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Post by Gandalf on Jul 2, 2020 13:33:12 GMT -5
The night is dark and full of terrors.Three leeches simmered in the flames, gorged and fat on king's blood. Mya Stone had been expertly bled by Melisandre herself, as her half-brother had been some years ago on Dragonstone, and the leeches brought with her to the Bloody Gate. Stannnis had thrown them into the flames, one by one. "The pretender, Euron Greyjoy. The pretender, Aegon Targaryen. The pretender, Daenerys Targaryen."The King spoke the words as each one was thrown into the blaze, the Red Woman and a few of her companions from Volantis chanting over the ritual in coarse High Valyrian. Stannis' gaze was transfixed on the flames, the shadows dancing over his hollow cheeks and deep-sunken eyes. Outside, the snows had stopped falling, though the sky remained permanently darkened. His hands were wrapped firmly around Lightbringer's hilt, whitened knuckles invisible under the woollen gloves as the naked sword rested against the ground. Those who remained were assembled about him; Seaworth, Morrigen, Wylde... Good men, every one. "We march, my lords. To King's Landing, and the Iron Throne. I will be victorious, or we shall die in the attempt."The Baratheon's voice echoed throughout the Bloody Gate, as mighty and foreboding as the call of a war-horn or the beating of a drum. The sellswords and knights waited in the courtyard, the cream and red banners of Dragonstone idly fluttering in the stale breeze. A number of them wore new armour, black and red, with a flaming heart emblazoned over their chests, castle-forged steel hammered into shape by the forges of the Vale. "I have outlasted the usurpers Joffrey and Renly, Robb Stark, Balon Greyjoy, Cersei Lannister and Mace Tyrell. No mummer's dragon will stand in my way. I will show him fire and blood, served with our steel."Stannis was black iron, as Donal Noye had once said. But that iron had been heated at the Blackwater and tempered at the Wall and Winterfell. Here was a king who had tasted victory and defeat in equal measure, forged in ice and fire. "As the Lord of Light wills. The Prince that Was Promised shall come unto his throne and drive back the darkness."Melisandre chimed, as the last of the leeches ceased its squirms. Those who wore the Red Heart over their breast drew their blades in unison, and raised up cries for King Stannis and his Red God. They would march.
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 3, 2020 14:34:36 GMT -5
 Harrenhal. Largest castle in the known world, the scorched seat of ancient kings is now bustling with those that wore the badge of the flaming heart of R’llor, grizzled mercenaries and steel-clad knights standing on the ramparts as carts of foodstuffs and supplies are taken in through the giant-sized gates. A makeshift gallows had been swiftly built in the courtyard, where several dozen outlaws now swung, Brave Companions and Mountain’s Men that were caught and ridden down by the King’s outriders. They came and went from the castle by the dozen, riding throughout the southern Riverlands in anticipation of the Pretender’s coming. Stannis himself had taken up residence in the Kingspyre Tower with his Red Woman, whilst the various lords and knights had found their own quarters in the myriad halls and towers of Black Harren’s fortress. The hall of Hundred Hearths burned once again as the king’s men took shelter within from the snow and rain, and Baratheon was holding daily war counsels with his attendants in the chambers where Roose Bolton and Tywin Lannister had once done the same with their own bannermen.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jul 4, 2020 12:11:12 GMT -5
The outriders, sent by Stannis Baratheon, come flying back to the encampment. They bring word that Aegon's army is marching north into the Riverlands, along the main road. They report over thirty thousand strong and saw the lumbering hulks of elephants among his ranks. The dragon banners were held high, alongside that of Martell and other Dornish lords.
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 4, 2020 12:13:36 GMT -5
With news of the enemy marching north, Stannis convenes a war council with his bannermen and Lord Tully. Riders depart from the gates of the castle in different directions, with orders to find Jon Snow and Harrold Arryn, respectively.
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Post by pontifex on Jul 4, 2020 15:39:00 GMT -5
"For the night is dark and full of terrors."Lord Lester Morrigen intoned. His surcoat was new, a green coat with a black crow descending, claws outstretched. He had a long sable cloak of black trimmed with green and new black boots and polished Molescloth gloved. He had allowed his beard to come in thick, heavily salted with grey streaks amidst the black. He had taken on more of the appearance of a northerner after the campaign in truth, having come to resemble one of the hill clansman than a man of a southron court. The Vale had proven only marginally more hospitable than the north had been. Morrigen awaited his orders.
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Post by Pinkerton on Jul 4, 2020 15:52:47 GMT -5
Lord Tully and his entourage of friends and vassals attend the war council.
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 4, 2020 16:27:27 GMT -5
”Outriders have seen the pretender moving north. But there has been no further sign of him since.”
