Post by The Smith on Apr 9, 2008 12:49:03 GMT -5
Lewys sat in the solar, discussing strategy with General Ser Gilbert Flowers, when an exhausted rider burst into the room. "Milord," he said, trying to speak but the air wouldn't come out. "The Dornish! They are marching over twenty thousand out of Sunspear, heading this way. They just left the city." Ser Gilbert rose, but showed no signs of panic. He dismissed the messenger and turned to Lewys.
"Lord Lydden," the man said, sitting back down and sipping his wine. "We need time. I need you to take a swift force of outriders to the river and burn every bridge within a few days march. Can you do that?"
Lewys nodded. "Consider it done, ser." He turned to leave, but then stopped. "How many should I take with me, ser? I have four thousand five-hundred westermen under my command."
Ser Gilber thought for a moment before responding. "Take your swiftest force, Lord Lydden. Just complete the mission that I have given you." Nodding once more, Lewys bowed and left the room.
He hurried through the castle of Lemonwood, sending out orders as he went. He wanted five hundred of his best riders, and for the horses to be ready within the hour. After Lewys had taken a quick meal and drained a cup of wine and some cold water, he rode the gates of the castle. He was pleased to find five hundred war hardened men waiting for him, staring at him without a hint of fear in their eyes. To not be scared now, we are either ridiculously brave, or miserably stupid, Lewys thought. Over half the might of Dorne is marching on us as we speak.
Lewys had not expected Sunspear or the Lady Blackwood to retaliate so soon after the First Battle of Lemonwood. However, the army had had plenty of time to rest and, confident after their last victory, weren't afraid to take on the snakes again. Except there are twenty thousand more snakes this time around, Lewys remind himself.
They set off on a brisque, purposeful pace, almost riding against time rather than an opposing army. They encountered absolutely no resistance when they arrived on the riverbanks, and a first bridge was quickly burnt. A second bridge was destroyed. And then a third. The last useable bridge in the area was being put to the torch by Lewys's men when one of his outriders returned, riding hard and fast. "I saw a few of their scouts, milord, not two hours ago. I was riding far out, approaching Sunspear, when I saw the might of their army marching hard and fast. You will need to return to Lemonwood quick if we are to meet them on the river." Lewys nodded to the messenger and praised him for his vigilance. The last bridge was turned into ashes and the host rode with haste back to the castle. Lewys sent riders up ahead, and when he saw Lemonwood looming in the distance, the Allied Armies were already completely mustered, ready to march, outside the walls. Lewys reported to Ser Gilbert before heading to the westermen to send out orders.
The host of 14,500 men didn't march slow nor fast, but the tension was in the air. Finally, the river shined up in the distance, and almost simultaneously thousands and thousands of Dornish warriors, banners flying in the wind, appeared on top of the ridge.
The two hosts met upon the river, crashing into each other, the Allied Forces trying to hold the riverbanks. The fighting was even for an hour, neither side being able to gain an advantage. Lewys supervised the battle from the back of the fight, reinforcing his thousands of westermen wherever needed. Men on both sides were falling, drowning in the river, which had turned a sickly red by this point. Lewys watched with horror as three young men from Lannisport were cut down in turn by a corpsely looking man, fighting ferociously. Lewys kicked his horse up ahead to challenge him, but the man was gone. Instead, Lewys found himself face to face with hundreds of screaming Dornish. Shrugging away all hesitation, he plunged into the thick of the battle, slashing and cutting. A man tried to knock him over with his shield, but Lewys blocked with his own shield and then arced his sword down in response, splitting the man's skull open. The man's comrade tried to redeem his fallen friend, only to have Lewys slash his exposed arm off at the elbow. Arrows started raining all around Lewys, as they recognized him as a commander. Dismounting from his horse, he held his shield protectively over his head and swinging furious slashes with his longsword whenever he saw the opportunity.
