Ramsey Bolten is the bastard son of Roose Bolten, and Krelly Marsdrove, making him a member of House Bolten, and the first in line to inherit the throne of the Kingdom of Bolten. Ramsey has one sibling in the form of Domeric Bolten of whome has become the standard bearer for a new movement in Bolten which leads towards the positive nature of man and become more like Lucerne then the violent kingdom that they are now.
Ramsey Bolten has few friends, but those who have become attracted to his brand of violence and the potential for future power have become known as Ramsey`s Bastards and have devolved into a cult like following around him with little control over their shared love for violence and chaos.
Ramsay is the product of rape between Roose Bolton and a miller's wife. While hunting, Roose saw the miller's wife and decided to illicitly practice the banned tradition of the 'First Night,' where a lord had the right to bed the commoner's bride. He hanged the miller under a tree (for not informing his Lord of the new marriage) and raped the mans bride beneath her husbands swaying body. A year later the woman arrived at the Dreadfort with the newborn Ramsay. Roose nearly killed her and the babe, but when he saw the child had his eyes, the taboo of kinslaying stayed his hand. The woman claimed her husband's brother stole the mill and cast her out. Roose angered by this had the man's tongue removed so he would spread no tales. Roose then gave the woman the mill along with a pig, several chicks and a bag of stars every year on condition she never reveal to Ramsay the truth about who his father was. Ramsay's mother arrived a dozen years later claiming she needed help in raising Ramsay, who grew up wild and unruly, Roose sent Ramsay a servant known as "Reek." Reek, despite taking constant washes, always smelled bad due to some "unknown birth condition" that caused his skin to reek (thus his nickname). Giving him to Ramsay was actually a cruel jest by Roose, but the two grew inseparable. Roose would later reflect on whether Ramsay had "corrupted" Reek or whether Reek had corrupted Ramsay, though Reek would follow Ramsay's orders quite faithfully; Ramsay mentioned once that Reek "knew better" than to deny him. Ramsey's rise in House Bolten would come with each threat of murder towards a member of those loyal to Roose Bolten, of whom became helpless for the first time in his life as he refused to kill his bastard son despite the danger he poised. Ramsey would be instrumental in the threatening of the Kingdom of Lucerne after he was able to persuade many of those around Roose that they were a threat to House Bolten. Leading the forces of Bolten he would change the script when he sacked Jeutenburg instead of capturing the city as he had been told to. He would lead the siege of Koenisburg, but would become frightened after meeting with the Lucernians and would order a full scale retreat despite the Bolten's outnumbering the Lucernians by a huge margin. On his retreat north he planned to sneak away and burn small hamlets all across the land in order to taunt Domeric into coming to the area where he planned to ambush and kill his brother. He was betrayed before he could do this by Jordin Bolten, and the betrayal would lead to Jamie Lannister ambusing him while he camped with his force, and in order to stay alive he would kill Reek and pretend to be his most loyal servent. Escaping back to Dreadfort he would rally his forces and spark a civil war between House Locke, and House Hornwood, which Domeric raced to stop before it could spiral out of control. Waiting for his brother Ramsey would capture Domeric and hang him from a tree before escaping back to Dreadfort.
"Ramsay was clad in black and pink— black boots, black belt and scabbard, black leather jerkin over a pink velvet doublet slashed with dark red satin. In his right ear gleamed a garnet cut in the shape of a drop of blood. Yet for all the splendor of his garb, he remained an ugly man, big-boned and slope-shouldered, with a fleshiness to him that suggested that in later life he would run to fat. His skin was pink and blotchy, his nose broad, his mouth small, his hair long and dark and dry. His lips were wide and meaty, but the thing men noticed first about him were his eyes. He had his lord father’s eyes— small, close-set, queerly pale. Ghost grey, some men called the shade, but in truth his eyes were all but colorless, like two chips of dirty ice."
-Sansa Starke on meeting Ramsey Bolten
Personality
Ramsay is cruel, savage and wild, taking delight in torturing others. He is quite fond of the old Bolton custom of flaying their enemies. Though a capable manipulator and possessing a cold cunning, Ramsay openly enjoys abusive and sick practises such as having young women stripped naked and released into the Bolton forests, before hunting them with a pack of feral dogs. He gives a quick death to women who give him good sport (after raping them first), then flays their corpses. He likes to name his dogs after the women he enjoys most to "honor" them. The women who don't give him good sport are raped and then flayed alive. All the skins of his kills are brought back with him to the Dreadfort as gruesome trophies.
History
Early History
Ramsay is the product of rape between Roose Bolton and a miller's wife. While hunting, Roose saw the miller's wife and decided to illicitly practice the banned tradition of the 'First Night,' where a lord had the right to bed the commoner's bride. He hanged the miller under a tree (for not informing his Lord of the new marriage) and raped the mans bride beneath her husbands swaying body. A year later the woman arrived at the Dreadfort with the newborn Ramsay. Roose nearly killed her and the babe, but when he saw the child had his eyes, the taboo of kinslaying stayed his hand. The woman claimed her husband's brother stole the mill and cast her out. Roose angered by this had the man's tongue removed so he would spread no tales. Roose then gave the woman the mill along with a pig, several chicks and a bag of stars every year on condition she never reveal to Ramsay the truth about who his father was.
Reese
Ramsay's mother arrived a dozen years later claiming she needed help in raising Ramsay, who grew up wild and unruly, Roose sent Ramsay a servant known as "Reek." Reek, despite taking constant washes, always smelled bad due to some "unknown birth condition" that caused his skin to reek (thus his nickname). Giving him to Ramsay was actually a cruel jest by Roose, but the two grew inseparable. Roose would later reflect on whether Ramsay had "corrupted" Reek or whether Reek had corrupted Ramsay, though Reek would follow Ramsay's orders quite faithfully; Ramsay mentioned once that Reek "knew better" than to deny him.
The Near War
Conflict with House Johanston and House Karstark I finally see you for what you are in this moment Ramsey. You need to see that the path you are on is wrong. I can help you. I can make you a better person. Just give me a chance.
“I loved her deeply Prince Domeric. I loved her deeply and they murdered her just to spite me.”
— Thomas Johanston
The relationship between House Karstark and House Johanston had always been one of neglect as following the betrayal of House Starke by the Karstark elements the Johanstons had never really returned to the fold, and this meant that when Thomas Johanston traveled to Karhold and over several months fell in love with and eventually impregnated Sasha Karstark the two houses would explode. Following several deaths on both sides and a near invasion the King of Bolten in the form of Roose Bolten who come to the region and commanded the ending of fighting, but as a means to end further hostilities he commanded the splitting of time for the young child that had come of the union of Sasha and Thomas. The peace would all come to an end with the conflict that grew between Rickard Karstark, and Domeric Johanston of whom one time close friends became increasingly hateful towards eachother. Rickard Karstark II. would grow into a rivalry with his cousin Domeric Johanston and this rivalry would eventually end with the two dueling and Rickard being horribly scarred leading to Domeric being imprisoned in Karhold, and after Sasha Karstark attempted to flee Karhold to gain assistance from her former lover and Domeric's father she would be killed sparking the final conflict between House Karstark and House Johanston.
The Capital Comes
“The Karstarks are being resisted by one of their vassals and my friend Rickard asks that we come south to stop things before they boil out of control. This will be your first true experience in the matters of vassals and their needs my son.”
— Roose Bolten
Domeric Bolten travels alongside his father and brother to Karhold where the forces of House Karstark are near invasion of the lands of the powerful House Johanston. Arriving in Karhold the Bolten members deal with the fallout from the relationship between Sasha Karstark and Thomas Johanston of which has already ended with the murder of Sasha by Harrion Karstark. Domeric leaves with Jordin Bolten, Randal Ollendog, Landon Turdroc, and Vatef Karstark of which the last in Vatef is an extremely troubled young man of whom is sent to represent the Karstarks in Domerics meetings with the Johanstons.
The Trade
“When we go there Prince Domeric do not dare believe that what they ask in return will be anything but cruel. They killed Sasha in front of me for no reason other then to hurt me. They will do far worse now. Never trust a Karstark.”
— Thomas Johanston
Domeric returns to Karhold with Thomas Johanston and a large force of the Johanstons where they meet a mile from Karhold and the exchange is made between the two houses. Domeric recieves his son and cries bitterly with his family as his sister Metalyn goes with the Karstarks as the other element of the trade.
