Between Haze and Fog 5 - or 'This game of GoT CK3 sure is turning vicious' (ASoIaF, GalladonTarth!SI)

Stannis II

Many could be said to be determined and confident men, but Stannis was not one of them.

Sure, he had trust in his brother's take on the war, but the most recent development created a relatively unpleasant and sharp question that was currently threatening to splinter the unity of the Stormlords.

While the news that the King's own army was marching south numbering around the five to the six thousand men had been greeted with some delight by Robert as he mustered roughly twenty thousand men to his banner to greet the loyalists, the Reach had finally made its presence in the war known.

Lord Mace Tyrell and his retinue was soon to cross into the Stormlands, numbers favoring him and yet far from having time to properly surprise Robert as they aimed to stab into the core of the rebellion- Storm's End.

As much as Stannis tried to have more troops to remain behind, he was stuck with just eight thousand troops that wouldn't be able to properly man Storm's End considering it wasn't big enough to hold inside such a force. Hence why a strategy has to be revised about a spread-out defense.

The various lords that had been left behind in the hold were quite agreeing of this idea. Well, all but one. Lord Galladon Tarth's latest stunt in destroying the combined hostile fleet that had been massing in the north through careful sabotage had won him a lot of favor and admiration from the various lords that had initially thought little of him due to his age.

Despite his loyalty and his clear understanding of the duties of war, it was clear something didn't sit well with Galladon when he voiced his lone disagreement on the plan. Many were surprised, only a few had any negative thoughts about it, but it was ultimately Stannis himself that saw fit to open the dialogue rather than wait for someone else to do so.

"And why would you think that a defense would be worthy of opposition, Lord Tarth?"

"I think that a defense would be one of many ways to stave off an invasion from the Reach, Lord Baratheon. It would be a safe choice since we wouldn't fear a blockade during the siege and thus we would be able to safely hold Storm's End," The boy explained what many others had grasped of this sound strategy, yet he was soon to provide his negative perspective tied to this. "However, it's also one that will cost us a lot in the peace that will follow. After all, Lord Swann and Lord Gradison are hardly individuals that would be pleased to know that the taxes wouldn't be lowered despite their lands being within reach of being razed by the Tyrells."

The two lords had kept behind, and they looked a bit surprised to finally grasp this concept. A look on the map showed their fiefs being some of those that would suffer the rampage of the Reach's Hammer. And as such, doubt was instilled upon their minds from the looks they provided at this realization.

"Which is why what I propose is to kick the Reach where it hurts the most," Galladon resumed his speech, passion burning as he aimed an amused finger at a spot in the map by the border between the Stormlands and the Reach.

Ashford.

"I request eight hundred men to secure Ashford and then, once the area is secured, destroy Lord Tyrell's army."

No one spoke for roughly two minutes. Maybe three. Stannis himself was baffled by the foolish idea that he had been introduced to, but he could sense not any ounce of arrogance in that idea. Not even madness. Just... it just didn't make any sense to him with the way it was introduced.

So, he did the best he could to understand.

"Would you please elaborate, Lord Tarth?"

The delighted smile on his face grew at that request as he nodded and complied to it.

"Lord Ashford has lied in regard to his retinue's current size as the war started. It's actually a common circumstance where most of the Lords manning the borders of the Reach would lie in regard to their mustering. Since the Reach would provide relief for the taxes to allow for the war costs tied to the levies to be easily burdened by the Lords, many Lords use this chance to acquire major wealth with some trickery to create an army that, truly so, does not exist."

"...What you are saying, Lord Tarth, is that Ashford has no retinue?"

"Forty guards at best, and none of which are expected to go to war," Galladon confirmed, drawing surprise from the rest of the Stormlords. "And yes, truly a shocking development. I had a group of spies study for weak spots around the border for a solid month, and they all confirmed that Lord Ashford, affectionately known as 'The Drunk', is quite known to be a Lord that appreciates wine and women, not lordly matters."

That was indeed a very glaring weak spot. And it was suspicious.

"Does Lord Tyrell know of this?"

"From my understanding, no. There was a chance for Lord Ashford to muster troops when there were early news of Lord Tarly moving four thousand soldiers to support his liege, but due to unexpected troubles with Dorne, they had to be relocated southward."

"What 'trouble'?" Stannis pressed and Galladon hummed quietly. "Are you aware not of what is happening in that regard?"

"No. While I would have wanted some tangible report on the matter, Lord Baratheon, I was only told that there was an issue with Dorne and that it required troops to be stationed on their border. As far as I can deduce, it's possible that Dorne is just using this opportunity to 'let some bandits' cause issues to the weakest of the regions at this point. Just like they used to do with the Stormlands. But since our border is currently protected since we have Rhaegar under our care, they could use the Reach's current focus on our lands to try and loot around the border."

"And you think eight hundred men would be enough to secure such a ludicrous plan?"

"I would have asked three thousand, if I have to be truly honest, Lord Baratheon. But it's easier to hide a group less than a thousand men than it is with a far larger one. I need not to win fairly, I just need to get these man into the fief, secure it and then organize hit-and-runs to slowly chip away the troops of Lord Tyrell while also impeding an offensive by cutting their supply line. A unfed army is a worthless army regardless of its size."

Stannis had been buttered up. There was no way to look at it beyond that. Other lords could see it, he could personally see it and he could tell Galladon was moving as if driven by a spirit or a God. Yet, in truth, Stannis felt a bit baffled to agree once more with Robert in the span of a single month-

"You will have the troops and the resources you need."

They better have a 'good enough reward' for this peculiar lord and his young wisdom, or things may not be as pleasant as everyone else hoped for peace to be.

AN

Next time, Mace Tyrell is met with his newest worst enemy, Divide Et Impera.