There is a place, less than half a day’s ride south and west from King’s Landing, where two hills rise from the flat expanse of farmland. The hills are steep-sided; the shorter is steeper, but the taller is covered with a thick growth of pine and spruce below the bare summit. To the south, the dark green line of the Kingswood encroaches upon the pastoral landscape. Far to the north, now hidden behind the rolling country but surely visible from the tops of those hills, winds the Blackwater Rush on its way to the bay. A peaceful little valley in a peaceful little country—until men deemed this place a good one to make war. Or mock war, as the case may be.
High upon the pristine hilltops squat two foreboding fortresses, the best that men could prepare in the scant few hours since the column’s arrival after daybreak. From behind those breastworks it might be that they don’t look like much, but they are imposing indeed from the vantage point of the observers huddled against the cold in the little valley. Above both forts flies the standard of the group which holds it: the sigil of Crackclaw Point strains in the breeze above the one; that of the Kingswood Company above the other.
And now, as the sun has climbed some distance into the sky, fighting to break through the oppressive cloud cover, the hills are aswarm with men girding themselves for battle. A score defends the walls of each fortress; an equal number storm those walls from below. And whether a man amongst them fights for the Crackclaw Company or the Kingswood Company, whether he defends the walls or attacks, they have only one thought in mind.
Victory!
On a short, but steep hill flies a banner, declaring that it is the location of the Crackclaw point fortification. A narrow ditch has been dug around the camp, filled with sharpened stakes approximately 4 feet out of the ground. The dirt that had been in the ditch has been used to raie a low wall around the camp, made taller by the wagons and field rocks that have been placed around the camp for extra defenses. The Crackclaw men patrol that has been assigned to patrol do so while some apply final touches to the defenses, while others conserve their strength and rest in preparation of the fight.
The Hill may be short, but the sides are steep, with there being only a couple of easy approaches to the hill. With the recent rains the sides are fairly muddy and difficult to traverse for most the way up.
Ser Eon Hunter stands in the center of the fortication, overseeing many of the final touches being applied by a few of the men, and looking at a map on a barrel that is serving as a table. He wears a breastplate over a chain shirt, his sword on his hip. Nearby stands Merik, also clad in armor and ready to join the fray.
The Kingswood fort is solidly, if hastily, built, the men used to building similar constructions during their spells on patrol. The walls consist of wide, sharpened wooden logs, most six to seven feet high; in spots, the logs are tilted outwards forebodingly an angle, so as to deter any would-be attackers. Behind the walls stand two towers on either side of a solid wooden gate, both connected with a planked platform.
Jan Marbrand, Deputy Warden of the Kingswood Company, now occupies the leftmost tower, joined behind the walls by Ser Cleyton Waxley and Ser Albyn Crane. He barks orders to whichever of the Kingswood men will listen, though despite his position, the excitement of the moment has many of them tending to their own concerns. Jan shouts, “If it’s on land, boys, we should have the advantage. Hold the high ground and let the attackers come to us, but be wary of them breaching the gate.”
*BAAAAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*
A horn’s clarion call breaks through the din of work and preparation, calling men to assemble. And so they do, defenders to their breastworks and attackers to the base of the hills. Ammon Massey, called the Blackhand, is there beneath the larger hill. The Kingswood hill. He alternates between casting scowling glances up the wooded slope at the solid defenses above, and seeing to the readiness of his score of men.
From that score of men waiting to take the hill are worried looks, and muttered words. For the Stormbreaker may be up there—waiting. But Ammon offers no encouraging words, no slaps on the back, no jests or japes to break the tension. His strategy, such as it is, was shared earlier. It is a simple one: “We’ve no time to take down the walls from here, no time to build ladders to scale them properly. But we’ve ropes, and trees.” And so some of the Crackclaw men will attempt to pull the hasitly constructed walls down with rope and grapnel. A few others will attempt a hastily constructed ram against the gate. And the rest? The rest fight, and will hoist each other over the timbers if needed.
*BAAAAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*
A second call, and it begins. Massey dons his battered helm, his blackened shield, and leads the way up the slope. Up, and up, and up, with the weight of the Crackclaw Company behind him.
Today, the heir to Red Lake seems to have changed the fine tourney plate and mail for tournaments for more plain armor. Well… what a Reachlord would consider ‘plain’, that is. Although there’s no inlaid silver or gold, the etched crane patterns still draw the attention away from those icy blue eyes, glinting behind the crane-shaped helmet. Arms crossed, Albyn patiently awaits the signal before walking towards the small score of men he’s assigned to lead. ” You’ve heard the man. Don’t disappoint him… nor me.” he adds.
Luthor Rivers, looks up at the Kingswood fort and smiles. “Well done,” he murmurs to no one in particular as he pulls his shield into place on his arm. That done, he draws his sword and when Ammon orders the charge, he charges up the hill alongside his good-uncle, calling back to Barion “Remember today’s your day to make your name!” Then he’s off running looking for a place where the walls of the Kingswood fort are shortest.
There between the Marbrand and Crane knights, Ser Cleyton rolls his shoulders with a creak of pauldron against the mail. Through his helm, the knight gives a short laugh to Jan. “At least we have the Stormbreaker out there, eh? Just need to keep our wall secure until he’s cut a line through them.”
His fingers flex on the grip of his shield, the other tests the weight of his sword in hand. The Waxley is as ready as he must be.
Clad in plain, blackened plate mail, the other Stormlander aside from Ser Sarion joins the field, coincidentally, on the Stormbreaker’s side. Jared rides out of the Kingswood Fort along with a contingent of men. He draws the tourney sword at his left and raises it towards the opposing fortifications, a silent instruction that his men should, in fact, advance to storm as soon as the signal to attack is sounded.
Janden has joined the forward group of attackers, armored up suitably for the battle. The whole setup is a rather interesting one, with the building and defense of the forts factored in. He rides atop his destrier and moves with the others, Luthor, Ammon and Barion among them, calling out, “Let’s hit them hard and fast soon as we’re in!”
Ryckon is at the head of the Kingswood forces, frowning uneasily and shoulders raised tensely as he examines the Crackclaw fort. He is perhaps the least experienced of the captains, but he does know how to fight, and when the horn sounds he relaxes just a little and settles down into a battle stance before turning to his men. “Alright, men. There are two easy approaches to the fort. This half of you will take this one, and this half will take that one,” he explains in a loud, careful voice, indicating the groups of men and the approaches. “They’re muddy so ascend slowly, it’ll take you longer to get up if you fall. Watch where you’re going and don’t run into the fucking stakes. We should attack there—the wall is shortest—and the gate is there. With the ropes and the ram—good.” Once the second trumpet sounds, he adds in a louder voice to everyone, “Remember men, this is our land!” And then he dons his helmet and turns to charge. “KINGSWOOD!”
