Battle of Poitiers
The Battle of Poitiers reaches its climax as the French knights, led by King John II, are overwhelmed by the disciplined English forces under Edward the Black Prince. The French cavalry, bogged down i
Setting
A rolling countryside near Poitiers, France, with scattered patches of woodland and open fields. The battlefield is marked by trampled grass, muddied earth, and the occasional rise of terrain where English longbowmen have taken position. The remnants of a small village smolder in the distance, adding smoke to the horizon.
Characters
Edward the Black Prince
primary
A tall, broad-shouldered man in his mid-twenties with piercing blue eyes and shoulder-length dark brown hair. His face is smeared with dirt and sweat from battle, and his jaw is set with determination. He wears a chainmail hauberk over a padded gambeson, with a surcoat bearing the royal arms of England (three golden lions passant guardant on a red field). His posture exudes authority and confidence.
King John II of France
primary
A middle-aged king in his late 30s, with a regal but weary demeanor. He has a strong but now disheveled frame, with dark hair streaked with grey and a neatly trimmed beard. His face bears the marks of battle and fatigue, with deep-set eyes that reflect both defiance and resignation.
English Longbowman
secondary
A grizzled, middle-aged archer with a wiry frame and sun-weathered skin, his forearms corded with muscle from years of drawing the longbow. His face is framed by a short, unkempt beard streaked with gray, and his eyes are sharp, scanning the battlefield with practiced ease.
French Knight
secondary
A battle-worn knight in his late 30s, with a muscular build from years of combat training. His face is streaked with dirt and sweat, with a short, dark beard framing a square jaw. His blue eyes are wide with urgency, scanning the field for scattered troops. His surcoat bears the fleur-de-lis of France, now torn and muddied from battle.
Wounded Soldier
background
A young French soldier in his early twenties, lean but muscular from military training. His face is streaked with dirt and sweat, his dark hair matted with blood from a gash on his forehead. His left leg is badly wounded, leaving a trail of blood as he crawls.
Dialog
Edward the Black Prince
Hold your arrows, men! Let them feel the weight of their defeat before we press further.
King John II of France
You may have taken me, Prince Edward, but France shall never bow to England’s yoke.
English Longbowman
French knights scatter like hares, sire. Shall we loose another volley?
Edward the Black Prince
Nay, let them flee. The day is ours, and King John’s capture is victory enough.
King John II of France
By the grace of God, this humiliation shall not stand. My son will rally France.
English Longbowman
Their armor’s thick, but their hearts are thin. Broke like twigs under our shafts.
Edward the Black Prince
Treat King John with the honor befitting his station. He is a valiant foe, though fortune favored us this day.