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Post by Lord Robert Dondarrion on Oct 27, 2012 18:24:47 GMT -5
For all your siege needs
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Post by Ulfric Harlaw on Oct 28, 2012 17:57:02 GMT -5
Lord Yronwood's siege camp is a cluster of orderly and aligned tents outside of the range of scorpions or ballistae on the walls. The horses are picketed to the west side of the camp, and the entire camp is ditched and staked, aside from the two lanes leading in and out, on the north and west sides. Along these lanes the Dornish army could charge forth from the camp in only a few minutes, to be ready for battle not long after the first alarm could be given. Lord Yronwood was a harsh enforcer of discipline, but he often walked among the men, occasionally joining them for a toss or two of dice, or sharing a bite around various cookfires.
He'd always been taught that it did a man well, for his men to see him as a man as well as their Lord. 'You must not be too familiar with your subjects, but they must know you laugh and cry and bleed the same as the very least of them,' his father has always said. 'They will fight all the harder for you when it counts.'
It was impossible to get into or out of Blackhaven without either Yronwood's men or the Warrior's Sons knowing about it, and the orders had been given to raise the alarm if any Stormlanders were sighted outside the walls. Strong scouting patrols were still focused to the west, toward Grandview, keeping an eye on the enemy army gathering there.
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Post by Marlow on Oct 28, 2012 18:00:54 GMT -5
Having heard of the wars of Westeros and wanting his own part in the action, he had investigated more into the matter and learned of the events surrounding Blackhaven, and the Dornish camp. He now approached on horseback slowly, pausing a hundred yards away before trotting forward at an angle towards the camp and keeping himself in easy view to ease suspicions.
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Post by Ulfric Harlaw on Oct 28, 2012 18:23:19 GMT -5
He is spotted by scouts well before he nears the camp, and brought in under armed escort. He is not mistreated, but the mounted men with spears levelled at his chest do seem like they mean business. He is brought before a man in his late forties, with a greying goatee and sun-browned skin. His surcoat is the color of sand, with a set of gates on black occupying most of the empty space.
"My scouts say you were sneaking past the camp. Do you carry some message for Blackhaven that you were trying to slip by us?" he asked gruffly.
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Post by Marlow on Oct 28, 2012 18:30:05 GMT -5
He shook his head slightly, followed by a slight bow. "No, my lord. Assuming you are in fact Lord Yronwood. I come seeking enlistment, to aid Dorne in it's endeavours in these times of war." He stands just under six feet tall, with black hair, green eyes, and tanned skin. Strapped across his back is a short sabre, a dirk at his hip, and still on his horse is his crossbow.
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Post by Ulfric Harlaw on Oct 28, 2012 18:33:02 GMT -5
Yronwood cocked one eyebrow, impressed with the man's audacity at the very least. "How can I know you are not a spy, trying to worm his way into my good graces to make reports to my enemy?" he asked, dryly, though something in his tone hinted that he did not believe it was so. "What is your name, lad?"
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Post by Marlow on Oct 28, 2012 18:37:58 GMT -5
"Drell Maconis, and if I were to try and aid Blackhaven as you say, I like to think I could have. But only a fool picks the losing dog in a fight, and my abilities would be better suited here, I think." He gives Yronwood a smile after he finishes speaking.
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Post by Ulfric Harlaw on Oct 28, 2012 18:43:06 GMT -5
"Hah!" Lord Yronwood's mask broke for a moment as he barked out a laugh. "Well said, Drell Maconis, and you are correct. Only a fool or a madman backs a clear loser, and you are neither. You'll be well paid here, as are the rest of my men, but discipline is taken seriously. Where do your skills lie, I wonder?" he asked absently, as if he were merely thinking aloud. With a gesture, his scouts put up their spears and rode off in a column back into the light woods to the west.
"I am guessing that you do not wish to be a mere footman, yet you do not name yourself knight," he said astutely, in a quiet voice that nonetheless commanded attention.
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Post by Marlow on Oct 28, 2012 18:56:04 GMT -5
He smiled again, but it was a different smile from before, a darker one. "My abilities vary as the situation requires. More often than not you will find I am a scout, and if the situation requires.. assassin. I have a crossbow that can kill a man from two hundred yards with a bolt clean through the neck, and if range is not available, I carry this sabre and dirk with me at all times."
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Post by Ulfric Harlaw on Oct 28, 2012 19:00:55 GMT -5
"A skilled archer with a good long bow could put five arrows through you before you reloaded once, at half again that range," Oberyn pointed out with a chuckle. "But I'll not deny a crossbow's killing power. I can always use good scouts, but be aware that the penalty for any scout that lies is a noose around the neck; no second chances, no exceptions. When scouts lie, men die and that is not something I'll tolerate," he added, his voice growing much sterner.
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Post by Marlow on Oct 28, 2012 19:04:15 GMT -5
"I'll wager my life, quite literally, on any information I give you, for I will not give it unless I am certain it is true, or it is dangerous. As far as the bows power, I was being modest, for it is better to be sure you can hit a man at a hundred yards than hopeful you can at five hundred, though I'll wager I could outshoot any archer you line before me."
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Post by Ulfric Harlaw on Oct 28, 2012 19:15:00 GMT -5
"I think you will do well, and I will trust you; if I have cause to regret this decision I swear by the Seven that you will regret it far more," he replied.
"With that out of the way, I'll give you 50 mounted men; scout west toward Grandview. I need to know how big the army is there, and how close it is to marching against us. Kill any enemy scouts you see, but retreat back toward us if faced with too many."
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Post by Marlow on Oct 28, 2012 19:16:51 GMT -5
His smile faltered for a second at the command. "Perhaps there is a better commander, my lord? I have not led such a group before, but I will if it is your final word."
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Post by Ulfric Harlaw on Oct 28, 2012 19:20:20 GMT -5
"Test yourself against the world, Master Maconis. After all your boasting, it is not heartening to see you balk now," Yronwood replied.
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Post by Marlow on Oct 28, 2012 19:23:23 GMT -5
He smiled in response. "I will do as you command, my lord, and have no doubt in my abilities. Where are the men?"
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