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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Jul 13, 2020 15:32:59 GMT -5
In the dungeon Greatjon Umber heard the screams, shouts and imagined the gore of war once more. Reckoning was coming. He knew it.
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Post by oznerol on Jul 13, 2020 15:36:42 GMT -5
Blackwood woke up as he heard the screams outside his tent, at first confused at what was going on. Soon enough it dawned on him - betrayal! Once again the Blackwoods found a dagger in the back, held by a Frey. He should have known better than to trust the spawn of Walder Frey.
There was no time to lose, for soon enough his men would break without their leader. Tytos did his best to put on some armor, grab his sword and rush out into the fray. Chaos reigned around him, men and horses screamed and ran around, and a few fires had broken out. He could see the banner of House Frey on a few surcoats, and Tytos fought his way through to find a good rallying point. Eventually he was able to catch a horse, a war horse more experienced with the blood and mud of the battlefield, and mounted it. He did his best to gather those not fleeing in panic into some form of formation, the raven banner of his house flying high,to draw a line in the sand against the treacherous Freys. He would not retreat, he would not surrender. This day was for Lucas. With the appearance of their Lord, the Blackwood men began to form up, regaining some semblance of order amidst the chaos, and many who had previously resolved to fled now were shamed into standing beside their liege. The conflict would descend into a bloody melee, with Black Walder’s men clashing with Blackwood’s at the centre of the encampment. Walder stretched the legs. He was sitting at the carved throne of his grandfather. The seat of the Lord of the Crossing, located in the great hall of the east castle, was a massive chair of black oak. Its back was carved in the shape of two towers joined by an arched bridge. He felt small in the throne, but no-where as diminute as his shriveled grandfather. He handed the bascinet to one of his retainers, ser Ferren, a knight with a helmet topped by a small ferret.
"Oh, praise the Mother, this feels good"He whistled, moving on the seat, from one side to another, trying to find the right posture, he even tried placing a leg over the armchair, but it was too pretentious, or he thought as much. Frey felt fulfilled, after decades and decades someone that was not Old Walder was sitting on that dammed throne. It was a shame he could not keep the castle. The Twins were nice. But Edmure would have his head, the bastard. Red Walder rested for a time in the carved seat. He decided he would take it with him, Darry had been sacked and pillaged, it would look nice in his new halls. Surrounded by his men, he called for those of his kin he knew had no blame in the wedding, like Olyvar, Perwyn or Sweet Steffon Frey, and most the young members of the family. They would be taken care of in Darry. He offered a home and a purse to every knight of the family that had not joined the bloody revelries of Roslin's wedding to join him in the Trident. Furthermore, he decided Edmure would not have the decades-worth spoils of Old Walder, so he had every single coin taken and carried away through the eastern castle. He commanded every worthy valuable to be carried away rather than end in Tully's hands, including suits of armor, tapestries, jewels and richly-made clothing. All said and done, remained an issue: Walder and the maester walked to Lord Frey's chambers, where the Red one saluted the old one with reverence. "Grandfather, you know this was bound to happen. The game is lost and I had to chose between dying with the whole castle or at least saving some of it. Many will be spared the executioner's block and our coin will not end in Riverrun's coffers"His head stayed naked and he wore the quartered arms of Frey, Lannister and Darry emblanzoned on the surcoat. "It's a shame it came to this, but Queen Cersei fucked herself and the Imp killed his father, Stannis decided not to die and... here we stand. You probably knew this day would come, you're far too smart not to, my Lord. It's sad it had to be me, but..."“You’re a damned traitor. You think Tully will love you for this? I should’ve hanged the floppy trout. And hanged you, piss brain.” Old Walder was being nursed by his newest wife, lying sprawled on his bed. He was too frail to move other than a few feeble gestures. ”What will you do now, when Black Walder comes back? He’ll kill me and you and take the Twins, shit-brains. Blackwood is buggered.” Said Walder, frowning, unfazed by his grandfather's words of spite. "Let them kill each other, Blackwood is a fool, as much as my cousin is. I bet they're measuring dicks right now"He snorted. "But, if he comes, I will kill him. And take the Twins for myself. If Blackwood lives, well, I shall open the gates for him, but he shall have an empty castle. Which reminds me..."He looked at the direction of Old Walder Frey, the red one takes a seat near the bed. The maester was tinkering with some vials he had brought with himself. "You're dead either way. How do you want to go?"
