Kisah AKU n We Are Vaccinated!

Assalamualaikum,

Malam ni kita update cerita minggu lepas, dah nak masuk weekend baru sempat update. Busy nampaknya minggu ni, aku punya mini-series pun tertangguh since tak sempat nak main game. Don't worry, Night King invasion dah berjaya triggered semalam, it's just a matter of screenshot according to storyboard lah. Cerita malam ni simple je, just nak share kami satu family semua dah full vaccinated. 

Aku yang pertama dapat both doses. Followed by my wife, a day later. Both of us ambil vaksin di PPV Tropicana Gardens Mall.

Lepas tu ayah, dalam minggu yang sama. Ayah pulak ambil jab di PPV Klinik SP Care Batang Kali.

Mak dapat Isnin ni di PPV Dewan Komuniti Serendah.

Followed by adik dan along pada hari yang sama semalam di PPV UCSI Nilai dan PPV Bukit Beruntung Golf Club, respectively. Marilah kita bersama-sama menyahut seruan kerajaan untuk dapatkan perlindungan dari virus Covid-19 melalui vaksin, ianya penting juga untuk negara kita mencapai herd immunity. Bayangkan hidup macam biasa dengan SOP yang longgar, tak ke syok tu. Huhu

Ooh, dan juga my in-law, Bro Syazwan dekat tempat yang sama with Along. Sama-samalah kita nantikan pengumuman dari Tan Sri Muhyiddin untuk privilege for those yang dah dapat dua jab ni. Mana lah tau boleh rentas negeri, dine-in ke. Huu

Minggu lepas aku dan wife ada buat mini reno sikit kat dapur kami. Setengah hari jugak aku camping kat dapur ni nak menyiapkan kerja.

Hasil yang marvelous! 

Tahniah buat Aaron Chia dan Soo Yik atas kejayaan merangkul pingat gangsa bagi acara Men's Double di Olimpik Tokyo 2020. Yang tak menang tu, kekalkan usaha dan jangan mengalah. Bak kata LCW, kemenangan kamu cuma tertangguh sahaja. Kita ada dua atlet lagi yang bakal bertanding esok dalam acara Keirin. Marilah kita doakan kejayaan mereka, manalah tau dapat Gold satu Malaya cuti ke. Huhu

Itu je lah cerita ringkas minggu lepas. Aku pun dah lama tak main Warband ni, let's kill some Wights and completekan series The Grey Wolf aku tu. Huhu

Kisah AKU n Bannerlord - Trial of The Seven Kingdoms

 Assalamualaikum,

Seperti yang dijanjikan hari ni aku nak update entri pasal video game. Mod pilihan aku kali ni ialah Trial of the Seven Kingdoms untuk game Mount & Blade: Bannerlord. Dulu aku ada review satu mod untuk Bannerlord : The Long Night (TLN) tapi bagi aku so-so sahaja. While mod tu ada improvement dekat armor, weapon and even ada dragon - but lacking dalam lore items membuatkan aku a little bit turn off main mod tu which later pushed me to play Warband AWOIAF semula. Tu yang sampai berbelas episod aku taip, haha.

Bannerlord : Trial of the Seven Kingdom or senang kita panggil TOTSK dalam entri ni. Mod ini dibangunkan oleh Lykon Development yang bertemakan novel A Song of Ice and Fire, hasil karya agung George R.R Martin yang mengisahkan the famous Robert's Rebellion yang berhasil menjatuhkan the last Targaryen king, Aerys II. Ni merupakan major faction yang ada, dalam bracket tu aku letak two major House yang sometimes can declare war to each other, pendek cerita civil war lah:

1. Dorne (Martell, Yronwood)
2. The North (Stark, Bolton)
3. Westerland (Lannister, Reyne)
4. Riverlands (Tully, Frey)
5. The Andals (Stormland, Dragonstone)
6. Free Cities (Blackfyre, Targaryen)

1/3 map TOTSK. Boleh tahan besar kan? Unlike TLN, dalam map ni ada custom model untuk major towns/castles yang ada dekat Westeros ni. Meh aku share a few gambar before kita proceed dekat improvement lain.

The capital of Seven Kingdoms - King's Landing

Ancestral castle for House Arryn of The Vale - The Eeyrie yang merupakan point paling tinggi at the Westeros continent.

Winterfell, the ancestral seat of House Stark of the North.

