year 212 after conquest - 6 Chapters

1.

Crakehall.

As Lord Farman returns from his conquest on the Arbor, another host is standing ready at Lannisport. United with Maxwell Lannister's banners, a large Lannister army marches down the Ocean Road. The seasoned warriors from Ryamsport, bolstered with fresh recruits, are eager to cut down the Tyrell host, who have cost them dearly over the past months. They now fight on their own lands, prepared to exploit every advantage they have.

When the host reaches the outskirts of Crakehall, the generals are confronted with a meager garrison. The port town is secured in mere hours as they realize House Tyrell has left this position weeks ago, marching back south into the Reach.

Thomas Farman

Maxwell Lannister

2.

Banners raised in the North.

For the first time in decades, House Stark calls to their aid, all their bannermen, from all northern houses that may heed the call. A grand army of northmen gathers south of Winterfell.

As House Stark prepares to march, others raise additional troops to bolster their ranks. Houses Tyrell and Baratheon move new hosts to reinforce their existing forces.

3.

The Cursed Keep.

After his celebrations at the Twins were cut short by an execution, Lord Frey has received leave from his Lord to use the premises of the ruined keep of Harrenhal to hold a grand feast.

The cursed keep lies within the possession of the Riverlords since Aegon burned House Hoare alive within the walls of the enormous castle. Now, within the open grand hall and the dark, molten towers, House Tully hosts a large feast in honor of their storied conquests and victories.

Amongst the guests are Lords from Dorne, dissatisfied with House Martell's recent decisions and many Lords who have previously served Lord Dagon Greyjoy until his defeat at the Blackwater.

Lord Frey predicts an age of prosperity for the Riverlands, as soon as stability returns to the realm.

Ser Bodrick the Bold, from the legendary House Dayne of Starfall:

D8, Bold 5

A spymaster, dealing in cryptic messages and personal secrets:

D10, Resourcefulness 3

Harlon Goodbrother, known as Handsome Harlon, previously serving in the Greyjoy fleet, but looking for new avenues:

D10, Quick-witted 2, Gallant 2

The Lords interested in recruiting these Characters must send envoys to Harrenhal, paying the travel toll on the Omen of Winter, and then must bid on one or more of the Characters, any resources that they may, with the winning bid recruiting the Character and all other bids being generously returned.

Elmo Wode

Artys Arryn

4.

Fire from Water.

Lord Artys Arryn awaits. Beside him, his second in command, Lord Robin Redfort. His troops have returned from Dorne just a fortnight ago. Docked at the port of Ironoaks and quickly moved south toward the mouth of a bog-like stream nearby. His orders had reached the city weeks before he did.

The troops who hadn't participated in his southern excursion have had one task: secure enough quicklime, a common substance here in the limestone peaks of the Vale. Dornish siege engineers in his employ had ensured him, if packed properly into barrels and used in conjunction with shallow waters like the Brimstone or the Scourge, it would produce the required effect.

So for a month, the Knights of the Vale laid their trap. And waited.

But as a host left the Eyrie and finally approached Ironoaks, just as Lord Arryn predicted, it wasn't the famed Edmund Tully that led them, but Ser Elmo Wode, the "Spikeshield". A brilliant defensive commander.

As the Tully army marched on the town, they spotted the slightly smaller force of Valemen positioned by the mouth of a large stream, in boggy terrain. Believing Lord Artys' main host had not returned from Dorne yet, Ser Wode attacked the force to prevent a flanking maneuver when they lay siege to Ironoaks.

The Rivermen did not mind streams, bogs or any water, but were perplexed why their enemy would believe these conditions to be of any advantage to them. They were outnumbered and struggled a lot more with the terrain than House Tully did.

Soon after the battle was joined and Ser Wode committed the bulk of his forces, did they see barrels floating down towards the bog. The Tully forces were fighting past defensive palisades, noticing strange barrels dug into the bog beneath them. Then, they smelled the sulfur.

In quick succession, many of the buried and floating barrels began hissing and smoking, a strange, white cloud emerging above several spots on the battlefield. The gas released smelled sour and of iron. It stung and burned many that stood too close. That is when Lord Artys emerged.

