Re: [AAR] A Song of Quills and Swords (KoRaH)
The Kingdom of Storm and Shore (and Sand... and Rivers and Fields...)
Chapter 6 - Turn 12
Turn 12:
The Reach:
With Gardener forces in full flight from the Eastern and Southern parts of the Reach, Kingdom forces seize the castles of Ashford and Cider Hall in short but brutal assaults.
The arrival of the Young Storm - Prince Gulian - commanding Legion II, and Lord Stokeworth in command of the IIIth legion meant that Kingdom forces has complete local superiority over their Gardener foes.
Completely outnumbered, the Gardener and Rowan forces left as rearguard units could put up only token resistance before being overwhelmed.
Following these victories, to consolidate their victories, Kingdom forces commenced the construction of a series of fortifications along the border with Gardener territory.
With Gardener forces on the run, Lord Stokeworth was recalled to the Shorelands to take command a newly raised Legion XII (Stokeworth). His son Renly, only aged 15, had already proved himself as being of sound strategic mind and as such had already been assigned to the command position of the XIth provincial Legion (Duskendale). As such, command of the IVth legion passed to Ser Buckley, a capable but otherwise non-descript Knight.
The victories in the Reach and the arrival of two more Legions meant that Kingdom forces now consisted of 6 Legions. Kingdom scholars of the age estimated that House Gardener, who already had been struggling to maintain her armies prior to Kingdom intervention, would now be forced to tear their own Kingdom apart to fund their war machine. Gardener strength in the Reach was estimated as being somewhere in the region of three Legions worth, yet so far the men of the Reach had proven no match for the Stormland military.
The Council of Ashford:
In what would be known as the Council of Ashford, the principle commanders of the Stormland forces held a war council in the great hall of Ashford Keep.
Notably absent were Lord Stokeworth, recalled by royal decree to the Shorelands, and Lord Wylde, whose legions were already commencing naval operations alongside the Third and Fourth Fleets against Dorne.
In attendance were the following:
* Prince Gulian Durranian, the Young Storm - OC, Legion II - 5,000 Men)
* Lord Richard Fell - (OC - Legion III - 5,000 Men)
* Ser Buckley - (2IC - Legion IV - 5,000 Men) -
* Lord Trant - (OC - Legion V - 5,000 Men)
* Lord Dondarion (OC - Legion VI - 5,000 Men)
* Lord Selwyn Swann (OC - Legion VII - 5,000 Men)
The council was to decide the future strategy of the Kingdom's war against Gardener.
As is customary, the commanders were seated at a round table.
Prince Gulian represented the Stormking. During his father's campaign in the Riverlands, Gulian had not been afforded many opportunities to prove himself as a serious military commander. Instead, he had ridden apart from the rest of his legion, on special missons from his father. As such, others had claimed some of the glory that Gulian felt should have been his own. As such,Gulian was seekingto proove himself.
Lord Fell, commanding the Third Legion, had seen action during the initial invasion of the reach, riding ahead through the mountains with the advance forces to invest Tumbleton.
Ser Buckley, freshly appointed to command the IV legion, had served for many years in the Kingdom military. He was a sound commander, but in the company of the Prince and his Lords, Ser Buckley kept his tongue.
Lord Trant, freshly raised to Lordship, was considered a rising star in the Kingdom military. Having subdued the King of the Waters in the name of the Kingdom, and having led the main body of Kingdom forces in the invasion of the Reach, Lord Trant had attracted considerable acclaim for his skills as a military leader. This made him particularly unpopular with Prince Gulian, who considered his appointment as a slight.
Lord Dondarrion, having commanded the Kingdom forces in the Dornish marches for many years now, was the other major commander at the council. Under his leadership, 5 new legions had been raised over the course of the last year, and prior to Trant and Gulian's arirval he had been considered the supreme commander of the Southern Legions. Prince Gulian's journal shows that if anything , the Prince admired Dondarrion - but in the same breathe he also admitted feared the Lighting Lord's influence over the Southern Stormlords. Ever since Alesander's reforms, it had been an unspoken rule that one man should not control multiple Legions.
Lord Swann, who was ostensibly the commander of VII Legion, had served with Lord Dondarrion for many years in the marcher campaigns. While a capable commander, his recent health deteriorations meant that he deferred to Lord Dondarrion on the campaign, and their Legions were currently encamped together under Dondarrion's overall command.
