War of the Crossing

The War of the Crossing was a brief conflict between House Frey and the Northmen that had its origins in the War of Red and Gold and the exuberant taxes placed on northern merchants. The war then devolved into a religiously fueled conflict alongside its political factor. The war also saw one of the most brutal and costly sieges in recent memory.

Background
With the turmoil of the Wine Wars stalling naval shipping routes for several years, caravan trade had risen considerably across the realm in 187 AC. Wishing to capitalize on this increased influx of merchants, the shrewd Lord Frey added additional tariffs for merchants crossing the Neck, grievously offending the houses of the North, for it was the Northern economy that suffered most. Immediately, complaints were lodged with Lord Stark, and threats were made against the opportunistic Freys, as the North snarled in protest.

When news of these grumblings reached King’s Landing, King Maelor quickly dismissed this matter as yet another odious ‘merchant scuffle’, and ordered them to resolve the issue peacefully. Ravens sent to both Winterfell and the Twins made it very clear that the Crown would rather not get involved, and there would be hell to pay, if they were forced to. For his part, Lord Stark was a patient man, confident that the naval shipping routes would recover soon enough, bringing an end to the Frey’s leverage. Indeed in his mind, the matter would simply resolve itself.

However, Lord Manderly was not a patient man. Frustrated by considerable revenue lost in the Wine Wars, he had become susceptible to the advice of one Septon Lucas, a grasping priest, who had wormed his way into the Merman Court’s inner circle. Rather than protest against the Freys like the rest of the North, the septon urged the Manderly to enter into a trade pact with them. As a result, the tariffs on Northern trade would not only continue, but would now double. Over time, this prosperous arrangement culminated in a betrothal between the two Seven worshipping houses, pleasing Septon Lucas greatly.

Meanwhile, as the North continued to suffer from the exorbitant taxation of their merchants, many lords began to gradually summon their levies, and make plans to force the Freys to end their predation. Hearing these potential rumbles of war, Lord Manderly sent his trusted advisor, Septon Lucas, to Winterfell to negotiate a compromise. Despite a decade spent in White Harbor, Septon Lucas still considered the other Northern Houses as little more than barbarian heathens. Thus talks between Lord Stark and the septon quickly soured, and it was not long before the aggravated Lucas made threats of divine retribution upon the life of the Stark and his family. While such action could undeniably be considered grounds for execution, the cautious Lord Stark chose to order the exile of the disrespectful septon from the North.

In the midst of this setback, the clamouring for an end to the trade extortion continued to ring, and calls to arms rang loudest. However, Lord Stark, determined to find a peaceful solution, sent his brother, Robett, to attend the Frey-Manderly wedding, to broker a compromise. To ensure the enforcement of exile, the travel party also escorted Septon Lucas with them on the journey to the Twins. There, Lord Manderly and Lord Frey entered a heated argument with Robett Stark, in the midst of the great hall, for all in attendance to witness. Later that night, the latter would perish mysteriously in his bedchambers. Some blamed the Manderlys, others pointed fingers at the Freys. Accusations flew and expanded out of control. A scapegoat was needed to satisfy the Northmen, and one was quickly found. Septon Lucas, already despised for his earlier threatening of the Stark family, was found dead not long after, eliciting a fierce condemnation from the Seven worshipping houses. The wedding between Frey and Manderly that followed would not only join the two families in trade, but now against a common enemy. For it seemed inevitable war would come from the North.

The Southern War
Indeed, a frustrated and infuriated Lord Stark could not, and would not, restrain his vassals any longer, and thus called for the might of the North to assemble. Though vastly outnumbering his foes in theory, the logistics of waging a war in the Riverlands, added with some of his less enthusiastic vassals - namely Bolton - dragging their heels, severely delayed the Northern initial assault. The majority of the Northern army marched at a snail's pace to White Harbor, and though they greatly outnumbered the defenders, the initial delays in mobilisation had allowed the Manderlys to strengthen their defenses, and they had even received reinforcements from the Seven Faithful and mercenaries from the south. The siege of White Harbor began and little did either side know, it would be one for the chronicles.

The war in the south began shortly after, and though the Northmen army was continuously delayed as they trudged through the swamps of the Neck, momentum favoures them. At the Battle of the Bog, a Frey detachment of two hundred footmen had set up a fortified position at the end of the Kingsroad. To their surprise, a joint force of Glover berserkers and Crannogmen charged their line in the dead of night, leaping over the Rivermen impromptu defenses and scattering the army. To the Frey’s shock and horror, it was later learned that the Northmen army that day only numbered a hundred souls, leading to whispers that the followers of the Old Gods had actually changed into the skins of bears of lion-lizards to overwhelm the defenses. A subsequent series of smaller skirmishes ending in Northmen victory only further helped the spread of these unfounded rumors.

