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Post by Gandalf on Jul 7, 2020 18:02:31 GMT -5
Under the walls of Storm’s End and the fluttering banners of the Crowned Stag, those stormlords who pledged their fealty to the young Tommen Baratheon have gathered their arms. Riders in mail and plate, footmen in iron and boiled leather, peasants clutching pitchforks, clubs and makeshift hammers all came to answer the call of Robert Baratheon’s supposed son. At the midst of it all was their chief, in the largest tent splayed with the Velaryon colours, the self proclaimed protector and defender of the restored lord of Storm’s End.
Stormland Levies: 3300 men
Aurane’s mercenaries: 2000 men
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 10, 2020 15:25:38 GMT -5
Aurane’s host gathers before the walls of Crow’s Nest, sellswords and stormlanders alike arrayed in formation as the Lord of the Waters rode forward to discuss terms. The Crowned Stag had returned, and Waters had marched to collect the homage of those lords who had remained silent when their liege returned from exile to take up his seat and crown.
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Post by ironaquilifer on Jul 11, 2020 9:04:35 GMT -5
With his father's continued refusal to take on the role of leader among the storm lords who did not follow Stannis north, Donnel Swann finds himself representing House Swann among the bastard Waters' host, a knight and his retinue prepared to do what must be done to regain the influence Stonehelm once enjoyed among the peerage.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jul 11, 2020 11:33:37 GMT -5
When Aurane Waters arrived at the keep, belonging to Lord Morrigen, he found the gates shut and the castellan refusing to come out. The knight had not declared his loyalty to Tommen Baratheon, but his liege and members of House Morrigen were with Stannis Baratheon. News of his victories had reached the Stormlands, ensuring a steel resolve in the knight.
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 11, 2020 20:38:46 GMT -5
Aurane’s men prepare for a siege, setting an encampment and a perimeter around the mountainous fortress. The Lord of the Waters remains in his tent, brooding, as he contemplates his next move.
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 13, 2020 11:45:54 GMT -5
With siege weapons built, Ser Swann is summoned to Aurane’s tent with the intention of letting him lead the assault.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jul 14, 2020 12:28:23 GMT -5
With siege weapons built, Ser Swann is summoned to Aurane’s tent with the intention of letting him lead the assault. Norys Redbeard seeks out Aurane, waving a piece of parchment. He slaps it on the desk rather abruptly. Mi'lord, we got trouble.The Norvoshi looks at the Valyrian. That Stannis I been hearing about? He has defeated the pretender to the north. He is likely at King's Landing as we speak.The pirate looks at Crow's Nest then at Aurane. We might have no choice, but to leave the Stormlands.
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Post by ironaquilifer on Jul 14, 2020 17:07:52 GMT -5
With siege weapons built, Ser Swann is summoned to Aurane’s tent with the intention of letting him lead the assault. Donnel, garbed in the armour that had seen the green flames of Blackwater Bay, entered the commander's tent with apprehension. The siege had carried on longer than he expected, with Lord Morrigen away. Alas, it was his duty now to serve the lord Tommen, a duty he had taken despite the heeding counsel of his lord father. "Lord Waters," the knight declared, straightening as he found himself once again in a lord's tent to discuss making war against stormlanders. "I am at your service."
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 15, 2020 10:19:54 GMT -5
"Morrigen is stubborn, and won't give. I question the sense of storming his castle for a handful of green boys and old men with Stannis Baratheon so close to our borders."
Stated the Pirate, choosing not to mince words on this occasion. Waters looked a little gloomy of late, having spent the last fortnight or so sitting outside an ugly castle in the sodding rain.
"We are between a rock and a hard place, Ser Swann, I will warrant you."
