Gold and Steel Session 2

#GoldSteel
	-->|	YOU (antoine) have joined #GoldSteel
	-->|	Staffen (Staffen@sux-90777C3.sub-75-241-164.myvzw.com) has joined #GoldSteel
	-->|	Mir (chatzilla@sux-32582606.bootp.virginia.edu) has joined #GoldSteel
	-->|	Morlok (morlok@sux-FE11AD29.hsd1.il.comcast.net) has joined #GoldSteel
	=-=	Morlok is now known as Jaros
	=-=	Mode #GoldSteel +o antoine by Ryker
	=-=	Mode #GoldSteel -o Ryker by Ryker
	=-=	Staffen is now known as Mercer
	-->|	Draven (Red@32CD0857.8B3879FF.E89C825B.IP) has joined #GoldSteel
	antoine	Your party has just returned from the scouting of the woods, with good results. The men mill about the yard outside the Lord's hall restlessly waiting for the call to march out. Inside the hall, Lord Mercer has just finished talking to his maester as Corbin approaches, hand on his sword's pommel "My lord, should I have the cooks prepare a mid-day meal for the court?"
	=-=	Mir is now known as Martz
	Mercer	turns to the Talon captain.
	Mercer	"Yes, but have a short meal brought out. We may need to leave as soon as the archers return with the word."
	antoine	"Very well, and a light broth for the fighting bo-", he stops himself short, "fighting men outside?"
	Mercer	"Yes, yes, that'll do. Should keep them right and ready to fight. Ration out some bread also for the march."
	antoine	He bows, "It will be done." before sending off a few errand boys to the kitchens
	Martz	talks with Markas in the corner, reviewing what occurred and reviewing mistakes
	Mercer	waits on his meal, pacing around the chamber.
	Ryker	is discussing sword fighting with Jaros in the armoury
	Ryker	"Your foreign dance may be good for cutting off dothraki hair, but against armour there is no substitute for a good hard side strike with the longsword"
	antoine	After a short while the kitchen boys and girls bring out fresh bread, salted fish from The Bite and vegetables from the abundant vale. They set them down on one of the massive, thick oaken tables set in the main hall.
	Draven	begins stretching and working the kinks out of his joints.
	Jaros	"Ha, ha, my blunt friend. While your armor may ward the glancing blow, a precise hit will cut short your life as will a hammer. The dance, after all is about the truth of movement."
	Mercer	sits and rests his arms against the table, waiting on the others.
	Jaros	"And your longsword is able to find the truth as much as a mountain man reading the maester's tomes"
	Martz	waits for Mercer to sit so that he can take at his place at the table and prepares his embroidered bib
	Ryker	laughs
	Martz	"WHO LET THE MOUNTAIN MEN AT MY TOMES?!"
	Martz	cries in a manic shriek
	Jaros	arches an eyebrow and looks as the Maester.
	Jaros	"My maester, I was making a point to the hedge knight. As far as I know, no mountain men have defaced your tomes."
	Martz	brandishes his table knife at the talking duo like a crazed prisoner with a shiv
	Ryker	"hedge knight"
	Martz	"Y-yes. Yes...yes. Good. Good."
	Martz	very slowly shifts back to face the table
	Jaros	looks back at Ryker
	Mercer	eyes the Maester with some degree of worry.
	Jaros	"That is the truth of what you are, yes Ser Ryker?
	Ryker	" i've slept under no hedges, but i'll bury you under one if that is said again"
	Draven	scratches his head at the exchange.
	Jaros	"...should you be able to find one in this mountainous terrain"
	Jaros	laughs
	Mercer	"Sit," the Lord calls.
	Ryker	"I've fought for coin, but I earn every copper of it. Never have I sold my sword before a deed done"
	Draven	follows his lord's order.
	Jaros	"And there is truth in the sword, do not mistake my words. There is truth in violence, a purity of thought and action. I mean no offense."
