Kisah AKU n The Grey Wolf - The Long Night

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
2. Ep 2 : The Grey Wolf - For The Watch

305AC - After the end of Alliser's mutiny, there's a lot works to do by Night's Watch leadership including Fredrik. The previous War of Five Kingdoms has affected Westeros in many areas, especially its population. Many young men died in the war. Those who survived were either deformed or living in despair, begging for money and food. Captives were sent to work at the iron and gold mine, rather than being sent to the Wall in order to boost the mining industries. 

Fredrik, with permission from Lord Snow visited his family at Bear Island. According to Lady Dacey, a coalition of Stark's loyalist led by Lord Wyman Manderly is planning to rebel against Lord Paramount Ramsay Bolton and restore the late Eddard Stark's daughter, Sansa as the rightful ruler of the North. She asked his husband to support the war effort as the coalition direly need a proven battle commander who can challenge the might of House Bolton. But, Fredrik is already a sworn member of the Night's Watch and it would be impossible to him to release his oath as the brotherhood did not interfere in Westeros politics. In addition, the ancient  military order is in a grim state after the mutiny which reduced half of its forces.

He returned to Castle Black immediately to deliver the message to Lord Snow. As expected, there's nothing much they can do as they are bound on their sacred duty to protect the realm from even larger threat, the Night King's invasion. Instead, Lord Snow gave instruction to Fredrik for an assignment Beyond the Wall to escort the final Wildlings convoy from Hardhome. Around 2,000 Night's Watch march northward to receive around 20,000 Wildlings refugee.

After a long two weeks of steady march, the convoy finally arrived at Castle Black which made a total of 50,000 Wildlings refugees mostly elders, women and children safely made its way to the Wall. From this number, 5,000 are consisted of Wildlings' warriors led by Tormund Giantsbane. Upon reaching the headquarter, Fredrik was shocked with the news of Jon Snow's assassination by his steward, Olly. Two days later, Jon Snow was miraculously resurrected by Red Priestess, Melisandre. He later named Fredrik to become the new Lord Commander of the Night's Watch as the oath ended with his temporary death. Lord Snow, together with his advisor Ser Davos Seaworth and 3,000 Wildlings warrior left Castle Black and regroup with the Stark's loyalist in their attempt to reclaim the North in the name of House Stark.

Fredrik perform his new duty diligently starting with a reform of the Night's Watch forces with the appointment of Jaremy Rykker as the new commander for Shadow Tower and Eddison Tollet who retained his duty as commander of Eastwatch. He also begin to repopulate a numbers of abandoned villages within Brandon's Gift to the Wildlings and bolster his network of fort with Wildlings warriors properly trained with the art of war on battle formation, tactics and most importantly, discipline. 

One month later, he received a messenger from Winterfell. The coalition of Stark's loyalist managed to destroyed Bolton's army and recaptured the capital with Jon Stark proclaimed as the new King in the North. In the Battle of Winterfell, the outnumbered loyalist was nearly defeated but the table turned as the Greystark's contingent under the command of Lady Sharra appeared from Bolton's rear and smashed Ramsay's army. A proud Fredrik sent raven to his sister to congratulate the Greystark for their contribution, while alerting her on the incoming threat Beyond the Wall. 

A tons of obsidian were being transported via Eastwatch port from Dragonstone in order to equipped the Night's Watch with a dragon-glass weapon such as axe, sword, spear and even arrow. According to Maester Samwell, the Wight can only be killed with dragon-glass and fire. Valyrian sword is a perfect weapon to kill the White Walker but it's a rare material and only a few old Westerosi house possessed this unique weapon. Luckily for Fredrik, House Greystark owned a Valyrian sword named Greywind and currently inherited by him.

The invasion has begun. Wights army led by the Night King attacked Thenn which saw the massacre of the entire population there. These were the group of stubborn Wildlings who rejected cooperation with the Night's Watch. Luckily by initiative of Lord Snow, most of the Wildlings at Frostfangs, Fist of the First Men and Hardhome already evacuated and now safe behind the Wall. 

