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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 18, 2015 15:10:39 GMT -5
October 15th. Prince Benjen Stark's army moves slowly east across the Vale, too powerful for any remaining rebel lords to resist. Minor knights and landholders bend the knee and are spared or executed according to the severity of their betrayals, and word from Runestone confirms that Lord Devan Manderly has driven back the mercenary fleets remaining to Lord Richard Grafton. His fleet carries two thousand soldiers to join the effort, and Lord Quentyn Royce rallies another two thousand from his war-weary populace, bringing the host to a staggering twenty-two thousand men. As mid-month approaches, the army receives word from its scouts that the great sellsword and Grafton loyalist army Lord Richard has assembled sits three hours' march west of the city, along a narrowing valley where they can make a last attempt to stop the juggernaut at the Northern royal's disposal. The host appears to contain about fifteen thousand men, a strange mixture of cavalry, foreign mercenaries and a few thousand Valemen sworn to serve their lord, and they await at the top of a gently sloping hill.
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Post by Amelia Royce on Mar 18, 2015 15:15:52 GMT -5
Prince Benjen calls all of his commanders and warriors to a meeting.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 18, 2015 15:21:40 GMT -5
Virtually all the lords of the Vale are present, save the eight year old Lord Redfort and the septuagenarian Knight of Ninestars. Gerold Bolton, the Prince's personal guard, eyes everyone around the table, his dark eyes suspicious as befits a bodyguard.
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Karyl Crowl
Prince
Proud Proprietor of Crowl's Crossbone Construction Company
Posts: 1,022
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Post by Karyl Crowl on Mar 18, 2015 15:22:28 GMT -5
Crowl is present, having attached himself to Prince Benjen's retinue of guards upon their reunion in the Vale.
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Post by Darius Sand on Mar 18, 2015 17:19:33 GMT -5
Darius arrived at the meeting with a wineskin in one hand, staying near the back of the meeting, since he knew he had little to contribute tactically.
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Post by Amelia Royce on Mar 18, 2015 17:28:33 GMT -5
"Gentlemen," Benjen said when everyone had arrived. "Soon we'll be facing a large force in battle, though it seems we have the numerical advantage. There is only one problem... it seems the enemy have a sorcerer, one with a lot of weirwood sap to power him, or her. I do not know if the sorcerer is with this host or in Gulltown, but I intend to find out. And when I do I will need an assassin."
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Post by Lord Dudley Mudd on Mar 18, 2015 18:02:58 GMT -5
Dud sits off in a corner of the room. He listens intently while the Prince speaks. This is his first war meeting, and it would show Dud what kind of a leader the Prince was and who he had just signed on with. The mention of sorcerers and assassins made Dud think he was still stuck back in Essos. "We fighting in the vale or outside Braavos or Asshai." Dud thought to himself. He had nothing to add to this conversation. He was a cavalry man, and soldier to fight in real battles. This assassinating and sorcery did not suit him. He looked around the room to see who would know about these questions though. Making sure to take in the room and the gathered commanders.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 18, 2015 18:11:29 GMT -5
No one seems excited at the thought of trying to kill a sorcerer.
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Post by Amelia Royce on Mar 18, 2015 18:20:14 GMT -5
"No volunteers?" Benjen asked, giving a stiff nod. "Raven, Darius, the two of you will go. I want you to leave tonight, find out where that sorcerer is. When you've found him, kill the bastard, I don't care how. Take five men with you."
He turned to Durand Coldwater. "Lord Durand, should we encounter the sorcerer in battle I want two squads of cavalry bowmen. I know, not Westerosi tactics, but find the best riding archers. I want them to make quick passes and attempt to kill the sorcerer while avoiding his magic. If we the army, he'll likely be in the thick or at the back. We'll have to open up their ranks a little if the former is true."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 18, 2015 18:21:41 GMT -5
Lord Coldwater nods. "It will be done, your grace."
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Post by Darius Sand on Mar 18, 2015 18:35:24 GMT -5
Darius was drinking from his wineskin when he heard the Prince's order, and so almost choked, taking a second to get things together. "If that is what you think will work, then I'm happy to serve" he said, hoping Raven was more capable of subtlety than him.
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Post by Amelia Royce on Mar 18, 2015 18:53:26 GMT -5
"Good," Benjen replied, before turning to the lords. "Anything else that someone wishes to bring up?"
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Post by Lord Rykker on Mar 18, 2015 19:32:59 GMT -5
Giocanda strides the length of his short corsair, The Painted Lady, as his small crew labors to carefully beach the ship. They are a hours ride from Gulltown, and Giocanda already knows the situation there. Now, as The Captain directed, he'd see the Northern host. As always, he'd be looking to do business, and when you only had 60 men to your name, that business had to be smaller. He whistles and his men bring up his horse, which he mounts on deck and goads the beast to jump over the side and sets out in a dead gallop to where his sources say the Northerners were last camped.
He arrives at the camp all a lather, and is hopefully allowed entry as a mercenary looking for work, as well as a representative for a larger group looking to do business.
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Post by Amelia Royce on Mar 18, 2015 19:44:29 GMT -5
He is directed to Prince Benjen's tent, where the Prince was busy making notes on a large map of the area.
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Post by Amelia Royce on Mar 18, 2015 20:04:08 GMT -5
Prince Benjen Stark
Fighting -Weapons --One Handed ---Swords (95)
-Armor --Plate --Shield
Leadership -Battle --Land ---Command (90) --Rallying (75) --Routing (52) --Logistics (65)
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