Horn Hill's War Room

[The Flint]

Cyrus nodded, "We must await the outcome of Ser Samuel's letter to Rowan first. That shall be a key factor."

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

Dorian sat in the corner continuing to eat his apple. "I know we are all eager to be blooded but history shows that discretion is the better part of valor," the bookish Florent said.

"I say let the North and Riverlands bleed the best of Rodrick's army and we sit firm as was the original plan. If an opportunity arises then we may need to reconsider, but for now there is no more commanding a position then Horn Hill with our Fleet at our backs."

"This war was about Justice not Glory and I ensure you that there will be plenty of battles to wage after Rodrick is defeated, the closer to full strength our fleet and armies are the more influential we can be in determining the outcome after this war. . . unless you'd prefer to fight a Lion from a weakened position."

[The Flint]

Cyrus nodded. "I respect what you're saying Dorian, but if do not take any action we risk losing our allies. If we can supplement ourselves with even a portion of the Mander's strength, its an opportunity worth taking no?"

[Ser Jayk Redwyne]

"The question is whether we can strengthen our position, now, by striking quickly. Certainly in the Reach this would appear to be the best policy, since we can anticipate the Mandermen turning against us.

"How do you propose we strengthen our position? For the longer we remain inactive, the more allies will flock to our foe. Expanding the fleet might be an idea... expensive, but a worthy investment. I may look into it."

[The Flint]

"We can scarcely expand the fleet in the middle of war Time Ser Jayk. This may be a wise policy if we make it through. But not now." Cyrus replied.

[Sam]

"We should not rely on any support from the Mander; likely we will have to fight them sometime soon, but for now we should just hope that they keep fighting each other so that we can benefit from their chaos and ineptitude," Samuel said with a frown.

[Ser Jayk Redwyne]

"Clearly in the midst of fighting is not the time to build ships; but it is a long process, and requires much preparation.

"We must not rely on any support from the Mander, but surely we must do something rather than watch events around us unfold to our detriment? If it does not draw others to our cause, striking against Mander houses would at least rid us of enemies before they unite."

[Sam]

Breck said that he's marching north to meet up with the Vale to kill Rodrick, and he asked if we would hold Nightsong for him. Would you mind, Hightower, if we sent 2,000 men there to garrison the castle? That should be enough to hold it against the Dornish for now, and I'm loathe to ask for more since I know we need every man we can get.

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

"Why didn't Lord Dondarrion send his request to Lord Hightower? 2000 men will probably not be able to hold Nightsong if the Dornish march all their men in the pass."

[Sam]

"He is marching north with 5,000 swords, leaving 3,000 at Nightsong. Even 1,000 of our men would be able to augment the defenders enough to hold against the Dornish in the Prince's Pass, should they march, although the fool still leaves his own seat at Blackhaven woefully undefended."

[The Flint]

"I fear there is little we can say to convince Lord Dondarrion to be sensible. I have tried and tried." says Lord Justin, tugging irritably on his leather jerkin. "Everyone wants to ride off and be a goddamn hero, without paying attention to whether it bodes well or ill for the war effort."

[Sam]

"True, although it might be wise to send some swords to Nightsong like he asks, if simply for the reason that we do not want to alienate one of our remaining allies. The Riverlands have been wholly subjugated by Rodrick, and he's also bloodied 'King' Cedric's armies. Unless the Royce and Stark armies combine before they fight Rodrick, it seems like he'll simply defeat them each in turn and absorb the survivors into his own force. Dondarrion is a fool to leave the Stormlands, considering how chaotic they are particularly.

"I asked Dondarrion to raid Ashford, which is close, so that he might draw the Mander armies out of Highgarden, perhaps us our our Ironborn allies would have been able to get between them and Highgarden's walls, to defeat them in the field, but he decided to ride north through hostile territory leaving his own lands undefended instead."

[The Flint]

"You asked Lord Dondarrion to raid Ashford? Why did you do that? Who gave you permission to do that?" Justin asked. He sounded more curious than angry.

"And he has not spoken to me about sending men to hold Nightsong. If he had, i should be inclined to accept."

[Sam]

Samuel's beard covered most of the red that crept up into his cheeks, but he replied in a subdued voice, "I am sorry my lord, I merely thought that since it was undefended it would be an easy strike for him, and shifting men out of Nightsong would not provide much of a danger, since the majority of the Dornish force is not located in the Prince's Pass," he paused for a moment, before continuing. "I acted without authorization, and I am sorry, my lord, but my hope was that a raid might draw the Mander armies, or at least part of them, away from Highgarden, which might leave us with more options when battle comes."

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

"How long would it take to march to Nightsong if the need arose, perhaps we could send scouts to watch for any sign that the Dornish march norht and should they move send reenforcements then. It seems foolish to move our position when we are confident the Mander will march and are not sure whether the Dornish will. If we knew that 2000 men would make the difference against 10,000 then it might be worthwhile but I see them adding little. If we move to Blackhaven it should be in large enough numbers to crush the Dornish yet I am not sure it is worth splitting our forces to do so."