Post by The Smith on May 9, 2008 23:57:16 GMT -5
With the continuing foul weather wearing on the morale of the inhabitants of Dragonstone Prince Avery had determined to show his people somewhat of the sieges which had taken place in other parts of Westeros and that which Dragonstone might come under in the future.
As an exercise for the young nobles of both Dragonstone and Driftmark he had determined that a mock wooden castle erected. Built of wood, complete with battlements and towers, with a small moat outside, it had been set up in the clearing normally reserved for the lists. The walls were 200 feet long and 12 feet in height, with a tower at the end and one over the gateway in the centre six feet high. There was also a drawbridge defended by an outwork of palisades six feet high. The moat was dry one and only two feet deep, but it would be considered to be full of water, and had to be crossed on planks or bridges. Two small towers on wheels would also be employed, which could be run up to the edge of the moat, and would be as high as the top of the towers.
Avery had determined that the mock siege would be fought by two sides of one hundred each, each commanded by an extra ten knights. Crossbows and arrows were also to be used, but the weapons would be blunted. There were ladders, planks for making bridges, long hooks for hauling men down from the wall, beams for battering down the gate, axes for cutting down the palisades, and all other weapons that were normally employed. Those who were fighting as common soldiers were to wear steel caps and breastpieces, with leather jerkins, and visors to protect their faces, for even a blunted arrow or wooden quarrel could well kill if it struck true. The ten knights on each side were to be in full armour as befitted their status in the melee.
His cousin Rhaegar was to command the Driftmark party while Avery had determined that he himself would in command of the Dragonstone party. Avery knew it would be a rare show, and he hoped that it would delight the people of Dragonstone as well as arousing the warlike spirit of the people and his soldiers. He had spent some time studying maps of fortifciations of other strongholds in Westeros and had consulted those of his captains who had actually fought in sieges about tactics used. No doubt so had Rhaegar. Avery had formulated a plan for both defending and attacking the mock castle and hoped he would be able to lead the defence.
On the day of the mock siege, most of Dragonstone poured out to the scene of the sports, and the greatest admiration and wonder was expressed by many at the mock castle. It had been built at one end of the lists, which had been purposely placed in a hollow, so that a great number of people besides those in the pavilions could obtain a view from the surrounding slopes. The castle was substantially built of heavy timber, painted grey, and looked at a little distance as if constructed of stone. A flag floated from the central tower, and the building looked so formidable that the general opinion was freely expressed that the task of the assailants, whoever they might be - for at present this was unknown – was quite impossible.
It was mid morning before Prince Avery and his attendants including Queen Elyssandra and Lady Alessa Velaryon, nursing her newborn son Monterys Velaryon, arrived. After they had taken their places the two bands advanced from the lower end of the lists, and drew up in front of the royal pavilion. Prince Avery laughed and joked with his cousin Rhaegar Velaryon as they prepared to take command of their various bands.
Upon the two parties taking their places before the pavilion Avery addressed them and the multitude.
"To you my people, I have contrived the pastime today that I may show you on a small scale the deeds which my brave soldiers may be called upon to perform in reality very soon. Today hopefully each party will fight his best and you all shall witness acts of bravery and deeds of arms that will inspire you.
"Remember that, even in the heat of conflict, matters must not be carried to an extreme. Those cut off from their friends will be accounted prisoners, as will those who, being overpowered, throw down their arms. Any wounded on either side will not be accounted as prisoners, but may retire with honour from the field.”
"Cousin," he said, looking at Rhaegar, I give you the choice of either the attack or defence; but I should advise you to take the former, seeing that it is easier to defend a fortress than to assault it. Many of your party have already gained credit in real warfare with your father in the Crownlands, while many of my following are new to it.
"If your liege will permit me," Rhaegar said bowing, "I would prefer take the defence. Methinks that, with my following and skills, I could do better thus than in defence."
Avery looked somewhat startled as he had hoped to practice his skills in defending fortifications.
