Arena of Honor: Chronicles of the First Battle

The fires of war crackled anew as the banners of six factions fluttered across the windswept battlefields of Westeros. A new Arena of Honor season had begun and our group of friends - an elite squad of [7GD], [WxC], and [HD!] players - was ready for its debut match: [7GD]Anthraxus, [7GD]Alex, [7GD]SmertnicheG, [WxC]Azu, [WxC]Mac, [WxC]YaKout, [WxC]Rex, [WxC]Lucky, [WxC]Lann, [HD!]Ba1erion.

A few nights before the storm, the hearth of Anthraxus’ castle tavern glowed warmly, shadows dancing across tankards and maps. [7GD]Anthraxus, [7GD]Alex, and [7GD]SmertnicheG like seasoned warlords, planning the course of their first campaign in the Arena of Honor. Mugs of ale in hand, we plotted our opening moves: Should we rush multiple matches in one day or focus on a single, high-intensity showdown? After reviewing our team’s availability, we committed to Round 2 - an hour-long war to set the tone for the season for all of us.

### The Vanguard ###

As the match began, our faction - Greyjoy [cyan] - charged into the fray. Right from the start, our eyes were on the first stronghold line. We noticed watchtowers guarded by NPC cavalry, prompting us to build seven spear war camps in the first stronghold’s line for maximum effectiveness against them.

The moment the first Altar opened, [WxC]Lucky led the charge. With a well-timed spear deployment, he seized it and our team immediately reinforced the position to hold this important building.

Soon, the second line of strongholds opened. Our whole squad, apart from those holding Altars, rushed to capture and build war camps. The faster we activated those NPC-producing buildings, the faster they’d help us in both defense and offense - freeing our armies to roam the battlefield. We all agreed that Alex’s commanders should take up permanent defense duty inside our Faction City, using his formidable stats to hold the core.

### Spears and Strategy ###

Soon, our Faction City's NPC troops launched their first attack - targeting the Targaryen [purple] City. We discovered that their inner walls held spear commanders and Infantry-Cavalry formation, prompting us to shift camp production to infantry for an effective counter. Skirmishes broke out across the map as we juggled Altars and war camp building.

Alex stepped in: Camps in the second line done. Please recall your troops.

Azu notify: Pink is taking Yellow’s Faction City!

Anthraxus: Let’s try a fast cav rally on the Altar of Warrior on a Green territory.

… and the team really quickly sent reinforcements to him.

Anthraxus happily: Yeah! We kicked them

Anthraxus was happy to announce successful rally results with capturing to us Altar of the Warrior right after few seconds from previous phrase

Azu praised Anthraxus: Nice! Good job Anth! 

Alex called for help in another Altar of Warrior: Reinforce with spears please. Coordinates in the faction chat.

The team reacted fast and speeded up their reinforcements: Roger that! Yes! Will do! On the go!

### Holding the Line ###

The Altar of Warrior holded by Anthraxus faced relentless attacks.

Alex (smiling): Anth is looking strong!

Anthraxus: Haha! Only looking, lol. They are melting my troops attack by attack and will beat me soon.

Alex counter: But you stand against so many strong attacks. It is great!

Anthraxus complained with a smile: I need my own T5 troops. At least the Green faction players are busy attacking me and they are not preventing our team from doing all the other stuff.

Despite the losses in the Altar of Warrior, Anthraxus' stand kept the Green faction occupied, buying precious breathing room for the team.

Alex notified us: We got a second Watchtower from Purple. Pity that we can’t be fast enough to have first captures. but even so it is nice!

Anthraxus said: Ehh... almost hold it! One minute and a half of two minutes needed to capture. I did my best but the Green faction guys finally kicked me out of their Altar of Warrior :)

Azu asked: So we need a spear march to send there?

Anthraxus replied: Yes, if you have some, please send it.

Azu notified a bit later: Ahh, Purple are taking Green's Faction City.

Alex smiled: Yeah, good luck to them! :)

Alex sent his troops to Altar from what Anthraxus was kicked out one minute before.

Alex: Haha! I kicked them, but a second after I was kicked by another army that also ran to the same building as me... nevermind guys! It was funny :) There are some decent infantry troops inside this Altar now.

