|
|
Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Nov 4, 2018 11:43:33 GMT 1
Ser Donnel was not known as a frequent patron of the Golden Rose Inn. However, With a nagging wife and immature son at home, it was best to meet far away from distractions. For today the men who would fight together in the seven sided melee would meet, to discuss tactics. As soon as he arrived he ordered a large pitcher of wine for himself and Roland, and milk for his son. After all his son would need his wits about him, to become the greatest jouster their family had ever seen!
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Cordwayner on Nov 4, 2018 12:05:43 GMT 1
Ser Roland had been an all too frequent visitor to the Golden Rose as he sought to follow various rumours back to their source.
It was a relief to spend time at the inn with fellow knights instead, making grand boasts and laying out melee strategies.
"Congratulations to both of you on your performance in the joust. The Reach should unite the Redwyne and Blackbriar lines by marriage and raise a line of champion knights. The rest of the Kingdom would never wear a white cloak again if such came to pass!"
Hugh was sent to fetch other knights who would be fighting alongside Roland in the melee, giving him a chance to ride Verity and fulfill his duties more swiftly, starting with Ser Mikel.
[OOC: everyone in Roland's melee team is very welcome in this thread too, Hugh arrives to ask if you're free.]
|
|
|
|
Post by Titus Blackbriar on Nov 4, 2018 15:53:08 GMT 1
"And you, Ser!" he greeted Roland with a smile as him and his father entered the tavern. Titus had not been a patron of the Golden Rose as of yet and whilst his father ordered drinks had a look around. When realising that Donnel ordered but a glas of milk for him he caught a passing servant and requested a third cup for the wine. "I believe we are ALL riding today, father?" he says with a smirk and meaning look that reminds Donnel of Lady Shiera. On one of her good days.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Nov 4, 2018 17:32:20 GMT 1
Ser Donnel considers Rolands proposal for a moment, before he realizes it to be a jest. "Indeed we should find Titus a Redwyne maid! The kingdom would be secure indeed! A good round in the melee too, and we can prove we are not one dimentional! So the question is: how will we do this?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Mikel of Harroway on Nov 5, 2018 4:36:25 GMT 1
Hugh had found Mikel easily enough and as he left to join the others at the Golden Rose Inn Mikel's squire Harold was told to help Hugh with his errand.
When he finally joined the others Mikel greeted each in name before congratulating them collectively. "I am truly in inspirational company tonight. All the effort you have put into your trade over the years is showing true now, I congratulate each of you for your accomplishments. It is no small thing to have made it so far."
Taking a seat he orders some wine and raises it in a toast. "To our success in the melee."
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Cordwayner on Nov 5, 2018 12:47:30 GMT 1
Roland smiled at Mikel's encouragement to the group.
"Well said, to great deeds in the melee."
He raised his glass in his left hand.
"I favour a delaying action on one side while the greater part of our force attempt to strike a strong blow against another team. I would keep a few strong knights in reserve, to shore up our delaying force or deal the finishing blow in our main force's attack. That said, Ser Donnel led in the re-enactment and I am not to proud to hear the voice of experience or any others."
"For my own part, I would be happy to serve in the delaying effort - I have already had my fill of glory in the joust and can fight defensively if need be."
With his stamina and skill with a sword, Roland could hold off several lesser opponent or one truly skilled opponent, buying time for the rest of his team.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Nov 5, 2018 15:09:11 GMT 1
"Why split up at all? We are outnumbered six to one at the start, why not keep so close together that they cannot make their numbers count? If we put up an organized front, and advance cautiously, we can take advantage of less organized teams, even if the team possesses the better lances?" Ser Donnel proposes as he takes the milk himself, looking over at Titus.
|
|
|
|
Post by Titus Blackbriar on Nov 5, 2018 15:09:59 GMT 1
"Ser Mikel!" Titus rose and shook the man by the arm. Thankful for the knights entrance as his fathers mentions maids and marriage. The young man was low-born and common but made no attempts to hide it and in his honesty he carried himself truer than some knights. A quality foreign to Titus but he liked it. "Will you be joining Ser Roland and my father in the melee then?" he asks as he sits down.
"Hear, hear!" he joins in Ser Mikel's toast.
All of Titus' experience of Warfare had come from Maesters or old men retelling of battles of the past, the battle-reenactment had been his first and that was far from the real thing. So he did what he did best when in the presence of the more experienced; he listened. This was far from a real War Council, partly as both his father and Ser Roland where aware that he might not fight by their side, but also because it was held, and loudly so, at in inn.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mikel of Harroway on Nov 6, 2018 9:01:05 GMT 1
"I shall be joining them, yes. Are you still considering which team to join?" He remembered the conversation they had and how Ser Titus had seemed to have something on his mind. Mikel understood what that something was when he saw the two fight later that same day. Not that he would bring that up, but he had wished Titus had won. Mikel believed Balon could benefit from a thorough beating.