The heir to Acorn Hall wears no fancy helms or jeweled crest. For a house of relatively simple means, he fits the part. His corkscrewed hair is tucked in his helmet and his gray eyes shine from beneath his helm. A longsword of castle-forged steel is at his waist. The only thing of finery is that on his back - a greatsword with an acorn pommel cast in silver: Joseth Smallwood’s own greatsword. He says nothing to Luthor but simply nods, following up behind him at the ready, shield in hand. He draws his longsword, and there it cries with a whine, the steel leaving the scabbard.
Hidden by a ridge, the attackers arrayed behind the Stormbreaker await the charge of the Crackclaw Company. Thus will they sound their deathknell when the Kingswood Knight descend upon them from the heights.
Long has Ser Sarmion prowled these lands and well does he know them, for he was sent to the Court of Kings Landing before he knew manhood.
Ser Amrell almost feels a boy again, a squire riding with white knuckles to his first battle, a decade sliding away in the brutal miasma of red war. He, so often as ornate and dainty as Myrish lace, looks almost imposing all in plain unadorned steel, the only color to be seen on his person a white cloak clasped with a red crab.
He, by some twist of fate, stands beside THE Sarmion, the Stormbreaker- he, the knight who prefers the book to the tourney. It makes him grin beneath his scarred helm. He grips his red-painted shield and draws his sword with the sounding of ancient music, the hiss of steel on leather. His lord father would smile to see him here. With a whispered prayer, he lifts a hand and slides his visor into place. This is the worst part, really; the waiting, the thinking and hoping.
Eon is alerted as the sound of the horn is sounded. Walking in the direction of the sound he draws his tourney blade. “Crackclaw!” he roars, as the men who were taking a rest are soon at the walls, ready to fight any of the Kingswood men that would try and scale the walls.
Amongst the Crackclaw men staying behind to guard the fort is a hardened man of the sea, hands callused from years of hauling rope and face rough from a decade of spraying salt. At the call of the horn Lennos pulls back to a position by Eon, looking eager to bludgeon some of these oncoming ‘friendly’ rivals. As the Kingswood company approach, he nods to his Hunter captain. “Let’s show ‘em, eh, ser?”
Jan lowers his helm as the trumpets sound and the Cracklaw men come forth. Withdrawing his sword, he turns to Albyn and Cleyton and gives them each a nod. “Aye, cousin, we just need to hold it long enough. They have ropes, it looks like. Be careful of those coming over the top of our walls, sers.”
Up the tall hill, through the covering woods. It is a tall climb, a winding climb through the foliage, but a short one. And the Crackclaw men are at the walls. Weighted ropes with knotted loops are thrown over the wall in an attempt to catch and pull the timbers down; most of the men turn to the gates with their makeshift ram, and the first loud concussions ring out; and a few, so very few, get hoisted by their comrades over the stockade to the raised platform beyond.
Ammon Massey is first among them, and if he is slightly out of breath what of it? A kingswood man is there awaiting the Blackhand, and gets a shield in the face for his trouble. Ammon turns, sees he has come close to where Jan holds the wall, and a laugh echoes from his helm.
No other words, just a swinging sword.
Ammon attacks Jan with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!
The sound of the blaring trumpet alerts Ser Humfrey Westerling. The onetime heir sees The legendary Ser Sarmion, the founder of his order. Humfrye moves to intercept the Stormbreaker and then swings at him with tourney blade.
Luthor is the second man over the wall. He steadies himself on his feet once he’s dropped into the Kingswood fort and scans around for a foe worth fighting. He finds that foe in Cleyton Waxley and shouts “Cleyton!” before letting lose with a horizontal slash of his sword.
Luthor attacks Cleyton with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
Janden makes it close enough to be one of those to benefit from the assistance up, focusing on Albyn Crane as he starts toward the knight with sword and shield at the ready, having long since left the saddle to get to the hacking and slashing. “Have at me, ser!” he calls, leading with his sword in a short strike at the man’s shield side, about near the elbow.
Janden attacks Albyn with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!
And just as he says it, a figure in black comes tumbling over the wall. “They’re here, men!” Jan shouts, turning to face the invader. One laugh from the man’s helm, and Jan recognizes its source. “It was always going to be this way, wasn’t it?” he wonders, and he takes a leap back just as Ammon swings his sword. That brings a laugh from Jan himself, who quickly moves to counter with a gash to the side.
Jan attacks Ammon with his sword…
...and sees his blow go astray!
Barion is the third up over the wall. Getting to his feet he looks over and spots Luthor, attacking Cleyton. But he sees Janden fighting with the Crane, that helm gleaming. Brandishing his sword, he calls out to Janden, “Allow me be of some help!” He raises his sword and prepares to strike at Albyn.
Barion attacks Albyn with his sword…
...and sees his blow go astray!
Following Ser Ryckon’s clarion call to charge, the Stormbreaker sprints up the hill. Climbing over the walls the Crackclaw Company has built he drops to the earth.
One, then two, then three, fall to his warhammer, before he finds himself before Ser Humfrey Westerling among the defenders.
Because the Waxley knight wrongly concerns himself with the entanglements of others a few men down, the Rivers knight manages to take him by surprise—Cleyton has enough time to pivot and weather that blow without falling to a knee. It relieves him of his breath, however, but not his senses entirely—with a gleaming arc, his sword swings around in an aim to take a likewise hit at the other man.
Cleyton attacks Luthor with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
The sound of the blaring trumpet alerts Ser Humfrey Westerling. The onetime heir sees The legendary Ser Sarmion, the founder of his order. Humfrye moves to intercept the Stormbreaker his tourney blade is at the ready in a defensive guard.
The Royal Huntsman is quick with his sword, but the Crane’s feetwork is quicker. The step that brought him out of range is quickly followed by two steps forwards, getting back into range and with some luck… away from the second strike that comes from Barion. Knowing he needs to reposition, Albyn takes out with his shield to Janden before turning away from them both.
Albyn attacks Janden with his sword…
...and merely strikes a glancing blow!
His target chosen, Jared moves to advance with his men, sword raised as he swings it violently towards Lennos, more strength than skill in the attack, but nevertheless an ambitious and utterly hopeful strike.
Jared attacks Lennos with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!
