GoTWiC [KvK] K226 vs K38 “Courage and Madness”

The air above our two Kingdoms was thick with unspoken defeat. The network of players we had carefully woven was tearing apart under the blows of k38. The chief architect of that collapse, Uztaker, dealt us a merciless strike at the very beginning of the conflict, wiping out several of our players. The outcome of this match was, technically, already decided. Both King Landings were firmly in the hands of Uztaker’s coalition.

While most of us, including myself, Stanko, were desperately gathering the remaining resources, waiting for some distant, abstract opportunity for a counterattack, our greatest problem was not the enemy’s strength, but the deadly boredom of passivity that had seized us.

In that lukewarm atmosphere of strategy and waiting, Demon rose.

Demon was not just an ordinary player; he was our strongest asset and the leader of our previous battles across various events, a man whose soul refused to adapt to the slow agony of defeat. His strength lay in the fact that he could attack with both cavalry and spearmen, making him unpredictable. For him, keeping troops in hiding while the enemy dominated meant betraying himself. His rage became the fuel for an unexpected move: he personally contacted Uztaker.

Demon’s proposal was simple and brilliant: to break this stalemate, like in chess, and begin a war through a series of one-on-one duels in our KL. The condition was fair play, no attacks on other enemy castles. The duels would serve as a measure of our strength and a reason for entertainment. Uztaker, likely weary of the long and tedious holding of the KLs and confident in his superiority, agreed.

Demon achieved his goal, he transformed a prolonged, exhausting war into a sequence of focused, dramatic clashes.

For us, standing near the castle, it was far from pleasant.

Although we had Uztaker’s word, the fear of a sudden attack was palpable. Demon, however, paid no attention to fear; he believed in the warrior’s code he had just established. His willingness to trust, even an enemy, reflected his character: a pure, honorable warrior.

The series of duels began with Demon’s personal engagement.

As agreed, Demon occupied the castle. He sent in his cavalry. Although we knew his spearmen were stronger, at that moment we had no stronger cavalry at our disposal. The opponent responded with infantry, led by their most powerful commander, Jaqen.

We awaited the outcome in silence. Then we saw our troops returning. We countered them, yes, but Uztaker’s troop numbers were astronomically higher. The defeat was swift and decisive.

“They’re simply much stronger. It seems my cavalry can’t stand against their infantry,” Demon said.

His defeat, though bitter, only fueled his desire to continue. Demon proposed that next time their second-strongest player, CruCio, should fight.

This time, we were ready. Although most of our alliance was fearful and passive, a few of us were enough to fill Demon’s castle with spearmen.

We faced CruCio and his archers. They were once again more numerous, but this time we did not lose the counter. This time, Demon’s tactical setup secured the victory. At last, we saw Demon’s spearmen in full effect.

The score was 1–1. The feeling of triumph was incredible, though the bitterness of Uztaker’s defeat still lingered. Demon now felt lighter, his confidence restored.

Next up was our strongest infantry player, DP.

Even I managed, in haste, to produce some infantry to help defend the castle, because I didn’t want to miss this match, I wanted to be part of it as well. Once again, we faced Uztaker’s infantry. And once again, their commander Jaqen made the difference. The defeat was inevitable. They were simply too strong.

Now it became painfully clear: we could not defeat Uztaker with Jaqen at his side.

Despite the results, the fun was real. CruCio wanted a rematch against Demon. Demon, without spearmen, made an impulsive decision: cavalry. It wasn’t a smart idea, but Demon wanted to test himself against the same synergies. However, it turned into yet another victory for the opponents.

Demon was left without troops. Quite simply, even though they were fighting on our Kingdom, they still outnumbered us. Whether our allies were afraid, or had long realized that this match could not be won and gave up too early, the few of us who remained were not enough to defeat players of that caliber.

The only one who could defend the castle, at least symbolically, was DP. CruCio challenged him, but Demon, even without troops of his own, intervened, taking on the role of master of ceremonies.

“No, CruCio. Honor demands that Uztaker step forward again. We want a true measure, and that can only be against him,” Demon said.

DP accepted, but under one crucial condition, the one that would ultimately decide this conflict: Uztaker would not be led by the undefeated Jaqen, but by Vorian, the same commander used by DP.

This was the moment of truth. The eyes of the entire alliance were fixed on the battle. This was no longer about counters, but about the raw strength of rally leaders and troops.

Once again, I managed to produce some infantry so the castle would have enough troops, and the few of us who were still fighting succeeded in filling it with reinforcements. But would it be enough to inflict Uztaker’s first defeat? The fight was fierce. Hope rose in all of us that this might finally be it. Demon knew how strong DP was and believed this could be a victory. Both stood at the peak of their power.

But even without Jaqen, Uztaker triumphed.

DP was defeated, proving that they were superior not merely because of a single commander, but fundamentally so.

The final battle, though defeatist in outcome, brought an unexpected catharsis. We tested our strongest players, gathered elimination points, and above all, had fun. Demon’s initiative to turn a static war into a dynamic series of duels saved us from grim waiting and from earning points solely through resources.

My opinion of Demon, as a warrior who cannot tolerate passivity, only deepened. He did not seek victory at any cost; he sought battle, honor, and a true measure of strength. He did not win, but he gave all of us something far more valuable: enjoyment, and a clear understanding of our true power.

In the end, when everyone from the team had left the castle, waiting for the enemies to withdraw, I remained alone. I occupied the castle, staying behind to guard it myself.

Some might call it brave, others perhaps foolish, to hold the castle alone with spearmen, unprotected, while nearby was an infantry force that even DP couldn’t handle. Maybe I learned it from Demon, who knows, but it certainly paid off. I ended up in the top 10 and secured better rewards. It was a calm, tactical move.

Although Uztaker claimed the technical victory, Demon’s brave challenge was the true beginning of the story. We proved that we do not fear the strongest, and in a long-term war, that is worth more than a single battle. Our alliance was defeated once again, but we knew who we could always rely on, and who was always ready for action.

For me, this was not really a defeat. In such a match, it was impossible to win outright, yet with the help of my teammates, and a touch of my own recklessness, I managed to achieve my goal and finish as the highest-ranked from our kingdom, even outranking Demon. This only shows that sometimes courage alone is not enough; a bit of boldness, or even madness, is necessary to accomplish your goals.