First Bolten-Lucerne War

Previous Conflict		Bolten Invasion of the Divine Lands
First Bolten-Lucerne War
Story Involvement
Story Involvment		{{{Story Involvment}}}
POV Characters		{{{POV Characters}}}
Details
Location		Bolten
Start of Conflict		{{{Start of Conflict}}}
End of Conflict		{{{End of Conflict}}}
Result		Ongoing
Combatants
Kingdom of Bolten House Bolten House Karstark House Urnet		Kingdom Of Lucerne Divine Lands House Lannister House Starke
Commanders
{{{Attacking Commander}}}		{{{Defending Commander}}}
† = Killed in action (†) = Missing   = Captured   = Fled the Field
Strength
{{{Attacking Strength}}}		{{{Defending Strength}}}
Casualties
{{{Attacking Casualties}}}		{{{Defending Casualties}}}

The First Bolten-Lucerne War was a conflict fought between the forces of the Kingdom of Lucerne, and the Kingdom of Bolten. Sparked initially by the forces of Bolten becoming horrified at the sudden growth of Lucerne into the Riverlands, Lorderon, and then finally Westbridge and then spilled into a massive confllict after the attack on the Divine Lands. The First Bolten-Lucerne War would become the premier conflict of Westros, and the centerpiece of much of the third story.

The First Bolten-Lucerne War begin when the Kingdom of Bolten invaded into the Divine Lands and sacked the town of Jeutenburg. From this the Lucernian detachtment in Koenisburg would defend the city from the invading Boltens of whom were tricked into believing a significant force of Lucernians was present in koenisburg when actually there was little forces inside the city. The Kingdom of Bolten would retreat eastward from there and Ramsey Bolten went northward and was ambushed in the massive defeat of Green Creek which crushed a large part of the Bolten army and left many nobles captured or dead.

Prelude

House Cole joins the Kingdom of Lucerne

Meeting at the Dreadfort

Main Article : Dreadfort Meeting of 5136

The Bolten Decision I thought if I supported you, then you would stop. I thought you could be bargained with Ramsey. I was so wrong. I should have never supported you. I should have supported my only true son.

“I wanted him to stop. I spoke to him with all the love I had in me for my brother, and yet all it did was make him believe I wanted him dead. What was there left for me when he refused reason.” — Domeric Bolten Domeric Bolten would travel to Hornwood so that he could attend a tournament they were holding there, and also so that he could see Halys Hornwood and his family of whom he knew very well and loved as his own family. Arriving there Halys would tell him that he had sent some of his men to follow Ramsey Bolten around, and from this had discovered that Ramsey had a small keep north of the Dreadfort and would use it to capture, chase, and then rape and kill women. Learning this as well as the plans that Ramsey was beggining to form alongside the power he was gaining Domeric would return to the Dreadfort with Halys, and several of the Hornwood vassals. Domeric and his party would meet Rodrik Cassel a little west of Hornwood where he was awaiting more boats for transport for himself and his vassals, and from Rodrik they learned that followed Domeric leaving the Dreadfort Ramsey had called a meeting of the Kingdom of Bolten, and Rodrik was already running late. “When we met Rodrik Cassel on the road it was a chance meeting. We weren't moving at a very high speed, and had we not of we would have taken the land route instead of the boat with him, and we would have missed the meeting.” — Domeric Bolten Taking a ride with the Cassel force Domeric and the Hornwood forces would reach the Dreadfort days before they would if they had been marching, and would arrive just hours before the meetings were to begin. Domeric would have a long talk with Josh Cole of whom warns Domeric that the Karstark's and the Urnet's are solidly behind Ramsey and that he and his forces will not follow Domeric into a conflict they cannot win. Hearing of the Karstark's joining with Ramsey Domeric meets with Halys Hornwood but finds he has come with a sickness and can barely move forcing Daryn Hornwood to join the meeting as the head of House Hornwood. Arriving at the meeting Ramsey, and Mallador Locke would taunt Daryn over the sickness of his father and would carefully make it known that they were the reason behind the sickness. The arrival of Trevor Hayford would stall the argument and they all entered the Dreadfort Keep where the meeting took place. “Ramsey was chaos, while Domeric was order. It will forever be the great shame of this land that we allowed chaos to grow. We all stood and watched as Domeric resisted, and was struck down. We all sat and we all watched as Chaos was allow to do that. We should be ashamed.” — Daryn Hornwood Entering the meeting the assembled noblemen would hear a speach from Roose Bolten which to the shock of many inside the room was praising towards Ramsey, and slightly insulting towards Domeric. This speach did much to turn many of those who might have followed Domeric, and turned them towards listening to Ramsey instead. Following this Rickard Karstark spoke of growing attacks by Dragonoph fanatics sent by the Kingdom of Lucerne against the western border of the Karstark lands, and Domeric would stand during this and tell the assembled that these attacks were not happening. Ramsey would attack Domerics honor and call him a liar who was secretly in the pay for the Lucernians which noone believed but turned the attention away from the lie about the Lucernian attacks on the Karstarks. Daryn Hornwood did his best to speak on the side of Domeric but was shouted down by the Locke's and Urnets of whom laughed at Daryn and rediculed his lands, and his weakened father. As things broke down and it became clear that Ramsey was going to have the war he wanted, Domeric would look across at Josh Cole and saw him smiling sadly at him, and as the meeting ended Domeric went after Josh Cole and spoke with him alongside Daryn Hornwood. Josh Cole told Domeric once again that the Cole's were not willing to die for some wasted war that the insane Ramsey Bolten wanted, and that Josh Cole was not going to do it, and Domeric realizing this could mean turning to the Lucernians, or staying neutral attempted to persaude him, but despite respecting Domeric there was no agreement from Josh. “I could litteraly feel the moment when hope died. He stood and he told everyone there a giant lie, and they all believed him. I knew the truth, and I knew what would happen if we did this. I knew their numbers. I knew their quality. I knew a lot about the Kingdom of Lucerne, and I knew that we were not a match for them. Not now.” — Domeric Bolten Domeric in that moment knew things were darkening in Bolten, and warned Daryn to take his father and their vassals and return to Hornwood and prepare the army because he would need them when the time came. Doing this Domeric was left alone and went to see his father of whom would be in his throne room with Rickard Karstark. Speaking with the two of them Domeric got the sence that neither agreed with Ramsey, but couldn't get them to tell him why they had sided with him, but Roose did tell Domeric that he needed to follow Ramsey this time, or else. When he resisted this Roose would command it as his king, and knowing the honor bound Domeric would follow this he left the room with the horrifying thought of having to follow Ramsey and his madness. Conversation Incoming Fairmarket. The Riverlands. Lorderon, and Kul Tiras. Westbridge. All had fallen to our might. All had sworn the sword to the Valley of Lucerne. All that power, and yet I looked north and saw a great demon the likes of which I could not hope to resist. The Empire was the reason for growth. The Empire was the reason for everything we did. The Empire was the land that should have done great things for the world, but instead of this they did nothing. They allowed chaos to breed amongst them, and in that weakeness and failing they threatened to ruin the entire continent. Father why would you have turned to his side in there." My father just stared at me with nothing there. I knew the leeches were draining him somewhat of his feelings, but I had never seen him this...this dead. He looked like a shell of himself. "I just don't understand father." "Sometimes it isn't our place to understand why we are commanded to do things. Sometimes those below the top cannot see all things." "What am I not seeing father." "There are many things that a king sees, that his heir cannot. There are many visions that I know of that you can only grasp at." "Ramsey is my blood father, but he has fallen into darkness. I cannot get him free of that. I cannot save him from himself." "Of this I am painfully aware of." "Then why give him the lead." "Your just going to have to listen to him this time Domeric. Trust me when I say that I have a plan. I have a plan that gives us both everything we ever wanted. All you need to do is listen to Ramsey for a period of time." "He will lead our men to the slaughter." "Lord Domeric that appears to be your task then." "What do you mean Lord Karstark?" "I mean that you must protect the army from his version of war."

House Cole turns away

Kristen Cole's marriage would seal the arrangement that perhaps doomed the Kingdom of Bolten

"I sat in that meeting and watched as the words of that madman Ramsey Bolten were echoed in Roose. Speaking to him afterwards I got the impression that he was no longer willing to deny his young bastard, and despite my honest chritisims he would not budge. It was in that moment I knew I couldn't watch as my family was destroyed because of the decisions of madmen. It was in that moment I turned my back on the fools in Dreadfort and charted my own path."

-Josh Cole

As the war in Bolten rose to prominence it was Josh Cole that saw the error of conflict with Lucerne, and when Roose commanded all the banners to send their forces to Karhold for the attack on the west, it Josh that begin to bring the elements of House Cole back to Deephome where he begin to plan for what he wanted to do in this new Ramsey Bolten dominated Kingdom of Bolten. He begin sending messengers to Lorderon and would communicate that he was interested in discussing a meeting of the minds, which he wanted to happen on the river border of the two kingdoms. House Scarlet, and House Menathil would arrange the meeting, and would send a few men to join Diane in her hopeful diplomatic mission with Josh Cole. Diane Portmane would go about meeting Josh Cole on a barge in the river bordering the two kingdoms she would arrange the deal that gave House Cole the future control of a huge tract of land south of Lorderon and a position as Noble House within the Kingdom of Lucerne. Josh Cole would be impressed with the generocity they showed him, and in return for this he promiced that when the time came he would turn his forces against Bolten and allow the Lucernians to cross the bridge in peace. He would also demand that his daughter Kristen Cole would be married off, and he was offered Taimen Scarlet as the choice and learning how high up Taimen was in House Scarlet he was beyond happy to accept the offer. As the army of Bolten marched on Jeutenburg it was Josh Cole that lied and said that the forces of House Scarlet were threatening and he couldn't pull his forces back. Following this act of good faith Taimen and Kristen Cole would be married in the Temple of Lorderon thus sealing the arrangement between House Cole and the Kingdom of Lucerne.

Fall of Jeutenburg Jeutenburg was the first act of a truly insane man. Instead of offering quarter and hoping for any kind of assistence in the Divine Lands he butchered the first city he found and expected the rest to what...give in to him peacefully. Madness, and stupidity.

