Wickenden -House Hardyng

[Hengest]

High Lordship

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Wickenden Small Levy - 1,500
- Ninestars Very Small Levy - 500
- Crabshore Very Small Levy - 500

Small: 1,500
300 Falconguard (Elite Polearm Equivalent)
300 Light Inf
200 Heavy Inf
100 Archers
200 Crossbowmen
300 Light Cavalry
100 Knights of the Vale

Very Small: 500
50 Falconguard (Elite Polearm Equivalent)
100 Light Inf
50 Heavy Inf
50 Archers
100 Crossbowmen
100 Light Cavalry
50 Knights of the Vale

Buildings:

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208AL
Market Square +10% province income
Merchant's Square: +10% province income
Trade Hub: 3rd trade lane

Dockyard +10% income, +10% naval Levy
Large Dockyard: +10% naval Levy, 5% cheaper naval mercs, +5% income

Keep Expansions: +25% castle garrison size permitted

Trade:

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Base province income: 60,000
35% building bonus

Stone 10% building cost reduction
1. Castamere. Gold. 10% province bonus
2. The Arbor. Fruits. Increases levy infantry size by 5%, +1 to Stability annually (no double bonus)
3. Stonedance. Perfumes. +2 Stability annually (no double bonus)

Military:

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Standing force
300 Household Knights
2100 Falcon Guard
900 Siege Crossbowmen
2400 archers
300 Knights of the Vale

Home Levy
NAVY +20% (Dockyard)
10 Levy Ships
5 Dromonds
5 Heavy Galleys

ARMY
300 Falconguard (Elite Polearm Equivalent)
300 Light Inf
200 Heavy Inf
100 Archers
200 Crossbowmen
300 Light Cavalry
100 Knights of the Vale

[Hengest]

HOUSE HARDYNG

HARDER THAN STONE


Ser Humphrey Hardyng
Champion of the Tourney of the Hand 198AL
Knight of Wickenden

From a relatively small but Noble House loyal to House Waynwood, Ser Humphrey is a dedicated knight and considered one the Vale's best. Although a knight in the light of the Seven, like many of the ancient Houses, the Hardyngs still follow the Old Gods as do House Royce of Runestone. The Hardyngs hold no specific province, meagre and modest as they are but do run several estates in the vicinity of the Bloody Gate. Ser Humphrey was born and raised in the shadow of the Gate and has learnt the best that military training has to offer, skilled in hunting Mountain Clans as well as defending the Vale settlements from raids, he has also great experience in running and maintaining the massive defences of the Gate. In the absence of the former Knight of the Gate, Lady Stark, Ser Humphrey made for an excellent steward and marshall.

Despite his obscure origins, competing at the Royal Tournie alongside Lady Sirsha and winning the tournament earned her affections and in 200AL she became pregnant, gave birth to a son and then returned to military service. Warranted by the king, during the pursuit of the raiders known as the 'ghosts' she trespassed into the Westerlands and was taken prisoner by a massively outnumbering force. Despite being supported by the king in the hearing that followed, in the trial by combat at King's Landing she was slain. Humphrey lost his position as Sergeant at the Bloody Gate but with the responsibilities of a father hewas driven by ambition to secure a future for the boy. With the renown of Champion, inheriting Sirsha's men and moneys he was able to secure a marriage of convenience to the widow of the late Ser Waxley, and thereby rose to the Lordship of Wickenden.

Age: 45 (born 173AL)
Traits: 16pts
3 joust (Best knight in all the Vale)
3 duel (Best knight in all the Vale)
+1 duel (Tourney of the Hand)
3 field (former Sergeant-at-Arms of the Bloody Gate)
3 siege (former Sergeant-at-Arms of the Bloody Gate)
4 survival (battle-hardened; invasion of the Summer Isles)

Equipment:
Level 3 Longsword (Sirsha's): +7
Full armour: +10hp in duels and +2 Duels.

Auxillary Characters:

Eddean, male b.200
Son of Humphrey and Lady Sirsha Stark (deceased)

Godeva Waxley, widowed lady of Wickenden. Wife of Humphrey. Aged 43. (175pts)

Swordmaster Luwen Flint. This aged veteran of the North, was the personal guard and mentor of the late Lady Sirsha, daughter of Lord Stark. With her passing, and the birth of her son, Eddean, Luwen continues to serve her bloodline with devotion and expert military skills.
Deceased

[Jokern]

A raven arrives from the West.

Greetings, Ser Hardyng.