Anthraxus immediately started a cavalry rally.

Anthraxus: Fast cav rally to that Altar of the Warrior.

Alex: replied: Not sure you should do it. There are Jon Snow and Daeron inside. Not for you at the moment.

Anthraxus: Ok, you are right, then I will disband I. No sense to present more easy kills for the opponents.

Alex continues: Balerion can do it instead of you.

Balerion reacted back at the same moment: What? where?

Anthraxus: I shared coordinates in the Glory squad chat, please check them. We need your super strong cavalry there :)

Alex added: Nevermind guys. Time passed. But we got all three Watch Towers!

### Dragon Pits and Real-Life Moments ###

Azu asked: Now we need Dragon Pits? Who will take what Dragon Pit?

Alex asked and posted coordinates in chat: YaKout, can you do top-right Dragon Pit? It is for you!

YaKout replied: Sure, man! Will do!

Alex added: Azu, the closest one is for you. Ok?

Azu: Yep!

Azu decided to add some real life into the discussion: Are you going to the beach? Balerion?

Balerion was confused a bit: What? Today?

Azu continues with a smile: Yeah, to the sea!

Balerion laughed: Ahh, no. Not today. I was thinking you were asking me about Dragon Pit! Lol :) I saw which one, which Dragon Pit? Haha )))

After a few minutes…

Alex summarized: Both our Dragon Pits are done and bubbled. We got quite good bonuses and you guys (YaKout and Azu), can free troops from these buildings.

Anthraxus stepped in to chat: Bottom right Dragon Pit is for our spears. Let's make opponents a bit busy there.

YaKout replied: Yeah, yeah, already running there :)

Alex said: And... we lost it, heh... too fast. A lot of strong infantry on the battlefield.

Anthraxus added: Reinforce bottom Dragon Pit with cav now, Balerion has kicked infantry from it. Wow! And our NPC troops are starting to get Catapults!

Azu was happy: Nice! Good job! Now we need to take Altars of Warrior back to us. We need them now again.

### Altars Fights ###

Alex stepped in: Purple captured Glory City with their strong infantry guy.

Azu joined: We're gonna need two simultaneous rallies for this. But not sure if we can hold it for 3 minutes after capturing and if this makes sense.

Anthraxus replied: I propose to focus on Altars at the moment. And when we have a bit more of them we can try Glory City.

YaKout confirmed with few attacks to the enemy Altars at this moment: I fully agree.

A few minutes later…

Alex: We need to take the Altar of Maiden from Yellow. They are our main opponent right now. Purple and Pink can do nothing in terms of war camps. So, Purple can get points only from Glory City and Yellow only from Trading Posts. That's why we need to push them a bit lower and raise our points instead.

Azu: So, what do you want us to do?

Alex: Capture Altars of Maiden from Yellow faction.

Anthraxus: It is 'money-icon'-altars :)

Alex: Right :)

Team: Roger that!

Anthraxus: Purple finished capturing Glory City and it is bubbled now, so I propose to take some altars from Purple four minutes from now when Glory City will appear unbubbled and Purple troops will be busy there again.

Azu notified: Mining Sites openned.

Alex: My march is in our closest Mining Site, please send some troops for reinforcements

Balerion clarified: any kind?

Alex replied: Yes, any kind just to gather points faster. Thanks!

A few minutes later… and nearly 20 minutes till the end of the match…

Alex: We are skyrocketing by points! Will be in first place soon.

Anthraxus: Opponents are hitting our empty altars with a small amount of troops, so just spend a few seconds and kick them out, please.

Alex: Yeah, 12K to 20K tier-4 troops inside.

Anthraxus: Yep. Easy to kick but need some attention.

### Glory City Warfare ###

With Glory City now a contested focal point, we launched rallies, captured it, held it - then got kicked. Then tried again and again.

Azu interested: Are we planning to take Glory City? Ooo! We ARE there already! What do we need inside?

Rex answered: Cavalry please. Quick! :)

Anthraxus reminded: Reinforce with speedups.

Alex: I'm also recalling troops from a Mining Site. We now have some additional troops to use on the battlefield :)

So pitiful that after one minute of Glory City defense Pink kicked us out of there.