To the West, Casterly Rock - the formidable castle of House Lannister of the Westerland

From their castle of Highgarden, the Tyrell rule fertile lands of the Reach 

At Dragon Island, the mighty castle of Dragonstone - the former ancestral seat of House Targaryen, but now owned by Stannis Baratheon.

Riverrun, capital of Riverland held by House Tully

House Greyjoy rule the Iron Island from their unique castle of Pyke.

Castle Black and The Wall - the headquarter of Night's Watch order.

Ada jugak a few custom castles such as Oldtown, Harrenhal and The Twins. Memang cun lah map ni walaupun ada a few misplaced towns and castles. Macam TLN, mod ni pun still ada sikit naming dari native tapi takpelah tak banyak pun.

Dalam game ni, korang boleh pilih ciri-ciri karekter dari physical appearance, race, traits etc, sebab apa yang korang pilih tu la yang akan main peranan dalam game ni. Ingat nak roleplay House Reyne tapi dah ada pulak dalam mod ni. Why dah ada? Bukan faction ni dah extinct ke. Haa, dalam mod ni not yet since there's no definite timeline. According to mod's owner, tema mod ni diambil just after Robert's Rebellion iaitu 280AC, memang peliklah kan sebab House Reyne destroyed around 260AC. Nak menambahkan pelik lagi, ada jugak faction House Targaryen led by Viserys. Weird kan? sebab 280AC si Viserys tu baru lima tahun. Dan-dan pulak jadi faction leader. So, nevermind diorang pun dah bagitau memang ada twist sikit. So, enjoy je lah.

This is clan menu, kat sini kita boleh review progress clan kita sendiri. Apa fief owned by us, our businesses (caravan, production) dan juga party. Bukan party mabuk tau, tapi war party. Kita boleh assign family member atau companion untuk split to form his/her own party. 

Macam mod lain, sini pun boleh lepak-lepak kat tavern untuk rekrut tentera upahan, hire companion dan main mini-game. Unlike Warband, dalam Bannerlord takde penyair/penyajak dalam tavern since korang dah tak payah nak mengorat pakai sajak, syair segala jadah tu. Kat tavern pun, dah takde merchant. Pendek kata banyak jugak non-playable character or NPC yang dikurangkan. But, ada banyak jugak NPC baru yang diperkenalkan dekat town/castle. Ada gangster, thugs, barber, merchant, artisan, beggar etc. NPC main peranan untuk korang tingkatkan influence clan. Lagi good relationship korang dengan merchant dan artisan, lagi banyaklah orang yang akan support clan kita. 

Elemen real-time strategy (RTS) didalam TOTSK ni dapat dilihat melalui role karekter dalam nation yang dipilih. Mirip Total War, TOTSK membolehkan party yang diketuai karekter untuk attack, defend, reinforce, besiege atau scout open world. Konsep RTS dapat dilihat melalui tema game ini iaitu ketika War of Seven Kingdoms, berlatar belakangkan konflik yang berlaku di Westeros. Dalam Bannerlord, korang boleh pilih untuk lead your own army or join forces dengan faction leader's army. Of course lah kalau nak selamat, elok bergabung since ramai sikit. But kalau konfiden boleh survive dengan solo, silakanlah. Here - Fredrik merged his army with Lord Reyne in a defenses of Faircastle.

Watak, tempat dan event yang wujud didalam open world ialah berdasarkan watak dalam cerita Game of Thrones. Watak seperti Tywin Lannister, Mace Tyrell, Hoster Tully, Eddard Stark, Robert Baratheon, Doran Martell, Balon Greyjoy, Jon Arryn dan lain-lain merupakan watak fiksyen ketika zaman itu. 

Dalam game ni korang boleh setting dua outfit, satu battle outfit yang akan dipakai ketika pertempuran. Satu lagi civilian outfit macam gambar atas ni yang akan dipakai ketika melawat bandar, castles, village etc. Kira takdelah pelik sangat orang tengok kau selalu merayau pakai armor je. Haha. 

Fief management lebih mudah sekarang, just buat queue and let your governor do the rest. Sebab dalam Bannerlord ni anyone can die in the battlefield, so aku pun belajar dari kesilapan lampau. Wife ni elok duduk kat castle jadi governor je instead of join war-party. Karang mati, tak memasal kena cari bini baru. Huhu

Kingdom panel, kat sini korang boleh access information berkaitan house/clan lain dalam kingdom, juga fief, policies, diplomacy dan lain-lain. Boleh lah tengok influence point house korang against other houses. Penting tu, lagi banyak influence lagi banyaklah korang boleh mempengaruhi hala tuju kingdom walaupun status kita hanyalah seorang vassal. House Reyne ada a few supporters, their cadet vassal - House Vikary and also a few mercenary clans such as Ember of Flame and Lake Rats, hired to bolster its defensive capacity.

