Defence of the King's Road

[Pericles of Athens]

The Third Royal Army, parked along the King's Road, waits in ambush for any rebel forces making their way south-ward down the path. The Viper knows this is the most logical place for an army to strike at King's Landing from and hopes to either secure a bargaining chip with the rebels, for both himself and Elia, should the Silver Prince die or a gift for the King should the hopeful Stag meet his demise.

Forces

Third Royal Army of Oberyn 'the Viper': 25,000 troops
Oberyn (+1 Battle, +3 Duel, +2 Duel)
4,617 Heavy Infantry
7,780 Light Infantry
4,398 Polearm Infantry
3,867 Archers
3,945 Light Cavalry
713 Heavy Cavalry

[Poach]

[OOC: Who exactly are you ambushing here?]

[Velasco]

[OOC: Who exactly are you ambushing here?]

Commander: Lord Hoster Tully
Traits: + 2 Battles, + 2 Charisma, +2 Wealth, +1 Logistician, +3 Survival, +1 Jousting
7.000 Light Cavalry
2.939 Heavy Cavalry

Commander: Cadaver of the Lyre
Traits: +2 Battles, +2 Pillager, +2 Assassin, +1 Spymaster, +1 Counterspy, +1 Charisma
Troops: 4.000 Heavy Infantry, 9.600 Light Infantry, 5.000 Polearm Infantry, 5.000 Archers, 500 Light Cavalry

Hoster's Men: 6 road hexes. 7.2 Hours. ETA: 8 AM
Cadaver's Men follow behind: 6 road hexes: 10.8 Hours. ETA: 11:36 AM

My men have a 3 hour head-start.

[Poach]

Ok, so Velasco's men start moving at 0148 this morning, Pericles' at 0455 this morning. Pericles' men are in position 2.4 hours later at 0620 this morning, one road hex north of KL.

Covering 6 road hexes at 1.8 hours (1h 46m) each, you pass Hex 5 (where Pericles is) at 5x1.8/150% = 6 hours later, at 0748, meaning that a battle will occur between Hoster Tully and Oberyn.

You're an all-cav force, though, meaning you can roll to withdraw if you want. At worst you'd fight his cavalry after his archers got a volley at you. I don't see that a 25,000 strong army can actually conceal itself into an ambush, to be honest.

[Velasco]

Ok, so Velasco's men start moving at 0148 this morning, Pericles' at 0455 this morning. Pericles' men are in position 2.4 hours later at 0620 this morning, one road hex north of KL.

Covering 6 road hexes at 1.8 hours (1h 46m) each, you pass Hex 5 (where Pericles is) at 5x1.8/150% = 6 hours later, at 0748, meaning that a battle will occur between Hoster Tully and Oberyn.

You're an all-cav force, though, meaning you can roll to withdraw if you want. At worst you'd fight his cavalry after his archers got a volley at you. I don't see that a 25,000 strong army can actually conceal itself into an ambush, to be honest.

OOC: In an ambush situaton is it immediate battle or can we stop and talk first?

[Poach]

[OOC: I suppose a talk can be had. As I said I'm not convinced you can conceal twenty five thousand men close enough to a major roadway for an ambush.]

[Velasco]

As the banners of House Nymeros Martell and their companions came into sight Lord Hoster pulled the reins of his steed tightly, halting his own and the gallop of just under 10,000 others. For a few seconds (though it felt like something of an eternity) he watched as the colours and sigil of Nymeria's seed flew brazenly in the wind, blocking his path. Squinting his eyes, he mouthed to himself their words...Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken...almost as if to reassure himself of their meaning.

His mind raced as he turned about in his spot and conferred with his immediate commanders. Rhaegar was evidently gone - most likely to block the westward road along the Blackwater Rush. This would mean the Red Viper was in control; hence the predominance of the banners of Dorne's mightiest dynasty. The bulk of his own men trailed far behind - too far behind - meaning defeat was likely if he dared face the Viper head on. Still, he could not with honour turn back, and was himself too curious to speak with the Viper face to face to do so. He sensed an opportunity, though for what he could not tell...an opportunity to spare his own skin, if the dragons flew high and cut short the hopes of Barathon, or an opportunity to save the lives of thousands who would surely perish along the Dornish passes trying to claim that arid land in the Stag's name, if his cause prospered.

Hoping that the Viper would be as reasonable as he intended to be, Hoster seized a white flag and rode forth, ahead of his men, in direction of the enemy. Seven-willing he and the Viper would talk and come to some kind of understanding.

[Pericles of Athens]

The Viper galloped forward toward Lord Hoster, he flew no banners of his own as befits a mercenary though many banners of the Crownlands flew about them - surrounded by a small retinue of men he galloped ahead to meet his enemy. Who is it I may be speaking to? Could it be the Riverlord I was sent to watch for?

[Velasco]

The Viper galloped forward toward Lord Hoster, he flew no banners of his own as befits a mercenary though many banners of the Crownlands flew about them - surrounded by a small retinue of men he galloped ahead to meet his enemy. Who is it I may be speaking to? Could it be the Riverlord I was sent to watch for?

"I am Lord Hoster Tully, Lord Protector of Riverrun and heir of the Riverlands, father of the Ladies Stark and Arryn. Who are you, my Lord?"