Ramsey's Madness
“I thought I could save you Ramsey. I'm not ready to give up on you yet brother, but what you did here isn't okay. Do you not fear for your soul?”
— Domeric Bolten
Leaving Karhold with his father and the rest of the Dreadfort party he questions as to where Ramsey is and his father reveals that instead of assisting with the negotiations he went south and murdered to farmers on the Jeutenburg lands only just escaping with his life. Domeric leaves his father and goes south where he assists his brother Ramsey in negotiating a way out of the murders of the two farmers and only the promise of Domeric that Ramsey will be punished and following this Ramsey and Domeric get into a fight as Domeric is shocked as Ramsey begins laughing about what happened.
Dreadfort Meeting
“I wanted him to stop. I spoke to him with all the love I had in me for my brother, and yet all it did was make him believe I wanted him dead. What was there left for me when he refused reason.”
— Domeric Bolten
Domeric Bolten would travel to Hornwood so that he could attend a tournament they were holding there, and also so that he could see Halys Hornwood and his family of whom he knew very well and loved as his own family. Arriving there Halys would tell him that he had sent some of his men to follow Ramsey Bolten around, and from this had discovered that Ramsey had a small keep north of the Dreadfort and would use it to capture, chase, and then rape and kill women. Learning this as well as the plans that Ramsey was beggining to form alongside the power he was gaining Domeric would return to the Dreadfort with Halys, and several of the Hornwood vassals. Domeric and his party would meet Rodrik Cassel a little west of Hornwood where he was awaiting more boats for transport for himself and his vassals, and from Rodrik they learned that followed Domeric leaving the Dreadfort Ramsey had called a meeting of the Kingdom of Bolten, and Rodrik was already running late.
“When we met Rodrik Cassel on the road it was a chance meeting. We weren't moving at a very high speed, and had we not of we would have taken the land route instead of the boat with him, and we would have missed the meeting.”
— Domeric Bolten
Taking a ride with the Cassel force Domeric and the Hornwood forces would reach the Dreadfort days before they would if they had been marching, and would arrive just hours before the meetings were to begin. Domeric would have a long talk with Josh Cole of whom warns Domeric that the Karstark's and the Urnet's are solidly behind Ramsey and that he and his forces will not follow Domeric into a conflict they cannot win. Hearing of the Karstark's joining with Ramsey Domeric meets with Halys Hornwood but finds he has come with a sickness and can barely move forcing Daryn Hornwood to join the meeting as the head of House Hornwood. Arriving at the meeting Ramsey, and Mallador Locke would taunt Daryn over the sickness of his father and would carefully make it known that they were the reason behind the sickness. The arrival of Trevor Hayford would stall the argument and they all entered the Dreadfort Keep where the meeting took place.
“Ramsey was chaos, while Domeric was order. It will forever be the great shame of this land that we allowed chaos to grow. We all stood and watched as Domeric resisted, and was struck down. We all sat and we all watched as Chaos was allow to do that. We should be ashamed.”
— Daryn Hornwood
Entering the meeting the assembled noblemen would hear a speach from Roose Bolten which to the shock of many inside the room was praising towards Ramsey, and slightly insulting towards Domeric. This speach did much to turn many of those who might have followed Domeric, and turned them towards listening to Ramsey instead. Following this Rickard Karstark spoke of growing attacks by Dragonoph fanatics sent by the Kingdom of Lucerne against the western border of the Karstark lands, and Domeric would stand during this and tell the assembled that these attacks were not happening. Ramsey would attack Domerics honor and call him a liar who was secretly in the pay for the Lucernians which noone believed but turned the attention away from the lie about the Lucernian attacks on the Karstarks. Daryn Hornwood did his best to speak on the side of Domeric but was shouted down by the Locke's and Urnets of whom laughed at Daryn and rediculed his lands, and his weakened father. As things broke down and it became clear that Ramsey was going to have the war he wanted, Domeric would look across at Josh Cole and saw him smiling sadly at him, and as the meeting ended Domeric went after Josh Cole and spoke with him alongside Daryn Hornwood. Josh Cole told Domeric once again that the Cole's were not willing to die for some wasted war that the insane Ramsey Bolten wanted, and that Josh Cole was not going to do it, and Domeric realizing this could mean turning to the Lucernians, or staying neutral attempted to persaude him, but despite respecting Domeric there was no agreement from Josh.
“I could litteraly feel the moment when hope died. He stood and he told everyone there a giant lie, and they all believed him. I knew the truth, and I knew what would happen if we did this. I knew their numbers. I knew their quality. I knew a lot about the Kingdom of Lucerne, and I knew that we were not a match for them. Not now.”
— Domeric Bolten
Domeric in that moment knew things were darkening in Bolten, and warned Daryn to take his father and their vassals and return to Hornwood and prepare the army because he would need them when the time came. Doing this Domeric was left alone and went to see his father of whom would be in his throne room with Rickard Karstark. Speaking with the two of them Domeric got the sence that neither agreed with Ramsey, but couldn't get them to tell him why they had sided with him, but Roose did tell Domeric that he needed to follow Ramsey this time, or else. When he resisted this Roose would command it as his king, and knowing the honor bound Domeric would follow this he left the room with the horrifying thought of having to follow Ramsey and his madness.
Conversation Incoming
Fairmarket. The Riverlands. Lorderon, and Kul Tiras. Westbridge. All had fallen to our might. All had sworn the sword to the Valley of Lucerne. All that power, and yet I looked north and saw a great demon the likes of which I could not hope to resist. The Empire was the reason for growth. The Empire was the reason for everything we did. The Empire was the land that should have done great things for the world, but instead of this they did nothing. They allowed chaos to breed amongst them, and in that weakeness and failing they threatened to ruin the entire continent.
Father why would you have turned to his side in there." My father just stared at me with nothing there. I knew the leeches were draining him somewhat of his feelings, but I had never seen him this...this dead. He looked like a shell of himself. "I just don't understand father."
"Sometimes it isn't our place to understand why we are commanded to do things. Sometimes those below the top cannot see all things."
"What am I not seeing father."
"There are many things that a king sees, that his heir cannot. There are many visions that I know of that you can only grasp at."
"Ramsey is my blood father, but he has fallen into darkness. I cannot get him free of that. I cannot save him from himself."
"Of this I am painfully aware of."
"Then why give him the lead."
"Your just going to have to listen to him this time Domeric. Trust me when I say that I have a plan. I have a plan that gives us both everything we ever wanted. All you need to do is listen to Ramsey for a period of time."
"He will lead our men to the slaughter."
"Lord Domeric that appears to be your task then."
"What do you mean Lord Karstark?"
"I mean that you must protect the army from his version of war."
"The Kingdom of Bolten was the first time we were ever met agressively by an oponent, and at first we were shocked at their actions. I determined quickly that they had to be stopped at any cost, and this led to our promise to defend our two major allies in the region, and a massive influx of our troops into the region."
-William Lovie III.
With the taking of Westbrige the region of Bolten became more interested in its own growth and in particular they really wanted to get the Lucernian army involved in pitch battles which they had the numbers to survive. In order to do this they begin threatening several allies of Lucerne in western Westros in the form of Koenisburg, and the town of Jeutenburg. While these threats rancheted up the Kingdom of Lucerne did exactly what the Boltens hoped they would do when they brought huge forces to bear on the defences of the Westros river crossing of Levin. The Lucernians also made it known that any action taken against their allies in Koenisburg, or Jeutenburg would be deemed a decleration of war against Lucerne itself. This promice to defend meant a lot to the two towns, and most believed that with that the conflict would be ended before any blood was spilled. This idea changed quickly when the Kingdom of Bolten sacked Jeutenburg in a massive siege that took place in the guise of a peace mission.
Fall of Jeutenburg Jeutenburg was the first act of a truly insane man. Instead of offering quarter and hoping for any kind of assistence in the Divine Lands he butchered the first city he found and expected the rest to what...give in to him peacefully. Madness, and stupidity.
Fall of Jeutenburg
Main Article : Bolten Capture of Jeutenburg
“Daryn the truth is that nothing that happens here will end well. My brother is pretending that it will but the reality is that hes going to destroy Juetenburg. You need to stay here after its done and make sure as much of the city is protected as possible.”