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Post by ironaquilifer on Jul 16, 2020 16:57:21 GMT -5
"Morrigen is stubborn, and won't give. I question the sense of storming his castle for a handful of green boys and old men with Stannis Baratheon so close to our borders."Stated the Pirate, choosing not to mince words on this occasion. Waters looked a little gloomy of late, having spent the last fortnight or so sitting outside an ugly castle in the sodding rain. "We are between a rock and a hard place, Ser Swann, I will warrant you." The knight accepted the bastard's words with trepidation. Perhaps he had been won over too quickly. But the chance to raise his station, to put his misfortune of the prior years behind him, was too sweet a temptation. And this is what is to be wrought. "I would say that we are committed. Tommen's position will be make invariably better with as many keeps bearing his sigil, and men beneath them with the stomach to defend his right." He paused. Hesitant. "We need not gather an army to beat Stannis, just gather enough numbers that the men around him will be forced to convince him to a settlement." Those words, they sounded true enough. Stannis had been convinced by his lords to chose paths and make changes that were not of his first inclination. The man was no one's fool, and if the stormlands were in large part under arms for Tommen, then he had a chance. "I say we storm the walls. I would lead, if that was your wish."
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 17, 2020 11:04:23 GMT -5
"I would have suggested none other, Ser."
Aurane responded, lips wrinkled into a wry smile. It appears the marcher had won him over, or at least for now the bastard had banished his previous qualms.
"Bring me Crow's Nest, and I shall see you well rewarded. Those who remain loyal can profit from the follies of the treasonous."
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Post by ironaquilifer on Jul 18, 2020 16:41:19 GMT -5
Donnel took a knee, his eyes fixing themselves on the floor of the tent. This was not the first time that he had volunteered for the honour of battle, and by the gods he hoped it would not be the last. "The castle shall be yours, my lord."
Without any more fanfare, the knight of the dornish marches rose and departed the tent. His stride lengthened, a smile broad upon a face so long sullen. Battle. It felt like, purpose. Purpose, that had so long elluded him.
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Post by ironaquilifer on Jul 21, 2020 15:15:14 GMT -5
Donnel returned to report his victory to Aurane Waters. The castle had fallen with minimal casualties, and now Tommen's flag could fly proud over Crow's Nest.
When the knight took a knee, there was a thoughtful look on his face. "Tommen's realm grows."
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 21, 2020 18:41:05 GMT -5
”You are a fine expert in siege warfare, Ser. The King is in your debt.”
Replied Aurane, who had been enjoying a fine meal of roast piglet as the castle fell. The pirate’s men quickly set about preparing the army to march.
”Where next? What other castle lies in Stonehelm’s path?”
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Post by ironaquilifer on Jul 22, 2020 6:08:20 GMT -5
”You are a fine expert in siege warfare, Ser. The King is in your debt.”Replied Aurane, who had been enjoying a fine meal of roast piglet as the castle fell. The pirate’s men quickly set about preparing the army to march. ”Where next? What other castle lies in Stonehelm’s path?” The knight accepted the praise with a faint smile. It had been no great feat, not with their numbers. "The path to Stonehelm is now free, my lord. Should the king have need of relocation from Storm's End, my father's seat would be a strong fortress to keep him safe." It would undoubtably be of low priority to Stannis, whose eyes were always fixated on his home that was forever denied to him. "It stands to reason that his enemies will think his location either with the army or at Storm's End. And with my father's access to the Slayne even if the pretender attempts to lay seige Tommen can be spirited to safety with ease." "To that end I would suggest we ensure that the Rainwood is fully behind Storm's End. The men there when reminded of their loyalties will undoubtably be of good number. And indeed, it will keep the eyes of our lord's enemies fixated on us." The strategy was beginning to make sense in his head. With the slow progress of their army, and the swift speed by which the pretender Aegon had fallen, it would take subtlety to bring about anything resembling an equal playing field. "To that end," the knight of Stonehelm declared, "I would suggest Weeping Town. It is the closest the Stormlands has to a city, and with its urban population and sea trade we will undoubtably be able to raise more men for Tommen's cause, before Stannis deigns to return."
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