Coldmoat, Seat of House Osgrey

[Poach]

The Fortress of Coldmoat
Seat of the Marshals of the Northmarch

Family

See here.

Lord Harren Osgrey, Marshal of the Northmarch and Lord of Coldmoat

- Ser Harrag Osgrey, Captain of the Marcher Company
--- Ser Donnel Osgrey
--- Ser Ryon Osgrey
--- Lady Kyra Osgrey

- Ser Godric Osgrey
--- No children

Coldmoat

Edicts: See here.

+14 Siege Defence, Castle (+8 Base, +2 Regional Bonus, +4 Edicts)
+12 Siege Defence, Holdfast (+8 Base, +2 Regional Bonus, +2 Edict)

Castle Garrison:

500 Heavy Infantry (200 base, +300 Edict)
1,000 Light Infantry (500 base, +500 Edict)
200 Polearm Infantry
550 Archers (300 base, +250 Edict)

Total: 2,250 men

Levy Information

Coldmoat

Base: 7,500 points Edicts: 3,000 points Trade: 1,200 points Total: 11,700 points 1,651 Heavy Infantry 2,625 Light Infantry 1,392 Polearm Infantry 1,575 Archers 1,060 Light Cavalry 350 Heavy Cavalry Total: 8,653 men

Vassals

Due to Lord Harren's laws, most of the Northmarch vassal Lords are not expected to provide many troops to any field army, instead most of their forces are in place as garrisons along the frontier. As such, only half of the military strength of the Osgrey vassal houses can take to the field at any one time. Base: 6,500 points Edicts: -50% Total: 3,750 points 327 Heavy Infantry 813 Light Infantry 424 Polearm Infantry 488 Archers 345 Light Cavalry 105 Heavy Cavalry Total: 2,502 men

The Marcher Company

The Marcher Company are an elite force of knights commanded by Ser Harrag Osgrey. Rather than require the Marcher Lords to send their own troops to battle, Lord Harren instead vastly reduced the number of soldiers they are expected to supply to a field army and commanded that they were required to provide funds to raise a strike force that were always at the ready to counter threats to the Northmarch. 1,000 Reachman Lancers 1,500 Light Cavalry Total: 2,500 men

Fleets

Based in the port of Old Oak. The Lords of the Shield Isles are historically charged with defending the approaches to the River Mander, thus the limited naval forces available to the Marshal of the Northmarch are often either seconded to their command or are used to protect the coastline of Old Oak and Catswold, ensuring the formidable defences of the March itself cannot be easily bypassed by sea. 46 Levy Ships 30 Dromonds 16 Heavy Galleys 8 AOR Ships 2 Grand Warships

[Poach]

A council was convened upon Godric's return, sat around a vast circular table. Lord Harran Osgrey presided over it, with every Lord sworn to him sat at the table. On his flanks sat his two sons, Harrag and Godric, each returned from their respective missions. The edges of the room were crowded with sons, landed knights and senior retainers, listening in to the council.

"Harrag." said Harren softly, as if he were wary of speaking too loudly. Harrag stood.

"The Men of the Rock can smell the instability," he said, "We've chased off multiple incursions of light horse across the border. Scouts, trying to ascertain whether we've abandoned our castles and marched south into the civil war, I suspect."

"Any signs of anything larger?" asked Harren in the same tone as before.

"We've went as close to Crakehall and Cornfield as we'd dare, and for now it seems quiet," said Harrag, "There appears to be no sign of any camps forming. They're watching us as keenly as we're watching them, that I am certain of."

"Godric." said Harren, turning to the other side and watching his second son rise to his feet. Harrag took his seat once more.

"It's war." said Godric, to a ripple of murmuring through the room, "Lord Peake claims the Throne by right of his wife being Greybeard's eldest daughter and his son thus being the closest male relative; Lord Manderly claims the Throne because Tyene's mother was disinherited after her infidelity, which he maintains strips Tyene of the Gardener name; Mern Gardener contends he is the closest male relative to Greybeard and has the support of the High Steward."

"Their support, thus far?" asked Harren.

