the involvement of the authorities.
2. The discovery of Richard's body.
The body of Richard III was unearthed from the ground under a local authority car park in Leicester in 2013, mainly down to the energy and determination of one person, Philippa Langley. Ms. Langley was rather obsessed with the last Plantagenet king and spent seven years researching and fundraising to enable the dig. A hunch caused her to focus on the car park:
Did someone provide her with inspiration? Why? Was a time traveller fufilling a promise made five centuries earlier to a dying man perhaps?
3. The Princes in the Tower.
One of the most enduring controversies about Richard III is the fate of his nephews, Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York. When their father, Edward IV, died in 1483 the boys (aged 12 and 9 respectively) were lodged in the Tower of London by order Richard in his role as Lord Protector. This was supposed to be in preparation for Edward's coronation as king. Richard took the throne himself, claiming that they were illegitimate, and the boys disappeared.
It's not known what happened to the boys after this. It's generally assumed that they were murdered, by Richard's order, but there is no evidence for this, nor for when they died. Other theories have them escaping, being spirited away, or being killed by Henry VII when he defeated Richard and took the throne.
In 1674 workers at the Tower unearthed a box holding two small human skeletons from ground near the White Tower. At the time it was generally accepted that the bodies were those of the princes, but there is no evidence for this. The bones were interred in Westminster Abbey.
4. The Battle of Bosworth Field.
The exact course of events at the pivotal battle are known only in broad strokes. Three forces met that day; Richard's army, the forces of Henry Tudor (mainly French mercenaries) and those of the Stanley brothers who were nominally loyal to Richard. In fact they did not participate in the battle until Richard personally led a cavalry charge that got close to Henry, whereupon the Stanley's joined the battle on Henry's side.
All-in-all a wonderful opportunity for field research and getting into trouble. Even more so if the PCs arrive unknowingly at the site and then encounter other time travellers.
5. The "R".
One of the really odd things about the discovery of Richard's body was the presence of a painted letter R on the ground adjacent to his grave. Who painted it, and why, remain complete mysteries.
6. Meddling.
Of course not all time travellers are content to observe. Given the interest in Richard and the pivotal nature of his brief reign there's certainly going to be someone who'd like to meddle in the course of history, to kill Henry and save Richard, ending the Tudor era before it starts. A rifle shot from a distance (or perhaps something less subtle like one of the Meddling Monk's nuclear rockets) and history takes a very different path; no Henry VII, a very different Reformation (if it happens), no Elizabethan Era, the changes echoing down the centuries...
Now the PCs have to fix history and prevent the meddling. Starting with who's responsible.
Comments? Suggestions? Ideas for further seeds?
King Richard III of England is regarded as one of history's more notorious monarchs. Widely portrayed as a villain and murderer, not least blamed for the deaths of his nephews, by Shakespeare and others, but with attempts by his supporters, notably the Richard III Society, to rehabilitate his reputation. The last Plantaganet king, he ruled for little more than two years until his famous defeat and death at the battle of Bosworth Field. There the treachery by the Stanleys gave victory to the future Henry VII and created the Tudor dynasty.
The sheer amount of argument over the details of the period, his responsibility for the deaths of his nephews and of Queen Anne, his personal courage and even appearance (the 'hunchback'), the Tudor propaganda against him, the events of Bosworth Field and the details of his death, provide many opportunities for adventures.
Some ideas.
1. Historical research.
If time travel is possible academics will want to study this period to support their pet theories (or refute those of others). The perfect opportunity for problems, especially in the war-torn late fifteenth century with a faction-riddled and paranoid court. The PCs could be historians, their long suffering support staff, students or otherwise involved in the efforts. Or more usual AITAS time travellers who encounter such researchers, leading to numerous possibilities for confusion, strife and the involvement of the authorities.
2. The discovery of Richard's body.
The body of Richard III was unearthed from the ground under a local authority car park in Leicester in 2013, mainly down to the energy and determination of one person, Philippa Langley. Ms. Langley was rather obsessed with the last Plantagenet king and spent seven years researching and fundraising to enable the dig. A hunch caused her to focus on the car park:
"In the second parking bay, I just felt I was walking on his grave".
3. The Princes in the Tower.
One of the most enduring controversies about Richard III is the fate of his nephews, Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York. When their father, Edward IV, died in 1483 the boys (aged 12 and 9 respectively) were lodged in the Tower of London by order Richard in his role as Lord Protector. This was supposed to be in preparation for Edward's coronation as king. Richard took the throne himself, claiming that they were illegitimate, and the boys disappeared.
- Their being lodged in the Tower of London isn't as minster as it might sound; the castle was a Royal residence and customarily used before a coronation.
It's not known what happened to the boys after this. It's generally assumed that they were murdered, by Richard's order, but there is no evidence for this, nor for when they died. Other theories have them escaping, being spirited away, or being killed by Henry VII when he defeated Richard and took the throne.
- Stories of one or both boys surviving provided the justification for two later claimants to the English throne; Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck.
In 1674 workers at the Tower unearthed a box holding two small human skeletons from ground near the White Tower. At the time it was generally accepted that the bodies were those of the princes, but there is no evidence for this. The bones were interred in Westminster Abbey.
4. The Battle of Bosworth Field.
The exact course of events at the pivotal battle are known only in broad strokes. Three forces met that day; Richard's army, the forces of Henry Tudor (mainly French mercenaries) and those of the Stanley brothers who were nominally loyal to Richard. In fact they did not participate in the battle until Richard personally led a cavalry charge that got close to Henry, whereupon the Stanley's joined the battle on Henry's side.
All-in-all a wonderful opportunity for field research and getting into trouble. Even more so if the PCs arrive unknowingly at the site and then encounter other time travellers.
5. The "R".
One of the really odd things about the discovery of Richard's body was the presence of a painted letter R on the ground adjacent to his grave. Who painted it, and why, remain complete mysteries.
- Except of course to Dr. Madeline Maxwell and a group of trainee historians from St Mary's Institute of Historical Research who know damn well but aren't talking.
6. Meddling.
Of course not all time travellers are content to observe. Given the interest in Richard and the pivotal nature of his brief reign there's certainly going to be someone who'd like to meddle in the course of history, to kill Henry and save Richard, ending the Tudor era before it starts. A rifle shot from a distance (or perhaps something less subtle like one of the Meddling Monk's nuclear rockets) and history takes a very different path; no Henry VII, a very different Reformation (if it happens), no Elizabethan Era, the changes echoing down the centuries...
Now the PCs have to fix history and prevent the meddling. Starting with who's responsible.
- For added complications they could be facing the original meddler, or their agents, or time travellers from the new history defending their version of reality.
Comments? Suggestions? Ideas for further seeds?