Fall of Jeutenburg Main Article : Bolten Capture of Jeutenburg “Daryn the truth is that nothing that happens here will end well. My brother is pretending that it will but the reality is that hes going to destroy Juetenburg. You need to stay here after its done and make sure as much of the city is protected as possible.” — Domeric Bolten The city of Jeutenburg with the promise of Lucerne to defend it should the worst come stood tall as the army of Bolten came to its door, and House Banner blocked there entry. At first the Boltens sent in emissaries of whom promised peace and they simply wished to pass peacefully so they could get to Koenisburg in order to stop Lucerne from taking Koenisburg. Nikolas refused this offer as he was now aligned with Koenisburg and told the Boltens they would not peacefully be passing by the city, and when this happened to his shock the Bolten emissaries said they would do this the following day. Despite these promises during the night spies, and mercenaries scaled the walls of Jeutenburg infiltrating the main gatehouse and once they got inside the walls they showed hidden weapons and overpowered the outnumbered guards they had before occupying the gatehouse. The forces of Jeutenburg were somewhat unprepared for this sudden attack and despite attempting to resist the taking of the gatehouse the Bolten forces held out for nearly twenty minutes while the army of Bolten reached the gate. With the gatehouse in their control they filled into the city overwhelming every point of resistance with their vastly superior numbers and for nearly an hour the sacking of the city went on before Domeric Bolten, and Daryn Hornwood were able to control the palace and large enough segments of the city that they slowed the killing. One spot where the Jeutenburg defences held was the estate of House Chandyll where under the leadership of Calrin Chandyll they held the gaps between the estate buildings killing dozens and forcing a coordinated assault on the estate. This assault would be led by the Stoney Shore forces of House Haryen, and House Rurwell who led by Lucas Rurwell launched a ferocious attack on the estate which by this point was simply buying time to get there people out of the city. While after nearly a half an hour of assault the estate fell the leadership of House Chandyll retreated in good order and had bought time for there members and vassals to escape out of the city, and alongside this Daman Haryen would be badly injured during the fighting and fell into a coma due to his injuries and then died several days after. “Brother what have you done? Every child, and man you just butchered could have filled our armies. Every family and home you destroyed could have given us gold. Why do this?” — Domeric Bolten During the sacking of the city Jeutenburg was given very little quarter with nearly half the city killed, and the survivors forced to live under the occupation of House Urnet of whom spent their time ransacking the city of its ancient wealth and history. As the army of Bolten did this their was division as the forces under the command of Domeric Bolten, and House Hornwood would protect several areas within the city, and were the main reason the entire city wasn't massacred. With conflict between this force, and the more chaotic forces of Ramsey Bolten looking likely a raven arrived from Roose Bolten who tasked them with quickly moving towards Koenisburg before the Lucernians could react. A meeting was held in the old Jeutenburg palace where Ramsey Bolten commanded the entire army leave Jeutenburg except for House Urnet of whom would hold the town alongside two companies of mercenaries. Domeric was able to trick Ramsey into allowing House Hornwood under Daryn to stay behind as well after he convinced everyone that Daryn was about to capture the Banner family. Following this meeting Ramsey would lead the army outside of Jeutenburg alongside Domeric of whom went along with him but during the first night of the march he abandoned the army and returned to Jeutenburg to meet with Daryn. Behind Enemy Lines “Daryn Hornwood raised his sword before smashing it against a log to the left of me. As I looked up I saw the crying faces of my family but I also saw his hand as he offered me help up. From there he would assist me in gathering as many of my supporters as we could find alongside much of my family and then shuttling me out of the city. I will forever remember the actions of Daryn Hornwood in doing what was right and not what was easy.” — Nichlas Banner Daryn Hornwood would be leading his forces alongside Orsen Stout and others in his personal council, and during his searching for nobles of Jeutenburg he captured Nikolas Banner and his family bringing them back to the Hornwood quarters in Jeutenburg which were once the Banner home. Daryn Hornwood would send word of the capture but by this point Ramsey and most of the other leaders had already left for Koenisburg and thus he was sent a raven saying he should kill all members of House Banner he had before taking House Hornwood, and his vassals towards Koenisburg. While an honorable young man he was also driven by duty, and thus when he first received this command he planned on following through but Daryn would have a change of heart after he spent the night talking to Nikolas's daughter Corina Banner. Originally meeting her by mistake when he was planning on going to tell Nikolas about the execution he found her crying and without thinking consoled her. Corina would see quickly that Daryn was a good young man and someone that didn't want to do what he told her had been commanded to do by the raven sent to him from Ramsey Bolten. The two spent the entire night talking and as he prepared to leave she would steal a kiss, and from the second that happened the already conflicted Daryn Hornwood didn't know what he would do when he raised the sword to kill Nikolas. “I was a man built on two pillars. My father had taught me of honor, and duty. On one hand I could do the honorable thing and let Jeutenburg live since it didn't deserve the death the Urnet's were instilling on it. Or I could do my duty and burn the town down and leave the Banners dead in it. The decision would destroy one pillar, and I only hoped it left the roof intact.” — Daryn Hornwood As he debated this in his mind he went to his war council of whom consisted of Jonas Intris, Lorant of Hornwood, Rafford of Wisborne, and Ser Roger Horntree and together he discussed with them his misgivings on what was happening. Lorand, and Rafford were very much behind the idea of protecting the people of Juetenburg but Roger and Jonas believed that they would be branded traitors and that the hostages held by the Boltens in the Dreadfort would be in danger. Roger Horntree had a son in the Dreadfort as a hostage and argued that his child would be killed if they did anything to hurt Ramsey Boltens ideas. Not coming to a complete agreement after talking for almost two hours they would break up but before they did Jonas who also had a child in the Dreadfort convinsed Roger of the honor of what Daryn wanted to do and thus Roger relented on trying to protect at least noble women and children. With this in agreement Roger would take the forces of House Horntree alongside several hundred others and begin rounding up women and children and bringing them east of the town to the main army of Hornwood who was camped there. Daryn Hornwood for the first time in his life saw a reason that he should ignore duty and do what was right. On top of that he had no illusions in his mind over the fact that he would without a doubt be unable to kill Corina. While the Hornwood forces arranged the saving of so many women and children it was the Urnet's led by Gunthor Urnet that were hunting the streets for more gold, and women when during one of their raids they discovered that the Banners had been taken from a hiding spot to the Palace and thus he realized that Daryn Hornwood had not killed them yet. For Daryn Hornwood though, the rest of the day was drawing away and Daryn knew he had to make a decision, and he found himself outside the makeshift cell of Corina Banner of whom he kneeled before the bars and rested his head against them. Corina would come towards him and gently rub his hair trying to make him understand that she understood that he had to do what he had to do. Entering the cell he pulled her into a hug and laid with her against the wall where the two would discuss what kind of life they could have lived together as Daryn came to the understanding that if he didn't kill her and her family then his own family including many people he knew from his time in the Dreadfort would be at risk. The two would kiss and the heated kissing was only interupted when Rafford would arive to tell him that several Urnet men had arrived and were demanding to see him. Rafford would depart and sadly Daryn went to go as well but before leaving she would give him a necklace that her mother had given her when she was a child, and the two would kiss again. Conversation Incoming Fairmarket. The Riverlands. Lorderon, and Kul Tiras. Westbridge. All had fallen to our might. All had sworn the sword to the Valley of Lucerne. All that power, and yet I looked north and saw a great demon the likes of which I could not hope to resist. The Empire was the reason for growth. The Empire was the reason for everything we did. The Empire was the land that should have done great things for the world, but instead of this they did nothing. They allowed chaos to breed amongst them, and in that weakeness and failing they threatened to ruin the entire continent. I walked down the corridors of the smoking castle not knowing where I was going, but knowing where I was going at the same time. A part of me didn't want to see her because I understood that I had to kill her father, and her with him. There just didn't seem to be a way to move forward without that simple truth. If I let her live the Boltens would without a doubt that they would kill his cousin Tyse and without a doubt all the hostages of the Hornwood's vassals would also be killed with poor Tyse.  Reaching the cell door I fell to my knees, and the sound of my armor clanking on the ground made her jump, but whatever fear there was in her disappeared behind her smile when she saw me. I hated myself. I wanted to make this different...I wanted everyone to live...I wanted the Boltens to just stop. "I was hoping you would come Lord Hornwood." She smiled as she walked up me, and I couldn't bare to see her face knowing what I had to do so I lowered my face against the bar. I scarsley knew what was happening and then I felt the first of the tears flowing down my cheek and her hand gently rubbing my head. "I don't deserve your kindness my lady. We both know how this ends." "We may know how this ends my lord, but we both also know what end you wish for. You know who you are. I know who you are, and doing this doesn't change that." I looked up at her and saw the tears on her cheek, and I removed my armored gauntlet and wiped the tears away. She moved herself into my hand, and broke inside feeling her so close. I felt onto my belt and grabbed the keys opening the door and moving myself inside the room where she enveloped me into a hug. "Will it be quick Daryn?" "The Quickest. So quick you'll barely know what happened." "I wish I could have married you Daryn...I wish I could have spent years with you in the warmth of a hearth instead of the coldness of this place." "I wish that too." "Tell me Daryn what our life would be like in Hornwood." Her eyes were filled with tears as I looked into them, but somehow she seemed to smile through it all. "It would be beautiful Corina. We would spend our mornings just staring into the sky. My room has a cieling which during the summer you can stars so clearly it is as if you could reach out and touch them." "That sounds like a paradise." "It would be." "Milord." The voice of Rafford would cause me to jump back from Corrina and stand myself towards him. "Lord Hornwood, there are several Urnet men at the gate who are demanding to see you." "Do they bring with them a good reason?" "Gunthor Urnet is amongst them and he has learned that Lord Banner still lives." Daryn returned to the top level of the castle to find Lorant, Jonas and Ser Rafford talking to Gunthor Urnet of whom was accompanied by many of his men including several Karstark men led by Atolf Karstark. Gunthor revealed he knew they had not killed the Lord of Jeutenburg yet and was here to make sure the deed was done to the satisfaction of those above and heavily threatened death to the Hornwood hostages in the Dreadfort if the task was not done to their satisfaction as well. Daryn to the surprise of his council would tell Gunthor that they were fine to do it now, and that he would summon the family right away, and Gunthor could witness it himself. Rafford, and Lorant went to gather the Banner family, and while they did this Atolf Karstark begin bragging about the number of young girls he had been with during the sacking of Jeutenburg to the point that Jonas nearly attacked him before Daryn commanded him to stand down. “I knew what my orders were, but I couldn't do it. My father had taught me different and it wasn't until this moment that I finally understood that we were on the wrong side. We were the bad guys in this scenario. We were the ones causing pain to the world. We were the ones that children would one day read about and think to themselves of how could people do such things. If we wanted that to change then we had to accept that were on the wrong side of history. And that had to change, otherwise what the hell were we doing out here.” — Daryn Hornwood When Rafford, and Lorant returned with the Banner family Nikolas kneeled before Daryn and closed his eyes as Daryn prepared to execute the man. Daryn would raise the sword once before putting it down briefly when Atolf Karstark begin rubbing the hair of Corina's younger sister Cersei and taunted Nikolas about what he was going to do to the young before she died too. Gunthor Urnet would then taunt Daryn calling him a coward and this led him to raise his sword once more, but this time as he did he felt Corina's presence behind him, and as he turned to look at her she gave him a sad smile before closing her eyes. Daryn knew in that moment that he couldn't do it and smashed his sword against a block of wood nearby. Gunthor would push his way past Jonas screaming about the commands of the Boltens and calling Daryn a coward and a traitor. As Gunther Urnet stepped forward to try and kill Nikolas it was Jonas Intris that stepped forward and slit the throat of Gunther before he could kill Nikolas. “What you just did Lord Hornwood shows who you are. Look at me son. You may pay a price for doing what is right, but look out there. Those are the people you saved. Your actions saved all of there lives and trust me son. They will all know what you did here. They will all know who you are.” — Nikolas Banner The several Urnet, and Karstark men in the room tried to fight back, but were overwhelmed by the more numerous Hornwood forces and killed leaving only Atolf Karstark of whom begged for mercy, but without a word Daryn dragged him out of the courtyard and away from the Banners and once out of sight decapitated Atolf. Nikolas was set free from his bonds along with his family and Daryn would assist him in locating the loyalist members of his vassals along with his sister and her family. Following this he would set his men to helping Nikolas in exiting the city and as they left he stole his own kiss from Corina Banner before she was rushed from the burning town. Nikolas would thus be able to escape with much of his family and a significant force of his most loyal banner men. Staying behind under orders from Nikolas was his step-brother Otto Dragoon the bastard husband of his sister of whom led the rebels within the city while Nikolas rallied the Divine Lands to retake Jeutenburg. Daryn Hornwood would leave behind his knightly house in House Intris in order to better assist Nikolas Banner, and to make sure that his actions were not discovered by House Karstarke and Urnet who remained in the town with several influential family members.

The War Begins

Example Three

Great links

Siege of Koenisburg If they take Koenisburg it will prolong with this war for so much longer then it needs to be. Hold the city and we can break them now. Hold the city and we can end this before it begins.