	Jaros	moves to sit
	Martz	discusses with Joanna the proper way to eat as a lady absentmindedly
	antoine	As the group eats Markas proudly proclaims that "If we find those mountain mice cowering in the forest, I will ride them all down!"
	Ryker	"violence puts food in my mouth and gives me a bed. you'll find plenty here in the west my bravosii friend"
	Jaros	"As evidenced by the young Lord Markas over there. But be aware that choosing to wait for the proper moment sometimes is more effective then the wanton bloodletting sometimes favored by those in the west."
	Martz	does a polite golf clap at Markas' outburst
	Draven	chuckles at the boys proclaimation.
	Jaros	"Such is as the dance embraces."
	Martz	eats some of the bread with oil, deep in thoughts
	Ryker	"when one lives by the sword, as i have for 17 years, he must be careful in the battles he fights"
	Mercer	"You know, the Bravo is right, my son," Mercer notes as bites into a piece of fish. "These aren't just cowardly brigands or criminals, these are savages. Savages, with a hatred for the noble lords of the Vale."
	Jaros	nods in appreciation towards Mercer
	Mercer	"They have accosted our family for centuries. Soon, however, I hope to be rid of them - at least the ones in this area. Maybe they'll wisen up to the danger of the Kestras."
	Martz	slams his tankard on the table heartily in support
	antoine	As you enjoy the fruits of the smallfolk's labour shouts are heard and a small group of archers are brought into the hall by some Talons. They look overly worried.
	Mercer	looks to his daughter, minding the entering troops. "Maester Nochester tells me you tried to follow after us. I appreciate your enthusiasm, my dear, and I know you want to see what I do, but it's too dangerous. For both our sakes, stay behind this time."
	Mercer	stands to greet the archers. "What news do you bring?"
	antoine	"Hundreds of them my Lord" one of them states while he huffs and puffs, "Mountain men on the east slope."
	Jaros	"And it seems the gods answer the young Markas' desire for bloodletting."
	Mercer	looks to the others. "Very well. Assemble the troops." The Lord moves from behind his seat, checking the straps on his breastplate. "Captain Corbin, you are in charge of the defenses in my absence. I'll be taking the 1st and 2nd with me, along with the 3rd Archers."
	antoine	"My lord, you mean to leave the Talons here?"
	Mercer	"I'll take the Talons out myself, but I need someone with a head for command remaining here. Will you be able to manage?"
	antoine	"Of course mi-lord."
	Ryker	"do you want me with the van, milord"
	Ryker	?
	Mercer	"Yes," Mercer calls back as he leaves for the stables. "Yes, join with 1st Infantry."
	Ryker	exits to prepare for battle
	antoine	Markas runs after his father, "Which infantry unit will I lead?"
	Draven	follows the lord Mercer to the stables. "I suppose you'll want me in a unit as well?"
	Mercer	nods to Draven as he mounts his horse. "If you're feeling brave, my friend, go with the Second Infantry."
	Mercer	looks to his son. "My boy, you've still got some time to learn before you lead a unit. I'll show you the way."
	Jaros	approaches the readying men
	Jaros	"Shall I remain with the archers to ensure no stragglers make it through to harrass them?"
	Draven	"Yes sir."
	Mercer	"Do so, Jaros."
	Draven	leaves to join the second infantry.
	Jaros	leaves to join the archers
	antoine	The men form up in ragged columns that march, four men abreast out of the castle.
	antoine	Joanna watches from the Castle walls, looking down on the small host as it moves out.
	Martz	prepares a makeshift hospital for the returning wounded with the household help
	antoine	The men hustle onwards, joking and laughing to stave of nerves and anxiousness. It takes a little over an hour to traverse the grasslands to the forest, when you start marching in the jokes dwindle to nothing.
	antoine	off nerves*
	antoine	Soon you hear the shouts of many men, down the slope you spot a small mob of mountain clansmen, shouting and hooting when they spot you.
	antoine	The mob is lead by a huge bear of a man. He stands head and shoulders above his fellows, wielding a warhammer and a towershield as deftly as a maester wields as quill. As you form up into a battle formation he shouts and hollers at you and his men, inciting them to courage with his loud bellows.