"As you will Cousin," he said somewhat angrily; "but I fear this will somewhat mar the effect of the spectacle seeing that I will have a far lesser chance whatever against an equal force, more accustomed to war than my party, and occupying so superior a position. However," he went on, seeing that Rhaegar made no sign of changing his mind, "as you have chosen, so be it."
To loud cheers from the assembled populace and with flags flying and trumpets blowing young Lord Velaryon led his forces into the castle. Each of his ten knights was followed by an esquire bearing his banner, and each had ten men-at-arms under his immediate order. Two of them, with twenty men, remained in the outwork beyond the drawbridge. The rest took their station on the walls, and towers, where a platform had been erected, running along three feet below the battlements. Other men-at-arms, not partaking in the mock siege with the machines of war now advanced, and for a time worked the machines, which made pretence at casting great stones and missiles at the walls. The assailants on Avery’s orders then moved forward and, unslinging their bows, opened a heavy fire of arrows at the defenders, who, in turn, replied with arrows and cross-bows.
The return fire from the walls was feeble and Avery ordered his men to move up to the towers of the castle under the shelter of the fire of the archers."
By this time Rhaegar, seeing that his followers could make no effectual reply to the arrow fire, had ordered all, save the leaders in full armour to lie down behind the parapet. The assailants gathered thickly round each tower, as if they intended to attempt to cross by the bridges, which could be let down from an opening in the tower level with the top of the wall, while archers upon the summit shot fast and thick among the defenders who were gathering to oppose them.
"If Rhaegar is wise," Avery said to his second in command, "he will make a strong sally now and fall upon one or other of the parties. Be prepared and get to work on the second part of our plan."
As he spoke there was a sudden movement on the part of the assailants, who leaving the foot of the towers, made a rush at the outwork in the centre. The instant they arrived they fell to work with axes upon the palisades. Many were struck down by the blows dealt them by the defenders, but others caught up the axes and in less than a minute several of the palisades were cut down and the assailants poured in. The defenders fought gallantly, but they were overpowered by numbers. Some were struck down, others taken prisoners by main force, and the rest driven across the drawbridge, just as the gates were opened and Rhaegar, at the head of the defenders, swarmed out to their assistance.
There was a desperate fight on the bridge, and it was well that the armour tthat they were wearing was strong. Several were knocked off the bridge into the moat, and these were, by the rules, obliged at once to retire and take no further part in the contest. Avery and Rhaegar fought in front of their men on their respective sides. However as hard as Rhaegar and his followers struggled, they could not drive Avery’s party back a foot. The castle party were galled by the heavy fire of arrows kept up by the town apprentices fighting on Avery’s side along the side of the moat. Finding all his efforts to regain the earth-work useless, Rhaegar withdrew his forces into the castle, and in spite of the efforts of the besiegers managed to close the gates in their faces. The assailants, however, succeeded in severing the chains of the drawbridge before it could be raised.
From the tower above, the defenders now hurled over great stones, which had been specially placed there for the purpose of destroying the drawbridge should the earthwork be carried. The boards were soon splintered, and the drawbridge was pronounced by the Ser Ameron Velaryon, who was acting as judge, to be destroyed. The excitement of the spectators was worked up to a great pitch while the conflict was going on, and the people cheered lustily at the success of their Prince and the Dragonstone party.
"That was gallantly done," said Ser Ameron on horseback said to Queen Ellysandra who was seated in the royal pavilion. "You see, by Avery placing his forces at the ends of the wall he drew all the garrison there to withstand the assaults from them, and thus by his sudden movement he was able to carry the outwork before they could recover from their surprise, and come down to its aid. I am curious to know what he will do next.” What do you think Godry?" he asked Ser Godry Farring, who was standing by his side.
Ser Godry did not answer but pointed excitedly. "See, Ameron they are taking planks and ladders to the outwork."
