Siege of St Andrews Castle
The defenders of St Andrews Castle, a group of Protestant reformers, are preparing for another day of siege by English forces during the Rough Wooing. The Castle Defender Captain is rallying his troop
Setting
St Andrews Castle, perched on a rocky promontory overlooking the North Sea. The castle walls are surrounded by makeshift siegeworks, with English troops positioned in trenches and behind wooden barricades. The castle's courtyard is bustling with defenders preparing for another day of siege.
Characters
Castle Defender Captain
primary
A grizzled Scottish warrior in his late 40s, with a muscular build hardened by decades of warfare. His face bears deep lines from years of campaigning, with a prominent scar running from his left temple to jawline. Thick, graying red hair is tied back with a leather thong, and his piercing blue eyes constantly scan for threats.
Young Soldier
primary
A lean youth of perhaps eighteen summers, with sunburnt cheeks and a sparse beard struggling to grow. His hands tremble slightly around his pike, and his blue eyes dart nervously between the castle walls and his captain. A fresh scar runs along his left forearm from recent skirmishes.
Blacksmith
secondary
A burly, middle-aged man with thick arms and a broad chest, his face smudged with soot and sweat. His hands are calloused and strong, with singed patches on his fingers from years of metalwork. His dark hair is streaked with gray and tied back with a leather strap.
Protestant Preacher
secondary
A gaunt, middle-aged man with deep-set, fervent eyes and a closely cropped beard streaked with grey. His sunken cheeks and furrowed brow speak of both spiritual zeal and physical exhaustion. His hands are calloused from gripping the Bible, and his posture is slightly stooped from hours of prayer.
Scout
background
A wiry man in his late 20s with sun-browned skin and sharp features, his body lean from years of movement and observation. His eyes are wide with urgency, darting frequently as he processes what he's seen. Mud streaks his face from crawling through trenches, and his hands bear fresh scratches from scrambling over rocks.
Dialog
Castle Defender Captain
Lad, keep yer eyes on the ramparts, not the sea! Those English dogs willnae take us while we still draw breath.
Young Soldier
Aye, Captain, I can do it, I can... but their numbers, sir—
Protestant Preacher
Verily, the Lord shields the righteous! Take heart, young warrior, for He hath delivered Goliath into David’s hand.
Castle Defender Captain
Dinnae preach at him like a bairn, man. Steel wins sieges, not psalms.
Young Soldier
But if the ships breach the sea wall—
Castle Defender Captain
Then we’ll send them to meet Neptune with Scottish steel! Now stand fast, or I’ll toss ye off the wall myself.
Protestant Preacher
Pray with me, brothers. Let not your hearts be troubled—the gates of hell shall not prevail.