Suddenly a huge cheer went up from the Dornishmen to Lewys's right. Lewys retreated from the line, seeking out a messenger who was running by. "What happened, man?" Lewys snapped. The messenger rode on by, but turned and yelled in the saddle. "The Dornish Ghost cut down Ser Edric Cuy! He killed the Sunflower Knight in single combat." Gritting his teeth, Lewys swore. The Ghost of Dorne. That is the man I saw earlier. I will truly make him a ghost if he shows his face again. Returning to the line, Lewys resumed the battle. He could feel the momentum swing in his sides favor. The attack couldn't continue this long, without losing plenty of men. The Dornish began to fall back in scores, fleeing across the bloody water.
Lewys was about to cheer for victory when a man to his right fell, blood spurting out in a long fountainous arc from his throat. The Corpse, Lewys thought, The Ghost of Dorne. Wheeling, he swung his sword at the man, trying to catch him off balance, but it seemed that the knight had also been seeking Lewys out, and was ready for the move. They were both mounted this time, and a small crowd of men gathered to watch the dance. Their horses circled each other, as both men struggled to land a blow. The man was fast, and surprisingly powerful for his pale and slim stature. Lewys was similarly built, but was more quick than strong. Lewys, trying to gain an advantage, slammed his shield into the man's horse, sending the knight to the ground. The man quickly rose, and cut down Lewys's own mount. Lewys rose just in time to parry a finishing blow, and they were at it again. By now most of the Dornish were on the other side of the river, in an orderly retreat. Lewys lost his footing and spun away from an arcing blow of the Dornish Ghost, still throwing his own counterattack at the man from his knees. When Lewys rose and neither man could gain an advantage, they both made eye contact and froze. The knight looked around and saw that he was surrounded by enemies. Lewys lowered his sword and nodded at the man, and his men stepped aside. The knight nodded back to Lewys and, gaining back control of his horse, rode across the river. The archers looked at Lewys for orders, but he held up his hand. "Leave him be. Today is not his to die." The men, not understanding, shrugged. All around them cheers were going up from 11,000 survivors. The allies had won, they had thrown back the might of Dorne. Lewys sat thinking of the man he had just battled. "We will dance again, you and I. And the next time both of us won't be walking away," he mumbled aloud, more to himself than anyone else.
Results:
Lewys improves from master sword (double improved) to GM
Lewys improves from master battle command to master battle command(improved)
"Lord Lydden," the man said, sitting back down and sipping his wine. "We need time. I need you to take a swift force of outriders to the river and burn every bridge within a few days march. Can you do that?"
Lewys nodded. "Consider it done, ser." He turned to leave, but then stopped. "How many should I take with me, ser? I have four thousand five-hundred westermen under my command."
Ser Gilber thought for a moment before responding. "Take your swiftest force, Lord Lydden. Just complete the mission that I have given you." Nodding once more, Lewys bowed and left the room.
He hurried through the castle of Lemonwood, sending out orders as he went. He wanted five hundred of his best riders, and for the horses to be ready within the hour. After Lewys had taken a quick meal and drained a cup of wine and some cold water, he rode the gates of the castle. He was pleased to find five hundred war hardened men waiting for him, staring at him without a hint of fear in their eyes. To not be scared now, we are either ridiculously brave, or miserably stupid, Lewys thought. Over half the might of Dorne is marching on us as we speak.
Lewys had not expected Sunspear or the Lady Blackwood to retaliate so soon after the First Battle of Lemonwood. However, the army had had plenty of time to rest and, confident after their last victory, weren't afraid to take on the snakes again. Except there are twenty thousand more snakes this time around, Lewys remind himself.
They set off on a brisque, purposeful pace, almost riding against time rather than an opposing army. They encountered absolutely no resistance when they arrived on the riverbanks, and a first bridge was quickly burnt. A second bridge was destroyed. And then a third. The last useable bridge in the area was being put to the torch by Lewys's men when one of his outriders returned, riding hard and fast. "I saw a few of their scouts, milord, not two hours ago. I was riding far out, approaching Sunspear, when I saw the might of their army marching hard and fast. You will need to return to Lemonwood quick if we are to meet them on the river." Lewys nodded to the messenger and praised him for his vigilance. The last bridge was turned into ashes and the host rode with haste back to the castle. Lewys sent riders up ahead, and when he saw Lemonwood looming in the distance, the Allied Armies were already completely mustered, ready to march, outside the walls. Lewys reported to Ser Gilbert before heading to the westermen to send out orders.