— Domeric Bolten
The city of Jeutenburg with the promise of Lucerne to defend it should the worst come stood tall as the army of Bolten came to its door, and House Banner blocked there entry. At first the Boltens sent in emissaries of whom promised peace and they simply wished to pass peacefully so they could get to Koenisburg in order to stop Lucerne from taking Koenisburg. Nikolas refused this offer as he was now aligned with Koenisburg and told the Boltens they would not peacefully be passing by the city, and when this happened to his shock the Bolten emissaries said they would do this the following day. Despite these promises during the night spies, and mercenaries scaled the walls of Jeutenburg infiltrating the main gatehouse and once they got inside the walls they showed hidden weapons and overpowered the outnumbered guards they had before occupying the gatehouse. The forces of Jeutenburg were somewhat unprepared for this sudden attack and despite attempting to resist the taking of the gatehouse the Bolten forces held out for nearly twenty minutes while the army of Bolten reached the gate. With the gatehouse in their control they filled into the city overwhelming every point of resistance with their vastly superior numbers and for nearly an hour the sacking of the city went on before Domeric Bolten, and Daryn Hornwood were able to control the palace and large enough segments of the city that they slowed the killing. One spot where the Jeutenburg defences held was the estate of House Chandyll where under the leadership of Calrin Chandyll they held the gaps between the estate buildings killing dozens and forcing a coordinated assault on the estate. This assault would be led by the Stoney Shore forces of House Haryen, and House Rurwell who led by Lucas Rurwell launched a ferocious attack on the estate which by this point was simply buying time to get there people out of the city. While after nearly a half an hour of assault the estate fell the leadership of House Chandyll retreated in good order and had bought time for there members and vassals to escape out of the city, and alongside this Daman Haryen would be badly injured during the fighting and fell into a coma due to his injuries and then died several days after.
“Brother what have you done? Every child, and man you just butchered could have filled our armies. Every family and home you destroyed could have given us gold. Why do this?”
— Domeric Bolten
During the sacking of the city Jeutenburg was given very little quarter with nearly half the city killed, and the survivors forced to live under the occupation of House Urnet of whom spent their time ransacking the city of its ancient wealth and history. As the army of Bolten did this their was division as the forces under the command of Domeric Bolten, and House Hornwood would protect several areas within the city, and were the main reason the entire city wasn't massacred. With conflict between this force, and the more chaotic forces of Ramsey Bolten looking likely a raven arrived from Roose Bolten who tasked them with quickly moving towards Koenisburg before the Lucernians could react. A meeting was held in the old Jeutenburg palace where Ramsey Bolten commanded the entire army leave Jeutenburg except for House Urnet of whom would hold the town alongside two companies of mercenaries. Domeric was able to trick Ramsey into allowing House Hornwood under Daryn to stay behind as well after he convinced everyone that Daryn was about to capture the Banner family. Following this meeting Ramsey would lead the army outside of Jeutenburg alongside Domeric of whom went along with him but during the first night of the march he abandoned the army and returned to Jeutenburg to meet with Daryn.
Behind Enemy Lines
“Daryn Hornwood raised his sword before smashing it against a log to the left of me. As I looked up I saw the crying faces of my family but I also saw his hand as he offered me help up. From there he would assist me in gathering as many of my supporters as we could find alongside much of my family and then shuttling me out of the city. I will forever remember the actions of Daryn Hornwood in doing what was right and not what was easy.”
— Nichlas Banner
Daryn Hornwood would be leading his forces alongside Orsen Stout and others in his personal council, and during his searching for nobles of Jeutenburg he captured Nikolas Banner and his family bringing them back to the Hornwood quarters in Jeutenburg which were once the Banner home. Daryn Hornwood would send word of the capture but by this point Ramsey and most of the other leaders had already left for Koenisburg and thus he was sent a raven saying he should kill all members of House Banner he had before taking House Hornwood, and his vassals towards Koenisburg. While an honorable young man he was also driven by duty, and thus when he first received this command he planned on following through but Daryn would have a change of heart after he spent the night talking to Nikolas's daughter Corina Banner. Originally meeting her by mistake when he was planning on going to tell Nikolas about the execution he found her crying and without thinking consoled her. Corina would see quickly that Daryn was a good young man and someone that didn't want to do what he told her had been commanded to do by the raven sent to him from Ramsey Bolten. The two spent the entire night talking and as he prepared to leave she would steal a kiss, and from the second that happened the already conflicted Daryn Hornwood didn't know what he would do when he raised the sword to kill Nikolas.
“I was a man built on two pillars. My father had taught me of honor, and duty. On one hand I could do the honorable thing and let Jeutenburg live since it didn't deserve the death the Urnet's were instilling on it. Or I could do my duty and burn the town down and leave the Banners dead in it. The decision would destroy one pillar, and I only hoped it left the roof intact.”
— Daryn Hornwood
As he debated this in his mind he went to his war council of whom consisted of Jonas Intris, Lorant of Hornwood, Rafford of Wisborne, and Ser Roger Horntree and together he discussed with them his misgivings on what was happening. Lorand, and Rafford were very much behind the idea of protecting the people of Juetenburg but Roger and Jonas believed that they would be branded traitors and that the hostages held by the Boltens in the Dreadfort would be in danger. Roger Horntree had a son in the Dreadfort as a hostage and argued that his child would be killed if they did anything to hurt Ramsey Boltens ideas. Not coming to a complete agreement after talking for almost two hours they would break up but before they did Jonas who also had a child in the Dreadfort convinsed Roger of the honor of what Daryn wanted to do and thus Roger relented on trying to protect at least noble women and children. With this in agreement Roger would take the forces of House Horntree alongside several hundred others and begin rounding up women and children and bringing them east of the town to the main army of Hornwood who was camped there.
Daryn Hornwood for the first time in his life saw a reason that he should ignore duty and do what was right. On top of that he had no illusions in his mind over the fact that he would without a doubt be unable to kill Corina.
While the Hornwood forces arranged the saving of so many women and children it was the Urnet's led by Gunthor Urnet that were hunting the streets for more gold, and women when during one of their raids they discovered that the Banners had been taken from a hiding spot to the Palace and thus he realized that Daryn Hornwood had not killed them yet. For Daryn Hornwood though, the rest of the day was drawing away and Daryn knew he had to make a decision, and he found himself outside the makeshift cell of Corina Banner of whom he kneeled before the bars and rested his head against them. Corina would come towards him and gently rub his hair trying to make him understand that she understood that he had to do what he had to do. Entering the cell he pulled her into a hug and laid with her against the wall where the two would discuss what kind of life they could have lived together as Daryn came to the understanding that if he didn't kill her and her family then his own family including many people he knew from his time in the Dreadfort would be at risk. The two would kiss and the heated kissing was only interupted when Rafford would arive to tell him that several Urnet men had arrived and were demanding to see him. Rafford would depart and sadly Daryn went to go as well but before leaving she would give him a necklace that her mother had given her when she was a child, and the two would kiss again.
Conversation Incoming
Fairmarket. The Riverlands. Lorderon, and Kul Tiras. Westbridge. All had fallen to our might. All had sworn the sword to the Valley of Lucerne. All that power, and yet I looked north and saw a great demon the likes of which I could not hope to resist. The Empire was the reason for growth. The Empire was the reason for everything we did. The Empire was the land that should have done great things for the world, but instead of this they did nothing. They allowed chaos to breed amongst them, and in that weakeness and failing they threatened to ruin the entire continent.
I walked down the corridors of the smoking castle not knowing where I was going, but knowing where I was going at the same time. A part of me didn't want to see her because I understood that I had to kill her father, and her with him. There just didn't seem to be a way to move forward without that simple truth. If I let her live the Boltens would without a doubt that they would kill his cousin Tyse and without a doubt all the hostages of the Hornwood's vassals would also be killed with poor Tyse.
Reaching the cell door I fell to my knees, and the sound of my armor clanking on the ground made her jump, but whatever fear there was in her disappeared behind her smile when she saw me. I hated myself. I wanted to make this different...I wanted everyone to live...I wanted the Boltens to just stop.
"I was hoping you would come Lord Hornwood." She smiled as she walked up me, and I couldn't bare to see her face knowing what I had to do so I lowered my face against the bar. I scarsley knew what was happening and then I felt the first of the tears flowing down my cheek and her hand gently rubbing my head.
"I don't deserve your kindness my lady. We both know how this ends."
