Verdant-Lash War

Combatants| The Verdant's~* House Verdant
* House Starkwood
* House Wolf
* House Griften
* House Jadefyre
* House Darkspear
* House Youngflower
* House Whent
* House Maloris
* House Wilder
* House Redwater of Raventree Hall
* House Redwater of Ruby Keep
* House Mallery
* House Pyne
* House Subare
* House Arachnid

Commanders| * Lord Daemon Verdant
* Lord Artos Starkwood
* Lord Shamus Blackwolf
* Ser Robb Griften
* Lord Vaelys Jadefyre
* Lord Haywin Darkspear
* Lord Daniel Youngflower
* Ser Arthur Whent
* Lord Jaqherous Maloris
* Ser Zelos Wilder
* Ser Tristifer Terrace
* Ser Ethan Lash
* Ser Jory Redwater
* Lord Robin Redwater
* Ser Marq Mallery
* Ser Hollis Pyne
* Ser Cinna Subare
* Lord Gerald Arachnid

## Prelude

> *Tavion: If you think House Lash will accept this injustice just because of your newfound wealth it will come at a cost*
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> *Daemon: A price you will pay. The Lashes have done a lot for the realm but your a fool if you think it will save you in the long run.*
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The Verdant-Lash war was just the first war between the two houses and the bloodiest conflict between them of the two, it seemingly started over a conflict involving the newly formed House Verdant which after the journey to the Jade sea that had helped House Brightflame pay off there debt for a time was granted Castamere. Not too long after this they soon became an enemy of House Lash over a scuffle involving a girl at a tourney. House Lash was one that had existed for awhile and was well known for there martial prowess. They were a house of fighters and seemed to have a love of warfare, or so the stories go, so it came as little surprising that the issue that started the conflict escalated to warfare. Between the two of them they had clear advantages, House Lash was an experienced House had a stronger army, experienced generals, and were based in multiple areas. The Verdants had better connections, were richer, and were favored by the king because of there generous offer that helped with the debt. One of the quickest allies of the Lashes was House Redwater. The Redwater's had some issues with the Verdant's rise to power and there motives for wanting Castamere for themselves, as well as a few other issues that caused them to try and curb said power in a war. Having a strong connection of wealth and power themselves they seemed to be the perfect counter to the Verdants wealth and backed the Lashes with another competent house in war. Though the Redwater's had power it had waned lightly in recent events, they had placed a lot of effort into backing the Sunfyre Rebellion and it had caused no end of controversy on top of that Jory's man attempted to assassinate a rival at a tourney at Oldstones, though Jory faced no prosecution for the act, it cost him his loyal vassal the Greywindes who had broken off from them for the act, after verifying it was there doing. This also hurt another vassal the Flamehearts, who while they hadn't broken off from them in the process they had stayed out of the initial part of the war when they were usually one of the first to assist them.

In contrast many started to flock to the Verdants, the stepstone lords and the Northern Brightflame lords especially, though Jory called in his ally in Rheagon to call them off and assure the Stepstones remained neutral Arthur Whent stayed the course, since a neutral stance didnt mean he was betraying his lord by fighting for the enemy, which made the Redwater plant in the Stepstones Hollis Pyne join to help his friend. Both sides were slowly gaining allies but it seemed the Verdants were gaining more in quanity then there new rivals but how they could beat the Lashes remained a mystery.

## The Siege of Castle Claw

> *Artos: Surrender the castle to us, leave the weapons and we will spare every one of you, and we would take you hostages until the war has ended, do this, and no blood would be spilled, refuse, and you and your men will be destroyed defending this castle.*
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> *Rodrick: There are only two ways you will receive my arms, either them protruding from your hides or if you agree to my terms*
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The first priority for Daemon was Castle Claw, due to its part in the North and something that could allow the Lashes to attack him from a different angle, thankfully while the Lashes had the castle Daemon had Northern houses on his side, lead by Artos Starkwood, him his sons, Shamus Blackwolf and Robb Griften, the three houses converged on Castle Claw looking to take the castle in Daemon's name. The castle's garrison was lead by Ser Rodrick Rynd who despite Artos offering his terms refused to surrender the castle without a fight, and a fight he would have. The Northern lords spent the next two days trying to siege the castle, the first day being more cautious day as both mostly relied on there weaponry to do the fighting, though the Lashes took more lives through the day and forced there attackers back, they lost there two catapults and were left defenseless from future attacks. The next day of the siege was a devastating loss of men for the Lash sides, unable to attack very efficiently without there catapults they were bombarded and the castle weakened with a massive loss of life for them while minimal losses were brought on the Northerners.