Siege of Koenisburg Main Article : Siege of Koenisburg “I think to a man we all thought that the Bolten's would have listened to our warnings. Noone at the top thought they were actually going to call our bluff and burn an entire town to the ground.” — Hedrik Clegane III. When Jeutenburg came under siege this was a huge indicator that the diplomatic message wasn't going to be enough so William ordered House Starke under Jon Snow, House Lannister under Tyrion Lannister, as well as House Clegane under Hedrik Clegane III. to send their forces to assist in the defense of Koenisburg as the city was now completely under threat. Word was sent to Koenisburg that this was happening and Britt Lancave would prepare herself for the ultimate defense of the city she loved so dearly. Word was also sent northward to Kul Tiras of whom was to send a large force of ships to Fairmaket in order to send the forces incoming to the Divine Lands. Kul Tiras would send two ships to Koenisburg under different purposes led by Wilheim Caellin, Dilon Borrell, and Tandred Proudmoore of whom would land in Koenisburg planting there house flags on two of the towers of the city making it appear once more there were more forces present then there would actually be. At the same time as this was going to happen William sent one of his greatest generals in Jamie Lannister to the small town of Grandlen where if the Boltens besieged the city of Koenisburg Jamie was to move southwards from Grandlen and hit them from behind and destroy the Boltens before this got out of hand. Jamie Lannister joined heavily by forces of House Reyne, House Brax, and other vassals of Castamere would arrive two weeks after leaving in Grandlen alongside a force of some two thousand cavalry, and they would make camp a days march east of Grandlen and await word from Koenisburg. “Jon Starke arrived and just like every time the Lucernians came here they seemed like a different species. Glittering in their armor, and overstretched with food they were like royalty. Even the Bastards of there land looked like princes in the Valley of Lucerne compared to us.” — Britt Lancave Jon Snow would arrive alongside Tyrion Lannister and a small force of House Starke and House Baratheon into Koenisburg, and were met with great applause by the scared locals of Koenisburg. Jon Snow and Tyrion were shown to rooms by Britt Lancave and when they were both situated Britt met with them to discuss what was happening in the theater. She told them that the Boltens appeared led by Ramsey Bolten, and were massing a large army outside of Karhold in a direct threat to Jeutenburg, and while the armies of the Divine Lands were large they were not even close to capable of defeating the amassed army of Bolten. The three would talk some more before Tyrion left leaving just Britt and Jon Snow alone, and she would ask him about how his situation in the north was going. Shocked that she remembered from briefly telling her years ago he told her about the letters and told her that it was taking all of his strength to stay himself from leaving for the north. Britt would explain to him the way Bastards worked in the Divine Lands, and told him how sad she was for him feeling so unloved just because of the manner in which he was born. Feeling comforted by this he was shocked when Britt suggested they marry, and despite finding her very attractive he still longed to see Ygritte again, and was forced to reject her offer. Things continued in a spin mode for many days until as they were meeting in the keep news reached them that Hedrik Clegane III. had arrived in Koenisburg and they went to the docks to meet him. Meeting with Hedrik Clegane III. he would give Jon Snow a letter passed onto him from a Maester from Stormwind, and labelled from Jeor Mormont he excused himself to read it, and digest what it would mean. Conversation Incoming Fairmarket. The Riverlands. Lorderon, and Kul Tiras. Westbridge. All had fallen to our might. All had sworn the sword to the Valley of Lucerne. All that power, and yet I looked north and saw a great demon the likes of which I could not hope to resist. The Empire was the reason for growth. The Empire was the reason for everything we did. The Empire was the land that should have done great things for the world, but instead of this they did nothing. They allowed chaos to breed amongst them, and in that weakeness and failing they threatened to ruin the entire continent. Lord Jon Snow, This letter finds things much as they were my friend. The Wildlings have suffered a major defeat since we last talked as they attacked the wall but we were reinforced by the Stor men, and the Wildlings were pushed away with minimal difficulty. Following the defeat I met with Mance Rayder and I warned him not to attack again, but I did tell him that the Day Watch to the north is much less vigilient, and I know of your plans to perhaps take the Days Watch.  Mance agreed with me that it was death for his people to stay in the Frostfangs, and because of this he is going to round up as many of the Wildlings as he can and prepare for your coming in the north. If you are going to do what you said then understand there is not much time. The White Walkers will kill everyone inside the Frostfangs and understand that you many not have three months before this come to pass. Perhaps one day I shall write to you with better news, but I do not see this coming to pass anytime soon. Ygitte wished you well, and she looked in good spirits. I'm sorry Jon. Lord Commander of the Nights Watch Jeor Mormont Hours after the arrival of Hedrik Clegane III. the city was alerted to the sudden arrival of more Lucernians as they were further joined by Sawyer Shephard of whom brought nearly a hundred Order of the Red Dragon men and flags with him as well in order to help. Using these flags and honor guard they mounted themselves all along the walls of Koenisburg, and alongside the earlier arrival of the Kul Tiras forces the walls were arrayed with different sigils and gave a very clear impression that House Starke, House Clegane, the Kul Tirasi Houses, and House Lannister had arrived in force. Tandred Proudmoore would also have his highly trained Kul Tirasi marines captain nearly every ship in Koenisburg to the point that the port looked filled to the brim furthering the idea that there was large force present. By this point the Lucernians, and Divine Lands had learned the extent of the destruction of Jeutenburg of which pushed basically the entire Divine Lands into the Lucernian camp including Grandlens large forces. Devision and Failure “He's losing his mind son. Look at what hes doing and you tell me right now that putting him out of his misery is not the proper path. Domeric I'm going to advise you one last time that either you kill your brother or watch this entire army burn around you.” — Rickard Karstark The moment the flags went up on the walls of Koenisburg their was a severe amount of panic among the leadership of House Bolten after Ramsey Bolten went on a screaming spree as he believed his commanders had failed him and brought them all into a trap. Following his ranting Ramsey Bolten would call the commanders together and go on another mad rant inside the command tent about the need for the army to retreat before they were overwhelmed by what he believed was a massive Lucernian army. In this moment Domeric would step forward and heavily push that they should attack the city right away as he argued their was no way that the Lucernians could have massed enough troops in the city to stop them. As he was almost finished talking Ramsey would take a knife out and lunge at Domeric attempting to kill him. Domeric was the more skilled warrior and dodged the knife before wrestling Ramsey to the ground, and only the interference of the other commanders stopped Ramsey from being killed right there. With Ramsey losing his mind in the tent it was Rickard Karstark that would suggest that they meet with the Lucernians and at least gauge the forces of the Lucernians from the meeting. Ramsey would reluctantly agree to this plan, and with that a messenger was sent to the wall making it known that they wanted a meeting. “That was the first chance I had gotten to meet the so called bastard of Bolten and I had assumed that the terrible things I had heard of him were going to prove to be overblown. I was wrong.” — Britt Lancave The two forces would meet with Ramsey and Domeric Bolten followed by Rickard Karstark, and John Cole on the Bolten side and on the Lucernian side it was Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Hedrik Clegane III. alongside Britt Lancave. As the two forces rode out it was a quiet moment for both sides as both believed the other side was going to break the honorable truce of a white flag meeting. Meeting together they would barely be starting to discuss the issues when Ramsey Bolten would intervene and begin insulting Tyrion Lannister for being a dwarf, and Jon Snow for his bastardy birth. Conversation Incoming Fairmarket. The Riverlands. Lorderon, and Kul Tiras. Westbridge. All had fallen to our might. All had sworn the sword to the Valley of Lucerne. All that power, and yet I looked north and saw a great demon the likes of which I could not hope to resist. The Empire was the reason for growth. The Empire was the reason for everything we did. The Empire was the land that should have done great things for the world, but instead of this they did nothing. They allowed chaos to breed amongst them, and in that weakeness and failing they threatened to ruin the entire continent. I marched out onto the field, and I could see that Bolten's were already there waiting for us. Seeing the red flags of their gaurds blowing in the wind made me almost uncontiously grip my horse's reigns tighter. I looked around for a moment and saw Tyrion riding just behind me on his little pony followed closely by his squire Podrick Payne. Alittle to his left was Britt Lancave who looked like an angel riding in her white armor with nothing but her servent girl with her. I turned back and looked to my right for a moment to see Hedrik Clegane and his cousin Fredrick who looked ever piece the image of nobility. I tried to feel strong in that moment. Surrounded by so much nobility it was never more clear to me what my place was. Before I could spend another moment isolated in my mind we reached the Boltens and I followed Hedrik's suit and got off my horse. Walkign towards them I got my first glance of the Boltens. As they walked forward I knew which one was Ramsey almost immediately by the Pink Flayed Man that adorned the brestplate he wore. If not for that there was a near aura of sheer evil that flowed from him, and seemed to mix with the air. I'd seen lots of evil men in my day. From Maron Scorpian, to Dan Scott you thought you knew it but, this man was something else. Beside him stood another man with a flayed man on his breast place, and he looked the polar opposite of Ramsey. This man had a look of elegance to him. From the regal look of his armor, to the kindness in his eyes I was confused as to why this man did not lead them. "So the mighty Kingdom of Lucerne has so little going for it that all it can send is a bastard, a dwarf, a girl, and a child?" It was exactly the kind of a greeting I would expect from someone like him. A man with two wolves on his breastplate laughed behind him and more looked ready to laugh until Domeric stepped forward. "This is a peaceful meeting there is no reason for this to go into hostilities." His armor was still red, but when the moment after Domeric stepped forward I knew almost immediatly that my first impression of him was right and he was something beyond his cruel brother. "You burn a city to the ground that was protected by our realm and you speak of forgoing hostilities? I believe your house lost the right to speak of honor long ago but atleast let us speak with honesty for a moment." Tyrion was always the firebrand, and as he told me once, you had to be your own flag bearer when you had a weakeness as obvious as ours. I still remembered back to the first time we had talked and he had told me about what being a bastard really meant and I couldn't help but still feel a bond to him. "Juetenburg is gone. That conversation is over. The only conversation to be had now is how long before we burn Koenisburg to the ground." Ramsey clearly wasn't one for tactics, and from the looks many in the party were giving eachother they wished he was reacting differently. Only a few amongst them still looked ready to fully support Ramsey while you could see the looks of hope towards Domeric. "Behind these walls stand an army larger then your own, with more arriving each day. Koenisburg will not burn, and unless you leave your entire force will be destroyed."Britt Lancave spoke and I felt admiration for the strength of this girl. She wore the armor of a warrior, and the way she held herself left little doubt as to how confident and proud she was. She was something to be admired, and everything since the first time I met her told me that. "There is no point in lying Ser Britt of House Lancave. We know that the city is practicly empty. Any attempts to reach Koenisburg would have taken weeks. Weeks you did not have." It was such a constrast hearing Domeric Bolten speaking that you could barely accept they were brothers. "There are faster routes then land if you want to get somewhere Lord Bolten."After I said Lord Bolten to Domeric I knew I had stepped on a nerve of Ramsey as he practicly went red from anger. "The Bastard of Stormwind wishes us to believe that the Frey's allowed you to pass. The Frey's are if nothing else reliable. Reliable to do nothing. Helping you would have been something, and that Bastard isn't something they would do." The man had a massive beard and the sun on his breastplate made me know immediately what house this man was from. A Karstark. The ancient betrayers of my family was standing in front of me. He held some of the looks of my family despite the long years seperated by the Rhine River, and I guess that made the historical betrayal more painful didn't it. "Believe what you want. The truth is that there are thousands of Lucernian forces behind that wall, and unless." Tyrion breifly looked at Ramsey Bolten before contining."the bastard of the Dreadfort wishes to lose his entire army, he had best think carefully." The fume returned to his face as he was clearly not used to this kind of abuse and didn't like it one bit. "I'm truly sorry but where I come from the freaks and women didn't speak for our houses. So unless your ready for the terms of your surrender I don't see why this should continue." Ramsey turned his back to us, and started walking back to his horse followed by several of the men who clearly were following him. "Turn and run that is all your good for isn't it. No wonder you are such a disapointment to everyone in your land. We have had quite the laugh at how pathetic you are." Hedrik Clegane wasn't usually one for such dramatics but even he I guess had enough of Roose Bolten's bastard. The moment after he said the words though Ramsey let go of the horse, and walked back towards us followed closely by Domeric. I don't know what any of us expected but it wasn't him pulling a knife from his side, and lunging at Hedrik. As he jumped though it was Domeric that pushed him to the ground where he slammed hard against the ground before quickly getting to his feet and looking at Domeric with more hate in his eyes then I had ever seen. Ramsey would spit in Domeric's face before he stomped his way back to his horse and rode away followed by everyone but Domeric. Domeric leaned against the side of his horse and sighed. "I don't know what I expected from this, but it wasn't this." He sounded tired, and I wasn't suprised when Britt stepped forward and rested a hand on his shoulder. "This isn't on you. We all know who you are, and this would be the moment you should come with us brother." Her voice was caring, and held every ounce of truth that I know she felt about it, but even her kindness wasn't going to fix what was wrong. "I'm not your brother. You just saw the only blood brother I have in this world." "We are all the children of Glaurung and that includes you Domeric." "I wish all of you the best. Tommarow we shall all die I suppose." With that there was nothing else to say and he mounted his horse and rode back to the Bolten lines. With these insults the meeting begin to fall apart and it nearly came to violence when Ramsey took out a knife from his side and only the quick movement of Domeric Bolten stopped the situation from completely falling apart. Despite this Ramsey and Domeric would nearly come to blows but only Ramsey's knowledge that he couldn't defeat Domeric stopped him from attacking him right there. Ramsey would spit in his face before leaving with everyone else in the party outside of Domeric who remained behind. Britt Lancave would attempt to convinse him to come back with them, but he was loyal to a fault and returned to the Bolten lines. The Retreat “I returned to a camp in complete turmoil. When I got off my horse it was John Cole that approached me and told me that Ramsey had spent the ride back screaming how I was to be killed in the most violent and painful way he could devise, and that he planned to retreat back to Karhold. All that remained now was to make it there.” — Domeric Bolten Following the fight between Domeric and Ramsey Bolten and the collapse of the meeting with the Lucernians it was Ramsey's hatred and madness that led him him to decide to put nearly the entire Bolten army into a full retreat back to Karhold. Ramsey was at this point beyond any sort of rational thought and noone dared resist him despite the fact that many believed that Koenisburg was there's for the taking and Roose Bolten wanted the city taken at all costs. While he planned to have nearly the entire army do this he would force his brother Domeric to return to Karhold from a different direction with only House Hornwood and its loyal vassals. As the armies made their retreat back to Karkhold, it was Ramsey that put into work his real plan when he split from the main army and moved north with a large force of cavalry and planned to burn the town of Pomlet to the ground and thus force Domeric to come to its aid, where he would then say he was responsible for the act and ambush his brother's force. After hearing Ramsey talking about his plan to Reek it was Jordin Bolten that snuck into the force of Ramsey as it split off from the main army, and he would send a Raven to Grandlen telling Jamie Lannister of the change. “I think that was one of the last strings to go that let Ramsey really go about ending Domeric. While from my point of view, and anyone who had a sane mind, what Domeric was saying was completely correct, that wasn't the equation. It was always his great weakness that Domeric couldn't ever accept that rational behavior would get him no where in a land filled with ingrates, and morons. Domeric would have spent his entire life having statues built to him if he was born a few weeks march away from Dreadfort in any direction. But fate foretold that he was going to be born to House Bolten, and it was in that birth that he was fated nearly at birth to die. I told him once that he needed to kill his brother at some point. I tried to make him understand that being known as a kin slayer was the only way he would survive, but he was adamant that his brother had something inside of him that was good. He probably believed that all the way up to the moment when his brother pushed the sword into his chest. Good men die quickly in Bolten.” — Rickard Karstark

Battle of Green Creek The fool camped for an entire day on the words of a man he hated. He deserved what came on him that night. My only regret was the fact that I wasn't the one that got to kill the Bastard of Bolten myself.