"We may know how this ends my lord, but we both also know what end you wish for. You know who you are. I know who you are, and doing this doesn't change that." I looked up at her and saw the tears on her cheek, and I removed my armored gauntlet and wiped the tears away. She moved herself into my hand, and broke inside feeling her so close. I felt onto my belt and grabbed the keys opening the door and moving myself inside the room where she enveloped me into a hug. "Will it be quick Daryn?"
"The Quickest. So quick you'll barely know what happened."
"I wish I could have married you Daryn...I wish I could have spent years with you in the warmth of a hearth instead of the coldness of this place."
"I wish that too."
"Tell me Daryn what our life would be like in Hornwood." Her eyes were filled with tears as I looked into them, but somehow she seemed to smile through it all.
"It would be beautiful Corina. We would spend our mornings just staring into the sky. My room has a cieling which during the summer you can stars so clearly it is as if you could reach out and touch them."
"That sounds like a paradise."
"It would be."
"Milord." The voice of Rafford would cause me to jump back from Corrina and stand myself towards him. "Lord Hornwood, there are several Urnet men at the gate who are demanding to see you."
"Do they bring with them a good reason?"
"Gunthor Urnet is amongst them and he has learned that Lord Banner still lives."
Daryn returned to the top level of the castle to find Lorant, Jonas and Ser Rafford talking to Gunthor Urnet of whom was accompanied by many of his men including several Karstark men led by Atolf Karstark. Gunthor revealed he knew they had not killed the Lord of Jeutenburg yet and was here to make sure the deed was done to the satisfaction of those above and heavily threatened death to the Hornwood hostages in the Dreadfort if the task was not done to their satisfaction as well. Daryn to the surprise of his council would tell Gunthor that they were fine to do it now, and that he would summon the family right away, and Gunthor could witness it himself. Rafford, and Lorant went to gather the Banner family, and while they did this Atolf Karstark begin bragging about the number of young girls he had been with during the sacking of Jeutenburg to the point that Jonas nearly attacked him before Daryn commanded him to stand down.
“I knew what my orders were, but I couldn't do it. My father had taught me different and it wasn't until this moment that I finally understood that we were on the wrong side. We were the bad guys in this scenario. We were the ones causing pain to the world. We were the ones that children would one day read about and think to themselves of how could people do such things. If we wanted that to change then we had to accept that were on the wrong side of history. And that had to change, otherwise what the hell were we doing out here.”
— Daryn Hornwood
When Rafford, and Lorant returned with the Banner family Nikolas kneeled before Daryn and closed his eyes as Daryn prepared to execute the man. Daryn would raise the sword once before putting it down briefly when Atolf Karstark begin rubbing the hair of Corina's younger sister Cersei and taunted Nikolas about what he was going to do to the young before she died too. Gunthor Urnet would then taunt Daryn calling him a coward and this led him to raise his sword once more, but this time as he did he felt Corina's presence behind him, and as he turned to look at her she gave him a sad smile before closing her eyes. Daryn knew in that moment that he couldn't do it and smashed his sword against a block of wood nearby. Gunthor would push his way past Jonas screaming about the commands of the Boltens and calling Daryn a coward and a traitor. As Gunther Urnet stepped forward to try and kill Nikolas it was Jonas Intris that stepped forward and slit the throat of Gunther before he could kill Nikolas.
“What you just did Lord Hornwood shows who you are. Look at me son. You may pay a price for doing what is right, but look out there. Those are the people you saved. Your actions saved all of there lives and trust me son. They will all know what you did here. They will all know who you are.”
— Nikolas Banner
The several Urnet, and Karstark men in the room tried to fight back, but were overwhelmed by the more numerous Hornwood forces and killed leaving only Atolf Karstark of whom begged for mercy, but without a word Daryn dragged him out of the courtyard and away from the Banners and once out of sight decapitated Atolf. Nikolas was set free from his bonds along with his family and Daryn would assist him in locating the loyalist members of his vassals along with his sister and her family. Following this he would set his men to helping Nikolas in exiting the city and as they left he stole his own kiss from Corina Banner before she was rushed from the burning town. Nikolas would thus be able to escape with much of his family and a significant force of his most loyal banner men. Staying behind under orders from Nikolas was his step-brother Otto Dragoon the bastard husband of his sister of whom led the rebels within the city while Nikolas rallied the Divine Lands to retake Jeutenburg. Daryn Hornwood would leave behind his knightly house in House Intris in order to better assist Nikolas Banner, and to make sure that his actions were not discovered by House Karstarke and Urnet who remained in the town with several influential family members.
Siege of Koenisburg If they take Koenisburg it will prolong with this war for so much longer then it needs to be. Hold the city and we can break them now. Hold the city and we can end this before it begins.
“I think to a man we all thought that the Bolten's would have listened to our warnings. Noone at the top thought they were actually going to call our bluff and burn an entire town to the ground.”
— Hedrik Clegane III.
When Jeutenburg came under siege this was a huge indicator that the diplomatic message wasn't going to be enough so William ordered House Starke under Jon Snow, House Lannister under Tyrion Lannister, as well as House Clegane under Hedrik Clegane III. to send their forces to assist in the defense of Koenisburg as the city was now completely under threat. Word was sent to Koenisburg that this was happening and Britt Lancave would prepare herself for the ultimate defense of the city she loved so dearly. Word was also sent northward to Kul Tiras of whom was to send a large force of ships to Fairmaket in order to send the forces incoming to the Divine Lands. Kul Tiras would send two ships to Koenisburg under different purposes led by Wilheim Caellin, Dilon Borrell, and Tandred Proudmoore of whom would land in Koenisburg planting there house flags on two of the towers of the city making it appear once more there were more forces present then there would actually be. At the same time as this was going to happen William sent one of his greatest generals in Jamie Lannister to the small town of Grandlen where if the Boltens besieged the city of Koenisburg Jamie was to move southwards from Grandlen and hit them from behind and destroy the Boltens before this got out of hand. Jamie Lannister joined heavily by forces of House Reyne, House Brax, and other vassals of Castamere would arrive two weeks after leaving in Grandlen alongside a force of some two thousand cavalry, and they would make camp a days march east of Grandlen and await word from Koenisburg.
“Jon Starke arrived and just like every time the Lucernians came here they seemed like a different species. Glittering in their armor, and overstretched with food they were like royalty. Even the Bastards of there land looked like princes in the Valley of Lucerne compared to us.”
— Britt Lancave
Jon Snow would arrive alongside Tyrion Lannister and a small force of House Starke and House Baratheon into Koenisburg, and were met with great applause by the scared locals of Koenisburg. Jon Snow and Tyrion were shown to rooms by Britt Lancave and when they were both situated Britt met with them to discuss what was happening in the theater. She told them that the Boltens appeared led by Ramsey Bolten, and were massing a large army outside of Karhold in a direct threat to Jeutenburg, and while the armies of the Divine Lands were large they were not even close to capable of defeating the amassed army of Bolten. The three would talk some more before Tyrion left leaving just Britt and Jon Snow alone, and she would ask him about how his situation in the north was going. Shocked that she remembered from briefly telling her years ago he told her about the letters and told her that it was taking all of his strength to stay himself from leaving for the north. Britt would explain to him the way Bastards worked in the Divine Lands, and told him how sad she was for him feeling so unloved just because of the manner in which he was born. Feeling comforted by this he was shocked when Britt suggested they marry, and despite finding her very attractive he still longed to see Ygritte again, and was forced to reject her offer. Things continued in a spin mode for many days until as they were meeting in the keep news reached them that Hedrik Clegane III. had arrived in Koenisburg and they went to the docks to meet him. Meeting with Hedrik Clegane III. he would give Jon Snow a letter passed onto him from a Maester from Stormwind, and labelled from Jeor Mormont he excused himself to read it, and digest what it would mean.
Conversation Incoming
Fairmarket. The Riverlands. Lorderon, and Kul Tiras. Westbridge. All had fallen to our might. All had sworn the sword to the Valley of Lucerne. All that power, and yet I looked north and saw a great demon the likes of which I could not hope to resist. The Empire was the reason for growth. The Empire was the reason for everything we did. The Empire was the land that should have done great things for the world, but instead of this they did nothing. They allowed chaos to breed amongst them, and in that weakeness and failing they threatened to ruin the entire continent.
Lord Jon Snow,
This letter finds things much as they were my friend. The Wildlings have suffered a major defeat since we last talked as they attacked the wall but we were reinforced by the Stor men, and the Wildlings were pushed away with minimal difficulty. Following the defeat I met with Mance Rayder and I warned him not to attack again, but I did tell him that the Day Watch to the north is much less vigilient, and I know of your plans to perhaps take the Days Watch.