This convinced Rodrick that something needed to be done so with himself armed he moved to face the leader of the siege Artos in single combat for the safety of his men, if he won they would leave free and able to move about, if they lost they would surrender. Artos accepted and the two dueled intensely where Rodrick proved to be a skilled fighter, but Artos with his years of experience and skill bested him and secured the surrender of the Lash forces and the castle which fell under his jurisdiction. After that Artos sent word to Daemon Verdant of his success and the man was pleased with the results, knowing he was one more castle away from victory.

## March to Castamere

> *Jory: While they may love the idea of drawn out extended battles, the fastest way to end this war is by taking the head off the snake, and the head is marshalling there men over in Castamere.*
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> *Tavion: Then our objective is clear. And together we will put a swift end to this war when we put a sword to Lord Verdant's cowardly neck.*
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Seeing the Verdant's boon as a threat and feeling Tavion was in the right, Jory had no problem backing him in the war which proved a huge problem for Daemon in beating them, while his men might be able to hold them off he knew sieging Castle Lash would be difficult as getting to them in the crownlands would require marching through the Riverlands where they were, something that seemed impossible given the Redwater's power and relative closeness. Meanwhile Tavion was able to enter the Riverlands unimpeded and get close to his area as none of his allies in the Riverlands could risk leaving there homes to stop him without feeling the wrath of there might or there allies. Though the Greywinde's and Flamehearts were noticeably absent from assisting him directly he still had plenty of men and the Mallery's, with only the Whents to mostly try and impede them Dameon instead had his allies try and meet him by Castamere where he could go over his plans and gain there council. Though many came up with ideas on how to beat him back or hold them off none of them knew of a way thy could convincibly take Castle Lash without getting rid of the Redwaters, and they had too many holdouts to take that would cost them so much just to get to that point. One thing was certain though, they couldn't let Tavion's forces reach Castamere, the castle was hardly defensible in its current state and if they surrounded it, they wouldnt survive much longer. Daemon knew that Jory would lead his forces, and he suspected from the stories Tavion would be a man of direct action as well, Daemon on the other hand knew he was best suited to roles beyond the first man up the walls like his counterparts were and thus sent his commander Ser Tion Raine to hold off the Campaign heading his way in the Riverlands.

As he predicted Tavion and Jory met and there forces moved onward to Castamere leading there respective forces before they met the Verdant host lead by Tion to start the second battle of the war. The battle was a mundane tactical battle where Tion tested his skills and strategy agaisnt his opponents not willing to fully commit without better evaluation of the enemy, but while his own strategies were sound he couldnt quite punch through the battle tested forces of both houses and there vassals and after repeated failures Tion fell back to reevaluate his stance and come at them from a different angle. His reports of there battle skills worried Daemon, and he came up with a plan to deal with this, in a less direct way then open battle though for this one he would assist himself and left the castle finally with fresh troops to replenish the losses.

