The Siege of Seagard |
Summary: | The Army of The Cape rushes to lift the Harlaw siege at Seagard. |
Date: | 21/01/289 |
Related Logs: | Many to come. |
Players: |
The Gates and Waterfront of Seagard |
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There is a gate. Also a waterfront. |
21 January, 289 A.L. |
The advance on Seagard took a turn toward the desperate at sunrise on Saturday, when the rising light in the east revealed a haze of smoke rising from the point on the horizon where Seagard sits. Word delivered from the Outriders is that the Ironborn besiegers have risked storming the walls in an effort to take the city before the Riverlord reinforcements could arrive on the field. While rumor runs rampant, none among the allied host can say for certain what state they shall find the first bulwark of the Riverlands, upon arrival.
As the infantry march double time to the stern invocations of their commanders, the cavalry will come into sight of the Mallister citadel first: the great walled city is still contested, with its waterfront district is largely in flames, and the westerly gate has been smashed open. Ironborn banners of Houses Harlaw and Greyjoy are atop the stormed gate, although the silver eagle of the Mallisters still flies above the castle at the crown of Seagard hill.
A line of ironborn in glittering maile defend the gate, dug in against the Frey knights they clearly have expected. Closer to the smoldering waterfront, the fleet of longships, dozens strong is defended by a second column of men under the twining leviathan of Volmark.
In the cavalry on his black mare, Alek's colors run true to Valentin, his cloak a thick, dyed red trimmed in grey rabbit fur, secured over his armor. He holds to the line, for all that his fingers twitch on the reigns in a want to let his horse charge ahead, the steel-colored eyes merely dragging over the Ironborn lines in a study made of anticipation.
Riding in the vanguard alongside his standard-bearer, Aron surveys the huge battlefield before him with a flat intensity. His features are blank of emotion, fear or anger or concern, simply watching. In a single motion, the man lowers his helm atop his head, glittering visor obscuring his features.
Accepting his lance from the squire riding to his other side, the young Haigh raises his voice. "Sers, it shall be a warm day. Keep to my side, and we'll smash them beneath our hooves." His tone is casual, as though he is inviting his fellow knights to a dinner rather than to a battlefield.
Marching with the infantry, Tam shoulders his aged hand-and-a-half sword, grinning wickedly as he shouts encouragement to the columns of pikemen alongside him. He has an air of pure excitement about him, grizzled features staring toward the battlefield. "Alright, me lads. You just set your pikes and drive them home and we'll all have Seagard wenches feeding us fish by dinner-time!"
Jarod is marching today, to fight afoot with the small company of infantry the Terricks are fielding rather than with the cavalry. Under the purple-and-gold banner, though he wears his black-and-gold-winged 'bastard' surcoat, just as he did at Alderbrook. His expression is grim and as he sees the smoke he murmurs a "This is going to get ugly," to his squire. Who is certainly close at hand. Though there's an eagerness about him as well, as he sees the banners of Harlaw and Greyjoy flying. And he mutters to himself, "Least it'll be ugly for the reavers as well."
The Flint's banner flies, the heavy cavalry riding hard, as per orders. As they make Seagard, Anders curses, his words for his squire, "Dug in..". It's going to be hard, but his men's hearts are in it.. now it's time for battle once again.
Kittridge rides along with the few other knights of his house, and his squire, to whom he remarks, "Stick close, Bryn, if you're coming. No wandering off this time, right? Shield up, eyes open, stay on your horse. Like we've practiced, aye? But better." He offers an encouraging smile that doesn't quite match his eyes, and reaches over to thump the young man on the shoulder before tugging on helm and gauntlets and taking a few quick, shoulder-heaving breaths, readying himself.
Astride his chestnut courser with the cavalry, Hardwicke is a tall, solid figure in breastplate. He scans the scene ahead of them, though his focus ends on those guarded longships. He glances at his squire, though he has little left to say that hasn't already been said, and then looks back ahead.
Like many of the other knights, Aleister is riding in the vanguard alongside the Charlton standard-bearer and as his eyes survey the plumes of smoke that rise ahead, his head is giving an ever so slight shake. His hand moves to his helm, lifting it upwards and slipping it onto his head before lowering to claim his mace from it's spot upon the saddle. That done, he's then looking to the other knights and at Aron's comment, there's a low chuckle that sounds in his throat, "Smash them we shall, Ser Haigh. But .." Now, beneath the helm, there's a quick curve of his lips into a smirk, ".. perchance you could remain upon your horse this time? After all, it makes it so much easier to ride them down when one does so."
Mixed in among the infantry's back line of archers is Dominick, near the company that flies the Groves banner in the sea of others. There's a sword on his belt for desperate times but in his hands is the bow that he's far better a fighter with, back here on higher ground where he can see more clearly. After all — analyzing, that's mostly the point of today for the Groves' head engineer.
Marching at a very quick pace are the men of House Nayland. Out front of the Stonebridge and Hag's Mire militia, with their pikes leaned against shoulders, are the Nayland Guardsmen, also from both holdings. They number seventeen in total, counting their commander, Ser Bruce Longbough and his squire, Amos, who also carries the spear which flies House Nayland's standard. The Stonebridge step out hard, shields held at their sides and cross bows slung across their backs, while the Mire men have no shields but look equally as determined. Bruce's eyes spot the banners at last, after a bit of squinting, and he frowns. "They may not sow, but we will, today." He mumbles under his breath.
For Patrek Mallister, it's coming home, and the lad's breath catches a little to see the waterfront of his family's town in flames, the gates adorned with Ironborn banners. His eyes widen and his mouth opens a little. And then the boy steadies himself and the look of shock turns, instead, to one of steely determination. He keeps his horse near Lord Jerold, gauntlet-clad hands tight of the reins.
"Shield up, eyes open, stay on m'horse," repeats young Brynner, bold and clear. Not as heavly armored as his knight, the squire nonehteless raises his shield in practice, knuckles white where they clutch the thing. "Ser. Better'n practice, ser."
Riding with the other mounted knights on his trusty steed named Horse, Kell is situated with where the other Terrick knights and lords will be, within the vanguard. Having fought with them during the siege of the Roost, the Hedge Knight will continue fighting at their side for the defense of Seagard. He is equipped for war once again, full maile armor fixed, offering him full protection as well as the steel helm that caps his head. For now the blade is sheathed at his side as they are not within combat range just yet. The usually colorless Hedge Knight is a little different today as he was given a gift of ribbons which decorates him in the colors of Banefort.
The orders come quickly once the situation becomes apparent: cavalry and armsmen are to take the gates, putting the Kennings and Stonetrees under the Harlaw banner to the sword. The levied foot are to advance against the Volmarks which defend the Greyjoy foothold along Seagrd's embattled waterfront. "Knights! Forward!" comes the call.
Einion wears his colours of Stonebridge, the Green highlighting his area of responsibility.. Double-time isn't kind to the somewhat lame tanner turned pikeman, and more than a few whispered urgings (including tacit threats) kept him moving. Limping a little more heavily, he's not able to hide it quite so much.. but he's game. Tam's words bring a grin to his face; good to have the man where he always said he belonged.. on the ground. No reply comes, however.. he's saving his breath for the battle to come.
Markus rolls his shoulders and cranes his neck side to side as they ride within sight of then besieged city of Seaguard, his eyes grazing over the scene that welcomes the Frey-led host. From his vantage in then Flint contingent, he cranes a look back over their compliment. "Looks like these ones didn't get the message from the rest of their run-off Ironmen. Fancy delivering the message again, my lord?" he wonders, glancing over at Anders.
"Why, Ser Aleister," calls Aron in equable tones as he responds to the other man's taunt, "Thank you eversomuch for your concern. I shall endeavour to keep it in the forefront of my mind." He grins beneath his visor, bleak and humorless, sweat from the day's heat soaking into the lining of his helmet.
"First one to twenty buys the drinks, then, shall we say?" His own men laugh at the challenge, and Aron raises his lance in salute to the other lordling. "Or twenty royals. Whichever you prefer, eh?"
"Fine day to die," mutters Squire Rowan with grim cheer. He is, indeed, close beside his knight in the infantry, armed and armored and ready to be in the thick of it. The slender young man, too, has an air of tense anticipation about him — though his seems more to have it over with. This is the work that must be done today. Bring it.
Benedict Lawson is just one more hedge knight the Tully host took on as they marched to meet up with the main, but the fact he has a horse to his name has set him in the Vanguard with the others. He rides in silence, gaze ahead and alert. He's attentive, though not edgy, taking in the destruction that's been done and the Ironmen pouring into the gate. The man sniffs softly as he rides and gives the neck of his black horse a brisk pat.
There's a slip dip of Aleister's head towards Aron's retort and the other lordling is offered a quick laugh, one that is followed by a slight shake of his head, "Would not be a fair contest, Ser Aron. After all, you are but a kni .." Anything else is cut off as the knights are ordered forward and his attention snaps from Aron to the fore. His mace comes to be lifted a touch, the weight tested in a ritual fashion before battle and then he's preparing his horse for the charge.
Rafferdy marches beside the peasant archers he has spent so much time training. He glances at Ser Burce, but mostly, seems to be keeping his eyes on his brother, Rowan. He is armed with a sword at his side, but carries his crossbow. He once again wears the noble armor and helm he had at the last battle.
Anders removes the grim expression from his face to give his sword a smile and a definite nod. "Looks like they need a little lesson in what it means to eat sword and lance." He looks back to his gathered small contingent, "I agree with Ser Markus.. let's give them the message again. In black and white.. and grey!"
Alek allows his mare to dance skittishly as they wait, a light hand on the leather as he listens to those around him idly. He does not, for today, break his silence.
Kittridge thumps Brynner on the shoulder again, and repeats, "Just stay close, Bryn. We'll be alright." He does his best to be encouraging, though he gets distracted by some of the banter about, cutting a look towards those riding beneath the Haigh banner and then chuckling, "Don't think we'll get in on that bet, lad, not this time. But you make it through this with me, and you'll have a story or two to tell the girls, aye?" His smile is more convincing this time.
As the signal is given for the knights to advance, Aron raises his lance once more, then dips it forward. As one, his men spur their chargers onward, riding in a wedge toward the battlefield. The standard of the Haighs, with its forked spear, advances alongside him. A slow trot at first, and then a canter, and then - keeping his mount with a grace that is beautiful to watch - Aron heels his charger into the full gallop, lowering his lance and couching it beneath his arm. "For the Haighs, King Robert, and glory!" His battle-cry rings out with the exuberant cheer of a sportsman going on the hunt.
"Guards!" Bruce yells in his rough, loud and highly projected command voice. "Stand fast with militia!" The experienced knight looks over at Rafferdy and grins at him, winking. For his part, Amos the squire, lifts his horn up to his mouth and looks to his knight for order. "Guards, on the gate, advance, quiiiiiick march!" The quick signal in the form of horn blast for that command is given, and the Nayland men form up into two ranks before turning towards the Volmark lines and marching.
Tam roars as the infantry begin to advance in earnest, sweeping his great bastard sword off his shoulder and taking it up in two hands. He looks across the lines of the Green Quarter, catching Einion's gaze and grinning at him. "And remember, my beautiful boys.. /Have fun/!" He laughs, carrying his heavy maile to the fore on surprisingly quick legs for a man of his age, his pot helmet dully reflecting the sunlight.
"Tighten the line, lads!" Jarod hollers back at the Terrick infantry. "Wait for the signal." If he has any particular nerves about the collection of volunteers that make up the Terrick line - and he must, given the look of them - he doesn't show it. He's all brash confidence. Or at least fakes it well. "This is for the Roost. Pay them back what they took, tenfold."
