Gulltown

[The Forgotten God]

A city of seventy or so thousand people, Gulltown is the seat of commerce for the Vale, and the main point of entry by sea. It is ruled by House Grafton.

[The Forgotten God]

///

March 23rd, 200.

Lord Waymar Royce and about three thousand men are sighted by scouts approaching the city. The Targaryens had sailed off two days prior, leaving Lords Vance, Blacktyde, and Rosby in charge of the city.

[King Theon IV Hoare]

To Lord Blacktyde, Lord Vance asks, "Do please avenge me if this goes horribly wrong."

Then he trotted out to the approaching army.

[Lord Daeron Blacktyde]

Lord Daeron barks out a laugh at the approaching army. "I'm almost hoping I have to." He follows behind, Shay present as well as his temporary crewmate.

[The Forgotten God]

Lord Waymar, wearing his family's bronze armor, rides up to the gates to greet them. He's a massive man, not so tall as Daeron but even broader, like a stone block given human form, and he looks at the group. "It looks like I'm late," he said, "the queen's letter only arrived a week ago. I have a feeling the ravens have been suffering a terrible fate." He looked them over. "Who has the command here?"

[King Theon IV Hoare]

"Lord Daeron Blacktyde here is His Grace's Lord Admiral. Prince Erik Hoare commands the Western campaign. I myself am Lord Robert Vance."

[The Forgotten God]

Waymar frowned. "I'd hoped Ser Owen was here," he admitted. "My son in law must be out west," he grumbled. "Very well then, Lord Robert, Lord Daeron, I've got twenty seven hundred men here, another fifteen hundred mustering. We've got a considerable task ahead," he added. "Corbray, Hunter, Redfort, and plenty of the byblows of House Arryn are arranging against us, and that doesn't include Coldwater or the Sunderlys sending their strength down."

[Lord Daeron Blacktyde]

Lord Daeron laughs, "If Gulltown is a display of the Vale's resistance, this will be a short campaign. I hope for more of a challenge."

[The Forgotten God]

Lord Royce bristled for just a second at the implied insult to the Vale's prowess but he was silent on the matter for now. "The more men die the fewer for the king and queen at the end," he said. "But if we can break Corbray and Hunter and the Eyrie's lands, then the war should be over in fairly short order. You've never fought anywhere like here, though, my lord," he promised him.

[King Theon IV Hoare]

Sept 5, 2017 10:42:21 GMT The Forgotten God said:

Lord Royce bristled for just a second at the implied insult to the Vale's prowess but he was silent on the matter for now. "The more men die the fewer for the king and queen at the end," he said. "But if we can break Corbray and Hunter and the Eyrie's lands, then the war should be over in fairly short order. You've never fought anywhere like here, though, my lord," he promised him.

The other Andal attempted to soften his commander's faux pas. "My Lord Royce, please forgive our ignorance, but it has been a very, very long time since any invading force saw the inside of the Vale, in no small part due to the training and skill of your knights. What might we expect? What tactics should we be weary of?"

Charm 50
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[The Forgotten God]

"Mountain combat," he said, "they'll avoid the plains and fields to try keeping the people on their side, hit us while we move blind through the hills. They might even hire some clansmen to show them secret passages about as we penetrate further into the crescent. All our castles are situated in extremely defensible positions, and resupply is going to be vulnerable to raids. We'll need tight security and a few diplomatic victories," he concluded. "Swords alone cannot win here."

[King Theon IV Hoare]

An idea came to Robert. "These... wildlings. How might we encounter them? Who leads the nearest tribe?"

[The Forgotten God]

"We wiped them out of the peninsula decades or centuries ago," Lord Waymar said. "They're mostly in the west and north now, the strongest bands the Burned Men and the Windborn," he added. "We'd have to win at least a few skirmishes before we could get in touch with them, even if we wanted to. They're far too savage to be tamed for a normal purpose.'

[King Theon IV Hoare]

"Shame. Those secret passages would be a great boon. Then I suppose we shall have to put our faith in the trappings of civilization. What is the furthest we can march without meeting resistance?"

[The Forgotten God]

Lord Royce looked west. "To Ironoaks," he said, "the Waynwoods will dither until we force a decision upon them. It will be best to force it quickly. It's an easy march west but if they turn against us they can bottle us on this peninsula and force us to take to the sea for a quick resolution to the fight."

The Vale warriors pass through the gates as they talk, making the Ironborn host a truly impressive force as they assemble, with a real cavalry component.

[Lord Daeron Blacktyde]

"To Ironoaks we should head, then. If we can find these mountain men, we should. They seem a type I can understand." Lord Daeron nods to Lord Royce in what almost appears apology. "Skilled warriors, but a little barbaric. We will show them force and leadership, and they will follow us."

[The Forgotten God]

"Give my men the night and we shall be off," Lord Royce agreed.

///

The army sets out, a strong garrison remaingin behind.When the remainder of the Runestone men arrive about eight thousand men will be assembled. The road west is well maintained but enemy scouts infest the area, and saboteurs have dug potholes to make the baggage train proceed slowly. It will take four days or maybe five at least to reach Ironoaks.

