Slaughter of the Villages

**The Slaughter of the Villages** was a series of battles, skirmishes, raids, and naturally, slaughters, that occurred in the Mountains of the Moon during an almost year long period of time. While the men of the Vale would suffer casualties, they were nowhere near by any distinction to those suffered by the Clansfolk.

The Slaughter of the Villages would become known as the second of the Four Grave Atrocities of the War for the Mountains of the Moon.

## Background

In the wake of the Red Parlay, encouraged on by a black rage and a desire for revenge, the First Great Host fractured into five smaller hosts, each composing of three thousand men of the Vale.

The first host, under the command of Lord Gunthor Arryn and the Belmores embarked toward Howler territory.

The second host, under the command of Ser Lucan Corbray headed toward the homes of the Sons of the Mist.

The third host, under the command of Lord Prentys Hersy, Ser Petyr Egen, and Lord Wallace Wydman made for the mountains of the Redsmiths.

The fourth host, under the command of Sers Jasper and Joffrey Lynderly, departed toward the territory of the Black Ears.

While finally, the fifth host, under the command of Lords Maladon Coldwater, and Triston Pryor marched toward the territory of the Milk Snakes.

## Engagement

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

There was no one 'engagement' during the Slaughter of the Villages. For with five smaller hosts traversing their way through the Mountains of the Moon, there were a great many engagements. From slaughters most foul at the hands of the Valemen to traps laid at the hands of the Clansmen, a great many lives were lost during this nigh year long period. But, as consequence of the ever-busy nature of such a thing, we have scarce and lacking information on what actually happened, with most only rumour to feed our histories.

Amidst the smallfolk, it is said that Lord Gunthor Arryn beheaded three Clansmen at once with a single swing of his greatsword.

While others say Lord Lucan Corbray is said to have bitten out the throat of a Sons of the Mist elder, and carried off the children of a half dozen villages, for he claimed the children were more;

*"Vale than Mountain."*

And that they were born of stolen property.

Everwhile, we know for a fact that Lord Prentys Hersy, Ser Petyr Egen, and Lord Wallace Wydman met a great opponent in the form of Rydmon of the Redsmiths, who managed to cut down both Lords Hersy and Wydman before himself being killed by Ser Petyr Egen. Only for Egen to succumb to wounds two days later.

Further still, while the twins Lynderly had originally made for the territory of the Black Ears, we know it to be true that on the journey there they were drawn off course by the beauty of a fabled maiden and found themselves surrounded in a trap set by Hella of the Stone Crows and the Old Chett Half-Blind of the Black Ears. The twins were never to be seen again.

And lastly so, rumour still lives to this day that on the march toward the territory of the Milk Snakes Lord Maladon Coldwater and Lord Triston Pryor squabbled, and so Lord Triston was the next day buried. Lord Maladon has always insisted a Milk Snake arrow took him through the neck, killing him nigh instantly. Alas, the vast majority of Lord Maladon's host would never see the Vale proper again.

## Aftermath

Ultimately, the men of the First Great Host would be forced back down from the Mountains of the Moon in order to relieve the Newkeep of House Hersy, Longwake of House Egen, and Shatterlance of House Wydman from growing Clansmen attacks. Yet even so, the Slaughter of the Villages proved a most successful campaign for the Lords of the Vale, with thousands of Clansfolk corpses being left for the birds.