The orders are given and Benedict urges his horse forward with a shouted "Ha!" and a twitch of the reins. The black courser needs no other encouragement and it picks up its pace, shifting into a sleek gallop that brings the hedge knight closer to gate.
With the barest press of his legs against Delylah, Hardwicke urges her on towards the gate, gathering speed as he joins the charge, voice silent, but expression driven.
Seeing the current state that Seagard is in, the edge of Kell's eyes tighten though he knows that with their arrival, the situation may change, but only if they ride well. The Hedge Knight's eyes do glance towards the young lord Patrek, as he can only wonder what the youth may be thinking seeing his home like this. However, nothing can be said to the young lord who knows what has to be done as Kell's eyes snaps forward again once the order to charge to help save Seagard is given. Right hand going to his blade, it is unsheathed with the ring of steel, choosing the blade this time instead of the lance because the fighting will get close and nasty, at the gates. With his sword raised, he calls out a battle cry with some of the others as he urges Horse forward, charging with the other mounted knights.
Dominick loads his crossbow, the latch clicking with a very satisfying snap just as the noise level picks up to deafening around him. Even the sound of his own heartbeat in his ears is drowned out by the cacophony, his green eyes bright as the charge begins. "Never thought this was the way I'd see this place again," he smirks under his breath, lifting the bow.
Fun? What part of being away from home and fighting insane beserkers is fun? Defending Stonebridge was an honour. This? Einion shakes his head.. he's afraid, certainly, but the commands give something of a comfort. He knows what he's to do, he knows what his men are to do.. what is expected. "Luck, Ser!" is called from the ranks before all goes silent with the men, awaiting orders.. and here they come. "Advance! Green!" which is echoed, "Advance! Orange!" Pikes are charged.. and formation is as near perfect for the march as can be.
"Aye, Ser," chirps Bryn, a little more cheerful as his knigt finds a proper smile. Well. He thrusts his shield forward a few times, practicing his defense, and grunting. Because all the best knights grunt with the effort of their glorious battles, right? Grunt!
There is a whoop from Alek's lips as he sets his own horse in motion, blade drawn in a graceful, simultaneous gesture. His gaze finds Ser Harras and that Valyrian blade greedily, charging directly towards it.
The advance is called, and Patrek is eager enough to do his duty for Seagard and the Riverlands. His horse charges alongside Ser Jerold's, plate glinting as the boy snaps his helmet's shield down.
As the knights start toward the gate with the clatter of horse and armor, the knights hear what might be unexpected: a formal challenge. "Knights of Westeros!" comes a bellow from atop the gate, "I am Ser Harras Harlow, the Knight of Grey Garden, and champion of His Highness Prince Rodrik Greyjoy! Send forward your champion to face me!"
Meanwhile, along the waterfront, the pike lines have take the front and center, opposite the massed ranks of Volmarks who come howling across the shoreline toward them. The boots and leggings of those nearest the sea would begin to grow damp as the Rivermen drive toward the Seagard docks.
With the push forward of the cavalry, the Flint heavy cav move forward as well. "Let's go! For Flint!" and Anders spurs forward, a slight ache in his chest that he casts as injury from last battle. There's work to be done before them, and by the Old Gods, the Ironborn will fall.
<FS3> Aron rolls Alertness: Failure.
<FS3> Markus rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Anders rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Hardwicke rolls Alertness: Great Success.
<FS3> Kittridge rolls Alertness: Great Success.
<FS3> Kell rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Alek rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Benedict rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Aleister rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Brynner rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Patrek rolls Alertness: Success.
Tam begins to sing as he trots along toward the fore of the infantryman's battle, a rousing song sung with a hoarse, absolutely unmelodic, baritone. "Up in the mornin', out of my sack. Greeted by a pre-dawn attack. Serjeant rushes me off to chow, but I don't need it anyhow.." He makes certain his voice carries, projecting a carefree manner as he begins to squish his way toward the Volmark lines. "Oh mama, mama, don't you cry.. Your li'l boy ain't gonna die." He trails off now, saving his oxygen for the final push toward the Ironborn lines.
"Guards, you will loose bolts at the enemy as soon as you're in range, screening the militia line while they set." Bruce yells at his men as they continue in front of the other troops, towards the daunting gate and the dragon banner of House Volmark. "Keep your swords ready, we may yet be called to crack them." There is a low mumble of affirmation in the ranks, but by and large the professional soldiers of House Nayland remain quiet, their eyes fixed forward towards the objective, their legs pumping hard on the uneven ground.
As soon as they've got a good range on the Volmarks, they stop and fan out into two ranks, the Stonebridge men planting their tower shields in the ground in front of them. They take quick aim and loose their crossbow bolts at the Volmark men. Bruce doesn't bother to try to aim for a particular target - he simply shoots at the formation, then leans down to reload another bolt.
Rygar walks forward, his crow's beak pole hammer held striaght upright as the grounded knight keeps step with the front rank of pikemen, remaining silent as the grave even as the Ironborn howl and the hedge knights sing.
<FS3> Aron rolls Animal Handling: Good Success.
<FS3> Markus rolls Animal Handling: Good Success.
<FS3> Kell rolls Animal Handling: Failure.
<FS3> Patrek rolls Animal Handling: Embarassing Failure.
<FS3> Brynner rolls Animal Handling: Failure.
"Keep to the road!" Kittridge shouts out suddenly, not just to his own line, but loud enough to carry to those around, or at least theoretically to do so, but a cavalry charge isn't precisely the quietest thing ever and he doesn't shout very early, "They've dug pits on either side! Keep to the road!" At Harras's challenge, he snorts and mutters, "Bloody Seven," under his breath, glancing around to see if any answer.
Quickly spotting the pitfalls on either side of the road, Hardwicke handles Delylah with long-born familiarity to quickly keep her on target. "The roads!" he says, echoing Kittridge's cry. "Pitfalls to the sides! Keep straight!" His jaw hardens at the Ironborn challenge called down from the wall.
Anders also sees the holes as well and calls out an echo to the others, "Keep to the road!" But, he also remembers the caltrops that the Ironborn had laid and calls out, "Keep a look out for caltrops on the road like the mongrels did before!" Nothing like forcing an army to the road and then making the road impossible to pass..
For once not drunk, Alek sees the pits just soon enough to yank his own reigns hard, steering his courser over the road. His own heels dig violently into horse flesh to send him forward to meet Harras's challenge without waiting for permission. Perhaps it'd be better if he were drinking. "Come down off that silly little perch then, ser," he yells up towards Harras.
As he begins to charge his horse forward, something doesn't seem quite right to Aleister as he looks to the road ahead. Then, as realization begins to dawn upon him, he's urging his steed to the road as he lifts his voice to the knights that ride ahead, in the hopes of being heard over the sound of hooves upon the ground, "Pitfalls ahead! To the road!" The challenge from Ser Harras, though, has his attention shifting in that direction, a snort sounding past his lips as he calls back, "Come off that wall, ~Ser Harras~, and we'll gladly give you what you seek."
Thundering down the line at a full gallop, it seems like only a miracle can stop Aron from riding into the pitfalls and breaking his gorgeous charger's leg - likely ending his fight before it even begins. Spotting the danger at the last moment, the young Haigh seats himself deep into his saddle and wrenches his mount's head to the left. The animal skids, kicking up clods of dirt with its huge hooves, barely halting before the line of traps and tossing its head up in agitation. Regaining control of his mount with precision, Aron begins to guide it toward the road, striving to rejoin the charge.
As his horse gallops forward, something to either side of the road catches Benedict's attention. He leans forward in his saddle, eyes narrowing and then going ride. "Pits!" he shouts as he urges the course to the road rather than the fields beside it. "Pitfalls on the sides! Keep to the road!"
The warnings of the pitfalls almost do not reach Markus in time, the charge of his galloping beast halted in time to see it skid and slip, but only rocks tumbling down where he might have done so a moment before. The sellsword glances up at the challenging call, but rather than answer it as others have, calls out a warning again of the pitfalls for any that might not hear it, before continuing on.
Try as he does, poor Bryn can't keep to the road as the knights press forward - his horse slips, and down they go in the most ungraceful of tumbles. The horse screams, as does the squire, as they go down. "Ser! Seeeeeerrrr!" Does he expect Kittridge to wait for him?
As some among the hard charging chivalry founder in the pitfalls, a number of Ironborn under the Stonetree banner of Harlaw isle pick their way through the broken ground to try and finish off the downed knights, while in the center of the road, Ser Harras appears atop a warhorse, armed and armored, to every appearance, as a knight of Westeros, shining sword in hand to meet whomever of the Riverlords stands to meet him, Kenning men all about him.
while Jerold reins his own steed in swiftly enough, the sight of his squire sprawling causes the Lord of the Roost to dismount swiftly, draw his sword and pick his steps toward where Patrek Mallister fell.
He's too eager and too intent on reaching the Ironborn. Patrek Mallister has his horse thundering through the grass alongside the road. One moment, they are flying towards Seagard and battle. The next, they are falling, the horse screaming and the lad crying out in surprise as he goes tumbling from his mount in a clanking catastrophe of boy and armor. The horse flails helplessly where she lies, but the angle of her front left leg reveals she will not be standing ever again. Sprawled out in the grass, it's unclear whether or not Patrek will, either.
Kittridge does wait for him, wheeling his horse around as Brynner and his horse tumble and scream. "Gods damn it, Bryn!" he shouts, leaping from his horse to, much like Lord Jerold, though with worse grace, go to his squire's aid.
"I am Ser Alek Coope, the Blacksword of Oldstones, and I will meet your challenge," Alek accepts even as the knight appears on horseback, his fierce grin hidden beneath his helm but sounding in his words as he readies himself.
And this was not a good way to start the battle, especially for a knight as Kell was too focused on the Ironborn ahead with his thoughts focused on killing that when the pitfalls arrive, he doesn't see it until it is too late. There is a crash and a scream from his horse, then the Hedge Knight finds himself tumbling to the ground. It takes a second for the knight to right himself as he finds his blade and scans the area with his eyes quickly, spotting the advancing reavers. Then he quickly moves towards Horse which is injured and will definitely not be able to ride for the rest of the battle, "Dammit! Horse, just stay and wait, I'm sorry."
If he can, Kell will be back to take care of Horse later but for now, he sees that other mounted knights were not so lucky either and sees that Lord Jerold and the Young Lord Patrek are also no longer mounted so he begins moving towards them, ready to defend against the incoming Ironborn.
Alek might have verbally answered the call from Ser Harras, but Aleister is charging his horse in the Ironborn's direction, mace lifted upwards, above his head, in preperation of a viscious downward swing to the the Ironborn Knight.
Anders listens for the challenge and the urge is decidedly there to twist in his saddle and see if the commanders are willing to ride forth and answer for single combat. He smirks and shakes his head, his words in answer to the unspoken thought. "I thought not." Spurring forward, he encourages his men to do the same. "Of steel, we Flints!"
ooc Okay, rolling combat in 1.
"Ahhh! Cheese and crackers!" That's Bryn, rolling away from his felled horse. He thrusts up his shield, scrambling to keep a hold on his weapons and right himself. "I didn't mean to," he yells back to his knight, grimacing.
<COMBAT> Kenning 01 attacks Aleister with Bludgeon & Shield and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Stonetree 02 attacks Kell with Spear & Shield - Serious wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Stonetree 01 attacks Brynner with Bludgeon & Shield but Brynner DODGES!