"They are doing wrongly then," said Ameron, "for even should they bridge the moat where the drawbridge is, they cannot scale the wall there, since the tower defends it, and the ladders are but long enough to reach the lower wall.
"No wait!" he continued. "Avery has changed his mind, they are taking the planks along the edge of the moat towards the tower on the left, and will aid the assault by its bridge by a passage of the moat there."
While some of Avery’s party kept up the arrow fire on the wall others mounted the tower, while a party prepared to throw a bridge of planks across the moat. The bridge from the tower was now lowered; but a shout of triumph rose from the defenders when it was seen that by some mistake of the carpenters this was too short, and when lowered did not reach within six feet of the wall.
Ameron frowned, but Godry laughed "Accidents of this kind will happen. Let’s see what Avery can make of this! He should carry planks up to the tower and so connect the bridge and the wall."
This, indeed, was what the the Dragonstone assailants tried to do, while a party threw planks across the moat, and rushing over placed ladders against the wall and strove to climb. They strove in vain, however. The ladders were thrown down as fast as they were placed, while the defenders, thickly clustered on the walls, drove back those who tried to cross from the tower.
"Look, young Velaryon is making a sortie!" shouted Godry with excitement.
From the sortie gate behind the tower the defenders now poured out, and running down to the edge of the moat fell upon the stormers. These however, received them with great steadiness, and while some continued the attack the rest turned upon the garrison, and drove them gradually back.
As only a portion of the Driftmark garrison had issued out they were unable to resist long the pressure of the Dragonstone men, who drove them back step by step to the sally- port, and pressing them hard endeavoured to force their way in at their heels.
While the attention of the whole of the spectators and combatants was fixed upon the struggle at the right-hand angle of the castle, a party of twenty of the Dragonstone assailants suddenly leapt to their feet from among the broken palisades of the outwork. Lying prone there they had escaped the attention of the spectators as well as of the defenders. The reason why the assailants carried the planks and ladders to this spot was now apparent. Only a portion had been taken on to the assault of the right-hand tower; those who now rose to their feet lifted with them planks and ladders, and at a rapid pace ran towards the left angle of the castle, and reached that point before the attention of the few defenders who remained on the wall there was attracted to them, so absorbed were they in the struggle at the other angle. The moment that they saw the new assailants they raised a shout of alarm, but the din of the combat, the shouts of the crowd and men were so loud, that their cries were unheard. Two or three then hurried away at full speed to give the alarm, while the others strove to repel the assault.
Their efforts were in vain. The planks were flung across the moat, the ladders placed in position, and led by Avery himself, the assailants sprang up and gained a footing on the wall before the alarm was fairly given. A thundering cheer from the spectators greeted the success of Dragonstone party.
Springing along the wall they drove before them the few who strove to oppose them, gained the central tower, and Avery, springing up to the top pulled down the green seahorse banner of the defenders and placed that of the Baratheons in its place. At this moment the defenders, awakened too late to the ruse which had been played upon them, came swarming back along the wall and strove to regain the central tower. In the confusion the assault by the flying tower of the assailants was neglected, and at this point also they gained footing on the wall. The Driftmark party, furious at being outwitted fought desperately to regain their lost laurels.
However Queen Elyssandra rose from her seat and held up her hand. The trumpeter standing below her sounded the arrest of arms. At the sound swords dropped and the din abruptly ceased, but the combatants stood glaring at each other, their blood too heated to relinquish the fray readily.
Already some damage had been done. In spite of armour and mail many serious wounds had been inflicted, and some of the combatants had already been carried senseless from the field. Some of the assailants had been much shaken by being thrown backward from the ladders into the moat, one or two were fatally hurt; but as few tourneys took place without the loss of several lives, this was considered but a small amount of damage for so stoutly fought a melee, and the knowledge that many were wounded, and some perhaps dying, in no way damped the enthusiasm of the spectators, who cheered lustily for some minutes at the triumph which Dragonstone had obtained. In the galleries occupied by those of Driftmark there was a comparative silence. Lady Alessa herself kept a stony face.