The rest of the Knights of the Vale rode in to support their comrades, the battle quickly turning into dismounted combat amidst noxious clouds of white within the heavy bog between tree lines.

Lord Artys' forces struggled, but the desired effect was achieved. The quicklime gas had turned the battlefield into absolute chaos as knights drowned in the bog, fighting man for man, inch for inch.

Ser Wode saw no other option than to retreat and save his forces. Given enough time, the rugged Rivermen would beat these Knights. But if nothing were to remain of the Riverland's army, then Ironoaks would not save them in the wars to come.

So it was that Lord Artys saw his enemy retreat back toward the Mountains of the Moon rather than take heavy casualties. He had bought time and a narrow victory. That was enough to celebrate.

5.

Unbowed. Unbent. Unbroken.

The words of House Martell are legendary amongst the learned knights of Westeros. The only region to never fall to Targaryen conquest, Dorne had remained independent from the Dragonlords for centuries. "But how could we resist a peace we could take to bed", a Dornish prince once said - the marriages of King Daeron the Good and Princess Daenerys Targaryen united the Seven Kingdoms.

Now, a new conqueror, not a dragon but a falcon had arrived on their doorstep. Lord Maron Martell had invited him in, had heard, first his threats, then his offers, then his pleas and eventually his farewells. House Martell had made it clear, House Arryn could ferry an army to Dorne. But it would mean little as every single life lost resembled a grain of sand in the endless expanse of the broken arm. Dorne would not fall to an invader.

Lord Artys had heeded the advice. If he wished to conquer Dorne, he would do so, not on scorched battlefields outside the sandstone walls of Sunspear but in the pavilions of the Watergardens. With quill and ink instead of sword and lance. If Sunspear was to share its wealth with House Arryn and support them in their time of need, then the two Houses must seal their alliance in matrimony.

The children of Prince Maron were all of Targaryen descent, due to his wife Lady Daenerys. The Arryns had taken many Targaryen princes into their bloodline as well. So, the recently widowed Lord Arryn asked for a hand and left to secure his Kingdom once again, leaving behind a trusted advisor to arrange for the union of the two houses.

6.

Long live the King.

King Rheagel's coronation has brought peace back to

King's Landing. With the danger and fear around

House Blackfyre subsided, House Baratheon gets to

the task of mending old wounds. The fires of the

recent siege are put out, the devastated parts

rebuilt. Ravens are sent out to fill the small council

once again. House Stark and Arryn are invited to

take up their seats of Master of Ships and Master of

Whispers respectively. The position of Master of

Laws is offered to anyone willing. Ronnal Baratheon

takes his place by Lord Borys' side as Master of Coin.

Rebuilding the Realm will take time and a steady hand.

Soon a new host arrives from the Stormlands under Ser Gwayne Caron,

ready to defend the seat of power, doubling the Baratheon army

stationed there. The city's defenses are shored up as well, Lord Jon

Cafferen seeing to it.

Lord Garon Baratheon also returns from Dorne to the Crownlands to

facilitate the King's peace. The Lords of the Crownlands begin to

recover from recent tumult with the support of the Crown. Even

amongst the wars in the Vale and the Reach, a new age of prosperity

seems imminent.

Past Omens of Winter...

Rebuilding the Army of the Crownlands:

With the threat of House Blackfyre behind us, House Targaryen must return to its former strength. Lord Maekar, brother of the King, finds it prudent to rebuild the army of the Crownlands.

As the lords and knights around the capital train, arm and expand their banners, they require support. House Targaryen has asked its subjects to support them in this endeavor. As Lord Maekar travels the realm to collect on both oaths and taxes.

- The lords-paramount are to pool the following resources through bids to fund the effort:

A total of 2 coin, 2 supply, 1 materials, and 2 arms.

Failure: if the additional armies are not funded, this will leave the capital and House Targaryen vulnerable. So the lowest bidding 2 houses will lose 1 coin & 1 armseach in punitive taxes.

Expanding the forces of the Crownlands, securing its keeps and compensating its lords will take time and resources.

The Crown is lucky to have 7 Kingdoms to call upon to help with this effort.