A pitched battle finally occurred between the northern forces and the Freys. With low morale, constant attacks and great superstition, it should have been a decisive victory for the North. However, it turned out to be a tremendous and necessary victory for House Frey. Led by Ser Theomore Frey, who rallied his troops to fight to the bitter end, the desperate Frey men-at-arms fought savagely alongside the six knights present as well. No matter what the Northmen threw at them, each time they were repulsed.

Finally, Lord Glover plunged himself into the fray. Beaten back and pushed against the wall, the Frey spearmen held the line and even slew Lord Glover. The defeat was a massive blow to the Northmen. The Battle of the Spears would see the end of the fighting between House Stark and Frey until the end of the war.

House Manderly was not so lucky.

Siege of White Harbor
The Siege of White Harbor, which had begun earlier, had already turned into a grueling slog. The Starks had attempted an assault on the walls after rapidly building siege equipment. The attack failed, however, because of lack of commitment by the commanders. It cost heavy losses and the destruction of many siege engines as a result.

The Starks settled to end the siege by starving their foes out. House Manderly had a great deal of food, but even they would not last forever.

The siege would not be easy for either side. Disease would become the greatest killer. Both the besieging camps and the defenders were struck with sickness at once. Owing to close quarters and the proximity of many dead bodies, outbreaks of disease was rampant among the Stark force. It soon spread inside White Harbor as well.

The Starks determined that to end the siege they would utilise the growing spread of disease as a weapon.

The First Battle of the South Wall began when a contingent of Bolton men attacked the southern walls of White Harbor with hastily crafted ladders. They were easily defeated, but completed their task of smuggling diseased corpses into the city and contaminating many water and food supplies. The Second Battle of the South Wall occurred when one contingent of the force sent was caught during the escape, and fought to the last man.

The success or failure of the disease plan would have to wait though. The Manderly garrison, reinforced with southern mercenaries, were determined to take their enemies by surprise. A sortie was led from the main gates, a charge of three hundred armored knights on horse with a thousand mercenary pikemen. The Massacre of the Camps, as it was called, dealt a massive blow to the besiegers. Forced onto the backfoot, hundreds of men were slaughtered without warning, and even the baggage train was looted. With only about a dozen losses, the defenders returned to their walls victoriously and with many spoils.

Yet the siege did not end. More suffering was to come.

Bolton's Plague
Bolton's Plague, it was called by the inhabitants of the city, began to spread rapidly. Much of the food was either rotted or heavily contaminated and consumed. The populace began suffering from starvation and sickness.

The battle of attrition began in earnest soon. Both sides were taking heavy losses. Morale was dropping fast as men died without ever fighting in battle. Occasional skirmishes and exchanges of arrow fire were common, but for the most part the combatants were simply waiting in the cold without much food, surrounded by death and disease.

Inside, the people of White Harbor remained steadfast, even as they, too, suffered great losses. Every night, more and more died due to starvation and the ever spreading sickness. Bolton's Plague was neither made by Lord Bolton nor was it even one disease, but all the hatred and blame was placed on him and even more so on Lord Stark. Regardless, the city held strong, and refused to even consider surrender. From sickly Septons preaching  against the heathen army outside their gates and even the most ostracized leper offering their dying bodies as shields for arrows, no one would give up.

House Stark was at a crossroads. The battle of attrition was growing ever more costly for them. While some lords like Bolton and Karstark pressed for negotiation, others doubled down. Even worse, news that House Frey had begun attacking again created pressure to end the siege quickly.

War in the South Resumes
The Battle of Moat Calin was Ser Theomore's greatest victory, but also his last. The Frey men had spent the last few months recuperating and resupplying. With battle hardened men and strong supply lines, the Riverlanders washed over their foes. The defenders at the causeway were overwhelmed. Even with the strong defensive position they held at Moat Calin, they were no match for their foes. Every last northman was slain and even those who surrendered were massacred. Unfortunately, Ser Theomore died in the fighting, bringing a pause to the southern attack.

Meanwhile at White Harbor, the final, brutal and bloody attack was about to begin. Lord Stark was pressed by Lord's Bolton and Karstark to make a decisive attack on House Manderly. Many of the lost siege engines had been rebuilt by now, giving them an advantage to attack. Lord Stark had decided to try and risk it all.

The Battle of Merman's Court
The battle began early in the morning. Two large battering rams and a dozen ladders had been assembled in the past two weeks. With a horn, waves of Northern troops began rushing with ladders towards the walls of White Harbor. Initial losses were heavy but eventually Stark men started piling over the walls. The fighting on the walls was fierce, both sides sick, hungry and filled with hatred for the enemy. No quarter was given.

Down below, the battering rams fared worse. The first one was bogged down in so much mud that it was untenable. The second one barely was able to reach the gates. However, it did, and by noon it had broken down the gates of the city.

