Battle: Westeros Alliance vs Dothraki Horde

[NPC]

Westeros Alliance Forces
74,109

vs

Dothraki Horde
40,000

*****

By the time the Westeros army had caught up with the Dothraki Horde they had finished their pillaging and burning of the now ruined Maidenpool. It was on the wide plains where the armies spotting each other. The forty thousand strong warband of howlers showed no fear to the size of the force against them, instead starting riding straight towards fresh battle.

There was little in the area that might be used to take advantage of, no major hills or wooded land. It was a grassy plain as far as the eye could see but for mountains or woods in the far distance. There was some tall grass in parts, but even kneeling down a man would be obvious at a distance close enough to be hit by arrow.

The horde was out of range for now, but it was moving in and it was moving fast. The proud Westerosi Commanders had no time to set up defenses, only to prepare their own attack.

[Torin Lannister]

Ser Torin Lannister rode atop his powerfully built steed, he had drawn his sword now and it was gripped tightly in one hand. It had been drawn since the Dothraki were spotted. He had only a pair of Knights with him, but they were at his either side. Ready to guard the Lion or charge with him.

"Pikemen, run the front line, tight formation." Torin's pikemen knew their formations. Fully half the pikemen, two hundred in total from the front line. Pike's held up in preparation to strike down any charging horsemen. They were shoulder to shoulder, packed in tight. Behind this front row the second row lined up, where the shoulders met of each pair of pikemen in the front row, one of the back row would ready his pike. This left as little space as possible for an enemy charge to break the line.

"Mountainmen!, loose formation, stand ready at the second line." The mighty mountainmen, five thousand strong! They were his shocktroops, if the pikemen could halt the charge then they would start their bloody butcher work and show those Dothraki horse eaters real savagery! If not they would be the meat shield between the enemy and the proper Lannister swordsmen, the backbone of his army. "On the order to charge, tighten your ranks. Allow them no space! Take from them movement then take from them their lives!" They were better trained then their brothers left behind in The Vale, Torin had seen to that. They would slaughter once they could.

"Archers, loose formation. Position behind the Mountainmen and prepare to fire at will on my command." They were a safe distance back. The Pikemen and Mountainmen would be exposed to Dothraki bows before the archers could counter fire, but the Mountainmen were needed up front to close the distance as soon as they were needed.

"Swordsmen, at the rear. Loose formation. Support the Mountainmen at your front. On my command to charge tighten your formation!" He didn't need to explain why to them, they knew the story. They had done the drills and and run the practice the Mountain men lacked.

"Horsemen, behind me on the flank! Prepare for spear formation charge." It would be a costly move to charge the enemy but Torin's horsemen were better trained then the usual cavalry, perhaps enough to make them effective at smashing a gaping hole into the enemy. They moved up onto the left flank of the Mountain men's front row, behind where Torin was running Command.

[Deleted]

Sending no fellow Knights to the battle was a grave mistake made by Lord Mace. His son would have nobody to trust fully out of his eleven thousand plus men. Thus, he was formally screwed and had no intentions of making this battle worse than it already was going to be. The worst part, even worse than the lack of Knights, was his lack of pikemen. There was nobody to hold off a charge, the men of the Reach would take heavy losses, to say the least.


His force was the reserve, the spot he wanted. His men were the most recent to arrive, so they needed to stay back the most.

"Swordsmen, you are to take up with Ser Torin's swords, protect the front and let nobody through, most importantly, follow your orders, the man is a good commander, he will do you well." This battle would be won by keeping the horselords at a range, if they came up close his men would all die, that was certain.

"Horsemen, stay with me until I give you orders to split. His horse would be at a disadvantage, the Dothraki were much better on horse, that was certain.

As he had thought, the archers would make the difference. They had a plain line of sight, and 5,000 arrows each volley were bound to land more than a few hits. "ARCHERS, behind the main force! If any of the horselords are coming at the men of the Reach head on or trying to flank, especially if they are trying to flank, FIRE at will! The more you take out the better! In general, fire at will once they are in range. Take into account their speed, otherwise just fire and you will hit. They wear no armor, so a hit on a man is just as good as a hit on a horse!" These men would have to follow his words, they were the only way at victory.

