HOH vs RRH | Siege of Winterfell: Playoffs | Round 1 |

A difficult regular season was now behind them.

In their sixth and final match, HOH dominated mid-tier rivals thanks to a clever decision from the alliance leadership, who opted to change the time of the round in order to secure a more favorable matchmaking. Their record left little doubt—four wins and two losses—enough to earn a spot in the Siege of Winterfell playoffs. Neik and his companions proved they were not a forgotten alliance, but one still capable of making their mark.

Today marked the first round of the long-awaited playoffs, where the twelve best alliances of the season would clash in brutal win-or-go-home battles—there was no room for error. "We’ve done our best to make it this far, and that alone could be considered an achievement, but our ambition will always push us to go further," was the shared thought among all HOH members as they stepped onto the battlefield, ready to give everything in pursuit of victory.

But it wouldn't be easy, as a formidable rival stood on the other side—one that had also clawed its way into the playoffs through its own set of struggles. Among them were faces familiar to Neik and his companions.

Today’s opponent was...

The fierce opponents standing in HOH's way today were none other than RRH!

Leading this formidable group were well-known figures such as Dakarshur, Ks4All, and none other than BARLAB—who had joined RRH after abandoning the very alliance he would now face on the battlefield. Beyond the desire for victory, there was a clear motivation on both sides to defeat their former comrades.

"We expect a balanced match. Our strategy is to split into four groups and contest the most critical positions on the battlefield—starting with the Armory and Hotsprings, then moving on to Winterfell, with one group providing support where needed," was the plan devised by the HOH leadership after a quick meeting. Fully aware of the danger posed by today’s opponents, they opted for a more cautious and conservative approach.

Neik was ready to give his best, tasked with the siege of the Armory under the direction of group leader Urielki. This match carried personal weight—not only because some of the players they now faced had once been alliance members who abandoned them midway through the Alliance Conquest season, but also because he wanted to help his faction reach the second round—a goal that would mean a great deal after all the recent changes and their failure to qualify for Ultimate Conquest last season.

The match was about to begin, and with it came the relentless rain that had plagued Westeros for weeks. Though winter had passed, the stormy sky showed no signs of mercy, blotting out the sun and casting an epic backdrop over the bloody battles that would unfold on the battlefield. The air was electric, as if foreshadowing the chaos to come.

The start of the long-feared clash between the two alliances saw both sides spread out across the battlefield in mirrored formations. The competition was fierce, with each group determined to fight for every building until the bitter end, both opting for the same strategic approach.

However, the feud at the Armory saw HOH claim the upper hand, thanks to a greater deployment of troops by their leadership. Neik and his companions managed to neutralize their opponents within minutes, forcing them into a retreat.

Meanwhile, the battle at HotSprings was raging. With both sides fielding equal numbers, neither alliance could gain the upper hand, leaving the clash on a knife's edge.

The group from the Armory, under the command of their squad leaders, decided to push forward and target Greyjoy Stronghold 1, where RRH forces were regrouping in preparation to retake the position they had previously lost. However, the fight proved to be tougher than expected—the enemies were unwilling to lose more ground and mounted a strong defense, keeping the battle alive and intense.

But not all the news was good...

The increased influx of troops at the Armory, due to the fourth group as planned by HOH, gave their rivals the opportunity to successfully repel the group led by SiNa thanks to their numerical superiority, ultimately securing control of the objective. The clash between the two alliances was undoubtedly balanced in this early phase.

After their rivals secured control of the HotSprings, it became even more crucial for HOH to repel them from the stronghold — but it was no easy task.

Neik fought to the brink of exhaustion, fully aware of how important it was to push back the RRH army in order to secure an easier path to Winterfell's spoils and prevent them from gaining the upper hand in such a vital area of the battlefield. The clash dragged on longer than expected, with reinforcements pouring in from both sides by the minute. After a long and grueling standoff, it was RRH who prevailed, eventually forcing HOH to retreat and claiming a key objective from which they could launch further assaults and seize Winterfell's rewards.

