Sons of the Winter: Mustering of he Northmen

[Pericles of Athens]

Forces Assembled

1st Army (At Riverrun)
Commanders: Rickard Stark Ice Eyes (+3 Duel, +3 Survival), Gerold Tallhart (+3 Survival, +3 Duels, +3 Battle), Jeor Mormont (+4 Battle), Bayard Glover (+2 Duels, +2 Battle, +3 Survival)
Light Infantry: 12,572
Polearms: 2,963
Archers: 7,250
Heavy Infantry: 856
Light Cavalry: 1,117
Heavy Cavalry: 475
Elite Cavalry: 107
Total: 25,337

2nd Army (At the Twins)
Commanders: Bayard Stark (+3 Joust, +3 Survival, +3 Duels), Maege Mormont (+4 Battle)
Light Infantry: 11,700
Archers: 7,000
Total: 18,700

3rd Army (at Moat Cailin)
Commanders: N/A
Light Infantry: 19,117
Archers: 5,472
Total: 25,000

Reserve (White Harbor)
Light Infantry: 3,000

From all across the North, dozens of lords and thousands of warriors answer the call of the Starks. An army caught in the past, men carrying weapons of bronze and ancient shirts of ringlet mail, some tribals held rusting weapons or wodden crudgels and wore armor that would look more at home in a tomb. The North was about to ride souh for the first time since the Dance.

[DarkOne89]

ooc it will take 24h before levis are raised according to rules

House Mormont has answered their Lords call. They have taken all of the man that could take a battleaxe in their hand and started a long march to Winterfell to join with the Lords army

Light Infantry: 1,500
Archers: 500

[Trot]

Tallhart rides in to the camp on top of an old grey stallion. His joints ached from the journey, and the cold had already seeped into his bones permiating his skin. He remebered when this weather would have felt like a brisk summer day to him.
I'm getting to be to old for this, he thinks studying the camp. The full might of the North was being gathered and Gerald had come with his meager force. Tallhart had never been a strong house, but it would never be said they shirked from their duty. At least it had never been said House Tallhart was on the decline. His sons were dead and buried given to the old gods to watch over. His granddaughter would most likely take her husbands name and the last of the Tallhart line would die with him. He sighs resignedly and turns to find Lord Stark.

[Pericles of Athens]

Lord Stark is found in the halls of Winterfell, siting upon the ancient throne of the Winter Kings. Made of shining gray stone and frozen to the touch. Lord Stark himself was a fit man, well defined, but not too large. His face was long and framed by black hair, with an angular flair about his jawline that made him more attractive than your average Stark. His eyes were cold, and his expression was stoic - grim. Lord Tallhart, it was good of you to come, my friend. He touched his fingers lightly upon Ice's hilt. The North marches as one for the first time in nearly a century. How many men has Torrhen Square brought to bear?

OOC I'm sure no one would mind an auto levy considering I levied them over a day ago.

[Trot]

ooc I ordered my men levied when you did

ic Gerald bows to the man his knees creaking in protest, but he straightens not letting any of the discomfort shot on his face. "My Lord Stark I wish we were meeting in more favorable circumstances." He sighs studying the man. He remembered when he had been a young boy first learning the sword. The lad had grown up to fit the throne he sat on. He was a Stark though and through. "I bring 1500 men with me My lord of which 500 are archers and 1000 are infantry."

[Pericles of Athens]

OOC: That was directed at Darkone.

IC:

As do I, Lord Gerald. He sighed, deflated. As do I. He ran his fingers through his hair. Soon we'll march to war, as my grandfather Cregan did before me, and King Torrhen did before him. He thought silently for a moment, trapped in thought. We wait on word from Lords Glover and Mormont, all others have answer the call of Winterfell. And once they arrive we'll march for the Neck. He eyed Tallhart with his pale eyes. How does Torrhen's Square fair my lord?

[Trot]

Gerald glances back at where the men were gathering. Most of them were scared youths holding weapons scrounged from attics were they had lain rusting for years. Many of them would march South and never return. He sighs and shakes his head sadly. "It was well enough when I left." The halls far to empty he adds silently to himself. "My grand daughter is watching over it in my stead." In truth he hadn't truly seen to the administration of the keep in two years. When she turned 14 she had decided she liked the duties of managing a keep, and truth be told she did it far better than he ever had.

[Pericles of Athens]

Your granddaughter is a good woman I'm certain, she'll make for a good Master of the Square. Stark stated, a hint of pride or happiness for Gerald. He rose from his seat and walked down beside Tallhart. Many of our youths wont come home.. I don't want to march, truth be told I'm a little frightened at the prospect of war. The direwolf admitted, the first signs of age showing at the corners of his beard. He was a widower and he feared leaving the North in the hands of a child should he fall. But as you've answered my call, I must answer the call of the crown. He looked out over the fields outside Winterfell where the men were massing. All men, from the Stark of Winterfell to the tiller of the field or the fisher of the river must do their duty.

[Trot]

"Aye that she is. Old enough now that I should start looking to find her a husband." He says studying the younger man. "The blood will endure even when I am dead and buried." Hopefully that won't be for sometime yet he ads to himself. He than turns back to where the men are gathering preparing to march.

"Duty is heavier than a mountain death is lighter than a feather. It is never easy to hold the lives of so many in your hands my lord. We do our duty, but at what cost?" Lord Stark was right of course. There was really no way they could not awnser the kings call, but looking back on the worried faces of so many young men he could not help, but wish Lord Stark had chosen to stay out of the war. When Dragons danced all suffered.
ooc just a heads up Gerald has 2 Logistican so if you put him in charge of an army it moves 10% faster.

