Post by Balon Blackbriar on Mar 11, 2019 21:21:32 GMT 1
Lords, ladies, knights, and men of learning had gathered at Highgarden to settle the issue of inheritance at House Bridges. Debates were had, sometimes heated, other times with cordial rationality. Some people used logic in their arguments, some pulled on emotional strings, others used fear mongering. When the great debate ended it was decided that Desmond Bridges, the appointed regent by the late Lord Bryce, would become lord.
Their decision was wrong.
It'd taken time for things to come together for Balon. The first thing that was required was an insider within House Bridges. Someone unassuming, someone with knowledge of Desmond's schedule, someone who was comfortable with Desmond meeting the Father sooner than later. When that individual was located he agreed to send word when Desmond would be at his most vulnerable.
The next step was finding sellswords willing to help. That had been the easy part. Throw a stone in the Reach and you'd hit someone that was prejudicial against the Dornish. Throw another and you'd find a hedge knight desperate for coin. Soon Balon had collected a group of sellswords and hedge knights, thirsty for action and gold.
Lastly Balon had attempted to disguise himself. He'd let his hair grow out and grew a beard to hide as many facial features as possible. He'd bought another castle forged sword with a ordinary hilt and mail armor that he'd only worn once to confirm its superior fit. He definitely wouldn't be wearing his horned helm and bought a generic spartan-style helm to conceal his identity during the attack.
Now all he had to do was wait... and it wasn't long until his contact informed him of the perfect opportunity.
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Balon had learned Desmond was going to inspect a newly completed windmill and bakery. The location was remote as it wasn't close to anything but acted as a centralized gathering point for farmsteads to deliver their grain for milling. As it had just opened there was little in the way of smallfolk traffic. What had pleased Balon the most was he learned Desmond was going with a small, lightly armed retinue and the only knight of note was Dagos Manwoody.
The windmill itself was standard fare with a stone base and a wooden structure. It was connected to a stone storehouse that had a double barn door that served as a drop off and pick up point. Seperate from the windmill/storehouse was the bakery. The stone building had two stories, the bottom for baking, the top a residence for the miller, his wife and two sons, and the old baker. In essence the two buildings formed an L with a center courtyard containing a well.
The remains of a small thicket was behind the storehouse opposite of the courtyard. The majority of the trees from the thicket had been used in the construction of the windmill and stumps were dotted around the remaining trees.
Balon sat atop his horse inside the storehouse as he waited for his quarry to show. Prior scouting had helped Balon form the best plan possible for the ambush to succeed and now they played the waiting game. Crossbowmen had been placed in the second story of the bakery, ready to rain bolts down onto the Bridges men when they'd dismounted. Men at arms and hedge knights waited in the storehouse and ground floor of the bakery, ready to rush out and attack in a pincer move when the signal was given.
Away from the building a few archers hid in the thicket, ready to pick off anyone who ran. Even further still, in a depression of the land providing concealment the horses of the ambushers were located. Several men were held in reserve to chase down anyone who escaped the trap.
As fate would have it the miller's wife and sons had left for the nearest village, going to sell bread, pick up some supplies, and spread the word that the mill was open. According to the miller they'd be back in a day or so. Lucky for them, Balon thought as he stared at the bodies of the miller and the baker. They'd been brought into the storehouse and after interrogated their throats had been slit. Acceptable casualties.
It was a solid plan though Balon chuckled at the risk. There was no gain for him other than securing another house for Daemon and he'd never be able to publically take credit for it. He could picture Laena in his thoughts, chastising him for his recklessness.
The approach of men was relayed and Balon tensed. His fellow men were ready now, all they had to do was wait for their decoy to lead Desmond to the windmill. Then the fun would begin.
Their decision was wrong.
It'd taken time for things to come together for Balon. The first thing that was required was an insider within House Bridges. Someone unassuming, someone with knowledge of Desmond's schedule, someone who was comfortable with Desmond meeting the Father sooner than later. When that individual was located he agreed to send word when Desmond would be at his most vulnerable.
The next step was finding sellswords willing to help. That had been the easy part. Throw a stone in the Reach and you'd hit someone that was prejudicial against the Dornish. Throw another and you'd find a hedge knight desperate for coin. Soon Balon had collected a group of sellswords and hedge knights, thirsty for action and gold.
Lastly Balon had attempted to disguise himself. He'd let his hair grow out and grew a beard to hide as many facial features as possible. He'd bought another castle forged sword with a ordinary hilt and mail armor that he'd only worn once to confirm its superior fit. He definitely wouldn't be wearing his horned helm and bought a generic spartan-style helm to conceal his identity during the attack.
Now all he had to do was wait... and it wasn't long until his contact informed him of the perfect opportunity.
***********************************************************************************
Balon had learned Desmond was going to inspect a newly completed windmill and bakery. The location was remote as it wasn't close to anything but acted as a centralized gathering point for farmsteads to deliver their grain for milling. As it had just opened there was little in the way of smallfolk traffic. What had pleased Balon the most was he learned Desmond was going with a small, lightly armed retinue and the only knight of note was Dagos Manwoody.
The windmill itself was standard fare with a stone base and a wooden structure. It was connected to a stone storehouse that had a double barn door that served as a drop off and pick up point. Seperate from the windmill/storehouse was the bakery. The stone building had two stories, the bottom for baking, the top a residence for the miller, his wife and two sons, and the old baker. In essence the two buildings formed an L with a center courtyard containing a well.
The remains of a small thicket was behind the storehouse opposite of the courtyard. The majority of the trees from the thicket had been used in the construction of the windmill and stumps were dotted around the remaining trees.
Balon sat atop his horse inside the storehouse as he waited for his quarry to show. Prior scouting had helped Balon form the best plan possible for the ambush to succeed and now they played the waiting game. Crossbowmen had been placed in the second story of the bakery, ready to rain bolts down onto the Bridges men when they'd dismounted. Men at arms and hedge knights waited in the storehouse and ground floor of the bakery, ready to rush out and attack in a pincer move when the signal was given.
Away from the building a few archers hid in the thicket, ready to pick off anyone who ran. Even further still, in a depression of the land providing concealment the horses of the ambushers were located. Several men were held in reserve to chase down anyone who escaped the trap.
As fate would have it the miller's wife and sons had left for the nearest village, going to sell bread, pick up some supplies, and spread the word that the mill was open. According to the miller they'd be back in a day or so. Lucky for them, Balon thought as he stared at the bodies of the miller and the baker. They'd been brought into the storehouse and after interrogated their throats had been slit. Acceptable casualties.
It was a solid plan though Balon chuckled at the risk. There was no gain for him other than securing another house for Daemon and he'd never be able to publically take credit for it. He could picture Laena in his thoughts, chastising him for his recklessness.
The approach of men was relayed and Balon tensed. His fellow men were ready now, all they had to do was wait for their decoy to lead Desmond to the windmill. Then the fun would begin.
