Ladies and gentlemen, welcome!

Today, one of the most anticipated events among the warriors of Westeros will take place, as they are ready to test their skills and challenge rival alliances. At stake is the title of champion, as well as the chance to bring their group to the Olympus of the best factions in the Western lands. Welcome to Siege of Winterfell, where only the boldest and most strategic will have the chance to prevail!

Twists and turns are expected throughout the season thanks to the brand-new feature that will be active starting today: the group leading with at least seven buildings on their side will be able to use a teleportation to move one of their marches to a base near Winterfell. A limited feature, usable once every five minutes, which could completely change the course of matches and make the final results far from certain!

The first match of the season will take place in just a few moments between two formidable alliances: on one side, we have HouseOfHeroes, who come off a great season, though it ended with a loss in the third round of the playoffs at the hands of WxC. Today, they are fielding 95 fighters, led by Grombold and the members of his leadership. Their goal was clear: to match what they achieved in the previous season and, if fate was on their side, secure a spot on the podium among the best alliances in Westeros. A challenging feat, but with the determination of HOH, nothing seemed impossible.

However, standing in their way was the fearsome shadow well known to Neik and his companions. A tough match awaited them under the light of the full moon, which illuminated the night and the battlefield, as on the other side of it stood...

NBe

In all their splendor, the NightBeastElite group, led by commanders like CHARL1E, TheOnlyKing, and BARBAROsSA, entered the season with 96 fierce and relentless members. NBe was stronger than ever: recent additions to their roster had strengthened an alliance that, in past seasons, had struggled to keep up with the pace of top-tier matches. Now, more determined than ever, they sought to prove that NBe was a serious contender for a spot in the playoffs, where the top twelve alliances would clash after the six regular-season matches.

Tension was evident in Grombold's eyes. The rivalry with the other alliance was now undeniable. Countless battles fought face-to-face on the fields of CCS, Alliance Conquest, and Siege of Winterfell had seen HOH emerge victorious in most encounters. But today, that trend could finally change. “Today’s match will probably be the first where our longtime rivals are the favorites. However, I’m confident that if we stick to our strategies, we won’t leave this first round of SoW defeated,” declared the leader firmly before the start of the encounter.

Neik was nervous but eager. The wait for the season to begin had finally come to an end, and now he had the chance to show his companions how far his combat skills had come. However, he needed to be cautious: being overwhelmed in such a balanced match could happen in an instant. Against opponents like these, he knew it was better not to overreach but rather to fight side by side with his comrades—a lesson well learned by the HOH warrior.

The full moon illuminated the battlefield with its cold, silvery light, casting long shadows over the fighters. The air was tense, still, as if the whole world was holding its breath. The silence was broken only by the frantic beating of hearts as anticipation grew, heavy with palpable tension. The night, pristine and motionless, seemed poised to erupt at the first sign of movement. The cold seeped into the bones of the warriors lined up on the battlefield, but the heat of the coming battle was about to ignite the air. Every glance, every motion, hinted at the explosion of action that was moments away.

The start of the match was, as expected, extremely balanced for both factions.

Both alliances decided to focus heavily on Armory, recognizing its strategic value. Securing this position granted the most powerful buffs, crucial for enduring a long and tense match like the one underway. On the western side of the battlefield, the clash was a true test of endurance for the fighters of both factions. The sound of swords clashing against shields echoed in the air, accompanied by the cries of the fallen as the fury of the conflict raged on. Neik, fighting on the frontlines for the coveted buff, distinguished himself among the warriors, pouring all his effort into gaining the decisive advantage: a 50% increase in total attack, health, and defense. After an exhausting and grueling battle, it was HOH who emerged victorious, managing to secure the buff thanks to a strategic retreat orchestrated under the advice of the rival leadership.

Meanwhile, HotSprings, another critical position for the outcome of the match, proved to be equally decisive. Here, the buff both alliances were vying for granted a 100% healing boost, essential for sustaining a prolonged battle where losses would be inevitable. In this area, however, NBe prevailed, securing the advantage. The first phase of the match showcased a perfectly balanced game, with the skill of the leadership strategists from both alliances undoubtedly poised to be the determining factor.

“There’s an eerie calm,” Neik whispered near Armory. The command to move toward Winterfell for the first chest left only a few selected warriors to guard the hard-fought position. The feeling was that even NBe’s leadership was preparing for the grand showdown over the treasure, but...

Out of nowhere, like a bolt of lightning, a battalion of rival troops descended upon HOH’s defenses, laying waste to Armory!

By diverting their opponents’ attention elsewhere, they caught the defenders completely off guard—no one expected an attack on Armory at this stage of the match. It was a brilliantly executed move, orchestrated by NBe’s master strategists.

“This is bad,” exclaimed Neik as he returned to the base to receive new orders after being forced to retreat from the position, now in enemy hands.

“Our rivals are one step away from gaining a significant advantage,” Grombold stated, referring to the newly introduced mechanic this season that allowed alliances to teleport one of their three deployments to bases near Winterfell. “We absolutely must ensure Greyjoy1 doesn’t fall,” he commanded, predicting a possible attack on the outpost after NBe’s capture of Armory.