Three strategies were suggested:
Gulian, swayed by his passage through Lannister lands, and having first heard of the Ironborn's betrayal of the Lion, advocated a march in force West to aid House Lannister against a potential counter attack by Martyn gardener against the lands seized by Lord Reyne, whose Host had been smashed by the Gardener Prince. Gulian was alone in support of this move, with Lord Stokeworth - the other advocate of such a plan - absent. Ser Buckley tacitly agreed with such a plan, yet failed to voice his opinion as such, intimidated by the status ofthe Lords around him.
The Second Strategy, advocated by Lord Trant, was a swift forced march through the open plains of the Reach towards Highgarden. With 6 Legions marching in close formation, supported by a strike from the North by the Lannister's, Trant believed that even with a potential third Gardener army waiting for them, the Green Hand could not hope to achieve victory against so many Legions. Highgarden was, after all, a mere fortnight's march away, and Cider Hall was the last bastion of resistance in the Eastern Reach.
Lord Dondarrion, perhaps swayed by the Tyrell forces encamped in the boneway, advocated a lighting march South to Dorne to draw Gardener forces away from the last bastions of House Martell resistance in Dorne.
Lord Fell sought a compromise between the three strategies, a solution which suited none of the commanders.
The talks soon broke down, with Dondarrion and Trant, the senior commanders, being completely opposed on which course of action to take. Both, however, rejected the inexperienced Gulian's plan on the grounds that this would place Kingdom forces on the wrong side of the river, and would force an assault across a defended riverbank against Martyn Gardener's force, who had already proved themselves against the battle with Lord Reyne.
Finally, the commander's retired, weary from a night of disagreement. At sunrise, Gulian, accompanied by Lord Fell and the officers of Legions II and III rode back to rejoin their respective legions.
With the Young Storm gone, Dondarrion and Trant met and continued their discussion. Dondarrion having been swayed by Fell to avoid a march to Dorne. The Prince's Pass would prove a frustrating speed bump to Kingdom forces, whereas Highgarden, a mere fotnight's march away, was a better prize for the Kingdom.
While the legions were brought backup to campaign strength, forward elements of each legion were sent forth to construct a barrier of fortification to neuter any attempt by Gardener to counterattack until a deal was reached.
Dorne
With Sunspear blockaded by the 5th Battle Fleet, the Sea of Dorne was now clear for the main elements of the Stormland Fleet to begin amphibious landings along the Northern Shore of Dorne.
Under the command of Lord Wylde, a dashing young commander with much to prove, four fleets sailed from the Stormlands, carrying forward Legions VIII and IX. Joined by specialist marines from the 4th Battle Fleet, the two legions anchored off Ghaston Grey to anticipate Gardener's next move. Elements of the Second Fleet returned to the Stormlands to carry reinforcements from Storm's End - the newly activated Xth legion, to the battlefield
Meanwhile, Gardener, having recovered from the surprise Kingdom intervention, had began to construct defences in the Boneway. A force led by Lord Tyrell had encamped itself North of Yronwood. With the prospect of a Tyrell strike against the marcher regions, new forces were raised to defend the pass independent of Lord Wylde's forces.
The Riverlands & The Shorelands:
With the Southern campaign progressing well, Legion I settled in to Garrison duty to renew their numbers after their long campaign in the Riverlands. New men were recruited and the order of battle was reorganised to bring the Legion back up to Campaign Strength.
After a short meeting with the newly raised young Lord of Darry Keep, Renly Stokeworth was raised to the Rank of Lord Paramount of the Shorelands and ordered to continue the process of assembling Legions XI and XII, using funds from the recent victories in the Reach.
The Kingdom now sought to strengthen her interior, and orders were relayed across the Kingdom for all provinces to raise new men for defence purposes.
A digression - On the Military Culture of the Kingdom of Storm and Shore:
The Kingdom of the Stormlands was a proud and ancient Kingdom, forged through constant war over the scarce areas of fertile land. the Pretty Stormkings of old were divided, and lurked in their mountain fastnesses, waging petty war against their neighbours.
The coming of the andals changed this. With the Darklyn kingsof the Shore sending missionaries south, the Stormlords soon began to convert.
Armed with their newfaith, the Stormlords united behind their own King, and waged war against the ancient Kingdom of Grandview.
The founding ofHosue Durranion is a tale known by many, and with the construction of Storm's End, Durranion began to assert themselves over their rival Kingdoms.
