House Ruby A Game of Thrones Mod AAR
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Chapter 3: Amory
The council had just adjourned after another successful meeting. Amory could feel his sword arm twitching, all he had been thinking about was his next duel in the yard. Maester Orland stood by the entrance to the yard waiting for him as he did after every session. There was only one other way out of his solar and it would be obvious that he was avoiding the maester so Amory made a dash for the exit hoping the man would not catch him. The maester moved fast anticipating Amory’s dash and trapping him in the doorway.
“M’Lord we did not talk about Master Whalen and what is to be done with him.”
“That is because I am leaving him to rot maester.”
“M’Lord there has been talk from the garrison some of the Goodbrook men are going to try and break him out.”
Amory put his hand on the hilt of his sword “So maester are you with them?”
“My place is to serve M’lord but I must advise you to let the man free or your own people will call you a tyrant and seize your castle.”
Amory could feel his blood rising “The man killed an innocent women in my castle on my wedding night!”
The maester gave a solemn look “But he has asked for a trial M’Lord and you have refused him.”
“What would you have me do then maester?”
“Send him back to Laketown with his tail between his legs, it is that or open rebellion.”
“If I have no other choice release him.”
Armory turned to leave but the maester called after him “M’Lord I have more to talk about.”
Amory turned “Can it wait?”
“No M’Lord it cannot.”
“What is it then maester?”
“Lord Wayn has raised his banner’s against house tully and seized the Red Fork by force, Lord Tully has called his banners.”
Amory could not believe his ears the Wayn had declared open rebellion against his liege lord, he was either mad or he had hoped others would join his call to arms. “What is Lord Whent doing answering the call?”
“He calls his bannermen to a feast at Harrenhal, most likely to merge his forces before marching on to the Red Fork.”
“Maester send a raven to Captain Walder in Laketown, tell him to bring all the men he has recruited and to hire as many sell swords as he can find on the way.”
“As you wish M’lord.”
Ahead of Amory sat Harrenhal, its crumbling walls glistening in the evening light. The Goodbrook host marched slowly behind him. It looked cobbled together now he looked at it, some men wore the sigil of Ruby whilst others stubbornly carried the Goodbrook sigil there were even men who wore the nine bats of house Whent. Captain Walder had done a good job in finding men to fight for him however and now Amory had almost three hundred loyal men at his side. Amory’s scouts had not reported seeing any other large hosts in the area, either the other Lords had beaten Amory to Harrenhal or they had brought much less significant hosts with them.
Amory and his host had drawn much attention as they closed in on Harrenhal, Amory’s scouts had even reported back that the garrison had been put to the walls. After that Amory had halted his column and ordered them to put to camp by the road. The garrison had sent out an envoy to the camp and on learning that it was from Goodbrook they had stood down. Amory had elected to leave most of his host where they had made camp and instead only take a small guard with him to feast.
Harrenhal was quiet as they entered, the garrison was large but the castle was larger and even at full capacity it seemed like a ghost town. The only real sound came from the hall of the hundred hearths (the great hall of Harrenhal). Amory’s escort lead him to the hall all the way the Whent garrison gave him strange looks as if he had caused some major offense. The hall was well lit and warm all the hearths were lit and the wine was flowing. The hall seemed almost empty but Amory could see all the other Lords of Harrenhal and its neighboring lands among them were the Butterwells, Vance’s of Atranta and the Wodes of Shoreham. Closer to the entrance was a small group of men at arms and guardsmen but there was no sign of any other large host. Lord Edmure Whent sat up on his dais with the other Lords drinking, laughing and making merry.
Armory left his men at the guards table approaching the dais by himself. The fat Lord Whent struggled up from his chair to greet his guest wobbling slightly from the wine. “Lord Ruby you gave us quite a scare with that host of yours.”
“I had thought you called all your banners to fight my Lord.”
The man burst into a fit of drunk laughter “You would like that wouldn’t you, my daughter said you were nothing more than a soldier.”
“So we are not off to fight House Wayn?”
The fat Lord just burst into another fit of laughter “Good god no, now sit, eat and drink I want to make merry not war.”
The other Lords either laughed with Lord Whent or gave sympathetic looks “My Lord I came to fight not sit on my arse and drink.”
“Then go and fight Lord Ruby but first you will feast with me.”
Amory fiddled with the hilt of his sword; on one hand he wanted to be off and fighting but on the other leaving the feast would offend his Lord greatly. Amory could afford to wait but he could not afford to anger his Liege. It was decided tonight he would feast and on the morrow he would kill.