<COMBAT> Kenning 03 attacks Benedict with Sword & Shield - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Kenning 02 attacks Hardwicke with Spear & Shield but Hardwicke DODGES!
<COMBAT> Jerold attacks Lord Stonetree with Sword & Shield - Light wound to Right Leg (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Stonetree 03 attacks Kittridge with Sword & Shield but Kittridge DODGES!
<COMBAT> Lord Stonetree attacks Patrek with Polearm but Patrek DODGES!
<COMBAT> Ser Harras attacks Alek with Valyrian Sword but Alek DODGES!
<COMBAT> Patrek passes.
<COMBAT> Markus attacks Kenning 02 with Broadsword - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Kittridge attacks Stonetree 02 with Spear - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Kell passes.
<COMBAT> Hardwicke attacks Kenning 01 with Broadsword - Serious wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Brynner passes.
<COMBAT> Benedict attacks Kenning 03 with Broadsword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Aron passes.
<COMBAT> Anders attacks Kenning 01 with Sword & Shield - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Alek attacks Ser Harras with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Aleister attacks Ser Harras with Bludgeon & Shield - Light wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Kell has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Kell spends a luck point to keep fighting!
Meanwhile, at the Waterfront:
<COMBAT> Terrick attacks Volmark 08 with Hunting Bow and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Rafferdy attacks Lord Volmark with Crossbow - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Rafferdy's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Dominick attacks Volmark 02 with Crossbow - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Dominick's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Bruce attacks Volmark 01 with Crossbow - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Bruce's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Volmark 02 has been KO'd!
Perhaps it is the fact that he has not been drinking that keeps Alek alive where Ser Harras's attention focuses on him, ducking under the sharp swish of that Valyrian blade only to whirl his own sword around to strike at the armor of the knight's chest. "You ought to just lay down your sword now," he taunts in a spare moment.
Patrek moans a little where he lies until his wits stop jangling enough that he realizes lying in the grass in the middle of a war is not the wisest thing. It's good timing, too, as Lord Stonetree comes for him, jabbing a polearm towards the fallen squire. With a cry, the boy manages to roll away from the strike as Lord Jerold comes to his defense.
Wheeling around the thrust of a Kenning spear, Hardwicke sweeps his sword to dig into the armor of one of the other Kenning soldiers. His jaw locked and expression masked in grimness, he moves in to strike again.
Anders doesn't quite get a good solid blow in on the damnable Ironborn; his sword simply doesn't dig in far enough to get an injury. No matter, however, as another does make it.. the Captain of the Guard for the Roost. He looks around; his sword is on another man.. and he nods, seeing the blood that wells once Markus takes his shot. "Well done!" There is one that is without injury, and he means for them all to taste blood.. and he goes for that one.
Although his blow didn't strike the intended location on Harras, Aleister still strikes the man, almost immediately after Alek's own had struck the Ironborn. Although there's some of Harras' men baring down on him, their attack goes wild and a quick glance has him seeing that others are already dealing with him. Looking back to Alek, there's a slight shake of his head as he lifts his mace again, raising it up and then swinging it down as he tries to strike the ironborn in the chest this time.
Rafferdy lifts his crossbow, glancing quickly through the enemy to try to spot the noble amongst them. Finally, he sees Lord Volmark and takes aim. Firing, his bolt strikes the lord in the chest.
Finally managing to guide his mount back to the road, Aron takes a moment to study the state of the battlefield. His gaze falls on Ser Harras, the only man among the enemy thus mounted and armed, and a crooked little smile creases his features. "A knight," he murmurs softly. Clucking his tongue and tapping his horse's flank lightly, Aron lowers his lance and spurs forward toward the chaotic melee.
"And you ought to face me alone, coward-" Harras growls back as Aleister's mace draws a grunt at its impact. Still, the Knight of Grey Garden remains up and fighting, continuing his exchange with 'the Blacksword'. In the pits, the melee turns ugly and bloody in a hurry as the fallen knights, their ironborn tormentors, and their dismounting allies charge together in a much more even match than a cavalry charge on open ground would have been.
Meanwhile along the waterfront, the first volley of missiles precedes the clash of arms.
As Benedict moves forward, the first Ironborn to stand in his way is a Kenning. The man strikes with a sword, the blade reaching Benedict's chest and leaving a thin gash despite the hedge-knight's armor. Face calm, eyes strangely bright, Benedict returns the favor, though his own sword clangs uselessly against the Kenning's armor.
The fall from his mount seems to have Kell off balanced still as when the Ironborn advances on him, the Hedge Knight is slow to fend off the attack and it doesn't help that he had lost his shield in the fall as well. The parry attempt comes too late and the tip of th spear punches through the knight's ringmail, finding flesh which causes him to groan before retreating a step. This time, Kell will strike back as he grips his blade in one hand for now, the other moving to the wound. First with a stepping feint as if to attack, the knight's steel flashes forward.
The Nayland men at arms loose their bolts over the tips of the pikemen in front of them, and those bolts come down in a savage, deadly blanket which engulfes the approaching Volmark men. Although they are all armoured, the mark is true and more than a few of the reavers go down with horrible wounds. Bruce doesn't bother watching where his bolt falls - as soon as it is loosed, the Stonebridge Captain is leaning down, hooking into the sinew string and pulling back with his body weight to reset the crossbow for another shot.
Though others have found more tempting targets, and Markus would love dearly to test his mettle against a knight armed with Valyrian Steel, the hired blade is content enough to let his blade slice into one of the Kenning men that come rushing out to meet the knights of the Riverlands. "Let's hope it keeps that way, my lord!" he shouts back at Anders, before he takes another turn at his foe.
Jarod's chin ticks upward to watch the first volley from the archers fly, straining to follow the arc of the arrows to the enemy. As those arrows are falling he hefts his sword. It's almost go time. He looks over his shoulder, briefly, to check Rowan's position with him. "For the Roost!" he hollers again. Once more, with feeling.
Dominick's arrow is loosed from its tension on the crossbow, joining the uncountable others in the air. One of his shots meets luck somewhere on its flight and it's a shame he'll never know it got such direct hit. "His bow's down in a flash and he works to reload it with a new bolt, his fingers working quickly.
"Son of a bitch," Kittridge is still grumbling as he makes his way to his squire, ducking beneath one blow and striking out at another reaver, whacking him in the chest with his spear. "Got your shield and spear?" he asks the boy, trying to keep between him and the various threats around them, shield slung back behind him, spear held in both hands.
The sound of arrows whistling overhead causes Tam to flinch involuntarily, ducking his head to present only the top of his helm to the deadly fletched wasps, but he does not slow. "/Bugger this for a game of soldiers/!" Tam's hoarse cry is as much a battle-cry as a lament, his sword swinging forward to smash its way into the Ironborn ranks as he half-turns at the full run, dropping his shoulder to ram into the nearest man in the follow-through of his swing. "You're all a bunch of sodding idiots," he roars incoherently.
"Pikes! Hold the line!" Einion calls, though he can see that it's going to be a hard push forward. "Greeen!" is called, quickly echoing with, "Orange!!"
"I would, but I doubt he'd listen," Alek answers to Ser Harras's response, whatever abashment he may fake still hidden. He charges forward to meet the man's attack, however.
<COMBAT> Stonetree 01 attacks Brynner with Bludgeon & Shield but Brynner DODGES!
<COMBAT> Jerold attacks Lord Stonetree with Sword & Shield - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Kenning 02 attacks Hardwicke with Spear & Shield and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Stonetree 03 attacks Kittridge with Sword & Shield - Serious wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Stonetree 02 attacks Kell with Spear & Shield but Kell DODGES!
<COMBAT> Lord Stonetree attacks Jerold with Polearm and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kenning 01 attacks Aleister with Bludgeon & Shield but Aleister DODGES!
<COMBAT> Kenning 03 attacks Benedict with Sword & Shield - ARMOR on Right Arm stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Ser Harras attacks Alek with Valyrian Sword but Alek DODGES!
<COMBAT> Patrek passes.
<COMBAT> Markus attacks Kenning 02 with Broadsword - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Kittridge attacks Stonetree 01 with Spear but Stonetree 01 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Kell attacks Stonetree 02 with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> Hardwicke attacks Kenning 01 with Broadsword but Kenning 01 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Brynner attacks Stonetree 01 with Lance & Shield but Stonetree 01 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Benedict attacks Kenning 03 with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Aron attacks Ser Harras with Lance & Shield - Serious wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Anders attacks Kenning 03 with Sword & Shield but Kenning 03 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Alek attacks Ser Harras with Broadsword - Light wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Aleister attacks Ser Harras with Bludgeon & Shield - Moderate wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Kenning 03 has been KO'd!
Meanwhile at the Waterfront:
<COMBAT> Volmark 05 attacks Mire 01 with Spear & Shield but Mire 01 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Volmark 08 attacks Stonebridge 02 with Spear & Shield but Stonebridge 02 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Volmark 04 attacks Tam with Bludgeon & Shield but Tam DODGES!
<COMBAT> Stonebridge 01 attacks Volmark 07 with Pike - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Volmark 03 attacks Rowan with Sword & Shield - Critical wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Terrick attacks Volmark 08 with Hunting Bow - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Mire 01 attacks Volmark 05 with Pike - Serious wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Chieftan attacks Jarod with Polearm - Light wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> Volmark 07 attacks Stonebridge 01 with Bludgeon & Shield but Stonebridge 01 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Volmark 06 attacks Mire 02 with Sword & Shield but Mire 02 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Volmark 01 attacks Einion with Bludgeon & Shield but Einion DODGES!
<COMBAT> Stonebridge 02 attacks Volmark 08 with Pike - Serious wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> Mire 02 attacks Volmark 06 with Pike - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Tam attacks Volmark 04 with Greatsword - ARMOR on Head stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Rygar attacks Lord Volmark with Polearm but Lord Volmark DODGES!
<COMBAT> Rowan attacks Chieftan with Broadsword - Serious wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Rafferdy reloads.
<COMBAT> Lord Volmark attacks Rygar with Polearm - Moderate wound to Right Arm (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Jarod attacks Chieftan with Greatsword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Einion attacks Volmark 04 with Pike but Volmark 04 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Dominick reloads.
<COMBAT> Bruce reloads.
<COMBAT> Rowan has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Rygar has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Rygar spends a luck point to keep fighting!
<COMBAT> Rowan spends a luck point to keep fighting!
As Lord Stonetree engages in combat with Lord Jerold, Patrek struggles to his feet. His wits still addled, the boy makes it to his knees, grouping about the ground for his waylaid sword and shield.
"Got 'em," confirms Bryn, rolling up onto his feet and re-securing his hold on his shield. And then he's ready, zoning in on the nearby attackers, following Kittridge's lead. "For Lady Rosanna!" His battlecry is fierce, as is his thrust, but the reaver must be nimble for he misses his mark.
It's a set of weaving and dodging: again, Hardwicke deflects and ducks blows, but this time, the Kenning man he's attacking manages to evade as well. The Terrick Captain turns Delylah with a press of his knee and slices from a different angle.
With the Ironborn that falls, Anders curses, but not too loudly. His blade misses the mark moreso because the dog falls from another attack, a wound to the chest. Downed Ironborn is a good Ironborn. He reins his horse up, looks at Markus with a smile upon his face.. so far, neither man has taken injury, but this is just the beginning, he knows. Still, it's auspicious! "Of steel, we Flint!"