Tyrek Lannister and Jamie Lannister land at the Port of Grandlen where they meet with Lord Ancel Grandlen and Nicoli Machiavelli but as they are unloading their Lannister force they can see that the Grandlen troops have already rallied and are prepared to move. Jamie becomes the leader of the Grandlen/Lannister force and places Hanzal Reyne, and Dale Grandlen as his top generals and with this in place they begin marching towards the north east where information they have says that Ramsey Bolten has retreated towards. Battle of Green Creek Main Article : Battle of Green Creek “The fool camped for an entire day on the words of a man he hated. He deserved what came on him that night. My only regret was the fact that I wasn't the one that got to kill the Bastard of Bolten myself.” — Jordin Bolten What Ramsey did not anticipate was the fact that the moment that Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Britt Lancave and Hedrik Clegane returned to Koenisburg they sent a raven to Jamie Lannister telling him to move against the Boltens. Ramsey had not realized that Jordin Bolten had joined his army but discovered his presence and begin to plot to kill Jordin. Jordin would at this point follow the commands of his cousin Domeric and begin to attempt to feed the mind of Ramsey with increasing amounts of lies. Jordin would tell Ramsey that he and Domeric had gotten into a fight and he was done with Domeric, and wanted to be close to the real leadership of Bolten in the form of Ramsey. So as Jordin gained slight influence he begin to say how under Domeric he had founded a scouting force which was the main reason Domeric had always been so succesful, and from this he knew all the comings and goings of the Divine Lands. So as they moved further northward and prepared to attack the town of Pomlet Jordin slowed them by saying he knew the location of scouts for Pomlet and took them on a massive route that delayed them significantly from where they would have been. As the delays continued Jordin knew that Jamie Lannister was close when a lucernian scout entered the Bolten camp and met with Jordin. “This was the moment where I picked sides. After this there would be no returning to Bolten, and my life here was at an end. I could only hope that Ramsey's death would lead to Domeric gaining control and I knew he would do what was right for the people.” — Jordin Bolten The scout was a man of Lannister named Toren of Castamere of whom told Jordin that the Lannister/Grandlen army was very close, and that they needed Jordin to move the Bolten army to a riverbed which would allow them to trap them, and destroy the army. Jordin would give the man a list of names, and banners of which he would pain with red on their tents and these men should be spared by any means necessary, and also he told Toren that Ramsey specifically could not survive. Following the departure of the scout Jordin would wake Ramsey in the middle of the night of whom was torturing some poor village girl in his tent, and would tell Ramsey that his scouts had discovered a lucernian force nearby and they needed to move quickly in the morning to a riverbed of which they would be able to hide and perhaps even ambush the lucernians. “We all heard about the destruction of the Boltens at Green Creek, and that was the end of the war from a public standpoint. From that point forward the Boltens moved from disaster to disaster.” — William Lovie III.[src] The following morning the forces of Lucerne would move at full speed towards the riverbed where they knew Jordin would move them, and at the same point Jordin would have moved the entire Bolten army to the riverbed where he then told them the Lucernians had passed by them but they needed to remain where they were so that they could ambush the Lucernians from behind. Jordin would be commanded by Ramsey to have all the men sleep, so that when they attacked the Lucernians they would be at full strength, and Jordin silently laughed as Ramsey collapsed any chance of defence for the Boltens. The Massacre “I knew the moment we were attacked that Jordin had betrayed us, and from that point forward I knew that Domeric needed to pay for what had happened to me. ” — Ramsey Bolten[src] Jamie Lannister and his three thousand cavalry would smash into the camp of Ramsey Bolten and in less then twenty minutes nearly the entire force was massacred. The four thousand infantry from Grandlen reached the camp midway through the battle and complete the massacre, and also make sure that they took control of the remaining noblemen that had been marked with red tents by Jordin during the night. It was as everything was falling apart that Ramsey Bolten would switch clothes with his servent Reek of whom he would smash the face of beyond any recegnition so that he could not be found to be not him. Reek had been known for being constantly covered in human refuse, and other garbage and thus to make himself look more like Reek so that he could get away with the swap. When Jamie entered the tent of Ramsey attempting to kill Ramsey or take him prisoner he found nothing but the supposed Reek standing over the destroyed body of "Ramsey Bolten". In that moment Jamie went to kill Reek but was stopped by Jordin Bolten who said to let Reek go as he was nothing but a slave they had captured from the Greyjoy's years past. Trusting Jordin Jamie would let "Reek" go and thus Ramsey Bolten escape the battle and made his way back to the Dreadfort.

Counter Attack on Jeutenburg

Main Article : Second Battle of Jeutenburg

Fall of Dellbrough

Main Article : Fall of Dellbrough

Siege of Karhold

Main Article : Siege of Karhold

It had been generations since we had been betrayed and our land taken form us. While we had rebuilt our lives and the memory had begun to fade. The anger and hatred of a betrayal never truly goes away.'

-Eddard Starke

With the fall of Jeutenburg the route into Karhold was completely open to the forces of Lucerne and they would take advantage of the shock caused on the Bolten forces by the destruction of the army at Green Creek. Moving westward the forces of House Karstark would be fed bad information from the retreating forces who told them that the main goal was the castle west of Karhold in the form of Saltwood Castle. In this way believing they would hit Saltwood first Arnolf who was in command of Karhold would send much of the Karstark forces to Saltwood which was under the command of House Saltwood of whom had already defected to the Lucernians and was thus further feeding bad information. As the Bolten forces were going towards Saltwood Castle in order to meet the forces of House Starke head on the true Starke force was now heading directly towards Karhold from the north where it found basically no resistence.

Battle of Saltwood Castle

Main Article : Battle of Saltwood Castle

You half felt bad for those poor fools walking into the disaster at Saltwood. We knew there would suprise and everyone who laid down a sword was going to live. It had to be that way.

-Jaden Ambry

The Secondary force from House Starke would arrive at Saltwood Castle before the forces of Bolten and would menaeuver themselves into the forests south of the castle while the Bolten forces could be devided into two distinct sections. The first section of the Bolten forces had remained loyal to House Bolten and the Karstarkes either out of honor or had not been told of other options and thus moved towards Saltwood without knowledge that most had switched sides. The second group were made of the houses of the area and from elsewhere that had switched sides to the Lucernians and these forces were prepared for the ambush as they marched. Marching forward the Lucernian loyalists would remain outside the castle while the Bolten loyalists split in a further half with one side entering the castle, and the other side heading towards the forest where the Lucernians awaited them. Once out of range of the castle the Saltwoods would reject the call to call for surrenders when they opened fire on the Bolten troops entering the castle, and nearly the entire force was massacred. Trying to flee the Lucernians turncoats that had waited outside the castle hit them from the rear and these forces were more willing to accept prisoners but the Bolten troops were destroyed or captured in their entirety. The other force led by Cregan Karstark II., and Eddard Karstark II. would find themselves moving towards the forest and seeing a now fully deployed and larger force of Lucernian troops awaiting them. Deploying into position they watched the arrival of the other forces but these forces stopped behind them with weapons drawn clearly indicating a trap. Moving forward towards these troops Jaden Ambry, and Trevor Baratheon would bid them surrender and seeing the hopelessness of their position they would surrender themselves as well.

The Attack Begins

We went immediatly under the assumption that the Saltwood turning would lead to our victory against their main force, and we hit the northern gate while noone was ready.

Robb Starke

Robb Starke and the main Starke force would hit the northern edge of Karhold during the night, and would spy very few sentries on the wall due to the late night and the fact that noone thought Karhold was even threatened. Robb would send Theon Greyjoy, and Gregory Estermont with a small team of troops carring ropes who would ascend the northern wall and open the gatehouse for their troops. Theon, and Gregory would be able to get onto the wall but the alarm was raised as they were opening the gates thus alerting the city to the attack. The army of the Starkes entered the northern gate either way and was able to quickly capture a large swathe of the northern section as most of the defenders were just waking up, and those that were up were either killed or disarmed by the attacking forces. Arriving at the western gate Robb Starke alongside Wilheim Martell would get inside the gatehouse, and open the gate allowing the monsterous Grey Wind to enter as well and Grey Wind would massacre Cregan Karstark and several other men before finally being restrained by Robb and together they left men at the gatehouse before moving to the Keep.

They held fast at the eastern gatehouse, but they were horribly outnumbered and in most spots we controlled the high ground.

Gregory Estermont

The fighting in the eastern gatehouse was particularrly stiff as Craig Karstark, Urmen Stone, and Douglas Tisler waking to the alarm and heading to the eastern gatehouse in order to try and defend it. Urmen Stone would be struck by an arrow as the Stark men had taken the tower that overlooked the gatehouse and fired shots down at them. Retreating from view of the tower Craig would hold the inner gatehouse and fought off several men before finally Gregory Estermont got into the courtyard and would kill Craig. With the gate opening Douglas Tisler would jump from the wall into the water beneath and while badly injuring his leg he was able to swim to the Karstark side of the river to safety. The Karstarks would resist greatly in the marketplace of southern Karhold, but the main reason for the resistence being able to hold them off was the fact that Robb Starke had ordered a slow and safe conquest of the town believing he had increasingly large amounts of reinforcements incoming and didnt need to risk his forces in a battle he was already going to win.

Name	Fate
Eddard Karstark	Killed by Robb in a duel near the western bridge after failing to surrender
Craig Karstark	Killed by Gregory Estermont while defending the eastern gatehouse
Urmen Stone	Killed by arrow while defending eastern gatehouse
Janise Karstark	Died trying to kill Gregory after the death of Craig Karstark
Cregan Karstark II.	Prisoner following the Battle of Saltwood Castle
Eddard Karstark II.	Prisoner following the Battle of Saltwood Castle
Ophellia Karstark	Prisoner following failed attempt to flee the city during the intial attack
Metalyn Karstark	Prisoner following failed attempt to flee the city during the initial attack
Cregan Karstark	Killed by Grey Wind defending the western Gatehouse
Leysha Karstark	Prisoner following surrendering to the Starkes

Bodies were strewn about the streets as the Karstark forces had left disaster as they retreated into their keep. I stood over the body of Eddard Karstark his name brought shame to my fathers and for that alongwith his poor life choices he paid the ultimate price. Looking at the keep I saw four bridges and my men had told me a fifth was located on the opposite side of the island, and that made me clearly aware that we controlled three out of the five bridges. One of the bridges they controlled was so close to our lines that we would be able to destroy it with ease while the one on the east was built of stronger work then that. In the end it was clear the siege was over, and now we were fighting to see how many of them died.

Robb Starke

The Karstarks had been devestated by the fighting with nearly ten of their number either captured or dead on the field, and without much hope that they could hold the keep for long. The sheer number of Karstarks that they had prisoner meant that they were forced to house them all in the walled keep in the northern part of the city, and from there they made Arnolf very much aware of how many were prisoners. Arnolf himself was sickly and was unable to move but in an act of blind arrogance refused to hand command over to his grandson Harnolf Karstark believing that his brother Rickard was laughing at him for failing to hold the city, and thus he would die before he gave it up. Outside of the Karstarks there allies in House Urnet, and House Tisler also lost several members with only Heshen Urnet able to flee out of the city, and returning to the forces of House Urnet. With the fighting intensifying in the southern half of the city the Karstarks awaited reinforcements, but this would be a hopeless wait as well as while the fighting was dying down in Karhold the news begin filtering in that Hornwood was under siege from House Locke and House Hornwood was abandoning the area east of Karhold in order return home, and they were taking all their men with them.

Dreadfort Court Massacre

Main Article : Dreadfort Court Massacre

"Karhold, Jeutenburg, and much of the west were being taken by the Lucernians, and I think in that moment as the noble lords watched everything they had built falling apart there were many that wanted out. The rule of Bolten meant that many of them had sons and daughters as hostages in Dreadfort and these were more important then any land would ever be."

