ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR: THE KVK CHRONICLES

I am Bezedash and welcome once more into my GoT WiC world.

The cold morning air licked my cheek as i stood on the deck of a ship creaking under the weight of its years, its black sails gently swelling in the breeze.

Spring had come early this year, with smoke in the air and a hint of fire in the wind. And it was in this fragrant breeze that THE WICH had called me.

I had barely wiped the blood off my sword from my last battle against Dreamon, yet the thirst for adventure gnawed at me once more. Restless once more, i grabbed my lute, my sword, my horse, and a half-baked melody i couldn’t quite finish. I boarded the first ship heading toward k276, a rustic but reliable vessel, its obsidian sails billowing above a crew that reeked of salt, ale, rum, and experience. The kind of crew that promised good stories.

To me, the sea tasted of ancient legends and fresh beginnings. As the ship crested wave after wave, i scribbled into my battered journal:

"But war is everything

When you dare to feel the heat,

When you give all your heart,

And make every battle complete..."

 But the words trailed off. The wind teased my inspiration without ever delivering it. I sighed and let my notes drift into the sea spray.

 “Bard, instead of plucking your lute, how about joining us for a game?” a sailor called, shuffling cards with the fingers of a man who had bluffed both kings and storms alike.

I joined them, strangers with sun-cracked lips and eyes that had seen both the beauty of horizons and the fire of cannons.

Halfway through a hand, i let my cards drop to the table. That’s when i noticed the table itself... and what covered it: maps. Worn edges, sea stains, cryptic symbols. I raised an eyebrow.

 “Bit fancy for a poker mat, wouldn’t you say?"

A woman with a cheek tattoo leaned in and whispered:

 “Some of these mark treasures found in the Battle of the Narrow Sea. Others... bounties across Westeros.”

The captain, a silver-haired old wolf with a lightning-carved smile, chuckled.

“Fancy a detour, bard? You’ve got a nose for danger and good tales, I can tell. Join the hunt before you head back to your war or your love.”

I hesitated, then shook my head with a grin.

“The Narrow Sea? I’ve crossed it before, with my wife. We called it The Love Boat.”

I leaned in closer, my voice quieter.

“War, love... all’s fair in both, but i’ve got a different course to follow. Set sail for k276, but if you go to the Narrow Sea, don't forget to check the additions.”

We resumed our course toward k276, the ship cutting through the waves as the next chapter awaited.

I barely took time to breathe in the lavender fields before chasing down those bounties across Westeros. I chased them like a madman, my sword gleaming in battle, my armies trading swords for shovels and picks to harvest resources, and my big heart guiding me to help the humble in need. The bounties brought me resources, chests of friendship, blue diamonds, speedups, heals, medals... a trove of wonders. 

It was only by noon that i returned to my castle. I led Hermine to the stables and finally laid my gear down.

Almost at once, a silver-winged raven spiraled in, its cry sharp enough to cut dreams, landing on my windowsill. A message was tied to its leg, its seal large enough to read from afar: Vangark. The king himself informed me he would soon stand at my gates.

 There was little time to prepare the welcome worthy of his rank. I hastily lit a fire, brewed something warm, set out a bard’s welcome and a chair near the hearth. Years as his hoffit had taught me his tastes well.

He then arrived at my castle door, still armored from his travels. I flew down the steps and he embraced me like a brother, immediately saying:

 “Tonight at midnight, the drums will sound. KvK returns. But this time... it won’t be like before.”

I blinked"

“Not with your alliance xNx, the Nazgul?”

He shook his head.

“No, this time, we won’t all gather in xNx. PacoVega, Arthurion, and I remain with FFS, FreakingDrakaRYS. Promises were made. And rewards await.”

My heart skipped. Here we go, i thought. I asked for action, and now it's coming. 

Midnight came and KvK finally began.

Yet at first, nothing felt different. Just another day, another battlefield. The enemies watched us from afar, and we watched back... waiting. The powerful k204 slowly racked up points, hitting our small keeps and gathering in our lands. But no bold moves. Just silence. K204’s points slowly crept up thanks to attacks on our small castles and the effort they put into gathering our kingdom’s resources. 

Then at 2 am, like a whisper carried on the wind, the signal arrived. A Discord ping:

“Unprotected bank spotted. Coordinates posted.”

And that was it. That sweet, sweet moment of chaos. You know the feeling... when the opportunity is just too tempting. My comrades, those valiant warriors of k276, launched into motion before the message had even finished sending. They dove onto that juicy target. Me? I just set up my camera and played my lute. I hadn’t come to gorge. I wanted something more than blood and loot. 

After the frenzy, KvK settled into monotony. A few skirmishes, nothing thrilling. K204 kept earning points by striking weak castles and harvesting. But we... we held their Great Cities and ours, and our score soared.

I thought back to what my wife, LadySam, once told me:

“Love is nothing when it’s too proper. We like each other, don’t even know when we’re hurting each other. We get bored. Love is nothing when it’s lukewarm.”

Her words fit war too. Every kingdom climbs the board in its own way, but real action? It was still hiding.

I lay in bed instead, better to regain strength than to do nothing.

But just as the sun began to dip, a cry rang across Discord, the herald of King Vangark himself:

"Rally on catgirl1108. Sigrid will lead the attack.”

The calm had ended. The real game was beginning. No more poking at defenseless castles. Now, strategies would sharpen and alliances would be tested. The tension crackled. You could feel it in the air. This was the battle that counted. The one that would forge bonds and memories.

And as always, victory belonged to the bold. I ported just far enough not to be noticed, sent my strongest dragon and all my troops...

Well, actually, just 924 t4s infantry. I hadn’t trained more… I was asleep…

The battle gave catgirl1108 no chance. 

K276 emerged victorious, and just like that, KvK was over.

A strange mix of relief and triumph washed over us. Yet even in the warmth of victory, a shadow crossed my thoughts... I hadn't even taken a moment to greet THE WICH. Friendship, like war, deserves presence… and i had let that slip through my fingers like sea foam. So i decided to make amends the only way i knew… by gathering those i hold dear.

It was in the great hall of my castle that my companions and i celebrated our victory. I strummed the strings of my lute and this time, the words flowed naturally:

♩¸¸♫·¯·♪¸¸♩·¯·♬¸¸¸¸♫·¯·♪¸Volume: ▁ ▂ ▃ ▄ ▅ ▆ █ 100%

KvK is nothing

When it’s just lukewarm,

We fight to please,

But we don’t feel the storm.

KvK is nothing...

When it’s shallow and fake,

A castle, some blood,

But nothing at stake.

But KvK is everything

When you dare to feel the heat,

When you give all your heart,

And make every battle complete.

 ¸¸♫·¯·♪¸¸♩·¯·♬¸¸¸¸♫·¯·♪¸Volume: █ ▆ ▅ ▄ ▃ ▂ ▁ 0%

And so, my friends, that’s how we won. Not by gathering, not by pecking at the weak, but by diving into the fire, embracing the heat, and daring to make it count. Because truly, all's fair in love and war.

I will see you soon for some more thrilling adventures.

Thank you for reading.

→_→