Ser Ameron rode up to the front of the royal pavilion and addressed Queen Elyssandra.
"I was about to stop the fight, my lady, when you gave the signal. Their blood was up, and many would have been killed had the combat continued. But the castle was fairly won, the central tower was taken and the flag pulled down, a footing had been gained at another point of the wall, and the assailants had forced their way through the sally-port. Further resistance was therefore hopeless, and the castle must be adjudged as fairly and honourably captured."
A huge shout greeted the judge's decision. Prince Avery and Lord Rhaegar were cheered lustily as they made their way towards the royal pavilion.
"Young sirs," the Queen said, "you have borne yourself right gallantly today and have shown that you possess the qualities which make a great captain and prince."
A murmur of assent rose from the knights and nobles, whilst the Queen addressed her son: The judge Ser Ameron Velaryon has adjudged you victor, and none can doubt what the end of the strife would have been."
She then spoke gently to her nephew. "You have done well, Rhaegar though you have been worsted you fought bravely, but you were deceived by a ruse which might have taken in a more experienced captain. I trust that you will learn from the experience and remain your cousin’s Avery trusted lieutenant.”
The crowd cheered again and the cloud which had hung over the face of Rhaegar cleared. It had indeed been a bitter mortification to him that he had been defeated, when he had clearly the advantage at the beginning of the day.
Rhaegar turned frankly to Avery and held out his hand. “Well done Cousin," he said, "and hope some day I may do better than I have done today. I certainly learnt a great deal."
Avery grinned. "As did I cousin. As did I."
To further loud cheers from the populace, the cousins embraced.
Results:Avery Baratheon moves towards Master in Command.
Avery Baratheon moves to Expert level in Battle Strategy
Rhaegar Velaryon moves to Noteworthy level in Battle Strategy
Rhaegar Velaryon moves to Expert level in Command.
The warlike disposition of the people of Dragonstone is increased.
The captains of the garrison and other defenders of Dragonstone become more familiar with siege tactics and can independently respond competently to crisis situations.
As an exercise for the young nobles of both Dragonstone and Driftmark he had determined that a mock wooden castle erected. Built of wood, complete with battlements and towers, with a small moat outside, it had been set up in the clearing normally reserved for the lists. The walls were 200 feet long and 12 feet in height, with a tower at the end and one over the gateway in the centre six feet high. There was also a drawbridge defended by an outwork of palisades six feet high. The moat was dry one and only two feet deep, but it would be considered to be full of water, and had to be crossed on planks or bridges. Two small towers on wheels would also be employed, which could be run up to the edge of the moat, and would be as high as the top of the towers.
Avery had determined that the mock siege would be fought by two sides of one hundred each, each commanded by an extra ten knights. Crossbows and arrows were also to be used, but the weapons would be blunted. There were ladders, planks for making bridges, long hooks for hauling men down from the wall, beams for battering down the gate, axes for cutting down the palisades, and all other weapons that were normally employed. Those who were fighting as common soldiers were to wear steel caps and breastpieces, with leather jerkins, and visors to protect their faces, for even a blunted arrow or wooden quarrel could well kill if it struck true. The ten knights on each side were to be in full armour as befitted their status in the melee.
His cousin Rhaegar was to command the Driftmark party while Avery had determined that he himself would in command of the Dragonstone party. Avery knew it would be a rare show, and he hoped that it would delight the people of Dragonstone as well as arousing the warlike spirit of the people and his soldiers. He had spent some time studying maps of fortifciations of other strongholds in Westeros and had consulted those of his captains who had actually fought in sieges about tactics used. No doubt so had Rhaegar. Avery had formulated a plan for both defending and attacking the mock castle and hoped he would be able to lead the defence.