Like his Crackclaw counterpart, Ryckon is among the first of the few to scale the walls into the Crackclaw fort, mostly because he has made an effort to ascend to the short point first and quickly and ordered his men to hoist him up. He has put away his shield—painted with the arms of his father—and his mace so that he can scramble up the wall.
Once he is there, he is confronted by a man-at-arms before he can get his mace ready. “Shit!” So he charges into him with his shield, throwing him off the wall, and continues down the battlements until he reaches Eon.
“Good fort, Ser Eon. Not good enough.” And with that, Ryckon charges at the Hunter, swinging for his chest.
Ryckon attacks Eon with his mass weapon…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!
Luthor didn’t expect a counter so soon. He grunts as Waxley’s blow hammers into his ribs and knocks the wind from him. Luthor staggers bringing up his shield to ward off further blows, then managing to draw in a painful suck of air he pushes off his back foot and brings his sword up from behind his shield in an arc aimed at Cleyton’s sword arm.
Luthor attacks Cleyton with his sword…
...and has his blow intercepted by Cleyton’s shield.
Whether it was the strain of the climb, or the excitement of the fight, Ammon’s first attack missed badly—but so, too, did Jan’s. Ammon’s shield takes the brunt of the younger knight’s attack, and the Blackhand turns to square himself against him. And that shield, edge first, is thrown out towards Marbrand’s helm—but that is not meant to strike. It is the blunted blade sweeping toward’s Jan’s legs that must strike true!
Below them, the Crackclaw men struggle with the defenses; across the valley, things are going better for the Kingswood company. Already some breaches are appearing.
Ammon attacks Jan with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!
In the wild chaos of the melee, Ammon and Jan are carried apart from one another.
High is raised the warhammer called Vengence in the gauntlet of that puissant knight, the Stormbreaker. His visage is unseen behind the visor of his antlered helm. But the blunt edge of his weapon descends upon Ser Humfrey.
The wind beneath its beak flees with wailing cry.
Sarmion attacks Humfrey with his mass weapon…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
Janden gives a short nod to the squire with size, quick to respond, “By all means,” after Albyn has managed to avoid anything direct from not just him but Barion as well. The counter does little more than nick him, scarcely slowing down the attacking approach. “Barion, cover his front.” Being what he assumes to be the quicker of the two attackers, he seeks to use his speed to deliver a strike toward Albyn’s lower legs from the side.
Janden attacks Albyn with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!
A quick snap of his blade into a defensive position, and Lennos meets Jared’s swing with a strong parry. He might not be an officer, but certainly he has seen battle before, and he smiles at the younger man’s effort. “Good effort.” And then he brings his own blade back around toward Jared’s shoulder. %
Barion roars as his blade is deflected, slicing the wind with his sword. The large squire repositions himself for another strike, looking over at Janden with some concern. But nonetheless, despite the blow that his comrade has taken, Barion raises his blade for a second try, coving his front as Janden requests. “Aye,” he shouts through the melee.
Barion attacks Albyn with his sword…
...and merely strikes a glancing blow!
Lennos attacks Jared with his spear…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!
Eon is yelling at his men, indicating where the Kingswoodsmen were climbing over the wall, and soon he is faced by Ryckon. He does not have the time to avoid the knight’s sword, but is able to take the mighty blow on his shield, marring the fanned arrows, with the Hunter knight giving a grunt. Having nothing to say he swings down at the Westerling knight’s sword arm.
Eon attacks Ryckon with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
Quick, now, Cleyton manages to put his shield between himself and Luthor’s sword. Manuevering a hit from this angle proves difficult, but he manages to shove his blade up and out—a thrust, then. If there’s any weight behind it, surely it will push the Rivers man back—and if it should lack, then it will buy the Waxley time to square himself again.
Cleyton attacks Luthor with his sword…
...and merely strikes a glancing blow!
Humfrey Westerling is struck with boneshattering force by the Stormbreaker’s warhammer. He grunts in pain as a spike atop his ashen pauldrons is snaped like kindling, then swings toward the Harbormaster in a quick reverb at his gorget.
Humfrey attacks Sarmion with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!
Ryckon growls and nearly drops his mace after the surprisingly strong blow, but he keeps a hold of his weapon and staggers back a few steps before charging back, attempting to bring his mace into Eon’s shoulder.
Ryckon attacks Eon with his mass weapon…
...and merely strikes a glancing blow!
Eon, being better prepared, is able to dodge most of Ryckon’s attack though it does catch him on the edge of his shoulder, causing the Hunter knight to wince, but only a little as the heat of battle takes over the usually docile knight. Roaring, he swing’s his sword at Ryckon’s other shoulder.
Eon attacks Ryckon with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!
This time, Janden’s weapon meets its target and Albyn’s leg slightly bends on impact. A grin of pain appears on the Crane’s lips but he’s experienced enough to reduce the for of Barion’s hit with his pauldron.
Spotting the squire as the less experienced of the two, he quickly circles towards Smallwood and takes out with his sword.
Albyn attacks Barion with his sword…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!
This time Luthor’s ready for Cleyton’s counter-blow and steps back letting the mail take most of the sting of the blow. Then he closes smashing at Cleyton’s shield with his own while he brings in his sword low and fast to strike at his ankle.
Luthor attacks Cleyton with his sword…
...and misses by a narrow margin!
Being struck powerfully, Jared remains to keep his dignity by standing, which certainly does not keep a curse from being uttered under his breath as his defense with the shield failed. The attempts another strike at Lennos, this time a quick thrust, to see if he can throw the man off balance.
Jared attacks Lennos with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
The Stormbreaker’s mount nimbly siddles away from Ser Humfrey’s mount and Ser Sarmion is able to deflect the Westerling’s blow with the half of his warhammer.
Gaining some separation, the Baratheon spurs his destrier into a charge and the knight brings his heavy weapon low, seaking to drive Ser Humfrey from the saddle!
Sarmion attacks Humfrey with his mass weapon…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!
Instinctively, Jan leaps over Ammon’s swipe, his feet narrowly clearing his opponent’s blade. His laughter has faded now, drowned out by the familiar clamor of battle, even if it is fake. He grits his teeth drives the brunt of his shield into Ammon’s chest with as much force as he can muster, looking to push him back over the wall.
Jan attacks Ammon with his sword…
...and has his blow intercepted by Ammon’s shield.
