Rounding up the Hooligans

[Pericles of Athens]

The combined host of mercenaries, militia from Kingslanding, and the professionals of the Blackguard make their way up to the walls of Stokeworth, the seat Tom is most keen on setting up shop - at least out of the seats Blackfyre said he could have. Thouands of soldiers wear clothing bear the black and red of the Blackfre dynasty, while thousands of others are flamboyant Essosi in gold and white and shimmering pastels. They carry the banners of Blackyre, the Red Eye on black of Tom, and a few banners of the Red God as well. A rider comes forward under the rainbow flag of truce to bring Lord Stokeworth to the table, in order to discuss the terms of surrender.

OOC: Again this is assuming Poach is gonna follow the orders given in the Small Council thread.

[Poach]

Fresh from listening to the King bring Lord Stark back into the fold, Donnel was setting off yet again from King's Landing. This time at the head of three thousand men of the Blackguard instead of a mere hundred, the task was to seize Stokeworth. House Stokeworth had been members of the Holy League when Steffon Baratheon was still alive, and the King believed them to not only remain sympathetic to the cause, but to still be active participants in undermining the King's authority in favour of the High Septon.

Bringing the infantry and archers of the Blackguard seemed the most logical: the considerable might of the elite heavy cavalry regiments were left in the city, as horses cannot storm walls.

* * *

Lord Stokeworth met the vast army in the fields before his keep.

"This is most irregular," said the Lord, "What can I do for you, Ser...?"

Donnel had not joined the parlay, having no desire to interact with a continuing supporter of the League he himself had previously been a member of.

[Pericles of Athens]

Call me Butcher, but I ain't no knight. You mighta heard 'o me. He gave a smiled, filled with gold and silver teeth. King wants 'ur keep to surrender and for me to bring ya back to him for judgement, something about "Holy Lords".. not very holy no more. He laughed. But that's the plan, you can come easy or I can break down 'ur gates, rape the woman, and take ya back anyhow. His hand came to rest on the hilt of his blade. I'd prefer the latter.

[Poach]

"I am no Holy Lord any more," said the man with a tinge of sadness about his tone, "Lord Baratheon's death showed us the error of such preaching. I shall go before the King, I have done no wrong!"

[Pericles of Athens]

And the keep? Tom questioned. Ur boys gotta open the gates and put down their weapons. He was up to something.

[Poach]

"Until commanded by the King I am still the Lord of this keep," he said sternly, "I am guilty of no crime and I will go before the King to establish my innocence."

[Pericles of Athens]

Aye, but until commanded by the King I'm under orders to neutralize this keep. He gripped his sword with a snort. It seems we're at what they call an impasse.

[Poach]

"Them." he said, pointing to the ranks of black armoured men forming part of the line facing the keep, "I know of those men, the 'Blackguard', the King's own men. I shall permit a garrison of them while we clear this up with the King. I shall not have Essosi mercenaries darkening my door."

[Pericles of Athens]

I'd watch that tongue of yours or you're bound to lose it. He paused loosening his grip on his sword. We fought for your King before he was one, or have you forgotten what Essosi did to your King Steffon? He nodded. You permit , nor are you in a position to bargain - your men will put down their weapons and a garrison of Blackfyre men will man the walls of Stokeworth. You can agree now or later, but my patience is wearing thin.

[Poach]

"I have agreed to a garrison," said Stokeworth in an annoyed tone, "a garrison of men I know to be Blackfyre's sworn swords rather than mercenaries who would as quickly plunder my home as they would garrison it."

[Pericles of Athens]

He threw a set of chains to Lord Stokeworth. Tell the keep they're to surrender and you're to put those on. It aint a long ride back to Kingslanding.

[Poach]

He threw the chains back.

"I will not be dragged to King's Landing in chains like some common criminal," he spat, "I will accompany you there and go before the King willingly. I have no doubt that this is a misunderstanding and have no reason to resist the summons."