## The Battle of the Scorched Wolf

> *Tavion: Ethan, take the rest of our men and hold fast with the Redwaters...Im taking the fight right to Daemon himself*
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> *Ethan: But father, such a charge would be suicide youd never get close to him!*
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The only battle in the war Daemon fought in was one of the most brutal battles in the war, though admittedly its less a battle and more a brutal ambush, as the Lash campaign neared the Westerlands they stopped for the night not wanting to march in unfamiliar territory at night, this is where Daemon struck with the arrival of the Northern Lords from Castle Claw and having taken out the scouts covering them Daemon sent small parties through the sentries, those that weren't killed anyway, though Robb Griften got close and started to set up the burnings he was caught just as he set the first of the camps alight, many more would follow and in the confusion and fire Artos Starkwood would rush and attack along with the rest of the Northerners and the Jadefyre's that lead this attack on the head camp. Tavion Lash was starting to stir and fight back while he could and the Redwater forces were quick to attack back even though they were also being attacked by arrow fire from the Verdant's who were positioned around them. During the fighting in the camps Tavion Lash battled it out when they met, Tavion eventually won but was horribly burned in the encounter. Despite this Tavion ordered his son to stay and command there remaining men while he marched in the direction of the attackers hoping to find the leader and hopefully Daemon Verdant and Ethan despite his protests ultimately obeyed his father.

With the Lashes being killed Tavion marched out to turn the tides of the battle and somehow despite having no way of knowing where he was his party of men found Daemon and made a beeline for him, the attack lead to the death of every Lash men under Tavion's current command but Tavion himself made it to Daemon and the two were fighting soon after, where Tavion used the last of his strength to wound Daemon before his wounds slowed him down enough that he was slain ending the Lord of House Lashes life in the ambush but forcing the Verdants to fall back when there lord was badly hurt. Artos and Shamus were hurt as well and Robb had to flee away from his allies to avoid getting caught when the Red's started to turn the tides but this kept him from regrouping with the rest for the duration of the war. Ethan was distraught when his father's body was discovered but Jory and Robin convinced him he had to push on and convinced he had lost too much to simply mourn he had to keep on going with the campaign.

## The Breaking of the Ruby Front

> *Ethan: Castle Claw has fallen, The Verdants allies crop up everywhere, our allies falter. our supplies are drained... We've won every battle we've fought but this forward march cant continue at this rate.*
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> *Jory: if we win here there wont be another battle, Castamere isn't finished being built Lord Verdant couldnt hope to make a siege work there. He has to stop us here or he'll be cornered and if he keeps fighting..killed. You need to remain firm for your men, there relying on you now more then ever.*
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With the march to Castamere nearly complete the Red's were in the Westerlands and so close to knocking on the injured Lord Verdant's door. Daemon had given control back to Tion as far as leading the army while he returned to the castle where he could properly heal. The next battle had to be a victory or Castamere itself would surely fall, every available ally moved in with the last of the Verdant army ready to mount a defense while The Lash forces closed in on them backed and lead by The Redwaters who were eager to end the fight once and for all put a referendum on the growing Verdant power. Tion was more prepared this time and given he had run out of room to stand and fight he was more prepared to hold out for the long haul his available forces were set to whittle down the remaining army and push them out of the area. Ethan Lash was determined to end the war now while they had the momentum and to make sure his father's sacrifice wasnt wasted.

This attitude would cost him in the battle, a plan was laid out and both sides followed there respective plans as much as they could the armies clashing one with the determination to win and the end the war, the other with the desperation to not lose and be forced to retreat again. Ethan finally lost patience with the stalemate and tried to rush the enemy with his calvary forces only to fall right in Tion's hands when his charge was stopped and his forces smashed by there counter attack with Ethan caught in the fray and at risk of being killed his vassal the Subare's and allies House arachnid both broke there initial plans to try and save him from disaster while maintaining there jobs, they couldnt do both. While they were able to secure Ethan's safety there actions gave Ser Terrace who backed the Verdants the opening he needed to push through the front of there offense and the rest of the Verdant line slipped through breaking the front and scattering the army. Jory was able to reorganize slightly but decided that this was a battle they were going to lose and opted to retreat and try again at a later date since he had more men. Though its not hard to imagine that if he knew what was happening during this he likely would have tried to risk securing the victory.