[Pericles of Athens]

You shall have the support of Winterfell when the time to find her a husband comes, my friend. He stated, patting the older man's shoulder as a gesture of support. Death is the cost of every man's life, though I will ask nothing of these men that I wont offer up myself. He sighed. When dragons dance all the other beasts of the woods suffer.. but the Direwolf will always endure.

[Trot]

"Aye my Lord. The Direwolf will endure the gods willing." He pauses, "Do we know what awaits us in the South? Who sides with Blackfyre?"

[DarkOne89]

After several days of hard march army of House Mormont has arrived to join with the rest of the North army.

Most of the men were young boys that have not seen war so Lord Mormont did not know how is this going to end of 2000 men that came with him only 500 have seen war but he needed to bring them all his Lord was in need of men and all sons of Bear Island will die if that need be. Lord Mormont saw a small servant boy and shouted at him.

You boy can you go and see if Lord Stark has time to speak with me

[Pericles of Athens]

He was brought into the godswood to meet with Lord Stark. The ground absorbed his steps, thick moss engulfing the pitter oatter ofWelcome Lord Mormont. What members of your family do you bring, my friend? How many men? He questioned. We march on the morrow.

[DarkOne89]

My Lord sorry for taking this long to arrive but had some problems with transporting all the men from the island. My older son is with me he is checking if all of our supplies are in order. There is 2000 man with me 1500 Infantry and 500 Archers. But my Lord I must tell you only 500 of them have seen battle real battle the rest have fought bandits and raiders but that is all.

[Pericles of Athens]

I will attempt to keep the greenest of our boys away from the fighting, place them guarding the Moat Cailin and White Harbor. He sighed. If the worst should come to pass with the armies we bring south. But I cannot promise that they will not see battle, for I cant be certain of it. Hopefully this will be a short war with a decisive end.

[DarkOne89]

Thank you my lord it would be ashamed if we lost green men on their first war. Do we know what is waiting for us down south.

[Poach]

[OOC: Galbart would not have come, Bayard would be the one sent. Also if you've assumed Deepwood Motte plus vassals in your levy calculations you'll need to remove them.]

The Glover party arrives at the encampment after some time. The force is comprised of only the cavalry of the House: one hundred Knights and three hundred Light Horse. It was clear the force was not a united one, as it arrived in two contingents, the heavy and light horse having seemed to travel in their own groups.

Bayard Glover, Galbart's only trueborn son, commanded the Heavy Cavalry while it appeared the Master of Deepwood Motte's three bastards commanded the Light Cavalry.

Though the two groups made a combined camp, it was itself clearly divided with the Heavy Cavalrymen keeping to their own closely-knit group of tents.

Bayard entered into the command tent to make his introductions.

"My Lords, I am Bayard Glover, heir to Deepwood Motte, and I bring four hundred mounted men to the army." he said with a sigh, "my father has retained the infantry at Deepwood Motte as the Ironborn have not declared their allegiance and the Wildlings may become emboldened if they learn the North's armies have marched away to the south."

[Pericles of Athens]

Your Lord father brings few men for such a powerful and respected house. Rickard remarked, eyes cold as ice inspecting the young Glover. Your Master Glover should know I've kept very sizeable forces in reserve to guard the lands of our ancestors. The lands the Starks allowed the Glovers to keep. We can still make use of the forces offered though.. I'm sure. He shook his head, if all men shirked their duty such as this the North would be truly lost. Will your forces be ready to march on the morrow?

OOC: Nope your forces weren't in my numbers, I kinda expected them not to come.

[Poach]

[OOC: It looks like they are to me. 71,720 points in total you have of Levy there, that's the entire North looking at the rules. Have all your PCs raised their levies? The Glovers haven't so there's 4,750 more troops than there should be just from that.]

"My father sends his regrets," said Bayard sympathetically, "he would allow only a portion of his forces to march to your side, comprising the horsemen, as he doubted their usefulness in the Wolfswood should the Wildlings or Ironborn take the opportunity to raid the land while the army is gone."

In truth, Galbart had initially refused to be part of "some idiot's quest for glory in the south" and it had only been by the efforts of Harrold and Bayard that he'd agreed to send anything at all. Galbart's deep hatred for wildlings had clouded his mind, turning every report of bandits, poachers and petty crime into a wildling raiding party.

"In what way I can, my Lord, I will lead the men I have in your service." said Bayard, mustering up his courage and sounding sure. He knew the number was an embarrassment.

[Pericles of Athens]

OOC: Everyone answered the call, but the Glovers. 2,345 of those archers are militia. Meaning there's only 69,395 levied there. So I'm not sure were that discrepancy comes from.

Edit: No, I see now. The total for the North's force is wrong. Its actually 74,000 Points by the actual regions. Flint's Keep and Flint's Finger are two separate regions owned by two separate houses, counted as 2,750 each, but for some reason it says 2,750 for Flint's Finger and follows that up with AKA Flint's Keep. Which would be silly.

IC:
Of course. Lord Stark spoke, his breath expelling the cold winds of winter. He looked over the paltry Glover force, the Tallharts had raised more men. You have done your duty as befits you Bayard, I trust you will serve with honor, but words will be had with your father upon the end of this war - should I return.