After listening quietly to Donnel and Roland's opening suggestions Mikel added an opinion. "You two both hold more experience than I do in these matters, and that will be a great advantage to our team. Ser Donnel speaks true when he says we should consider ourselves alone out there. However it should not be ignored that there is talk of four teams coordinating to destroy the other three before fighting among themselves to determine the winner. Perhaps when opportunity presents itself it would be a good idea to speak with the team captains who will be on the short side of the odds along with us to see where their thoughts lay. If that is the battle that we shall see then I imagine - just as Ser Donnel said - we will be stronger working together."
"I also believe Ser Roland's idea quite valuable. A delaying force, or a screening force, to protect our most vulnerable point and give our main body time to react to any sudden developments might make the difference in a critical moment." There was clearly something else on the tip of his tongue and after best considering how to speak it Mikel continued.
"The concern of having men used as a screen taking away from the strength of the main body is valid. Though perhaps that can be minimalized by our method of attack. For an example, instead of meeting a charge of one entire team's men head on, we could ride hard and in depth at just one of their wings, and after pushing through wheel about until a new target is decided upon."
Finishing his initial thoughts he sipped from his cup and looked among the other three, interested in their responses. |
|
|
|
Post by Roland Cordwayner on Nov 7, 2018 11:46:02 GMT 1
"Aye, the matter is fraught Ser Mikel, I too have heard this talk of this being a pitched battle of three against four. In joining my team, Lord Arryn bid me swear that I would not see this test of arms turned to political purposes."
"However, I cannot bring myself to believe such of Redtusk or Ser Daemon Blackfyre himself. Both are honourable men, and it many say the same for the Red Lion too - I simply do not know him so well. We should attempt to fight honourably, while remaining true to my word to Lord Arryn and moving to decisively end any opposing moves made for politics rather than strategy."
|
|
|
|
Post by Alliser on Nov 9, 2018 9:20:50 GMT 1
"Indeed, Ser Roland. In fact, I think that they should be our first target. Prince Daemon is the welder of blackfyre, one of the few Valyrian steel weapons at this tournament, with the skill to match it. I say we charge straight at them, some of us weaker riders, such as myself, form a vanguard for Roland and Donnell, taking the first round of lances so that they can strike as aggressively as possible while also not being in fear of losing their seat both strike at the warrior reborn before he has a chance to close with that fearsome blade of his.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mikel of Harroway on Nov 13, 2018 11:52:14 GMT 1
"Leaving the politics outside the arena is fine by me. In that case Ser Donnel's declaration of us being alone is exactly right. Might I ask next, is our goal to achieve victory or glory? I have come to understand that these events are about glory, though have always personally seen them as preparation for a real fight or battle. Once we all understand exactly what we hope to achieve I think our planning will come more easily."
After asking he looks among each sitting for their opinions, after commending Lord Allisers plan for its boldness.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Nov 14, 2018 0:00:03 GMT 1
"Neither victory nor glory lasts. We test ourselves to the fullest, so when the gods call on us we can be more than we were." Ser Donnel comments to Ser Mikel. "Lord Allister, your plan will give us much glory for the courage it shows, and it is unconventional enough that it might give us victory. Is your suggestion that we fully split our force? Or do you simply intend for you to create chaos, so that our charge can be more devastating? I fear that Daemon will be well protected, so we will need to find a way to isolate him from his bodyguards before we can charge against them. As long as he is still among them, we will struggle to create a chaos we can exploit."
Ser Donnel then turns to Roland to enquire: "Regardless of politics, alliances will be well worth an effort. Have you talked to any other team leaders?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Alliser on Nov 14, 2018 18:23:58 GMT 1
"Indeed the Vanguard is meant to create chaos in his lines. I also imagine that even should he have body guards if we charge straight for him he will feel the need to meet us head on. He does not seem the type to let tricky tactics or stratagems make him seem cowardly." besides, it would make him seem weak if he was not leading from the front, and there are many knights who would take note of that. If he is part of the scheme to put him on the throne it would not do for him to seem cowardly. "As far as alliances go, it would be good to talk with them, but for this plan to work it must be a surprise, otherwise we will be easily countered by bittersteel and his allies."
|
|
|
|
Post by Mikel of Harroway on Nov 15, 2018 3:53:44 GMT 1
Mikel gives a noncommittal "Hm."of acknowledgement to Donnel then listened to what Lord Alliser said next before commenting. "We could tighten the width of our line and add to the depth, that way we can still charge straight at him yet instead of him risking one or two lances in the first pass he must get through four or even six, depending on the depth we decide upon. To keep it simple we could have the formation arranged as such before the match begins, yet it should be easy enough for some competent riders on the wings to wait one second after the rest of us have begun moving to collapse into the center of our line so that they are behind the main effort." |
|