"Florent backs Mern; Oldtown stands against Peake but I know not with whom, I suspect the Shields to be similar; your wayward kinsman remains at Mern's side, Lord Webber." said Godric.

"Thank you, my sons." said Harren, standing now himself as Godric sat, "my Lords, Knights, retainers, our path is clouded. Three contenders, three fair causes to back, but the Rock stirs. We must, for now, watch the north, and reconvene when the situation is clearer. I expect emissaries from the warring parties to begin burdening my time and drinking my wine soon, for the Northmarch commands many soldiers. We shall see what they have to say."

Another round of murmurs, generally in agreement. Some small questions were asked and points raised, both about the civil war and the Rock: should patrols enter the Rock's domain, should their patrols be fought or merely deterred from further penetration of the March, what if emissaries come to the other Marcher Lords, are the Shields now a threat? Neutrality was the order of the day: patrol no more aggressively into the Rock's lands than they do to the Reach, turn their patrols back, with violence only if they instigate it, inform Coldmoat of attempts at subterfuge and the Shields are likely not a threat as long as neutrality is maintained.

The council adjourned.

[The Mad Skylord]

After leaving the Sept, the Lord of Starpike had split off from the main body of men. He had ridden straight to Coldmoat, with a guard of 8 men. His banner fluttered in the breeze, as he moved towards the formidable castle. The time for parlay was over, now the time to gather support was upon them. War had begun, and both sides were preparing for battle. Lorimar Peake had every intention of winning the Northmarch. He knew he had to, if he was to win this war.

[Poach]

He is shown into the keep, disarmed and allowed to enter the great hall alone. Within it sits Lord Harren, attended by a single knight who stands near, but a respectful distance from, Lorimar. His eyes do not leave the Lord of Starpike.

"Even the deaf can serve," said Harren softly, noting Lorimar glancing at the Knight, "ensures... secrecy."

[OOC: I'm assuming you consent to being disarmed and entering an audience alone. If not, refuse and I'll pick up from there.]

[The Mad Skylord]

((OOC: Fine by me.))

Lorimar had indeed glanced at the knight, but smiled thinly when he heard Lord Harren's explanation. "A clever man indeed". "Lord Harren, there is one reason I have come here, and that is to ask for your support, however, before I ask, I would like to know the situation on our Northern Border. I will not put the Northern Reach into jeopardy for my war, so I wish to know the situation before I waste your time asking for an alliance."

[Poach]

"It is uncertain, Lord Peake," said Harren, "The men of the Rock patrol aggressively, seeking to slip their scouts ever deeper into the Reach. My son believes they watch for poorly garrisoned castles: signs that the Reach Lords along their border have marched south to fight this civil war. We have caught sight of no field armies yet."

[The Mad Skylord]

Lorimar nodded slowly, thinking quietly to himself. If truth was to be told, he needed the power of Osgrey to offset Hightower. He was surrounded by foes, and he needed friends. "I see, the Rock makes ever constant threats." Lorimar tapped the table slowly before speaking again. "Lord Osgrey, if I can make a non-aggression pact with the Rock, will you help me in this war? To be blunt, I could promise you land, marriage, gold or power, even all of the above, but you don't strike me as the type of man to join a side for such materialistic things. I have come before you, as humble as I can be, to request an alliance between our houses, I greatly desire the friendship of your house, and to be frank, the soldiers of Osgrey. If I manage to stop the Lannister roving, will you help me?"

[Poach]

"I could afford to lend troops to the fighting in the south," said Harren, "If I had suitable assurances about our position at home. Be wary of what the King of the Rock wants in return, Lord Peake: he will not concede a tempting opportunity for conquest lightly."

[The Mad Skylord]

Lorimar nods grimly. "I know, these Lannister bastards are sly fiends, but I shall have to brave the lion's den. I will go personally. Shall we meet again upon my return?" He asked as he rose and buckled on his cloak, obviously eager to have the daunting task finished.

[Poach]

"Coldmoat awaits your return." came the simple reply.