Thus, a sizable group from HOH promptly moved to reinforce Greyjoy1’s defenses, preparing for the next phase of the battle.

Upon arrival, a small number of enemy troops were already near the outpost Neik and his companions were determined to defend at all costs. Losing Greyjoy1 to the enemy would mean granting them the advantage of the new Siege of Winterfell season mechanic—something HOH could not afford.

However, the attackers’ numbers were too small to pose a serious threat. Outnumbered four to one, the rival forces were swiftly repelled without much difficulty.

With Greyjoy1 now secure, Neik and his companions devised a bold counterattack. They set their sights on the heart of the rival army at Stark1, aiming to catch their opponents off guard and disrupt their plans for a major siege at Winterfell. Initially, the plan worked. Unprepared for an assault at Stark1, NBe’s defenders—few in number—were overwhelmed by the attackers with relative ease.

But despite the conquest, the advantage secured by NBe proved decisive for BARBAROsSA and his companions.

The reduced number of defenders at Stark1 turned out to be a calculated move—a deliberate sacrifice meant to bait the enemy into splitting their forces. HOH, believing they could exploit this apparent weakness, divided their troops. However, this diversion played perfectly into NBe’s hands. With HOH forces scattered, NBe regrouped near Winterfell and effortlessly secured the treasure, delivering it to one of their bases with surgical precision. Grombold and his allies, perhaps overly focused on capturing outposts, offered little resistance to this crucial maneuver.

As the match entered its midpoint, the advantage clearly shifted towards NBe. After a challenging start, they turned the tide and secured the first treasure of the game. Their determination was evident—they were relentless today. If HOH wanted to claim victory, they would have to secure the second treasure at all costs!

After securing the first treasure, the group assigned to the western side of the battlefield moved once again toward Greyjoy1. Their plan was clearly to try to crush HOH's defenses and keep them away from Winterfell.

The battle for this outpost was intensely balanced, with neither side managing to dominate the other. The fierce clash lasted for several minutes until the second treasure in Winterfell became available. However, Neik and his companions, engaged in the defense of their outpost, could not lend their support.

The struggle for the precious resource, which would allow HOH to equalize the match, was brutal. Grombold's army gave it their all to counter their opponents, but NBe’s numerical superiority proved decisive. The rival alliance successfully secured the second treasure, further solidifying their lead.

A heavy blow for Neik and his companions, who now found themselves trailing by a significant margin. Desperate to avoid a complete domination by their fiercest rivals, Neik, along with a small group, headed toward Stark1 on the orders of their leadership. Their mission: to counter the new mechanics introduced this season, which NBe was expertly utilizing, as they seemed to be everywhere on the map.

But what they faced was an unprecedented defeat!

Anticipating an attack on their base, BARBAROsSA and his comrades gathered there, preparing to siege Winterfell for what would be the final treasure of the match. The attacking forces stood no chance against the defenders, who held Stark1 firmly in NBe's hands.

The situation for HOH had become desperate. Their only hope now was to capture the third treasure as quickly as possible, leaving enough time to secure a fourth one and possibly turn the tide of the match—an almost impossible task. However, Grombold decided it was a risk worth taking: surrendering to NBe was not an option. With all of their forces gathered and under the leader’s command, the troops made their way to Winterfell!

What they faced was a true battle to the last breath.

Both alliances gathered their forces for the final, epic clash of the match, where neither side intended to retreat. HOH’s desperation clashed with NBe’s confidence, as they knew that stalling for time was now their key to securing victory in the first match. Every move was calculated, each attack aimed at slowing the enemy’s advance. The intensity of the confrontation escalated, with both groups determined to never give in. However, NBe’s steadfast defense played a crucial role, and once they secured the treasure, they managed to waste precious time until it was mathematically impossible for Neik and his team to mount a comeback.

The strategy implemented by NBe's leadership, along with the phenomenal new members who had joined their ranks in recent months, played a pivotal role in closing the gap with their fierce rivals, HOH, if not outright surpassing them. At least, that’s what this first match of Siege of Winterfell season demonstrated.

The final victory of the match went to... NBe!

MVP's

The best fighters of the match were:

Xoica for HOH. He fought until the last ounce of his strength to try and turn around the match, which had seemed doomed from the middle stages. He was the last to surrender from his team, but his determination was not enough.

TheOnlyKing for NBe. Perhaps the most formidable member of NightBeastElite, TheOnlyKing lived up to the hype during this match, becoming a true nightmare for any fighters who crossed his path.

"We all know how much we wanted to win this match, but things don’t always go as planned. Don’t lose hope; this was only the first match of the season," said leader Grombold, trying to lift the spirits of his allies after a tough loss, before heading back to K285.

A heartbroken Neik made his way back to K345 after the match, also one of those who fought until the very end. However, the superior preparation and more effective strategy, especially with the new battlefield mechanics, rendered every effort to turn the tide of the match futile.

A rough start to the season for HOH, a defeat in such a high-stakes match was a hard pill to swallow. But the second match was only a few days away, and they had to put today’s loss behind them and focus entirely on the next challenge on the horizon. Could they bounce back? We’ll find out together!