The smash of shield against shield is warning enough—Cleyton grunts and sidesteps that aim for his ankle. More importantly, his sword is free to swing again, and this time with more decisive force. Lucky that Ser Luthor has him at a slight disadvantage, as the Waxley must push off from the man’s shield to gain any reach. He does so, though, and takes a whack at where the joints of the hip plating leave his leg vulnerable.
Cleyton attacks Luthor with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
Luthor is knocked down!
Lennos barely keeps his own footing by slamming one foot back as Jared’s crunches into his shield. “Better,” he breathes with a noise that could be laugh or a grunt of pain, or both. But with his foot planted, he puts his weight behind his shield this time in one great push in an effort to send the knight back down the walls.
Lennos attacks Jared with his spear…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!
Jared is staggered by Lennos’s blow, but manages to keep his feet!
They are charging, and Amrell is running right along with them, his feet seeming to fly of their own volition. He reaches the wall and scrambles up and over, only just raising his shield in time to meet a foeman’s sword and gives him a crack on the head with his own in recompense. A few seconds won, he glances about to see which of his companions needed help. The Seashell knight looked as though he might benefit in his combat against the Hunter man, and so Amrell rushes over, managing to avoid entanglement in his flight thence. He aims a cut at Eon’s offhand side.
Amrell attacks Eon with his ...
...and merely strikes a glancing blow!
The Smallwood heir grits his teeth in pain as the sword strikes his pauldron, “Seven Hells!” he cries. In pain but steadying his feet, he comes back with another strike. Barion looks over as Luthor is knocked down and the Smallwood lets out a shout, charging into Albyn.
Barion attacks Albyn with his sword…
...and merely strikes a glancing blow!
With Albyn forced to pick and choose between who to fight back against each time, in theory it will give Janden and Barion the advantage. The Melcolm knight looks to press matters even as Barion is now focused on, directing a blow toward Albyn after he’s hit Barion, aiming for the sword hand this time. Disabling is the goal.
Janden attacks Albyn with his sword…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!
The Stormbreaker charges at him, like a bellicose boar and Humfrey Westerling lifts his shield in an effort to deflect the knight’s lethal blow. He lifts his shield but Ser Sarmion’s warhammer slams into his shield with such force it smashes the upper corner into dust and kindling. As Sarmion’s hammer takes him full in the chest Humfrey staggers back.
His reverb is quick and a bit desperate a swing for Samrion’s antlered helm hard and fast—and effot to ring the helm and perchance stagger his foe.
Humfrey attacks Sarmion with his sword…
...and merely strikes a glancing blow!
Luthor’s old trick doesn’t work this time and Waxley’s sword takes him in the leg. It goes out from under him and he falls to a knee braced on his sword. “You win this one Waxley,” he says before letting the man go off to deal with apparently more challenging foes.
Jan’s shield surges forward, but is met by Ammon’s own. And Ammon is bigger than Jan, sturdier, and will not be forced back. He pushes back, attempting to angle Jan’s own back towards the drop. Shield-to-shield, the pair press against each other. And the Blackhand shoves forward with all his might.
Across the valley, the Crackclaw men have managed to reinforce those breaches made by the Kingswood; below, some few timbers have been torn down and the gate has begun to buckle. Still, the walls hold.
Ammon attacks Jan with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!
Staggered, Jared takes several moments to regain his balance, shifting to a more focused grip on his weapon as the shield slides forward, to cover the knight’s body whilst the blade slides under to try and slash the other man’s torso. “Thank you.”
Jared attacks Lennos with his sword…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!
Although catching blows, the heir to Red Lake keeps on trying to reposition himself the best he can. The squire proves irritating but handy as he merely runs in the way of Janden, saving Albyn from worse. Another heavy hit from Janden however makes the Reachlord shift targets again. This time his sword comes low, towards the knee.
Albyn attacks Janden with his sword…
...and merely strikes a glancing blow!
“Gah!” Ryckon staggers back away from the Hunter knight, trying to catch his breath for a moment. This seems to be just long enough for Amrell to enter the fight, as ineffectually as Ryckon has been, and while it doesn’t have much impact on the fight at least Eon has two targets to worry about now. And so the original target charges back with a wide swing at Eon’s stomach, shouting “KINGSWOOD!”
Ryckon attacks Eon with his mass weapon…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
Eon is knocked down!
Were it aimed at a lesser knight it may have been a fatal blow, but the Stormbreaker is a knight unlike lesser men. Sensing the Westerman’s attack, he rears and so sacrifices only a golden antler from his helm and not his life.
The Baratheon knight, positioned so to bring his warhammer in a downward strike upon Ser Humfrey does so.
Downward swings he the warhammer he calls Venegence!
Sarmion attacks Humfrey with his mass weapon…
...and strikes him with a swift blow!
“Mind the gate!” Jan shouts as the noise of its splintering reaches his ears. But he is still shield-to-shield with Ammon, his old rival - both of them pressing with great, but equal force. When they are nearly nose-to-nose, Jan simply…steps to the side, hoping Ammon’s momentum carries him forward unexpectedly. He sticks out a foot to help him on his way down, should it work.
Jan attacks Ammon with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!
The jab from Jared’s blade meets chain and leather, and Lennos is forced to hop back to prevent a deeper wound. But the hop gives his space to charge again, and he plows forward with a lance-like thrust of his own sword, grunting as he aims to drive the man finally from the walls.
Lennos attacks Jared with his spear…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
Jared is knocked down!
The arrival of the second attacker catches Eon off guard, though the blade only catches on the rim of Eon’s shield. Before he can react to much else the Westerling knight takes the moment to strike down the Hunter knight. Eon clumsily is able to find his feet, and takes a defensive stance.
There in the mess of the melee, Cleyton manages a modicum of grace and defers to Luthor’s yield with a short, swift salute. “Indeed, ser, and remember that well the next time we meet.” If the Rivers man knows him at all well, he would sense the jest in that comment—but the Waxley knight moves on, and quickly, for his teammate is hard-pressed by two oppoenents.
So to the Smallwood heir he turns, sword thrusting out to intercept and distract him from the Crane knight.
“Barion..Rivers is down, take Waxley,” Janden says, intending to direct the squire to help even things up again now that Luthor’s been defeated by Cleyton. This leaves the Royal Huntsman one-on-one with Albyn again, and he deflects the Crane knight’s sword with his own so it fails to find much purchase where directed. In the process he follows through by side-stepping and thrusting his shield toward the man’s helm in hope of ringing his head a bit.
Janden attacks Albyn with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
Albyn is knocked down!