Mance agreed with me that it was death for his people to stay in the Frostfangs, and because of this he is going to round up as many of the Wildlings as he can and prepare for your coming in the north. If you are going to do what you said then understand there is not much time. The White Walkers will kill everyone inside the Frostfangs and understand that you many not have three months before this come to pass.
Perhaps one day I shall write to you with better news, but I do not see this coming to pass anytime soon. Ygitte wished you well, and she looked in good spirits. I'm sorry Jon.
Lord Commander of the Nights Watch
Jeor Mormont
Hours after the arrival of Hedrik Clegane III. the city was alerted to the sudden arrival of more Lucernians as they were further joined by Sawyer Shephard of whom brought nearly a hundred Order of the Red Dragon men and flags with him as well in order to help. Using these flags and honor guard they mounted themselves all along the walls of Koenisburg, and alongside the earlier arrival of the Kul Tiras forces the walls were arrayed with different sigils and gave a very clear impression that House Starke, House Clegane, the Kul Tirasi Houses, and House Lannister had arrived in force. Tandred Proudmoore would also have his highly trained Kul Tirasi marines captain nearly every ship in Koenisburg to the point that the port looked filled to the brim furthering the idea that there was large force present. By this point the Lucernians, and Divine Lands had learned the extent of the destruction of Jeutenburg of which pushed basically the entire Divine Lands into the Lucernian camp including Grandlens large forces.
Devision and Failure
“He's losing his mind son. Look at what hes doing and you tell me right now that putting him out of his misery is not the proper path. Domeric I'm going to advise you one last time that either you kill your brother or watch this entire army burn around you.”
— Rickard Karstark
The moment the flags went up on the walls of Koenisburg their was a severe amount of panic among the leadership of House Bolten after Ramsey Bolten went on a screaming spree as he believed his commanders had failed him and brought them all into a trap. Following his ranting Ramsey Bolten would call the commanders together and go on another mad rant inside the command tent about the need for the army to retreat before they were overwhelmed by what he believed was a massive Lucernian army. In this moment Domeric would step forward and heavily push that they should attack the city right away as he argued their was no way that the Lucernians could have massed enough troops in the city to stop them. As he was almost finished talking Ramsey would take a knife out and lunge at Domeric attempting to kill him. Domeric was the more skilled warrior and dodged the knife before wrestling Ramsey to the ground, and only the interference of the other commanders stopped Ramsey from being killed right there. With Ramsey losing his mind in the tent it was Rickard Karstark that would suggest that they meet with the Lucernians and at least gauge the forces of the Lucernians from the meeting. Ramsey would reluctantly agree to this plan, and with that a messenger was sent to the wall making it known that they wanted a meeting.
“That was the first chance I had gotten to meet the so called bastard of Bolten and I had assumed that the terrible things I had heard of him were going to prove to be overblown. I was wrong.”
— Britt Lancave
The two forces would meet with Ramsey and Domeric Bolten followed by Rickard Karstark, and John Cole on the Bolten side and on the Lucernian side it was Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Hedrik Clegane III. alongside Britt Lancave. As the two forces rode out it was a quiet moment for both sides as both believed the other side was going to break the honorable truce of a white flag meeting. Meeting together they would barely be starting to discuss the issues when Ramsey Bolten would intervene and begin insulting Tyrion Lannister for being a dwarf, and Jon Snow for his bastardy birth.
Conversation Incoming
Fairmarket. The Riverlands. Lorderon, and Kul Tiras. Westbridge. All had fallen to our might. All had sworn the sword to the Valley of Lucerne. All that power, and yet I looked north and saw a great demon the likes of which I could not hope to resist. The Empire was the reason for growth. The Empire was the reason for everything we did. The Empire was the land that should have done great things for the world, but instead of this they did nothing. They allowed chaos to breed amongst them, and in that weakeness and failing they threatened to ruin the entire continent.
I marched out onto the field, and I could see that Bolten's were already there waiting for us. Seeing the red flags of their gaurds blowing in the wind made me almost uncontiously grip my horse's reigns tighter. I looked around for a moment and saw Tyrion riding just behind me on his little pony followed closely by his squire Podrick Payne. Alittle to his left was Britt Lancave who looked like an angel riding in her white armor with nothing but her servent girl with her. I turned back and looked to my right for a moment to see Hedrik Clegane and his cousin Fredrick who looked ever piece the image of nobility. I tried to feel strong in that moment. Surrounded by so much nobility it was never more clear to me what my place was. Before I could spend another moment isolated in my mind we reached the Boltens and I followed Hedrik's suit and got off my horse.
Walkign towards them I got my first glance of the Boltens. As they walked forward I knew which one was Ramsey almost immediately by the Pink Flayed Man that adorned the brestplate he wore. If not for that there was a near aura of sheer evil that flowed from him, and seemed to mix with the air. I'd seen lots of evil men in my day. From Maron Scorpian, to Dan Scott you thought you knew it but, this man was something else. Beside him stood another man with a flayed man on his breast place, and he looked the polar opposite of Ramsey. This man had a look of elegance to him. From the regal look of his armor, to the kindness in his eyes I was confused as to why this man did not lead them.
"So the mighty Kingdom of Lucerne has so little going for it that all it can send is a bastard, a dwarf, a girl, and a child?" It was exactly the kind of a greeting I would expect from someone like him. A man with two wolves on his breastplate laughed behind him and more looked ready to laugh until Domeric stepped forward.
"This is a peaceful meeting there is no reason for this to go into hostilities." His armor was still red, but when the moment after Domeric stepped forward I knew almost immediatly that my first impression of him was right and he was something beyond his cruel brother.
"You burn a city to the ground that was protected by our realm and you speak of forgoing hostilities? I believe your house lost the right to speak of honor long ago but atleast let us speak with honesty for a moment." Tyrion was always the firebrand, and as he told me once, you had to be your own flag bearer when you had a weakeness as obvious as ours. I still remembered back to the first time we had talked and he had told me about what being a bastard really meant and I couldn't help but still feel a bond to him.
"Juetenburg is gone. That conversation is over. The only conversation to be had now is how long before we burn Koenisburg to the ground." Ramsey clearly wasn't one for tactics, and from the looks many in the party were giving eachother they wished he was reacting differently. Only a few amongst them still looked ready to fully support Ramsey while you could see the looks of hope towards Domeric.
"Behind these walls stand an army larger then your own, with more arriving each day. Koenisburg will not burn, and unless you leave your entire force will be destroyed."Britt Lancave spoke and I felt admiration for the strength of this girl. She wore the armor of a warrior, and the way she held herself left little doubt as to how confident and proud she was. She was something to be admired, and everything since the first time I met her told me that.
"There is no point in lying Ser Britt of House Lancave. We know that the city is practicly empty. Any attempts to reach Koenisburg would have taken weeks. Weeks you did not have." It was such a constrast hearing Domeric Bolten speaking that you could barely accept they were brothers.
"There are faster routes then land if you want to get somewhere Lord Bolten."After I said Lord Bolten to Domeric I knew I had stepped on a nerve of Ramsey as he practicly went red from anger.
"The Bastard of Stormwind wishes us to believe that the Frey's allowed you to pass. The Frey's are if nothing else reliable. Reliable to do nothing. Helping you would have been something, and that Bastard isn't something they would do." The man had a massive beard and the sun on his breastplate made me know immediately what house this man was from. A Karstark. The ancient betrayers of my family was standing in front of me. He held some of the looks of my family despite the long years seperated by the Rhine River, and I guess that made the historical betrayal more painful didn't it.
"Believe what you want. The truth is that there are thousands of Lucernian forces behind that wall, and unless." Tyrion breifly looked at Ramsey Bolten before contining."the bastard of the Dreadfort wishes to lose his entire army, he had best think carefully." The fume returned to his face as he was clearly not used to this kind of abuse and didn't like it one bit.
"I'm truly sorry but where I come from the freaks and women didn't speak for our houses. So unless your ready for the terms of your surrender I don't see why this should continue." Ramsey turned his back to us, and started walking back to his horse followed by several of the men who clearly were following him.