[jacb547]

A party of riders arrives at Coldmoat, their banners adorned with the iron and oak of House Hewett, it's leader is Lord Manfrey Serry the oldest and most respectable vassal of Oakenshield. They ask for an audience with Lord Osgrey, or someone with similar negotiating capacities.

[Poach]

As with Peake before him, he is disarmed and sent alone before Lord Harren and his deaf guardian.

"Lord Serry," said Harren as he entered, "I hear rumour the Shields stand opposed to Lord Peake, but alongside whom remains a mystery."

[jacb547]

As with Peake before him, he is disarmed and sent alone before Lord Harren and his deaf guardian.

"Lord Serry," said Harren as he entered, "I hear rumour the Shields stand opposed to Lord Peake, but alongside whom remains a mystery."

Lord Serry sat and listened attentively to Lord Harren, he had been present at the parlay and at the unfortunate exchange of words afterwards. "You should not give too much credit to these rumors, Lord Hewett values our neutrality. That however is not what I am here to discuss." Serry cleared his throat before proceeding "Lord Osgrey, you House and ours share a similar function in the Reach as defenses from foreing threats. You by land and us by sea. I fear that in these troubled times the men of the Rock and beyond may stirr and turn their gaze against our weakened defenses. So, my Lord Hewett has a proposition for you. That neither of our Houses attack each other's defenses and independent of the side chosen in the civil keep a sizeable guard at the borders by land and sea. This is in the interest of defense, our own and the entire realm's."

[Poach]

"The castles of the Northmarch are already garrisoned by law with one man of every two called to arms," said Harren, "and, as you say, you are the sailor and I the soldier: were we to side with opposing claimants I could not wrest the sea from you nor you the field of battle from I."

[Alexandrine]

Ser Meryn Crane came to the castle of Coldmoat. He was a uncle of Lady Rosamund Crane. A younger brother to her father. He had been loyal to first his father, then his eldest brother and apparent heir, Lady Roislin, and now to his niece Lady Rosamund. He had married in haste too, but only to get a daughter himself. Lady Alla, who was now part of Lady Rosamunds household as one of her ladies. Last when he saw her, she was hawking with the other young courtiers. He hoped she was alright. Despite everything, his daugther was the dearest thing in the world to him.

He explained who he was to the guards and that he came for Lord Osgrey in name of his niece and liege, Rosamund Crane.

[Poach]

[OOC: I didn't even know I had a player vassal. Read post 2 Alex, you'd have been there for that. I'd have told you if I knew you were a vassal of mine, sorry!]

He is allowed into the Great Hall immediately, the guards knowing his sigil well.

"Ser Crane," said Harren as the man entered the hall and was announced, "It was not too long past your Lady niece attended Council in this very hall. What brings you?"

[Alexandrine]

[No worry. I didn't realize I was a vassal too when i signed up.]

He bowed for his lordship. "She was wondering if something has changed since her last visit. My niece is an anxious woman." he explained. "She fears if we get dragged into this strife, that she will not be able to hold the border to the Wester lords."

[The Mad Skylord]

Lord Peake arrives back at Coldmoat.

[Poach]

"Lord Peake made overtures," said Harren dismissively, "I told him I would not consider abandoning the border while the Westermen remained a threat, so he set off to the Rock to negotiate a non-aggression pact."

"The King of the Rock will demand much," he said, "Possibly land, to replicate his father's successes, in which case the Lords of the Reach might reject him as a potential King; possibly tribute, though he would demand enough to beggar the Kingdom and leave it unable to refuse future demands over threats of calling in debt; possibly labour, peasant famers to till the fields he took from Greybeard in the north-east."

"I fear he makes a deal with the devil," concluded Harren, "but I said I would give fair consideration to abandoning neutrality should the Westerman threat be removed."

-------

As before, Peake comes before Lord Osgrey unarmed and in the company of the deaf Knight.

[The Mad Skylord]

((Bugger it, lying is the better option. I'll change it back and continue from there. You haven't replied yet, Poach, so I thought it would be okay. Crikey, this turned into a total mess. I won't change my mind again, I'll go with the lying route.))

Lorimar speaks, calmly. "My daughter as a hostage and workers to farm the land. That was his price."