Smashed Black

## Prelude

> *Marq: The enemy is falling into our trap, if we keep going we will coral them together and take them out in one fell swoop.*
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> *Jory: Rickard and Byron should be getting there forces together as we speak. Soon enough we will put an end to this whole thing.*
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Haywin's mainland forces were dwindling but otherwise still in large enough bulk that they could pose a threat to any armies raised against him, especially the The Order of the Black Knights who had been going all over the place. Jory Redwater had fully dedicated his time to hunting them down since they ambushed him at the Twins, calling his available banners House Mallery and House Iceberg joined his campaign against them. House Greywinde under Rickard joined as well, though he was no longer bound to Jory his love of protecting the smallfolk was well known and he trusted Jory enough to work under him again. According to Goren they knew Jory was hunting them and so they split off hoping to keep him from getting the full force. They didnt plan for just how clever Jory could be, as he suspected they would do such a thing and split his own forces, to try and chase after each individual force and drawing them closer together.

Ser Bard, Ser Goren, and Ser Hamilton were quickly finding themselves being chased by larger armies too big to dedicate to trying to attack or route and instead tried to shake them in the forests, unaware that they were all being lead there by the Redwater hosts who wanted them in that very position. By the time they had come to realize they were walking into a trap they had already been caught in it.

## The Battle

> *Byron: When we are done, there will be nothing left of your pathetic order.*
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> *Goren: We fall another will just take our place. Thats what you people dont understand. And never will.*
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Ser Yohn Redsteel who was scouting for Ser Bard's forces was the first of the Knights to notice what was going on, quickly breaking rank and trying to retreat before men Jory had positioned in the area struck, the Order found themselves outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and completely surprised. They attempted to fight back but while the top brass of the order was well trained and organized many of the bandits they had gathered were not and they found themselves dying at near 3 to 1 odds. Jory in particular had lead an attack cutting through Goren's group of men trying to get to the man himself though he and Goren never met on the battlefield itself as the man attempted to organize his troops and push out with Ser Hamilton. The Order's luck would only be found with Ser Bard who with Yohn's assistance was able to create an opening for him and some of his men to flee through the ranks, though Yohn in a surprising amount of honor for a group so cowardly turned his horse around attempting to try and save as many as he could.

Though there was little left to save, Hamilton and Goren's combined forces were still stuck and though Hamilton had seemingly managed to find a break he was cut down by Marq Mallery's crossbow before he could get far. Ser Goren managed to dodge past Ser Rickard's attack but he ended up caught by Lord Byron in battle and in the fighting something caught his horse and knocked him to the ground, Byron apprehended him soon after. Yohn and a few men remained but he proved to be successful a second time, rushing and fighting Ser Marq in battle, seemingly attempting to avenge the Yellowfish's death. He nearly succeeded, proving Marq's superior in combat for the day and giving him a nasty wound across his chest. He might have killed him but he had to lead the few men left out of the area fleeing and following after Bard, leaving Marq to bleed out, which saved his life and gave Jory enough time to get him to a healer.

## The Aftermath

> *Jory: Any other day id have you killed or spend the rest of your days behind bars. But today happens to be your lucky one, if you are willing to talk leniency will be shown to you.*
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> *Goren: Information for my well being? Seems like the only fair deal ill get, and ill take it.*
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The majority of the Order's main forces were scattered and cut down with there leadership greatly reduced by the battle, the Swine King who had been there ally had gone off on his own and was off the radar for the moment and the Valyria Remnants were off at sea and unable to assist. Leaving them with nothing in terms of allies. Though more of Haywin's forces would end up in the mainlands they would also be unable to assist. The Order were being hunted down harder then usual once the captured Goren talked giving away key locations and information that made taking them down far easier. As his reward for this act he was given a far more lenient term when it came to his punishment and he avoided the executioners axe.