Barion curses as his sword merely glances off the Crane heir. His breath like a fume in the chill of the autumn. He notices out of the corner of his helm’s vision that Cleyton, Luthor’s former opponent, now heads towards him. Barion shouts, “From these beginnings!” and now turns his attentions to Cleyton with sword raises high, letting Janden fight the Crane.
Barion attacks Cleyton with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
Cleyton is knocked down!
It does work! Ammon surges forward, almost losing his balance and tumbling from the wall! But he does not fall—the Blackhand catches himself on a timber, turns quickly as he regains his balance, and flicks his blade at Jan’s flank.
Across the valley, the Kingswood attackers have pressed the advantage, the gaps have widened, the timbers tilt alarmingly; below, the Kingswood defenders have staunched the attack of the Crackclaw men. Both walls hold, but the Crackclaw fort is in dire straights!
Ammon attacks Jan with his sword…
...and has his blow intercepted by Jan’s shield.
Goldwork is smashed by Humfrey Westerling’s wicked strike as Sarmion ducks his wicked blow. Humfrey grunts as the Stormbreaker lands a swift downward strike and more bits fly from his twisted black plate. Humfrey charges! Striking with his spiked pauldron then following the attack with a low blow at Sarmion’s lower cuirass.
Humfrey attacks Sarmion with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!
One knight of the Kingswood side down, and Lennos turns to see his captain under fierce attack. He shoves his way toward the fray, taking the opportunity to kick a man attempting to climb the walls down as he scrambles toward Eon’s aid.
Success for Lennos. Jared drops from the walls in a loud clatter of iron and a splash of mud with a muffled grunt. He might have fallen awkwardly and hurt his leg for some reason.
And ringing is does… Black shadows appear in front of his eyes as Albyn staggers back till he eventualy falls over a large piece of wood.
A deep laugh errupts from the Stormbreaker’s helm. It echoes across the battlefield, “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
The Baratheon knight deftly intercepts the Westerling’s riposte then swings his warhammer in a vicious crossing chop to Ser Humfrey’s midsection.
Sarmion attacks Humfrey with his mass weapon…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
Humfrey is knocked down!
Jan flashes his shield at Ammon’s attack, catching the tip of his sword and pushing it to the side. “Not in our fort, Massey,” he tuts, bringing his sword down in a vertical arc, aimed right at Ammon’s sword shoulder.
Jan attacks Ammon with his sword…
...and strikes him with a swift blow!
Too fast, too soon—Cleyton’s eager rush sees him felled by one swift swing of Barion’s sword. There is not time in those faltering steps to lift his shield and block the worst of the strike, and thus he grunts and crumples to his knees. He rolls, quick as can, to put that shield between him and world above, scrambling to catch his breath.
Ryckon maintains a defensive stance as he catches his breath after the fight, still dangerously off balance. Seeing Eon rise again he takes a step in his direction, but pauses at the sound of the Crackclaw fortifications beginning to collapse. “See, Hunter? Your fort isn’t good enough.” And he charges once more, aiming his mace at Eon’s sword arm.
Sometimes it’s not just about the sword. Janden draws the shield to his side for further defense, pushing back against a couple others who try to sneak in for an attack though his focus shifts back toward Albyn as he keeps an eye on the heir, readying his weapon again.
Ryckon attacks Eon with his mass weapon…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!
“Time will tell, lad, time will tell.” Eon says, taking the mace on his shoulder with a grunt. The angry knight reaches back with his sword arm and swings it down at Ryckon like a hammer, hoping to deal with the Westerling knight.
Eon attacks Ryckon with his sword…
...and strikes him with a swift blow!
The Crane has recovered faster than expected it seems cause he’s already midway an attack when Janden’s glance catches him. This time Albyn makes a faint before swinging towards the Melcolm’s shoulder.
Albyn attacks Janden with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!
The onetime heir collapses hitting the ground hard as Ser Sarmion smashes him in the chest with the a tourney field shadow of the warhammer that has killed half-a-hundred Dornishmen in the war. Humfrey lies in a battered him for a few moments then, slowly, painfully, drags himself to his feet. Part of his breastplate in smashed and the depth of the crumpled dent is truly unsettling.
Ammon sidesteps—the blade meant for his shoulder glances off his upper arm, but doesn’t strike hard enough to disarm him. “Oh?” echoes from the depths of his helm.
And he surges forward, foregoing another attack with his sword for a swift headbutt to Jan’s helmed forehead.
Across the valley there is a roar, and a surge. The breach is widened, the Kingswood men begin to surge into the fort in a mass. Victory is imminent! Below, the Kingswood gates hold.
Ammon attacks Jan with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!
In the wild chaos of the melee, Ammon and Jan are carried apart from one another.
Lennos pushes through, and puts himself between Amrell and Eon, now that the Hunter is already occupied by the young Westerling. “We’re breached, ser!” he calls to Eon as he cleaves his blade toward Amrell.
Lennos attacks Amrell with his spear…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!
There—the Waxley knight regains himself anew. His shield thrust forward as he rises from his feet, but that sword is at the ready there in Cleyton’s other hand.
Eon’s sword lands, but Ryckon stays up, moving back at the last second to avoid much but not all of the blow. He turns to see the breach and grins under his helm. “And I think that time has told, Hunter.” His victory assured even if he falls, he swings wide at Eon’s sternum.
Ryckon attacks Eon with his mass weapon…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
Eon is knocked down!
Approaching his Brother of Battle, Ser Sarmion says to Humfrey, “Ser, I beseach thee to seek aid from my surgeons, shoudl you be injured. I mean you no great harm!”
Turning away to seek another foe, the Stormbreaker shouts to the Wessterling, “You fought well!”
Barion offers a salute with his longsword to Cleyton, “Well met!” But sees him regaining himself. This time, Barion removes his greatsword and then offers like a lord in a ballroom, “Shall we dance again, ser?”
Barion attacks Cleyton with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!
Turning back toward Albyn, Janden is surprised to find himself hit hard in the shoulder before he’s able to level his attack on the heir, and it leads to the Melcolm man growling behind the protection of his helmet as he shakes the shield arm and drives forward with a hard swing at Albyn’s legs again, which he’s already struck once.
Janden attacks Albyn with his sword…
...and sees his blow go astray!
In the wild chaos of the melee, Barion and Cleyton are carried apart from one another.
Jan looks up as the walls of the Cracklaw fort come tearing down. “KINGSWOOD!!” he shouts for motivation. Though he’s distracted, he manages to duck Ammon’s blow, stooping low. There, he sees Ammon’s exposed stomach, jabbing the butt of his sword in an attempt to knock the wind out of the man.