"We may not have pikes, men, but we have arrows that will take them out from the sky. Five thousand arrows are bound to hit 1000 riders every time! Bring honor to us!" And so his men ran to get to their spots while he sat on his horse wearing his full plate masterwork armor, only so they could await the imminent battle. His men would just have to wait (besides the archers) till the time was right to move up.

OOC: barring Ser Torin's acceptance of the control of my 3000 horsemen.

[Lena Arryn]

Riding out on her midnight black stallion Lena rode next to her husband.
"We have all agreed to keep the riders at bay with archers." She said grimly. "But surly we can not get close enough for real battle with arrows landing among our men."
Her horsemen were in formation, Knights of the at their lead.
She had no pikemen to bring, no archers either, Emre would be coming with the larger portion of the Eyrie's forces, she'd have to make due with her own personal command- part of it any how.

"What do you propose we do?" She asked Torin, her blue eyes searching his face for a glimmer of valor. She was just as soon charge head long on horseback rather than sit in the back and give commands, but she knew that was slaughter.

[carrow]

Drane was no coward, he had fought hard in the past and risked his life, but he was not too concerned with notions of bravery or honour, he was more concerned with winning. He stood surrounded by a few knights and some of his horsemen. House Carrow had always focused its resources on its knights and horsemen, the house had been created because of his ancestors skill at a tourney and they had always remembered this. He had delegated command of his other forces to trusted subordinates, leaving his best horsemen under his command.

Drane brought his horsemen forward, when the battle was won, no one could saw House Carrow had not done it's part. He kept his men on edge, waiting for the right opportunity to charge forward into the Dothraki. All around him arrows were being relentlessly launched at the Dothraki, trying to do as much damage and keep them at a distance. Drane saw his opportunity, "Forward!" he yelled out and he and his horsemen rushed forward at the Dothraki.

[drennan]

The Bear had shook his head all the way back to his own half constructed encampment, quick words being exchanged with the commanders that attended him. The order being given to abandon camp and make ready for war soon spread through the men as they made their preparations. Fires and cooking pots were abandoned as armour was strapped and fastend and weapons checked and double checked. Archers shouldered their bows and filled their quivers to the brim not knowing when they might be able to replenish their ammuntion again once they had begun to march.

It hadn't taken them long to catch up with the other forces, watching them spread out their lines and settle into their battle formations. His own men moved to the right of Ser Torins formations, settling into place to provide support should their flanks become exposed. Despite having no pikemen of his own Lord Breaoc was in high spirits, joining the 2000 voices that sang out as they formed up. His archers took up their position to the rear of the lines, some 200 wide and 5 deep, each knowing that with so many targets, rate of fire and not not aim so much would help determine their fates today. Each went about striking their arrows into the ground infront of them, freeing themselves of the weight of their quivers and reducing the time it would take to notch another arrow. The song they sang loudly and with a sense of pride wasn't one that would be known much beyond the walls of the Rest but it was one that every man under the Bear knew. The song of Thorsten and the rise of House Breaoc all those years ago, and of the many songs they knew and sang this was one they loved the most. With the last verse coming to an end the mountainmen that followed Lord Breaoc moved into position ahead of their archers, forming a wall of armour and steel between them and the approaching horsemen.

At the command of a seargent a single arrow loosed and soared over the battlefield, the long red ribbon on it trailing in the wind before it struck the ground, the tail fluttering in the breeze some 600 feet away from the line,

"MARK AND FIRE WHEN IN RANGE" The vetern archers words were clear, they knew their range and their target now it was just a matter of waiting for them to close so not a shot would be wasted.

There was little time for pleasentries with the other commanders but the Bear made on final salute towards Ser Torin and Lady Lena, his huge axe hefted high in one hand as though it weighed nothing before turning to his men with a wide grin his voice loud enough to make himself heard over the murmuring of his own troops,

"They should have brought more men ay lads?"

He chuckled, a sound that was taken up by the men who had already joined the Bear in battle before, those new recruits however looked around, a little uneasy as the mass horde approached them from the front. Drennan turned and swung his axe out infront of him, holding the haft halfway down in his massive hand, pointing out across the plains, the smile vanishing from his face replaced with a cold hard stare,

"MEN OF THE REST! BROTHERS! THESE WHORESONS COME TO OUR LANDS TO RAPE OUR WOMEN AND STEAL WHAT IS OURS!"