Sedikit background story untuk hero kita ni. A twenty-five years old Ser Fredrik is the only son of the late Ser Lymand of House Vikary, a landed knight and cadet branch of House Reyne of Castamere. Eventhough Reyne-Tarbeck Rebellion has been crushed twenty years ago, House Reyne survived by a royal decree from King Aerys II Targaryen which retained their lands and it's cadet vassal. However, with the Mad King overthrown by Robert Baratheon a few months ago, Tywin Lannister ready to renew his hostilities again the Reyne and vow to crush his family most sworn-enemy. 

281AC - Outnumbered almost five to one, House Reyne stood their ground and succeed to fend off a number of incursions launched at their border. The invasion force by Lord Tytos Brax around 6,000 men were the first to failed as he was being crushed by Ser Fredrik Vikary's 3,000 men at the Battle of Hornvale. The victorious Fredrik advanced further and captured the ill-defended Hornvale. His liege lord, Aldric Reyne's led 13,000 troops comprising of soldiers from House Reyne and two mercenary clans moved southward to block any invasion's attempt from the South, possibly by Tywin himself.

Enraged with the incompetency of his commanders, Lord Tywin led a massive army around 20,000 soldiers comprising troops from House Lannister and Marbrand to deal with the Red Lion of Castamere at the Southern theater. Due to his cunning stratagem, Lord Aldric managed to outwitted the Gold Lion of Casterly Rock and crushed his army in the brilliant battle near Oxcross. Unwilling to stretch his flanks, he decided to fortify Oxcross Castle and sent raven to Ser Fredrik instructed him to pause any thrust into the Lannister's land as it would be a risky move considering their lack of troops to wage a long conflict with their enemy.

To the north of Westerland, Lord Hoster Tully declared war against the Lannister. To make matters worse for Tywin, the Ironborn led by Victarion Greyjoy continues to razes Westerland's coast and inflicted heavy casualties to Lannister's fleet docked at Lannisport. This situation forced Tywin to seek peace with House Reyne and shifted his focus to repel the much larger Tully's forces. A truce signed by both parties on 281AC to end the Westerland's civil war. Picture: Reyne's territory after the war.

Fredrik traveled to King's Landing, together with his entourage via Goldroad to meet King Robert Baratheon to formalize his lordship's ascension. With Hornvale as his new keep, he is officially styled; Lord Fredrik Vikary of Hornvale. House Vikary is no longer a landed knight, but now one of the noble house in Westeros which remained its fealty to House Reyne.

Upon his arrival back to Westerland, Fredrik married Aldric's daughter, Lady Megenhelda in a simple ceremony at Castamere. This solemn alliance definitely ensure a long lasting ties between the two houses. 

As the civil war has effectively ended, Fredrik who now sit at Castamere Council working hard to rebuild the army. The Lannister-Reyne's conflict caused Aldric, a total of 8,000 casualties - half of its original strength. Despite it's manpower losses, thanks to his brilliant maneuver at Oxcross and Fredrik's heroic action at the Western theater, the Reyne managed to stopped further Lannister's incursion into its territory while capturing two stronghold - Hornvale and Oxcross, in process. 

Baiklah, that's the end untuk review TOTSK. To be honest aku memang layan mod ni je sekarang, ada je mod lain tapi takdelah enjoy sangat. Ada satu lagi mod Bannerlord yang bertemakan GoT universe ni, tapi masih dalam pembikinan - AWOIAF by Produno Team. Ni yang aku memang tak sabar nak tunggu keluar. Huhu

Kisah AKU n The Grey Wolf - For The Watch

Assalamualaikum,

For those yang missed the first episode untuk my alternative miniseries ni can check on below links.

1. Ep 1 : The Grey Wolf - Black Brothers

The year is 304 AC. Commander Fredrik Greystark took control Shadow Tower and its surrounding camps after the death of Denys Mallister. It has been a year since the first sighting of Wight after their disappearance eight millennia ago. Upon reached his office from a routine training session, Fredrik finally had the opportunity to read a sealed letter from Bear Island, the ancestral seat of House Mormont.