With his necromancy power to resurrect dead people, the Night King's army is now numbered around 50,000! In contrast, Fredrik are left with only 5,000 Night's Watch and 2,000 Wildlings warriors as no reinforcement received from kingdoms in Westeros.

As expected, the invasion forces emerged from the Haunted Forest. Fredrik concentrated his Night's Watch at Castle Black rather than splitting his forces into three. Castle Black is the only section of the Wall which have tunnel access and thus, became a possible attacking point from invader from Beyond the Wall. The other part of the Wall is deemed impregnable and impossible to attack with its stunning 700 feet height. Scaling it might be pointless, especially with the addition of giant sycthe, a numbers of ballista as well as wooden pillboxes for Night's Watch rangers.

The Night King launched his first attack against the Wall by sending 10,000 Wights supported by a number of giants straightly towards the tunnel gate. The giants were the first to arrive and slam the outer gate to destroy it. The Night's Watch missile units continues to shower fire and obsidian arrow from the top of the Wall. Another group of ranger manning the ballista, trying to target the advancing giants. 

At the bottom of the Wall, Fredrik ready his infantry at the entrance of inner gate while locking their obsidian spear wall. Some 3,000 Night's Watch infantry and 2,000 Wildlings warrior are about to face their true enemy. The outer gate was unable to stand the might of giant and later collapsed. A thousands of Wights swarming the tunnel and made their way to the inner gate. Fredrik gave instruction to Commander Eddison to maintain his missile unit at the top of the Wall and continue to fire at the advancing Wights. With the fall of inner gate, the Wights army begin to attack Castle Black's inner compound. 

The obsidian spear wall formation formed by the Night's Watch and Wildlings managed to inflicted heavy casualties to the undead. After a long three hours of battle and despite their valiant resistance, the sheer number and stamina of the Wights proven too much for the exhausted infantry. Fredrik ordered the first line to fall back while instructing Bronson to release fire arrow to the oil drain dug to light a "fire-wall" in their effort to delay the Wights. The survivor, some 3,000 men safely retreated to the second line and forming yet another spear wall to fend-off the undead.

The Night King sent another 10,000 Wights into the fray, most of them were being killed by a hail of fire and obsidian arrow released by the Night's Watch ranger led by Commander Eddison. The ballista unit also performed well and managed to killed some of the giants brought into the battle. Heavy fighting raged in the battlement between the living and the dead. 

As for Fredrik, he knew they need to at least survive until sunrise before the Night King's army retreating for a while. According to inscription written in the cave he found last year, the Wights is a nocturnal species. They hunt at night while sleep during daytime. Only White Walker can remained in their form when the sun hit the ground, however this only numbered around 1,000 and made up a small percent in the Night King's army.

Luckily for Fredrik, his tactics managed to buy time. The sun starts to presence in the horizon and the Night King recalled his army back to the Haunted Forest, bidding another night to storm the Wall. During the first attack, Fredrik suffered 3,000 casualties mostly from his infantry and Wildlings' warrior. This left him with less than 5,000 soldiers. The Night King lost around 20,000 Wights in the first attack, including 90 giants. However, he still have around 30,000 Wights at his disposal waiting to launch another offensive against the ill-defended Night's Watch.

Fredrik ordered the burning of the corpses in order to prevent them to be reanimate by the Night King later. The smoke and ashes from the fire can be seen as far as the castle of Last Hearth. While tending to his wound, he received a raven from Winterfell - a message from King Jon Stark who acknowledged the threat and informed him on his early preparation. A massive oil-pit has been dug within Winterfell. Most of the North's population especially those who live near the Gift such as Last Hearth and Karhold already en route to Winterfell to take shelter behind its great wall. 

From the letter, Fredrik knew there will be no incoming reinforcement from the South. It is now the time for Night's Watch to fulfill their sacred duty - to sacrifice themselves in order to ensure safety of the realm. He is about to unleash his last card in this ultimate battle. Fredrik ordered his builder to repair the outer gate, and sealed the tunnel with a ton of oily timbers and obsidian's booby trap. He knew, the Night King is left with less than ten giants now, if he can stop their advance at the outer gate. The living army might have chance to survive and defeat the invasion.

