House Locke is a medium sized Gothic House located within the Kingdom of Bolten, and dominating the town of Lotten. House Locke would found the small town of Lotten after they were forced to leave Hornwood, and they have cultivated these lands ever since.
House Locke is known to blazon their banner as two bronze keys crossed over a white pale on purple, and they use this same color scheme throughout their house. House Locke has the words "The woods are filled with liars" and this has to do with their ancient blood feud with House Hornwood.
House Locke would enter the lands of Westros when their master in House Hornwood founded the town of Hornwood and made them one of their vassals. House Locke would be somewhat forgotten by the leadership of House Hornwood and this would breed contempt from the leadership of House Locke which culminated in their joining into league with House Bolten. When the Kingdom of Bolten invaded the lands of House Hornwood it was the betrayal of House Locke that would allow the bolten forces to enter Hornwood. During the sacking that followed they would kill several members of House Hornwood and this has led to a generation long blood fued between the two houses.
History
Early History
House Locke would enter the lands of Westros when their master in House Hornwood founded the town of Hornwood and made them one of their vassals. House Locke would be somewhat forgotten by the leadership of House Hornwood and this would breed contempt from the leadership of House Locke which culminated in their joining into league with House Bolten. When the Kingdom of Bolten invaded the lands of House Hornwood it was the betrayal of House Locke that would allow the bolten forces to enter Hornwood. During the sacking that followed they would kill several members of House Hornwood and this has led to a generation long blood fued between the two houses.
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."
"The Kingdom of Bolten was the first time we were ever met agressively by an oponent, and at first we were shocked at their actions. I determined quickly that they had to be stopped at any cost, and this led to our promise to defend our two major allies in the region, and a massive influx of our troops into the region."
-William Lovie III.
With the taking of Westbrige the region of Bolten became more interested in its own growth and in particular they really wanted to get the Lucernian army involved in pitch battles which they had the numbers to survive. In order to do this they begin threatening several allies of Lucerne in western Westros in the form of Koenisburg, and the town of Jeutenburg. While these threats rancheted up the Kingdom of Lucerne did exactly what the Boltens hoped they would do when they brought huge forces to bear on the defences of the Westros river crossing of Levin. The Lucernians also made it known that any action taken against their allies in Koenisburg, or Jeutenburg would be deemed a decleration of war against Lucerne itself. This promice to defend meant a lot to the two towns, and most believed that with that the conflict would be ended before any blood was spilled. This idea changed quickly when the Kingdom of Bolten sacked Jeutenburg in a massive siege that took place in the guise of a peace mission.
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.
“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.
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.
“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.”
The Siege of Hornwood There was a time father when we were good people. We don't have to keep hostages to stay in power. We don't have to murder children. We can do what is right. We can be strong, and just and not lose our souls. Let me start our redemption. Let me make the first shot.
“You look at me now with this look of confusion. Why are you confused? The world was always going to burn. I was always going to be the one to burn it all down.”
— Ramsey Bolten
Following the return of Ramsey Bolten to Karhold following his disastrous defeat the Battle of Green Creek he would become obsessed with finally ending his brother of whom he believed had commanded Jordin to betray him. This hate and feeling of betrayal would lead him summon Ondrew Locke to his living quarters where he would tell lies to Ondrew about Domeric's part in the death of Ondrew's nephew, and brother during the Battle of Green Creek. Using this lie he would be able to convince Ondrew Locke to lay siege to Hornwood the largest city of the east in order to eventually draw in Domeric Bolten where they would kill him. Following Ondrew returning to his lands and marshalling his forces he would put Hornwood under siege without warning, but its defenses 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 assistance from the Dreadfort 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.
“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
With Roose Bolten accepting that his son was heading south to relieve Hornwood he would be contacted by raven by Rickard Karstarke of whom told him that Ramsey was alive and had briefly been in Karhold before leaving the city taking with him a sizeable military force. Immediatly realizing what might be happening Roose 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 for fear of his own death. 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.
The Hornwood Rebellion You could only act like madmen for so long before the honorable men of this land turned on you.
“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.