## Verdant Counter-Attack

> *Daemon: Everything's set, we just need to keep Jory and Robin from leaving the Riverlands, Castle Lash will fall soon enough once our allies make It there.*
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> *Tion: There host is remains large but with your permission I could make sure not a single Redwater soldier is present when the Stepstone lords march on Castle Lash.*
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The campaign had ended in a failure just as they were on the cusp of victory. Tion returned to Castamere wit the news and Daemon was ecstatic especially since just before he arrived he received equally good news of the Darkspear Coup that removed Rheagon from the Stepstones and put a close friend of Daemon and an enemy of the Redwaters Haywin Darkspear back in control. not only did this remove the Redwater influence from the region but now Haywin was backing his side 100% and sending men to take Castle Lash. This was the answer to all of Daemon's prayers in one letter giving him a way to take the castle that he couldn't get close too without risking his own defenses being easily infiltrated. with this he could focus on one goal without worrying too much about being attacked since now his enemies had to divide there focus. With this he ordered Tion to set out with what he could and make sure that the Redwaters had no chance to help Castle Lash. Ethan fled with the Robin and Jory back to Fairmarket the closest Redwater controlled fortress after the failed campaign where they discussed how they could go about doing things now before Hollis Pyne came to them with news of the Coup and Haywin's ascension to the throne in the Stepstones. Hollis also revealed that with his control hes likely to help Daemon in the war which Robin agreed with meaning Castle Lash was in trouble. It was all Ethan needed to know and he marched out to go and save his home. Hollis and the Lash allies joined him while The Redwater's planned to get what they could and join the fray later, though there efforts were stopped by Tion's raids. attacks at night that cut off there supplies and made marshalling there troops hard.

Ethan wasnt able to make it to the castle either on his way he was stopped by the Whents and the Griftens, Robb having met up with Larrys Whent awhile back. Backed by many other houses such as the Hennings and the Wilders, they were able to hold the Lashes off and keep them in the riverlands on a stalemate and cutting them off at the pass. Ethan was desperate for something but he felt he couldnt get past, and thus when the stalemate refused to break he had to abandon an assault and try to find an alternate route from his current location to Castle Lash before the Stepstones could take it, though he would elude the enemy this way it cost him significant time on his detour allowing The Darkspear army to make it there first.

## Siege of Castle Lash

> *Cayle: You've come all this way just to fail My lords. Castle Lash has never fallen and even with the garrision here not being as large as your army we are at our best when our backs against the wall.*
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> *Daniel: Then ill happily take the honor of being the first to take this castle and doing it when your at your best Ser Cayle. I hope you didnt expect me to cave at your idle threats.*
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Castle Lash wasnt lightly defended unlike Castle Claw, having much better defense and more troops but they were surrounded by a large host of men, under the command of the High Lord of the Stepstones Daniel Youngflower and Haywin's son Darron Darkspear, House Maloris, House Whent, and House Henning backed them and after tense negiations both sides made there intentions clear. Cayle lash brother of Tavion Lash was the man holding down the castle and he was known as if nothing else a man of determination, under him the castle was likely to be destroyed before he surrendered but Daniel knew that his lord was counting on him to achieve victory and he would likewise refuse to leave unless defeat was absolutely certain. For the next few days the Stepstone lords tested the castles immense defenses and will of its soldiers and found that the Lashes were not so easily cowed they battered the walls but were hit back, they tried to climb up it but were repelled and even when they were planning Cayle Lash would organize raids and sorties to hit them when they least expected it to try and break the lines. Though here they found Daniel's resolve to be absolute as the man rallied his forces and kept any such break from happening and organized plans that kept the Lashes trapped and slowly being cut off from any attempts to gain aid. The siege remained intense and eventually Cayle Lash got desperate, planning and leading a dangerous sortie that would aim for Daniel Youngflower himself, hoping to catch and kill the young lord to assure leadership fell apart. Many of the other commanders protested the idea, or at the very least insisted that if he wanted it done he shouldn't lead it as he was the best of there generals and could win this siege. Cayle didnt listen he knew the attack was dangerous and refused to put so many men on the line in it if he wasnt willing to do so as well. Many in the elite guard followed him inspired by his loyalty and determination.