He let his words sink in for a momebnt, never turning back his eyes locked on thew charging Dothraki across the plains, already feeling the vibration under foot as 40,000 horses thundered towards them,

"THEY COME SEEKING WAR! WELL I SAY THEY HAVE FOUND IT!"

There was a ripple of laughter and agreement,

"LETS SHOW THEM THE HOSPITALITY OF THE WESTEROSI AND SEND THE HORSE LOVING BASTARDS TO MEET THEIR ANCESTORS!"

A cheer rose from the personal guard of the Bear, quickly being taken up by the rest of his forces, as weapons struck shields or other weapons and booted feet stamped against the ground,

Lord Breaoc, Master of Bears Rest lifted his axe high and raised his voice above the din his soldiers made, his roaring battle cry being taken up by all.

"GLORY AND DEATH!"

While the mountainmen worked themselves into a frenzy, barely being held in line by the more experienced of their numbers, the archers worked to calm themselves and prepared their first volley to bring death to the invaders.

It was going to be a long day...

[triminac]

Unlike the other lords(well, at least in Lord Antaryon's mind) Kharjo was no fool. He wasn't about to march into war with no strategy. Sure, rushing into battle with all of your men would probably result in heavy immediate kills, but also heavy immediate casualties. And with a force of warriors that far outstrips your own, it seems unlike you would walk out the victor. No, Kharjo was going to play it safe and smart, and get as many of his soldiers home as possible. That said, he wasn't a coward either, he wasn't going to sit back and wait until both sides have decimated each other then rush in, he would march but he wasn't going to waste his soldiers' energy by charging. So as soon as he thought of his strategy he had mobilized his men(they didn't have a whole lot of time to settle anyways) and the marched besidesp the men of Lord Drennan Breaoc, currently the only lord he mildly respected. For twenty minutes or so they marched in silence, listening to the choir of thousands whose voices rang in their ears. Annoyed by the others' comradery, for his men were marching in time just fine, Lord Amtaryon rode into the center of his soldiers, Ser Dato'Ra and Ser Azzadah behind him.

"Dead men sing no songs! Are you dead men?! Let us march us brothers!"

"Yes Sir!" Roared the crowd of soldiers within earshot, much to the confusion if those who were not. Those in the center began to sing their own chants, the Children of Braavos and what started out as a small circle of voices grew to a massive choir that rang out into the air.

By the time the Dothraki were in view, the Antaryon Army was already in the correct position, no need to organize with the enemy so close. The pikemen formed a semi-circular wall as the van so that even if the Dothraki chose to ride around they still had a long way to go. They marched with their pikes still raised so they could still march. They were followed by the archers, trying to get the farthest range possible. The archers marched in many lines with spaces separating each line. In each space fell the militiamen. For when the Dothraki got too close, the archers were to use the lines to fall back while the militia fell into place forming a second wall of soldiers. All of the archers that were first in each line were to remain in their places,however. They would move to the small space in between each pikemen stack and fire their arrows more directly into the Dothraki hordes for a more accurate shot. The archers who fell back were to use the previous method of firing high into the sky in clusters and simply hoping the clusters would do the most damage possible and keep the hordes at bay. After the militia marched his swordsman to supply a third wall of defense.Behind the swordsman were the horsemen, for if the Dothraki had somehow managed to cut through all of his ranks his horsemen, being considerably less fatigued, should have a chance at defeating them. Finally, as Kharjo's last defense, the Myrmidons, his best and most well equipped fighters to hold off the rest of the hordes,for if every single one of his soldiers save the Myrmidons had been defeated, it was likely they were going to all be eradicated and so the Myrmidons would provide his defense as he retreated.

The Dothraki were finally within range for his archers to hail down their arrows, and so the commanders sounded their horns and the arrows , whose heads were sitting in oil, we're set ablaze and let loose into the air, descending towards the savages. Only the first few volleys were lit with fire for they did not wish to set those that were foolish enough to rush in on fire.This was it, today they would see the skill of the Antaryon Army, and no longer would they mock him, no longer would they look down on him.

(Drane, what was the "opportunity" your character saw that made him rush forward?)

[NPC]

When the archers of Lord Kharjo Antaryon fired their opening volley they hit only grass, dotting the area around where Drennan Breaoc's distance marking arrow had landed. Drane Carrow however was riding out hard and fast. Eight hundred horsemen and their Lord riding ahead of all others.

