[N0X] taking Lannister banners are fighting with the army of [RRH] under Targaryen banners for control of Casterly Rock and the region around it. Will the Warden of the West prevail, or the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms will end her reign?

==================== Matchmaking ====================

After both alliances has won the first round of a regular Alliance Conquest, it was time for winners from the first round to play each other and decide, who will become on top. The system matched them against RRH...

When ravens brought news to Alex - he was disturbed. Just recently in a season of SoW [N0X] already faced [RRH] and got crushed. In Alex's mind and from previous encounters, [RRH] wasn't a as big of an alliance as the current top ones. Yet it appeared to be that a lot of lords became much stronger there in a very short amount of time which lead to many even the most known royal lord to overlook [RRH].

Last season Noxians got into UC of Super League and reached not little not much, eighth place! And yet Alex counted himself pretty good at estimations, even though he was pretty new to [N0X] and only played one AC match with them - he expected a lot and yet after checking the alliance score difference - he was leaning towards the thought that [RRH] will beat them. Yet there is always a chance for an unlikely situation to happen. Especially here, on the fields of Westeros!

As a good alliance does, before the match itself, management team pointed out how exactly [N0X] is doing things, gave some advices and by usual to them system assigned rally leaders with racers and instructed those with special tasks. Of course the main task remains to listen to the shot callers which was Belore as a supreme caller.

When Lords arrived at the map, the numbers layed bare: [N0X] 88 lords to [RRH] 96 lords. Alex had a sinking feeling in his stomach. Beside initial points being very close to each other, which would mean both alliance lord progressed equally far into the AC research tree - [RRH] had an advantage in 8 accounts.

----------------------------------------------------- The First Clash -----------------------------------------------------

When the horn sounded, the gates to the both Outposts, Mother, and Warrior opened.

Alex raced to the far Targaryen Outpost and was so fast that he tripped somewhere in between. The Outpost was taken by Xarsh, an unknown to Alex racer from [RRH].

Meanwhile FatCom, a lord born to fly yet assigned by pure evil to race, grabbed the closest Lannister Outpost. Noxians were aiming to swap this building, yet LadyPatt sniped the Outpost for [RRH], while Papa Schultz, another good holder of [RRH] was swapped flawlessly on Warrior.

Belore made a call to put the rallies on Warrior as quick as possible before RRH woke up and focused on the defense. By [N0X] standards all the rallies should be filled in 30 seconds, harsh reality often strikes with some rallies being low on troops which may or may not cost a building. Yet this time Noxians put everything on speed. Being quick does has it's advantages!

Mablung, one of the Noxians rally leaders managed to intercept RRH's swap in Mother, this will make the healings from the first wave less expensive.

Meanwhile [N0X] managed to put 19 rallies and were playing with time and relying on tempo rather than force. Rallies were marching fast and Shado the Pikachu got the last hit and was a new holder of Warrior. RRH left with 2 Outposts while Noxians took the buffs.

Alex was wondering whether [N0X] will are able to hold what they have or someone will fall..? Need to remember that RRH lords are stronger.

When it was time for bubble on Mother to fall, the Mablung was reinforced nicely with more than 20 lords in. RRH decided to try it's strengths and sent their rally leads attacking marches to hit the Mother all at once. No rallies, pure strength and Mother fall into the arms of DragonHeartx.

Meanwhile Noxians were not sleeping and were already creating a second wave of rallies. This time the target was the closest Outpost that LadyPatt seized before. Alex was thirsty for revenge! And yet despite the first wave succeeding - second was a fail and Noxians mainly infantry rallies got stopped by the wall of cavalry.

------------------------------------------------------ Ports of Doom ------------------------------------------------------

Five minutes passing tensely, and just about time for both Ports to open their Watergates.

All the racers were running towards far port and a heartbeat later racer Fallin simply darted in, securing the Targaryen Port. At the same time being a rally leader himself, Belore was running towards close Port but this time lost it.

Falin is a good racer yet not the building holder, thus it was time for a swap. Belore started the count down when the slow march with fillers should speed up their marches, and yet as the slow marcher arrived so did a strong holder PYramid of RRH, who sniped the building with ease!

The tension was high and [RRH] with their countless rallies were trying to get through Shados wall of infantry in Warrior. Sadly enough [RRH] succeeded and Warrior was taken by Apollonius16. Just 7 minutes of fight and [RRH] were holding all the available buildings. Despite many on point decisions it didn't look good for [N0X].

But one of the things Noxians are known for is to never surrender. That said the horizon of possibilities were opened for [N0X] and [RRH] now can only play defensively. The new wave of rallies were set and flew fast at far Outpost. Proud cavalry of HotepRa took the building.

Next thing Alex noticed is another wave of rallies being opened at close Port. Yet Alex's and racers task shifted to capture Casterly Rock as it was about to open it's doors for only the fastest.

------------------------------------------------- Race for the Throne --------------------------------------------------

Casterly Rock, the enormous building was waiting to share a place at it's Throne, but invite only one side into it's hall. Whoever takes it will get a huge advantage!

Every racer from each side wanted to take spotlight, yet only one did. FERNAN was as fast as the sound and made another win for Targaryen side!