Sadly the results would prove his advisors right, Cayle was a strong man and his actions inspired loyalty in his men but there's a reason one who leads the army shouldn't be so eager to see the battle directly agaisnt such odds. Cayle's forces pushed through most defenses and even made it to Daniel's camp at the cost of many lives but despite Cayle's best efforts he clashed with Daniel and fell to Weedkiller before his men's eyes, the rest refused to surrender and tried to avenge there leaders loss especially one Taren Lash, though he was known as Taren Waters at the time but many were knocked down or outright killed and the rest were to be left in captivity on Daniel's orders. With Cayle's death morale in the castle was low and Lucas Keath considered surrendering, a decision that he would eventually follow through on when they did in fact hit the castle and make it up the walls with the castle gates opened and the enemy pouring in Ser Lucas made the call and gave up rather then lose the rest of his forces in a brawl. The lords were quick to halt the attack and Daniel took control of the castle until Ethan was informed of its fall, he had failed to arrive in time and with his last holdout gone and his men exhausted from the march he knew he had been defeated. He wasted no time surrendering to Lord Verdant and assuring the rest of his house and family weren't harmed in the aftermath of the brutal war that had devastated them.

## Aftermath

> *Daemon: Without your taking of there castle this war could have continued for a long time.*
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> *Haywin: And without your war Id still be in Oldstones expected to kiss up to the Redwater's*
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Daemon made no small amount of praise to his allies and especially to Haywin for his victory over the Lashes, making sure they were all rewarded well following the war's end while punishing the two main offenders against him the Redwater's and the Lashes the most. This had a lasting effect on both houses, The Redwaters had done much good for the realm but many also remembered the bad, such as the Black Rebellion that many deemed petty and costly to the realm and there assistance of Rheagon Sunfyre in the Sunfyre Rebellion that saw them take a kingdom from a loyal friend of House Brightflame unjustly, and felt that the Gods had punished them appropriately with this loss as well as there power being unquestionably reduced in the aftermath, there actions had cost them there vassals with there breaking of guest rights having soured any attempt to make nice with Haywin who was now back in power, having cost themselves House Grewinde's loyalty, and House Flameheart's loyalty while not outright revoked was certaintly questioned due to there absence in the war when there assistance would have been crucial in things such as helping the Lashes with the siege or providing strong fighters in the push to Castamere.

The Lashes were also affected by this loss arguably even worse then the Redwaters. They had lost there lord and New Lord Ethan Lash was left with such a poor situation his father had dragged him into, many would praise his fathers charge in the The Battle of the Scorched Wolf, but Ethan would in time see it as something of a selfish mistake that caused far more harm then it did good. And with the wars result Ethan had to start by paying for the damages he had played a part in and seeing his Houses prestige falter in the eyes of many. Warfare was the Lashes bread and butter its what defined them for many and to see his house mocked for there grueling defeat was something that Ethan knew couldnt last if House Lash was to survive under him. Ethan grew an innate desire to prove himself which lead to him being more boastful and headstrong afraid to show weakness, but this only made things worse for him and after the botched mission in Dorne where he nearly cost Princess Rhaenys Brightflame her life Ethan was mocked even further, not even the King could forgive the near mess and he was nearly stripped of all his lands and titles for the act. Ethan was saved by of all people one of the men who was angered by his act the most one Haywin Darkspear who came to him and offered him a place in the Stepstones given how he needed more lords after the exile of two traitorous ones and wisely seeing Ethan as someone who would in all likelihood fight and die for him in an attempt for atonement. Ethan frazzled by his recent failures was easy pickings for this role and his acceptance into the Stepstones would set the pace for his second encounter with Lord Verdant as now Ethan was a lord of a close ally of the Verdants.

The Verdant's themselves would enjoy a growing influence in the Realm while the Crown was in there debt, the war had shown them to carry a backbone that invoked respect and fear in equal measures, no house who crossed them would find them easy pickings and they were able to become a force in the Westerlands that rivaled even the Lord Paramount. Sometime after this Lord Verdant would play a part in forming the High Valyrian Order alongside the Sunfyre' who they also grew into a friendship with, and many men of Valyrian descent joined even as the order itself was seen as something of a rather racist order that was seen negatively by other lords. But Daemon's influence remained and would only be slightly hindered by his actions in later wars including the 2nd Verdant-Lash war that thankfully proved to be less destructive and cost far less lives.