The steel sings and it seems like Kell's attack is more of a counter-blow as the spear that the Ironborn thrusts at him is dodged this time while the knight's blade lashes out and cuts the hand wielding the spear. Instead of stepping in aggressively to attack, the Hedge Knight is still wary as the pain in his abdomen burns. Kell is once again focused to see what attack may be coming in though after a couple of sidesteps, he lashes out again with another strike of his sword.
Aron angles outward to avoid running his mount straight into Ser Alek; his twelve-foot lance reaches over the other man's head at just the right time, striking Ser Harras's plate gorget with a -bong- sound and leaving a nasty dent in the man's armor. He allows his mount to lose its momentum, turning it gracefully as he surveys the battlefield. Harras seems well-covered, attacker-wise, and the young Haigh knight has made his mark. He plunges his mount, instead, toward one of the burly Kenning warriors who surges forward to defend their mounted comrade.
Markus' blade slides across the armor of his foe's side, earning a curse from the sellsword's lips. "Get on with dying, we've better men than you to oblige," he growls, flashing his blade in a salute to Anders before he goes in at the man he's squared with since the two forces met.
Kittridge laughs at his squire's cry, and that proves to be his downfall, a second Stonetree slicing at the knight's chest while he is busy laughing at (and defending) Brynner. He stumbles, and curses, but doesn't fall, catching himself on his squire's shoulder and continuing to mumble profanity under his breath as he grits his teeth and raises shield and spear again.
Jarod Rivers is a good one for the charge. None can really argue that. When he sees the Chieftain angling for him, he lunges forward to meet him blade-for-blade. His own strike finds only the Ironborn's armor. He gets nicked the Ironborn's polearm on his left, where the gauntlet leaves a slight opening before the shoulder-plating of his breastplate kicks in. His squire has a better opening on the chieftain.
"Come on, you fucken squid-eating son of a whore! Come on and die! Come on! I'm ready to send you back to your fish-smelling wife, you bastard!" Tam is roaring insult after insult, his bastard sword clanging off the helm of the man he faces, snarling as he sets himself for another two-handed swing. "I want you! I'm gonna take your gods-damned fingers for my necklace, you shite-breathing little twit!"
The trio of knights which surround Ser Harras land several bloody blows against the proclaimed champion of Prince Greyjoy, who reels in the saddle as Aron's lance impacts the steel of his gorget. Although the castle forged steel does not break, the Knight of Grey Garden is visibly injured and seeks to defend himself as he guide his steed back toward the gate with his knees.
The clash of pikes and shields is loud and bloody along the shoreline, but the Riverlord infantry holds, for the moment.
Einion manages to dodge the attack even as he works his pike towards the Ironborn that seeks to do Ser Tam injury. Defense, however, before aiding.. and the serjeant changes his target to take out the one who seeks to do his line damage. "Pikes!" the man calls, now that combat has truly started and blood now begins to be spilt upon the ground. "Green!!" and the echo comes, "Orange!". The pikemen of Stonebridge stand their ground, their pikes charged and ready for the next attack.
"Ser Harras, you asked for a challenge. I will meet you, one on one if this other knight will agree," Alek calls desperately, even as he spurs his horse to ride after the champion, eager to continue testing his steel against him.
Rowan Nayland brings his blade down on the Ironborn Chieftain in a blow that is staggering for his size and build — one that likely would have taken the brute's head off, were it not for his gorget. Blood gouts — but not only from the squire's chosen target. As Rowan opens his guard to deliver that blow, an opportunistic Volmark foot soldier takes a swing, slicing deep into the boy's side.
Rafferdy leans back, reloading his crossbow as fast as he can. He glances sideways at the archers around him, "Hold fast." To another, he barks, "Lean into it, you'll throw your back yanking so hard to reload that thing!" And then his eyes catch the spray of blood around his brother Rowan, and he grits his teeth. "Bruce!" he yells, already shoving his way forward. "I'm getting Rowan!" He charges forward, raising his crossbow to cover his brother's retreat…
The Kenning facing Benedict falls as the kedge-knight slices across his chest. His gaze moves around to pick his next target and lands, instead, on Kittridge as he's attacked by a Stonetree. Benedict climbs off his horse, clutching his blade with both hands as he charges towards the man harassing the Ser Groves and his de-horsed squire.
Bruce unloops his belthook from the crossbow, the appropriate amount of tension on the string. He sticks a bolt into the weapon and hefts it high. But before he shoots it off into the massed enemy ranks, Ser Bruce looks around quickly, to observe what appears to be happening at the line - and that is the Ironborn smashing into Nayland pike with terrible effect on the former. His eyes snap to Rafferdy and he scowls at the Nayland noble, snarling. "Get back and quick then, lad!" Finally, he looks at his target and looses the bolt towards the Volmarks. The rest of the Nayland Guards are already firing as quickly as they can, picking out their own targets, or groups of targets.
"Rowan!" Jarod shouts sharp as his squire goes down, hard. He pivots out of his little fight with the chief, going to the defense of the slight Nayland. Trying to put himself bodily between the squire and his assailant, if at all possible.
Dominick gets his crossbow reloaded with a fresh bolt, the click of the latch no competition for the noise around him. His eyes dart up at intervals, skimming left and right as he watches pockets of the battle. As the bow's readied he lifts it and aims into the fray towards the flash he saw of Rygar — or rather, Rygar's large assailant.
Striking another blow against Harras, alongside Alek and Aron's, there must be a certain appreciation of the Ironborn Knight for his ability to take hits and remain seated atop his horse. Alek's .. offer draws a snort, even as he begins after the fleeing knight, "The Ironborn are without honor, ~Blacksword~, so there is no need for a challenge to be answered." His mace comes upwards, clearly intending to strike at Harras again, even as he offers, almost as an aside, "And it's not as if a knight from a nothing house is worthy of such a challenge."
+combat/newturn
<COMBAT> Triggering new turn.
<COMBAT> Stonetree 02 attacks Kell with Spear & Shield - ARMOR on Neck stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Stonetree 03 attacks Kittridge with Sword & Shield - Light wound to Right Hand (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Stonetree 01 attacks Brynner with Bludgeon & Shield but Brynner DODGES!
<COMBAT> Kenning 01 attacks Aleister with Bludgeon & Shield and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Jerold attacks Lord Stonetree with Sword & Shield - Moderate wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Lord Stonetree attacks Jerold with Polearm but Jerold DODGES!
<COMBAT> Kenning 02 attacks Aron with Spear & Shield but Aron DODGES!
<COMBAT> Ser Harras passes.
<COMBAT> Patrek passes.
<COMBAT> Markus attacks Kenning 02 with Broadsword but Kenning 02 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Kittridge attacks Stonetree 03 with Spear and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kell attacks Stonetree 02 with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hardwicke attacks Kenning 01 with Broadsword but Kenning 01 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Brynner attacks Stonetree 01 with Lance & Shield - Moderate wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Benedict attacks Stonetree 03 with Greatsword - Serious wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> Aron attacks Kenning 02 with Lance & Shield - Critical wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Anders attacks Kenning 02 with Sword & Shield - Moderate wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> Alek attacks Ser Harras with Broadsword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Aleister attacks Ser Harras with Bludgeon & Shield - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Stonetree 02 has been KO'd!
Meanwhile, at the Waterfront:
<COMBAT> Volmark 08 attacks Stonebridge 02 with Spear & Shield - Serious wound to Right Leg.
<COMBAT> Volmark 01 attacks Einion with Bludgeon & Shield but Einion DODGES!
<COMBAT> Mire 02 attacks Volmark 06 with Pike - Moderate wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Mire 01 attacks Volmark 05 with Pike - Serious wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Chieftan attacks Jarod with Polearm and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Volmark 07 attacks Stonebridge 01 with Bludgeon & Shield - Light wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> Volmark 06 attacks Mire 02 with Sword & Shield but Mire 02 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Volmark 05 attacks Mire 01 with Spear & Shield but Mire 01 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Volmark 03 attacks Rowan with Sword & Shield but Rowan DODGES!
<COMBAT> Terrick attacks Volmark 08 with Hunting Bow and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Stonebridge 02 attacks Volmark 08 with Pike and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Volmark 04 attacks Tam with Bludgeon & Shield and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Stonebridge 01 attacks Volmark 07 with Pike and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Tam attacks Volmark 04 with Greatsword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Rygar attacks Lord Volmark with Polearm but Lord Volmark DODGES!
<COMBAT> Rowan attacks Volmark 03 with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Rafferdy attacks Volmark 03 with Crossbow - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Rafferdy's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Lord Volmark attacks Rygar with Polearm but Rygar DODGES!
<COMBAT> Jarod attacks Volmark 03 with Greatsword - Moderate wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Einion attacks Volmark 01 with Pike - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Dominick attacks Lord Volmark with Crossbow - Moderate wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Dominick's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Bruce attacks Volmark 04 with Crossbow - Moderate wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> Bruce's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Stonebridge 01 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Stonebridge 02 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Volmark 03 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Volmark 06 has been KO'd!
Only for a moment as Ser Harras escapes his grasp does Alek whirl his horse fiercly on Aleister, his sword pointed out at the man as he growls, low and angry, "Do not think to challenge my worth, ser." Then he veers off, letting his frustration out on the nearest man he can attack with a sharp swing of his sword.
Knocking the Kenning warrior's spear wide with his shield, Aron leans into his lance-thrust, the steel tip leaving the man's face bloody ruin. He laughs and kicks past the man, his mount charging forward as he seeks out fresh prey. "A Haigh, a Haigh!" His standard-bearer, still at his left flank, stabs downward with the butt of the standard, cracking a man in the chest and sending him stumbling away.
Though he manages to avoid attracting attack, Hardwicke's next blow against the Kenning soldier lands solidly (and harmlessly) on armor. Hopefully it hurts anyways.
"Why won't you fucken -die-, you son of a whore?" Tam's sword smacks against the Volmark man's armor again, clanging off with a series of sparks. He kicks out toward the man's groin and pivots as his blade comes down again, practically dancing forward to avoid his opponent's counter-attack. "I'm gonna stew your balls and serve 'em to the first wench I lay as a fucken present!"
Giving his head a hard shake, Patrek Mallister collects his sword and shield. With a wince for bruises near everywhere, he makes it to his feet and readies himself, holding up shield and sword.
Another blow from Markus' blade, and this time the swing goes wild. Doesn't seem that the intervening moments go very well for the fellow though, and the hired blade cannot help but offer a humorless grin. "See, man? We of the Riverlands are just so glad to finally give you and yours a proper welcome," he calls out, before taking another swing at the man.
Fallen and bleeding, the youngest of the Naylands is still not out of the fight. Rowan rolls swiftly to the side, dodging the intended killing blow from the Volmark above him, and lunges to his — knees. Feet was probably the intention, but knees will do, driving his blade for the Ironborn's middle. Between Rowan's blow, that of his knight and Rafferdy, too — it's difficult to say which blow brings the man down. But down he goes.
There's a grunt as Harras manages to make his escape and when Alek whirls towards him, sword pointed in his direction, Aleister merely offers a low laugh an da shake of his head, "Your worth is that of a common knight, ~Blacksword~." There's a look towards the Ironborn that keep harassing him, but they've not managed to land a blow yet and he's lifting his mace back up, swinging it towards that same group of men that the others harass.
Bryn yells again, "For the lady Rosanna!" And that's despite the laughter of his knight. He lunges forward, stabbing fiercely with his lance at the reaver's face, and somehow ends up knocking him upside the head as he dodges the return blow.
Jarod just swings his sword at the Ironborn on Rowan as hard as he can. It's a group-effort sort of felling. He kneels, trying to hook an arm around Rowan and get him on his feet. "Rowan? Rowan? Can you hear me, lad? You got him. It's all right. It's going to be all right…" The chieftain who's still interested in Ser Rivers is, fortunately, still too muddled by the blow to the head Rowan gave him to give Jarod too much trouble.