-Josh Cole

When Karhold became completely surrounded by the forces of House Starke and others from Lucerne there became a movement by many of the lords of Bolten to try and get their children from Dreadfort of which everyone knew was the next target for the Lucernians. Roose Bolten understood that he only retained many of the nobles loyalties by holding their children and for this reason refused any calls to give up the children, and in fact called for more to be sent to solitfy loyalites. Anderson Cole would start a movement to Dreadfort when he and his friend Hadrian Hornwood would lead many nobles to Dreadfort in order to see Roose Bolten and get their children back. When they arrived they were greeted by Roose in the Dining Hall of the main keep as they wanted to be protected

by the Guests Right, and once their it became clear they were not getting their children, and they were told to leave and bring their forces to Dreadfort as they were commanded. When arguments arose in the Dining Hall, Roose would break the Guests Right by having the nobles rounded up by his gaurds and brought to central Dreadfort's square.

"To see so many honest men die in that short a time was a sad thing to behold. They wanted their children back, and for their troubles many of them were forced to watch their children killed in front of them. I held Justin the entire time in my room as I knew that if he was let out he would try and save his father and that would find him dead with the rest of them. Any love I still held for my family died with those poor souls. My father had lost his mind somewhere along the road, and I knew this was the moment he went to far and got himself in too deep to ever dig himself out of the chaos."

-Misha Bolten

With the nobles chained to posts in the Dreadfort square Roose and Rickard Karstarke would find everyone of their children who were hostages in the capital and of those that they had more then one they executed the children while their fathers were forced to act. In this brutality children as young as the five year old Sasha Cole were

executed, and as the bodies piled up a fight broke out as Cley Cerwynn would get out of his bonds and kill a gaurd in front of him. Cley's execution begin the execution of the remainder of the nobles as Roose executed everyone else in the square leaving nearly thirty nobles and fifteen children dead. It was a shocking moment for all those other then Roose, but they all stood motionless as Roose walked forward kneeled down before the body of one of the children and closed its eyes before getting up and walking back into the keep. There was little talk after this as the rest of the men there knew that there was now no escape for them, and the remaining children were brought into the keep where they would remain under house arrest. Realizing that Justin Cole was the only one of the hostages not present Tared ordered him found and brought before him, and since they had another Cole already in Sasha Cole who the others would not know was amongst the dead he no longer needed Justin. MIsha Bolten and Justin Cole were hidden at this point and made their way into the city proper only stopped by a gaurdsmen who Justin was forced to kill to get past him. Making their way into the town they were close to being caught when a door opened to a house and a man beckoned them inside. Getting inside the man told them he was Veseryan Ongrill and had been sent by the Kingdom of Lucerne to find him. Fearing for their life Justin took out his sword again but as he did Veseryan would knock it from his hand and push him against the wall holding him restrained before saying. 

"Fear not Lucerne young one. We are your only friend in this land of madness."

-Veseryan Ongrill

Misha would come between them, and was able to sit Justin down and calm him, and once they were all seated Veseryan told them that he couldn't get them out right now as the streets were filled with men looking for Justin and Misha, but soon he would get them out through the sewers. Veseryan would hide them in a cellar beneath the house, and once inside they found several other children that clearly Veseryan had also taken in so that they would be safe. Learning more about Veseryana and the Lucernian presence from Messaries Condon the oldest of the children in the cellar he was amazed at the level of infiltration the Lucernians had already made. Back on the street the gaurds of Bolten went house to house trying to find Misha, and Justin, and when after several days they had failed to find them the story was spread that Justin had kidnapped Misha after killing many of the noble children in the capital, and thus he was blamed for much of the murders. Veseryan would be able to gain knowledge of who had died from Tyse Hornwood who remained in the keep, and it was that list that Veseryan would sent west to the sieging forces of House Starke so that they could pass that information on to the others. Returning to the house Veseryan prepared the children for the moment they would move to escape, and made them aware that it was not going to be easy, as he had noted improved gaurding of the sewers as House Bolten attempted to stifle escapes from the capital.

Siege of Hornwood

Main Article : Siege of Hornwood

"The world was going to burn. I was going to burn it all down."

-Ramsey Bolten

Following the return of Ramsey Bolten to Dreadfort he would become obsessed with finally ending his brother and this would lead him to convinse Ondrew Locke to lay siege to Hornwood the largest city  of the east. Hornwood would come under siege without warning, but its defences were manned fully due to the fact that much of House Hornwood had already returned to Hornwood, and the scouts of the area had been skillful and had alerted the town in enough time. Now under siege they would call for assistence despite House Hornwood and its forces outnumbering the forces of House Locke quite heavily. Ramsey Bolten was by this point well dug into the area northwest of Hornwood and he alongside his cavalry force were well prepared to meet the incoming forces of Domeric Bolten of whom Ramsey knew would arrive well before the rest of his forces.

Domeric Moves

Ramsey would arrive well before the arrival of Domeric, and in that moment the fate of a Kingdom would be defined by the failings of a single man.

"This was still a kingdom worthy of saving. This was a land that while troubled didn`t abandon its own. If we let the Lockes do whatever the hell they wanted to do, then they would signal to the rest of the kingdom that they as well could do whatever they wanted. That was a signal I couldn`t allow to be sent. I heard the rumors that my brother was involved. That somehow he was responsible for the current situation...and despite everything...despite the fact that he was truly lost...I just...I couldn`t accept it. I refused to accept that he was past redemption. If that be the decision that dooms me then so be it. I die with a pure soul. I die happy."

-Domeric Bolten

Domeric Bolten would survive the retreat of the Bolten army and he would return to Dreadfort to meet with his father about the outcome of the first conflict with lucerne. Following this they would hear about the destruction and capture of the Bolten army at Green Creek. Domeric would at this point believe that his cousin had defected to the Lucernians and would be forced to accept that amongst his family he was now alone. Following this Hornwood would come under assault by House Locke and Domeric would resieve a call for aid from House Hornwood of whom was very loyal to him, and he knew he couldn't leave them to their own. Despite his father attempting desperatly to make Domeric stay in Dreadfort Domeric would travel with his personal forces towards Hornwood.

"What a twisted little bastard Ramsey was. In the end he was a failure the moment he was born. HIs failings were by his own making which was the worst part of looking at him. What though is a father to do when one of his sons is so twisted in his mind that he can barely even function. I should have put an axe in his head but in the end it was all too late...It was all too late...and now...it means nothing."

-Roose Bolten

Roose Bolten accepting that his son was heading south he attempted to locate Ramsey believing that Ramsey would be the only one capable of pulling off something of this scope. When his spies couldn`t locate Ramsey he would send Regenard Estren southward with his fastest horses in an attempt to get to Hornwood before his son Domeric. Regenard Estren was not the only other person moving towards Hornwood as Daryn Hornwood pulled the forces of House Hornwood from the army east of Karhold attempting to break the siege and also moved eastward towards Hornwood.

Arrival of Domeric

"Something felt wrong the moment he came over the hill. I ordered my men to prepare the horses. I ordered everyone to be ready to charge from the walls and meet our true king. I ordered so many things that didn`t help anything."

-Halys Hornwood

The siege went on for nearly a month before the forces of Domeric Bolten`s vangaurd arrived on the outskirts of town, but Domeric`s party would be betrayed when their white flag was ignored and they were ambushed by a cavalry force led by Ramsey Bolten. Due to his speed he had arrived well ahead of the rest of his forces and would only be assuming that he was going to be meeting with the leaders of House Locke. As he met with them he was ambushed by Ramsey Bolten who had set this entire attack up so that he could kill his brother Domeric. A fight did break out as Domeric was able to kill several of the ambushers before he was knocked on the head, and even then he still had a chance as Regenard Estren was nearbye watching from a hill and his cavalry forces could have moved against the betrayal but instead he remained on the hill and did not help Domeric. Regenard`s cowardess would be witnessed by many from Hornwood including Halys and Larance Hornwood of whom swore to kill him alongside Ramsey for what would happen next. Now captured by his sadistic brother Domeric attempted to reason with his brother but Ramsey wouldn't hear it and would hang Domeric from a tree alongside the rest of his vangaurd.

Conversation Incoming Fairmarket. The Riverlands. Lorderon, and Kul Tiras. Westbridge. All had fallen to our might. All had sworn the sword to the Valley of Lucerne. All that power, and yet I looked north and saw a great demon the likes of which I could not hope to resist. The Empire was the reason for growth. The Empire was the reason for everything we did. The Empire was the land that should have done great things for the world, but instead of this they did nothing. They allowed chaos to breed amongst them, and in that weakeness and failing they threatened to ruin the entire continent.

My head ached from the pain of the strike I had taken, but I forced myself to raise my head anyway. As I stared out I saw my brother leaning against the Tree with the most terrifying smile on his face. As he saw that I was awake he walked towards me carrying a small knife and a brazier. Without a word he pressed the brazier to my face, and I screamed out in pain. "You always thought you were so much better then me didn`t you?" I could barely think as he ran the knife across my arm digging a deep gash into the skin, and then moving the brazier to my chest. "I`m the true born heir of House Bolten, and now there isn`t a thing any of you can do to stop that." I could hear him continueing to talk but the pain was so much that as he walked away towards his horse I couldn`t quite hear him. I pushed myself through all the pain and just used every ounce of strength I had to speak. "I`m your brother...Ramsey...do not...stop...you have to stop...please...please stop Ramsey..."I could hear laughter all around me and as I was able to look for a moment I could make out Mallador Locke, and Harrion and Vatef Karstark which only made things worse. These were noble born men and they were sitting prepared to kill the heir to Bolten. "There are no words your silver toungue can spread that change this. Harrion tie him to the tree and lets be done with this." He was sitting on his horse as he moved towards me but now there was just nothing in his eyes. Hate perhaps but mainly I just so annoyance. I felt someone tie a rope around my kneck from behind and could only assume it was Harrion. "Harrion this is treason you need to stop. Ramsey we can work this out....stop this please brother." I looked for any sign of him changing his mind, but despite my begging he was unmoved. I felt the rope now completely around my kneck and they raised me onto a stump nearbye which without any warning I was released from and I felt myself dangling. This was the end. I never thought it would end this way.

After the death of Domeric Bolten the city of Hornwood watched the siege end as the goals of the siege were achieved, and thus Hornwood was relieved. Ramsey would return north, and House Locke and their vassals retreated as well leaving the hanged body of Domeric to be retrieved by Halys Hornwood of whom was beyond enraged about the betrayal of the prince.

Deal with the Devil

Euron Greyjoy long desired the throne of the Iron Islands and would make the reaving and destruction of Westros his greatest legacy.

``They thought they had won. They believed in their heart that trouble had just disapeared as their victory was all but assured. I would burn my enemies at the gates by whatever means neccessary. I didn`t work all this time just to fall at the moment before I had all the power I needed.``

-Ramsey Bolten

As the armies of Bolten were crushed on the field, and they fell back castle by castle it wasn`t until the Lannisters captured the castle of Hayford which opened the way onto the Dreadfort Peninsula that they begin to actually fear destruction. Fearing this Ramsey would go to his father and tell him he was leaving to get reinforcements, and when asked from whom he told his father he would be travelling to the Iron Islands. As he left he discussed with his Bastards that he actually planned to travel to the Iron Islands and make an agreement with them that they would not interfere in his actual plans of getting reinforcements from Mordor. Travelling to the Iron Islands his ship would be boarded by Euron Greyjoy of whom had silently reentered the Iron Islands without the knowledge of his family. Euron and Ramsey would come to an agreement where in the Iron Islands was able to reave up and down the lands outside of Dreadfort, and for this they would not only enable Mordor to enter the lands but would also join in the assault. Euron promised that by the time Ramsey returned if he did return from Mordor that Euron would be the new Iron King of the Iron Islands. Departing on their ship they travlled north east before then travelling directly south where they eventually arrived in the Kingdom of Taraban where they would meet with the leadership there in order to arrange an alliance with Mordor.

``You walked into Taraban and while you could see the humans it just had an aura of madness to the land. Controlled by Mordor for generations I`m surprised any resemblance remained of their ancient traditions, but I saw the capital and was shocked at the civilization.``

-Mallador Locke 

The King of Taraban met with them briefly before saying that he had been commanded by the Dark Lord himself to have the Bolten men prepared for the arrival of the Witch King of whom would discuss terms. Waiting for days they were barely allowed to leave the keep and watching from the windows they watched as the land during the night was haunted by the shreaking of monsters, and the shadows themselves appeared to move with the haunting of some dark spirits. When finally the Witch King arrived he was accompanied by three other Nazgul in the form of Mahud, The Dark Marshal, and the former king of Lucerne in John Lovie. Believing they would have all of their requests easily accepted Ramsey and the others were shocked when they were roundly rejected for assistence from Mordor as they demanded more consessions from Bolten then just a foothold in Westros. As talks deterioated Ramsey would become so enraged that he promised them the entirety of the land outside of Dreadfort and its peninsula in return for their assistence. With this off the Witch gave them assurances that John Lovie, Mahud, and The Dark Marshal would lead a large force from Mordor and land in the Dreadfort to begin the counter assault against Lucerne.

The New Reaver

Fires of Harrenhall Harrenhall became more important the more the Ironborn moved from reason.