The eight hundred charged against forty thousand, quickly closing the distance between each other. As the distance was closed the Dothraki, who's bows could out reach a Westeros Archer took aim of the Horsemen coming against them. A volley from the first wave of Howling Screamers soared through the air and came down like rain. Some of Carrow's riders were not as lucky or as agile as their brothers.

As the distance was closed further, the savage Horselords passed the fluttering cloth upon the arrow to mark distance. Now they were within reach of the many archers the Westeros Commanders had brought to battle.

(Update Notes:
Drane Carrow Horsemen casualties: 27
Archers in line with Drennan Breaoc's are now within range to target the Dothraki
Drane Carrow will be within distance to reach the Dothraki in his next post

Also, Kharjo. Flaming arrows are less then common in Westeros, Staff have decided to leave it out for now. It may become an application of 'Improved Weapons' for Archers in time)

[triminac]

Marking!How could forget to mark the range! More importantly, why did no one remind him to mark the range?! Kharjo cursed everyone and everything under the sun. He was about ready to start throwing a fit, not so much over the wasted arrows, but that he may look the fool to the other Lords and Sers.

"Calm yourself, milord. Anger will only cloud your judgement.Besides, the flames and arrows should be able cause the horses some distress, it was likely not all for not."Ser Azzadah placed his hand over Lord Antaryon's shoulder and tried to hold the shaking boy still. Still, his rage did not waiver. The only thing that brought him comfort was the fact that Drane Carrow so foolishly sent his soldiers into the ranks of the Dothraki, 800 to 40,000. He did not feel any sympathy for the coming death of Lord Carrow, instead he felt sorry for the men who were forced to follow him to their deaths. Worse, if each army released there arrows now, there was a chance some strays could hit the Carrow horsemen.

"Men! Ready your bows, they are in range. On my command!" As Lord Kharjo gave his commands Ser Azzadah paused him once more." Sir, what about the Carrow men?"

"They've earned their place in the heavens for their bravery, lets not let their deaths go to waste by letting the savages get any closer."

"Milord."Kharjo sighed, closing his eyes.

"Archers, aim for the farthest reach you can! Do not let a single arrow touch your allies, protect them from afar!"On that command 750 arrows launched into the sky, the sound of the steel and wood piercing the air ringing in unison.

"Pikemen, end your march here! Ready your pikes for the incoming horsemen! Form an impenetrable wall!" The pikes of the van lowered their pikes, forming layer upon layer of spears to hold back the horselords. The archers continued their hail of arrows in the meantime and there was nothing to do now but wait.

[drennan]

The Bear cursed under his breath as the young Carrow Lord broke the line and led his horsemen, some 800 against the charging mass. Even if they survived rumours would arise surrounding the sanity of their Houses Lord and his worth to rule. For a moment it reminded the old man of the way he had been before decades of battle had tempered his urge to rush the enemy with the patience to know he would need to bide his time, especially in a battle he was ill equipped to be part of.

As the Dothraki drew closer he heard the thunder of hooves closing and the twang of bow strings as the Antaryon bowmen loosed their arrows. Without need to issue a command, the veteran captain in charge of his own bowmen followed suit, holding till the first of the riders passed the marker, knowing that would only be time for a few volleys before the ranks closed to much for their bows to be of much use. There was little he could do for the safety of the Carrow men except offer up a silent prayer to the gods as his own archers sent their arrows in flight high over the battle field into the mass of charging savages.

All around him men continued to bang steel on steel, shouting and bellowing insults at the invaders, 1000 mountain eager for battle and blood. He could feel the excitement rising inside him as well, his heart thumping in time with the beat of the horses hooves. He hefted his axe and signalled his men to move, horns sounding out their advance, walking at first then breaking out into a slow jog, captains fighting hard to keep the undisciplined shock troops from breaking into a fully fledged charge. The personal bodyguard of Lord Breaoc, some 400 men held pace with their Lord ready for to defend their liege to the last, the steel of their weapons and armour glistening in the sunlight, banners fluttering as the Bears standard danced in the wind beside its master.

The sky darkened with the mass of arrows that soared over them into the enemy facing them and all around soldiers moved in formations at the behest of their commanders.

