English Army

The **English Army** is an antagonistic faction in *A Plague Tale: Innocence*. It is the military force of England, who is currently at war with France.

## History

### Background

While there have been many Anglo-French wars throughout history, the countries are currently embroiled in the Hundred Years' War between King Philip VI of France and King Edward III of England. Tensions between the powers escalated with the passing of a principle disallowing French women to obtain the throne, and as Charles IV died with no sons or brothers, the claim to the throne technically fell to Edward: Charles' nephew and closest male relative. However, this claim was rejected by the French (who did not want a foreign leader) in favor of Phillip, a more distant but French cousin of Charles.

Although initially not contesting this decision, disagreements between the two leaders led to Phillip confiscating English lands in France (including Aquitaine, the game's setting), Edward reasserting his claim as the closest male heir to Charles, and war being declared in 1340. After six years of naval warfare, the English Army landed in France in July 1346, a mere two years before the events of the game took place.

### The de Rune Legacy

One of Robert de Rune's servants mentions to the family smithy that English troops are likely on their way to the estate, urging him to complete some bolts to reinforce the gate. Two other servants discuss a theory that the English Army is to blame for rumors of "bites" in the nearby village during the night. At this point, the war has been going on for just over eight years.

### The Ravens' Spoils

When Amicia de Rune, her brother Hugo, and their friend Lucas are on their way to the Château d'Ombrage, Hugo stops to play with a shield, proclaiming that he is a knight. Amicia notices that it is an English shield, and tells him to leave it. Proceeding further, they come across a battlefield thickly littered with the bodies of both French and English soldiers, as well as equipment and dead horses from both sides. While here, they encounter rats in previously unseen numbers who are gorging on the endless corpses. To combat this threat, patrolling English soldiers carry lanterns to ward off the vermin, as well as positioning torches and brazier carts around the area. Amicia can knock out their lanterns with her sling, causing the rats to swarm and kill them, rendering their armor useless. One soldier was stuck in a toppled siege tower and asked the children for help getting free, Amicia may then sacrifice him to the rats to pass through or seek a way to save the english soldier, who will be grateful.

While sneaking through the area, Amicia notices Mélie and Arthur having been caught looting the battlefield by an English soldier, and are promptly ratted out. While Lucas and the raiders escape, more soldiers arrive to capture Hugo and knock Amicia with a blow to the head.

### Damaged Goods

When Amicia wakes up in their camp the next morning, an officer explains that he recognized the coat of arms on her and Hugo's pendants, deciding to ransom her and Hugo to the Inquisition instead of killing her, whilst also having the siblings separated from one another in the camp. The English had taken heavy casualties in the battle of the previous day, numbering in the thousands. Soldiers within the camp express hatred of the rats, both for devouring the corpses of fallen soldiers but also endangering the English's goal of conquering France. Some soldiers speculated that the plagued rats are a weapon the French are using against them, though others have pointed out that they've come across many French villages and towns that had fallen victim to the rats as well. One soldier even calls for King Edward himself to order a retreat, considering the plague a "divine" one, perhaps finally allowing the soldiers to return home.

Mélie and Arthur return to rescue the de Runes at the behest of Lucas, just in time to save them from Nicholas and the arriving Inquisitors. They narrowly escape the English camp although Arthur is caught and sent to the Bastion.

### Penance

During a fevered delusion, Amicia pursues the fleeing Hugo down a tunnel, seemingly in front of their estate. While running through the tunnel, the walls, floor, and ceiling become lined with the still-moving corpses of both French and English soldiers who grasp at Amicia, accusing her of their murders. This takes a heavy mental toll on Amicia, who, as a result of the dream, is forced to confront all she has done in the name of keeping her brother safe only for him to willingly slip from her grasp.

While the French and English continue to war with each other, the English Army takes no further part in the story from this point onwards.

## Weapons and Armor

English Soldiers are well equipped and well armored, making them a serious threat if caught.

They are armed with swords, spears, longbows, and billhooks. They also carry lanterns and torches to keep them safe from rats as they patrol the battlefield, looking for valuables amongst the dead and to recover the bodies of their countrymen.

The English troops are distinguished from the French fighters by their red tunics and are protected by distinctive steel kettle helmets (although some also go bareheaded or wear hoods). They wear coats of chain mail, tall leather boots, and wear pauldrons, vambraces, and gauntlets on their arms. They also carry red heater shields bearing the golden lion.

English archers forgo the bright red tunics and shining plate armor for dark red tunics with hoods. Soldiers on guard duty wear tunics with alternating red and gold stripes and are bareheaded.