A new Siege of Winterfell match was about to take place, pitting the HD! alliance against the 1KS. Another match in the north, riding through the snow, ready to do battle with a resolute enemy. The stakes were still high: achieving a resounding victory, earning as many points as possible for one's team, and above all, the formidable rewards promised to the winners. For the HD!, the stakes were mainly focused on victory points, in order to try to climb as high as possible in the alliance rankings and secure a comfortable place in the top 16 alliances eligible to participate in the ultimate trials of the SOW. For Arthurion, an additional challenge was to obtain a bag to bring back and become the fastest rider the HD alliance had ever known.

To achieve this, Arthurion had adjusted his gear as much as possible to increase his speed. He had stripped himself of all his useless accessories, especially his weapons. He might be a little weaker, but above all, he would be much faster. For each, there was also the challenge of obtaining the maximum reward, especially since the installation of the statue and their additional bonuses and rewards. The balance was nevertheless largely in favor of the HD alliance, more powerful, more numerous, and above all much faster thanks to Arthurion! Would the HD be able to succeed in achieving all their objectives? Would Arthurion finally appear in the Westeros record books?

Setup

The HDs had been ordered to be as discreet as possible, to form a turtle formation, and to gather in an enclosed space to reveal minimal information to the enemy. And they did so with great rigor. It was impossible to gather reliable information. Impossible to draw any conclusions.

For the 1KS, it was much simpler. They were much less discreet. We could even say that they dared to create a somewhat provocative formation.

First Charge

The objective of the first charge was obviously to demonstrate his power and to convince the enemy of its simplest objective: to wait. It was therefore necessary to strike quickly and hard. The groups were already formed in advance, and each knew their position. But Arthurion had two additional objectives: to run as quickly as possible to the enemy outpost and kill as many enemies as possible along the way.

As soon as the walls holding back the two teams were freed, Arthurion rushed to his horses and charged across the map to the enemy lines. His hair was blowing in the wind, his cavalry at full power.

In front of his companions, who had nevertheless remained far behind, a discussion began:

Arthurion: Don't forget to admire my horse's rump!

Dopehop: I can indeed see very close the spot I skewered last night!

Arthurion: In a few moments, it will seem very small!

Arthurion set off again at full speed, before exclaiming:

Arthurion: I'm going to break a new record throughout the history of the kingdoms!

But his voice was getting smaller and smaller for those behind. There would be no one in front to validate his first record of the season.

Upon his arrival, he was able to wreak havoc. Alone against his enemies, his Daenerys's dragon relentlessly launched its scorching attacks. His enemies, tightly grouped together, all fell beneath the dragon's devastating flames. Arthurion wreaked havoc. After a while, calm returned. He was finally alone.

Beyond the Wall

Soon, another match began against their enemy. The HD's devastating military strategy seemed to have paid off. Their lightning rush on their opponent seemed to have stunned them. And so, the match took a completely different turn, in favor of the HD. All points fell under their control. Every outpost, every stronghold would soon bear the blue flags of the HD team.

The final battles could still be heard in three places: the barracks and the hot springs, central points of the Siege of Winterfell, the source of all conflicts and the most decisive advantages. The third point was already well advanced, since it was well in front of the opponents' walls that the blue troops were beginning to regroup.

Prayers at the Altars

Since the fighting seemed to be strategically focused on the enemies, it was now time for the HD to assert their supremacy by seizing the new bonuses granted by the altars. Arthurion, undoubtedly the fastest on the map, arrived first at the witch's statue.

His first words were obviously prayers for the witch. Alongside GeorgeBylis and xRACHELx, who were waiting for the rest of the alliance, an exchange began:

Arthurion: I never understood the witch, what does she do in our religion?

GeorgeBylis: I don't know, I know the mother, who must surely perform acts of kindness.

xRACHELx: Are you sure there's a witch?

Arthurion: Of the seven, there's definitely one witch, right?

GeorgeBylis: I think you're confusing her with the Old Woman.

xRACHELx: And she's not a witch?

Arthurion: Who cares: let's pray just in case.

And their prayers were rewarded. Everywhere they went, rewards rained down, multiple bags filled with various blessings. Each statue seemed to give them in varying quantities. For Arthurion and his friends, it was almost a challenge to collect them all. And yet, each wanted their own.

When they opened enough, they felt filled with a certain energy. They were as if more powerful, with more defense, health, and even: more speed! The gods seemed to have granted them new qualities! Even for Arthurion, who was already at the peak of speed, a new momentum seemed to strengthen his cavalry.

Sack Race

Then came the most important objective of the event: racking up points! It was necessary to collect the resources and deliver them safely to the nearest base. The DHs had appointed two of the fastest riders to do this: Arthurion and Wartime. Each, in turn, took their role to heart, and, bag in hand, they raced across the plains.

Arthurion was obviously the fastest, but he had to share some of the exploits with his comrades. He even willingly encouraged his colleague. The many prayers at the altars seemed to have made Arthurion a new man. For while the two companions were racing for the bag, the war continued to rage to the south near the enemy walls, even though the entire map was still in the hands of the HD.

Accumulating Points

Time ticked by. While Arthurion and Wartime were bringing back the bags donated by Winterfell, earning their sides a significant number of points, the rest of the alliance was fiercely waging war against the enemies to the south. To bring the HDs to their full strength, they had to maintain pressure on their opponents throughout the event, without ever weakening. Once dead, they had to die. An enemy trying to slip through the wide open spaces? They had to be caught before they jeopardized the strategy.

As the minutes drew to a close, the HDs had accumulated a phenomenal amount of points. They had never been closer to their goal: to win in all possible splendor. A victory so resounding that it would remain etched in the annals of both sides.

Winterfell is coming!

For at last they won. The end of the timer also signaled the end of hostilities. The first immediate reward was also the three small chests to open. A real joy for Arthurion who was always eager to win gold.

But it was above all the phenomenal number of points accumulated that made the HD alliance, and especially Arthurion, proud. They had won brilliantly and were now about to take a giant leap forward in the alliance rankings. Their goal was to earn as many points as possible, and this victory brought them almost 500! They were now about to move on to the most difficult test: facing much more powerful opponents.

For Arthurion, this victory was a relief. He loved carrying the hopes of his alliance, and had worked diligently to give his alliance the best possible chance. He had proven that he was faster than anyone else. His personal goal had been fully achieved. His speed in combat allowed him to carry bags faster than anyone else, and especially to reach enemy lines to refine speed strategies. But he could never rest on his laurels. Time and again, he had to improve his skills in the service of his alliance.

A new page was turning for the HD alliance, which climbed ever higher on the path to glory and bliss. An active, powerful, belligerent alliance, ready to face all challenges to progress in the world of the Seven Kingdoms. But each adventure that ended called for another. And if there's one thing that's obvious in Westeros, it's that the higher you go, the further north you go, the colder you go, and the closer you come to the most dangerous enemies....