"Turn and run that is all your good for isn't it. No wonder you are such a disapointment to everyone in your land. We have had quite the laugh at how pathetic you are." Hedrik Clegane wasn't usually one for such dramatics but even he I guess had enough of Roose Bolten's bastard. The moment after he said the words though Ramsey let go of the horse, and walked back towards us followed closely by Domeric. I don't know what any of us expected but it wasn't him pulling a knife from his side, and lunging at Hedrik. As he jumped though it was Domeric that pushed him to the ground where he slammed hard against the ground before quickly getting to his feet and looking at Domeric with more hate in his eyes then I had ever seen. Ramsey would spit in Domeric's face before he stomped his way back to his horse and rode away followed by everyone but Domeric. Domeric leaned against the side of his horse and sighed.
"I don't know what I expected from this, but it wasn't this." He sounded tired, and I wasn't suprised when Britt stepped forward and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"This isn't on you. We all know who you are, and this would be the moment you should come with us brother." Her voice was caring, and held every ounce of truth that I know she felt about it, but even her kindness wasn't going to fix what was wrong.
"I'm not your brother. You just saw the only blood brother I have in this world."
"We are all the children of Glaurung and that includes you Domeric."
"I wish all of you the best. Tommarow we shall all die I suppose." With that there was nothing else to say and he mounted his horse and rode back to the Bolten lines.
With these insults the meeting begin to fall apart and it nearly came to violence when Ramsey took out a knife from his side and only the quick movement of Domeric Bolten stopped the situation from completely falling apart. Despite this Ramsey and Domeric would nearly come to blows but only Ramsey's knowledge that he couldn't defeat Domeric stopped him from attacking him right there. Ramsey would spit in his face before leaving with everyone else in the party outside of Domeric who remained behind. Britt Lancave would attempt to convinse him to come back with them, but he was loyal to a fault and returned to the Bolten lines.
The Retreat
“I returned to a camp in complete turmoil. When I got off my horse it was John Cole that approached me and told me that Ramsey had spent the ride back screaming how I was to be killed in the most violent and painful way he could devise, and that he planned to retreat back to Karhold. All that remained now was to make it there.”
— Domeric Bolten
Following the fight between Domeric and Ramsey Bolten and the collapse of the meeting with the Lucernians it was Ramsey's hatred and madness that led him him to decide to put nearly the entire Bolten army into a full retreat back to Karhold. Ramsey was at this point beyond any sort of rational thought and noone dared resist him despite the fact that many believed that Koenisburg was there's for the taking and Roose Bolten wanted the city taken at all costs. While he planned to have nearly the entire army do this he would force his brother Domeric to return to Karhold from a different direction with only House Hornwood and its loyal vassals. As the armies made their retreat back to Karkhold, it was Ramsey that put into work his real plan when he split from the main army and moved north with a large force of cavalry and planned to burn the town of Pomlet to the ground and thus force Domeric to come to its aid, where he would then say he was responsible for the act and ambush his brother's force. After hearing Ramsey talking about his plan to Reek it was Jordin Bolten that snuck into the force of Ramsey as it split off from the main army, and he would send a Raven to Grandlen telling Jamie Lannister of the change.
“I think that was one of the last strings to go that let Ramsey really go about ending Domeric. While from my point of view, and anyone who had a sane mind, what Domeric was saying was completely correct, that wasn't the equation. It was always his great weakness that Domeric couldn't ever accept that rational behavior would get him no where in a land filled with ingrates, and morons. Domeric would have spent his entire life having statues built to him if he was born a few weeks march away from Dreadfort in any direction. But fate foretold that he was going to be born to House Bolten, and it was in that birth that he was fated nearly at birth to die. I told him once that he needed to kill his brother at some point. I tried to make him understand that being known as a kin slayer was the only way he would survive, but he was adamant that his brother had something inside of him that was good. He probably believed that all the way up to the moment when his brother pushed the sword into his chest. Good men die quickly in Bolten.”
"The fool camped for an entire day on the words of a man he hated. He deserved what came on him that night."
-Jordin Bolten
What Ramsey did not anticipate was the fact that the moment that Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Britt Lancave and Hedrik Clegane returned to Koenisburg they sent a raven to Jamie Lannister telling him to move against the Boltens. Ramsey had not realized that Jordin Bolten had joined his army but discovered his presence and begin to plot to kill Jordin. Before he could do this Ramsey was fed falce information by Jordin Bolten about a scouting party from Grandlen nearbye which caused Ramsey to camp for an entire day and gave Jamie Lannister enough time to catch Ramsey's force on the bed of the River Creek. Jamie Lannister and his three thousand cavalry would smash into the camp of Ramsey Bolten and in less then twenty minutes nearly the entire force was massacred. It was as everything was falling apart that Ramsey Bolten would switch clothes with his servent Reek of whom he would smash the face of beyond any recegnition so that he could not be found to be not him. When Jamie entered the tent of Ramsey attempting to kill Ramsey or take him prisoner he found nothing but the supposed Reek standing over the destroyed body of "Ramsey Bolten". In that moment Jamie went to kill Reek but was stopped by Jordin Bolten who said to let Reek go as he was nothing but a slave they had captured from the Greyjoy's years past. Trusting Jordin Jamie would let "Reek" go and thus Ramsey Bolten escape the battle and made his way back to the Dreadfort.
The Siege of Hornwood There was a time father when we were good people. We don't have to keep hostages to stay in power. We don't have to murder children. We can do what is right. We can be strong, and just and not lose our souls. Let me start our redemption. Let me make the first shot.
“You look at me now with this look of confusion. Why are you confused? The world was always going to burn. I was always going to be the one to burn it all down.”
— Ramsey Bolten
Following the return of Ramsey Bolten to Karhold following his disastrous defeat the Battle of Green Creek he would become obsessed with finally ending his brother of whom he believed had commanded Jordin to betray him. This hate and feeling of betrayal would lead him summon Ondrew Locke to his living quarters where he would tell lies to Ondrew about Domeric's part in the death of Ondrew's nephew, and brother during the Battle of Green Creek. Using this lie he would be able to convince Ondrew Locke to lay siege to Hornwood the largest city of the east in order to eventually draw in Domeric Bolten where they would kill him. Following Ondrew returning to his lands and marshalling his forces he would put Hornwood under siege without warning, but its defenses were manned fully due to the fact that much of House Hornwood had already returned to Hornwood, and the scouts of the area had been skillful and had alerted the town in enough time. Now under siege they would call for assistance from the Dreadfort despite House Hornwood and its forces outnumbering the forces of House Locke quite heavily. Ramsey Bolten was by this point well dug into the area northwest of Hornwood and he alongside his cavalry force were well prepared to meet the incoming forces of Domeric Bolten of whom Ramsey knew would arrive well before the rest of his forces.
“This was still a kingdom worthy of saving. This was a land that while troubled didn`t abandon its own. If we let the Lockes do whatever the hell they wanted to do, then they would signal to the rest of the kingdom that they as well could do whatever they wanted. That was a signal I couldn`t allow to be sent. I heard the rumors that my brother was involved. That somehow he was responsible for the current situation...and despite everything...despite the fact that he was truly lost...I just...I couldn`t accept it. I refused to accept that he was past redemption. If that be the decision that dooms me then so be it. I die with a pure soul. I die happy.”
— Domeric Bolten
Domeric Bolten would survive the retreat of the Bolten army and he would return to Dreadfort to meet with his father about the outcome of the first conflict with lucerne. Following this they would hear about the destruction and capture of the Bolten army at Green Creek. Domeric would at this point believe that his cousin had defected to the Lucernians and would be forced to accept that amongst his family he was now alone. Following this Hornwood would come under assault by House Locke and Domeric would resieve a call for aid from House Hornwood of whom was very loyal to him, and he knew he couldn't leave them to their own. Despite his father attempting desperatly to make Domeric stay in Dreadfort Domeric would travel with his personal forces towards Hornwood.
“What a twisted little bastard Ramsey was. In the end he was a failure the moment he was born. His failings were by his own making which was the worst part of looking at him. What though is a father to do when one of his sons is so twisted in his mind that he can barely even function. I should have put an axe in his head but in the end it was all too late...It was all too late...and now...it means nothing.”
— Roose Bolten
With Roose Bolten accepting that his son was heading south to relieve Hornwood he would be contacted by raven by Rickard Karstarke of whom told him that Ramsey was alive and had briefly been in Karhold before leaving the city taking with him a sizeable military force. Immediatly realizing what might be happening Roose attempted to locate Ramsey believing that Ramsey would be the only one capable of pulling off something of this scope. When his spies couldn`t locate Ramsey he would send Regenard Estren southward with his fastest horses in an attempt to get to Hornwood before his son Domeric. Regenard Estren was not the only other person moving towards Hornwood as Daryn Hornwood pulled the forces of House Hornwood from the army east of Karhold attempting to break the siege and also moved eastward towards Hornwood.