"Gods damn it!" Kittridge curses as he takes a blow across the hand - it probably won't do more than bruise, but it clearly stings. "Fuck, Bryn!" he says, trying and failing to stab another of their attackers, "Good shot, lad," he says as his squire makes contact, and then snorts at the shout, but grumbles as he fights on, "Whatever works, I guess."
And even while Einion personally scores a deep wound upon his enemy, his line falters.. and in the onslaught, it folds.. breaks. Men have nowhere to go.. and as Einion tries, he can't get the line. He's yelling, "Hold the line! Pikes! Orange! Hold the line!" even as men fall. "Fill in!" he tries next. Warrior.. give us strength.. is pleaded. He doesn't want to die, and the crumbling line means he's got no defense! "Hold the line!"
Bruce's eyes widen as the Stonebridge section of the line crumbles like dry parchment in the wind. "Guards! Swords!" Bruce places his quiver and crossbow down on the ground and grabs his tower shield, gripping it tightly. Then, his workmanlike sword comes free of its scabbard and brandished high for the men of the Nayland Guard to see. The Stonebridge men grab their shields, while the Mire ones simply unsheath their swords. "Line formation!" Amos, Bruce's squire, blows the quick command into his bugle, then slings the implement and grabs his standard bearing spear and shield. "We're to hold that line. CHARGE!" The Guardsmen quickly form up into a tightly packed wall, Shield bearing stonebridge men at the front, and then charge to fill the vacuum that the levies had recently occupied. Shield up, Bruce's face is set in determination. They take ten, now twenty steps, keeping remarkably well in formation for men at the sprint. And then there's a crash, and they're within the line. Bruce lashes out and attempts to thrust his sword into an Volmark man.
With a growl, Benedict charges towards the Stonetree readying another strike towards Kittridge. He swings and his blade cuts deep into the Stonetree's arm, settling near Kittridge and watching the Ironman intently. "Come on, then," he murmurs, more to himself than his opponent. "Come on."
Rafferdy slings his crossbow strap over his shoulder and drops beside his brother and Jarod. He begins grabbing Rowan from Jarod, shouting, "I have him, Ser. You're better with the blade, cover our withdraw!" If Rowan and Jarod allow, he then begins to help his brother fall back.
All of a sudden, Tam finds himself alone in the battle-line, as men break all around him. The surging combat has him retreating toward Einion, still hacking at the man he has been battering thus far. "Hold the fucken line, you dogs! You hold! You take those lizard-stickers and you -fuck the foe- with them! Pretend you're at home with your wife, lads. Ain't none of you had a bloody coupling before?" His profane shouts amount to nothing, but the hedge knight is not given toward running - not ever.
The spear comes flying at him again and Kell, though slowed by the wound he took earlier, manages to twist away at the last second so instead of the steel point stabbing through his throat, it instead glances off the chainmail protecting him. In return, the Hedge Knight steps in and delivers a nasty slice across the chest of Ironborn, parting linked mail and cutting into the flesh, leaving the reaver falling to his knees holding the wound and then down from the pain and shock, bleeding out.
Looking around at the melee, Kell sees that Patrek is still safe though recovering and gathering his weapons, then sees that the Lord of the Roost is engaged with a particularly nasty looking Ironborn. If it was a duel, then the Hedge Knight would have stepped aside but this is a pitch battle and a war. Gripping his longsword with both hands now, Kell charges towards Lord Stonetree with his feet, sword raised up for an overhead swing as he goes to assist Lord Jerold, the blade coming down as he draws near.
The close quarters and aggressive push of Ironborn shields make the contest between infantry a bloody, grinding affair. Although rather few of the Stonebrdige men are killed, the loud *SNAP* over several broken pike hafts is enough to dissolve half the formation, and while the Mire pikes are standing firm anbd the Volmark lines in equal disarray, the drawn swrods and forward push of Bruce's Guards are needed to stablize the chaotic line.
Dominick pops Lord Volmark right in the faceplate with a bolt, though as usual it's hard to tell exactly that it was his that did it. Then just as he's reloading there's screaming — all this damn screaming — and he looks up also just in time to see a wall of Stone (bridge that is) go down under the Ironborn. And so, in an instant, the small company of Groves is abruptly headed forward to cover the backs of the Nayland contingent and well. That includes him. "Oh gods dammit."
Jarod will allow for his part, trying to hand Rowan off as gently as possible to Rafferdy. "You've got to get that wound cleaned prompt, lad, before it turns…" His voice sort've chokes at the idea as he looks down at his squire. "I'll be with you soon as I can. Promises."
"I'm fine!" Rowan shouts, pushing to his feet. "Looks worse than it is!" He points at the Ironborn Chieftain. "We've got bigger squid to fry than a little flesh wound, boys. Come on!" He gives Rafferdy a clumsy pat on the helm.
Rafferdy finds himself now in the center of battle, with sword skills for squat and the brother he came after refusing to go. "…stupid…" he mutters, and he draws his sword.
"Brash idiot this one. Don't know where he gets it," Jarod says wry to Rafferdy. But he's not, in the end, going to force a man off the field who still seems able to fight. "Let's to it, Fun Nayland."
Kittridge glances sideways at the knight who appears beside him, and for a second does a double-take, but then turns away again with a nod of acknowledgment for the help, refocusing on the Stonetrees still coming at them.
<COMBAT> Stonetree 01 attacks Brynner with Bludgeon & Shield - Light wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Jerold attacks Lord Stonetree with Sword & Shield - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Stonetree 03 attacks Kittridge with Sword & Shield and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kenning 02 passes.
<COMBAT> Lord Stonetree attacks Jerold with Polearm but Jerold DODGES!
<COMBAT> Kenning 01 attacks Aleister with Bludgeon & Shield but Aleister DODGES!
<COMBAT> Ser Harras passes.
<COMBAT> Patrek passes.
<COMBAT> Markus attacks Kenning 02 with Broadsword but Kenning 02 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Kittridge attacks Stonetree 03 with Spear - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Kell attacks Lord Stonetree with Greatsword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Hardwicke attacks Kenning 01 with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Left Hand.
<COMBAT> Brynner attacks Stonetree 01 with Lance & Shield and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Benedict attacks Stonetree 03 with Greatsword - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Aron attacks Kenning 01 with Lance & Shield - Serious wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Anders attacks Kenning 02 with Sword & Shield but Kenning 02 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Alek attacks Kenning 01 with Broadsword - ARMOR on Head stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Aleister attacks Kenning 01 with Bludgeon & Shield - Moderate wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> Brynner has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Kenning 01 has been KO'd!
Meanwhile, at the Waterfront:
<COMBAT> Volmark 07 attacks Bruce with Bludgeon & Shield but Bruce DODGES!
<COMBAT> Volmark 05 passes.
<COMBAT> Mire 02 attacks Volmark 08 with Pike and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Volmark 01 passes.
<COMBAT> Mire 01 attacks Volmark 05 with Pike - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Volmark 08 passes.
<COMBAT> Terrick attacks Volmark 08 with Hunting Bow and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Rygar attacks Lord Volmark with Polearm - ARMOR on Head stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Rowan attacks Volmark 07 with Broadsword - Serious wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Rafferdy attacks Lord Volmark with Broadsword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Lord Volmark passes.
<COMBAT> Jarod attacks Volmark 07 with Greatsword - Moderate wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Dominick attacks Volmark 07 with Sword & Shield but Volmark 07 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Bruce attacks Volmark 07 with Sword & Shield - Serious wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
Another swing of Hardwicke's sword digs into the flesh of a Kenning soldier's hand, and with other knights rallying to the same foe, he finally goes down. His longsword splashed with red, the Captain turns Delylah to attack the last of Ser Harras's friends.
Jarod is capable of finesse as a swordsman but, in a pinch, his style often falls back on 'run at something really fast and hit it harder than it could possibly hit you.' This is the tactic he employs at the chieftain. Straight ahead, tight press, big two-handed sword directed hard at the Ironborn's neck. That is a clean kill, right there. Lots of blood, head no longer quite attached. It's only after he's done it, and breathing hard in the aftermath of it, that he notices he charged into the chieftain's polearm, which pierced his armor. It's bleeding some. "Huh…"
Aron's lance-point erupts from the back of a man's neck - coincidentally, the same Kenning that was attempting to fell Ser Aleister. He grins as he rips his lance free, blood spraying across the muddy turf. "I find that I am running out of partners for the dance, Ser Aleister! Mind your toes!" And with that, the young Haigh heels his mount onward, hunting another Kenning down.
Kell's longsword strikes his target but the way the knight was hoping to as the sharp pain in his abdomen causes his aim to falter a bit at the last second. Instead of cleaving down neatly into the neck of Lord Stonetree, for a glorious killing blow, the blade falls a little short and lacks the full strength as it slaps into the Ironborn's torso where the mail is strong enough to soak up the damage. With a muttered curse, Kell presses the attack to ensure that the reaver is too preoccupied to be able to fully engage Lord Jerold.
Where the man goes down under his sword and others turn to handle the last of the others, Alek turns his horse instead to pace back and forth as he eyes Ser Harras behind the line, far from the reach of his sword. Red rover, red rover?
Dominick turns his shoulder and pivots on his heel just as a sword blade sings past his nose, narrowly missing provided the engineer with a free hole in the face. It's all BITCH PLZ, with enough momentum in the swing coming back to go slamming into the Ironborn's chest…and be stopped cold by armor. Which is more like: "Aw fuck!"
Experienced in this sort of combat, Ser Bruce Longbough is able to fight the man in front of him and take a quick look to either side to determine how his line is doing, all at once. His sword finds its mark, stabbing through the Ironborn's chest in front of him, though it does not burrow deeply. He spots Rafferdy charging out on his own and scowls. "Rafferdy, FORMATION!" But that's all he says about it, turning his head back around just quickly to shift his shield closer and take a smash in it from an Ironborn's mace, which he feels in his chest. He doesn't quite lose his wind, though, and lashes out oncemore to stab his attacker with the tip of his sword. The Nayland men are aquitting themselves finely, holding the line and meting out good damage on their foes.
And here come swords to the rescue. Einion can breathe easier, but he doesn't envy the meeting after the battle… it wasn't his fault! He's demoralized, certainly, and afraid.. and the yelling done by the Ser doesn't help matters.. pikes and leather jerkins.. on foot.. and there needs be no excuse. They're here for a battle, here for a war… and he finishes the mental battle, setting his pike against the same man, the same beast, that he'd gone after before. With a stab with his pike to his foe, he yells, "Green!", and feels the tip of his weapon dig deeply into the flesh of his foe. He can't remove it, however.. it's stuck.. and it simply won't give. At that moment, when he realizes for that split second that he's stuck, he's given a rib-splitting strike to his chest.. and the leather armour simply isn't enough to keep him standing.. and he crumbles, and falls, his pike still within the other man's throat.. though the Ironborn still stands. To see their serjeant fall, however, is the death-knell of the Stonebridge line. With his fall.. at least the vestiges of pikemen pull the tanner out.. and try to keep him safe from harm.. but no promises!
The infantry melee has devolved into what old soldiers refer to in professional language as a 'clusterfuck'. Rygar strikes a solid blow to his opponent before taking a severe blow in return that staggers his, eliciting a pained grunt from the otherwise silent Nayland knight, and leaving the steel of his gorget deformed by the axe-crease. Still, half the line holds, and against the weight of mounting losses, the Volmarks are being pushed back. first staggering, and then bolting.