On the day of the mock siege, most of Dragonstone poured out to the scene of the sports, and the greatest admiration and wonder was expressed by many at the mock castle. It had been built at one end of the lists, which had been purposely placed in a hollow, so that a great number of people besides those in the pavilions could obtain a view from the surrounding slopes. The castle was substantially built of heavy timber, painted grey, and looked at a little distance as if constructed of stone. A flag floated from the central tower, and the building looked so formidable that the general opinion was freely expressed that the task of the assailants, whoever they might be - for at present this was unknown – was quite impossible.
It was mid morning before Prince Avery and his attendants including Queen Elyssandra and Lady Alessa Velaryon, nursing her newborn son Monterys Velaryon, arrived. After they had taken their places the two bands advanced from the lower end of the lists, and drew up in front of the royal pavilion. Prince Avery laughed and joked with his cousin Rhaegar Velaryon as they prepared to take command of their various bands.
Upon the two parties taking their places before the pavilion Avery addressed them and the multitude.
"To you my people, I have contrived the pastime today that I may show you on a small scale the deeds which my brave soldiers may be called upon to perform in reality very soon. Today hopefully each party will fight his best and you all shall witness acts of bravery and deeds of arms that will inspire you.
"Remember that, even in the heat of conflict, matters must not be carried to an extreme. Those cut off from their friends will be accounted prisoners, as will those who, being overpowered, throw down their arms. Any wounded on either side will not be accounted as prisoners, but may retire with honour from the field.”
"Cousin," he said, looking at Rhaegar, I give you the choice of either the attack or defence; but I should advise you to take the former, seeing that it is easier to defend a fortress than to assault it. Many of your party have already gained credit in real warfare with your father in the Crownlands, while many of my following are new to it.
"If your liege will permit me," Rhaegar said bowing, "I would prefer take the defence. Methinks that, with my following and skills, I could do better thus than in defence."
Avery looked somewhat startled as he had hoped to practice his skills in defending fortifications.
"As you will Cousin," he said somewhat angrily; "but I fear this will somewhat mar the effect of the spectacle seeing that I will have a far lesser chance whatever against an equal force, more accustomed to war than my party, and occupying so superior a position. However," he went on, seeing that Rhaegar made no sign of changing his mind, "as you have chosen, so be it."
To loud cheers from the assembled populace and with flags flying and trumpets blowing young Lord Velaryon led his forces into the castle. Each of his ten knights was followed by an esquire bearing his banner, and each had ten men-at-arms under his immediate order. Two of them, with twenty men, remained in the outwork beyond the drawbridge. The rest took their station on the walls, and towers, where a platform had been erected, running along three feet below the battlements. Other men-at-arms, not partaking in the mock siege with the machines of war now advanced, and for a time worked the machines, which made pretence at casting great stones and missiles at the walls. The assailants on Avery’s orders then moved forward and, unslinging their bows, opened a heavy fire of arrows at the defenders, who, in turn, replied with arrows and cross-bows.
The return fire from the walls was feeble and Avery ordered his men to move up to the towers of the castle under the shelter of the fire of the archers."
By this time Rhaegar, seeing that his followers could make no effectual reply to the arrow fire, had ordered all, save the leaders in full armour to lie down behind the parapet. The assailants gathered thickly round each tower, as if they intended to attempt to cross by the bridges, which could be let down from an opening in the tower level with the top of the wall, while archers upon the summit shot fast and thick among the defenders who were gathering to oppose them.
"If Rhaegar is wise," Avery said to his second in command, "he will make a strong sally now and fall upon one or other of the parties. Be prepared and get to work on the second part of our plan."
As he spoke there was a sudden movement on the part of the assailants, who leaving the foot of the towers, made a rush at the outwork in the centre. The instant they arrived they fell to work with axes upon the palisades. Many were struck down by the blows dealt them by the defenders, but others caught up the axes and in less than a minute several of the palisades were cut down and the assailants poured in. The defenders fought gallantly, but they were overpowered by numbers. Some were struck down, others taken prisoners by main force, and the rest driven across the drawbridge, just as the gates were opened and Rhaegar, at the head of the defenders, swarmed out to their assistance.
