AtMC – Recuperation (open)

[Kevan Lyras]

[Meant as the RP thread after the warfare threads for all present characters from both battles]

Kevan took the waterskin one of the Marsten squires handed him and took a long sip. The battle was finally over, a few of the warriors were still busy chasing after fleeing survivors, but the fighting had mostly ceased. The Marsten knight was slowly walking through individual groups of his men, toward the small improvised camp, where a small pavillion had been constructed, looking for the commanders of the various allied forces.

[Yoren longshore]

Looking rather bloody from the fight, Yoren arrives from around a corner, greeting Kevsn amiably: "
Kevan! Congratulations on your victory, well commanded."
He gives the compliment seriously before continuing onwards smilingly: "
Though this was nothing like the stepstones, eh?"

[Reader]

[Meant as the RP thread after the warfare threads for all present characters from both battles]

Kevan took the waterskin one of the Marsten squires handed him and took a long sip. The battle was finally over, a few of the warriors were still busy chasing after fleeing survivors, but the fighting had mostly ceased. The Marsten knight was slowly walking through individual groups of his men, toward the small improvised camp, where a small pavillion had been constructed, looking for the commanders of the various allied forces.

Everywhere Ser Kevan stepped, men stood to attention and saluted. House Marsten's Keeper of the Gate had proved himself not just a dangerous personal combatant but an inspiring leader and sound tactician.

The Lyras battlecry went up as he moved through the camp, but unusually it was not heard from Lyras men alone but Kriegars and Marstens too.

"
The Sun Defiant! The Sun Defiant! Lyras for Marsten!"

[Ser Jorah Holt]

Ser Jorah walked among the resting soldiers on his way to the Commander's pavilion, first making sure that a proper watch had been set. Whilst the clans had been defeated in battle, he had seen the damage that a night raid and burning camp could do on the unwary. Some of the Coldbrook garrison, Tullison Mountaineers and Lord Kreigar's men shared the watch as they were the most observant and likely to spot potential intruders.

He passed Garret drinking with the men, especially the Bodyguard that he had commanded effectively in the field. Jorah approved;
at some point soon, Garret would in charge of one of the units and the more he commanded their respect the better.

He entered the Commander's pavilion and greeted the two commanders present.

"
Ser Kevan, Lord Yoren, I trust you are both well."
He put out his hand to shake Ser Kevan's, "
you did well out there today. We won and your people are certainly a lot safer after today's efforts."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Once news reaches Hartshorn castle of the victory over the clansmen, Lady Corrine rides out with a small guard, despite being heavily pregnant, to congratulate the soldiers personally, and to ensure that the mercenaries only take as much loot as was agreed by Edmund.

Her horse trots confidently into the camp, and her guards help her dismount. She is modestly clothed and cloaked in dark blue wool, shielded well from the cold air, though the chill of riding against the wind has brought a pink flush to her cheeks. She approaches the command tent, her guards in tow.

[Kevan Lyras]

As Kevan sees Yoren, he raises his hand. "
Yoren, thanks I am happy this is over. How are your archers? I feel like I could have done better to avoid that they got exposed to the clan raiders. They fought very well and we will make sure that their role in this battle is not forgotten!"


[1 glory from the battle allocated to Longshores. The other is not yet decided]

As Jorah approached, he turned around to greet him. "
Thank you, Jorah, it wouldnt have been so easy without your soldiers. I hope Ben is as successful as we were and your statement becomes true. These smallfolks deserve any peace they can get..."

[Ser Jorah Holt]

"
Lord Coldbrook has always believed in keeping our troops highly trained and effective, as proven today. Everybody deserves peace, but I worry that today's battle was the precursor something worse."

[Kevan Lyras]

"
After today's battles, the clans won't be a problem for the immediate future. They lost too many men today to continue their guerilla war, even if some of the fleeing groups escape our cavalry back to the higher regions of the mountains...."
He looked up to the Bull's peak,before continuing. "
To be honest, I have had similar thoughts, ever since we returned from Riverrun a couple of months ago. Just thinking back to the riots in the last night, too many of the nobles present were happy to go for each others throat taking even under the slightest pretense. Anyway, how have your past months been? I heard there was some progress regarding the faith militant cells?"


As Lady Corrine arrives, he waves at her, to join him and the other commanders present. "
Lady Marsten, I am not so sure your husband would appreciate you riding through a battlefield with nothing but a few guards. The clans may be broken, but broken men often are the most dangerous..."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

[quote="
Kevan Lyras]

As Lady Corrine arrives, he waves at her, to join him and the other commanders present. "
Lady Marsten, I am not so sure your husband would appreciate you riding through a battlefield with nothing but a few guards. The clans may be broken, but broken men often are the most dangerous..."
[/quote]

Corrine approaches Ser Kevan and Ser Jorah with a broad smile when called to;


"
Sers! Congratulations on your victory! How have we fared?"