There would be blood soon…

[Torin Lannister]

(OOC: Permission received from Tywin/Emre to lead his Lannister army. Delphin's army used as his request)

Ser Torin watched as Carrow lead his men in a counter-charge, such a thing would be risky but it was near suicidal with so few men, even with the mass of archers the united army of Westeros had brought together to provide cover and support. Lena was at his side wondering what he would do. His eyes scanned around him. He had to make a gut call and he had to do it now.

"We counter-charge, anything on a horse rides out. Knights at the front to break their front, the savages have no reliable means to pierce the armour of a knight. Horsemen ride up the flank to support. We speak charge, into the center. If all goes well we shall shatter their front line and deny them momentum." The Juggernaut that was the Dothraki would have to be stopped.

Torin took the reigns of his horse and moved forward, a call to his Knights and Horsemen to come up with him. They knew what to do and fell into place, with another call the horsemen his father had brought to battle moved up to support. Now the charge would be over six thousand strong! Capable Lannister horsemen with Torin and a pair of Knights at his front. "I charge our foe, those who would come to my side, do so now!" The Lannister Cavalry got into position in front of the army. He signaled to the Tyrell force, Delphin had offered command of his army to Torin. It was a wise move, it turned two armies into one army. With Tywin's force present, that single striking force got larger all the still.

Without need for a further word the Tyrell horsemen rode up, proud and strong they took position for a mighty spear charge into the enemy horselords. They were now over eleven thousand strong! They had a damn good chance to doing it. A damn good chance. "Lena, my wife. Whatever has happened before, you have with you a further thousand horsemen and ten well armed Knights, I need you at my front to aid the charge." The decision to put the lives of her Knights on the line was hers to make, but Torin had to move now.

He gave her only a moment to decide while the troops were fixing their formation and then it was time to ride out. Lannister, Tyrell and any who would join them rode out towards the foe. Arrows sailed clear overhead as the front lines of the Lannister and Tyrell archers unleashed steel rain.

The Captains of the infantry knew what to do. Once the spear charge had struck they would need support, so they prepared to march.

Torin lead the charge now, riding hard and fast to close the distance between the horselords and those of Westeros. "Hold on Carrow, I'm coming!" It was soon followed by a mighty warcry, Deathroar being held high in one hand as Torin prepared to unleash righteous wrath.

[selmy]

Ser Barristan Selmy had ridden up with young master Tristan Stark, now there he was with less then three hundred men who had sworn service to him. But it was all he needed. It was good to see that Westeros had managed to put down its petty fighting long enough to fight a foreign foe. Sometimes people needed a common enemy to see things more clearly. If only it would last.

He had no Knights nor horsemen to offer. But he had himself. He gave his soldiers the order to hold position and follow step should their be a movement from the those without horse and then he moved up himself. His horse came into place beside the young Lion. Ser Torin was one of the most talented Knights in all the Realm, Selmy no longer had any love for the Lannisters, but it was good Knights they needed now.

When the spear charge started Ser Barristan rode up with all the others, his sword in one hand and shield in the other. They were getting close now, they would be crossing steel any moment.

[Lena Arryn]

When Torin spoke mentioning that he needed her in front of him, she responded by lifting her sword.
"Men of the Vale, form one me." She moved her horse in line with Torin's ready for the charge, she knew many men would fall, and possibly even her own husband- or she her self could fall, but she wasn't thinking about that now- not in the forefront of her mind any way.

Lena's head was pounding with adrenaline preparing for the charge she was in perfect rhythm as she fell in line, riding hard as she could beside Torin ready for the clash.

[triminac]

"By the Gods they are complete idiots! What do they think they are doing out there! Horsemen, do not answer his call!Stand your ground! Where is that courier!?" Lord Kharjo was, quite apparently, furious. A courier dressed in ragged cloth weaver his way through the soldiers and up the Antaryon commander.

"Milord, they are leading a counter-charge with all horsemen and knights to halt their vans and rescue Lord Carrow.Torin Lannister is rallying the charge."

"Are they complete fools!? That type of strategy only works in an enclosed area. We are in an open field! All they have to do is split their forces down the middle and ride around the van! They would have 20,000 on both sides, nearly double the amount the van has! In fact, there would be enough distance between the van and their allies marching after them, the savages could fill in the gap! They would be surrounded and destroyed on all sides! Even if he does manage to halt the Dothraki, even if those beasts are stupid enough to meet the charge head on, the van will still be met with a force damn near four times their numbers crashing into them. They will be torn asunder!"