``The time had come for the world to truly discover what I was capable of. I would reach into the sky and pull back everything I had ever dreamed was possible, and I dare even the gods to stop me.`` -Euron Greyjoy Following his meeting with Ramsey Bolten Euron Greyjoy would return in secret to Pyke where he climbed the impossibly high walls of the House Greyjoy Keep. He would wait on the roof connecting the two towers of Greyjoy keep, and when his brother Balon came out onto the bridge as he had always done with their father when he was young Euron would climb off the wall and before anyone could say anything killed the two gaurds with Balon. His brother would laugh at him, and begin insulting him for his pathetic way of doing things, and as he continued Euron lashed and knocked him on the head with the back of his sword. Balon would get up and before he could say another word Euron would end his life by pushing Balon off the bridge and into the water hundreds of feet beneath them. Leaving signs of a Lucernian blade on the corpse he climbed back onto the roof and made his way by rope back down the wall to his small boat which took him back to the ship. ``Never cared for my brother. He was a cold man with little of anything in him of substance.`` -Aeron Greyjoy Aeron Greyjoy is drowning men at a beach when Gormond Goodbrother appears to bring Aeron to Lord Gorold Goodbrother . Aeron initially declines but relents when the messenger tells him the king, Aeron's brother, is dead. During the journey Aeron remembers his brothers. His father married three times. The sons of his first wife died young. The eldest son from his second marriage was the strongest and fiercest of the remaining. Aeron admired Balon although they were not close in their youth. When they arrive at Lord Goodbrother's hall, Aeron demands that everyone in the hall be sent away so that he and Gorold Goodbrother can speak privately. Lord Goodbrother insists that his maester will stay as well. Aeron disagrees and prepares to leave, but the maester stops him by informing him that forces loyal to Euron Greyjoy have occupied the Seastone Chair. Aeron is shocked. He remembers his brother but with little love. Goodbrother wants advice on whom to support, but Aeron wants to pray first and leaves for Pebbleton. ``Euron was something to dark to even contimplate in a position of power. He cared nothing for the Iron Islands, or our ways. He just wanted more of whatever he wanted in the moment he wanted it.`` -Aeron Greyjoy Again Aeron thinks back to his youth. He was not a very religious man but rather a drunken sod. This changed when he fell overboard in a sea battle during Balon's Rebellion. He almost drowned and became a devoted follower of the Drowned God. Aeron has discussed the succession with Balon. Though Balon wanted his daughter, Asha, to succeed him, Aeron did not agree with having a woman rule the Iron Islands. Theon is a weakling and probably dead. Balon's eldest brother, Euron, is ungodly and Aeron hates him. Thus Aeron makes up his mind; it must be Victarion. A few days later, Aeron has arrived at Pebbleton and starts to preach. Asha has also claimed the throne. Now Aeron's followers and a number of lords look to him for advice on whom to support. During his preaching, he finds his inspiration: the Ironmen should elect the king in a Kingsmoot as they did in the old days. Every captain is to go to the hills of Nagga, the ancient place where the old kings were chosen. Aeron hears his followers take up his call and knows he has done the right thing. ``I was the clear choice. If not for the difference between my legs I would have simply had to stand up and accept the Reaver.`` -Asha Greyjoy Asha is at Ten Towers waiting for her supporters to arrive, and as she is looking around she sees the feast is almost over. There are a lot of Harlaws in the hall but not enough of the other houses, and seeing this Asha knows she lacks support for the coming Kingsmoote. She tells Three-Tooth to find food for her crew and her prisoners, and after doing this she goes to her uncle Rodrik Harlaw, the lord of Harlaw. She finds him in the Book Tower, reading. Rodrik Harlaw loves his books, and she explains that it was his love of the books that earned him the nickname "The Reader". In Asha's name, Rodrik has sent summons to the captains to gather at Ten Towers. The captains of Harlaw isle have come but very few others. Rodrik informs Asha that Aeron Greyjoy has called for a Kingsmoot, an assembly of all captains to choose the king. Rodrik assures Asha that her cause is hopeless, since no woman has ever ruled the Ironborn. Even the support of Rodrik does not mean his vassals will support her, as their fealty is for war purposes only. In a kingsmoot they are allowed to vote as they please, and because he knows she will lose Rodrik councils Asha to stay away from the Kingsmoot. Besides her lack of support, he is afraid that Euron Greyjoy will kill his competitors once he is declared the winner. Rodrik offers to give her Ten Towers instead. His heir Harras Harlaw does not need Ten Towers and will protect her. Asha declines the offer and walks back to the hall, and while walking she encounters Tristifer Botley on the way. When they were young, Tristifer was in love with Asha, and while Asha liked him in the beginning she became bored with him before he was sent away. Tristifer, though, has never forgotten her and wants to wed Asha. He is the legitimate Lord of House Botley. His father has been killed by Euron Greyjoy for refuting Euron's claim to the throne. His titles have been given to Tristifer's uncle who supported Euron. Asha sharply refuses Tristifer's advances by reminding him that they are not children anymore and that she is his queen, not his wife. ``I was trying to take Harrenhall, and then all of a sudden my brother is dead and everyone is fighting over a position that was mine. While they hid in their boats I was reaving. Always reaving.`` -Victarion Greyjoy Victarion has left the defense of Moat Cailin to Ralf Kenning, and sailed the Iron Fleet to Old Wyk for the kingsmoot. When the fleet arrives, Victarion has them blockade Euron's Silence. The first to greet him on shore is Aeron, and later that night the priest is at his side for the feast. Several captains pledge their voice to Victarion's claim, but Lord Blacktyde seeks a king who will end the wars, saying the following. Soon, the Captain finds his niece, advising her not to lay forth a claim, because a woman has no place ruling the ironborn. Asha stands by her claim, and notes that the Damphair may have underestimated the appeal of the Kingsmoot, since the Drumm will present his claim and there is talk of Maron Volmark being presented as heir of the throne by Tarle the Thrice-Drowned, while it is apparent that Aeron's intent was to legitimize Victarion as Balon's successor. Their chat is interrupted by the arrival of Euron. Victarion notes Euron does not seem to have aged in the almost three years that he has been gone. “Who knows more of gods than I? Horse gods and fire gods, gods made of gold with gemstone eyes, gods carved of cedar wood, gods chiseled into mountains, gods of empty air… I know them all. I have seen their peoples garland them with flowers, and shed the blood of goats and bulls and children in their names. And I have heard the prayers, in half a hundred tongues. Cure my withered leg, make the maiden love me, grant me a healthy son. Save me, succor me, make me wealthy… protect me! Protect me from mine enemies, protect me from the darkness, protect me from the crabs inside my belly, from the horselords, from the slavers, from the sellswords at my door. Protect me from the Silence.” He laughed. “Godless? Why, Aeron, I am the godliest man ever to raise sail! You serve one god, Damphair, but I have served ten thousand. From Ib to Asshai, when men see my sails, they pray.” -Euron Greyjoy Aeron confronts Euron with the accusation that "no godless man may sit the Seastone Chair", but Euron cows his brother into leaving the hall. Asha then accuses her uncle of the death of her father, but Euron denies he had anything to do with it. When a fight nearly breaks out between Asha and one of Euron's men, Victarion steps in and demands that Euron leave. After his departure, Victarion and his niece walk outside, and Asha asks why Euron was banished by her father, for he refused to ever speak of it. Victarion eventually tells her that Euron impregnated Victarion's wife. Victarion wanted to kill his brother but Balon forbid it and sent Euron to exile. Later Victarion killed his wife with his own hands. Asha offers to set aside her claim if Victarion will name her his Hand and end the war. She feels that the Ironborn have overextended themselves and tells her uncle that she has reached an agreement with Lady Sybelle Glover, and that their people may keep Sea Dragon Point and the Stony Shore in return for the release of Deepwood Motte, Torrhen's Square and Moat Cailin. Victarion is not receptive. Asha replies that she then will claim the throne. ``Cowardly was my running, and it probably led to the fool being made Reaver.`` -Aeron Greyjoy Aeron is wading in the ocean, berating himself for running from Euron. He considers Nagga's bones, where the Grey King had ruled for 1000 years and warred against the Storm God. At dawn, Aeron has his drowned men sound the drums and warhorns to announce the onset of the kingsmoot. The prophet wishes for Victarion to win the claim, and hopes Euron will make a mistake and declare early. But the first claimant is Gylbert Farwynd, who rules a small barrier island far to the west of the Iron Islands where shapeshifters are said to live. Aeron sees madness in the lord's eyes. He offers to lead the ironmen to a bountiful land beyond the Sunset Sea; few of the gathered captains shout his name. Next up is Erik Ironmaker, who once might have made a great king. But age and his immense weight make him an easy target for Asha to dismiss by asking him to stand up from his chair. The following claimant is another famous ironborn, Lord Dunstan Drumm, who asks the gathering : Asha Greyjoy had nearly won the Kingsmoot when Euron Greyjoy appeared and his appeal destroyed her chances nearly in the same moment. "Where is it written that our king must be a kraken?" -Dunstan Drumm But the Drumm's downfall is the cheap loot he offers to swing the vote of the captains. Victarion steps forth next and asks for Aeron's blessing. His speech is short and concise and he offers to continue the rule his brother Balon had set. His offerings are generous, and many captains give him their voice. But it is Asha who interrupts the shouts of "Victarion!", and declares that her claim is best as she is Balon's daughter. She tells the ironborn that war is bleeding their people and to continue it would be folly. She offers peace with the Northmen, and prosperous land on the western shores of the North. When she opens her chests to show the scant spoils of her warring in the Northlands, the tumult of support she receives is staggering. Fearing that a woman will win the kingsmoot, Aeron is shocked back to reality by the horrible bellowing of a horn. All eyes turn to a giant war-horn bound with ancient Numenorian glyphs being sounded by one of Euron's "mongrels". After sounding the horn several times, the giant mute nearly falls over, his lips bloody and blistering. Euron steps forward and announces that he has sailed further and braved more than any other ironman. He offers not only peace and land, but all Westeros itself to the ironborn. When Asha asks him how he means to do so, her uncle responds that he will use dragons to conquer the land, as Aegon had, using the Dragon Horn he found amongst the ashes of Old Numenoria. When he tells the crowd that the horn can bind dragons to his will, and that he knows where three dragons can be found, he receives the overwhelming cheers of "Euron! Euron! Crow's Eye! EURON KING!"

Return to Bolten

``Returning I couldn`t but feel like we had just doomed ourself.``

-Mallador Locke

The Bolten`s would depart Taraban to their ships now accompanied by men of Taraban of whom returned under the command of Mordor to prepare for the eventual landing of Mordor which would take place some two months perhaps from that since they needed to mass an army and then deliver the forces as well. As they returned they were met by Euron Greyjoy once more, and this time he wore the crown of the Iron Islands and told them that he was now the Iron Reaver of the Iron Islands, and that the Iron Islands would join with Bolten in pushing back the Lucernians.

House Hornwood Turns

Main Article : Hornwood Rebellion See Also : Siege of Lotten

“The Bolten`s had failed the Kingdom. Of that there was no question, and now the only thing to ask ourselves was where did we go now.”

— Dalys Hornwood

Arriving back at Hornwood with the forces of House Hornwood he would camp the army around Hornwood while he and his commanders entered the city. As Daryn met with his father he learned that following the death of Domeric his father Halys had contacted Robb Starke at Karhold and offered to meet with them to discuss a union with Lucerne. Only a few days after this were visited by representatives from Lucerne in the form of Sasha Lovejoy and a group of Starke Men who were sent in order to begin planning the Hornwood alliance. Sasha offered complete protection for Hornwood and a level of auntonomy that they didn`t have now, and she also told them that an agent of Lucerne had taken in many of the children that were hostages of Bolten in the Dreadfort and was preparing to get them out of the city. As the talks continued over the days the unmarried Sasha Lovejoy would become smitten towards Orsen Stout of whom had been commanded to take her and her delegation on a tour of Hornwood and the area in order to give the Hornwood forces more time to think. Sasha Lovejoy would accept an offer of marriage that was brought up during the days meetings and thus her bethrothel to Orsen Stout only continued the relationship between the two houses. With all of this information Halys Hornwood would swear an oath to the Kingdom of Lucerne, and would have his son Daryn lead the army against Lotten and the only remaining sign of resistence in the south in the form of House Locke.

The Siege

“The end had come, and all that remained on the wrong side were doomed to fail.”