Arrival of Domeric
“Something felt wrong the moment he came over the hill. I ordered my men to prepare the horses. I ordered everyone to be ready to charge from the walls and meet our true king. I ordered so many things that didn`t help anything.”
— Halys Hornwood
The siege went on for nearly a month before the forces of Domeric Bolten`s vangaurd arrived on the outskirts of town, but Domeric`s party would be betrayed when their white flag was ignored and they were ambushed by a cavalry force led by Ramsey Bolten. Due to his speed he had arrived well ahead of the rest of his forces and would only be assuming that he was going to be meeting with the leaders of House Locke. As he met with them he was ambushed by Ramsey Bolten who had set this entire attack up so that he could kill his brother Domeric. A fight did break out as Domeric was able to kill several of the ambushers before he was knocked on the head, and even then he still had a chance as Regenard Estren was nearbye watching from a hill and his cavalry forces could have moved against the betrayal but instead he remained on the hill and did not help Domeric for fear of his own death. Regenard`s cowardess would be witnessed by many from Hornwood including Halys and Larance Hornwood of whom swore to kill him alongside Ramsey for what would happen next. Now captured by his sadistic brother Domeric attempted to reason with his brother but Ramsey wouldn't hear it and would hang Domeric from a tree alongside the rest of his vangaurd.
Conversation Incoming
Fairmarket. The Riverlands. Lorderon, and Kul Tiras. Westbridge. All had fallen to our might. All had sworn the sword to the Valley of Lucerne. All that power, and yet I looked north and saw a great demon the likes of which I could not hope to resist. The Empire was the reason for growth. The Empire was the reason for everything we did. The Empire was the land that should have done great things for the world, but instead of this they did nothing. They allowed chaos to breed amongst them, and in that weakeness and failing they threatened to ruin the entire continent.
My head ached from the pain of the strike I had taken, but I forced myself to raise my head anyway. As I stared out I saw my brother leaning against the Tree with the most terrifying smile on his face. As he saw that I was awake he walked towards me carrying a small knife and a brazier. Without a word he pressed the brazier to my face, and I screamed out in pain.
"You always thought you were so much better then me didn`t you?" I could barely think as he ran the knife across my arm digging a deep gash into the skin, and then moving the brazier to my chest. "I`m the true born heir of House Bolten, and now there isn`t a thing any of you can do to stop that." I could hear him continueing to talk but the pain was so much that as he walked away towards his horse I couldn`t quite hear him.
I pushed myself through all the pain and just used every ounce of strength I had to speak. "I`m your brother...Ramsey...do not...stop...you have to stop...please...please stop Ramsey..."I could hear laughter all around me and as I was able to look for a moment I could make out Mallador Locke, and Harrion and Vatef Karstark which only made things worse. These were noble born men and they were sitting prepared to kill the heir to Bolten.
"There are no words your silver toungue can spread that change this. Harrion tie him to the tree and lets be done with this." He was sitting on his horse as he moved towards me but now there was just nothing in his eyes. Hate perhaps but mainly I just so annoyance. I felt someone tie a rope around my kneck from behind and could only assume it was Harrion.
"Harrion this is treason you need to stop. Ramsey we can work this out....stop this please brother." I looked for any sign of him changing his mind, but despite my begging he was unmoved. I felt the rope now completely around my kneck and they raised me onto a stump nearbye which without any warning I was released from and I felt myself dangling. This was the end. I never thought it would end this way.
After the death of Domeric Bolten the city of Hornwood watched the siege end as the goals of the siege were achieved, and thus Hornwood was relieved. Ramsey would return north, and House Locke and their vassals retreated as well leaving the hanged body of Domeric to be retrieved by Halys Hornwood of whom was beyond enraged about the betrayal of the prince.
Deal with the Devil
Euron Greyjoy long desired the throne of the Iron Islands and would make the reaving and destruction of Westros his greatest legacy.
“They thought they had won. They believed in their heart that trouble had just disapeared as their victory was all but assured. I would burn my enemies at the gates by whatever means neccessary. I didn`t work all this time just to fall at the moment before I had all the power I needed.”
— Ramsey Bolten
As the armies of Bolten were crushed on the field, and they fell back castle by castle it wasn`t until the Lannisters captured the castle of Hayford which opened the way onto the Dreadfort Peninsula that they begin to actually fear destruction. Fearing this Ramsey would go to his father and tell him he was leaving to get reinforcements, and when asked from whom he told his father he would be travelling to the Iron Islands. As he left he discussed with his Bastards that he actually planned to travel to the Iron Islands and make an agreement with them that they would not interfere in his actual plans of getting reinforcements from Mordor. Travelling to the Iron Islands his ship would be boarded by Euron Greyjoy of whom had silently reentered the Iron Islands without the knowledge of his family. Euron and Ramsey would come to an agreement where in the Iron Islands was able to reave up and down the lands outside of Dreadfort, and for this they would not only enable Mordor to enter the lands but would also join in the assault. Euron promised that by the time Ramsey returned if he did return from Mordor that Euron would be the new Iron King of the Iron Islands. Departing on their ship they travlled north east before then travelling directly south where they eventually arrived in the Kingdom of Taraban where they would meet with the leadership there in order to arrange an alliance with Mordor.
“You walked into Taraban and while you could see the humans it just had an aura of madness to the land. Controlled by Mordor for generations I`m surprised any resemblance remained of their ancient traditions, but I saw the capital and was shocked at the civilization. These were not the monsters surrounded by demons we had always been told they were. How much of legends, and stories are lies like the lies we were told of the Taraban.”
— Mallador Locke
The King of Taraban met with them briefly before saying that he had been commanded by the Dark Lord himself to have the Bolten men prepared for the arrival of the Witch King of whom would discuss terms. Waiting for days they were barely allowed to leave the keep and watching from the windows they watched as the land during the night was haunted by the shreaking of monsters, and the shadows themselves appeared to move with the haunting of some dark spirits. When finally the Witch King arrived he was accompanied by three other Nazgul in the form of Mahud, The Dark Marshal, and the former king of Lucerne in John Lovie. Believing they would have all of their requests easily accepted Ramsey and the others were shocked when they were roundly rejected for assistence from Mordor as they demanded more consessions from Bolten then just a foothold in Westros. As talks deterioated Ramsey would become so enraged that he promised them the entirety of the land outside of Dreadfort and its peninsula in return for their assistence. With this off the Witch gave them assurances that John Lovie, Mahud, and The Dark Marshal would lead a large force from Mordor and land in the Dreadfort to begin the counter assault against Lucerne.
“I wonder if he knew what he was giving away in that moment. The madness in his eyes told me he didn't care, but I still wonder. What little humanity existed in him once, would it have given him pause he fully understood the arrangement he was making. Or was he as lost as so many touched by evil become.”
— Anora Theirin
Preparing to leave Anora Theirin would meet with Mallador Locke, and using her extreme intelligence she was able to get a lot of information from him, and during the days preceding the arrival of the Witch King was able to more fully understand the situation through the lies Ramsey was telling them. Anora learned how lost the military situation was, and the fact that the Lucernians were going to be aware of the meeting with Mordor, and would dig their forces into the castles, and forts they had taken from the Boltens. Anora used this information withholding it from everyone including even her beloved brother Cailin of whom she planned to have stay behind and thus protect him from the death that would surely await anyone that went to the Dreadfort peninsula.
Return to Bolten
“Returning I couldn`t but feel like we had just doomed ourself. I knew that Anora was lying to me, and that hurt me more then Ramsey's punches, or kicks ever did. She knew we would fail. She knew we would all die, and yet despite my love for her, she was prepared to let me die.”
— Mallador Locke
The Bolten`s would depart Taraban to their ships now accompanied by men of Taraban of whom returned under the command of Mordor to prepare for the eventual landing of Mordor which would take place some two months perhaps from that since they needed to mass an army and then deliver the forces as well. Amongst these men was Teyrn Theirin the heir to Taraban and a small group of elite Black Numenorians of whom were handpicked from the most wealthy and elite families in all of Taraban. As they returned they were met by Euron Greyjoy once more, and this time he wore the crown of the Iron Islands and told them that he was now the Iron Reaver of the Iron Islands, and that the Iron Islands would join with Bolten in pushing back the Lucernians. Ramsey Bolten now realizing that he had the affairs in order for his next series of plans, he returned himself in secret to Dreadfort during the night and prepared for his next plans.