The host of 14,500 men didn't march slow nor fast, but the tension was in the air. Finally, the river shined up in the distance, and almost simultaneously thousands and thousands of Dornish warriors, banners flying in the wind, appeared on top of the ridge.
The two hosts met upon the river, crashing into each other, the Allied Forces trying to hold the riverbanks. The fighting was even for an hour, neither side being able to gain an advantage. Lewys supervised the battle from the back of the fight, reinforcing his thousands of westermen wherever needed. Men on both sides were falling, drowning in the river, which had turned a sickly red by this point. Lewys watched with horror as three young men from Lannisport were cut down in turn by a corpsely looking man, fighting ferociously. Lewys kicked his horse up ahead to challenge him, but the man was gone. Instead, Lewys found himself face to face with hundreds of screaming Dornish. Shrugging away all hesitation, he plunged into the thick of the battle, slashing and cutting. A man tried to knock him over with his shield, but Lewys blocked with his own shield and then arced his sword down in response, splitting the man's skull open. The man's comrade tried to redeem his fallen friend, only to have Lewys slash his exposed arm off at the elbow. Arrows started raining all around Lewys, as they recognized him as a commander. Dismounting from his horse, he held his shield protectively over his head and swinging furious slashes with his longsword whenever he saw the opportunity.
Suddenly a huge cheer went up from the Dornishmen to Lewys's right. Lewys retreated from the line, seeking out a messenger who was running by. "What happened, man?" Lewys snapped. The messenger rode on by, but turned and yelled in the saddle. "The Dornish Ghost cut down Ser Edric Cuy! He killed the Sunflower Knight in single combat." Gritting his teeth, Lewys swore. The Ghost of Dorne. That is the man I saw earlier. I will truly make him a ghost if he shows his face again. Returning to the line, Lewys resumed the battle. He could feel the momentum swing in his sides favor. The attack couldn't continue this long, without losing plenty of men. The Dornish began to fall back in scores, fleeing across the bloody water.
Lewys was about to cheer for victory when a man to his right fell, blood spurting out in a long fountainous arc from his throat. The Corpse, Lewys thought, The Ghost of Dorne. Wheeling, he swung his sword at the man, trying to catch him off balance, but it seemed that the knight had also been seeking Lewys out, and was ready for the move. They were both mounted this time, and a small crowd of men gathered to watch the dance. Their horses circled each other, as both men struggled to land a blow. The man was fast, and surprisingly powerful for his pale and slim stature. Lewys was similarly built, but was more quick than strong. Lewys, trying to gain an advantage, slammed his shield into the man's horse, sending the knight to the ground. The man quickly rose, and cut down Lewys's own mount. Lewys rose just in time to parry a finishing blow, and they were at it again. By now most of the Dornish were on the other side of the river, in an orderly retreat. Lewys lost his footing and spun away from an arcing blow of the Dornish Ghost, still throwing his own counterattack at the man from his knees. When Lewys rose and neither man could gain an advantage, they both made eye contact and froze. The knight looked around and saw that he was surrounded by enemies. Lewys lowered his sword and nodded at the man, and his men stepped aside. The knight nodded back to Lewys and, gaining back control of his horse, rode across the river. The archers looked at Lewys for orders, but he held up his hand. "Leave him be. Today is not his to die." The men, not understanding, shrugged. All around them cheers were going up from 11,000 survivors. The allies had won, they had thrown back the might of Dorne. Lewys sat thinking of the man he had just battled. "We will dance again, you and I. And the next time both of us won't be walking away," he mumbled aloud, more to himself than anyone else.
Results:
Lewys improves from master sword (double improved) to GM
Lewys improves from master battle command to master battle command(improved)