Post by The Smith on Nov 4, 2008 0:23:04 GMT -5
Ser Samuel Tarly watched his father’s men work on the fortifications that stretched from Horn Hill, all the way to the Mander River that marked the northern border of the Reach, and he made sure to pay attention to the minutest details. He had been studying books on engineering and architecture in Horn Hill’s library, and he studied them at night while directing the soldiers at their work during the day. The long forts were still made of wood, though they were elaborate weaves of sharpened stakes, traps, and every mile there was a large tower and gate through which soldiers could be transported. News came in of the divisions of loyalties in the Stormlands, as well as tidings of coming war from all corners of Westeros.
He studied tactics as well, hoping to learn something new that he had not seen before. One day, word came in that part of Highgarden’s strength had marched Searoad, toward Lord Oakheart’s host. Samuel closed the book he had been reading, a book written by a maester during the time of Robert’s Rebellion, about the tactics of one of his ancestors, the Lord Randyll Tarly, a veritable genius on the battlefield. He’d learned a few tricks he had not known before about utilizing horsemen against foot throughout the course of his reading, and was glad for the knowledge.
He left the library, entering his father’s Solar, which had been converted into a war room, since the armies had begun to gather at Horn Hill. A large map of the southern half of Westeros spread across several desks that had been pushed together to accommodate it. Based on the reports that were coming in from informants and travelers around Westeros, the map was covered with small figures representing soldiers and ships, each placed near the position where the men they represented were last reported to be garrisoned.
Studying the map, Samuel frowned. He attempted to think and anticipate the moves that the enemies of the Far Reach would be making and he stared at the map for many hours in deep thought, long past the setting and then subsequent rising of the sun. He jerked to alertness by the sound of horns and looked out a southern-facing window to see a vast host approaching from the direction, and though the sun shined into his eyes he could make out the trees and sunflowers decorating the banners, and he realized that Loren had arrived from the south, with more men from the Uplands, and the banners of House Cuy could only mean that the men of Sunhouse had come under the command of one of the few men in the Far Reach more skilled in the art of tactics than Samuel’s father, Ser Derick Cuy.
Samuel abandoned the solar, and charged down the steps of the tower, heading toward the gates.
Ser Samuel Tarly gains Beginner Engineering (Siegecraft and Fortifications)
Ser Samuel Tarly improves toward Master Battle
He studied tactics as well, hoping to learn something new that he had not seen before. One day, word came in that part of Highgarden’s strength had marched Searoad, toward Lord Oakheart’s host. Samuel closed the book he had been reading, a book written by a maester during the time of Robert’s Rebellion, about the tactics of one of his ancestors, the Lord Randyll Tarly, a veritable genius on the battlefield. He’d learned a few tricks he had not known before about utilizing horsemen against foot throughout the course of his reading, and was glad for the knowledge.
He left the library, entering his father’s Solar, which had been converted into a war room, since the armies had begun to gather at Horn Hill. A large map of the southern half of Westeros spread across several desks that had been pushed together to accommodate it. Based on the reports that were coming in from informants and travelers around Westeros, the map was covered with small figures representing soldiers and ships, each placed near the position where the men they represented were last reported to be garrisoned.
Studying the map, Samuel frowned. He attempted to think and anticipate the moves that the enemies of the Far Reach would be making and he stared at the map for many hours in deep thought, long past the setting and then subsequent rising of the sun. He jerked to alertness by the sound of horns and looked out a southern-facing window to see a vast host approaching from the direction, and though the sun shined into his eyes he could make out the trees and sunflowers decorating the banners, and he realized that Loren had arrived from the south, with more men from the Uplands, and the banners of House Cuy could only mean that the men of Sunhouse had come under the command of one of the few men in the Far Reach more skilled in the art of tactics than Samuel’s father, Ser Derick Cuy.
Samuel abandoned the solar, and charged down the steps of the tower, heading toward the gates.
Ser Samuel Tarly gains Beginner Engineering (Siegecraft and Fortifications)
Ser Samuel Tarly improves toward Master Battle