As Bruce's infantrymen charge forward to fill the gap, Tam snarls, subsumed by battle-rage. He leaves Einion's side to step forward, hacking his heavy-bladed bastard sword into the neck of his opponent. With a crunch as he rips it free, the knight belatedly notices that axe slamming into his chest. It's a light wound, and he smiles slightly, unbothered - until the shield of a passing infantryman slams into the back of his helmet, quite by accident, and sends him sprawling semi-conscious to the ground.
Even with four blades coming at the first of the Kenning men, they are still able to take a swing at Aleister, who simply angles his body and horse away from the blow. Eyes shift in the direction of Alek, a laugh sounding from his lips as he dips a nod towards the man, "Indeed, Ser Aron! They seem to be falling like flies. Though, this is to be expected." And he's turning as well, moving to ride towards the last of Harras' men that still stand.
Having chosen to square off with the most physically dominant of the unnamed Ironborn, or so it must seem, Markus' blow again fails to find his foe, an artful dodge on the man's part earning him a black glare, and perhaps a modicum of respect. Still, Markus has chosen his mark and continues again, taking another shot at his perennial foe.
Rowan roars as the chieftain goes down, shouting to Jarod, "THAT'S THE WAY!" He takes a quick look about their little pocket of chaos, stance defensive, covering his knight as he notes that little matter of being semi-impaled. "Jarod?" he shouts. "Report, Ser!" He pants, fueled by nothing but adrenaline and will. "How many fingers am I not holding up?"
This time, Bryn's lance thrust is more than a little off, while the lad recovers his balance from the last blow he landed. The reaver recovers faster, and drives a blow home to the squire's stomach, knocking the breath right out of him. The look in Brynner's eyes is pure surprise; they blink wide as the battle about him starts to spin, and he drops to the ground, his lance clattering down beside him. He manages to keep hold of his shield, but with the wind gone from his sails, Bryn won't be up anytime soon. He can't even croak out his lady's name.
Benedict keeps his attention on the Stonetree that stands, still, as Kittridge's squire is injured. "Get him out of here," he says, soft but clear, "I'll keep this one from you."
Anders growls, no doubt echoed by his men, as he goes after the damnable Ironborn that simply will not fall, even if the enemy is a line of strikes and bruises.. and insults. "Die! Spill your blood on land so your god gets none of it!"
As Brynner falls, the Stonetree axeman who had knocked the young man flat turns his eye about for a fresh target as siezes upon young Patrek. With an invocation to the Drowned God to behold his deeds, the raider throws himself at the young Mallister.
"Little flesh wound," Jarod parrots Rowan's earlier assurance, though it's paired with a quick, flashed grin. Whatever pierced him, wasn't as bad as what the squire suffered, at least. "Ser Longbough!" That shouted to Bruce, as he goes to the aid of the Stonebridge Captain. Presuming he wouldnt' mind some assistance in Ironborn killing.
Rafferdy isn't the most skilled with a blade. He's an archer, by preference. But he lunges with a stupid, fearless growl and swings his sword at the Volmark Lord. His blade strikes true, but the Lord's armor holds. He steps in closer, ready to swing again when he sees Rygar take the hit from the noble.
Kittridge turns quickly, dodging the blow aimed his way and dealing another to his assailant. He steps towards Brynner as the squire falls, nodding to Benedict and moving quickly to hook an arm beneath his squire's armpit and lift him to his feet, dragging him back behind the lines until the boy finds his feet again.
Charging (a bit unsteadily) towards Lord Jerold's aid, Patrek is caught off-guard as one of Stonetree's men bears down upon him. With a gasp, the boy turns to face this new threat, instead.
<COMBAT> Stonetree 03 attacks Kittridge with Sword & Shield - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Stonetree 01 attacks Patrek with Bludgeon & Shield - Light wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Kenning 02 passes.
<COMBAT> Jerold attacks Lord Stonetree with Sword & Shield - ARMOR on Right Hand stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Lord Stonetree attacks Jerold with Polearm - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Ser Harras passes.
<COMBAT> Patrek attacks Stonetree 01 with Sword & Shield - Light wound to Left Hand.
<COMBAT> Markus attacks Kenning 02 with Broadsword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Kittridge passes.
<COMBAT> Kell attacks Lord Stonetree with Greatsword - Moderate wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hardwicke attacks Kenning 02 with Broadsword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Brynner passes.
<COMBAT> Benedict attacks Stonetree 03 with Greatsword - Serious wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Aron attacks Kenning 02 with Lance & Shield - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Anders attacks Kenning 02 with Sword & Shield - Moderate wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Alek passes.
<COMBAT> Aleister attacks Kenning 02 with Bludgeon & Shield - Moderate wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Stonetree 01 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Stonetree 03 has been KO'd!
Meanwhile at the Waterfront:
<COMBAT> Volmark 04 attacks Tam with Bludgeon & Shield - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Volmark 08 attacks Dominick with Spear & Shield but Dominick DODGES!
<COMBAT> Volmark 05 passes.
<COMBAT> Mire 02 attacks Volmark 08 with Pike and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Mire 01 attacks Volmark 05 with Pike - Serious wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Chieftan attacks Jarod with Polearm - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Volmark 07 attacks Bruce with Bludgeon & Shield - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Volmark 01 attacks Einion with Bludgeon & Shield - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Terrick attacks Volmark 08 with Hunting Bow and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Tam attacks Volmark 04 with Greatsword - Moderate wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Rygar attacks Lord Volmark with Polearm - Moderate wound to Right Arm (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Rowan attacks Chieftan with Broadsword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Rafferdy attacks Lord Volmark with Broadsword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Lord Volmark attacks Rygar with Polearm - Serious wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Jarod attacks Chieftan with Greatsword - Critical wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Einion attacks Volmark 01 with Pike - Critical wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Dominick attacks Volmark 08 with Sword & Shield - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Bruce attacks Volmark 04 with Sword & Shield - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Chieftan has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Einion has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Rygar has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Tam has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Volmark 04 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Rygar spends a luck point to keep fighting!
Aron curses as, finally, his lance-tip fails to puncture the armor of his foe. And then he actually draws up, blinking a bit, as he sees two other blades bite deeply into the Kenning's armor. The man stays on his feet, astonishingly, and Aron only belatedly realizes that he's still in the fight. With a laugh, he rams his lance forward again, half-leaning out of the saddle to add weight to the blow. "It's like hunting boar!" he calls toward Aleister.
Hardwicke finally curses, as well, breaking his usual silence during battle as his sword bites into armor but no further. He turns the blade in his hand and slashes again.
"Ser Jarod!" Yells Bruce in return, not bothering to say anything else to the man. His sword finds flesh, burying deep into one man's chest and felling him. "GUARDS! FORMATION, CHARGE!" Next to him, Amos lifts his shield to defend himself and blows the charge call into his horn. All at once, the Nayland men push forward as much as they can with their weight, striking out at any enemy into the front.
The Young Lord Mallister and the Stonetree attack each other, both doing a bit of damage. Patrek gets a nick to his belly that he'll feel wen the adrenaline wears down. The Stonetree gets a slice to his sword hand, and down his axe goes. The squire scrambles forward to grab it and the Ironman, disarmed, begins to beat a retreat.
While Aron's blow fails to puncture the Kenning's armor, Aleister's mace is connecting with the man's head, causing part of his helm to cave in with a sickening sound. And still the Kenning man remains standing, now having able to fled. Aron's comment draws his attention and a bellowing laugh greets the man's comments, "Indeed! Though I'm afraid that boar got away! A shame, I do say."
As the Lord of Stonetree and Lord Jerold exchange blows that are deflected by their protective armor, Kell's second attack against the Reaver Lord finds more purchase and accuracy this time as his longsword cuts through the linked mail, leaving a nice cash at the neck. A glance to the side and the Hedge Knight was worried for a moment as the Young Lord Patrek meets an Ironborn who goes to attack him, worried at first but when the Ironborn somehow falls, the knight returns his attention to the retreating Lord Stonetree. "Don't you run, craven!" He calls out bitterly and swings his longsword once more, this time aiming to hamstring the reaver.
Alek's hard stare draws towards Aleister's laugh, steel-colored eyes darkening with annoyance. Again, he looks towards Ser Harras, exhaling his disappointment before throwing himself back in the fight.
The Stonetree chieftan shouts in anger, frustration, and pain as Kell's blow to the maile mantle about his neck coincides with the disintigration of his men's assault on the downed knights. A full withdrawal begins.
Jarod finds himself with - well, a little ahead, he's not in proper formation - the Nayland men as they pursue the retreating Ironborn. He's breathing hard, but it's as much from adrenaline as whatever damage his tangling with the chieftain did him. Another look over his shoulder, to try and place Rowan, make sure the lad's still with him.
Raising his lance in salute to Aleister, Aron reaches up to lift his visor. His too-lovely face splits in an innocent, boyish grin - as though his gleaming armor weren't covered in gore. He turns to look at the fight still being waged on foot, and shakes his head mildly, making no effort to go and help the beleaguered knights. "Honestly, I expected more out of them," he remarks. "Still, I suppose it was a -decent- showing. Mm, a bath soon, I think."
As Kittridge and Brynner make their retreat, Bendict strikes the Stonetree that would fell them. The Ironman manages a swing at Kittridge, but the way his body twists leaves an opening that Benedict takes full advantage of. He slices deep into the Stonetree's abdomen, and the Stonetree falls, his blood watering the trampled grass.
<COMBAT> Jerold attacks Lord Stonetree with Sword & Shield but Lord Stonetree DODGES!
<COMBAT> Patrek attacks Lord Stonetree with Sword & Shield but Lord Stonetree DODGES!
<COMBAT> Kell attacks Lord Stonetree with Greatsword but Lord Stonetree DODGES!
<COMBAT> Benedict attacks Lord Stonetree with Greatsword but Lord Stonetree DODGES!
Meanwhile, at the Waterfront:
<COMBAT> Volmark 07 passes.
<COMBAT> Mire 02 attacks Volmark 07 with Pike - Serious wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Volmark 08 passes.
<COMBAT> Terrick attacks Volmark 08 with Hunting Bow - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Mire 01 attacks Volmark 07 with Pike - Light wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> Volmark 05 passes.
<COMBAT> Rygar attacks Volmark 07 with Polearm - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Rowan attacks Volmark 07 with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Rafferdy reloads.
<COMBAT> Lord Volmark passes.
<COMBAT> Jarod attacks Volmark 07 with Greatsword - Light wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Dominick attacks Volmark 07 with Sword & Shield - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Bruce attacks Volmark 07 with Sword & Shield - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
Rafferdy once again slams his sword across the chest of the Lord Volmark, and once more, the armor takes the blow as the lord retreats. Rafferdy scowls, glancing around, "Oh, fuck this…" he mutters and slings the crossbow from his shoulder, watching the Volmark lord step out of range of his sword. He begins reloading.
Kittridge drags his squire behind the line to safety, and tugs at the edges of his maile. "You alright in there, Bryn?" he asks, "I don't see any blood, where'd you get hit? Crack a rib or something?" He spends a moment making sure his young charge will live, and then finds his horse and mounts up to re-enter the fray.
Rowan is still very much with his knight — though ghastly pale, he doesn't appear to be feeling any pain. Gods know he will later. Right now, he's in some other place — possibly not the healthiest of places — as he was in the Grand Melee at the Roost. There will be no yielding, this day. "COWARD!" he shouts at the retreating Ironborn, getting in a parting blow… but not enough to bring the inhuman thing down.