Yet [RRH] needed a swap. They didn't wait for long and made a risky play to swap before Noxian slow marches bounced off of it. [RRH] were doing great yet they cannot do many things at once as [N0X] always kept pressuring them at all times, even now the rallies were up once again on Warrior.

The almighty Balrum was slow marching his way to the Casterly, moving with confidence he moved slowly as if he was waiting. He has one single goal - enter the Casterly when [RRH] will open it's gates before him themselves. No need for rallies or any stuff of that sort. Simply one well times march can turn around the game. And just as Balrum calculated - [RRH] did open the gates, whether those were for their own holder or not, it wasn't a thing he cared about. What mattered is the Throne just as it belonged to him.

First buildings are taken and lots of rallies were made by now. After these stressful 12 minutes the score looked 19k to 27k, with a good and fair points and points per hour advantage in favor of [RRH]. Their Teeth seems to bite big chunks!

But is it the moment where [N0X] gets it's comeback? Perhaps we can state that [RRH] has won by now? Alex had kept thoughts deep inside him.

------------------------------------------------------ The Switch ------------------------------------------------------

[N0X] had only 2 buildings, far Outpost and CR. It was not a lot yet it was one of their best holders inside. The strategy was to get Warrior and increase alliance stats for easier defense and offense.

Said - done. 20 rallies up and going for Warrior and Leandra secures it.

[RRH] wasn't sleeping and made their own rallies on the Outpost HotepRa was holding with cav. Their reaction didn't seem to be stressful but rather calm and collected. For the whole match the moment [N0X] captured any building - once the bubble dropped [RRH] took it back. Playing such Cat & Mouse for more than 20 minutes felt like Noxians were playing by the tempo [RRH] created and were in constant loop. If Warrior with CR + Outpost synergy stats buff won't set [N0X] free of the loop - it might be an early finish. Even mines won't be of help for [N0X].

Rallies set, reinforcers sent yet it's always tricky defending a cav building, hence you only can send cav troops for the defense to be strong. Yet Hotep was not strong enough and had fallen under the rocks of the his own Outpost.

To keep the buff alive [N0X] needed another Outpost, fast rallies made, some left unfilled yet being well coordinated all rallies are hitting the target at the same time., not letting [RRH] reinforcers to arrive for the defense. Sadly Lady Patt defended the building once again.

It seemed like Noxians were lacking just a bit more troops, just slightly bigger stats. If only they had the buff the Outpost was giving them...

It was RRHs turn to create action and they rallied Warrior. Alex saw that cav was a defense troop and like that could predict the results of the incoming wave.

[N0X] played aggressively and kept trying to fight a whale with speed. Warrior fallen - no problem, [N0X] was already marching to Mother along with two freshly opened Strongholds. Noxians won all three, yet the horns along with shot callers were as loud as thunder - CR is getting rallied.

When [RRH] rallies hit CR gates, those fallen fast. Then it was the walls, the outside and the halls that were leading to the Throne itself.

In a very short time CR had fallen.

With [RRH] being able to kick Balrum from CR, Alex let out his thoughts from the deep within and concluded that the match was decided here. Not even mines can help.

And yet [N0X] stood once again, made rallies once again and marched towards Warrior. The buffs will def be useful and after few rallies hit - Lea took the Warrior once again.

With that, 20 minutes of the match ahs passed and the sequence of rallies kept repeating itself lots of times more, but [RRH] kept the difference in points high.

-------------------------------------------------- Dead End Mines --------------------------------------------------

Jumping straight to mines - Noxians were loosing hard and mines would not secure the difference [RRH] made. Yet Noxian spirit wanted a release, they managed to capture Warrior for the mines so the holding/attacking part should be smoother.

Mines about to open and Grogu with LordofHunger taking both!! A very good move to collect points for more rewards! Now out of principal everyone's focus is on the mines and only mines. Swaps, intercepts, reinforces and Stratagems - everything is going in use.

Both mines being targeted, [RRH] has it's slow marches and intercepts ready - [N0X] are sending reinforcements to both and swapping two at the same time! Sounds risky yet counting the low marching time to both - it's the only choice.

Belore calling the swap and reinforcements to speed started a countdown, 3-2-1 disband & speed speed speed!

And the only thing Alex noticed is both mines being intercepted by RRHs holders LordAdder and EsteBan. Despite all the efforts - both Mines were kept by the holders and stayed unchanged.

10 minutes before the end of the match and the score was clear with 45k to 100k points in favor of [RRH]. It was a lose, an experience, a challenge to pass in order to become stronger.

-------------------------------------------------------------------- Authors Afterword ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Compared to [N0X] - [RRH] had a huge score advantage, which meant their accounts are overall stronger by a lot. And fighting a stronger opponent with constantly pressuring it, taking the buildings off and making it bite it's tail is really impressive. [N0X] coordination was as always on point.

Still being new to the racing mechanic - RRH was slightly slower on races and first captures, yet they played it cool with being the strongest amongst two. And yet both sides had a great runs and got incredibly useful experience for the future matches!

Another thing that allowed [N0X] to get almost half the points is not giving up and playing fast. They ended up higher in points and looted more rewards.

=================================== The End ====================================

Remember that in GoTWiC you are not only playing the game, sometimes you accept the challenges with the people around you! →_→

AlexHarret