Alliance Conquest - S19E01 - TQL VS UTB

"Nineteen? Really? Has it been that long?" Musing over the passage of time, Wundertweek began to feel somewhat old. It was time yet again for a new season of Alliance Conquest matches, each of which brought its own share of twists and turns. Eighteen seasons had been recorded in the annals of history, and a new chapter had started. Trying to put aside the rush of thoughts about the past, Wunder set himself to focus on the task at hand and to be prepared for whatever lay ahead. The only thing that was certain about any event in Westeros was that nothing could be predicted as certain, other than that when the time came to begin, it was indeed time to begin.  

The Quokka lords and ladies of TQL set about their preparations as well. Requests for the added power of the Lord Commander Title flowed quickly, with the alliance leaders struggling to keep up. "So many messages! That should bode well," Wunder said out loud, confident that there would be a good turnout of available players for the event. The initial scouting report indicated that TQL had a marked power advantage over UTB, their scheduled opponent known as the Untouchables. So the possibility, as occurred more frequently than was ideal, that the event would be decided quickly in favor of the Quokkas presented itself in Wunder's mind.

The sun had risen over the Alliance Conquest field as Wundertweek entered. He surveyed the landscape with a mix of anticipation and determination, as other participants took their places. The field filled itself at an astounding rate, one that Wunder had never seen. The Quokkas had managed to place 82 castles on their side, which in almost any situation would have given them an insurmountable advantage.

But looking across the combat zone and peering over the towering buildings, Wunder saw a sight that was truly befuddling. The UTB turnout had been almost total and complete, with a staggering array of 97 participants! “Well, at least this will be a challenge,” he said out loud, with anticipation of some excitement to come. Superior numbers did not always translate into success; Wunder knew that only too well from past experience.

It was nearly time for the match to begin. The sun was higher now, almost fully risen, and among the lords, ladies, and warriors, the tension started to grow as both alliances prepared for the epic clash. Lead runners and rally chiefs made final preparations and eyes were set firmly on their targets.

The system timer counted down, and the match began. TQL managed to capture the Warrior tower and an outpost, while UTB took the Mother tower and the other outpost, striking an opening balance. Shortly thereafter, the critical ports opened, with TQL’s Z00M taking one, but UTB had secured the other as well as an outpost, establishing a firm opening lead.

Fortune took an extremely ill turn for the Quokkas, however, as Z00M accidentally mistimed a leadership swap of the port with Belladeebla at the critical juncture of its countdown. The error allowed UTB’s Tracyj to gain entry into the port, while at the same time UTB performed a successful swap of their port, and their speedy forces were able to also secure Casterly Rock, putting them firmly in control of the field of play.

Before long, the entire field was painted red, emphasizing to Wunder that the even quite possibly *was* going to be a less than ideal match in terms of entertainment and outcome. Nevertheless, the Quokkas were not willing to let their lapses in communication deter their will to persevere and do their best. They managed to secure the field’s strongholds, allowing them to strike at other UTB buildings, but faced a severe deficit. TQL’s Dariya encouraged the others, telling the alliance mates, “TQL never gives up even when it seems out defeat is evident! Because you all surprise the enemy and give them a fight to remember!”

Despite the words of encouragement, TQL was unable to cohesively structure their rallies. Some small scattered achievements provided glimpses of progress, but they were short-lived. As the event wore on, the battlefield became a chaotic mix of victories and setbacks. Most attempts were centered around maintaining control of their near port, but UTB’s Scooberman and his defenses stood firm. 

As the day’s events wound towards their inevitable end, and the sun started to set, UTB had reached the day’s goal for points, and decided to retreat, allowing the Quokkas to get the benefit of what remained. 

TQL was pleased about this of course, but their leadership realized that some of the issues they faced needed to be addressed, and actions needed to be taken. The final score of the event hardly represented the reality of what had actually transpired.

Belladeebla reminded her colleagues that many Quokkas had allowed their domains to grow to the point of bloat, and encouraged them to find ways to decrease their inflated power numbers. As Wundertweek thought about the event, he realized the wisdom in these words - having more power as an alliance would mean that they would be matched against other powerful alliances in such events, presenting a growth opportunity but also an unnecessary challenge.

Returning to his castle, Wunder called in his steward Bagford, instructing him to take the commander weapons that were not in use to the market and sell them to the blacksmiths there. “That should get the power numbers more in line,” he thought to himself, “and at least I will be doing my part.”

As Wunder settled off for some much-needed rest, a rush of feelings came through his mind. Hope for the next event to be more successful, pride in the Quokka alliance, and more than anything, a craving for some inner peace. Taking a seat, he felt better as he found it and slowly began to relax.