Brytenwalda video

A quick video-slideshow I made when the Spanish version was over.
It shows images from the rulebook with the music from Damh the Bard. The song is The Spirit of Albion. I think it fits great :)

Spirit of Albion
(Damh the Bard)

An isle so fair, a isle so green,
Known by many names.
Feel the pulse, the pulse of the land,
The blood boils within your veins.
Someone go down to the Holy Well
and raise the Spirits there!
Lay a feather on a stone,
with a flame, and a lock of hair.

(Chorus) The Crane, the wolf,
the bear and the boar,
No longer dwell upon these shores,
You say that the Goddess and God
have gone,
Well I tell you they live on!
For in the cities and hills,
And in circles of stone,
The voices of the Old Ways,
The Spirit of Albion is calling you home!

From Manwydden's crashing sea,
To the moor and the Highland Glen.
From the Faerie Hills, home of the Sidhe,
To the veins of the Broad and the Fen.
Someone go down to the Holy Trees
of Oak and Ash and Thorn!
Utter a charm in the verse of three,
Till the Summer King is born!

Ride the white horses
carved into the hills,
Walk to the Hanging Stones.
Bow to the might
of Cerne Abbass' height,
Feel the peace in the Ancestors' homes.
Someone go down to Wilmington
where the Giant guards the way!
Step into the Otherworld,
into the womb,
Where centuries pass like a day!

Spanish version releashed

The spanish version is out there!
Enhorabuena a todos los hispanohablantes. Gracias a Blooze y Sir Nigel ya está lista la traducción.
Cualquier error y gazapo son completamente responsabilidad mía.

Brytenwalda released!

It has been a several months of hard work, and it wouln't be possible without the help of all the reenactment partners, Thomas Gabel, Alberto Fuentevilla De Diego, Blacksmith and all the deviantartists which shared their textures. But finally it is here.

Brytenwalda is a ruleset which will allow you to recreate battles and raids during the so called British “Age of Arthur” and Saxon invasion. In Brytenwalda you'll impersonate a Chieftain during the Dark Ages, commanding his men in the defence of their homelands or looting and burning those belonging to your enemies.
Although the Dark Ages were an extremely violent era with a great number of battles and raids, but only a few were detailed in the chronicles, such as decisive pitch battles or those in which an important person died. Brytenwalda is focused on these kinds of battles which the modern wargamer would call a “skirmish”. While you wont be able to re-enact the Battle of Hastings in Brytenwalda, you'll have plenty of fun leading a band of Scot-Irish pirates, a group of raiding Saxons or a unit of Romano-British pedites patrolling the frontier.

Brytenwalda is an open set for mature gamers.
It is open because, as Creative Commons licensed project, you'll be free to adapt the game in any way you feel more confortable with. There is no written in stone rules, you can change whatever you want. You can even set this rules into another time: in Brytenwalda you'll find the rules to create your own warriors or whole warbands so, why not playing in the times of Rome, the Crusades or in a fantasy world?
It is for mature gamers because it is not focused in competitive manners nor thought as game for tournaments. This is just for fun... and fun is what a game should be.

And, of course, Brytenwalda is all for free. You can choose to download the black and white printer friendly edition or the the full color deluxe edition.
We'll continue working on the British Dark Ages, and Blooze and Sir Nigel are into the Spanish translation right now, but if you feel you got something you'd like to share just let me know; I'll be happy to know about it.

Thank you for being there, good luck and good hunt!

Brytenwalda rulebook preview

A low quality preview of the full color Brytenwalda rulebook.

Arthur and Merlin

Known as Arthur Pendragon, but Pendragon is not a surname but a title meaning something like "head of warriors" in Welsh, which could translate as "warlord" or "chieftain". Arthur was not a king, but a warlord in the service of a king, possibly Maelgwn Gwynedd, king of Gywnedd and one of the most powerful British lords of the time. If we seek a comparable figure we have a very close resemblance: El Cid, although we could say that he himself was king (from Valencia).

Like another famous fantastic magician Merlin was also known by many names, such as Emrys, Llallogan or Ambrosius, but his original name was Welsh: Myrddin, later latinized as Merlin. The first reference to Merlin is found in Armes Prydein, Y Gododdin, and his role of prophet or counselor was drifting towards its designation as magician.His biography varies widely according to sources, but it's remarkable his relation with the kingdom of Dyfed (it is said that he was the illegitimate son of a princess), their advice on Vortigern when building Dinas Emrys and its role as guardian of the young Arthur, along with Cynyr Ceinfarfog. Later he directed his steps towards the north after the battle of Camlann, heading to the court of King Gwendoleu. He remained there until his new employer went to war against the kings of Strathclyde and Ebrauc. After the death of Gwndoleu in Battle of Ardderyd it is said that Merlin went mad and disappeared into the wilderness.