— Hayls Hornwood

With the arrangement met Daryn Hornwood would lead the forces of House Hornwood against one of the only remaining Bolten loyalists in House Locke when they besieged Lotten. Sending a raven into the castle before they besieged it the raven was shot out of the air, and this was a clear sign that House Locke was not willing to switch sides even if it meant survival. Inside House Locke was split between Ondrew Locke, and his cronies of whom were lost in arrogance and believed that someone would come to relieve the siege if they only held out, while on the other side Jorde Locke and the heir of House Locke in the form of Donnel Locke resisted continueing the siege but were outnumbered and forced to go along with things. The siege of Lotten would last for weeks as the Hornwood's and their vassals surrounded the town, but believing that they could take the town without much bloodshed Daryn Hornwood was not commanding siege machines be launched at the castle. While there was growing support for Donnel Locke the defenders held firm led by the brutal Ondrew Locke of whom held his family in his grasp with an irongrip. At this point in the siege Mallador Locke would create a fake letter using the signature of Ramsey Bolten that outlined the lies being told to the Locke family about the war effort. What elements of this letter Mallador believed is unknown but in the letter he said that the Lucernians had been crushed at Hayford, and that Ramsey had led a relief force southward and was now camped west of Lotten awaiting the Hornwood's to assault the town. Ondrew wanted to believe this and thus he took it at face value when it really made very little sence in the real terms of what was happening on the battlefields of Bolten.

“You are the most powerful men in Lotten behind my father, and it is time for you powerful men to do what is right for this place. My father will see the truth, or he wont. Its that simple.”

— Donnel Locke

With Ondred Locke now believing a lie it broke his son Donnel to do it but Donnel begin meeting with Lords Romny, and Lyman of House Eastmyre, and House Caliman. Romny had come to Donnel when they were attacking Koenisburg and asked outloud to Donnel whether they had a plan in place for what happened if Ondrew kept taking them down a path of destruction, and back then Donnel had remained loyal to his father and somewhat quashed the rebellious talk, but now he was leading it. The three men agreed that if this continued then they would not be able to support Ondrew, and they would have to remove him, and then place Donnel in the Lordship and hope that would be enough to appease the Hornwoods. In every scenario they knew that Mallador, and his father would both have to be removed as the Hornwoods wanted the blood of Mallador to pay for what happened to Domeric. As the siege continued into another week Daryn would send a white flag for a meeting and would meet with Ondrew, and Donnel Locke in a discussion that would ultimately end the siege.

Conversation Incoming Fairmarket. The Riverlands. Lorderon, and Kul Tiras. Westbridge. All had fallen to our might. All had sworn the sword to the Valley of Lucerne. All that power, and yet I looked north and saw a great demon the likes of which I could not hope to resist. The Empire was the reason for growth. The Empire was the reason for everything we did. The Empire was the land that should have done great things for the world, but instead of this they did nothing. They allowed chaos to breed amongst them, and in that weakeness and failing they threatened to ruin the entire continent.

I walked onto the field shadowed by Orsen Stout, and Sasha Lovejoy behind me to the right, and my brother Larance behind me to the right followed behind him by a group of men at arms. I had at first wanted to come out with just Orsen Stout and my brother, and maybe Sasha Lovejoy but my father warned me of what had happened to Domeric Bolten under the protection of the White Flag, and I came to see the path.  Standing in the field just out of range of their archers we waited for the gates to open. Even in the midst of this stressful situation Orsen, and Sasha were still like lovesick children as they held hands. You could feel the emotion just pouring off them, and while I felt happy for my friend I couldn`t help but feel momentarily melocholy from missing Corina.  It had been almost three months since I had last seen her, and while I heard news was positive back in Jeutenburg from Sasha I felt a pain in my stomach that she was forced to be in that situation. My mind wandered back to Jeutenburg and the chaos unleased by the madness of Ramsey, and if it was possible I hated him more. Others were responsible as well. The Locke`s under Ondrew had ravaged the market and stolen anything they could lift. The Urnet`s had tortered and killed hundreds, of which would have been higher if Jonas hadn`t stepped in when he did and killed those Urnet`s. And now we were here miles from home, and many more miles away from my heart in Jeutenburg. The gate opened with clank as the old castle of Lotten was always known to be a shamble of a place. Watching the Locke men walk out I could clearly make out the hunched back Ondrew Locke and his heir Donnel. When I was young Donnel and I had been together in the Dreadfort and back then I remembered him as a funny kid that loved trying to chase that stupid red bird that nested itself in the Dreadfort. Seeing him now clad in the purple stained armor of his family I wondered how much of that funny kid remained. They reached us, and I could hear the sound of Orsen planting the white flag in the ground before stepping forward and standing beside me, followed directly behind him by Sasha of whom I saw held onto the back of his arm. ``So what does the Moose family want may I ask.`` Always a foolish man was Ondrew. He could barely stand due to the severe slouch that he held, but yet he still held this arrogant aura about himself. ``It is time to surrender now Lord Locke. The castle is surrounded, and the Dreadfort can send no relief.``I saw a bit of fear cross his face as I told him the Dreadfort wasn`t coming but as quickly as it appeared it was gone and replaced by that same arrogance. ``You have wasted your time if you called this for a surrender.`` And he went to turn back and return to Lotten when Donnel stepped behind him and whispered in his ear low enough that I couldn`t hear him, but whatever he said stopped Ondrew in his tracks. ``My heir wishes to know what terms you offer.`` He remained resolute beside his father, but I could see that Donnel was aware of how dire this was for House Locke. I had nearly twenty thousand troops lined up completely around the castle, and from what forces they besieged Hornwood with they maybe had a thousand. Following the betrayal of Domeric Bolten it was Mallador that had taken some two thousand of House Locke`s forces and went northward with Ramsey thus leaving the already weaker Lotten further diminished. ``You will retain Lotten. You will pay restitutions for your crimes against the villages south of Hornwood. You will send Caryn and Jorde Locke to stay at Hornwood...``As I went to continue the hunch back Lord of Lotten interupted me. ``You dare to offer me the hostaging of my children.`` The look of anger on the weasly hunch back was priceless, as most likely this was the first time in his entire life anyone had ever really questioned him in the way he ruled his people, and what he had to do. "You will lose your lordship and travel north to take the black at the wall." The wall seemed to easy, but I understood partly what had happened for Ondrew, and that meant for me that I should be somewhat lenient. Not leniant to the point that it wasn't a punishment, though and that was where Sasha's advise of the great wall of Stor had come in as a perfect oppurtunity. "You can`t be that stupid, as to believe..." What he had done was a travesty to the entire kingdom that we had all once sworn an oath to protect, and yet here he stood slightly laughing at the thought he might be punished for what he had done. The wall was a simple punishment. He had always been a silent ruler, and thus I had little knowledge of the kind of person he was until the first time I met him at Koenisburg, and honestly even there he had seemed a calm man with little of the violent tendencies that have come to define him now. "You have no choice in this matter. You and your son Mallador will die if you dont take this deal, and trust me when I say your deaths will not be pleasent. Your deaths will be as painful and humiliating as your dishonorable killing of the crown prince." I made the decision to not make this moment worse by stating his brother Mallador had no chance of survival under any deal as he was complicent in the actual murder of prince Domeric. His death would have to be public, and I would do it myself. Everything that had transpired on that day I could look back on say to myself would have never happened if Mallador Locke had never led the siege of Hornwood, and if he had done the honorable thing, and not ambushed the crown prince. "You continue to spread horrible gossip I see." "If you stand here denying your son Mallador's involvement in the murder of Lord Domeric Bolten, then you are a more detestable person then even I gave you credit for." "My son was at home with me Milord. We were planning a nice summer feast when we heard the terrible news about the prince." He had the most stupid look on his face as he silently laughed to himself as he lied. Noone would ever believe that, and the facts were simple that his flags had been seen from the walls. The life of his son, and after this convseration the life of himself were over. They would pay with their lives for their crimes, but this didn't have to end the life of poor Donnel. "YOU LIE!" Orsen stepped forward and screamed it at Ondrew. I looked back and saw the pure hatred in my friends eyes, and I was glad that Sasha was there to hold him back, because the two men at arms and Ser Lucas Iron wouldn't have been enough to stop him. "You dare raise your voice at me. Your little better then a farmer." Ondrew raised a little above his usual slouch as he must have been truly angry. "You embaress yourself by your very presence here. You supported a monster instead of supporting the rightful heir to this kingdom and now look at where we are." He chuckled as I spoke and it took every piece of strength I had not to take the sword from my side and stab him through with it. "And what does it say of you that you bring this Lucernian here. There people have burned this kingdom to the ground, and now you stand with one of them in your council?" He looked around at Sasha of whom pulled back from Orsen clearly not wanting him to seem weak by his women holding onto his arm for comfort. "The Lucernians did not burn this land to the ground Lord Locke. Ramsey Snow did that. The man you supported, and the man you betrayed your oaths for has been the one responsible for that." "The words of a traitor is all that I hear." "Then from the lips of a traitor shall your entire family be put to the sword." ``This all goes back to your belief that you can take Lotten.`` I heard Orsen laugh behind me as he said that. There was just no scenario where my forces couldn't take the town, and unless he was completely dillusional there was just no hope for Lotten anymore. "Father the castle will not be able.." Before he could finish his father turned and hushed him. I felt bad for Donnel once again in that moment. I still remembered the boy I had known back in Hornwood when we were boys, and the boy I knew then would have been dying inside knowing he was a part of something as vile as what his family took part in with Domeric. There was a lot of blame to go around, but no matter what way I tried to slice it just never seemed to be a blame that I could place at Donnel's feet.  "Return to Lotten Lord Locke and make your decision. You have until the end of the day, and then I will order the destruction of your castle, and with it everyone inside it.". Ondrew went to speak but Donnel grabbed his arm and whispered once more in his ear, and before another word was said Donnel picked up their white flag and assisted his father in walking back to the gatehouse.

Following the disasterous conversation between Daryn Hornwood, and Ondrew Locke they would return to their respective camps with two completely different ideas of what came next. For Daryn Hornwood he was prepared to launch the siege machines against the castle the next day, and while he hadn't wished to destroy Lotten he now understood that Dorren didn't have the influence neccessary to make his father do what was right. Back in Lotten Ondrew commanded the men under him to prepare the defences of Lotten as he understood that the siege was going to come, but he continued to believe the letter shown to him by Mallador that Ramsey Bolten was nearbye and was preparing to assault the Hornwood's from the side once they moved against Lotten. 

Coup of Lotten

“I'm sorry father that it has come to this moment. I had hoped that you meeting with Daryn would have made you see the hopelessness of where your leading us. I had hoped that you would come to understand that this didn't end in any scenario with you or Mallord escaping free.”

— Donnel Locke

Following the return to Lotten Donnel would meet with several of the lords of House Locke that he had talked to before, and he and Romny would plan about the taking of Lotten during the night as everyone else slept. Using mainly the strength of the two coup partners in House Eastmyr, and House Caliman they would quickly take control of Mallador, and Ondrew Locke and put them into safe places, while at the same time take control of the keep, and the main gatehouse with their forces thus allowing them to hand over the proper prisoners, and to also let in the Hornwoods if it came to it. The Caliman forces would mass and take control of the great keep, as well as the main gatehouse, and while this was happening House Eastmyr would go alongside Donnel where they found Ondrew with Mallador where they were talking in Mallador's room. Seeing his son Donnel enter with Romny Eastmyr fully armored and surrounded by many armed men, Ondrew would emotionally crash and begin weeping. Despite this breakdown Ondrew, and Mallador were taken to the great keep's dungeon, while word was sent outside the town to the Hornwood's about the change.

Fall of Seagard

Main Article : Fall of Seagard

Kingdoms	Side Taken
Divine Lands	Lucerne
Iron Islands	Bolten
Seagard	Neutral
House Frey	Neutral
Kingdom of Dustin	Neutral
White Knife	Lucerne
Harrenhall	Lucerne

“We sailed up the bay, and attacked the unsuspecting fools in the middle of the night. The taking of Seagard and their queen in one fell swoop was a huge gamble but it paid off.”

— Harras Harlaw

With the Ironborn now in line with the forces of Bolten under the new Reaver of Euron Greyjoy they would launch themselves in seemingly all direction but mainly in the direction of Lucerne and their allies. There were few neutral parties and outside of House Frey of whom most believed was waiting to see who was going to win before they chose a side in the war, so that simply left the Kingdom of Seagard of which was a vast kingdom located just east of Westbridge on the eastern side of the Rhine and had been moving towards Lucerne but had remained relatively neutral. The first talks between the Bolten's and the Seagard royalty when extremely poorly after Varish Bolten the weak minded final son of Betha Bolten was sent there as the representative due to the intervention of Jordin Bolten in trying to ruin the Bolten attempts. Varish would try his best but was a less then intelligant young man and even past that was so young that he didn't understand the intricasies of the situation and  through all of this he had little effect and was sent away. Later the Lucernians would send representatives under Oberyn Martell, and Jack Shephard of whom would offer relative auntonamy and simply wanted Seagard to protect their sealanes, and didn't want any kind of offensive ground force unless the situation with Mordor came to fruition.

“Euron may have been a madman, but he had an intelligence that was beyond ninety nine percent of everyone else, and that makes him doubly dangerous to everyone.”

— William Lovie III.