"Let’s not lose morale. We still hold a slight advantage from our swift capture of the Armory. Let’s regroup and resume the siege," urged Urielki to his comrades. The battle was in full swing.

What followed, however, was another heavy blow to HOH’s ranks.

Just as they were regrouping to successfully secure the first loot of Winterfell, they were caught off guard by an unusual tactic from RRH: instead of heading toward Winterfell as expected, RRH launched a direct assault on the Armory from their recently captured stronghold — and succeeded in taking control of it, surprising everyone.

A tactic executed successfully but with a double-edged result for RRH: while their rivals were distracted by the conquest of Armory, Neik and his team managed to force RRH into a defensive struggle at Greyjoy Stronghold 1. This allowed HOH to easily secure the first loot of the match.

After claiming the loot, HOH regrouped and returned to assault Armory, which had just been taken by RRH, in an attempt to contain the enemy forces on the battlefield. The battle was far from over. The incredible determination of BARLAB and his companions was creating a fierce confrontation at the coveted position, which would provide a vital buff to whoever controlled it in such a balanced match. They had no intention of backing down.

However, everything changed with the arrival of support led by Spimmer’s group. The tide of battle shifted in favor of HOH, who now enjoyed overwhelming superiority. Thanks to this, HOH’s members were able to drive RRH from the walls of Armory and regain control of the position.

"Great job, let’s head back for the conquest of Greyjoy Stronghold 1," was Urielki’s plan, supported by their ally Spimmer, who joined them with his group. Securing this stronghold would significantly affect the outcome of the match, as it would isolate their opponents from the vicinity of Winterfell.

After regaining control of the entire western side of the battlefield, the group led by Urielki quickly reorganized to launch a new assault on Greyjoy Stronghold 1. The conquest, however, turned out to be more difficult than anticipated: waiting for them was an opponent far from defeated. Despite being at a disadvantage in the score, RRH showed they were willing to fight until the last moment, putting up a fierce and determined resistance. They were not ready to say goodbye to the Siege of Winterfell playoffs without battling until the very end.

In a sudden twist, RRH members attempted to surprise HOH with a bold move: a quick and direct raid on Armory. But that plan, which had worked in the early stages of the match, clashed with an equally rapid and flawless defensive response. HOH’s reaction was immediate, quashing the enemies' ambitions before they could take root.

That attempt turned out to be another double-edged sword: by focusing their forces on this sudden attack, RRH had left their hard-won stronghold almost entirely undefended. It took little time for HOH to seize the opportunity: the Stronghold fell swiftly. The loss of it, along with the loot Neik and his companions had conquered, marked the final point of a grueling match.

From that moment on, the path was clear. The score gap, combined with the evident morale collapse among RRH, signaled the point of no return. The final minutes passed like a long wait for an inevitable conclusion.

And when the clock signaled the end of the 60-minute regulation, the verdict was unmistakable: the victory belonged to HOH.

MVP's

The best fighters of the match were:

Tardis for HOH. The decisive speed of his cavalry was a nightmare for his rivals, who found themselves facing them at every corner of the battlefield where he came to lend support to his allies, almost always proving to be decisive. A pillar for HOH.

Mandy IV for RRH. With his Spears, he caused quite a bit of trouble at Greyjoy 1, where he was almost always the toughest opponent to push back. An incredible technique on the battlefield, he fought until the last to turn the tide of the match, and even though it wasn't enough, his dedication was incredible.

“A victory earned with nails and teeth, be proud of each and every one of you,” said the leadership in charge of HOH. “The next match could be our last in this long and tough season, but reaching this stage is already an incredible achievement,” they added before the members of HOH could head back to their homes.

A euphoric Neik was making his way toward K345, having proven to themselves that they could still secure victories against alliances at the level of RRH, which was a point of pride. But the fighter wasn’t satisfied with just one victory, and he would be ready and pumped for the pursuit of an unexpected semifinal.

Will they manage to secure another victory in the next round of the season, or is the harsh reality about to become clear on the horizon? We’ll find out together!