He sent a knight back to the keep instructing them to make ready to host a royal garrison while these accusations were dismissed.

[Pericles of Athens]

It sounds to me like you're resisting arrest. He turned to one of the mercenaries next to him, who nodded in return. Sounds like that to me Tom. Very resistant. Tom nodded with feigned solemnity. As I feared. He sighed. So, I'll tell you what. I'm gonna build some ladders and rams and when I came back I'm gonna bust into this keep and show you just how arrested you are. He smiled, and turned his horse back toward his side of the siege lines - his company following him. Ready to shoot down any ravens they might send out. He called as he lazily made his way back into camp. He went to find this Donnel.

[Poach]

"Wait, wait!" shouted Stokeworth, "If it's come to this I'll wear the chains! I'll wear them!"

* * *

[OOC: Assuming you don't respond to the above.]

Tom would find Donnel in what was serving as the command tent for the Blackguard. A large and spacious enclosure, it had tables around the edges where scribes worked and a large, central table for the daily briefings Donnel held with the captains. When Tom arrived, Donnel was in conversation with the officer charged with planning the siege lines, should Stokeworth refuse to surrender.

Noticing the blue beard very quickly, Donnel allowed Tom to speak first.

[Pericles of Athens]

You ready for a fight? He questioned, scratching lazily at his stomach. The bastard proclaimed sorrow over the death of Steffon, and refused to be taken prisoner by yours truly under the king's authority. He took out a flask and gulped the precious liquid within. Tell me, how many men you bring?

[Poach]

"300 dismounted knights, 1,500 heavy infantry and 1,200 archers," said Donnel flatly, "Everything bar the heavy horse, who'd have no utility here."

It seemed the King was correct about Stokeworth. Along with Lord Footly it seemed more of the Holy Lords had become even more fundamentalist and spiteful since Steffon's defeat.

[Pericles of Athens]

Good, between those men and mine we'll have more than enough to turn this place inside out. He licked his lips expectantly. We need to start putting together ladders and battering rams.. Any idea how long that'll take?

[Poach]

[OOC: 12 hours translates into about 26 days.]

"Three weeks, perhaps four." he said, recalling similar conversations during the civil war, "I'll have the men set about preparing siege lines immediately. We'll need details going to nearby woodlands to find the right trees for the equipment."

[Pericles of Athens]

(OOC: So its 12 hours from 6 hours ago, so 6 hours from now)

Get to it then. Tom nodded in agreement. I hate when cowards hide behind their walls, much more fun when they come out to get ed.

Forces:
2,000 Elite Infantry (Tom's)
600 Elite Cavalry (Tom's)
300 dismounted knights (Donnel's)
1,500 heavy infantry (Donnel's)
1,200 archers (Donnel's)

Orders:
Full assault of infantry. Supported by Daemon's and Donnel's archers. Tom attempts to duel Lord Stokeworth.

Tom's men are all under orders to kill any men they capture inside the keep, and bring Stokeworth's directly to Tom.

Tom the Butcher (Full Plate, Greatsword)
+15 Duels
+12 Survival
+23 HP
+9 Battles

[Lucius Malfoy]

(OOC: So its 12 hours from 6 hours ago, so 6 hours from now)

Get to it then. Tom nodded in agreement. I hate when cowards hide behind their walls, much more fun when they come out to get ed.

Forces:
2,000 Elite Infantry (Tom's)
600 Elite Cavalry (Tom's)
300 dismounted knights (Donnel's)
1,500 heavy infantry (Donnel's)
1,200 archers (Donnel's)

Orders:
Full assault of infantry. Supported by Daemon's and Donnel's archers. Tom attempts to duel Lord Stokeworth.

Tom's men are all under orders to kill any men they capture inside the keep, and bring Stokeworth's directly to Tom.

Tom the Butcher (Full Plate, Greatsword)
+15 Duels
+12 Survival
+23 HP
+9 Battles

Doing this presently.