[King Theon IV Hoare]

Robert spends that time getting to know more about the local politics, and what exactly Artos was capable of.

[The Forgotten God]

Based on the hanged bodies of men and women wearing crude iron jewelry they see as the army passes, he is capable of much. Lord Waynwood is an old man, unlikely to fight alone, but he has reinforcements coming from many places. Waymar tells him that the Belmores of Strongsong are rivals of his, but the old man may also be persuaded by the right terms to simply allow their army through, to a much easier position to go on the offensive. "If we take Ironoaks, the loyalists are split in half," he explained. "Which would let us dictate the action."

[King Theon IV Hoare]

Lord Vance decides to ride ahead of the host and approaches Ironoaks, seeking parley with Lord Waynwood.

[The Forgotten God]

Iron oaks sits on the far side of a river leading to the sea, and scouts see him miles away and a few ride out. "What do you want?" A tall man asked Lord Vance. "War is not welcome on Lord Stephen's lands."

[King Theon IV Hoare]

"I am Robert Vance, Lord of Atranta and emissary to His Grace King Theon the fourth of his name. I am not interested in discussing war with Lord Stephen, but rather peace."

[The Forgotten God]

The knight looks at him. "Ironoaks is open to an emissary," he said, 'but speak quickly, for in forty eight hours Lord Corbray is coming with many thousands of men, and Lord Waynwood will not long suffer it seeming he is weighing his options."

[King Theon IV Hoare]

"Then time is of the essence, soldier. I will follow your lead."

[The Forgotten God]

They head to the castle, and Lord Vance sees the gates are stoutly manned, archers massed along the ramparts. The gate opens and he enters, and Lord Robert comes forth, an old man but hale, and he looks to the Roverlands Man. "Come to offer terms, have you?"

[King Theon IV Hoare]

Robert Vance was approaching his fiftieth year and was on his second marriage. He had seven children, one bastard, and another legitimate child on the way. He liked his sweets more than he should, had a bad knee, and once tried to be a professional jouster before he discovered a talent for words. He was not a terribly intelligent man, but he had decades of experience drafting letters and edicts for Harmund before Theon took his role five years ago.

The portly man in plate spoke to the old man, "Lord Waynwood. First, let me say that the Queen has no designs upon your lands. She simply desires what is hers, after her father, the Mad King, disgraced himself with the blood of his own kin. The Vale is forever more the Vale. It's nobles shall remain it's nobles. The line of Ser Artys Arryn will remain in power. His Grace King Theon only desires to preserve the safety and rights of his beloved Miriam. When the Mad King is deposed, His Grace shall return his forces to their own lands. All he asks is that you acknowledge her rule, join her cause, and help us cleanse the Eyrie of this pestilence."

Persuasion 50

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[The Forgotten God]

Difficulty: 125

Modifiers: +10 for promising he keeps his lands, modified 123

Small failure, may adjust terms and try again without penalty.

Lord Waynwood looks about. "Eight thousand men won't do that," he said. "Lord Corwyn Corbray is coming with twice that, his army close. That doesn't seem a promising fight to me," he said. "King Artos has his flaws but he is yet the king."

[King Theon IV Hoare]

"Lord Corbray is quite doomed. Prince Erik Hoare himself is already in the Vale, having already taken the Bloody Gate. If he attempts a pitched battle against us here, he will find himself caught in a pincer move he has little hope of escaping. And the promise I make concerning your lands only lasts until the Mad King's men arrive. Then, when Corbray falls and if you have yet to bend the knee to Her Majesty... Have you ever seen what an Ironborn army does to those who have insulted and spited them? Who have starved them while they bled in the field? Let me remind you that it is Theon Hoare who controls Gulltown and the Gate. If we fail tomorrow... do you think he lacks men and coin for the next month? Or the next month? Do you think he will give up, knowing his wife's claim and the need of a young king to please his bannerlords? How long can Iron Oaks hold out? When was the last siege you ever faced? Are you really willing to gamble your family and women and children on Corbray?"

Charm 50

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[The Forgotten God]

Lord Waynwood looked about and thought a moment. "You make sense," he agreed, "I shall pledge for King Theon and oppose the Corbray host," he said. "The northern Vale lords shall not fall easily. In exchange, I want my daughter to wed the new Lord Grafton, and my son shall marry...do you have daughters, Lord Vance?" He looked past the older lord to the armies marching from the east. "You'll need to form up on the other side of the river. They can't storm Ironoaks easily, but you'll be massively outnumbered even with my men added to yours."

[King Theon IV Hoare]

"I have two unwed daughters, if it pleases you, and I pledge you one of them if you join us today. I cannot speak for Lord Grafton presently, but I believe I can convince him of the wisdom of such a marriage."

He turned to look at the Hoare forces. "I will convey your advice promptly." He turned back to the other lord. "Tell your son his bride's name is Cassandra and she sings like the Maiden herself."