The Night King commenced his attack against the Wall. However, most of the giants were being shot to death upon reaching the firing radius from Eddison's missile units. This left many Wights stranded at the outer gate and easily being killed by arrows, and even fire-stones. The last two giants successfully damaged the gate before dying, thus allowing 15,000 Wights to swarm the tunnel. Just before they reach the inner gate, Bronson shot a fire arrow straightly to the oily timber and later caused a massive fire inside the tunnel which killed a thousands of advancing Wights. At the same time, Commander Eddison ordered his ranger to pour hot oil to the Wight corpses below and light it with fire to prevent the Night King to resurrect them.

Realizing his desperate situation, the Night King led his final reserve, around 14,000 Wights and 1,000 White Walkers to attack Fredrik's meager forces. His 4,000 men are about to face the wrath of the Night King. Deploying the spear wall formation, the Night's Watch and Wildlings warrior locking their shield together in their last attempt to push the invader out from the Wall, once for all. 

A bitter fighting within Castle Black's compound as the undead continues to press the attack. Fredrik ordered Eddison to reinforce his failing left flank. Around 1,000 Night's Watch ranger joined the battle and deliver a deadly obsidian's arrow volley to the Wights from its rear. The Wights attack slowly declining after most of the White Walker killed in the battle after the surprise flanking attack by Eddison's ranger.

Seeing the opportunity, Fredrik ride his stallion and charged towards the Night King. This is his last chance to end the Long Night. If the inscription is true - the entire Wights army will vanish if the Night King died. Armed with his Valyrian sword and obsidian knife, a fearless Fredrik faced the undead leader. An intense duel happened between the two commander. One representing light and hope, while the other stand for dark and terror. 

Taking advantage of his fast stallion, Fredrik managed to punch through the enemy line and reached the Night King. A skillful swordsman, he succeed to decapitate the Night King's hand and followed by a sword thrust directly through his heart. A moment later, the entire Wight's army including the White Walker vanished instantly. 

The survivor cheering merrily with a joyful tear. They have won the great battle as the Night King's invasion has been destroyed at the very gate of the frontier. Thanks to Lord Commander Fredrik Greystark who brilliantly planned the defensive operation of the Wall, and his valour in killing the Night King during the battle. 

In the aftermath of the Long Night, the Night's Watch order lost 4,000 men while the Wildlings left with only 500 warriors. Despite that, the Wights is no longer a threat to the realm.

The Lord Commander sent raven to King Jon Stark informing him on the victory. Two days later, a messenger from Winterfell arrived at Castle Black bearing a seal letter from King Jon. Since there were no longer threat Beyond the Wall with the destruction of Night King's army and Wildlings is now assimilating with the North's custom and way of life. With his royal decree as the King in the North, the Night's Watch order shall be dissolve and the members are free to break their oath and choose to return to their family. Fredrik gathered his men and informed them on the news - most of its member decided to return to the normal life, while some of them who does not have any family left, chose to remain in Castle Black and starting new life with the Wildlings.

As for Fredrik himself, he finally decided to returned to his family. With the dissolution of the order, he was technically the last Lord Commander of the Night Watch. Wearing back his Northern armor, Fredrik sailed to Bear Island to reunite with his wife and son. Shortly after the ascension of Lady Lyanna Mormont as the new Lady of Bear Island, the family traveled together to Greystark's castle of Wolf's Den. 

His sister, Sharra gladly returned the lordship of House Greystark to Fredrik upon his arrival. Eventhough he did not participate in the struggle against the Bolton, but his bravery in protecting the Wall and destroyed the Night King's army were above all and more than enough to redeem himself. Should the Night's Watch fallen and defeated, the Wight's army will destroy everything who stands against them. The brave son of Greystark has done a great service to the realm and now pledged a never ending fealty to his new liege lord, King Jon Stark as the rightful ruler of the North. 

P/S: Haa, yang ni hero tak mati. Sambungan, takde dah. Aku nak fokus satu review untuk mod A Clash of Kings pulak. Review je, takde mini-series. Hihi

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