The forces of the Iron Islands would launch a very large force of some one hundred longships against the Kingdom of Seagard without any warning, and led by Asha Greyjoy (of whom was trying to save the life of Maron Greyjoy who had been taken prisoner) and Harras Harlaw alongside many other vassals of House Harlaw they would launch up the Yellowsprite river during the night and landed to the north of Seagard with most of their ships. Of these ships Harras Harlaw would lead some twenty ships and about a thousand further north where they would land and move inland towards the Seatower which was a gigantic Tower that gaurded the northern approach into the area of Seagard. If they took Seatower they would block the escape of the queen from Seagard and on top of that could force defenders away from Seatower itself.  Harras would attack during the night and unprepared for the asssault the tower was taken relatively simply with top level closing a gatehouse which Harras forced them to open by executing a defender of the Seatower every two minutes until the door was opened.

“It seemed to simple that they would raid the Seatower for no reason. I should have trusted my instinct and scoured the seas for more of them before I sent men there. Too late now...”

— Queen Florance Seagard

With the capture of Seatower Queen Florance Seagard would order nearly half the defenders of Seagard to move towards Seatower to defend the tower, and for ships from Seagard to scower the Yellowsprite river for the Ironborn. When night came no word had returned of either force, and as Seagard went to sleep the sounds of fighting filled the streets as the Ironborn fleet landed inside the port. The Queen was rushed by her gaurds to try and get her out of the city, but as they made there way out of the western gate they ran into the destroyed elements of the relief army they had sent out who said that the Ironborn that had taken Seatower had ambushed them and destroyed most of the force. Returning into Seagard she would hide herself in the Keep of Seagard to little avail as the city fell to the Ironborn, and Asha Greyjoy took her personal surrender.

Kidnapping of the Nobles

Asha Greyjoy attacked Seagard not out of desire for power, but to save Maron Greyjoy of whom Euron was holding prisoner to secure her loyalty.

“We had to work quickly before the fall of Seagard was common knowledge.”

— Asha Greyjoy

With Seagard fallen, and the queen under their control alongside many of the nobles Asha Greyjoy would take control of the city, and her first command was that Florance Seagard sent letters to all of her vassals asking for them to send a son to Seagard for a royal tournament where all those participating would be provided with knighthood or if this was unsatisfactory then a royal purse. As Queen Florance Seagard was beloved by the people of Seagard most of the nobles would think nothing of this, and those that did would be vastly outweighed by those that didn't. Ravens returned to Seagard stating acceptance from nearly half the houses while as the days trickled on they got acceptance from some seventy percent of the noble families in Seagard. As these nobles sent their sons, and many times their heirs to Seagard the Seatower was rebuilt of damage by Harras Harlaw and as the nobles passed it on the road to Seagard the Seatower alerted hidden Ironborn troops who would then capture the nobles. Over many weeks nearly dozens of heirs and sons were taken prisoner, but Harlan Wynch would defeat the assembled Ironborn and escape going north up the road where he warned the remaining nobles of the trap and thus halted the attempt. 

Asha had Harras Harlaw controlling the entrance to Seagard while she forced to Florance Seagard to make deals over the control of Seagard.

“Immediatly after hearing of this betrayal the vassals of Seagard arrived at the Seatower, but were blackmailed by the holding of so many of their children into not using their overwhelming forces against the Ironborn.”

— Harlan Wynch

With the capture of their sons now known due to Harlan Wynch the vast forces of Seagard moved against the capital with all speed meeting together on the outskirts of Seatower. As they prepared to march forward they were approached by a party of Ironborn of whom warned them that the Queen alongside fifty seven sons of the nobles were now prisoners of theirs in Seagard. Blackmailed into relenting the army of Seagard would be commanded by Florance to stand down and return to their lands while this was settled, and while most did fearing the death of their son or the queen there were many who had no sons, or who were too angry of whom didn't and for these forces they remained camped at the opening of the Seatower cliffs despite commands to stand down.

Death of Roose Bolten

“It was the final move for Ramsey. He had always wanted to be alone in this family, and he would finally have his wish.”

— Roose Bolten

Following his succesful trip to the Iron Islands and then Mordor Ramsey would return to the port of Dreadfort with the knowledge that he had won the power of two massive armies, and the survival of his rule might now be possible. Deciding that his father was no longer worthy of living he would brag nearly the last few days of the trip that he was going to murder his father, and since most of "Ramsey's Bastards" were loyal to Roose they would send a raven ahead of the ship which told Roose that Ramsey planned to kill him, and asking Roose what they should do. Realizing that he could easily stop the assasination he would instead send no word back, and ordered House Marsh and their vassals to not resist his landing. 

“Everyone in this entire kingdom knew exactly the person that Ramsey was. So while some may be just hateful towards Roose it is a clear distinction. Roose while twisted in the mind wants a genuinly peaceful realm. Ramsey while twisted in the mind cares nothing for the kingdom and just wants to see things burn for no reason more then watching everything die.”

— Daryn Hornwood

At this point with Ramsey entering the port, and along with his men making their way towards the Dreadfort it was Roose that begin to plot the final moments of what he knew to be his life. Roose firstly met with his kingsgard and one by one moved them away from him so that they would not die trying to protect him when Ramsey arrived. Three of the five kingsgard he placted this way by sending them southward to Castle Horgut where they would defend the castle alongside the commanders there. The other two in the form of Sandor Dregane, and Urren Sliten he would send to find Misha Bolten in order to get her out of the city. Wondering where they would go after that Roose told them that they were to go to Hayford and surrender themselves to the Lucernians, and from their swear oaths to Lucerne as protectors of Misha. It was around this point that Ramsey was within a few hours of the city, and thus Roose visited several nobles in the city, and commanded them to leave as well sending many on specific routes that would lead them to be captured by the Lucernian forces. In his final hours waiting for Roose to get to the city he would do these things before he finally sat alone in his throne room having dismissed all of his gaurds and sent away everyone loyal to him.

The Act

“What he did in his final moments cannot make good what he had done before he came to his moral understanding but...but atleast he attempted to make his life somewhat less of a travesty.”

— Daryn Hornwood

Ramsey entered the city to no celebration, and besides the opening of gates, and the stomping of his men beside him the entire city was filled with the sounds of nothing but fear and silence. Ramsey would enter the keep where he found all the gates, and doors ungarded and was in this moment discusted by what he believed was the complete failure in his father. Entering the throne room of his father he would confront him, and make it very clear from the first moment he entered that Roose was going to die. Roose begged him to make him understand why Domeric had to die, and that infuriated Ramsey who couldn't take that Domeric was till being mentioned while in his own mind he had just went on a trip that would save Bolten. Warning his father to stop speaking of Domeric unless he wished to die sooner, his father would move closer grap him by the shoulders and say that his time was over and now he was ready to see his true son again. Upon hearing that Ramsey would murder him, and so filled with rage was he that he obliterated much of his body leaving nothing but tattered remains. Ramsey from this point would crown himself and parade throughout the Dreadfort with his Bastards controlling the resistence that might have been created in the city. As this was going on Sandor Dregane, and Urren Sliten would be forced to hide as they had yet to find Misha Bolten, and because of this they were nearly caught by brigands now swarming to join Ramsey's court. Ramsey at this point attempted to find the Roose loyalists in the city, but discovered that the day he was arriving his father had sent away hundreds of nobles, while sending away his own kingsgard. Naming five of his bastards to the kingsgard he would return to the throne room, and begin ruling over the kingdom he had now stolen from his brother, and then his father.

Conversation Incoming Fairmarket. The Riverlands. Lorderon, and Kul Tiras. Westbridge. All had fallen to our might. All had sworn the sword to the Valley of Lucerne. All that power, and yet I looked north and saw a great demon the likes of which I could not hope to resist. The Empire was the reason for growth. The Empire was the reason for everything we did. The Empire was the land that should have done great things for the world, but instead of this they did nothing. They allowed chaos to breed amongst them, and in that weakeness and failing they threatened to ruin the entire continent.

Watching him walk through the streets was a moment I'll never pull from my mind. He was clad in the bloody pink of his house, and surrounded by the fools he called his bastards. Looking all the part of the monster he dragged the ruined bodies of what I must assume were his enemies behind his chariot as he made his way through the streets. I jumped from rooftop to rooftop following him along his path. An archer carrying the pink flayed man of House Bolten turned and looked down, and I threw a dagger into his head before he knew what had happened. Picking his body up, and pulling him away from sight, I followed the path of the caravan as it made its way to the keep.  Pulling themselves through the gatehouse it closed behind them, and I stabbed a gaurdsmen in his chest as I climbed up the wall to keep up. There was no time to cover this man, but I did my best to hide him behind some bags. He had entered the keep before I was able to catch up, and I walked past the few gaurds that noticed me and my flayed one sigil.  Climbing onto the roof I crawled my way behind the only archer standing this high up and slit his throat before leaving him lieing on the roof. I climbed the tower and made my way inside the keep. Once inside I found a window and watched as Ramsey entered the room. Roose was standing with his back turned as Ramsey entered and the look on Ramsey's face was one of unmistakeable pride. He believed he had won, and the fallen shoulders of Roose told me he was right. "Father it has been some time since I have last seen you." "Your presence at court has been missed. Though fewer of my blood has died while you were away." The bitterness and anger in Roose's voice was so clear it was shocking. For a man who had been defined by everyone I had ever met as a man with little emotion, that was a poignent moment of regret for him. "Did you expect me to leave him alive?" Roose finally turned towards his bastard son, and stared at him with blank eyes. "I expected you would kill your brother but I....I though you..." He remained looking at him for a moment before turning away again and walking towards the book shelf. "Speak Lord Leaches." The manner in which he spoke made me want to pull the dagger from my shirt and throw them at his head. I could do it without question, but then I would have to kill Roose and I would never make it past all the gaurds once those two were dead. "I expected you were atleast intelligent enough to try when we were not fighting a losing war." Pulling out a book of which I couldn't make out Roose stared at it longingly before holding it to his chest. "We are losing because of him." Roose laughed out loud. It was the first time I had heard him laugh, and it was a high pitched near scream as it came from his throat. "Do you honestly believe that?" Roose turned around again and looked at Ramsey of whom shrinked for a moment behind the cold stare of Roose. "It is the truth. He led us into a trap at Koenisburg and even my brilliant retreat was not enough to save us." He spoke with confidence and if you didn't know how the actual battle had went you would have believed his words. I though did know that he had been massacred by the Lannisters at Green Creek, and he had long seperated from Domeric of whom had managed to pull back his entire force, and survived in full strength. "Brilliant retreat was it? My last reports of that battle are still finding bodies. How many nobles did we lose in that battle." "Less then you butchered no further then one hundred steps from the doorway." "I did that to keep the peace. You left me no choice." Roose put the back down and walked towards his throne, and sat himself down looking across at Ramsey. "Niether did Domeric." Roose looke up from the table, and his face was not emotionless in that moment. For a moment, maybe less there was pure hate in his eyes. I saw his hand clench against the table and it looked to be all he could do to not charge at Ramsey. "Do not speak his name." Ramsey laughed breifly before noticing the hate in his eyes and stopped. "You shall hear no argument from me. The failed Bolten is dead and gone, and now I am king." As he said it he puffed out his chest, and I felt embaressed for him. He stood there looking like an idiot, and he had no idea just how big a moron he truly was.  "Your king now?" "You know how this ends father." The second after he said it he pulled his cloak up revealing his dagger from his hip belt and walked towards Roose at his desk. "I knew it the moment you came to stay here." Ramsey stopped after he said it standing in front of his desk.  "You knew I would kill you?" "I knew you were insane." Ramsey moved forward his hand now growing nearer to the dagger that clenched to his hip. If Roose knew that he didn't care, and between that and not noticing it looked to me like he had given up. "Now is not the time to be insulting me. Live out your final moments in peace father."

Strength

Kingdom of Lucerne

Main Article : Kingdom Of Lucerne

The Kingdom of Lucerne would be caught offgaurd during the beggining of the First Bolten-Lucerne War and because of this they had little more then a skeleton force in the Divine Lands where the main fighting was, while their vast forces in Lorderon were stuck at the bridge, and forced to deal with the situation in Arnor. As time went by massive forces were shuttled in using the port of Fairmarket to bypass the unfriendly Trident and over time their numbers have increased dramatically.

Main Forces

Force	Leadership	Strength
House Lannister	Jamie Lannister Tyrek Lannister Stafford Lannister Keven Lannister Lancel Lannister	Jamie Lannister led some twenty thousand troops from Fairmarket and would lead them into Battle. Some forty thousand more forces would assemble and arrive over time where they joined him in attacking northern Bolten.
Divine Lands	Britt Lancave
House Starke	Jon Snow - Commander until he left to go northward. Robb Starke
House Scarlet	Saiden Scarlet
House Menathil

Kingdom of Bolten

Main Article : Kingdom of Bolten