I have been recommended by Lord Stark of Winterfell himself to seek trade with your noble House. My House is wealthy from the gold mines we own, and we would like to offer it to you in exchange for the fine stone of the Vale.

Signed,
Lord Wallace Reyne of Castamere

[Oznerol]

A raven arrives, with a scythe on the seal, made of black wax.

Ser Hardying:

I still have to finish the fortifications of Ten Towers, and my island it is not enough to satisfy my needs at this moment. It would be a pleasure for me to trade with you, my Ser Hardying, I will send my iron in exchange of the Vale's excelent stone. If you could also send some builders expert in fortifications and castles from the Vale and the Greenlands I will be most grateful to your lordship.

What is dead may never die.

Lord Theodomore Harlaw, Lord of Ten Towers, the Builder.

[Adamat]

Ser Eon Arryn arrives at Wickenden with no more than five retainers.

[Hengest]

Ser Eon Arryn arrives at Wickenden with no more than five retainers.

Ser Humphrey and the ageing Swordmaster Luwen meet them on the steps of the town-house. Hardyng hails them; "House Arryn puts me in a hard place."

[Oznerol]

A raven arrives, with the three-headed dragon:

My Lord Hardying, remember how I trusted Sirsha, how I tried to protect her, and how we mourned her most unfortunate death. Remember my royal gratitude. While you cannot rebel against Lord Arryn, I advice you to pretend loyalty. In the right moment, you may turn to us. If you stay loyal to the Crown, you and your son will be greatly rewarded, I swear he will be a Great Lord, of my son's retinue, and Small Council...

[Narf]

OOC: Sorry to be cutting you short with a letter, I have to spend my energy RPing leading a Army Right now.

[Adamat]

"I am afraid we do," Eon said. "But yet, we believe in Hardyng's loyalty to us, and we hope that you will return the trust we have given you over the years. Besides," he said carefully, "Perhaps this is your chance to get your revenge against the woman who killed your love, and the King who let it happen." He respectfully bowed his head after speaking the words.

[Hengest]

Ser Humphrey sighed. He looked around the town at the twitching curtains and wide fearful eyes of the Smallfolk that scurried from the streets. "You'd better come inside."

[Adamat]

"We'll do that then," Eon said, dismounting.

[Hengest]

In the town hall, the servants placed bread, salt, fish, wine, ale, water, milk... all the basics on the table. "Hard ride from the Eyrie?" Asked Master Flint with his single stony eye.

[Adamat]

"Not too bad," he replied to the Northern man. He had seen him a few times before when Lady Sirsha was still alive, but this was the first time he spoke to the Master. A strange man he was, Eon thought. "With the winter winds gone and the spring sun hovering above your head, the trip is doable." He ate a chunk of bread, and washed it down with wine.

[Hengest]

"So, if Wickenden was under attack, your forces would be able to reach us in time... doable?"
Said Flint, sitting himself opposite Eon and pouring himself out some black ale.

Humphrey stood by the lead latticed windows that looked out across the harbour, his arms were folded in silent thought.

[Adamat]

"Easily," Eon said. "We have thousands of men spread across the Vale at multiple points. If that were the case, help would come."

[Hengest]

"To be honest, Ser Arryn, that is the only way you can hope to survive an invasion from all of Westeros." Flint said with a mouthful of bread.

"Aye," Humphrey turned "I served at the Gate for many a year as you know. You can't put all your faith in that breach." He shook his head, hands on hips, as Sirsha used to do. He smiled at himself. "Call me biased but Wickenden is an important front in your coming war. I hope you have thought of that."

"I am sure he's looked at a map, Humphrey." Added Flint sarcastically.

[Adamat]

Eon smirked. "I guess you'll agree to raising your levies then and meeting us at the Eyrie," he said.

[Hengest]

Flint scowled, Humphrey raised his voice "Isn't that in the other direction?! With respect, we need to be placing our troops at the Bloody Gate and here. They are the only two ways into the Vale, and the Gate has considerably more military capability than we do."

[Adamat]

"As I said," Eon replied, "We have fast response forces. Unless Baelor's forces can teleport, we'll be able to reach every place in the Vale within days."

[Hengest]

"Well forgive me for questioning orders, but since Lord Arryn has deemed it worthwhile to drag us into this frankly unwinnable war I would like to have my House involved in matters of strategy. Are you going to pool the troops once assembled at the Eyrie, and then send out the garrisons accordingly? What are your plans for Wickenden?"

Flint apologised for Humphrey's temper. "Our main concern is for the safety of his son."

Humphrey added honestly; "I should tell you that the king has offered him his protection."