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 13, 2020 15:43:20 GMT -5
Old Walder snorted.
“You won’t kill me, you little runt. You don’t have the balls to do what needs to be done. Just like your fool father.”
Walder feebly shoo’d him with a gesture.
“You’ll be a kinslayer, damned even more than me. Go on, leave me boy.”
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Post by Royal Joker on Jul 13, 2020 15:52:58 GMT -5
Tytos Blackwood spit with rage as he chopped his way through Frey soldiers, a seemingly never-ending tide of grey and blue. His men were holding for now, and it seemed that more and more men were joining the melee. He had sent out what few sergeants he could spare to catch those fleeing the camp and bring them back, at the sharp end of a sword if need be.
There was no need for tactics at this point. The ground flowed with blood and piss and shit, while enemies clashed with each other on top of their dead comrades. Tytos furiously led from the front, slashing and cleaving through Frey bannermen. He was on a hunt to find the enemy commander, most likely one of the infamous Frey sons, and deliver his head to Lord Edmure and King Stannis. That would be his redemption for his failures, and it would put him in good favor with the future king ahead of the cowardly Brackens. Revenge for Lucas! Revenge for Robb Stark!
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Post by oznerol on Jul 13, 2020 16:00:39 GMT -5
Old Walder snorted. “You won’t kill me, you little runt. You don’t have the balls to do what needs to be done. Just like your fool father.” Walder feebly shoo’d him with a gesture. “You’ll be a kinslayer, damned even more than me. Go on, leave me boy.” Said Walder. "But he was my father"He looks angry for a moment. Then sad. Finally, impotent. He couldn't bring himself to smother the old man with his own pillow. Walder looked at his empty hands, openning and closing them. "Ah... such a sad tale, the fall of Frey. So be it, I will leave it to destiny, be it an axe, a rope or your own old age. It's not my hand the one that shall write the last lines of your story... I wished to spare you any indignity"Red Walder looks contrited. He headed for the door. Frey looks at the young wife, probably she warmed Black Walder's bed... she apparently was with child. Maybe the Old man had done it again. Poor thing. "Is there anything else you want to say? If there's more shit you want to pour, keep the mouth shut"
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 13, 2020 16:09:13 GMT -5
Blackwood came face to face with a large man in plate and mail with the Twins of Frey emblazoned across his surcoat - their leader, most likely Black Walder. The Frey spat a guttural curse as he charged into Tytos lance-first, knocking the Riverlord from his horse and denting his breastplate.
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Post by Royal Joker on Jul 13, 2020 16:28:08 GMT -5
Tytos lost his breath as the lance hit him in the chest and he landed on the hard ground. It took a few moments for him to catch his breath, during which a few of his men did their best to defend their lord against the assailant. He slowly rose, sword in hand and with a shield from a fallen soldier, leapt forward towards Black Walder. Fueled by his fury, Blackwood held up his shield as he went low, aiming at the other man's horse and the straps of his saddle and bring him down to the ground.
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 13, 2020 16:45:53 GMT -5
Black Walder snarled beneath his visor as he swiped at Blackwood, only to miss and come tumbling from his horse as Tytos’ sword found its mark. His destrier collapsed in a heap, but Black Walder rose from the wreckage to charge at Blackwood. Lord Tytos would handily parry a thrust to the ribs and respond with a riposte to the leg that knocked Walder off balance and drew a little blood. The Frey charged forward again, undaunted, swinging straight for Blackwood’s helmet...
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Post by Royal Joker on Jul 13, 2020 17:28:23 GMT -5
He hastily swung his head out of the way of the frenzied attack, before trying to kick Black Walder in the chest to get him off balance. The adrenaline that had kept him going for most of the confusing battle was slowly but surely leaving his body, and Tytos felt the exhaustion creeping in. He needed to finish this quickly and drive the Freys into the river they spawned from. He launched a flurry of attacks against his opponent, trying to catch him off-guard before grabbing his sword by the blade, turning it into a temporary warhammer and slamming Black Walder's helmet with the crossguard in a murderstroke.
