Image of Black Agnes in a tapestry, embroidered effect saying Black Agnes the siege and the sass

Black Agnes: the Siege and the Sass
card game

January 1338
In Dunbar, Scotland the biting wind is blowing in off the North Sea. Patrick, Earl of Dunbar is away fighting in the Scottish Wars of Independence.At this moment, William Montagu, Earl of Salisbury, makes the calculation that Dunbar Castle would surrender immediately if attacked while its Laird and troops are outwith.
He does not allow for the sass and grit of the fierce Countess of Dunbar, known as Black Agnes.
This is a card game in a multiverse where either side can win the Siege of Dunbar, andvarious events which happened in our version of reality, may or may not take place. If you play team Agnes your aim is to use wit and cunning plans to build up a Player Wall. If you play for team Montagu you aim to destroy the Agnes’ wall to Rubble and keep your dignity.
Needlework sampler style illustration of William Montagu Earl of Salisbury outside Dunbar Castle in full armour, Castlecore style
Tapestry embroidery style scene of Dunbar castle being dusted in the middle of warfare saying I will keep my gude auld house while my house will keep me

About the Artwork and Style of the Game

When I moved to Dunbar and heard about Black Agnes I was as amused as I was impressed. I was also amazed that she wasn’t better known. I felt she should have had a Bayeux Tapestry style record of her exploits, so this inspired the style of the hand drawn digital illustrations in this game, using realistic stitch and fabric textures. I also created fonts based on old needlework samplers.

The game also mixes text from original chronicles of the time with additional flyting rhyming couplets. The events in the game stay fairly true to historical records of what really happened. Agnes did bluff on her brother’s life and send wine and bread instead of a surrender note. Her maids did dust the Castle flamboyantly, they did break the English battling ram Sow simply by returning the rocks the English had sent their way.

The game is at the prototype stage. If you would like updates or if you played the prototype and want to leave feedback please fill in this form. 

Locations where you are able to buy the game will be added here. 

When an online version becomes available I will add the link on this page. 

Cars 10 from Black Agnes the siege and the sass card game
Giverly of Dunbar logo with seaweed repeat pattern in blues and purple
kelpie waves enamel mug on the beach in Dunbar

Meet the Designer

Giverly designs are created from hand-drawn, digital illustrations made by Jenny Lyus.

 

I live in Dunbar with a sea-view of the Scottish coast and much of my inspiration comes from local wildlife, British folklore and folk music. My repeat patterns are hand drawn digitally on my iPad as motifs, then vectorised and turned into repeat patterns which can then be placed onto different gift and home items.

 

I am a disabled designer. Working digitally from home makes surface design more accessible for me.

 

I’d love to connect with you on Instagram and Pinterest

Photo of Jenny Lyus a white middle aged woman with wavy brown hair, cateye glasses and bright red lipstick wearing a black knitted pencil dress
bilberry thief blue illustration of British woodland animals on bone china mugs and greeting card, Bilberry thief: Derbyshire gritstone, sheep, fox, badger, ring ouzel thrush, barn owl, short eared owl, bilberry bush, foxglove, pyramidal orchid, dark red helleborine orchid, maiden pinks, dianthus deltoides
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” – William Morris
Spring Spark puffin and gannet pattern as a door curtain in velvet