Alesander implemented many reforms, and created a warmachine that would advance north, and subjugate the petty Kingdoms which had formed in the SHorelands. Unable to stand against Alesdande, the Darklyn Kings knelt.
The last bastion of resistance onthe mainland was the Crab King, who was roasted alive in his towerhosue when he refused to face the Stormking in battle.
The Kingdom Military is uneiq, in that there is a constant supply of fresh, trained men ready for servie. In times of peace, a force of approximatly two thousand men is always ready for deployment. When called upon, these men form the Provincial Forces of the Kingdom. As such, the Kingdom differs to other Kingdoms, who rely mostly upon hastily raised Militias and levied Peasantry.
From the age of 11, Boys in the Kingdom begin their military education. At this age they are taught basic military drill, proper marching order, and how to build temporary fortifications.
Aged 14, combat training begins. Each boy is taught first to form ranks. Heavy wooden weapons and shields, twice the weight of their real counterparts, are used to build up each boy's strength and endurance.
Boys who are too sickly for such duties are trained in the art of ranged warfare. Those who show little aptitude for this,are either relegated to Town Militia regiments, or are assigned non-combative duties.
Aged 16, these boys are returned to their families as men of the Stormlands. Those from noble families are often offered Lord Ships or command positions, whereas the common men return to their place of work. A standing force is kept in each province, usually between one and two thousand men. These unit are rotated every 6 months, so in their lifetimes most men of the Stormlands serve at least two stints in a provincial legion - more in times of war.
During times of war, the best soldiers of the provincial legions are formed into the battle legions of the Kingdom.
These legions are referred to as the First through Tenth legions, although these units are often split, merged, or divided based on operational requirements. A man might leave as part of the Tenth legion, and return as part of the Third Legion, despite fighting in the same battlefields as his Tenth Legion counterparts. As such, legionary designations are fluid, and are usually tied to the commander and the size of each force.
A Battle Strength Legion consists of roughly 10,000 men, and is considered the minimum force for battlefield action. Larger forces, up to 20,000 men, are considered campaign Legions. These legions move and fight as one body, but can be divided for garrison duty, or split into two battle legions in unusual circumstances, such as a multi-front assault by an enemy.
Cavalry are a rarity in the Kingdom, and Knighthood is uncommon. As such, the forces of the Kingdom are primarilly formed of Infantry. Spearmen make up the bulk of the legions, while specialist heavy infantry forces are employed as linebreakers.
The recent strength of the Kingdom means that she has in the past been willing to use attrition tactics, as the unique military system means that losses can be recovered swiftly.
After a campaign, Legionaries are granted land in conquered territory. As such, the Kingdom tends to occupy new lands, rather than withdraw home.
Current Kingdom Order of Battle (Turn 12)
* King Alesander Durranion - the Stormking (OC - Legion I - 10,000 Men) - The Riverlands
*
* Lord Orys Morrigen (Lord Commander of the Stormguard)
* Prince Gulian Durranian, the Young Storm - (OC, Legion II - 5,000 Men) - The Reach
* Lord Richard Fell - (OC - Legion III - 5,000 Men) - The Reach
* Ser Buckley - (2IC - Legion IV - 5,000 Men) - The Reach - The Reach
* Lord Trant - (OC - Legion V - 5,000 Men) - The Reach
* Lord Dondarion (OC - Legion VI - 5,000 Men) - The Reach
* Lord Selwyn Swann (OC - Legion VII - 5,000 Men) - The Reach
* Lord Gladden Wylde (OC - Supreme Commander - Southern Expeditionary Force - 15,000 Men)
*
* Second Fleet - Legion VI
* Third Fleet - Legion VII
* Fourth Battle Fleet (~150 Warships) - Currently engaged
*
* Marine Landing Troops (2,000 Men) - Currently seconded to Legion VI
* Fifth Fleet - Legion X (Awaiting deployment)
* Lord Renly Stokeworth (OC - Legion XI [Rook's Rest] 5,000 men) - The Shorelands
*
* Lord Darklyn Snr.
* Darklyn Jr.
* First and Sixth Battle Fleets - [200 Ships]
* Lord XXX Stokeworth (OC - Legion XII [Stokeworth] 5,000 men) - The Shorelands
*
* Lord Steffon Bukley (2ic)
* Lord Connington (OC - Legion XIII - [Storm's End] ~5,000 men] - TheStormlands
STATISTICS TBA
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Originally Posted by Badger-dude
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