As a high-born member, Fredrik have the privilege to leave the Wall with permission from the Lord Commander to attend other matters. He sailed from Shadow Jetty and landed at the island where he met the current Lady of Bear Island, Dacey Mormont. There, he reconciled with his wife whom later revealed their three years old son, Edrik. He was conceived just before Fredrik surrendered Wolf's Den to his sister and decided to join the Night's Watch a few years ago. While he is unable to break his sacred oath, Fredrik promised to visit his son frequently, who is by right the heir of House Greystark. 

Shortly after he came back to Shadow Tower, he was being informed by Bronson to meet Lord Commander Jon Snow for a very important meeting at Fist of the First Men between Night's Watch and Wildlings chieftains.

There, he met with commander of Eastwatch, Alliser Thorne and other senior leaders. Jon Snow later revealed his intention to allow Wildlings refugee to cross the Wall and shelter them from the Wight. The hall was silent. All of them knew it is a sacrilege towards the Night's Watch oath, a millennia of oath to protect the realm from anything Beyond the Wall including the Wildlings. Most of the senior leaders rejected the motion especially Alliser who remind the Lord Commander on their sacred duty, Jon Snow later responded that the Night King will use the dead Wildlings and turn them against the living later. Fredrik agreed with Jon Snow's reason and support the motion, followed by Eddison. Alliser however left the meeting, enraged by the Lord Snow's decision.

A couple of days later, Fredrik was sent by Lord Snow to lead an expedition Beyond the Wall in order to ensure the Wildlings can safely make their way to the Wall unharmed. After securing Wildlings convoy from Frostfangs and Fist of the First Men, Fredrik prepared his army to return.

On his way back, the Night's Watch halted by a blizzard and were forced to retreat to nearest cave. Here, Fredrik learnt about the origin of the Wight through an inscription and drawing inside the cave. 

His contingent accidentally came across a Wildlings's party led by The Weeper near Milkwater. Unsure about this unknown party, Fredrik ready his troops in a battle formation. As far as he know, there's a report of a rogue Wildlings party lurking in the area and wanted to stop the expedition's effort. This party does not concur any cooperation with the Night's Watch and preferred to live and die Beyond the Wall.

5,000 Wildlings ambushed Fredrik's 2,000 Night's Watch troops in their old-fashioned way. Thanks to Fredrik who introduced comprehensive training to his soldiers, the Night's Watch under his supervision is considered the best among the other corps and able to maintain its discipline under heavy pressure.

Wave after wave of attack were repulsed with the Night's Watch only suffered little casualties. Fredrik knew if they break rank to attack, the sheer number of Wildlings will just swarm their position and annihilate them. He ordered his troops to hold the line and absorb the attack until he find the right time to counter-attack.

Fredrik saw the opportunity to strike back when the Wildlings start to waver. The infantry break their rank and charged the enemy downhill, supported by a shower of arrows from the ranger to cut down the retreat.

The victorious Fredrik captured the Wildlings leader, The Weeper. After a few round of interrogation, he learnt that the warparty was being ordered by Alliser to track and destroy Fredrik's army and intercept any Wildlings convoy en route to the Wall. 

Fredrik's army camped near Milkwater to wait for news from Castle Black. Strangely, he does not received any news from Lord Snow in the past two days. Instead, he received a raven from Alliser Thorne who demanded him to surrender his army and renew his allegiance to the Night's Watch oath. His instinct was right. Castle Black is now under control by a group of mutineers led by Commander Alliser Thorne. Jon Snow was being imprisoned together with his loyal Night's Watch members.

An experienced commander, Fredrik sent one of his trusted rider dressed in a Wildlings cloth to infiltrate Castle Black bearing news from The Weeper. The rider successfully entered the headquarter and met Alliser, providing him with false information on The Weeper's movement and Fredrik's "dire" situation.

The rider returned to Milkwater and feed his intel - around 6,000 Night's Watch pledged their support to Alliser's cause. Another 1,000 under Eddison Tollett refused to cooperate and holed up in the Shadow Tower, now under siege by one of mutiny leader, Endrew Tarth. 

Unable to cross the Wall, Fredrik's troops moved westward and scaled the Skirling Pass, at the same time he sent raven to his wife, Lady Dacey requesting a transport ships to bypass the Wall via Bay of Ice. The plan worked. 1,800 Night Watch embarked and silently landed near Shadow Jetty and race to relief the besieged Shadow Tower. 

