Siege Of Winterfell (Season 15 Round 5) - HOH vs. VME

 The defeat by the hands of FFS in the previous, fourth round had not yet been fully absorbed, but HOH did not have much time to mourn, as the next task was already ahead of them. But of course the team, together with the leadership, drew conclusions and reflected on the mistakes and analysed what went wrong against FFS,  in the end, they concluded that they had simply faced a stronger and better-prepared alliance. However, the rivalry with the FFS made that verdict even harder to accept. They had dominated due to a clear strategic superiority. There had been no single decisive mistake, they had simply been overwhelmed by the power and organization of FFS. It was a tough lesson, but it motivated everyone to push even harder, improve the teamwork and don’t give up. 

"Today, we will seek redemption, no matter who our opponent is," said Uri, the leader of HOH, as they waited to find out who they would face in the 4th match of Siege of Winterfell. Changing course was essential. But the conversations stopped when the rival army arrived: it was...

VME

Today’s opponents were the VME, led by the formidable dziedzic, with the support of Vernei and Szostek. The two teams were more than familiar with each other, they have crossed path in various events, before. VME is not feared for the strength of individual fighters but rather for their cohesion, which made them unpredictable and dangerous. This fact was supported by their presence on the battlefield, they gathered 90 armies for today’s battle against HOH’s 92. 

The impending clash drew closer, accompanied by a violent storm about to engulf the area. The sky, shrouded in menacing clouds, transformed the battlefield into an even darker and more ominous place. Each thunderclap seemed to mark the harrowing moments of anticipation. The rain began to fall, turning the ground slick and adding an extra layer of challenge for the warriors. 

Battle For Armoury

The conflict began with an intensity that caught both alliances by surprise. Armoury, a crucial strategic point, quickly became the battleground's focal point, where the forces clashed with unmatched ferocity. HOH’s Armoury team, led by Urielki, advanced toward the objective but found themselves facing determined opponents who had mobilized much of their forces to secure control of the building.

After a prolonged phase of skirmishes, despite the relentless resistance from VME members, HOH's numbers, slightly boosted by reinforcements, given the scale of the ongoing battle - proved decisive. Following a series of attacks and counterattacks, the members of HOH managed to push back their adversaries and solidify control over Armoury, marking a significant early victory in the match.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Spimmer and his companions knew that capturing Hot Springs was only a matter of time. With almost no defence in place, the opponents stood little chance against the fierceness of the HOH-led group. Securing the buff it provided was a simple task on the right side of the battlefield.

Keep pushing toward the bases in their possession" the leader ordered, intent on creating a barrier of fighters between the formidable VME rivals and the upcoming Winterfell bounty, which would soon become available.

Once control of Armoury was secured, under the wise guidance of their leader, Armoury team decided to push forward, following the directives given before the battle began and heading toward Greyjoy Stronghold —an ambitious but crucial objective. However, the path ahead would not be easy: as they advanced, more and more rivals gathered around the coveted position, ready to stop them.

 Members of VME, regrouped near the target position after their strategic retreat from Armoury, posed a significant obstacle for HOH. The battle between the two factions once again became a brutal affair, with the outcome shifting when reinforcements arrived... in favour of HOH. Despite their determination, the fighters under the resolute leadership of Szostek were forced to retreat, losing control of the strategically important bases.  

“Great job," Urielki praised his teammates. Capturing an other base on the left side of the map, it was crucial to the outcome of the encounter, and after much struggle, HOH finally succeeded in pushing VME towards their base.

 HOH progress seemed unstoppable, after occupying Greyjoy Stronghold, the next target was the Greyjoy Outpost. A small group, split off from the Armory team rushed forward in the battle without thinking, somewhat recklessly, ended up in an unexpected clash at the Stronghold. Few of us decided to push forward without waiting for reinforcements and in a sudden twist, we were surrounded by a large group of enemies! In the heat of the battle we forgot how close the stronghold is to the VME base, they can send a lot of reinforcements very quickly. It seemed they were just waiting for a reckless move and we walked into their trap. This premature move almost cost our demise, but fortunately, reinforcements arrived when we needed them most. The arrival of the rest of the Armoury team was the turning point in this battle for the stronghold.

After the fall of the last rampart, the road to the VME base was straight.  

"Keep pushing towards the enemy base to crush their hopes—it's not over yet!" the alliance leader urged, striving to maintain his comrades focus.

In the following minutes practically the full force of HOH surrounded the VME base and stopped anyone who tried to break out. As time went on, fewer and fewer brave adventurers were left and the heat of battle diminished.

The only reason both teams gave up what we call "camping" was the appearance of special buildings. It was obvious that the battle was already decided, but everyone wanted to collect extra rewards at the anniversary buildings. This spurred both sides to fight everything and everyone to take the Crone Statue and pick up the bags. 

The HOH members, determined not to give their rivals any chance, secured every entrance and paths ready to stop any potential intruder attempts, but as soon as the extra rewards were dropped everyone lost control in the madness, it’s almost impossible to tell what happened, in the huge confusion, but when the dust settled, the VME fighters who had survived til now, they have become casualties, instantly.

This was the last real battle scene of the fight, eventually, the resistance of their rivals crumbled. Depleted of energy and hope, they were forced to surrender. With victory within their grasp, HOH could finally breath easy, knowing that their team work and determination had triumphed the day. It was really important for everyone, we were able to show real characters after the heavy defeat against FFS. 

“We did well today," said the leader of HOH, complimenting his teammates before leaving the battlefield. " We showed great resilience against an opponent who didn't back down until the very end. Excellent work!" Then, he turned to compliment their opponents, who, despite their disadvantage, fought like true warriors. 

This victory was a breath of fresh air for HOH. Now, the standings were in their favour, and they were firmly among the top twelve of the season. However, two matches remained before the season concluded, and to secure qualification, at least one more win was crucial.

Who would be their opponent in the fifth act? We’ll find out together!