The King announced. Riders had been sent to summon the Vale and the North to his side, but it seemed that for now battle would be delayed.
”We shall find and root him out, wherever he runs. Once Ser Davos has control over the Narrow Sea a force will be sent to begin the siege. We cannot discount the possibility that this is some kind of cheap trick to draw us in, so we must draw him out.”
Stannis had suffered such before at the Blackwater, when the armies of Lord Tyrell and Lannister blindsided him to strike from across the Blackwater Rush.
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Post by pontifex on Jul 4, 2020 16:44:05 GMT -5
Lord Morrigen's low baritone rang out first. "Pursue him, I say. Let us bring the hammer down on him. None have stood before us so far even when the scales were tipped against us. We have been fighting this war for years, this whore's son from across the Narrow Sea has just arrived, and it is clear his base of support is weak. One decisive victory and it may be splintered permanently. How many of those who have flocked to him will remain if we strike a victory this close to King's Landing?" Morrigen had proven himself a proficient cavalry commander, and now with sufficient chivalry attracted to their banner, he hoped to be the one to strike a decisive blow.
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Post by Pinkerton on Jul 4, 2020 22:18:57 GMT -5
"Is it wise to go for all or nothing, though?" Edmure pondered "Perhaps it'd be smarter to force him to split his force. We could keep an army here while another marches on the Reach, forcing him to choose between leaving his secure position or losing one of his biggest allies. If we take Tyrell out of the board, the Dragon's power collapses; he'd only have the Dornish beside him."
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 5, 2020 6:49:09 GMT -5
”If the Tyrells have bent to this Pretender then they are more craven and faithless than Mace ever was. I shall remove them from Highgarden when this war is done.”
Concluded the King, hands curling into fists. The Tyrells had been the ones to smash his vanguard at the Blackwater and prop up Joffrey and Tommen, and now they did the same with this new pretender, who had slain their own father.
”Once we find where the pretender has ran I shall consider splitting the army. But Morrigen is right. winter is here and this war cannot continue for long.”
Snows would begin falling even in the south soon enough, and the land would be too broken and barren to continue a long campaign. Stannis looked a little less grim as he continued.
”But your counsel is sound, Lord Edmure. King’s Landing needs the Reach for food and sustenance. Even the boy fool will see that.”
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Post by pontifex on Jul 5, 2020 10:00:49 GMT -5
"We can always count on the Tyrells to choose their friends unwisely. They are faithless." Morrigen concluded. "They should not be allowed to continue to exert any influence over the Reach once this war is won. If any of the Reach Lords bend the knee before battle an example should be made of them."
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 5, 2020 10:23:54 GMT -5
”If they bend the knee I will look on them more favourably. I do not forget that many men who sat with me once rode for one usurper or another.”
Came the King’s reply, quick and forceful. Edmure had once ridden with Stark and the Morrigens for Renly, once upon a time.
”Those who continue to stand in defiance will be destroyed.”
Stannis concluded. He looked to Edmure.
”What news of the Freys? I would have any prisoners from Riverrun and the Twins turned over to me to face whatever justice they deserve.”
And protect them from the northmen, potentially. Any man with the last name Frey was likely to be ripped from groin to gullet by a pack of ravening wolves.
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Post by pontifex on Jul 5, 2020 12:21:41 GMT -5
Lester Morrigen fell to one knee. "I ask of you one boon in the coming battle, your Grace. I ask that I be allowed to lead the charge of heavy horse, as I did at Winterfell. I did not fail you then, and I will not fail you now."
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Post by Pinkerton on Jul 5, 2020 12:31:14 GMT -5
”If they bend the knee I will look on them more favourably. I do not forget that many men who sat with me once rode for one usurper or another.”Came the King’s reply, quick and forceful. Edmure had once ridden with Stark and the Morrigens for Renly, once upon a time. ”Those who continue to stand in defiance will be destroyed.”Stannis concluded. He looked to Edmure. ”What news of the Freys? I would have any prisoners from Riverrun and the Twins turned over to me to face whatever justice they deserve.”And protect them from the northmen, potentially. Any man with the last name Frey was likely to be ripped from groin to gullet by a pack of ravening wolves.
Edmure hesitated
"I'd prefer if we, the Riverlanders, could deal with the Freys ourselves. Northmen who lost family during the... event can take part in the trial as well. I feel it would give us closure, to unite us once again after so much strife and spilt blood."
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 5, 2020 12:38:41 GMT -5
”Granted, Lord Morrigen. I know you will not fail.”
Replied the King. Edmure’s words caused him to fall silent, and his jaw instinctively tensed.
”I suspect that you already have, for I have seen little sign of Emmon Frey or his kin. What of their fates, Lord Edmure?”
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