[Yoren longshore]

"
They're mostly good, though I doubt they'll be volunteering for you anytime soon."
Yoren halts for a second before continuing more soberly: "
a few casualties, some more won't see tomorrow, but most will be fine... though for each man there's someone left behind..."
Patting Kevan on the back he tells him: "
You did your best, and I think that you scared the clansmen off."


As they start to talk of the nobles Yoren stands back, listening. When Corrine shows he waves to her with a smile, though he keeps still.

[Kevan Lyras]

"
Sers! Congratulations on your victory! How have we fared?"

"
We lost a few men. My brother's Sunguard and Yoren's archers suffered the most losses. But overall, we can probably call it a success. However, we have no word yet from your husband. Our scouts mentioned two clan armies approaching this morning and Ser Ben took half our men to confront them in the ringing hills..."


He strokes his beard
"
I am glad this is over. The mercenary archers are back there behind the tent. They have already laid claim on half the equipment we acquired from the fallen clans men. None of these archers were even touched by blade or arrow, but I guess we will have to uphold our negotiated pay none the less..."

[Ser Jorah Holt]

"
After today's battles, the clans won't be a problem for the immediate future. They lost too many men today to continue their guerilla war, even if some of the fleeing groups escape our cavalry back to the higher regions of the mountains...."
He looked up to the Bull's peak,before continuing. "
To be honest, I have had similar thoughts, ever since we returned from Riverrun a couple of months ago. Just thinking back to the riots in the last night, too many of the nobles present were happy to go for each others throat taking even under the slightest pretense. Anyway, how have your past months been? I heard there was some progress regarding the faith militant cells?"

“Garret and I were able to track down a cache of armour in Sulla, where we caught some of their men and one of their remaining commanders, a foul knight called Ser Duncan Haighs. “ Ser Jorah looked a little down as he spoke, feeling the loss of his men, “we lost a couple of good men, but we hurt them more. We’ve been pushing them into a corner, so I expect a reaction soon.”

As Lady Corrine Marsten entered the pavilion
“Lady Corrine,” Ser Jorah bowed, bringing his head low enough down to realise how pregnant she is, “a pleasure to see you again and it would seem some congratulations are in order.

As Lady Corrine arrives, he waves at her, to join him and the other commanders present. "
Lady Marsten, I am not so sure your husband would appreciate you riding through a battlefield with nothing but a few guards. The clans may be broken, but broken men often are the most dangerous..."

“Well, the Lady is safer here than on the road now,” Ser Jorah attempted to calm any potential argument, though he shot Ser Kevan a private look that said he agreed, "
I am sure that if the Lady were to travel home separately to the main army, she would have a fine escort."

ooc
I’m presuming he wouldn’t necessarily know as he’s been travelling a lot and missed any announcement

[Loreia]

While having her armor hammered into shape, the Marsten flag catches Loreia's eye. Not much later than strapping it back on, and taking a sip from a cup of water, does she notice a heavy figure passing through the camp. On closer scrutiny, she realizes the individual is visibly expectant, and putting two and two together, she leaves her cup to go and meet the lady. Loreia barely misses her as soldiers part for the accompanying guards, confirming the identity of the person she took notice of. She nears just as the occupants are discussing her safety, receiving a welcoming look from Yoren.

“Well, the Lady is safer here than on the road now,” Ser Jorah attempted to calm any potential argument, though he shot Ser Kevan a private look that said he agreed, "
I am sure that if the Lady were to travel home separately to the main army, she would have a fine escort."

"
We'll watch the clansmen like hawks, they'd be very wise not to start any trouble, not while I'm around,"
she interjects, and salutes Corrine.

"
I am glad this is over. The mercenary archers are back there behind the tent. They have already laid claim on half the equipment we acquired from the fallen clans men. None of these archers were even touched by blade or arrow, but I guess we will have to uphold our negotiated pay none the less..."

"
We'd have more spoils to feel good about keepin', if we'd sent other armies after the ones who fled from the beginning,"
she contends. "
We held back when we should've pushed."


I take it from Kevan looking up at the peak that we're outside the tent then?

[Kevan Lyras]

Kevan listened intently as Jorah reflected on his adventure in Sulla. "
I am glad you made progress wiping out these zealots. So you and Garret make quite a good team as the Coldbrook's martial leaders, as you proved today as well. No wonder your soldiers are that well drilled..."