[Pericles of Athens]

I've had many and more names over the course of my life, most call me the Viper now. Though the name my mother gave me at her breast was Oberyn - Oberyn of the Orphans if you like.

[Velasco]

I've had many and more names over the course of my life, most call me the Viper now. Though the name my mother gave me at her breast was Oberyn - Oberyn of the Orphans if you like.

"As I rode I had almost...a vision, of the banners of Nymeria's children...a good omen perhaps." Hoster smiled. "Whatever happens I would like to survive this war, me and all of my family. If it is not too bold of me to assume you share this same sentiment, I would like to propose a secret pact between us."

[Pericles of Athens]

I have no family left to me, my friend. He thought of Elia, she could have been his family - but that was a life time ago.

[Velasco]

I have no family left to me, my friend. He thought of Elia, she could have been his family - but that was a life time ago.

"But you have yourself, and your army, which will surely perish when my second army, which follows behind me, arrives. If we do battle, we will both surely die, as will those in King's Landing. I propose we agree to a truce and march on the capital together...if Rhaegar triumphs, I will deliver myself and my son into your hands, with all of my forces, and you can intercede on our behalf. If Robert triumphs, we deliver the capital into his hands and I shall intercede on your behalf."

[Pericles of Athens]

We are at an impass it seems, as a mercenary I have fewer rights than you lords, if I let you march on King's Landing without a fight it will be my head. So I have a counter proposal Hoster of Tully, we duel here and now before the eye's of gods and men. Whoever wins we will both be able to speak to the character of our counter part.

[Velasco]

We are at an impass it seems, as a mercenary I have fewer rights than you lords, if I let you march on King's Landing without a fight it will be my head. So I have a counter proposal Hoster of Tully, we duel here and now before the eye's of gods and men. Whoever wins we will both be able to speak to the character of our counter part.

Hoster pondered the proposal, understanding the man's predicament. "Soon my third army will arrive at the capital's gate...I can give you my son Steffan as a hostage, a guarantee of my good will, or even deliver myself into your hands as a hostage. Tell me, is it true you were once the friend of the Princess Elia?"

[Oznerol]

The armies of the Vale finally head south after laying waste and burning the fields of Stokeworth and Hayford.

Marching in good order, ready for battle and expecting enemy's troops. High and proud fly the banners of the Vale; broken wheels, broken lances, falcons, winged chalices, redforts, runes...

Lord Jon rises his visor:

"Ser Vardys"

"Yes, sire?"

"My sight is not as good as it was, but, are those the Kings' armies?"

"Yes, they are, my liege"

"Ser Denys!"

"Yes my Lord?"

"Send word to the troops, sound the trumpets! Prepare for battle! Ready your weapons! Rise our banners!"

Above Jon's head two grat battle standards fly and dance, fluttering in the wing: the black stag on gold and the Arryn falcon. He looks around, to his retainers and vassals faces.

"Father bless us, for we shall destroy our foes, in defense of our righteous cause! No one except those troops stand between us and the Mad King, my Lords! To battle!"

Ser Denys unsheathes his sword and rides to prepare the cavalry. Lord Hardyng is leaves to command the left and so does Ser Vardys.

Oh! You shall pay, madman!

TROOPS AND COMMANDERS

COMMANDERS: -LORD JON ARRYN: Traits (12): +3 Battles +2 Logistician +3 Survival +2 Income +2 Charisma -SER VARDYS EGEN: Traits (12): +2 Jousting +3 Duels +1 Capture +1 Rearguard +2 Battles +3 Survival -SER DENYS ARRYN: Traits (9): +1 Jousting +4 Duel +2 Survival +1 Charisma +1 Battle +1 Scout -ANDAR BAELISH: Traits (12): +3 Battles +3 Scout +3 Logistician +3 Rearguard -LORD HEREWARD HARDYNG Traits (9) 2 battle 2 duel 2 joust 2 survival 1 scout TROOPS: 5,000 Heavy Infantry 6,000 Light Infantry 4,000 Polearm Infantry 5,000 Archers 2,000 Light Cavalry 2,000 Heavy Cavalry 150 Men-at-arms Total: 24,000

[Poach]

[OOC: As mentioned before, I don't think 25,000 men can reasonably ambush anyone on one of the large, main roads through an area which by lore is flat and open. In the Kingswood or something, maybe, but there's literally nowhere you can hide 25,000 men in the existing terrain.]

[Pericles of Athens]

OOC What's the point of scouting ahead/going out blind if an enemy force can't even ambush you?

Its not a clique ambush from the trees it's a matter of taking an ill prepared enemy without scouts by surprise as they march.

[Poach]

Ambushes are for sieges, scouting is for getting information on whether enemy troops are in other provinces. There are no written mechanics that say an army on the move has to have screens or scouts to avoid being ambushed. Ambushes like this are rolled case-by-case depending on terrain and justification. It's always simply been assumed that armies on the march have some sort of foraging/scouting going on to their immediate front: field battles very, very rarely, if ever, start with a surprise roll (I'd say never but I haven't looked at every single battle ever, but I certainly don't remember any).

[Pericles of Athens]

Well I don't believe this was a seige, the Rivermen were raiding the lands not sieging the keep, nor is the terrain advantageous for ambush..