Part 1: Lord Amory of Goodbrook
Chapter 3: Amory
The council had just adjourned after another successful meeting. Amory could feel his sword arm twitching, all he had been thinking about was his next duel in the yard. Maester Orland stood by the entrance to the yard waiting for him as he did after every session. There was only one other way out of his solar and it would be obvious that he was avoiding the maester so Amory made a dash for the exit hoping the man would not catch him. The maester moved fast anticipating Amory’s dash and trapping him in the doorway.
“M’Lord we did not talk about Master Whalen and what is to be done with him.”
“That is because I am leaving him to rot maester.”
“M’Lord there has been talk from the garrison some of the Goodbrook men are going to try and break him out.”
Amory put his hand on the hilt of his sword “So maester are you with them?”
“My place is to serve M’lord but I must advise you to let the man free or your own people will call you a tyrant and seize your castle.”
Amory could feel his blood rising “The man killed an innocent women in my castle on my wedding night!”
The maester gave a solemn look “But he has asked for a trial M’Lord and you have refused him.”
“What would you have me do then maester?”
“Send him back to Laketown with his tail between his legs, it is that or open rebellion.”
“If I have no other choice release him.”
Armory turned to leave but the maester called after him “M’Lord I have more to talk about.”
Amory turned “Can it wait?”
“No M’Lord it cannot.”
“What is it then maester?”
“Lord Wayn has raised his banner’s against house tully and seized the Red Fork by force, Lord Tully has called his banners.”
Amory could not believe his ears the Wayn had declared open rebellion against his liege lord, he was either mad or he had hoped others would join his call to arms. “What is Lord Whent doing answering the call?”
“He calls his bannermen to a feast at Harrenhal, most likely to merge his forces before marching on to the Red Fork.”
“Maester send a raven to Captain Walder in Laketown, tell him to bring all the men he has recruited and to hire as many sell swords as he can find on the way.”
“As you wish M’lord.”
Ahead of Amory sat Harrenhal, its crumbling walls glistening in the evening light. The Goodbrook host marched slowly behind him. It looked cobbled together now he looked at it, some men wore the sigil of Ruby whilst others stubbornly carried the Goodbrook sigil there were even men who wore the nine bats of house Whent. Captain Walder had done a good job in finding men to fight for him however and now Amory had almost three hundred loyal men at his side. Amory’s scouts had not reported seeing any other large hosts in the area, either the other Lords had beaten Amory to Harrenhal or they had brought much less significant hosts with them.
Amory and his host had drawn much attention as they closed in on Harrenhal, Amory’s scouts had even reported back that the garrison had been put to the walls. After that Amory had halted his column and ordered them to put to camp by the road. The garrison had sent out an envoy to the camp and on learning that it was from Goodbrook they had stood down. Amory had elected to leave most of his host where they had made camp and instead only take a small guard with him to feast.
Harrenhal was quiet as they entered, the garrison was large but the castle was larger and even at full capacity it seemed like a ghost town. The only real sound came from the hall of the hundred hearths (the great hall of Harrenhal). Amory’s escort lead him to the hall all the way the Whent garrison gave him strange looks as if he had caused some major offense. The hall was well lit and warm all the hearths were lit and the wine was flowing. The hall seemed almost empty but Amory could see all the other Lords of Harrenhal and its neighboring lands among them were the Butterwells, Vance’s of Atranta and the Wodes of Shoreham. Closer to the entrance was a small group of men at arms and guardsmen but there was no sign of any other large host. Lord Edmure Whent sat up on his dais with the other Lords drinking, laughing and making merry.
Armory left his men at the guards table approaching the dais by himself. The fat Lord Whent struggled up from his chair to greet his guest wobbling slightly from the wine. “Lord Ruby you gave us quite a scare with that host of yours.”
“I had thought you called all your banners to fight my Lord.”
The man burst into a fit of drunk laughter “You would like that wouldn’t you, my daughter said you were nothing more than a soldier.”
“So we are not off to fight House Wayn?”
The fat Lord just burst into another fit of laughter “Good god no, now sit, eat and drink I want to make merry not war.”
The other Lords either laughed with Lord Whent or gave sympathetic looks “My Lord I came to fight not sit on my arse and drink.”
“Then go and fight Lord Ruby but first you will feast with me.”
Amory fiddled with the hilt of his sword; on one hand he wanted to be off and fighting but on the other leaving the feast would offend his Lord greatly. Amory could afford to wait but he could not afford to anger his Liege. It was decided tonight he would feast and on the morrow he would kill.
Poor Armory, embarrassed thoroughly.
Lord Wayn best prove to be either a strategical prodigy or a masterful diplomat, else he'll lose this rebellion...
