Siege of Winterfell | Season 7 | Round 2 | SFu vs WWW

After a devastating loss against UTB in the very first round of Siege of Winterfell, SFu was left reeling, impatiently waiting for their second opponent and hoping for a better outcome. The first-round defeat had left many players frustrated, but Lux was not among them. She had known from the start that SFu stood no chance against UTB, especially after playing alongside ImmoRtaL in AoH and witnessing the sheer strength of his account. While others vented their frustrations, Lux remained analytical, focusing on improving her own performance.

She was still trying to determine which trio of commanders would be the best match for her, but this time, rather than consulting Dark Pegasus and the leadership of SFu, she turned to her longtime friend from tSB, Astro. His advice was simple yet insightful: combine Cersei, Melisandre, and Annie. Lux trusted his judgment and decided to go with the suggested combination.

Finally, the day of the match arrived. The matching system surprised everyone yet again by assigning them a formidable opponent: WWW. Although this alliance was strong, their power levels were more aligned with SFu, making it a much fairer match. Still, the challenge ahead loomed large, and many players sighed at the realization that they were in for another tough battle. "Why can't we get an easy match just once?" someone muttered in frustration.

Leadership worked tirelessly to finalize preparations a few hours before the match and called everyone to assemble. It was evident that numbers would play a crucial role in determining the outcome. As per usual, SFu leadership divided players into three main teams, each assigned to a different strategic location on the map: the Armory Team, the Hot Springs Team, and the Winterfell Team. The Winterfell Team, composed primarily of cavalry players, was tasked with escorting the Winterfell resources, while the Armory and Hot Springs teams consisted of a balanced mix of spearmen, infantry, and bowmen. Lux was originally assigned to the Hot Springs team, but this time, she decided to take a more flexible approach, balancing between both locations depending on where she was needed the most.

As the match kicked off, Lux, along with the rest of her crew led by EnchantressM, rushed to the Armory, while another group, under a different leader, headed towards Hot Springs. It didn't take long for SFu to realize that WWW was incredibly strong. Securing control over both sides of the map would be a daunting task. Initially, SFu managed to turn both Hot Springs and the Armory "blue," indicating their control. However, as the battle unfolded and more WWW players began pouring into SFu territory, red started creeping across the map, marking the gradual shift in control.

The first 15 minutes of the battle were relatively balanced, but WWW had no intention of slowing down. As the 6th-anniversary statues spawned, Lux made a quick move towards the "Statue of the Lady." To her delight, she managed to grab a gift bag filled with valuable points that would allow her to unlock a new truce skin. "How sweet!" she thought to herself. Though she was supposed to stay at Hot Springs, she decided to divert her path and check in on the Armory. Arriving there, she encountered a formidable number of enemies but took the opportunity to test her formations. While two of her formations fell rather quickly, the main formation, led by Melisandre, proved to be an absolute tank. "Oh God, she’s unstoppable!" Lux marveled as she retreated to heal.

Meanwhile, the battle for Winterfell resources was reaching chaotic levels. The first pack of resources hadn't even been delivered before the second one dropped, creating a frenzy of action. The intensity was thrilling, but unfortunately, due to a lack of organization, WWW managed to secure both resource packages and began expanding their control over the map, capturing key strongholds. The SFu Discord voice chat echoed with frustration: "Why didn’t we anticipate this? Why weren’t more troops stationed there?" But by that point, it was too late. The plan that once seemed promising was now falling apart.

Despite the setbacks, Lux remained undeterred. She continued circling the battlefield, engaging enemies, and racking up an impressive number of elimination points. The point gap between SFu and WWW wasn’t insurmountable yet, and hope remained. SFu fought tooth and nail at both the Armory and Hot Springs, while one brave alliance member managed to deliver the next resource package to an outpost, reducing the enemy's lead to just 1,500 points. Spirits lifted, and the team pushed forward with renewed determination.

As the next Winterfell resource package dropped, SFu’s forces scrambled to claim it, but WWW had already begun tightening their grip. The enemy reached SFu’s strongholds and outposts, making it increasingly difficult for them to move resources safely. One by one, SFu's positions fell, and soon the entire map was turning red. Exhausted troops, depleted healing reserves, and relentless enemy reinforcements left SFu struggling to hold the ground they had worked so hard to secure.

Desperate for a final push, SFu leadership made the call: "One last all-in effort!" Believing that WWW was running low on heals and on the verge of collapse, SFu's forces regrouped, healed their troops, and launched a full-scale counterattack. The battle was ferocious, elimination points skyrocketed on both sides, and every castle was fiercely contested. With time running out and the scores nearly tied, SFu focused on eliminating as many enemy troops as possible in a bid to regain the lead and secure their first victory of the season.

With just minutes remaining, SFu managed to reclaim most of their castles, pushing WWW back. However, in the chaos, they overlooked a crucial detail—Winterfell resources had dropped once more. While SFu was fully engaged in combat, WWW had quietly pulled their cavalry troops back, seized the package, and swiftly transported it to their outpost. By the time SFu realized what had happened, it was too late. With only two minutes left on the clock, the final blow had been dealt.

As the match ended, silence fell over the alliance chat. The realization sank in—SFu had suffered their second consecutive defeat, and despite their efforts, they had underestimated their opponent’s ability to execute a last-minute strategy. The loss was a bitter pill to swallow. Some members vented their frustrations, while others retreated in disappointment. Lux, however, remained composed.

Sure, she had deviated from the initial plan, but she still felt confident about her performance. Her commander setup had worked incredibly well, with Melisandre proving to be a powerhouse. "Of course, Astro knew what he was talking about," she mused as she exchanged her points for Simon medals. She hadn't earned as many as she had hoped due to the frequent losses, but there were still four matches left. There was still a chance for redemption.

This season felt different. The once-tight bonds among her teammates seemed to be loosening, the camaraderie fading under the weight of defeats. But Lux refused to let negativity consume her. "Come on, folks, we’ll win the next one!" she typed in the chat, her determination unwavering. Then, she sent Astro a message, eager to share how well his strategy had worked.

Would SFu finally get lucky with their next opponent? Would victory at last be within reach? And more importantly, would Lux manage to unlock the glorious T5 before the season ended?

Stay tuned. 😊