There was a desperate fight on the bridge, and it was well that the armour tthat they were wearing was strong. Several were knocked off the bridge into the moat, and these were, by the rules, obliged at once to retire and take no further part in the contest. Avery and Rhaegar fought in front of their men on their respective sides. However as hard as Rhaegar and his followers struggled, they could not drive Avery’s party back a foot. The castle party were galled by the heavy fire of arrows kept up by the town apprentices fighting on Avery’s side along the side of the moat. Finding all his efforts to regain the earth-work useless, Rhaegar withdrew his forces into the castle, and in spite of the efforts of the besiegers managed to close the gates in their faces. The assailants, however, succeeded in severing the chains of the drawbridge before it could be raised.
From the tower above, the defenders now hurled over great stones, which had been specially placed there for the purpose of destroying the drawbridge should the earthwork be carried. The boards were soon splintered, and the drawbridge was pronounced by the Ser Ameron Velaryon, who was acting as judge, to be destroyed. The excitement of the spectators was worked up to a great pitch while the conflict was going on, and the people cheered lustily at the success of their Prince and the Dragonstone party.
"That was gallantly done," said Ser Ameron on horseback said to Queen Ellysandra who was seated in the royal pavilion. "You see, by Avery placing his forces at the ends of the wall he drew all the garrison there to withstand the assaults from them, and thus by his sudden movement he was able to carry the outwork before they could recover from their surprise, and come down to its aid. I am curious to know what he will do next.” What do you think Godry?" he asked Ser Godry Farring, who was standing by his side.
Ser Godry did not answer but pointed excitedly. "See, Ameron they are taking planks and ladders to the outwork."
"They are doing wrongly then," said Ameron, "for even should they bridge the moat where the drawbridge is, they cannot scale the wall there, since the tower defends it, and the ladders are but long enough to reach the lower wall.
"No wait!" he continued. "Avery has changed his mind, they are taking the planks along the edge of the moat towards the tower on the left, and will aid the assault by its bridge by a passage of the moat there."
While some of Avery’s party kept up the arrow fire on the wall others mounted the tower, while a party prepared to throw a bridge of planks across the moat. The bridge from the tower was now lowered; but a shout of triumph rose from the defenders when it was seen that by some mistake of the carpenters this was too short, and when lowered did not reach within six feet of the wall.
Ameron frowned, but Godry laughed "Accidents of this kind will happen. Let’s see what Avery can make of this! He should carry planks up to the tower and so connect the bridge and the wall."
This, indeed, was what the the Dragonstone assailants tried to do, while a party threw planks across the moat, and rushing over placed ladders against the wall and strove to climb. They strove in vain, however. The ladders were thrown down as fast as they were placed, while the defenders, thickly clustered on the walls, drove back those who tried to cross from the tower.
"Look, young Velaryon is making a sortie!" shouted Godry with excitement.
From the sortie gate behind the tower the defenders now poured out, and running down to the edge of the moat fell upon the stormers. These however, received them with great steadiness, and while some continued the attack the rest turned upon the garrison, and drove them gradually back.
As only a portion of the Driftmark garrison had issued out they were unable to resist long the pressure of the Dragonstone men, who drove them back step by step to the sally- port, and pressing them hard endeavoured to force their way in at their heels.
While the attention of the whole of the spectators and combatants was fixed upon the struggle at the right-hand angle of the castle, a party of twenty of the Dragonstone assailants suddenly leapt to their feet from among the broken palisades of the outwork. Lying prone there they had escaped the attention of the spectators as well as of the defenders. The reason why the assailants carried the planks and ladders to this spot was now apparent. Only a portion had been taken on to the assault of the right-hand tower; those who now rose to their feet lifted with them planks and ladders, and at a rapid pace ran towards the left angle of the castle, and reached that point before the attention of the few defenders who remained on the wall there was attracted to them, so absorbed were they in the struggle at the other angle. The moment that they saw the new assailants they raised a shout of alarm, but the din of the combat, the shouts of the crowd and men were so loud, that their cries were unheard. Two or three then hurried away at full speed to give the alarm, while the others strove to repel the assault.