Lord Wayn best prove to be either a strategical prodigy or a masterful diplomat, else he'll lose this rebellion...
Amory will get his fight, lets just hope Lord Wayn is neither a diplomat or tactical genius that way Amory is assured an easy victory.
Chapter 4: Walder
It had been a week since Lord Ruby and his army had reached the castle of Stonemill. The castle was small and would have been hardly worth sieging had it not been positioned next to the best crossing for such a large host. At first the other Lords of the Riverlands had tried to cross the blue fork leaving the castle behind. It was only when the castle engaged the column from afar destroying its vanguard with a hail of arrows that they elected to siege it. The host was massive consisting of Brackens, Pipers and Blackwoods. Many of the houses had sent lesser Lords to command their forces deeming the war too small and insignificant. The leader of the Host had been a Paege but as soon as Lord Ruby arrived the man had been forced to hand over the command. Lord Ruby had set to work quickly ordering rams and ladders to be built, outriders and archers to be sent to hunt and forage. He had also ordered daily attacks to be made on the walls; small groups of crossbowmen and archers would advance behind pavise shield and harry the defenders. So far it had worked the defenders arrow reserve had depleted quickly and the attackers had taken very few casualties while keeping the defenders busy and tired.
Lord Ruby had ordered Walder to undertake an very important mission ; he had been sent out with a small force of cavalry to recruit local villagers to either join the siege or help with the building of the siege equipment. Most of the villagers he had met had been friendly people just as angry at the Wayn’s as the Tully’s were, that said they were peaceable people and had refused to help the host with anything other than giving information. More oft than not it was useless but occasionally they would find a mason or carpenter that knew the weak spots of a wall or which gate was weakest. He had found some recruits however most were young boys looking for money and girls or old men who wanted to fight for the Tully’s who had helped them over the years. Most were lightly armed carrying hunting bows, old rusty spears or assorted farm equipment. Walder was far from Goodbrook and had no way of improving their armament so their only hope of advancement was to scavenge after a battle but most like they would be the arrow fodder and dead within a week. Ahead Walder could see Stonemill with the siege camp flanking it on all sides. Banners from all corners of the riverlands fluttered in the wind rising from clumps of colorful tents displaying every color in the rainbow.
Walder and his escort dismounted making their way up towards Lord Ruby’s command tent. The hill had become a battlefield of its own, the ground had been broken beyond an inch of its life and all that remained was a field of mud. Lord Amory’s tent stood at the top of the hill surrounded by a small wooden palisade and ring of stakes. The tent itself was black and outlined with gold and a rich ruby red. All around Ruby banners flew, Lord Ruby had made sure everyone would know who was leading here. Walder could see that Lord Ruby had also set up lots of Rubymen sentries around his camp but not any Goodbrook men who had instead been assigned to guard the rear near the baggage train station. The Rubymen knew Walder and allowed him into the camp without inspection. Two knights stood outside the Lords tent both bore sigils neither of which Walder was familiar with. Both looked him over for a moment but let him pass without as little as a question. There was little light inside the tent even so Lord Ruby sat brooding in his high chair looking over a letter.
He looked up wearily “Captain Walder do you have news for me?”
“M’Lord I have recruited some more villagers and I have more information on the Northern Wall.”
The Lord gave a large sigh “That bloody wall, it is as if these peasants don't understand that we have no siege engines.”
“M’Lord we could build some catapults.”
Lord Ruby gave a chuckle “That idiot Paege, he cuts down a large forest for a siege then builds his own castle on this hill.”
Walder could not help but agree the man was hopeless “M’Lord what will you do, there are more men than there is food an attack needs to be soon.”
“I have planned a large scale assault for the morrow, I had hoped you would return with new recruits I need some men to soak up the first volley of arrows.”
“I will get them ready for battle.”
The Lord gave a nod and then dismissed him to go about his business.