Comitatus joins Brytenwalda

UK based Comitatus reenactment group have also granted permission for using their pictures in Brytenwalda.
Comitatus is Britain's leading Late Roman re-enactment group helping to set a new standard in historical authenticity. Putting on events across the North and down into the Midlands, the group is able to bring to an event a complete living history presentation demonstrating the life and skills of the Late Roman army, including infantry, cavalry, archery, artillery and everyday life.
Take a look at their web.

Romano-British Teulu and bard

Another update, there are few Romano-British to show now ...

First we have Owain mab Urien, son of the king of Rheged, he is known as Sir Yvain thanks to medieval works. He is also son in law of King Lot of Gododdin (brother in law, therefore, of the other two Teulu I showed you above.) Despite the initial rivalry with Arthur he would eventually become part of this Teulu. He was popular by the group of elite cavalry that rode with him, called "The Crows."

Next to Owain is the famous bard Taliesin, who served in the court of his father. Taliesin is remembered as having the blessings of Ceredwen, although they come to him in an unconventional way. His works are filled with an overwhelming mysticism, and his writings are highly recommended.
Taliesin talked about Owain in several of his works and he wrote for him the elegy "Marwnad Owain."

Pan laddodd Owain Fflamddwyn Nid oedd fwy nogyd cysgaid
Cysgid Lloegr llydan nifer A lleufer yn eu llygaid
A rhai ni ffoynt haeach A oeddynt hyach na rhaid
Owain a'u cosbes yn ddrud Mal cnud yn dylud defaid

When Owain slew Fflamddwyn it was no more to him than to sleep

The wide host of Lloegr sleeps with the light in their eyes

And those that did not flee were braver than was needed

Owain punished them harshly like a pack of wolves chasing sheep

Contubernium joins Brytenwalda

Germany based Contubernium reenactment group have also granted permission for using their pictures in Brytenwalda.
Their website is in German, but don't forget to take a look on it.

Romano-British Teulu

The Teulu were the bodyguards of the Romano-British warlords. Teulu means "family" in Welsh, and that was mostly what they were, but they could be friends, allies or clientes also. Anyway they were really similar to the Macedonian Companions.
In this picture you can see a couple of members of Arthur's Teulu: the brothers Gwalchmai and Gwalchafed. Known as Sir Gawain and Sir Gaheris thanks to medieval literature. They were sons of Lot Luwddoc of Gododdin and Elain, and nephews of Arthur.

Batavi joins Brytewalda

Midlands and South UK based Batavi reenactment group have also granted permission for using their pictures in Brytenwalda. Take a time to look at their website.

Romano-British Rherel

Spear was the most poular weapon in Britania due to its simple design and its low cost. But some individuals were wealthy enough to affort the queen of the weapons: the sword. Rherel went even beyond and they could affort helmets and chainmails.
Rherel were part of the nobles' personal guard, or even they were petty local nobles. Anyway their excellent equipment made them great hand to hand contenders.

All of them are carrying coptic tunics, but maybe it's hard to appreciate in the pictures. More freehands for the shields.

Letavia joins Brytenwalda

Letavia, the Breton late roman re-enacment group, have granted permission for using their pictures in Brytenwalda. Take some time to visit their website.

Romano-British Aulue

The Aulue were a militia unit in the British Kingdoms. They should be able to provide their own equipment and follow the local lord to the battleflield. They are equipped with spear and shield, some may have got a helm if they were lucky, but body armor would be rare.
They were also known as Pedyt, from the Latin name Peditatus (Pedites) of which they are clearly inspired, subsisting as a kind of successor unit in Britain.

Some of them carry shields with emblems of British units according to Notitia Dignitatum (Legio Praesidensis and Secunda Britannica), other shields show versions of other units emblems and early christian symbols (Chi-Rhos)
You can also see a few Coptic tunics.

Fectio joins Brytenwalda

Fectio, the Dutch late roman re-enacment society have granted permission for using their pictures in Brytenwalda. Don't forget to visit their wonderful web and their brother web Vortigern Studies.

Romano-British Archers

Romano-british archers ready for action.
They wear some coptic tunics; harder to paint, but they look übercool.
Great Splintered Light miniatures.