Their efforts were in vain. The planks were flung across the moat, the ladders placed in position, and led by Avery himself, the assailants sprang up and gained a footing on the wall before the alarm was fairly given. A thundering cheer from the spectators greeted the success of Dragonstone party.
Springing along the wall they drove before them the few who strove to oppose them, gained the central tower, and Avery, springing up to the top pulled down the green seahorse banner of the defenders and placed that of the Baratheons in its place. At this moment the defenders, awakened too late to the ruse which had been played upon them, came swarming back along the wall and strove to regain the central tower. In the confusion the assault by the flying tower of the assailants was neglected, and at this point also they gained footing on the wall. The Driftmark party, furious at being outwitted fought desperately to regain their lost laurels.
However Queen Elyssandra rose from her seat and held up her hand. The trumpeter standing below her sounded the arrest of arms. At the sound swords dropped and the din abruptly ceased, but the combatants stood glaring at each other, their blood too heated to relinquish the fray readily.
Already some damage had been done. In spite of armour and mail many serious wounds had been inflicted, and some of the combatants had already been carried senseless from the field. Some of the assailants had been much shaken by being thrown backward from the ladders into the moat, one or two were fatally hurt; but as few tourneys took place without the loss of several lives, this was considered but a small amount of damage for so stoutly fought a melee, and the knowledge that many were wounded, and some perhaps dying, in no way damped the enthusiasm of the spectators, who cheered lustily for some minutes at the triumph which Dragonstone had obtained. In the galleries occupied by those of Driftmark there was a comparative silence. Lady Alessa herself kept a stony face.
Ser Ameron rode up to the front of the royal pavilion and addressed Queen Elyssandra.
"I was about to stop the fight, my lady, when you gave the signal. Their blood was up, and many would have been killed had the combat continued. But the castle was fairly won, the central tower was taken and the flag pulled down, a footing had been gained at another point of the wall, and the assailants had forced their way through the sally-port. Further resistance was therefore hopeless, and the castle must be adjudged as fairly and honourably captured."
A huge shout greeted the judge's decision. Prince Avery and Lord Rhaegar were cheered lustily as they made their way towards the royal pavilion.
"Young sirs," the Queen said, "you have borne yourself right gallantly today and have shown that you possess the qualities which make a great captain and prince."
A murmur of assent rose from the knights and nobles, whilst the Queen addressed her son: The judge Ser Ameron Velaryon has adjudged you victor, and none can doubt what the end of the strife would have been."
She then spoke gently to her nephew. "You have done well, Rhaegar though you have been worsted you fought bravely, but you were deceived by a ruse which might have taken in a more experienced captain. I trust that you will learn from the experience and remain your cousin’s Avery trusted lieutenant.”
The crowd cheered again and the cloud which had hung over the face of Rhaegar cleared. It had indeed been a bitter mortification to him that he had been defeated, when he had clearly the advantage at the beginning of the day.
Rhaegar turned frankly to Avery and held out his hand. “Well done Cousin," he said, "and hope some day I may do better than I have done today. I certainly learnt a great deal."
Avery grinned. "As did I cousin. As did I."
To further loud cheers from the populace, the cousins embraced.
Results:Avery Baratheon moves towards Master in Command.
Avery Baratheon moves to Expert level in Battle Strategy
Rhaegar Velaryon moves to Noteworthy level in Battle Strategy
Rhaegar Velaryon moves to Expert level in Command.
The warlike disposition of the people of Dragonstone is increased.
The captains of the garrison and other defenders of Dragonstone become more familiar with siege tactics and can independently respond competently to crisis situations.