Walder had been ordered to lead the vanguard of the assault, he would lead the ram into the assault and then bash down the gate. First the villager levy would attack but it was only to get the defenders to waste their arrows. Then Walder and the first wave would attack, the ran would head for the gate whilst the Piper, Paege and Goodbrook men would run their ladders to the wall. The main aim of this attack was not to capture the wall but to get the ladders to the wall and the ram to the gate. The second wave would be lead by Lord Ruby and would contain a mix of Blackwood and Ruby men. Lord Ruby believed that this wave would break the castle with ruthless efficiency. Walder could not help but feel sceptical, the castle was small sure but the garrison was twice the size that the castle could hold and every man they killed would have another to fill his place. Horns began to blow around him and Walder could hear the levy give a loud cheer before they began to charge. Moments later the familiar sound of arrows hitting the ground or worse flesh, the arrows were followed by screams of pain so harrowing that not even the toughest man could hide his discomfort. A second horn sounded signalling the first wave to assault. Walder unsheathed his sword and raised it in the air, men around him began to move pushing the ram forwards or preparing their shield for a volley of arrows. Some let out cries of “Tully” or “Bracken” but most kept silent preparing for the horrors of battle. Men rushed past Walder his weight slowing him down, arrows smashed into the ground around him but none hit their mark. The ram was almost at the gate and as of yet not many men had been struck down. Walder clambered over a dead Piper man struck in the chest with a crossbow bolt, on looking around he was one of the only dead men. The ram had taken minor damage from some loose stones that had been thrown onto it but it was still ramming the gate. A few men had also taken their axes to the gate although more just huddled against the wall raising their shields to stop falling stones. The gate fell minutes later but not before a couple more of the attackers had fallen to stones, arrows or boiling oil. When the gate fell the defenders began to melt, Walder had only just entered the gatehouse when the defenders began to drop their shields and weapons. Many were struck down anyways being stabbed and slashed while they begged for mercy. Walder ordered his men to stop but many continued anyways. All Walder could hope is that any nobles or knights would be spared the slaughter otherwise all their honour would be put into question.
Lord Ruby had called walder into his tent. The lowly Lord had commanded and won the siege but now he had been forgotten. Other Lords had now ridden to the Red Fork taking command of their troops for the march to Chiltern and then the more prestigious siege. Lord Ruby had been a little more than disappointed , later this turned to rage and then a bitter acceptance. The Lord sat moodily in his chair cupping a tankard of ale. Walder approached carefully not wanting to anger the Lord once more.
The Lord looked up his eyes cold “Have you found Lord Wayn yet?”
“Unfortunately we have not M’Lord, the other Lords believe he was not in the castle.”
Lord Ruby stood walking away in silence, he had done all the work and garnered no reward. To add salt to the wound the Paege had been given the Riverman army’s left flank as a command position. Walder could only watch as his Lord began to hack at the table with his sword in a bout of rage.
Part 1: Lord Amory of Goodbrook
Chapter 4: Walder
It had been a week since Lord Ruby and his army had reached the castle of Stonemill. The castle was small and would have been hardly worth sieging had it not been positioned next to the best crossing for such a large host. At first the other Lords of the Riverlands had tried to cross the blue fork leaving the castle behind. It was only when the castle engaged the column from afar destroying its vanguard with a hail of arrows that they elected to siege it. The host was massive consisting of Brackens, Pipers and Blackwoods. Many of the houses had sent lesser Lords to command their forces deeming the war too small and insignificant. The leader of the Host had been a Paege but as soon as Lord Ruby arrived the man had been forced to hand over the command. Lord Ruby had set to work quickly ordering rams and ladders to be built, outriders and archers to be sent to hunt and forage. He had also ordered daily attacks to be made on the walls; small groups of crossbowmen and archers would advance behind pavise shield and harry the defenders. So far it had worked the defenders arrow reserve had depleted quickly and the attackers had taken very few casualties while keeping the defenders busy and tired.
Lord Ruby had ordered Walder to undertake an very important mission ; he had been sent out with a small force of cavalry to recruit local villagers to either join the siege or help with the building of the siege equipment. Most of the villagers he had met had been friendly people just as angry at the Wayn’s as the Tully’s were, that said they were peaceable people and had refused to help the host with anything other than giving information. More oft than not it was useless but occasionally they would find a mason or carpenter that knew the weak spots of a wall or which gate was weakest. He had found some recruits however most were young boys looking for money and girls or old men who wanted to fight for the Tully’s who had helped them over the years. Most were lightly armed carrying hunting bows, old rusty spears or assorted farm equipment. Walder was far from Goodbrook and had no way of improving their armament so their only hope of advancement was to scavenge after a battle but most like they would be the arrow fodder and dead within a week. Ahead Walder could see Stonemill with the siege camp flanking it on all sides. Banners from all corners of the riverlands fluttered in the wind rising from clumps of colorful tents displaying every color in the rainbow.
Walder and his escort dismounted making their way up towards Lord Ruby’s command tent. The hill had become a battlefield of its own, the ground had been broken beyond an inch of its life and all that remained was a field of mud. Lord Amory’s tent stood at the top of the hill surrounded by a small wooden palisade and ring of stakes. The tent itself was black and outlined with gold and a rich ruby red. All around Ruby banners flew, Lord Ruby had made sure everyone would know who was leading here. Walder could see that Lord Ruby had also set up lots of Rubymen sentries around his camp but not any Goodbrook men who had instead been assigned to guard the rear near the baggage train station. The Rubymen knew Walder and allowed him into the camp without inspection. Two knights stood outside the Lords tent both bore sigils neither of which Walder was familiar with. Both looked him over for a moment but let him pass without as little as a question. There was little light inside the tent even so Lord Ruby sat brooding in his high chair looking over a letter.