At Loreia's comment, he breaks into a smile "
Guardwoman! I am glad you made it through without a scratch. Some of our men are out there right now hunting the fleeing survivors, but you are right, we could have gone after them more aggressively, when they ran. However, I was focusing on suffering as few casualties as possible. What good are a few more dead clan warriors, when our own soldiers suffer even more for it..?"

That last point should have special importance to her, as she was fighting there in the first row...

I’m presuming he wouldn’t necessarily know as he’s been travelling a lot and missed any announcement

Completely fine, I just wanted give you the option to jump to details directly, without having to give a summary of your offeason activities :;
):

I take it from Kevan looking up at the peak that we're outside the tent then?

Yeah, I imagined the tent to be a simple construction with only a "
roof"
to provide cover from the sun, but now "
walls"
, so one can see everything going on outside/inside (depending on perspective)

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Losses are always regrettable, but their sacrifice has not been in vain,"
Corrine answers Kevan solemnly. "
You have all secured this area for at least a generation. I commend you all on your valour,"
she adds, giving both Kevan and Jorah warm smiles. "
As for the mercenaries, I do intend to uphold our deal. I will not have it said that House Marsten is not a forthright and honourable House. However, I would like to see how the spoils have been shared out for myself. By the same token, I shall not have it said that House Marsten can be gouged."


Just then, she notices Loreia's approach;


"
Loreia! It is good to see you again. A fine victory today, I congratulate you."

[Loreia]

Loreia nods curtly to Corrine's greeting, visibly torn between catching up with her and bringing her grievance to the war table.

At Loreia's comment, he breaks into a smile "
Guardwoman! I am glad you made it through without a scratch. Some of our men are out there right now hunting the fleeing survivors, but you are right, we could have gone after them more aggressively, when they ran. However, I was focusing on suffering as few casualties as possible. What good are a few more dead clan warriors, when our own soldiers suffer even more for it..?"

That last point should have special importance to her, as she was fighting there in the first row...

"
Not enough, on our part. I'll pray for their capture, but I'd be happy to know that none of them escaped justice."


OOC: I looked through the Bull's Peak thread for anything Coldbrook troops contributed to, and found something(a couple things, actually)! So this will not be as confrontational as I planned(I imagine I'd get shot down by Jorah if it escalated, though).

OOC: In fact, upon further debate, her issue with the use of Coldbrook troops will be more petty than I thought.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine nods slowly at Loreia's words, though unsure what to make of them.

[url=Awareness - Empathy][/url]: 4d6k3 17

"
Do we have a rough count of prisoners yet?"
Corrine asks, glancing at Kevan.

[Ser Jorah Holt]

Ser Jorah gave Loreia a funny look, wondering what she was on about. Their troops had broken two of their units and had fought more than any of the infantry.

"
There wasn't a lot of survivors,"
Jorah explained, "
they either routed or their numbers were so decimated, there were only a few of them to capture."

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben approaches the open tent at a brisk walk, his squire Willum at his side grinning proudly. Aside from his sweat drenched hair and bloody greaves he appears unscathed. Ben's crooked grin matches that of his squire. He seems alive and filled with electricity.

He scans the men and women in the tent giving each a triumphant nod before his eyes fall onto his wife and unborn child. A moment of anger and concern passes his across his face. It is replaced by a joy and hunger easily evident.

[Ser Jorah Holt]

"
Lord Marsten, glad to see you are well. I am guessing your battle was a success."

[Benedict Marsten]

Turning his gaze from Corrine he looks to Jorah. "
Unfortunately Lord Dulvers men took the brunt of the clan damage, but yes they have been brought low. Ser Markus is rounding up survivors."


Ben takes a second to look out over the camp. "
Were there heavy casualties here? "

[Ser Jorah Holt]

"
We lost a few men in the fighting, but no substantial losses. Between our archers and infantry, we routed or destroyed the clansmen quite quickly."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine beams glowingly to see Ben arrive, though her eyes quickly scan over him for injuries as she sweeps over to him. She keeps herself restrained, only taking his hands and kissing his cheek.

An emotional public display will not look good for me as a ruler.

"
I am glad you are alright,"
she says to Ben, gratefully, squeezing his hands.

[Kevan Lyras]

"
Ben, glad to see you without a dent!"
Kevan shouts with a smile, as his Lord approached, as the tension he felt for most of the day finally subsided.

[Loreia]

Loreia smiles with relief to see Ben return safe with no more than a few scratches. It fades just as quickly. With an marked absence of color in her voice, she adds, "
I s'pose you can call this whole campaign an overwhelmin' success, nevermind the ones who got away."

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