Jan attacks Ammon with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
Ammon is knocked down!
Humfrey Westerling pulls himself up from the ground and tears the helm from off his head. He looks about the field and sees his companions fallen, save Ser Lennos. Sweat pours down his face—a face that looks quite Ashen. He lifts his sword in a salute to Ser Sarmion. “The battle is, not yet, at an end, Ser.” He looks about and catches sight of his cousin, then charges the newly minted knight.
One of a number of men still on their wall rushes past Cleyton just as he swerves and steps back from Barion’s blow. It is not enough to disengage the men entirely, however, and the Waxley knight puts a foot forward, shield in place, to thrust at the Smallwood’s shield arm. There is weight, and aim, all in good order—but the Gods will see fit to ring the strike true.
Cleyton attacks Barion with his sword…
...and merely strikes a glancing blow!
Ryckon has begun to scramble down the battlements to the breach to command his men further, but on the way he is stopped by his disowned cousin. As Humfrey charges, Ryckon prepares his shield with one hand and swings out at his passing cousin’s side with the other.
Ryckon attacks Humfrey with his mass weapon…
...and merely strikes a glancing blow!
This time the Hand’s retainer is prepared and steps back to avoid recieving another savage hit on that leg.
” You hit well, ser. I assume ser Dorik teached you a thing or two?” Albyn says with a grin - of pain or not- on his lips.
Placing his shield in front of him, Albyn moves in for an overhand swing.
Albyn attacks Janden with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!
The hilt strikes Ammon square in the belly; the air rushes from him in force. The Blackhand doubles over, his sword dropping, falling to one knee. When he can manage to speak, “Fuck! I yield, Jan” is all he manages.
The rout is on across the valley; but the Crackclaw attackers are widening the breach below.
Weapons are sharp and dangerous things, and no fun to be hit by. It is a good thing, then, that Amrell manages to interpose his shield between him and the oncoming strike, but only just. It jars his arm and sends chips flying, and he only just manages to keep his grip on it. “How rude!” He grows, his words reverberating in the confines of his helm as he offers a strike of his own in return, his sword seeking for a gap in Lennos’ defense, aimed at his side in the red dance of war.
Amrell attacks Lennos with his ...
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
Barion tries to deflect the blow but it bounces off his greatsword and glances him. Cursing as another man-at-arms gets in his way, he shoves the man away from him and comes back at the Waxley with full force. He raises his greatsword and comes down to strike.
Barion attacks Cleyton with his sword…
...and has his blow intercepted by Cleyton’s shield.
Ryckon’s mace crashes against Humfrey’s cuirass, as the onetime heir swings at Ryckon’s side with his shield, he aims high in the hope of clipped the top or striking above the top and taking him in the upper cuirass or gorget. Despite his ashen aspect the attack is forceful and swift.
Humfrey attacks Ryckon with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
Ryckon is knocked down!
The blow of the Westerling knight is enough to bring Eon to his knees, as he slowly recovers his breath. His armor is fairly dented, though nothing too serious of an injury. Merik rushes over to watch over the Hunter knight, “I fear we may be doomed, the Stormbreaker is a force of nature unto himself,” Eon says between deep breaths.
“I broke his wrist when I was nine,” is all Janden answers with, though he’s too slow to defend against Albyn as the strike from above rings his head, causing him to shake it as he knocks his helmet back into place. Gathering himself, he charges back at Crane’s sword arm with a snap of a strike.
Janden attacks Albyn with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!
“Ooof.” Lennos bends as the armor along his side crunches, grimacing with pain. He takes a deep breath, then uses the bend to bring his shield up from beneath at Amrell’s jaw with a great heave.
Lennos attacks Amrell with his spear…
...and has his blow intercepted by Amrell’s shield.
There, the shield again. Cleyton has the werewithal to keep it aloft as Barion’s shove sends him back a step. It gives the Waxley knight leave to hammer the length of his sword down in hopes of making some manner of dent in the other knight’s shoulder piece. Such is his force that Cleyton growls from the effort, and might regret it sincerely if it goes astray.
Cleyton attacks Barion with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
Observing that Ser Humfey is safe and in the frey, the Stormbreaker laughs once more, “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
“There is fight left in you, Westerling!” Raising, his warhammer, the Baratheon knight declares, “Then taste Stormlands steel once more!”
Down falls the hammer upon Ser Humfrey’s back.
Sarmion attacks Humfrey with his mass weapon…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
The Smallwood squire winces as the sword bounces the Waxley shield. Barion shouts as his takes the Waxley’s sword blow. And it is in pain. No matter. He steadies himself on his feet and he comes back in for another try, the silver acorn - the sigil of his once grand house - gleaming on the pommel.
Barion attacks Cleyton with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!
Jan straightens and raises his helm. “Well fought, Ammon. I saw you and your men in the yard. If I may…you and your men seem a little overworked,” he grins before lowering his helm and surveying his defenses. Not far, he sees his cousin, engaged with Ser Barion, just as Cleyton intercepts the man’s attack and strike him, hard. “Yes, coz! I’m coming!” Jan shouts, rushing forward and jabbing a sword in Ser Barion’s stomach.
Jan attacks Barion with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!
And indeed, he does. The spikes on his left pauldron are shattered in the manner that Sarmion sundered the spikes on his right/ Humfrey grunts and falls to one knee, then falls to the side and pulls himself up to his feet. He lunges at the Stormbreaker and swings low just above his cuirass. “I took a beating from Ser Duren, every day, my Lord of Baratheon!”
Humfrey attacks Sarmion with his sword…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!
The sting of Janden’s hit runs through his arm and forces a growl out of the Crane’s mouth. ” Kind fellow you are indeed.” he scoffs. Changing tactics he places a few faints to allow him to move close…. swinging his armored ellbow back towards Janden’s face as he makes a passing leap.
Albyn attacks Janden with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
Janden is knocked down!
Amrell is utterly mystified that he manages to strike a sound blow, a small cheer ripping unbidden from his lips, morphing into a growl as he blocks Lennos’ attempted shield strike with his own. He chops down again, aiming this time for the other warrior’s head, his sword becoming a dancing arc of steel, a live thing in his hand.
Amrell attacks Lennos with his ...
...and strikes him with a swift blow!
Lennos is knocked down!
“He had it coming,” is the most of what Janden can respond with before he attempts his defense, only to be lured in by the feint to the point the Crane’s elbow hits hard along the side of his helmet, leading to it getting knocked off as he staggers over bits of wood, falling from the platform they’re on. Fortunately he lands on soft ground, though the wind is knocked out of him.
