The subduing of Tumbleton

[Axis Sunsoar]

A host of Stormlanders gathers outside Tumbleton under the "command" of Renly Baratheon, along with the Lord Jon Caron and his son Matthos. The men encircle the city and prepare to do battle, or besiege the defenders, whatever they choose.

Renly Baratheon:
Duels +2
Charisma +1

Jon:
Duels +2
Survival +2
Charisma +2
Logistics +3
Battles +3

Matthos:
+2 Joust
+2 Battles
+2 Logistics

The Stormlands host:
3237 H. Infantry
8892 L. Infantry
3680 Polearms
4155 archers
3137 L. cavalry
943 H. cavalry

Total: 24,143 men

[Axis Sunsoar]

Renly Baratheon stood clad in fine bright plate armor, and wore a golden tabard draped over his shoulders. The stag of house Baratheon stood rampant on the front of the tabard, and he wore it proudly. The helmet under his arm, coupled with the blue eyes, black hair, and broad shoulders, proclaimed him a true son of house Baratheon. However, to many he was still the young stag, and he knew he needed to prove himself to those who doubted him. As he contemplated the walls of the castle that faced him, a handful of the knights attached to his army arrived.

A small knight with a broad face approached him first, from his horse he looked down at the young lord, but Renly judged that dismounted he would stand half a foot over the man. "My Lord, I am Ser Garret. Do you plan to attack immediately, or shall we starve the defenders out?"

Renly frowned slightly, determined to make the right decision. "We should assault as quick as possible, so that we ca move faster to Robert's side, is my thinking, what say you Lord Caron?"

[Iron Aquilifer]

OOC: my apologies for the very late reply
Jon: +2 Duel, +2 Survival, +2 Charisma, +3 Logician, +3 Battle
Matthos: +2 Joust, +2 Battle, +2 Logician (named commander of the cavalry... at least that was the RP pre-text)

IC:
"You are right," Jon grudged the boy. "There is no time to wait them out. An assault may be costly, but it is the best option. We need to make sure that we have the ability to manoeuvre should Lord Tyrell come to face us."

"Archers to keep their heads down while our infantry rush the walls with ladders. It will be a messy business," added Matthos, not relishing the prospect of fighting without his beloved cavalry. "However it will be done, and hopefully we will move on to another target."

[Axis Sunsoar]

Renly nodded, his hand squeezing tightly around the pommel of the sword, which he repeatedly drew, baring the blade and then returning it to the sheath in a display of eagerness, or perhaps anxiety. He looked up at the walls once more, scanning for defenders. Then he turned to the men who stood with him, and spoke with as much authority and confidence as he could muster. "Have the men prepared, we will march within the hour. Jon, I want you to be in charge of organizing and leading the men at the ladders, Matthos take the cavalry and divide them as you see fit. I want enough patrolling to prevent any escape from the castle. The heavy cavalry should be grouped outside the gates, in case we need the power of their charge to break up the defenders."

[Iron Aquilifer]

OOC: Make the necessary changes to this (I hope this is the right format):

Battle Orders by the Carons

The archers will pepper the walls with continuous volleys until the ladders are deployed All the light infantry will rush the walls, with Jon overseeing and eventually joining them The Polearm infantry will rush the gates, led by the heavy infantry (with Renly?) 1000 Light Cavalry will operate as screens, checking for enemy advances, the rest will ride around the castle to watch for brake-outs. Matthos will personally command the Heavy cavalry, who will ride in to the keep once there is a breach. (with Renly?)

IC:
Jon nodded slowly at his commander's words. The boy knew how to make his wishes heard, the lord grudged him that. But a town is far different from an army of a similar size. A single strike is far different from a decade-long campaign. While there was little danger, Jon was happy to let the youth lord around.

"I shall prepare the men."

Matthos nodded, already seeing the massed cavalry in his mind's eye. "The outriders can easily keep this place surrounded, one eye on the town, the other on the forests. Our men-at-arms will not do great, but once we are inside, then the speed of our mounts will speed up their surrender."

[Axis Sunsoar]

Renly agreed with Jon's assessment and organization, "Excellent, I will join Matthos and the heavy cavalry in the charge to sweep away the last defenders."''For that is no doubt where the most glory is to be found.'

[Poach]

Please post the defending forces of Tumbleton.

[Axis Sunsoar]

Defending forces:
Heavy infantry: 55
Light infantry: 138
Polearms: 73
Archers: 83
Light Cavalry: 55
Heavy cavalry: 18

Total: 422 men

[Poach]

Town falls, troops alive:

3192 H Inf
8770 L Inf
3629 Polearms
4155 archers
3137 L. cavalry
943 H. cavalry

[Lord Dread]

Town falls, troops alive:

3912 H Inf
8770 L Inf
3629 Polearms
4155 archers
3137 L. cavalry
943 H. cavalry

OOC: Even though I would love this to actually happen to forces under my command, but:
Aren't there more H. infanterists alive at the end, than there existed before the battle?
Guess it's a typo, even though I love it.^^

[Poach]

Must've mixed the 1 and 9 up, my bad!