El Clan del Cuervo joins Brtyenwalda

El Clan del Cuervo, a Spanish reenactor group focoused on the High Medieval times have joined Brytenwalda. They've grant permission to use their pictures to illustrate the rulebook of Brytenwalda.
If you belong to a reenactor group focused on the Dark Ages or maybe you are an artist who want to collaborate with Brytenwalda just let me know, I would be really pleased to count on you.
Keep in mind that Brytenwalda will be a free game.

Saxon shield patterns

Some of the saxon shields I have painted so far.
My original idea was to use decals, but I've finally painted them using freehand.

Thegn and Dryhten

The saxon leaders ready for battle. These are the boss, a Thegn, and his close henchman, a Drythen. Superb Splintered Light models.

Wulfbyrnan and Hraefnhelmas

A couple of dangerous guys, a Wulfbyrnan and a Hraefnhelmas. They are adpts of ancient warrior cults from their ancestral continental homeland. We could also simply call them berserkers.
The warrior with the spear is painted as a tribute to a well known movie from the eighties.

Geoguth and Galdre

A couple of saxon characters. These are a Geoguth and a Galdre.
A Geoguth is a young warrior looking for a chance to test his courage. A Galdre is a saxon priest.

Gesiþas

The term Gesiþas comes from the Old Saxon gisīð, and this from the Old High German gisindo, meaning companion or comrade.
The Gesiþas are good armoured troops from the low nobility or great renown warriors choosen by a Thegn or a Dryhten.
They are an armoured version of th Geoguþe, carrying spears as well as hand weapons, such as swords or axes. They are protected by chainmails.

Freehand painted shields again.

Langbogascéotendas & Geoguþe ready for action

The varnish isn't matt enough yet, but it would be in a few days.
All of them are washed in Rembrandt's Vandyke Brown.

Saxon light spearmen WIP

The Geoguþe are ready to be washed and have their bases done. Finally I've choice to paint their shields using freehand instead of transfers; it's a quite hard job, but I think they deserve it.
The Geoguþe are light spearmen, carrying a shield but unarmoured.

Saxon longbowmen WIP

I've started my saxon warband painting the Langbogascéotendas (longbowmen with shields at their backs). They'll be just six, so it would be fast to get them painted and I can also start practicing with the shields, although these are smaller than the spearmen ones.
This is how they look before washing, varnishing and working their bases.

Gathering the warbands

My warbands from Splintered Light Miniatures arrived a few days ago. Around a week since I ordered them; that is a really good service considering they came from Georgia (US) to northern Spain.

I really liked them when I first saw them in their webpage, specially those characters packs which are really useful for Brytenwalda. But, believe me, they look even better when you can see them on your hands. This also goes for the horses, which don't look that good when on their web, but they are great... even better than others 15mm manufacturers (around Essex horses standard in my opinion). The models are very good done, and it's hard to find a mould line.
I have take this pic in order to take a look on compatibility and so. It is a SL armoured saxon spearman surrounded by miniatures from some of my DBA armies. It fits quite good with all of them, but the Xyston hoplites look a little bit bigger (they are more 18mm than 15mm, to be honest). I've forgotten to put some Alain Touller models in the picture, but they fit great too.


And here is a WiP of my Brytenwalda warbands. You can see a british teulu, Arthur (on Essex horse), a teulu on foot and a saxon thegn on the solo pics.
The infantry miniatures are based on 1 cent euro coin and cavalry goes on 5 cent euro coins. They are a perfect size for them and add a good weight at the base.

Kingdom of Gwent: 520 AD

The whole Dark Ages romano-british town is finished. It's made of foam, string and cadboard.
Being in 15mm it was quite easy and fast to built up.

These buildings represent a town close to Colonia Nervia Glevensium (Gloucester), in the area which was the eastern frontier of the kingdom of Gwent during the VI century. Close to Lloegyr, a very dangerous place... and a good area to play saxon raids in Brytenwalda!

The buildings are simple houses with straw roofs where one or more families used to live in. This is the same basic structre that we can see today on the popular english and irish cottages.The materials are quite more exquisites than those that we could find deep into Cambria during that age, like the comunal timber houses of Brycheiniog and Morgannwg. You can see even an old tiled roof building maybe made by the romans more than a century ago. The smaller buildings were used to keep food; think on the local harvest or smocked meat and fish.

Saint Cradfrod's church

This is the first scenery model for Brytenwalda I've finished. It's the first building for the project of a Dark Ages village in 15mm.
The structure is made of foam and the straw roof is made of string.

Saint Cadfrod was bishop of Caerleon (close to Newport, in South Wales) between the IV and V centuries.