Cleyton manages to glance at Jan for the briefest of moments before he steps in again. It’s a thrust instead of a swing, this time, and with his cousin there the man puts more effort into the attack than he does in keeping his shield in place. A forceful blow, then, if it connects with the Smallwoods shoulder again.
Cleyton attacks Barion with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!
Barion is knocked down!
A grunt echoes from behind the Stormbreaker’s antlered helm but is followed quickly by a bark of laughter, “So, the West is not full of women as I have guessed!”
Then, raising to his full hie heigh, a mountain of gilded steel crested by a vicious warhammer, the Baratheon knight shouts, “Here is my answer to your love tap!”
Sarmion attacks Humfrey with his mass weapon…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!
Humfrey is knocked down!
Barion looks aside as he sees Jan rushing forward. “What the hell is this?” he asks himself and then turns back to Cleyton. The last Crackclaw in the fort, Barion stands like an oak until he is finally brought down by Cleyton. Knocked to his back, Barion grunts. “Well fought, ser. Bought let it be known that when acorns are brought down….they grow back.” Barion grins in pain, his sighs a mist on the wind.
Jan lets out a whoop and claps his cousin on the back. “Well done, coz! KINGSWOOD!” he shouts, looking across the valley as Ser Sarmion wreacks havoc. He grins and looks back to Cleyton, raising his helm. “We were lucky to draw the Stormbreaker, but I’ll take it. I told you we had every reason to be confident,” he says with a wink, before making his way down the tower and across to the Cracklaw fort.
“There’s more than gold in my Lord father’s hills, Ser.” Humfrey lifts his tourney blade up in a guard but Sarmion’s vicious swing connects with the blade and snaps the end of it off. The blow connects with his left shoulder and in the strike’s nadir it shears one of the rondels from off his shoulder. Humfrey grits his teeth and struggles to come to his feet and lift his shield for a few seconds before collapsing once more to the ground. He props his torso up with the shattered blade. “I . . . I yield, Ser. The Day is yours.”
There is a clunk, and a crunch, and Lennos is himself toppled from the wall of the Crackclaw fort with a low groan of pain mixed with displeasure. “Well fought…” he manages, as he sits up and leans against the remainder of the fortifications. “We’ll have to draw the Stormbreaker next time, that’s only fair….” he mutters to another of the downed Crackclaw men.
There’s a flash of anger in Albyn’s eyes - perhaps the pain has dulled his senses… - as the Melcolm speaks so slighting about his goodbrother. ” Get up, ser. You will have to back those words if spoken in my presence…”
A laugh echoes from the antlered helm as the Stormbrekar stretches forth his gauntletted hand to pull Ser Humfrey to his feet.
“Come, tell me, Brother, did I badly injure you? My Lady Wife does chastise me so for how roughly I do visit my friends.”
Laughing at his own jest he pauses to then ask, “Need you care, Ser Humfrey?”
It takes a few moments for Janden to make it back to his feet, the appearance of a dent in his helmet from the contact before. For a moment he looks at Albyn with a confused expression, what can be seen of it. “You take issue with my opinion of my own half-brother? Be gone with you, Crane. I’ll say what I will about him. Dorik and I have no great care for each other.” All the same, he grips his tourney blade like he’s ready to use it if need be.
Knocked down by his disowned cousin, Ryckon has dragged himself down the battlements to a spot where he can get the best view of the breach and the battle he should be commanding without standing up. “Danner!” He calls one of his men over. “Have we won? Look, there—alright, good enough.” Still sitting on the ground, he shouts in as loud and commanding a voice as he can muster, “VICTORY!” H elowers his voice to tell Danner, “Help me up, damnit,” and then, supported by the other man, he shouts again, “KINGSWOOD!”
* BAAAAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*
A third call of the horn to end it, and what an end it is: for the Kingswood Company, a resounding victory! The makeshift fortifications of the Crackclaw men lie in ruins while theirs stand strong; the attacking Crackclaw men have been repulsed from their fort, and their standard now flies over both hills.
For Crackclaw, defeat and disappointment. Heads hang low, shoulders are slumped. Such a one-sided result was never in anyone’s thoughts—but that’s war, isn’t it?
And now for the cleanup, the deconstruction ( of the Kingswood fort, at least ), and the long trek back to King’s Landing. In triumph for one, defeat for the other.
Humfrey Lowers his sword and takes the Stormland knights gauntlet he comes, unsteadily to his feet then looks to the founder of his order. “Ah, how is Lady Lyrissa?” Humfrey is on his feet for a matter of seconds before he begins doubles over. When he looks back up to Ser Sarmion, there is blood dribbling out from one corner of his lips. He dabs at it with his gauntlet. “I fear I bit my tongue, Ser.” Then, he crumples, falling upon both knees. His eyes have a dull look to them.
” I defend my kin… against any harm. Word or violence.” The Crane states.
The Stormbreaker grimly looks down upon Ser Humfrey’s crippled form.
Turning his antlered helm towards his own pavilions, the Baratheon knight shouts, “BRING MY MAESTERS!”
Men in Baratheon Black and Gold scatter at his order and soon men in grey robes circle the prostrate form of Ser Humfrey Westerling.
Janden glares at the Crane heir, even as the aftermath of the routing of the Crackclaw side takes shape. “You’ll hear worse than that from me if you listen for it, and he’s like to say similar. We’re brothers who dislike each other and I care not that your sister is wed to him.” Sword and shield remain up, however. “Attack me if you take issue with it,” Janden then challenges, “First to fall agrees to yield, else be done with it and go back to the keep.”
“Now! Now!” The squire rises to his feet, helped up by a man-at-arms from the other side. He gives the man a slap on the back in congratulations. “Gods that was good.” He goes over to Janden and Albyn, “What be the meaning of this, sers? Come now,” The Smallwood removes a flask from his belt, “Let us drink, eh? Like brothers!”
Grinning from ear to ear, Jan motions for a squire to bring him a skin of wine - from a sack, loaded with more wineskins. “Men of the Kingswood! Drink! I figured we would win, so I prepared accordingly.” Taking a couple of the skins, he, too, tries to help Ryckon to his feet. “Co-captain. Well done. You did a good job of staying out of the Stormbreaker’s way,” he says with a wink. He looks over at the fallen Humfrey, and grimaces. “Is your cousin alright, ser?”
” Step back, squire.” Albyn says and his voice tells the Smallwood not to think otherwise.
