The Close Guard Assembled

The war horns echoed for the last time across the Seven Kingdoms, announcing the final Arena of Honor of the day. Unlike the previous battle, where Arthurion had found himself surrounded by strangers, this time he appeared as a team. His close guard (not to mention his personal slaves) were gathered under the Baratheon banner: Neo, DYDY, his faithful PacoVega, Zarachiel, TWO FACES, Thor, WEBANGEL, GordonPasha, and Raimond. A well-worn team, a mutual trust forged in iron, blood, and the taxes Arthurion regularly collected.

- Arthurion: Finally, a real team!

He exclaimed, adjusting his Dragon Fang-adorned helm and his Cassan bracelet. Yes, he liked wearing feminine attributes. This time, we're going to show Westeros what it's like to wage war with girls! Zarachiel wore a confident smile:

Zarachiel: And we have a major asset: Brienne! And two of them!

Indeed, two members of the Baratheon team now possessed the legendary commander: Arthurion and Zarachiel. Both were exceptional horsemen, especially Arthurion, and they were burning with impatience to discover the capabilities of this warrior whose reputation was well established. Brienne of Tarth, one of the most formidable swords in the Seven Kingdoms, was finally going to reveal her power on a real battlefield.

- PacoVega: This time, we have the means to match our ambitions. With Brienne in our ranks, the other houses will understand their pain.

- Arthurion: I especially hope she lives up to her reputation. I don't want to keep getting beaten up by guys I'm supposed to be beating up.

The Balance of Power

For once, the Arena of Honor promised a relatively balanced fight. The six houses presented relatively comparable forces, each composed of talented warriors, but most of whom didn't know each other. Only two notable exceptions stood out: Arthurion's team, united by years of fighting side by side, and the formidable RoDs, united under the Stark banner.

- Neo: The map seems rather balanced this time. No house seems overwhelming.

-DYDY: Except for the Starks... These RoDs are war machines. And XAGAP in particular...

-Arthurion: XAGAP? I know that name. I hear he's a monster in combat.

-TWO FACES: A monster, that's the word. He's been crushing everything in his path for months. I try to attack him on the training ground, and I get spanked every time. I have to say, I'm pretty weak. I belong with Hodor.

Arthurion carefully observed the distribution of forces. The other houses—Lannister, Greyjoy, Tyrell, and Targaryen—seemed to be composed of isolated warriors, perhaps competent, but lacking an alliance organization that could make a difference. This Arena of Honor would be decided between the coordination of the Baratheons and the raw power of the Starks.

First Light - The Race to the Bastions

From the very beginning, the Baratheon team revealed its organizational superiority. Unlike previous battles where Arthurion had to improvise with strangers, each member knew their role perfectly. The bastions were erected with formidable efficiency, each optimized for point production.

- Thor: Bastions in place! Production at maximum!

- WEBANGEL: The other houses are still struggling to organize. We're already ahead of the game! Hee hee!

Meanwhile, Arthurion studied the enemy's movements with the sharp eye of a strategist from atop his near-invincible cavalry, surrounded by his Amazon-like women. The Starks deployed methodically, XAGAP seemed to be coordinating his troops with impressive military precision. The other houses were still fumbling, their members trying to quickly align.

- GordonPasha: The RoD don't mess around. Look at how they're positioning themselves. Full combat.

- Raimond: Who cares. We have Brienne.

Brienne's Awakening - The Altars of Maidenhead

The opening of the Altars of Maidenhead marked the true beginning of the real hostilities. These strategic positions, scattered across the Arena, offered substantial bonuses and were often the keys to victory. It was here that Arthurion and Neo finally revealed the potential of their new commander. Arthurion's first assault took him to a Lannister-held altar. Facing him was a renowned knight, confident in his classical training. But as soon as Brienne entered the fray, the difference was striking.

Arthurion: By the Seven! My troops swept away the enemy with disconcerting ease. This woman is a prodigy!

Brienne's cavalry charges were of incredible violence. Where other commanders relied on tactical finesse, Brienne seemed to prioritize attack and the health of her horsemen! Her cavalry charged like an avalanche, shattering enemy formations with implacable determination, crushing them violently beneath their hooves. Zarachiel, meanwhile, simultaneously attacked a Tyrell altar. The result was the same: a crushing victory that left the enemy speechless.

- Zarachiel: Arthurion! Did you see that? She takes everything apart!

- Arthurion: I confess I didn't expect such power! The spearmen didn't even have time to form their pikes! Energized by their initial successes, the Baratheon team launched a systematic campaign to conquer altars. Arthurion and Zarachiel, supported by their teammates, racked up victories. Each altar conquered earned valuable points and further strengthened the Baratheon house's position.

- PacoVega: Let's keep it up! We're not bad at all!

- DYDY: The other houses don't know where to turn! They're like little ants being crushed by horses.

Power Revealed

As the battles progressed, Brienne revealed the full extent of her abilities. Unlike the more subtle commanders Arthurion usually used, she was a force of nature, finally balancing the feminine synergy and bringing it almost on par with the other synergies. Her skills seemed perfectly suited to cavalry charges. During a memorable clash against the Greyjoys, Arthurion faced a particularly tough defense. The enemy had carefully consolidated their position, positioning their troops to maximize damage against the cavalry. But Brienne transformed what should have been a difficult fight into a show of strength.

-Arthurion: These ironborn will regret having challenged the Baratheons!

The clash was titanic. The enemy lines, though well prepared, disintegrated under the impact. Brienne had this unique ability to transform each charge into a steamroller, crushing all resistance in its path.

- WEBANGEL: How is that possible? They were well positioned!