Jarod lets the Ironborn go as it fails to fall under their last strike, turning to his squire. Ghastly pale and all. He reaches out an arm to sling it around the slighter man's middle, to help prop him, if Rowan'll allow. "Flesh wound my ass." He looks to the remaining Terrick men on the field, nodding some to himself as he sees the archers still at work.
"Guard! HALT!" Bruce yells as the Volmark men who are not dead or wounded on the ground make a run for it and devolve into a full run. Amos calls the halt out on his bugle, and then, without prompting, a reform as well. The Nayland standard is raised high for men to gather around, and Bruce, sword and shield slick with blood, raises his sword up in the air. He screams a cheer, quickly taken up by the men. "Guards, we are to hold the line in case of counterattack. Hold position!" The Nayland men step forward to pass the line of bodies, and kneel down, shields to the front. Bruce watches to his front, panting heavily, sweating. His sleepy blue eyes survey the field.
"Ahhh fuck, mind the side!" Rowan hacks a laugh as Jarod helps support him. He smirks at his knight. "It's flesh and it's wounded. It's all relative."
Raising a gauntleted hand and exerting light pressure against the pain at his collar, Rygar sucks in a sharp breath through his nose at the keen pain the mild pressure provokes. Woodenly keeping his voice level, the stern Nayland orders, "Footmen of Groves. Flint. Terrick. Into the city. Secure the waterfront for one block."
Patrek charges after the retreating Lord Stonetree, but the Ironborn is too quick and too spry. Patrek's sword slices only the air and he glares after the Lord, puffing for breath, before he looks to Jerold. "Are you unharmed, my lord?"
Dominick works at reloading his crossbow, though his attention has strayed from the shouting of the formation captains and screams of the battle. He braces his bow in the crook of his arm, shielding his eyes as he looks ahead at the once-familiar city of Seagard.
<OOC> Patrek says, "Man, it is always the neck with Rygar. :("
<OOC> Elf says, "Its like he's surrounded by things that are a pain in his neck."
Trampled into the mud by the passing infantrymen, it's very fortunate indeed that Tam is wearing heavy enough maile to protect his ribs. He rolls over with a groan, looking up at the sky for a few moments before coughing loudly and sitting up. "Fuck.. Did I miss the victory?" He shoves himself to one knee, coughing again, using his sword as a prop to push himself to his feet, well-behind the battle lines now. "Bastards are mopping up without me.."
<COMBAT> Rafferdy attacks Lord Volmark with Crossbow - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Rafferdy's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Dominick reloads.
With the last of the men at the gates managing to escape, Hardwicke wheels his courser to a halt and swings his gaze around to mark the last of the ending combat. He takes a deep breath and approaches the edge of the road nearest Jerold and Patrek. "Are you well, my lords?" he asks both of them.
The Flint contingent's man turns to call an order, his voice rising. "Men of steel, men of Flint! To the city! We secure the waterfront for a block!" With a look to their lord across their, a check is made to see how their Young Lord fares. Still on horse, so the commander of the Flint footmen continues, "Our Young Lord yet rides!"
"Your face is relative," Jarod retorts to Rowan, tone rough but fond. "And you're getting that seen to. Now. They're routed. Archers're just seeing to the clean-up work. I'll get you to the healers before the men move into the city."
As the cavalry's part comes to an end, Aleister doesn't even bother casting a look over in the direction of Alek. Instead, he keeps his attention on Aron, a quick chuckle escaping past his lips as he offers a nod to the other lordling, "With wine, no doubt. Before, during and after." Lifting his mace in a light salute to the other lord, he's turning his attention to the city, watching as the infantry are ordered in.
Benedict is another who attacks Lord Stonetree and misses, and for a moment, he seems intent to pursue. But then he takes in the large picture, the retreat and straightens with a shaking breath out. Lowering his bloodied sword, he waits for further orders.
As the last Ironborn flees, Kell does not give chase as he begins panting for breath, obviously the pitch battle coupled with the wound he took exhausting him. The Hedge Knight does turn back to Lord Jerold and the squire Patrek, making sure both are unharmed for the time being and that there are no more Ironborn inbound to attack those that are trapped with pits around them.
Likewise ignoring Alek's frustration, Aron hands his lance off to the squire that rides up, grinning and nodding eagerly toward Aleister. "Oh, yes. Wine and a bit of lamb, I think. Something red and rare." His azure gaze takes in the battlefield, and then the slaughter taking place as the infantry enter the city. "Do you think they'll leave us an inn untorched?"
Still holding his blade at the ready, Markus watches as the Ironborn scurry to the relative safety of their ranks, his bitter rival in the battle finally succumbing to his wounds as he attempts to make good an escape. "Pitiful," he remarks, and finally slides his blade into its sheath. He turns, and glances to Anders. "The foot march for the waterfront my lord, shall we regroup with the rest of the cavalry?"
Rowan's jaw sets. "If you're going back in, I'm not leaving you. Let someone throw a bandage on this and I'll be fit as — a fucking appropriate figure of speech." He nevertheless limps in whatever direction Jarod ushers him.
Anders looks back to see his black, grey and white standard still flying in his footmen, and he smiles. Brown eyes look over the aftermath, and looks at the pennants that yet fly.. and the holes. He presses his lips together; he takes no pleasure in what he sees, though there is a pride in his men. "Ser Markus.. how fares you.. and aye. We shall. Our kin look well and march into the city."
The Nayland men, in the absence of any other orders, begin to move around the battlefield to finish off any wounded Ironborn, especially those not highborn. Call it warrior's mercy or just mopping up. The sound is no longer of steel on steel, but now, of steel on flesh as sword's are plunged through necks, faces and abdomens. Ser Bruce wipes his sword clean on a dead Ironman's tunic, one that he himself slew, and sheaths it. He approaches Rygar. "Orders for us, Ser?"
Ser Bruce casts a scowl onto Rowan, nearby enough for him to overhear. "You are not going anywhere, Rowan Nayland. You will go to the healers. You are wounded. If you fall on the field to a counter attack, we will hve to retrieve you, or you will be captured. Now quit /whining/ and do as you're told, lad." His gaze snaps back to Rygar.
Rafferdy lets loose one final shot at the Lord, growling as he pulls the trigger and the bolt fires. It flies across the field and into the back of Lord Volmark… And then bounces off. "Son of a…" Rafferdy scowls, and he slams the end of his crossbow into the muddy earth. "Damnit!" He leaves it there in the mud, and kicks it. "Fucker!" He grits his teeth, and shakes his head, turning to Rowan, "What the hell are you thinking!?!?!" he shouts. "Get your ass to the healers before you prove to us all your as stupid as Father thinks!"
Senna is once again behind the lines of battle, waiting for the wounded with whatever maesters, barbers, and herb women could be gathered up along with the troops. Even that has some organization to it. Not that they weren't ready to run if they had to.
Jarod ushers his squire off to where the healers are waiting to attend the wounded. "Quite so," he says with a smirk to Bruce to Rafferdy and Bruce. "Majority rules, lad. C'mon." Not all Jarod's limping is attributable to his Nayland baggage. He would not be remiss to get a bandage himself.
As the battle seems to wind down, or at least pause, Kittridge delays his ride back onto the field, instead remaining back with Brynner, somewhat behind the forward line. He slowly dismounts once again, wincing a bit, and nudges his squire with a toe in lieu of bending down. "Brynner. Get up now, come on. Let's go find a healer, right?"
Coming to settle his mace against his saddle, Aleister keeps his eyes upon the city for another moment before looking over in the direction of Aron, "Oh, I imagine there'll be one or two of them unharmed. After all, I've heard that the Ironborn do so enjoy their drink." Lifting a hand, he's moving to pull the helm from his head and settle it against the saddle horn, lips curved into a smirk. "Shall we call your challenge a draw, Ser Aron, and make our men buy our drinks for us?"
His own line, Alek lingers only long enough to call towards the walls, "Ser Harras, if ever you want to test yourself again, this common knight would be happy to accept." Then he draws the reigns of his horse to wheel around and return to the lines of the men on his side.
Lightly bleeding from a gash in his maile, and with a massive knot rising on his temple, Tam marches toward Ser Rygar as well. He grins laconically at the bloody knight, grounding his bastard sword and nodding. "A good day's work, Ser," he greets him - all business now, the blustery show that he presented to the pikemen largely departed. "You want I should take a contingent of infantry in and try to secure some order, a'fore our lads forget we've just -liberated- this place?"
Rowan has to take that from Ser Bruce. The lad's a good squire, after all. Most of the time. He grimaces and mutters contritely, "Yes, Ser." From his brother, though? Not a Ser. Does not have to take that. "Shut your fucking face, Raff!" he calls with bonhomie. And off he goes to get sewn up. Limp, limp, limp.
"Hale, my lord, fared a spot better than our last engagement with the reavers," Markus insists, a glance spared where all the fuss is made over the odd pairing of Terrick bastard knight and Nayland squire. He shrugs mildly, and glances at the call given out to the rare Iron Knight. It's clear there is something in his face, Anders is close enough to see it, though it's not clear his displeasure is directed at Alek. "You alright, my lord?" he asks of the heir to Flint's Finger, almost an afterthought, having seen Anders enough to know the truth of it already.
Rygar doesnt turn his head, or bend his stiff neck as Bruce walks up (more to do with pain than disdain, though one wouldnt guess it to look at him). "Reform the Stonebridge levies, Ser Longbough, and see the wounded treated. The Mire formations will secure our position here, and your Guard are to direct them in fortifying the ground we have taken. Direct the placement of sentinels along the cordon our men claim, and place a trumpet or horn with each sentinel." He pauses a moment to give Bruce the chance to voice any opinions or prompt clarification, and then flicks his eye- without turning his neck- to Tam. "Ser Cooper. Oversee the advance of our common levies. We have taken a foothold, ser, not the whole of this citadel, and I do not intend to see that foothold lost through a reckless advance.
Rafferdy yanks his bow from the mud, rolling his eyes at Rowan with a smirk. He stomps his way back towards Rygar and Bruce, listening for what is to happen now.
"Right you are, Ser. I'll see them straight." And Tam matches action to words, marching away from Rygar and raising his voice - leather-tough notes carrying around the vicinity easily. "Come on, you addle-pated sons of war! You think the fun's over, my bonny lads? It ain't so! On your fucken feet, form ranks, neatly like in practice!" He grins as he paces to the front of the re-forming Nayland pikemen, eyes searching for the familiar face of Einion and not finding him. "Alright, buckos. We're going in there. So chins up, smartly now, and step. Present..arms!" Pikes slowly raise to the upright position as the weary ranks form. "Forward -march-. Sing, my lovelies, -sing-!" And Tam leads the motley survivors of the levy forward, into Seagard.
It's not something Anders quite understands either.. but the business of a bastard is none of his own. He catches the glance, and he'll be asked about it later.. when around a fire and the sword is given a cup of ale. "Well. Fit and unharmed. It's good to see you're well.. and that we all live to see the next battle. I'm proud of our men.. they've done exactly what it is they should have." He reaches out to give the man a light clap upon the shoulder from horseback, a smile rising, reaching his eyes. "We'll see this through easily.. and then you can go back to telling my wife stories." He grins, "Yours are much more interesting, apparently."
"Ser Rivers, Squire Nayland," Senna greets the pair as they limp back to the camp, dipping her hands into a solution just waiting to clean hands as she looks them over sharply. "Set yourselves down and we'll take a look at you." She does look over their shoulders as she pulls together supplies. "Win or loss?"