There’s a nod in acknowledge to Janden’s rules and swiftly the Crane leaps forwards, lashing out for the Melcolm’s upperleg.
Albyn attacks Janden with his sword…
...and has his blow intercepted by Janden’s shield.
Merik helps Eon back to his feet. The Hunter knight removes his helm and scans the ruined fort. Seeing Humfrey down, Eon hurries over as Sarmion’s call for maesters reaches his ears. Grabbing a couple of Crackclaw men, the few of them are able to pull one of the wagons bck into its normal state, suitable for travel, “Get him on this, he is in no shape to walk.”
Ryckon blinks, surprised to see Jan at the Crackclaw fort so soon, and with his help he finally regains his footing. “Thanks. Right. Thank the gods he was on our side. You did a good job too, judging from the state of our walls versus theirs.” He follows Jan’s gaze to his cousin and shrugs dispassionately. “I would assume he is not, if maesters are carrying him away.”
Now this is not quite the same as an exercise in the field. Janden stares Albyn down and begins to circle away from Barion when the Crane heir tells him to move back. “Let him come. He’s got a stick up his ass over defending the good name of my half-brother. Foolish, you ask me.” Then comes the sharp attack, but his shield is in the right place to dispel it with little trouble. In response the Valeknight drives an elbow toward Albyn’s helmet. There’s no mistaking the purpose, as it’s the same thing that helped Albyn knock him down before.
Janden attacks Albyn with his sword…
...and has his blow intercepted by Albyn’s shield.
Humfrey Westerling spits a mouthful of blood upon the torn earth the battlefield. “Stranger’s Cock. . .” The broken sword falls numbly from his hands as the Maester makes to examine his smashed breastplate. Despite the unsettling look of his cuirass he remains him good humor. He spares a bloody toothed smile to the Stormbreaker “I think I shall have need of a smith.” He chuckles but the laugh end in a cringe and another moutful of blood.
Humfrey lifts a hand, weakly, to his cousin’s Ser Jan and young Ser Ryckon. “Well . . . well fought, Sers.” Then, the clash of arms draws his gaze, though his head wobbles as he turns. “Oh, Seven Hells.”
The Maester and Stormland men make to unbuckle his cuirass and Humfrey looks to the Stormbreaker. “Ser, ah, if I might ah . . . I do hope they don’t kill each other.”
He looks to Ser Eon and lifts a hand, limply, in a weak salute. “Ah, Ser Eon, my thanks, Ser. You fought well I . . .” As soon as they have him upon the wagon, the onetime heir passes out.
Squire. The word hangs in the air sourly with Barion. He just shrugs and takes a swig of his wine, letting the two fight it out. He helps a man-at-arms up from the other team and hands him his flask to sip out of, before taking some more again.
Luthor gets to his feet and slides his sword back in its scabbard. Dazed from his wounds he limps towards where Janden and Albyn square off. “What’s going on?” he asks his squire.
Pulling his antlered helm from his head and handing it to his squire, Ser Sarmion looks down upon the vanquished Westerling with nothing but sweat stinging his eyes.
Shaking his head, the Stormbreaker orders his Maesters, “Take him to the waynes, make his comfortable, and make sure he can still fight.”
Turning his back upon the scene, the Baratheon takes a stride before turning back to the Maesters and declaring, “If be not fit to fight ere long, you will answer to me!”
Barion hands Luthor his flask to dull his wounds, “The day is lost. I was the last attacker standing, though your foe, Ser Cleyton, took me down.” He waves his head over to Janden and Albyn, “They’re feuding about some petty shite,” Barion says, spitting a mixture of wine and blood.
Luthor takes the flask and raises it to his squire. “To the last man standing then,” he says and drinks deep. “Next time we’ll do better.” He drinks once more than passes it back to his squire. “Janden doesn’t usually fight for petty things,” he says. “Anyhow, this is their fight, we’ll stay out of it unless it turns deadly.”
But a fox knows to how to react on his own tricks and Albyn quickly moves his shield up to protect his face. The raised arm of his opponent however, offers a large opening in his defence. And it’s there the Crane stabs.
Albyn attacks Janden with his sword…
...and sees his blow go wild!
A large opening that closes quickly. In fact, it disappears even as Janden fails to land a strike with the elbow, recovering to slip to one side of Crane’s tourney blade as he brings the arm back down. Gathering his feet, he swings down with an overhand slice at the shoulder of the Red Lake heir, shield side. “Delanei may be Dorik’s wife, but my brother can fight his own battles with me without your interference. You wanted this.”
Janden attacks Albyn with his sword…
...and sees his blow go wild!
The speedy footwork of the Crane saves himself again from another blow but he does leap forwards again to stay in range. Giving the Melcolm room has only brought pain. But close battle is dirty and requires dirty moves. Which this time comes from a savage headbutt.
Albyn attacks Janden with his sword…
...and has his blow intercepted by Janden’s shield.
A headbutt which comes into contact with the shield Janden’s still got in place. “I’ve heard of people bashing their heads against the wall in frustration, but never has someone tried to do it to my shield,” he says in a mockingly sarcastic tone, taking the initiative by seeking to drive the shield harder into Albyn’s helm while he has the chance.
Janden attacks Albyn with his sword…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!
Albyn is knocked down!
Barion shakes his head at the fighting, holstering his flask at his belt. “I suppose I should go help the Kingswood men dismantle that fort,” he says rather plainly, watching Albyn knocked to the ground. “Reckon that’s done.”
Luthor nods. “Seems like it. See to the fort, I will see you back in the city,” the bastard knight claps Barion on the shoulder and gives Janden an approving nod before he turns to limp his way down to where the horses wait.
One shield crashing into his head is something. A second smash proves to be too much. Forced on a knee due the shades in front of his eyes, Albyn lays his sword down on the ground, making his yield plain. ” Your luck, Melcolm.” he compliments with a raw voice but the message has been made and the Crane’s honor saved.
“My skill, Crane,” Janden corrects, though he puts the tourney blade away and replaces it with a hand offered to bring Albyn back up to his feet. Accepted or not, he’ll turn to finish with the aftermath of the day and plan on his return to King’s Landing, meeting eyes with Luthor and Barion briefly as he returns the nod.
The hand’s taken - perhaps against all thoughts from others- and in a single move, the Crane raises. Shaking his head. ” Damn you Melcolm. That’ll be bed for a week.” Albyn mumbles but there’s a respectful nod to the man before he’s tended by his squire and returns with the rest of the men to the keep.