Battle of Mortimer's Cross
Edward, Earl of March, leads Yorkist forces against the Lancastrian army under Owen and Jasper Tudor in the Battle of Mortimer's Cross. The scene captures the dawn battle in a winter landscape, with a
Setting
A frozen battlefield near Mortimer's Cross, Herefordshire. The ground is hard with frost, patches of snow clinging to the brown winter grass. The River Lugg flows sluggishly nearby, its edges crusted with ice. Skeletal trees stand stark against the pale sky, their branches like blackened fingers reaching upward.
Characters
Edward, Earl of March
primary
A tall, broad-shouldered man in his late teens with striking blond hair and piercing blue eyes. His youthful face bears the beginnings of a beard, and his athletic build shows the vigor of a natural warrior. A faint scar runs along his left cheekbone, a testament to previous battles.
Owen Tudor
secondary
A middle-aged Welshman of sturdy build, standing at about 5'8" with weathered features from years of campaigning. His dark brown hair is streaked with grey, tied back in a simple warrior's knot. A prominent scar runs from his left temple to jawline, marking him as a veteran of many battles. His dark eyes frequently dart upward toward the ominous sky.
Jasper Tudor
secondary
A lean, battle-hardened man in his early 30s with sharp features and piercing dark eyes. His face bears the weathered look of a seasoned commander, with a neatly trimmed beard framing his jaw. His posture is upright, exuding authority despite the tension in the air.
Yorkist Knight
secondary
A battle-hardened knight in his late 30s, with a muscular build and a weathered face marked by old scars. His dark brown hair is cropped short beneath his sallet, and his piercing blue eyes reflect both determination and religious fervor. His hands are calloused from years of wielding sword and shield.
Lancastrian Soldier
background
A gaunt-faced common soldier in his late 20s, with sunken eyes and a wiry build. His unkempt brown hair is matted under his sallet, and his hands tremble as he clutches a rusted billhook. A fresh cut on his cheek suggests recent skirmishing.
Lancastrian Prisoner
background
A young man in his early twenties, with a gaunt face and sunken eyes from exhaustion and hunger. His dark hair is matted with sweat and dirt, and his hands are bound tightly behind his back. He bears the bruises and cuts of recent combat, his ragged breath visible in the cold morning air.
Dialog
Edward, Earl of March
Behold, my brothers in arms! The heavens themselves proclaim our righteous cause with this trinity of suns! God’s own hand shines upon us this day!
Yorkist Knight
By God’s grace, my lord! The Holy Trinity smiles upon our banners! Let us strike while the Lord’s favor is with us!
Owen Tudor
Duw a'n helpo... What devilry is this? Three suns bleed across the sky... Our men falter beneath this ill omen.
Edward, Earl of March
See how the Lancastrians hesitate like deer before the hunter? Forward, for York and England! Let no man doubt the will of Heaven!
Owen Tudor
Stand fast, you dogs! Would you have them say Welshmen quailed at shadows? Form the shield wall!
Yorkist Knight
Their lines waver like rotten hemp! Now is the hour, my lord—order the charge!
Owen Tudor
Gwell angau na chywilydd... Better death than dishonor. If we must fall, let them remember how Welshmen die.