Tempest Keep - unexpected allies

The month of September was quickly approaching its end, and with that, Champion City Siege has arrived in Westeros once more. An event where one fights for the title of Champion Conqueror, that brings about many riches and bloodshed in an attempt to achieve it. Every fighter wishes to fight to obtain the title, as they all wish to have the benefits in terms of the buffs and badges, all of which make the strength of a fighter even greater.

BaN, an alliance established at the pinnacle of Westeros, was no exception. Their eyes were set on securing these incredible benefits, though the prize wasn’t meant for everyone, as only a certain few would receive the best rewards that the Old Gods have to offer. Among the fighters in BaN was Ashun, one of the many "fillers" in the alliance, a role far from the spotlight. He wasn’t a strong fighter nor a rally leader of renown like Meridianos, his comrade from K157. Instead, Ashun was one of the warriors whose job was to fill castles, to ensure the defense was strong, and to follow orders without hesitation, no matter the cost. But even though he didn’t lead rallies or shape the strategies, he understood that his role was still vital and was willing to do everything to the best of his abilities. No alliance wins a battle without the dedication of every single one of its fighters.

This particular CCS was different from the others BaN had fought in for a reason that nobody anticipated. Meridianos, the skilled and ambitious rally leader of this event for Ashun's group, had secured an unexpected deal with one of the most powerful alliances in Westeros, KAC. KAC had a reputation for being relentless, and Ashun knew their fighters would bring unmatched strength to the battlefield, one which they definitely needed, as should they have been enemies, then Meridianos' chance at a victory, would've been severely lesser. What surprised everyone, though, was that KAC was proposing an allegiance. They wanted to team up with BaN against their former allies WxC in the fierce warrior Ganicus. It was an unprecedented offer, one that would change the dynamics of the battle entirely.

The deal was simple in theory but pretty hard to achieve: KAC would secure the top spot, leaving BaN and Meridianos to claim the second position. Both alliances would walk away with their rewards, each one securing valuable benefits. For BaN, this was a golden opportunity to have a less stressful and costly battle in the event. The arrangement made sense to Meridianos, who was willing to accept second place for the backing of KAC’s strong forces. Ashun was just like the other members of BaN, trusted their leader’s judgment and prepared for the fight ahead.

As the battle for Tempest Keep began, Ashun found himself in the middle of the chaos of the battlefield, the racers for the castle needed to secure the Keep first should they wish to have an easy mission ahead of them. With that in mind, MatJenin was the one to race, he is one of KAC’s top fighters, and was the first to take the castle. His troops were a formidable sight, incredibly strong, elite fighters who seemed unstoppable as they defeated each incoming rally with ease from opposing alliances. Ganicus, seeing this all however, wasn’t about to back down easily, he was not one to surrender. Rally after rally was launched by him, pushing to take control of the Keep. But MatJenin’s defense was impenetrable, and despite the fierce attempts by WxC and other alliances, they couldn’t break through. Ashun, watching from his position, marveled at the sheer strength of KAC’s defense.

Then came the critical moment of the fight after securing the first position. MatJenin was preparing to hand the Keep over to Meridianos, as agreed, when Ganicus made a swift move, intercepting and seizing the castle. It was a bold move and it came out successfully, now the tides have shifted, KAC needed to be the ones on the front dealing the attacks. Ashun was astonished that the outcome of the swap could be failed, as he witnessed perfect play from both MatJenin and Meridianos. In that instant, for Ashun it seemed as though WxC might be able to hold Tempest Keep against both KAC and BaN with the guts they had brought forth to pull such a move off. But the alliance between KAC and BaN proved to have resolution strong enough to raise rallies and fight those odds together. Ashun, along with the rest of his fillers comrades, joined the rallies to take the Keep back, pouring everything they had into the fight.

The ensuing battle was very relentless, Ashun participated in the offense, doing his part to fill the rallies that attacked the Keep as every rally leader from both BaN and KAC led the charge. Ganicus and WxC fought hard to hold their defense in place, but the combined strength of KAC and BaN proved too much to overcome. Before long, Meridianos secured the Keep, and WxC’s hopes of victory crumbled.

With the Keep firmly in their hands, Meridianos ensured that BaN would hold the second spot in the rankings, just as planned. KAC had achieved their first place finish, and Meridianos had risen to second place in the Champion City Siege rankings. It was a shame they could not achieve a third spot as well, Ashun thought, as he has great hopes for their allegiance to succeed in the future events to come.

But as the battlefield quieted and the dust settled, Ashun couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. He may have been just a filler, but he had played his part in something far greater. This victory, this alliance with KAC, marked a turning point for BaN.

Ashun knew this wouldn’t be the last time BaN and KAC worked together. The bonds forged in battle today could lead to greater victories tomorrow. And even though Ashun wasn’t a Champion Conqueror, he was proud to have been a part of this fight, knowing that BaN’s journey had only just begun.