"Aye, Ser." Bruce turns his head around. "Guards! Go collect your crossbows and quivers, meet me back here. Amos, get mine for me, lad." Apparently, Bruce has nothing else to say. "Guardsman Weaver, take charge of the Mire levies here and have them fortify a small camp." The Guardsman in question smacks his shield and answers with a, "Ser!" Bruce himself moves to the rear to go and collect as many of the Stonebridge men who survived as he can into a coherent formation… until he hears Tam marshalling the Mire men. "Ser Tam, halt! They're to remain here. Help Guardsman Weaver with them, and secure the area." Again he turns about to go on his way.
"A draw? Well, I suppose." Aron grins tiredly, resting his hands against the horn of his saddle. His gaze again surveys the bloody field as he talks, for all the world as calmly as though he were sitting in a salon somewhere. "It's a shame, Lord Aleister, that war is so expensive - I grow rather fond of it. I tell you what - a new wager. If my Ser Taggett can outdrink any man of yours that you name, I'll yield five royals to the man."
"We routed them," Jarod says as he eases Rowan down for Senna to have a look at. He stays standing for the moment, hand on his squire's shoulder. "There'll be fighting in the city, most like, but I can't see how the Ironborn'll stand up to it long. How bad is he, Mistress?"
Confused, the hedge knight looks back, then shrugs and calls a halt. "Right, lads, you heard the man. Secure the area!" He signals the men to spread out, and the pikemen fall to their work with a vengeance - taking Bruce's cue and administering battlefield mercies to anyone left alive. More than a few lean over, scooping up prizes from their fallen foes as well. Tam himself, still woozy from the blow to his head, just leans on his sword and watches.
"A win, lovely Senna," says Rowan, sucking in a sharp breath as he sits. "Hail to the conquering heroes. Kiss?" Giddy, apparently, with blood-loss, the squire flirts outrageously.
With the fighting done, at least for now, Benedict moves through the fallen bodies and the road-turned-battlefield to look for his horse. He takes a moment to wipe his sword clean on the grass before sheathing it. He rubs a hand idly over the spot where a blade caught him, but he keeps away from where the healers have begun to see to the wounded.
"Well enough to look for kisses, apparently," Senna answers Jarod with a flicker of a smile, starting to remove the squire's armor. "Give me a hand with the other side?" she requests. Her hands roam as she works, checking for chinks in the armor and the source of blood, as well as any broken bones. "What'd you take, Rowan? An axe or a sword?"
With both Lord Jerold and Patrek doing okay, Kell turns and heads back to his fallen mount, Horse, a saddened look on his face as he fears the worst. And the worst it is as Horse has not gotten back up onto his feet, one can easily see why. With the front legs broken from falling into the pit, the days of the brave steed are numbered, even more so as the Hedge Knight knows to give it a merciful end. "Horse… I'm so sorry, I should've seen it, should've avoided it. You were always good to me, my trusted companion." He whispers to the mount as he takes a knee by the head, stroking the beast gently.
Kell then goes to the pack that is tied to the steed and pulls out his cloak, covering the head of the beast so it cannot see what is to come. Seeing an Ironborn axe lying on the ground next to its dead owner, the Hedge Knight picks it up and walks back to Horse. With a finally whispered apology, the axe head is brought up, then down to the back of the neck, severing the spinal cord and ending the horse's life.
There's a nod of Aleister's head to the agreement of a draw and then a quick laugh at the notion of cost, "Indeed, it is rather .. enjoyable. Tends to get the blood flowing rather nicely." The mention of another contest, though, sparks his interest and there's another quick nod given, "Agreed. Ser Alyn shall attend to that challenge as my representative, Lord Aron." The wounded that litter the field? Well, they aren't even given a single glance by the Charlton Knight.
"Sword to the side. My chest," Rowan notes, "my very manly chest… is quite intact." The boy giggles. "Oh, shite, room's spinnuhh — " Bonk. He's out.
Jarod assist Senna in unbuckling Rowan's armor. His hands, perhaps, shaking some as he does so, though he manages the job. "Was a sword, I think," he supplies. "Tight quarters blow. We were with the infantry in the advance." As the squire loses consciousness, his green eyes go wide to Senna in alarm.
With the Terrick levies among those moving inside the city, Hardwicke wheels Delylah around to follow.
It takes a while to gather all of the Stonebridge militia who withdrew or routed off the field, and send those wounded back to the healers. Within a half hour, Ser Bruce has the men marshalled, and is marching them back to the fortified area, the last area that they were present during the first phase of the battle. The losses of the Stonebridge men aren't especially significant; their nerves just busted from seeing men wounded and killed by the ferocious Ironborn in such close quarters. Bruce's sword is out, again, marching slowly to accomodate those who are hurt and still in the line.
Back in the spot his dear laughing knight managed to drag him to, Bryn is still struggling to find his breath properly, clutching his stomach. As Kittridge nudges him, the squire looks up, and grimaces - and then grins. "Y-yeah," he croaks out. "Let's!"
"Taggett! Come over here!" Aron addresses his fiercest knight as another man might speak to a dog, and the hulking figure responds in kind, trotting over atop his rather ungraceful mount. "Lord Aleister thinks that his man, Ser Alyn, can outdrink you. Will you match him?" The surly retainer reaches up to remove his helmet, revealing a face covered in thick keloid scars. "I've got a terrible thirst, m'lord," he responds to Aron with a nasty grin. "If I win, do I get first pick of the whores?" Gallantly nodding his head, Aron says "You can even have mine. Just wine for me tonight, old friend." Turning toward Aleister, he winks. "Well, my friend, I'll send my squires to find us something to test our men's mettle with. Squire? Wine! Go."
Rafferdy finishes listening to Rygar's commands, and then conveys what's needed to his archers before approaching Jarod, Senna and his little brother. He furrows his brow a little, and removes his helm, his sweaty hair a mopped mess. "Tell me he's just blacked and not dead…"
"Mmmm," Senna hums to Rowan at the talk of his manly chest, a dry look in her eyes, then sighs as the boy passes out. "Well, that's not promising. Help me prop him-" And then she looks up at Jarod, brow arching. "On second thought, you sit down before I have two unconscious knights. Ah. You." She gestures to Rafferdy. "Come here, prop his feet up. He's certainly not dead yet."
"I'm just fine, Mistress. Wasn't deep," Jarod says, moving to help prop Rowan. He has strength enough left in him to be rather insistent about it, which is promising in terms of his own health. He does move a little so Rafferdy can assist him in the doing of it.
Kittridge leans against his horse, an arm bent across his chest where the reaver's sword sliced through his brigadine. "Come on, then," he says, waiting for his squire to get up, not moving to help him. "I think we left Day over this way somewhere," he says, gesturing with his chin and adding, "Get my horse," dropping the reins towards Brynner and then walking back towards the Groves part of the encampment.
Rafferdy shakes his head at Jarod, "I see where he gets his penchant for underestimating his wounds…" He does indeed then step forward and help Senna lift Rowan. "Will he live?" he asks, revealing just a bit in his town he's actually rather worried about Ro.
As Aron begins to summon his 'champion', Aleister is turning his attention to a couple of knights that linger not far off and with a lifted voice, he's calling out, "Ser Alyn." That's all that's needed for the other Charlton knight to beg off from the group and as he approaches, there's nothing more then a simple nod to each Lord. "Lord Aron believes his man .." He lifts a hand and motions to Taggart in an almost dismissive motion, ".. can outdrink you. You don't intend to let me down in such a matter, do you?" For his part, Ser Alyn lifts his hands to remove his helm, revealing a smirk much like that which Aleister wears, "No, M'Lord. I'll even be so kind as to see the Lord Haigh's charge to a bench when he passes out." The response draws an approving nod from Aleister and when he looks back to Aron, he's offering, "It's settled, then, Lord Aron."
"It'll not be too long now before we can call Seaguard ours," Markus remarks as he watches the levies head towards the waterfront, "With the back of their force broken ilke this… it's a damn good day, my lord." At the last comment Anders makes, he laughs a bit, his brow rising. "She said that, did she? Your Lady is far too kind, by half. I'll just be glad not to have to bring her word of your injuries again…"
"Ay, ser," comes the chipper response from Bryn, who struggles to his feet at the command. With one hand pressed tightly across his stomach, and the other clutching the reins of Kittridge's horse, he hobbles after his knight with a valiant smile. "Rosie's gonna be so impressed," he choke-mumbles to himself on the way.
"Keep the wound above the level of his heart," Senna instructs Jarod and Rafferdy, reaching for a skin to wash out the wound. Herbs, alcohol, and boiled water, a basic solution she keeps on hand. "And let me look at it before you ask any more questions," she adds, a little peevish. There's a tense moment while she washes the wound, then performs a quick visual and tactile inspection, focused intently on Rowan's abdomen.
"Armor took most of it. You should see the other guy," Jarod retorts wry to Rafferdy. Though the quip lacks any of its usual ease, and his eyes stay entirely on Rowan. He swallows hard, like he's bracing himself, as he watches Senna work. It takes some effort but he doesn't look away.
Aron just smiles, a delighted-looking expression, his blue eyes twinkling as he tosses back his raven locks. "Oh, I do love a show, don't you, Lord Aleister? Whichever one wins, I expect that they'll both have the most delightful antics afterward." He claps his gauntleted hands together with every appearance of enjoyment before his face darkens briefly. "Did I hear that Oldstone knight having words with you, my friend? How very rude, I think, to start an argument in the middle of a battle. It shows a certain lack of breeding." He sniffs, really laying the snobbery on thickly - meanwhile, his squire is tossing the dead bodies, searching for suitable quantities of booze until the main caravan catches up. Oblivious, the young Haigh knight continues. "I am quite certain that the Ironborn themselves were better-behaved. At least -they- had the good sense not to turn on one another. More's the pity, of course."
Rafferdy nods, sighs, and then finds a place on the ground near them and flops down, tired.
Bruce sets to placing the Stonebridge men in small groups, paired with equal sized groups of their superbly trained Hag's Mire counterparts. The Guardsmen, on the other hand, set to sentry tasks, as the levies fortify buildings and the ground around them. Bruce himself climbs up to the top of one of the low houses in the area, setting his crossbow and quiver on the edge of the roof and watching outwards. Amos stands next to him, drinking from a waterskin. "You did well, lad. Today, and the last time, and the time before. Next year I'm going to knight you. Make your pa proud." His squire looks up at him with dull, tired eyes, smiling wanly and nodding.
Senna lets out a soft breath as she finishes her inspection, nodding once. "Not so different from Ser Gedeon's wound," she concludes, quiet. "And I'll be damned if I have to deal with another infection like that if I can help it, so it's just as well he's passed out." Slowly, she twists her neck and rolls her shoulders with a series of gentle pops. "This may take a little while. Are you sure you don't need to be seen to?" she arches a brow at Jarod.
"I'm sure," Jarod assures Senna, jaw tensing some as Rowan's hurt is compared to Gedeon's. Without actually looking away from his squire he asks of Rafferdy, "I will need to go see to our levies later this eve, Raff, and find word on how my lord father's fared. Can you sit with him, when I cannot?"
Rafferdy looks at Jarod, and there's a hesitation, before he nods. "Of course." He gives a little smile, and sighs.
Without a mount, Kell the steedless knight had gathered his packs that was secured to Horse and slings it over his shoulders, burdening himself further with the wound protesting quite loudly at him. It is a slow trek back to friendly lines where there are those with healing skills are seeing to wounded soldiers and knights alike. Arriving in camp, Kell first looks around for a place put his stuff down, tired and a little directionless at first.