He looked up wearily “Captain Walder do you have news for me?”
“M’Lord I have recruited some more villagers and I have more information on the Northern Wall.”
The Lord gave a large sigh “That bloody wall, it is as if these peasants don't understand that we have no siege engines.”
“M’Lord we could build some catapults.”
Lord Ruby gave a chuckle “That idiot Paege, he cuts down a large forest for a siege then builds his own castle on this hill.”
Walder could not help but agree the man was hopeless “M’Lord what will you do, there are more men than there is food an attack needs to be soon.”
“I have planned a large scale assault for the morrow, I had hoped you would return with new recruits I need some men to soak up the first volley of arrows.”
“I will get them ready for battle.”
The Lord gave a nod and then dismissed him to go about his business.
***
Walder had been ordered to lead the vanguard of the assault, he would lead the ram into the assault and then bash down the gate. First the villager levy would attack but it was only to get the defenders to waste their arrows. Then Walder and the first wave would attack, the ran would head for the gate whilst the Piper, Paege and Goodbrook men would run their ladders to the wall. The main aim of this attack was not to capture the wall but to get the ladders to the wall and the ram to the gate. The second wave would be lead by Lord Ruby and would contain a mix of Blackwood and Ruby men. Lord Ruby believed that this wave would break the castle with ruthless efficiency. Walder could not help but feel sceptical, the castle was small sure but the garrison was twice the size that the castle could hold and every man they killed would have another to fill his place. Horns began to blow around him and Walder could hear the levy give a loud cheer before they began to charge. Moments later the familiar sound of arrows hitting the ground or worse flesh, the arrows were followed by screams of pain so harrowing that not even the toughest man could hide his discomfort. A second horn sounded signalling the first wave to assault. Walder unsheathed his sword and raised it in the air, men around him began to move pushing the ram forwards or preparing their shield for a volley of arrows. Some let out cries of “Tully” or “Bracken” but most kept silent preparing for the horrors of battle. Men rushed past Walder his weight slowing him down, arrows smashed into the ground around him but none hit their mark. The ram was almost at the gate and as of yet not many men had been struck down. Walder clambered over a dead Piper man struck in the chest with a crossbow bolt, on looking around he was one of the only dead men. The ram had taken minor damage from some loose stones that had been thrown onto it but it was still ramming the gate. A few men had also taken their axes to the gate although more just huddled against the wall raising their shields to stop falling stones. The gate fell minutes later but not before a couple more of the attackers had fallen to stones, arrows or boiling oil. When the gate fell the defenders began to melt, Walder had only just entered the gatehouse when the defenders began to drop their shields and weapons. Many were struck down anyways being stabbed and slashed while they begged for mercy. Walder ordered his men to stop but many continued anyways. All Walder could hope is that any nobles or knights would be spared the slaughter otherwise all their honour would be put into question.
***
Lord Ruby had called walder into his tent. The lowly Lord had commanded and won the siege but now he had been forgotten. Other Lords had now ridden to the Red Fork taking command of their troops for the march to Chiltern and then the more prestigious siege. Lord Ruby had been a little more than disappointed , later this turned to rage and then a bitter acceptance. The Lord sat moodily in his chair cupping a tankard of ale. Walder approached carefully not wanting to anger the Lord once more.
The Lord looked up his eyes cold “Have you found Lord Wayn yet?”
“Unfortunately we have not M’Lord, the other Lords believe he was not in the castle.”
Lord Ruby stood walking away in silence, he had done all the work and garnered no reward. To add salt to the wound the Paege had been given the Riverman army’s left flank as a command position. Walder could only watch as his Lord began to hack at the table with his sword in a bout of rage.
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I'm surprised Amory was given command, despite the short time he held it.
The castle fell, which was no surprise, due to the HUGE host that the paramount amassed for such a small castle. Overkill, much?
On the bright side, he's at least proven his competence somewhat.
The castle fell, which was no surprise, due to the HUGE host that the paramount amassed for such a small castle. Overkill, much?
On the bright side, he's at least proven his competence somewhat.
He was not given command instead I see it as him asserting his dominance over some idiotic lower lords. To be honest Amory had no need of going to war but I thought whilst playing the game that it would be something he would do even if 17,000 men were already marching to war. After all Amory wants a piece of the pie.