Scourging the Mountains (Vale RP)

[Gandalfus]

After a short march south, the small host of Valemen passed through the Bloody Gate through the Mountains of the Moon, and into the untamed land known as Darkmoor.
No Lord had ever called this land his own. Although House Arryn claimed this land as part of their domain, no great castle had ever stood here to make it so. This untamed land of mountains and marsh was ruled by the clans of the Vale; Painted Dogs, Stone Crows, Burned Men, Milk Snakes... Many of these tribes roamed through perhaps the last place in Westeros where they breathed freely, an area where many a warband would be assembled to raid the nearby road to the Bloody Gate. In older times, the Lord of the Vale would send out knights to keep the order in these lands, but the recent war has made this untenable. Thus the road has remained unsafe. Now, Ser Royce and Lord Arryn march into this hostile country to drive the Clans north, away from civilised lands.

Vale host

2500 Heavy infantry 1233 Heavy Cavalry 500 Elite AOR Cavalry 400 Falconguard 600 Crossbowmen 300 Longbowmen Commanders: Lord Jon Arryn: Duels +1 Wealth +2 Survival +2 (1+1 by Dark Bodyguard retainer) Charisma +1 (Single-handed Weapon & Shield + Full Plated Armor) Ser Waymar Royce: +12 duels (greatsword), +4 battles, +1 survival, +1 charisma Ser Raymar Royce: +3 battles +3 duels +1 survival Ser Robar Royce: +3 battles, +1 charisma, +1 survival, +2 duels

[Lord Dread]

Prepared for battle, Lord Jon rode among the side of Ser Waymar, preparing himself for battle.
I already instructed Robert as his page to be careful about what is to come, knowing that the battle might not be an easy one.

OOC: Also, Jon turned 20 this year, so +1 Battle as well.

[Gandalfus]

Ser Waymar surveyed the landscape from the encampment high upon the crest of the hill. At his side rode his sons, as well as Lord Jon - accompanied by his own page, Robert Baratheon.

"This is where the buggers dwell, Lord. We'll drive them out, and build a castle here - to remind them that the Arryns rule the Vale."

[Lord Dread]

Lord Jon mustered the landscape, detecting the encampment as well from the distance. Indeed it was worrying in terms of size and nothing like anything Jon was used from past journals and books he read about the Wildlings.
"Their camp is larger than from what I have heard about the Clan's regular habits", the Young Falcon said, "Something isn't right, Ser Royce, so I wish the men to be careful. We might outnumber them or deal at least more casualities to them, but they might be able to trick us into a situation we underestimate completely. I don't wish to repeat the errors of King's Landing this time, for all our sake.
At your command we will strike."

[Gandalfus]

""I've been in plenty of campaigns against plenty of foes. This rabble can only do one thing well - hit and run. Catch them in battle, and we have the edge." Royce said, nudging his horse forward.

"The trick will be finding them, though." He continued, speaking almost to himself. Raymar, the eldest of his sons, had returned to camp, rousing the men from their slumber. A small party of men-at-arms formed up on the crest of the hill, alongside their lords.

[Trot]

Ooc What are you guys looking to do here? I can start it when I get home.

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[Gandalfus]

OOC; just to deal with a group of mountain clans, drive them out and build a castle there


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[Lord Dread]

OOC: Plus in my case another Arryn family story - I will keep telling this one outside of the actual battles, while I planned it at signup to get this story arc done.
Might be entertaining.

Otherwise as Gandy said.

[Trot]

Tracks of the mountain clansmen lead deeper into the mountain pass. They seemed to be fresh and new made as though Clansmen had been here in the past few days. It was possible they were tracks of a small clan retreating from the larger Vale force or it could be a trap set by a small portion of a much lager force.

[Gandalfus]

"Lord." Ser Waymar said to Jon, as they halted just before the mountain passage. "We'll send some riders down there, see what they can find." Upon their lords command, perhaps a score of armoured knights trotted off into the pass, ordered not to engage but to merely scout and return with any information of the whereabouts of the clansmen.

[Lord Dread]

Lord Jon nodded, seeing it as a wise idea as well.
"Let's hope it's not a trap", he only commented, "I don't like the looks of it. My grandfather died according to my family also in these territories - but whether they weren't careful or other circumstances is hard to tell."

[Gandalfus]

"Fear not, my Lord. My men are well disciplined. We will drive them out." Ser Royce boasted. Despite being a mere landed knight or a minor lord at best, he could field near enough six thousand men alone. The thought of them taking all the glory for defeating these clansmen gave him great pride.

[Trot]

Roll
18

The Scouts report with reasonable certainty that a large band of Clansmen are ahead numbering close to 4000 it seems they had intended to ambush the Vales men as they entered the narrow pass.

[Gandalfus]

"See, my lord, these goat herders are nothing if not painfully predictable." Waymar announced with a grin, as his riders returned bearing news of this ambush that awaited them down the pass.

"Well, Lord Jon, how do you propose we deal with these savages? You are their rightful master, after all."

[Lord Dread]

"Is there another way we can take to trespass their trap?", Jon replied, "They might know that we're aware of them, but while we can wait for them to approach us, we should search for the most optimal way to pass. Don't want to end up butchered unnecessarily in a rabbit hole, where the fox is already awaiting us."

[Gandalfus]

"We could try and circumvent it, take them from the rear." Royce says, scratching his head. "My guess is they're assembled up on the ledges and cliffs, waiting to rain down arrows on us. They won't expect us coming the other way. Although that could take days."

[Lord Dread]

"Exactly - I rather take more time, if this saves me the lifes of our men. It is your host though, Ser Waymar."

[Gandalfus]

After a brief interim, Ser Waymar did indeed elect to find a way to circumvent the narrow pass, with the intention of entering it to strike the clansmen in the rear.

[Gandalfus]

(Trot?)


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[Trot]

1-5 no path is found 6-10 a path is found but it will not take them where they want to go 11-15 a dangerous path is found 16-20 a safe path is found

Rolled 3. Despite their best efforts no one could find another way forward.

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