>>5387973>>5387969You and your men set out for Cornwall - you've heard tell that the local Royalists there expelled the few Parliamentarians late last year, and it is likely the best place to find recruits, even if the lack of loot will leave you little chance of better funding than begging local townsmen. You bring your force together and ride fast across the Exmoor - the January wind whips chill, but your men are locals - well used to the rough terrain and weather. You cannot stray too far inland, though - the moor is too rough for your baggage and the river Taw is too high to easily ford, and so you are forced to pass through the town of Barnstaple.
It isn't a large town, but it has kept its fortifications in better condition than many - there have been raids by Barbary pirates in recent decades, however infrequent, and none wish to run afoul of Turks and slavers on the Exmoor. It sits around the bridge of the river Taw, blocking your movement westwards. There are no walls to the place, but it is wrapped in an earthen embankment, and has many sturdy stone houses. You've heard Parliamentarian mumbling in the place, and so find yourself with a harsh decision ahead. Either you must force your way into and through Barnstaple, perhaps having to fight across a bridge, or you can attempt to ford the Taw in the open, leaving you very vulnerable. A larger force and this might be little issue, but for so small a body it is crucial you not be caught up and bogged down in an infantry fight.
Your men look to you for leadership, as your body of horse settles on a hillside in view of Barnstaple.
>What do you do?>Take Barnstaple by storm - even the best prepared men are not prepared for everything.>Attempt to ford the Taw upstream>Something else? (Write in any tactic you can think of) 