Azu: YaKout go to the Glory City! I think you can solo them!

YaKout: Sorry, I just tried and failed. I need some recovery and reinforcements in the rally. Soloing is not working

Alex: Do a rally please.

YaKout: yeah. One moment!

And we got it!

After successful Glory City attack we have a lot of defense battles:

Strange suicidal enemy solo-attack to unbeatable YaKout’s march:

And few more attacks to us while we are defending the Glory City:

This [WAO]PhGanda Hari guy is very stubborn. At the same time he should learn to scout before attack or to check the logs and not to fight with his cavalry against strong spear:

Two infantry rallies against us that came almost at the same time have failed too:

Azu informed: Mineshafts are ready for attack.

Alex: Target Yellow and Purple mineshafts if possible and if you want to attack someone. They are our main competitors now.

Mac reminded: Anthraxus you are low on troops in the Glory City, please refill.

Anthraxus: Yes, thank you. On the way!

Alex: 20 seconds to Glory City bubble

Azu: 12 seconds!

Anthraxus: 5 seconds!

Mac: Tree, Two, One... GOOD JOB !!!

Rallies resumed, and we took Glory City! Defense battles flooded in. The scoreboard surged in our favor.

### Final Push and Tactical Rebuild ###

Anthraxus: Continue with the Altars please :) Attack as many as you can!

Azu: i do not see any attacks to our altars now

Anthraxus: Yep. I mean we should attack enemy altars :)

Azu: Ahh, right :)

Alex: Friends, we should rebuild war camps to have an ability to get Purple Faction City. I will change a few spears to cavalry camps.

Anthraxus: We have 11 minutes till the match ends.

Azu: Alex, do you think it's a great idea to do it right now?

Alex: Sure! Absolutely!

Athraxus: ok, let's do it :) By your command!

Alex: If you have free troops please send them to three central cavalry war camps for a faster building process.

Anthraxus: Guys, MineShafts are empty. Free your troops from them. And we are starting to lose watch towers.

Alex: Yeah, that's why we are rebuilding war camps from spear to cavalry because opponents built a lot of infantry war camps that counters our NPC spear troops in want towers.

Anthraxus: Got it.

Azu: 20 seconds for bubble drop from Glory City.

Alex: We are fine there. Full of troops.

Azu: Dragon Pits cleared :)

Anthraxus: Thank you Azu!

Alex: First three cavalry war camps done. Rebuilding a few following ones in the first line to cavalry too. Reinforce them faster please.

Alex: Start some pressure on Pink, please. They need to be busy :) And we are already starting to retake watchtowers back.

Azu: Wow! We got Targaryen [Purple] Faction City! 

Alex: Yes, that was the plan! Lol! We need someone with cavalry commanders to sit there. We have a lot of NPC inside but need to enforce them with a strong cavalry march. Rex, can you expedition it with your main cavalry march?

Rex: Yes, give me a sec.

Anthraxus: I can send my main march too. Should I?

Alex: No, better Rex do it.

Anthraxus: Ok, then I will reinforce it :)

Athraxus: 2 minutes left before the match ends. We can release troops from Glory City, nobody can't recapture it because there is no time left for this :) and we can use these 2 minutes to do more kills if you want! :)

Alex: Great match! Thank you everyone!

Anthraxus: Yeah, guys, you are awesome! Thank you a lot for such a cool match and your participation! It was a really glorious fight!

Alex: Guys, we are starting to get Yellow Faction City! 7 seconds before the match ends!

Azu: So funny! LoL :) I want a longer match duration then :)

Anthraxus: Haha! I wish we could take it earlier :) Thank you everyone!

As the buzzer rang, the battlefield fell silent - troops halted mid-swing, dragons wheeled above, and banners lowered.

### Results and Reflections ###

It was more than just a match. It was a story of teamwork, quick decisions, tactical adaptation, and moments of laughter amid chaos. From Tavern to battlefield, we executed a flawless opening to the Arena of Honor’s first season.

Victory was ours - not just in points, but in spirit!

Thank you for reading!

© [7GD]Anthraxus