[Iron Aquilifer]

The dead stormlanders were gathered by the Marcher levies. They had led the charge and suffered the most causalities. It was an honour, Matthos told himself as he watched the piles being set out. His father watched over the reachmen dead, smiling to himself as they were left out to rot. He had bloodied his blade and that was all that mattered. The men had seen him at the fore, risking just as much as them. The soldiers were simple men, after simple pleasures. A lord who did the same as them was regarded highly.

After making sure that none of the dead foes would be treated with respect, Jon turned and marched off to see Renly, a list in his hands.

"A victory, swift and necessary. As soon as we have dealt with the matter of dividing the spoils I say we move on. Home or further north, I am happy to leave to your digression." For the moment, he added mentally with a clenching of his jaw.

OOC: House Caron claims 5k of the loot. (any less and then I will try and RP the army away from you )

[Axis Sunsoar]

OOC: what is the total loot?

[Xion]

ooc : According to the rules it's 20% of the keep's income.

Tumbleton's is 50,000..so 10,000.

[Axis Sunsoar]

OOC: many thanks Xion

Renly nods respectfully to Lord Caron, "That was a mighty feat my Lord, I daresay you would have routed the entire enemy host yourself, well fought, and fiercely too." 'Just the right amount of flattery, and perhaps he will be amiable to..."4,000 Dragons of the plunder will go to your family as a reward for your noble aid, the rest will be appropriated for the Baratheons to aid in the war effort, and for rebuilding after Robert becomes King."


OOC 2: before you try to RP the army away, you may wish to try RPing an increased sum.

[Iron Aquilifer]

OOC: don't even know if it would be worth it. By the time I had secured the loyalty of a few NPC lords to overthrow you the war would be over. Content to remain suspicious of you
Actually.... Might try and get the Swanns put back under my rule....

IC
Jon smiled strangely, as if he had been expecting such an answer.

"I will be blunt, Renly. This victory is mine. Mine and my men's. We rushed the enemy positions first. It is only our right that we claim a fair quantity as befits our sacrifice."

His face went hard.

"That, and I will have more need of this money than you. I have had reports that two reach hosts march on Nightsong. Storms End is nestled safely on the eastern shores. It is my lands which need rebuilding, once the traitors have had their way with my home. You may think that a thousand gold is nothing. But to a man with a burnt-out home, it is everything."

[Axis Sunsoar]

"4,000 dragons is still a mighty sum, my Lord Caron. Especially if it is coupled with a host. I know that my brother is marching on King's Landing right now, but I'm sure he would not choose to allow the ransacking of our own lands. I will wheel this army about and march on Nightsong with all due haste, and liberate the Stormlands from the invading Reach Lords!"

He looked at Jon with a questioning eye, "How does that sound, Lord Caron? 4,000 Dragons and a host to reclaim your home?"

[Iron Aquilifer]

"And after you... After I have crushed the reachmen, I will still need to rebuild. Whether it takes a month or a year, I will return to my seat in ruins. I commanded this army upon the walls of Tumbleton. Five thousand gold is less than what is due to me."

Matthos stepped to his father's side, frowning at his outburst.

"Matthos, go outside and rally our men."

The knight smiled at that. He had heard the reports. The King was unwilling to protect his own lands.

[Axis Sunsoar]

"So, you refuse the offer of soldiers? Does this mean you will be continuing to King's Landing with us, or do you intend to abandon the army?"

[Iron Aquilifer]

Leaving the youth, Jon stormed away to the army which was gathering outside the town gates. He smiled warmly to the men who had stormed the town with him.

"Loyal brothers! We have had victory!"

He waited out the cheering with a grin. And then suddenly, his face was contorted in anger.

"Yet the war is not over! Even now, the reach- and Dornish-men savage our lands! And what does our king do? Nothing! What does our Robert do when we have sacrificed ourselves for him? He revels in his own victory!"

The Lord spat at that, glancing over to see his son hurriedly gathering up the gold which was his. There would be only four thousand, but he did not truly care.

"Your gifts have been cast aside! To the south, our lands are being attacked. Our mothers and wives and daughters are being raped! Our sons and our brothers and our nephews are being slaughtered! Do you know what our Renly would have us do? He would have us go to Kings Landing! He would have us leave our people to the hands of DORNISHMEN!"

Jon paused a moment to compose himself. Many of the soldiers were angry, eagerly soaking up what he had to say. Others were less so keen at his words.

"I march south to save the families of the Stormlands! Crowns and glories do not tempt me! Are you with me?!"

OOC:
My levies are obviously going to follow me...
A roll to see how many of the others join?
Jon's charisma: +2
(Other possible factors)
Fought alongside the men (especially the light infantry)
Wants to go home to defend their lands
The most powerful 'actual' lord in the army.