The fighting soon spread from street to street as men rushed to try and seize the Merman's Court. Blood ran generously as citizens and soldiers alike fought and died. Many massacres took place and looting was rampant. All organization or semblance of military order broke down inside the city, as Lord Stark rode in to try and find Lord Manderly.

At the Merman's Court, Lord Manderly gathered his heavy knights, remaining soldiers and mercenaries, and prepared to strike. Unfazed by the situation, Lord Manderly gave the cool, collected command to charge.

Bursting out from the streets was an organized and strong core of troops and armored knights. Without hesitation, they cut through the Stark forces. Their foes were more focused on finding edible food and looting than fighting. Ironically, Bolton's Plague had tainted so much food and water, that countless troops would die of sickness after the siege or even during it.

This unorganized and uncontrolled rabble was routed by the Manderly knights. The fighting was brutal and bloody and long. The Stark men were forced back and back until finally they were funneled through the breach they had made. By this time, the walls had been retaken by the Manderlys, so fleeing warriors were showered with arrows as they trampled over one another to escape through the gate. Thousands died at what would be known as The Choking Gate colloquially.

Many other soldiers were left behind in the city. Those that were not killed by angry citizens, or did not die of plague or starvation, would be taken prisoner. Those bearing the colors or arms of House Bolton were given no quarter.

Among the captured was Lord Stark. With his army in tatters and a prisoner, he had no choice but to accept peace on Lord Manderly's terms. The long and deadly Siege of White Harbor ended after so many months with a terrible defeat for House Stark.

Trouble in the Vale
The Crown hadn't sat idly throughout. While initially indifferent, they'd attempted to get involved after realizing the severity of the fighting. House Arryn was asked to intervene as a neutral party, on behalf of the King - as the Vale was the kingdom most unscathed by recent wars, and also not particularly far off from the area of conflict. Unfortunately, the Valemen were dealing with issues of their own, and could not aid Maelor in any capacity.

In 184 AC, Ser Qarl Hunter, heir to House Hunter, watched his sister Alyssa perish to complications of childbirth. She had entered into a dalliance with King Monterys shortly before his death, and returned home upon discovering her pregnancy. When the Hunters had demanded retribution for the loss and shame of Alyssa, the new King Maelor and his council merely offered a cursory boon of gold, shortly followed by an increase in taxes realm wide.

An outraged Qarl had told his father to take action against the insult, but the cautious Lord Hunter refused to make waves against the new King. Appeals to his neighbors of Waynwood, Redfort, and Hardyng, were met with much derision, for Monterys’ appetite for noble women had been notorious for some time, and they were of the view that his sister should have known what she was getting into, and thus deserved her fate. One wine soaked night, Qarl gathered his closest friends, pilfered a copious amount of weaponry from the armory, and disappeared into the mountains. They were not heard from for some time.

In 190 AC, warriors of the Mountain Clans ravaged the fertile valley of Redfort and Waynwood lands. They were armed with steel, surprisingly disciplined, and led by Ser Qarl and a handful of other knights. They rode off with foodstuffs, drink, weapons, and women, but never coin. The latter was gathered up, smeared with the blood of the smallfolk, and left out for any responders to see.

While the Northmen drew the blood of their own brothers, the same occurred at the Vale. Bloody Hunter, as he was dubbed, was a ferocious opponent that fully embraced guerilla warfare, and used the ruthlessness of his warriors to his advantage. His force mounted quick strikes, instilled terror and made off with loot. The Battle of Ninestars and the Battle of Longwake were both failed attempts at intercepting Hunter's raiding party, but the latter repelled and thrashed them thoroughly. Nothing unified the Valemen like the mutual hatred of clansmen, but this time, it was a traitor leading them, too, doubly fuelling their bloodlust.

And so, while Qarl's efforts covered much of the year, his cause was ultimately put down. After many more skirmishes and raids, the Battle of Strongsong marked the end of his terror, decimating the clansmen force, with the few survivors routing back to their hideouts. Although Hunter's body was never recovered, it is near certain that he fell in the engagement, for no more advances were made on the Valelords ever since this battle. However, whispers continued to float that Bloody Hunter has remained in hiding, planning and strengthening with the mountain clans.

Aftermath
Following the Northern forces defeat on both fronts, and Lord Stark capture, the North had no choice but to accept the exorbitant taxation of their trade. With the Vale unable to intercede, the Crown had no other solution to offer, for a new conflict had begun that had diverted Maelor's attention. House Frey and House Manderly continued to enjoy increased revenue for several more years, until competition for naval shipping lines finally diminished the leverage the trade bloc held. In the end, Lord Stark was proven right, but it had cost him a brother, and created a deep enmity with his bannermen, that would not be forgotten.