	Mercer	"First Infantry, make ready! Forwards!"
	antoine	The men walk forward, somewhat worried but happy at outnumbering the enemy three to one
	Mercer	waves with his hand as First Infantry advances. "Second Infantry, make ready! Forwards!"
	Jaros	"Brigands on our flank!"
	antoine	Suddenly a rain of arrows erupts from the ambushers, they fall amoungst the 3rd archery with cries of pain coming from them.
	Mercer	turns his head. "Stand fast! First Infantry, turn to respond!"
	antoine	The First infantry quickly wheel to the left to face the new threat
	antoine	The Mountain men start running up the slope at a sprint to try and catch you.
	Mercer	"First Infantry! Charge!"
	Mercer	turns his horse around. "Archers, turn to respond!"
	Mercer	"Loose!"
	Mercer	"Keep hitting them, Archers! Loose!"
	antoine	A flurry of arrows fly up past Jaros to settle on the ambushers, disorganizing the rabble to your north with the powerful longbows.
	antoine	They fire back but the shots are poor and hit more trees than men.
	Mercer	"They're cracking! Loose, men! Keep it up!"
	antoine	The men turn and run, dropping hunting bows and fleeing for their lives as the steel rain pours on them.
	Mercer	"Excellent work, archers! Second Infantry, turn left!"
	Mercer	"Archers! Turn right!"
	antoine	Cheers go up from them as they reform to face the main threat.
	Mercer	"Second Infantry, march!"
	Mercer	"First Infantry, turn right!"
	Ryker	"right forward, men !"
	Mercer	"Second Infantry, turn right! Be ready for that mountain filth!"
	antoine	They are close now, they shout and bay at you as the massive man with the tower shield and warhammer clashes his weapons together in glee.
	Mercer	"Archers, open fire on the savages!"
	antoine	The shots pluck away men from the sides and a few from the front while the massive man has several more arrows set in his shield.
	antoine	The great horde smashes into Draven's unit, the hammer and club wielding savages tear at the shields and armour of their foes in mortal combat.
	Mercer	"Hold fast, Second Infantry!" Lord Kestra calls out. "Respond in kind to their petty blades!"
	antoine	The men lock shields and slash with their swords as Draven uses his whip to pull individuals out of the melee before beating in their skulls with his fists.
	Mercer	"Second Infantry, close your ranks and block them out with your shields!"
	Mercer	"First Infantry, advance ten yards!"
	Mercer	"First Infantry, turn to face the foe!"
	antoine	Ryker has the men bring the Infantry into line with the enemies ranks
	Ryker	"make ready,prepare to attack"
	Mercer	trots along atop his horse in a circling pace. "Second Infantry, keep your shields up, respond to their attack!"
	Mercer	smiles as the mountain clansmen turn. "Excellent work, soldiers!"
	Ryker	"cut them down!!, let none escape!!!"
	antoine	As Ryker's unit runs down the fleeing savages the massive giant turns and points at the hedge knight. "Pretty armour little valeman, Logar will have that, and your head!" He brings up his warhammer high above his head to strike down on you.
	Ryker	answers the greatman's challenge to single combat, as he sees the warhammer slowly rise to sunder his armour he makes an excellent swipe into his arm
	antoine	The man growls, blood soaked dreadlocks whirling around him as he scrapes Rykers armour with his warhammer.
	Ryker	is shaken by the glancing blow with the hammer, but it spurs him to attack with even more vigor than his first strike. The greatman's head is cut clean off.
	antoine	The last of the men are hacked down or fleeing, the infantry look quite pleased with themselves while the archers are reforming from the ranged exchange with the routed enemy archers. Further down the mountain you find a camp with freshly killed meat and trinkets looted from the warbands bloody ravaging of the Vale. The men go about looting the field of battle. mostly discarding the clubs...
	antoine	...but many archers take hunting bows to sell at market.