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 13, 2020 17:44:23 GMT -5
Black Walder was forced backwards by the savagery of the assault, the sound of clashing steel ringing clearly as they traded blows, Walder’s sword skidding off Tytos’ breastplate as the Lord of Raventree pressed forward. After a sweeping strike, Frey left an opening, and was ultimately caught off guard by the change of fighting style from Blackwood; the crossguard hammered against his temple, and there was a sickening crack as the most dangerous of the Freys stumbled backwards and fell into the dirt. Blood began to well up in his helmet, dripping from the visor as he twitched in the mud. After seeing their leader fall, the Freys began to fall back. Walder Rivers raised his visor and rode to rally them before an arrow took him in the eye, another of Lord Walder’s blood slain on the field. They fled to the gates of the Twins to find them closed, and many began to throw down their weapons and beg for surrender. Some leapt or fell into the river to escape as Blackwood’s men descended upon them, butchering or capturing those that remained before the gates of Old Walder’s castle.
+1 resilience for Blackwood.
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Post by Royal Joker on Jul 14, 2020 3:35:25 GMT -5
Seeing the tide turn in his favor, Tytos Blackwood let out a victory cry before falling to his knees, barely conscious anymore. His loyal knights rushed to his side to protect him while the rest of Blackwood's army swept aside the remaining Frey host.
When he woke up it was already morning. A certain serene calm had descended upon the charred remains of the camp, clothed in the morning. The injured were seen to by healers and surgeons, while the dead were gathered for burial. Some were doing their best to repair tents and equipment that had been destroyed during the night. Scavengers were out as well, looting weapons, armor and valuables while crows flew above them. As Tytos looked out over the battlefield, he prayed that this would be the last conflict between the men of the Riverlands.
Around noon, Lord Blackwood rode at the head of a party of Raventree knights toward the Twins. He had gotten a cold wash and was clad in his yellow armor and raven-feather cloak. A war horn was blown, waiting for a response from the Twins. One of his men ushered forth and cried out with a strong voice.
"Lord Walder Darry! You are to present yourself before Lord Tytos Blackwood this instant to explain your actions during the previous night!"
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Post by oznerol on Jul 14, 2020 4:00:33 GMT -5
"Here I'm, gracious lord"
Said Walder from the battlements.
"Sneaked behind my cousins and took the castle! Like a good olde weasel, aye. But, I did a good service for the land this day!"
His mop of red hair can be seen between the large merlons.
"Thanks the Seven you're unharmed, we had our own battle to fight and had our hands full of Freys, you see?"
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Post by Royal Joker on Jul 14, 2020 5:09:17 GMT -5
Tytos, his anger rising, rode forth.
"Unharmed? Do I look unharmed? I was given no warning of this coming attack! I was almost killed by your cousin Black Walder, you weasel! I lost too many good men in this fight. I pray we never march together again, I'd rather have a Bracken by my side than another Frey. Now, where's Lord Walder Frey? Deliver him now so that I can present him to King Stannis."
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Post by oznerol on Jul 14, 2020 6:21:12 GMT -5
"You look perfectly fine. Quite hale and hearty, lord Blackwood"
Said Walder with a smile.
"Don't think I was privy to Black Walder's thoughts and plans. I conferred with him and my cousins but I heard no talk about such things as an attack, else I would have spoken against it, for I was negotiating a peaceful resolution to this mess we found ourselves in... when I was ever taken into consideration by any of my kinsmen? I mean..."
He shrugs and then leans on the merlon, looking below calmly.
"Due the early hours he's still in bed, tended for by the maester and his wife: he's feeble"
Said Walder.
"My grandfather's almost a century old, don't expect him to get up like a young cock the very first hour of the morn, m'Lord"
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Post by Royal Joker on Jul 14, 2020 14:41:01 GMT -5
Tytos snorted in response. He tired of Freys and their weasel tongues.
"I care not if he's already speaking with his ancestors, he's to be brought to Stannis at this moment whether he likes it or not. Otherwise I'll personally drag him out of bed and throw him in chains. I'll be taking any of his base kin who were involved in the Red Wedding, as well."
Blackwood gave Red Walder a cold stare. His anger was smoldering.
"Will you be accommodating, Frey, or should I count you as an enemy this day? Hand over your traitor kin and be done with it. And if you have any lordly prisoners, release them to me as well."
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