- Arthurion: That's Brienne's power! She transforms our horses into war rams! With the power of love and friendship, this provides very significant bonuses!

The Dragon Pits - The Decisive Advantage

The opening of the Dragon Pits confirmed the Baratheons' tactical dominance. These crucial positions offered enormous point bonuses. They were quickly secured by Arthurion, and another by Neo. Perfect coordination between the members allowed them to rally and quickly take the position, while the other houses fiercely competed for the last remaining position.

- Thor: Pit secured! The points are pouring in! Open the winning machine!

- Neo: The Starks are trying to dislodge us, please fill up!

Indeed, no victory was ever certain, and one always had to be careful and remain vigilant. But Arthurion, galvanized by Brienne's performance, continued his campaign of eliminations. Each opponent defeated, each formation dispersed, added to the Baratheons' lead.

- Zarachiel: Look at the standings! We're widening the gap!

- Raimond: I didn't think we could get so many points.

Despite the euphoria of the moment, Arthurion kept a watchful eye on the Starks. XAGAP and his RoDs were also racking up points, taking advantage of their own coordination to seize strategic military altars throughout the map. The real test was approaching.

The Fateful Opening - The City of Glory

When the horns sounded the opening of the City of Glory, only two factions were ready. This ultimate position, the jewel of the Arena of Honor, could turn the tide of battle single-handedly. Whoever controlled it would siphon points from everyone else, turning the advantage into an easy victory. Arthurion and his team prepared feverishly. They were leading the standings, but that lead could evaporate if the Starks seized the central city.

- PacoVega: Now is the time to decide!

- Arthurion: Get ready! We must take this city at all costs!

But when the protective bubble of the City of Glory burst, it was XAGAP who burst forth like a flash. His speed was astounding, his troops deploying into the city before Arthurion could even react.

— DYDY: Damn, he's taken it... XAGAP controls the city!

The Ultimate Challenge

Seeing XAGAP setting up his defenses in the City of Glory wasn't necessarily a bad omen for Arthurion at first. He thought he could easily defeat it with his Brienne. He had never backed down from a challenge, and today wasn't the day to start. Brienne had proven her worth against all previous opponents. It was time to test her against the most formidable of enemies.

— Arthurion: Rally in formation! We'll see what Brienne is capable of against XAGAP!

The first rally was carefully organized. Each member of the team contributed their best troops. Arthurion, commanding the charge, charged toward the city with the classic determination of a man staking his legend.

The shock was terrible. XAGAP immediately lived up to his reputation. Even Brienne's power seemed to weaken against this wall of living steel.

- Zarachiel: His defenses are incredible! How does he do it? When you're countering him?

- Arthurion: He's cheating. He must have sacrificed more human lives than we have. It's time to sacrifice your women for the victory of House Baratheon!

Rally after rally, the Baratheon team crashed against XAGAP's defenses. And Arthurion was sometimes very stubborn... Each assault cost a lot in troops, but revealed a little more of the RoD champion's absolute tactical mastery.

- WEBANGEL: We're losing too many troops! Maybe we should reconsider...

- Arthurion: Pffff... Another infantry unit too strong!

Accepting Defeat

After the fifth unsuccessful rally, even Arthurion had to face the facts. XAGAP was simply unbeatable under these conditions. The City of Glory would remain in his hands, and with it, the final victory.

- PacoVega: Arthurion, we must preserve our strength. He's too strong. Forget it.

- Neo: We've done our best. There's nothing to reproach us for there.

- Arthurion: Blah blah blah! Bunch of losers!

The final minutes of the Arena passed in resignation tinged with pride. The Starks, led by the indomitable XAGAP, methodically siphoned off points from all the other houses. But the Baratheon team, thanks to its coordination and Brienne's prowess, comfortably held onto second place.

- Raimond: At least we're dominating the other factions. We're comfortably second.

- Thor: Our losses in the rally have been offset by our victories at the altars!

It was at the last minute that Arthurion finally managed to capture the city and defeat XAGAP. But it was already too late to fully enjoy it. There were only two minutes left. Out of pride, Arthurion asked his comrades to fill the glorious city. He was quickly attacked by XAGAP, and this time, victory went to Arthurion. He didn't understand anything anymore...

Epilogue - Honor in Defeat

When the horns sounded, Arthurion felt a strange mixture of satisfaction and frustration. The Starks had won the final victory, but the Baratheons finished a respectable second, well ahead of the other houses.

-Arthurion: That's ridiculous... I must have attacked him a good ten times, and I won two minutes before the end, when there was nothing left to win!

-PacoVega: We dominated three-quarters of the battle. Without the City of Glory, that's already not bad! Honestly, we made an almost ideal arena. And we dominated the map, too. You're exaggerating.

-Zarachiel: And we discovered Brienne's true power!

Indeed, the revelation of the day wasn't so much the defeat by XAGAP as the discovery of Brienne's rather powerful potential. This legendary warrior had transformed every cavalry charge into a show of strength, allowing Arthurion to dominate all his opponents, with the exception of the RoD champion.

- DYDY: The other houses must have realized they were facing a real team today! I think we can easily conclude from the contents of their underwear, and it can't be great...

Brienne had exceeded her expectations, revealing a raw power that perfectly complemented her fighting style. Against the spearmen, she was simply devastating. Only the most exceptional defenses, like XAGAP's, could still resist her.

Thus ended this memorable Arena of Honor, where Arthurion and his companions proved that coordination and camaraderie could rival raw power. The defeat at the hands of XAGAP in no way affected their overall performance: they had dominated the battle until the very end, revealing in the process the extraordinary potential of their new commander. Brienne's legend was only just beginning, and with her, new pages would be written in the great book of exploits of Arthurion and his faithful comrades-in-arms.