Post by The Stranger on Jul 17, 2008 10:27:48 GMT -5
Lord Irwyn paced about the keep at Deep Den, he had not been in many sieges during his rapid ascent to a legendary general and this one was beginning to wear him down. While the West and Crownlands had managed to accomplish their mission of stalling the enemy at Deep Den, the enemy and the Ironborn had still managed to take Riverrun and would soon have an open run towards the Capital. He had heard nothing from the Capital, The North, The Vale or the Riverlands in many days, and while he knew the Mander and Far Reach were marching towards Deep Den via Lannisport, he was not sure if his army would be relieved in time to provide for the capital’s defense.
Alexander knew that the enemy would soon realize that the kingdom’s forces were closing in on him and react in one of three ways: attempt a desperate assault on the keep; withdraw and try and rendezvous with their other host; or stand and fight against a larger force. Which of the three options it would be, however, only the Smith knew. Alexander knew that the only thing that he could control was the defense of Deep Den. Alexander had the army spend the past few months reinforcing the walls and gates damaged from the first enemy assault, repairing and strengthening the gate and replacing gaps in the wall with loose stone, wood or in the worse case straw. His men had found a way for one man to fire 7 crossbows, to help improve the amount of projectiles that could be hurled at the enemy below.
Despite the precautions, the men at Deep Den were tired and scared and the Lord Hand made it a point to walk the ramparts every day and talk with the men and reassure them that they would prevail here.
“We’r all going to fucking die here,” a soldier said to his friends around a campfire. The soldier had not known that Lord Irwyn was nearby but the terrified looks on his buddies faces told him something was a miss.
“Get up,” Alexander growled towards the group of men, who hurriedly came to attention mostly out of fear rather then military courtesy. “What did you say?” Alexander said to the man.
“Mi lord, it was, I was,” the man stumbled.
“I didn’t ask you what it was, I asked you what you said?” Alexander said slowly his face near the man’s so he could hear every word.
“I said milord that we might all die here,” the man said weakly.
“That is not what you said,” Alexander said his eyes gazing into the man’s, “I want you to repeat the words you said to your friends to me.”
“Mi Lord, I was. . .”
“Now!” Alexander ordered his voice booming in the winter air.
“I said were all going to fucking die here milord,” the man said meekly.
“Good what’s your name soldier?” Alexander said more calmly.
“Sssshhh Sean, mi lord,” the man replied.
“And where are you from Sean?” Alexander asked again.
“rrrrrRosby mi lord,” the man said again.
“Well Sean of Rosby, you are not going to die until I order you to or the stranger himself comes to take you,” Alexander said before adding, “Is that clear?”
The man seemed a little taken back and looked around at his buddies for an answer.
“I said is that clear?” Alexander said louder indicating he was looking for an answer sometime before the end of the war.
“Yes mi lord,” Sean said.
“Good,” Alexander said before raising his voice so all nearby could hear, “Because the next man that I hear saying we are going to die here. . .” Alexander paused, “I will make sure their wish becomes a reality.” Alexander turned towards the other men who had gathered around, “We will never achieve victory with defeat in our hearts . . . because the warrior only recognizes those who first recognize themselves.”
Alexander turned and left the men with those final words before continuing his tour of the defenses. Alexander knew that soldiers would always gripe, they had just better learn to do it out of his earshot.
Results:
Defensive Preparations continue at Deep Den
Alexander knew that the enemy would soon realize that the kingdom’s forces were closing in on him and react in one of three ways: attempt a desperate assault on the keep; withdraw and try and rendezvous with their other host; or stand and fight against a larger force. Which of the three options it would be, however, only the Smith knew. Alexander knew that the only thing that he could control was the defense of Deep Den. Alexander had the army spend the past few months reinforcing the walls and gates damaged from the first enemy assault, repairing and strengthening the gate and replacing gaps in the wall with loose stone, wood or in the worse case straw. His men had found a way for one man to fire 7 crossbows, to help improve the amount of projectiles that could be hurled at the enemy below.
Despite the precautions, the men at Deep Den were tired and scared and the Lord Hand made it a point to walk the ramparts every day and talk with the men and reassure them that they would prevail here.
“We’r all going to fucking die here,” a soldier said to his friends around a campfire. The soldier had not known that Lord Irwyn was nearby but the terrified looks on his buddies faces told him something was a miss.
“Get up,” Alexander growled towards the group of men, who hurriedly came to attention mostly out of fear rather then military courtesy. “What did you say?” Alexander said to the man.
“Mi lord, it was, I was,” the man stumbled.
“I didn’t ask you what it was, I asked you what you said?” Alexander said slowly his face near the man’s so he could hear every word.
“I said milord that we might all die here,” the man said weakly.
“That is not what you said,” Alexander said his eyes gazing into the man’s, “I want you to repeat the words you said to your friends to me.”
“Mi Lord, I was. . .”
“Now!” Alexander ordered his voice booming in the winter air.
“I said were all going to fucking die here milord,” the man said meekly.
“Good what’s your name soldier?” Alexander said more calmly.
“Sssshhh Sean, mi lord,” the man replied.
“And where are you from Sean?” Alexander asked again.
“rrrrrRosby mi lord,” the man said again.
“Well Sean of Rosby, you are not going to die until I order you to or the stranger himself comes to take you,” Alexander said before adding, “Is that clear?”
The man seemed a little taken back and looked around at his buddies for an answer.
“I said is that clear?” Alexander said louder indicating he was looking for an answer sometime before the end of the war.
“Yes mi lord,” Sean said.
“Good,” Alexander said before raising his voice so all nearby could hear, “Because the next man that I hear saying we are going to die here. . .” Alexander paused, “I will make sure their wish becomes a reality.” Alexander turned towards the other men who had gathered around, “We will never achieve victory with defeat in our hearts . . . because the warrior only recognizes those who first recognize themselves.”
Alexander turned and left the men with those final words before continuing his tour of the defenses. Alexander knew that soldiers would always gripe, they had just better learn to do it out of his earshot.
Results:
Defensive Preparations continue at Deep Den