After successfully crushed Endrew's mutinous army, Fredrik advanced to Castle Black with 2,500 elite Night's Watch to rescue the loyalist. Alliser Thorne, now only left with 4,000 men decided to holed up in Castle Black while waiting for his reinforcing clansmen from the South. Fredrik request a parley with the rebel leader demanded him to surrender. Alliser, thinking he still have the numerical superiority rejected and chose to fight.

A handful reinforcement, around 1,000 clansmen consisted of Clan Harclays and Clan Norrey appeared from the loyalist's rear. They decided to conduct a diversionary attack against Fredrik's position near Molestown in order to regroup with Alliser's army.

Fredrik easily crushed the clansmen with no serious casualties from his side. Although outnumbered, he continues to siege Castle Black in order to corner the traitor. He knew his army is well trained and saw more combat experience than soldiers at Alliser's disposal. Fredrik himself is a better field commander and had many battle experience compared to him. 

The siege continues for another two weeks, Fredrik had the luxury to replenish his supplies due to his good relations with the villages within Brandon's Gift. The only thing he concerned is the safety of Jon Snow and the loyalists whom being imprisoned since the first day of siege.

At 7am in the morning, Alliser sent 1,000 troops in a surprise attack against Fredrik's siege line. Around 700 Night's Watch ranger sallied out and released a hundred of arrows towards their former brethren. 

Followed by cavalry support of 300 Night's Watch raider led by Othell Yarwyck. The attack was swift but fruitless. Despite suffered heavy blow, the loyalist still maintain their siege line and managed to fend off the sudden attack.

Fredrik led his own cavalry to strike back. Lack of coordination between Alliser's ranger and their cavalry support proven disastrous as his initial attack was being annihilated with only little survivor managed to retreat back to Castle Black. 

Commander Thorne, already in a desperate situation after his failed attack decided to sally forth at 10am. 2,000 Night's Watch were being commit for an all-out attack against Fredrik who still held a comfortable position and well provisioned throughout the siege.

Night's Watch mutineers led by Bowen Marsh strike Fredrik's left in an ambitious flanking maneuver but suffered a heavy casualties as they met a fresh line of shield wall formation whom held their ground

Fredrik led his newly formed Night's Watch raider to smashed Bowen's fighting units and slaughtered many mutinous soldiers in process, including its commander.

The final waves of 1,000 Night's Watch was being sent by Alliser in his desperate attempt to break Fredrik's center. The attack also failed as the mutineers quickly mowed down by a hail of arrows from the loyalist's ranger. To finish off the battle, Fredrik ordered a general attack against Alliser's wavering troops. 

At the height of battle, both commander engaged in a breathtaking duel. Both a remarkable swordsman continues to showcase their sword skills. But, experience prevailed as Fredrik managed to disarmed Alliser and thrust his Valyrian sword in the heart of the traitorous commander.

 

The battle is over at 12pm with majority of the mutineers were either killed or wounded and 1,000 captured. The aftermath of Alliser's mutiny proven devastating to the Night's Watch as the strength were left with less than 4,000 men. A number of senior leaders were killed in the battle including Commander Alliser Throne, Deputy Commander Endrew Tarth, First Steward Bowen Marsh and First Builder Othell Yarwyck.

Shortly after the fall of Castle Black in the hand of Commander Fredrik, he managed to found Jon Snow and hundred of loyalist soldiers imprisoned in the dungeon. The survivor were being saved and given food to regain their health and energy after two weeks in captive. As an acting Lord Commander, Fredrik sent a group of raider to Craster's Keep to escort the Wildlings convoy to cross the Wall and thus, completed his mission. Much to the awe of his fellow brothers, Fredrik managed to score two achievements in one shor - bring back the Wildlings and restore Jon Snow as the Lord Commander.

In total, the Night's Watch order loss 4,000 men from its original strength of 9,000 troops mostly in the aftermath of two battles - Shadow Tower and Castle Black. At the end of Alliser's mutiny, Fredrik continues to serve the brotherhood with substantial task to recruit new soldiers and retrain the army. This is important to ensure the Wall is sufficiently manned when times come for the White Walker invasion, soon. A long night will come and it bring darkness and terror to the living. It is the duty of Night's Watch to be the front-line in the fight of living against the dead. 

Next would be the final episode, but it will take sometimes since White Walker invasion is long way to go. Right now, I'm at day 500, according to forum the invasion will be triggered somewhere around day 700.