Death of Roose Bolten
“It was the final move for Ramsey. He had always wanted to be alone in this family, and he would finally have his wish.”
— Roose Bolten
Following his succesful trip to the Iron Islands and then Mordor Ramsey would return to the port of Dreadfort with the knowledge that he had won the power of two massive armies, and the survival of his rule might now be possible. Deciding that his father was no longer worthy of living he would brag nearly the last few days of the trip that he was going to murder his father, and since most of "Ramsey's Bastards" were loyal to Roose they would send a raven ahead of the ship which told Roose that Ramsey planned to kill him, and asking Roose what they should do. Realizing that he could easily stop the assasination he would instead send no word back, and ordered House Marsh and their vassals to not resist his landing.
“Everyone in this entire kingdom knew exactly the person that Ramsey was. So while some may be just hateful towards Roose it is a clear distinction. Roose while twisted in the mind wants a genuinly peaceful realm. Ramsey while twisted in the mind cares nothing for the kingdom and just wants to see things burn for no reason more then watching everything die.”
— Daryn Hornwood
At this point with Ramsey entering the port, and along with his men making their way towards the Dreadfort it was Roose that begin to plot the final moments of what he knew to be his life. Roose firstly met with his kingsgard and one by one moved them away from him so that they would not die trying to protect him when Ramsey arrived. Three of the five kingsgard he placted this way by sending them southward to Castle Horgut where they would defend the castle alongside the commanders there. The other two in the form of Sandor Dregane, and Urren Sliten he would send to find Misha Bolten in order to get her out of the city. Wondering where they would go after that Roose told them that they were to go to Hayford and surrender themselves to the Lucernians, and from their swear oaths to Lucerne as protectors of Misha. It was around this point that Ramsey was within a few hours of the city, and thus Roose visited several nobles in the city, and commanded them to leave as well sending many on specific routes that would lead them to be captured by the Lucernian forces. In his final hours waiting for Roose to get to the city he would do these things before he finally sat alone in his throne room having dismissed all of his gaurds and sent away everyone loyal to him.
The Act
“What he did in his final moments cannot make good what he had done before he came to his moral understanding but...but atleast he attempted to make his life somewhat less of a travesty.”
— Daryn Hornwood
Ramsey entered the city to no celebration, and besides the opening of gates, and the stomping of his men beside him the entire city was filled with the sounds of nothing but fear and silence. Ramsey would enter the keep where he found all the gates, and doors ungarded and was in this moment discusted by what he believed was the complete failure in his father. Entering the throne room of his father he would confront him, and make it very clear from the first moment he entered that Roose was going to die. Roose begged him to make him understand why Domeric had to die, and that infuriated Ramsey who couldn't take that Domeric was till being mentioned while in his own mind he had just went on a trip that would save Bolten. Warning his father to stop speaking of Domeric unless he wished to die sooner, his father would move closer grap him by the shoulders and say that his time was over and now he was ready to see his true son again. Upon hearing that Ramsey would murder him, and so filled with rage was he that he obliterated much of his body leaving nothing but tattered remains. Ramsey from this point would crown himself and parade throughout the Dreadfort with his Bastards controlling the resistence that might have been created in the city. As this was going on Sandor Dregane, and Urren Sliten would be forced to hide as they had yet to find Misha Bolten, and because of this they were nearly caught by brigands now swarming to join Ramsey's court. Ramsey at this point attempted to find the Roose loyalists in the city, but discovered that the day he was arriving his father had sent away hundreds of nobles, while sending away his own kingsgard. Naming five of his bastards to the kingsgard he would return to the throne room, and begin ruling over the kingdom he had now stolen from his brother, and then his father.
Conversation Incoming
Fairmarket. The Riverlands. Lorderon, and Kul Tiras. Westbridge. All had fallen to our might. All had sworn the sword to the Valley of Lucerne. All that power, and yet I looked north and saw a great demon the likes of which I could not hope to resist. The Empire was the reason for growth. The Empire was the reason for everything we did. The Empire was the land that should have done great things for the world, but instead of this they did nothing. They allowed chaos to breed amongst them, and in that weakeness and failing they threatened to ruin the entire continent.
Watching him walk through the streets was a moment I'll never pull from my mind. He was clad in the bloody pink of his house, and surrounded by the fools he called his bastards. Looking all the part of the monster he dragged the ruined bodies of what I must assume were his enemies behind his chariot as he made his way through the streets.
I jumped from rooftop to rooftop following him along his path. An archer carrying the pink flayed man of House Bolten turned and looked down, and I threw a dagger into his head before he knew what had happened. Picking his body up, and pulling him away from sight, I followed the path of the caravan as it made its way to the keep.
Pulling themselves through the gatehouse it closed behind them, and I stabbed a gaurdsmen in his chest as I climbed up the wall to keep up. There was no time to cover this man, but I did my best to hide him behind some bags. He had entered the keep before I was able to catch up, and I walked past the few gaurds that noticed me and my flayed one sigil.
Climbing onto the roof I crawled my way behind the only archer standing this high up and slit his throat before leaving him lieing on the roof. I climbed the tower and made my way inside the keep. Once inside I found a window and watched as Ramsey entered the room.
Roose was standing with his back turned as Ramsey entered and the look on Ramsey's face was one of unmistakeable pride. He believed he had won, and the fallen shoulders of Roose told me he was right. "Father it has been some time since I have last seen you."
"Your presence at court has been missed. Though fewer of my blood has died while you were away." The bitterness and anger in Roose's voice was so clear it was shocking. For a man who had been defined by everyone I had ever met as a man with little emotion, that was a poignent moment of regret for him.
"Did you expect me to leave him alive?" Roose finally turned towards his bastard son, and stared at him with blank eyes.
"I expected you would kill your brother but I....I though you..." He remained looking at him for a moment before turning away again and walking towards the book shelf.
"Speak Lord Leaches." The manner in which he spoke made me want to pull the dagger from my shirt and throw them at his head. I could do it without question, but then I would have to kill Roose and I would never make it past all the gaurds once those two were dead.
"I expected you were atleast intelligent enough to try when we were not fighting a losing war." Pulling out a book of which I couldn't make out Roose stared at it longingly before holding it to his chest.
"We are losing because of him." Roose laughed out loud. It was the first time I had heard him laugh, and it was a high pitched near scream as it came from his throat.
"Do you honestly believe that?" Roose turned around again and looked at Ramsey of whom shrinked for a moment behind the cold stare of Roose.
"It is the truth. He led us into a trap at Koenisburg and even my brilliant retreat was not enough to save us." He spoke with confidence and if you didn't know how the actual battle had went you would have believed his words. I though did know that he had been massacred by the Lannisters at Green Creek, and he had long seperated from Domeric of whom had managed to pull back his entire force, and survived in full strength.
"Brilliant retreat was it? My last reports of that battle are still finding bodies. How many nobles did we lose in that battle."
"Less then you butchered no further then one hundred steps from the doorway."
"I did that to keep the peace. You left me no choice." Roose put the back down and walked towards his throne, and sat himself down looking across at Ramsey.
"Niether did Domeric." Roose looke up from the table, and his face was not emotionless in that moment. For a moment, maybe less there was pure hate in his eyes. I saw his hand clench against the table and it looked to be all he could do to not charge at Ramsey.
"Do not speak his name." Ramsey laughed breifly before noticing the hate in his eyes and stopped.
"You shall hear no argument from me. The failed Bolten is dead and gone, and now I am king." As he said it he puffed out his chest, and I felt embaressed for him. He stood there looking like an idiot, and he had no idea just how big a moron he truly was.
"Your king now?"
"You know how this ends father." The second after he said it he pulled his cloak up revealing his dagger from his hip belt and walked towards Roose at his desk.
"I knew it the moment you came to stay here." Ramsey stopped after he said it standing in front of his desk.
"You knew I would kill you?"
"I knew you were insane." Ramsey moved forward his hand now growing nearer to the dagger that clenched to his hip. If Roose knew that he didn't care, and between that and not noticing it looked to me like he had given up.
"Now is not the time to be insulting me. Live out your final moments in peace father."
Roose Bolten
