March to Castamere

Combatants| * House Verdant
* House Jadefyre
* House Whent
* The Lodge
* House Terrace
* House Redflame
* House Redwater of Raventree Hall
* House Lash
* House Pyne
* House Subare
* House Mallery
* House Arachnid

Commanders| * Ser Tion Raine
* Lord Vaelys Jadefyre
* Gascoigne
* Ser Arthur Whent
* Ser Tristifer Terrace
* Lord Jachearys Redflame
* Ser Jory Redwater
* Lord Robin Redwater
* Lord Hollis Pyne
* Ser Cinna Subare
* Ser Marq Mallery
* Ser Gerold Arachnid

## Prelude

> *Vaelys: Castmere is still being repaired if the Lashes surround it Daemon will be trapped.*
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> *Tion: And he'll be forced to surrender, Tavion knows this, thats why he's coming here and why he must be stopped now before he has a chance to do anything.*
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Though The Siege of Castle Claw was a success it only removed part of the problem and hindered the Lashes abilities, Tavion Lash was still a determined man and his army was marching across the Riverlands, guaranteed safe passage by the Redwaters right towards Castamere. Daemon was still at the castle planning things out with a war council when he heard news of the charge. The Lord was many things but he wasnt a fool, Tavion likely expected Daemon to come out and fight him directly, but Daemon's goal was to simply outsmart him. Thus rather then face Tavion directly he ordered Ser Tion Raine his best general to hold off or potentially end the campaign Westward. Tion took some of House Verdant's men and marched off with many of his allies arriving to help him. Tion didnt want to drag things out in a major slugfest on Riverland territory he knew the Redwater's were still a threat even if two of there most skilled vassals the Greywinde's and the Flamehearts didnt join them here and if Daemon's plans were true they didnt need an outright victory when stalling them would do. The Whents tried to hold off the Redwaters by attacking supply lines before they were forced further down by the encroaching arrival of the Pynes who had come to assist the Redwater and Lashes, removing the last obstacle in the way of there march to the enemy line.

Still there attacks did give Tion time to prepare having the Redflame's take point along with the Whents while another Veteran in Tristifer would hold down there rear guard, Tion remained in the center of his formation where he hoped to be able to monitor the battle in the event things went awry. It was here he planned to test the might of House Verdant's foes and see what his best chance of beating them was and where it lied. Tavion, let his son Ethan lead there vanguard, the young Knight was itching to prove his worth in the world and Tavion himself would lead the rear guard leaving the rest of the army in the ever experienced Jory's command to push on to victory.

## The Battle

> *Tion: Men! House Verdant may be new but this is the time to prove our worth! if we let them take Castamere we will be letting these rabble control us for as long as we and our children live!*
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> *Tavion: Ive seen war, lost loved ones to it, seen our house grow and decline from it. I will never allow our house to suffer from war again, and with this battle Ill assure House Lash prospers for years to come!*
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The Battle took place on an open field with even footing and a River on the left side which the Verdants were across to cover one of there flanks. Ethan Lash had his vanguard move forward while Jory ordered his archers under Mallery to get in close enough to start hitting the enemy, and were hit by the Verdant archers all the same. the Redflame lead Calvary met Ethan's Lash lead calvary and the Whent infantry pushed up to cover them up close. Ser Tion watched vigilantly opting not to attack in full force yet but he did slowly order his army to advance forward with Jory doing the same. Eventually when Ethan had knocked Jachaerys off his horse and the Calvary forces under him started to falter Jory gave Robin control of half his men while he started to advance more leading a group of soldiers that would charge at his orders backed by Gerold and Cinna. Tion simply had his Jadefyre and Lodge forces combine and meet them hoping to let the Whent skirmishers aid him in victory by pushing them back and running his charge, though Jory had been under fire before and his men held fast and clashed with the opposition for a few minutes before a break happened midway and soon Jory was cutting a path through them to split the army up.

Arthur Whent tried to stop Jory from getting any further but he was stopped by Ser Hollis and the two Stepstone lords started to clash throwing insults at each other all the while, instead it was Vaelys who halted Jory's charge through his men fighting the Riverlord himself and giving his men time to reform and close the gap though not too long after that he fell back before Jory could overpower and potentially kill him. Arthur had managed to barely best Ser Hollis but Ethan's Calvary had fully routed the Redflames who had fallen back to avoid complete annihilation and was now being halted by skirmishers and spear men. Tion decided enough was enough and before the battle could get really blood started to have his men fall back while maintain formation. many still died in the retreat as Jory opted to try and give chase but by the end neither side had lost a significant amount of men still the day was clearly one for the Lashes. With Ethan especially earning much praise.

## Aftermath

> *Jory: Tion cant afford to give that kind of ground again, not without putting us within spitting distance of the Castle hes trying so hard to defend.*
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> *Tavion: Good. I'd have hoped to decided the war with this battle but one more will serve me just fine.*
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House Verdan'ts men had retreated as far back as they could, though the lack of truly devastating losses softened the blow morale had taken a hit, with the first real test of the Verdant's power being a defeat and another battle on the horizon. Worse while Arthur was already setting up more attacks a letter came from the Stepstones demanding his presence in a way that made it clear he was being forced to, knowing he couldnt risk putting his family in jeopardy by refusing he had to fall back taking the long way to Maidenpool to avoid Redwater attackers on his way home. Hollis Pyne and most of his men would fall back too under similar orders but few doubted he wouldn't be back as he was in Rheagon's good graces unlike Arthur. Things looked bleak for the Verdants who had to find a way to counter this campaign before it got too far in. Though in good news the Northern allies of the Verdants Artos, Robb and Shamus had arrived at Castamere and offered there support in hindering the campaign. Daemon eager to put an end to the war would try and settle it with another battle sending more men Tion's way and actually coming in to assist in his next plan himself as he knew it would require some skilled archers.