Slaughter Between the Four Forts

### Place

A Field Nigh Equidistant Between Longbow Hall, Diamondhill, Old Anchor, and Ninestars

### Outcome

The Slaughter of the Final Noteworthy Clansmen Host Outside of the Mountains of the Moon

**The Slaughter Between the Four Forts** was the final pitched engagement of the War for the Mountains of the Moon. The Slaughter saw the last true Clansmen host nigh completely cut down with little escape at hand.

## Background

In the wake of the Battle for Ironoaks, the host of Lord Robar Royce had been in no shape to push on, and so instead, had taken to rest. But as the host took to rest and recovery outside of Ironoaks, such a period of relative peace grew long from what had been intended. While Lord Royce still sent out scouting parties and the occassional warband, none were truly notable, and only targetted rouge Clansmen attempting to flee larger parties. It was rather a sad state that the Second Great Host had fallen to.

Though, when word reached Lord Royce of a sizable host gathering near to the castles of Longbow Hall, Diamondhill, Old Anchor, and Ninestars, and with the threat that Ser Terrence Templeton had laid of rallying the men under his own banner to defend the keeps, Lord Royce was left with but a single choice in order to maintain his dignity and wider reputation; to march.

## Engagement

###### *An Exert from the Writings of Maester Yorwyck's Work, "The War for the Mountains of the Moon".*

There was naught special about the field that Lord Robar Royce chose that day, naught at all, save for the fact that it would soon enough be drenched in the blood of thousands.

Unsure as to the Clansmens' numbers, Lord Robar set forth a conservative set of tactics. The Valeman host would remain tight, and closely formed, and by that measure, they would win the day, though it has since been claimed that Lord Royce only meant to survive the day.

But as is widely said, no plan survives the clash of steel. Early into the battle, with the two hosts exchanging blows and having collided, Ser Terrence Templeton swiftly and steadily broke formation. Leading some five-hundred men deep into the centre of the Clansmen host, cutting a fierce path and cleaving his way through any resistance, even som slaying Black Mykk of the Stone Crows. Later Ser Terrence was said by the men to have;

*"Fought with the Fury of the Warrior himself!"*

Singlehandedly, Ser Terrence Templeton's actions set the tone of that day. Without his heroic push, it is quite like that the Valemen would have eventually been surrounded on the flanks and brought to a slaughter of their own.

Though even so, the Valemen did not have a bloodless day, for as Ser Terrence smashed through the centre, the flanks of the Clansmen host did so push back against the opposing flanks of the Valemen, and in doing so gain rather some significant ground, and bring down a hearty number of good, and valiant men. But even so, the day was not theirs, and with Ser Terrence Templeton's strength, the centre broke, and the left flank soon followed, fast becoming surrounded and brought to their end, while the right flank of the Clansmen in decent part attempted to flee, only to be chased down and quite butchered by the knights following the command ofm Ser Terrence Templeton and Ser Steffon Melcolm.

Alas, the Valemen so too did suffer, with Ser Godrey Royce being discovered with a gaping gash where once his manhood had been, and no longer with breath in his body.

## Aftermath

In the aftermath of the Slaughter Between the Four Forts, despite the victory seen by the Valemen, the host led by Lord Robar Royce collapsed. With many of the Houses assigned to his command now either led by tired and beleaguered Lords or Knights, or none at all, for they had died long ago, nigh all in the host dreamt of home and peace, and had no more a taste for fighting than they did for drinking horse piss.

Further still, with House Redfort having even made excuse before the battle as to why they would not arrive on time, morale within the host had already been rather low.

Houses Hunter, Waynwood, Hardyng, and Upcliff were amongst the first to march home, though truly none could hold it against them, for the losses they had suffered. Within the next week and a half, the rest would follow, until naught but an empty field remained where the Slaghter Between the Four Forts had so occurred.