S03E01

## The Invasion of Ashford

### Summary:

The Courtly group return from the trial of Wilfred Hill only to find that Dorne has invaded The Reach.

## The Invasion of Ashford

Wilfred Hill was headed north, having just thrown off Randyll Tarly’s accusations of patricide. He shared a luxurious carriage with his companions. The carriage and its driver were provided by Barrish Cherrane, the self-proclaimed King of the Reach and their patron. Barrish needed to be told that Randyll Tarly, in admitting Wilfred’s innocence, had also publicly declared himself for the Rebel cause. It was comfortable journeying, but still a week on the road.

## A Traveler in Need

The only event of note in their journey was to pass another noble carriage, stuck by the side of the road with a broken axel. It being a lonely stretch of road, the group stopped to help.

But things were amiss, and before long it was clear that this was actually a kidnapping gone wrong. The party easily dispatched a brigand named Danton and his four goons, rescuing Lady Alta Sardfold in the process. She promised that her House would reward them someday.

## Barrish has Fled

The group returned to the town of Ashford and the private offices of Barrish Cherrane to find it deserted. All of his guards, his clerks and his servants were gone. Searching his private quarters, the group discovered a note from Barrish addressed to Hamza. The note explained that a Dornish army was coming to invade Ashford, and that he had fled for his life. He was very sorry to leave them in a difficult situation, but he was sure they would do fine.

The party scrambled to prepare for the invasion. The arguments between Loyalist and Rebel factions in the Reach had drawn most soldiers to the capital, or to family strongholds. The town was defended by a mere sixty troops. Before long, they could hear war horns in the distance and needed to scramble to find a hiding spot. Rook, being stealthy and unwise stayed behind in Barrish’s office, gathering whatever evidence he could to leverage against the great lord.

## Hiding in the Sept

The Dornish easily took the town, overwhelming the area in minutes. The group successfully escaped them by hiding in the local sept and disguising themselves as clergy. In fact, when the Dornish came to make sure the sept was secure, Fiyona convinced them not only that she was a septa, but that they should give her the freedom to move through the town.

Rook returned from the office by tumbling from rooftop to rooftop, and was delighted by the group’s clever ruse.

## Dueling Brothers

Given their successful deception, the group thought it was best to leave the town, which first required them to pass by the Dornish leadership. This would give them a chance to escape and gather information on the Dornish army.

But as they passed a group of Dornish officers, a voice cried, “You there!”

It was none other than Symon Santagar, Hamza Sand’s half-brother. Hamza was the legitimate heir of House Santagar, but their father Ser Deziel had robbed him of his title. Deziel had fallen out of love with Hamza’s mother, publicly annulling their marriage and giving all rights to his new wife and their son Symon. Everyone in Dorne knew that Hamza was still honourable and not bastard born, but he was still given the bastard name of Sand. And now for the first time in fifteen years, the two brothers stood eye-to-eye.

Hamza realized that he and his company had been caught be the Dornish army and saw only one way out. He challenged his half-brother to a duel for the honour of their House. If he could win the fight, it would prove that the gods were with him and the Dornish would let the group leave unhindered.

Hamza and Symon dueled, a host of Dornish soldiers cheering them on. Hamza was a better fighter by far, his skills earned as a mercenary on distant shores. But Symon was not concerned with his honour, he had laced his sword with a sleeping drug, ensuring his victory. In the end, Symon’s trickery did result in Hamza falling unconscious, but the victory was extremely suspicious.

Fiyona shouted from the crowd, “Poison!”
And Symon said, “Nonsense.”
So Fiyona shot back, “Then scratch yourself with your blade for all to see.”

Symon would not, and his dishonour was revealed. The Dornish authorities declared Hamza the winner of the duel and took Symon into custody, to be punished later. Symon swore revenge. Hamza, the rightful Lord of House Santagar, was unconscious and unaware of his victory.

The group needed to plan. The Reach was no longer safe, but if they stayed they could help the Rebel cause. The Westerlands were still firmly under the control of Tywin Lannister. The decided to head to the capital of the Seven Kingdoms at King’s Landing, there was news that the Rebel army had been victorious in the Riverlands and was headed there. The war could be over soon.

## Experience

- Ser Clyde Flay, Fiyona Riser and Rook each earned 13 XP, 3 Glory and 200 Silver Stags

- Hamza Sand earned 13 XP, 5 Glory and 200 Silver Stags

.