But milord. The Dothraki do not have the technology to pierce armor, we have the upper hand there, do we not?"Lord Antaryon locked his hands behind his head and sighed.

"They do not need to pierce our armor. They only need to unhorse us. And that is something they can do with ease. The steeds do not wear much armor, if any, and one swipe at them will deal heavy damage. Horses lack the steadfastness, or even the foolishness of man. When attacked they will buck, or run, or die, and when the soldiers fall of the horses they will have the wind knocked out of them. Do you know how much the average horse weighs,boy?"This 'boy ' was likely two years Kharjo's elder.

"I don't know,sir"

"They can weigh anywhere between 800 to 2000 pounds if not more. Robert Baratheon's war hammer did not even come close to that and still it could crush in a man's breastplate with ease. If you fall off your horse out there, I can guarantee you that you will be trampled by thousands of steel horseshoes. With their weight you will not be able to adjust yourself and your armor will slowly bend into you, and if it breaks, it will pierce your flesh. And that will be the end of you. Send a message to Lord Drennan Breaoc, explain to him the folly of this charge. Tell him to not answer the call. Explain that his is not a matter of honor, or glory, this is about our duties. If we fail here, all of Westeros is in danger. Tell him our chances of victory have decreased severely because Torin Lannister decided to waste 10,000 soldiers to save some 800 and the fool that led them to their deaths.Tell him I will split my pikemen with him to protect his front lines if he will march with me. We will march for fifty paces at a time, halt, and unleash our arrows. Then we will march again. March fifty paces and fire again. When we reach the savages the idea is to unhorse them so we may fight them on even ground.If Torin is smart he will retreat, if not then we can only hope for the best."

"Yes, milord" The courier weaves off into the crowd to find Lord Breaoc before it was too late. Lord Kharjo closed his eyes and prayed to the Seven, hoping that Drennan was more intelligent than his liege.

[NPC]

The Dothraki horde came down hard on Carrow, there was no bows ready to send arrow to heart only their curved swords drawn to separate head from neck. Carrow and his men crashed into the foe, swords clashed against swords and bodies were felled and although Carrow and his Knights took many, his horsemen were not as deadly and many were lost to enemy blades. A tiny force near consumed by the all consuming wave of Horselord Savages.

Respite came however when the arrows came down like rain, dotting the front lines of the Dothraki horde like a blanket of killing intent. Not only did this provide minor breathing room for Carrow but it weakened an already loose formation of savages as the spear-charge by the Westeros Alliance came in. Lead by a Lord, a Lady and Knights they were like righteousness formed into steel. This was no little group of horsemen, this was a powerful charge many thousand strong. Capable soldiers under experienced and valiant leaders. Although the front lines of the Dothraki were shattered by arrows the howling screamers gave no sign of lost morale and charged on against the enemy. The Westeros Spear charge however was a tight formation and well together, the Dothraki front waves were wavered and shattered with many dead from the arrow volley. It was of little difficulty for the spear charge to push through and slaughter their way into the bulk of the Dothraki horde, killing many, but the bulk of the horde took many down with them.

Fully a quarter of the Westeros horsemen that moved in the charge were lost to the enemy, but the deathtoll was much to their favour in no small part to the weakening of the front lines by talented archers. The charge was over however, now all the horsemen and as many Dothraki riders they could tie up were caught in a vicious and brutal melee.

The Dothraki however were a wide wave and there was only so much the Westerosi could hold at once. Fully twenty thousand Dothraki moved around and were now on a direct path for the forces that had remained behind.

*****

Dothraki Charge hits Carrow, kills: 300 Horsemen
Carrow Charge hits Dothraki: 420 Dothraki Riders
Arrow Volley of Kharjo, Drennan, Lannister & Tyrell kills: 3,500 Dothraki Riders
Lannister, Arryn, Selmy, Tyrell Spearcharge hits Dothraki, kills: 7,000 Dothraki Riders
Dothraki charge hits
Lannister: 1,700 Horsemen
Arryn: 250 Horsemen
Tyrell: 1,550 Horsemen

Total Dothraki loss: 10,950
Total Westeros Alliance: 3,800