After Renly Baratheon seized the Iron Throne, a cold war commenced in the east. Stannis' blockades were very successful, cutting off supply lines throughout the crownlands. Renly focused on propaganda, spreading rumours of Stannis' heretical alliance with the Red Woman and her barbaric fire god. The brothers navigated the backrooms and soon-to-be battlefields, working for every small advantage. Tensions were ready to explode at a moment's notice.
Then, surprising word reached Dragonstone: Queen Margaery Tyrell was seen at Rosby and its neighbouring village, offering much needed food and supplies to lords and lowborn alike.
Stannis stared at the Painted Table. Davos studied the face of his King, but he was as indecipherable as granite.
"Divert all our men north of King’s Landing to watch the road from Rosby," Stannis ordered. "If we ambush his false queen, it will expose Renly for the feeble leader that he is."
"How do we know it’s true?" questioned Davos. "Perhaps they’re hoping you move your resources north so they can break the blockade along the Roseroad."
"Do you believe every man in King’s Landing has betrayed me? There are still true stags left amongst the wretched roses. We cannot let this opportunity escape us."
"She is beloved," blurted Davos. I’ve said it now. "If something were to happen to her... if something happened; then, to the cautious lords, the fighting men, the small folk, you’d become the monster that Renly says you are."
"Nothing bad would have happened to her if she wasn’t a vainglorious traitor, an imposter queen doling out breadcrumbs with one hand and anarchy the other. I have more sympathy for her carriage horses than I do Margaery Tyrell," Stannis rebutted.
"Young girls don’t have a say, you know that. This was Renly. This was Mace and the Queen of Thorns," Davos implored. "Think if it was Shireen..."
Stannis paced along the map, running his hand along the coastline. "Ser Andrew will lead the mission. He has the right temperament, and can be trusted to show restraint."
"Aye," said Davos. "He's a good man."
"We will capture the Lady Margaery and bring her to Dragonstone. She will learn of the great lie and the harm it’s caused my realm. And all Westeros will see that Renly’s love for her is as false and ineffectual as his rule."
The Story
"Margaery is intelligent and shrewd, taking after her cunning grandmother, Lady Olenna Tyrell. Margaery is her protégée, and as such, Olenna has made certain that Margaery is capable of protecting herself from those who might use or abuse her... The generous Margaery is popular with smallfolk. She follows the Faith of the Seven."
Gameplay & Strategy
This is another scenario inspired by our Campaign of Thrones narrative campaign. I'm particularly excited about this one because it's bringing the story in a whole new direction. The Clash of Kings battle between Stannis and the Lannisters is being replaced with a prolonged conflict between Renly and Stannis. Having already played this scenario and knowing where the campaign is headed next (with more action from the Baratheon Bros., Starks, and Greyjoys) I'm very excited to play the rest of phase 1 and see how it all turns out.
This scenario utilizes a new unit: the Highgarden Wheelhouse. I wanted Stannis and Renly's clashes to be notable and unique. At first glance, this unit may seem like an easy 4 VPs for the Renly player. In practice, having to use this unit as your first activation every round is very punishing (and games rarely reach the 6th Round). Just as the Tyrell caravan would be totally focused on protecting Queen Margaery, you must focus your strategy on playing very defensively and protecting the Wheelhouse at all costs. Any large solo model can stand-in for the Highgarden Wheelhouse. I was able to find a great carriage model on Etsy, which I am currently working on converting into a large solo.
This is a fan-made scenario inspired by CMON Limited’s A Song of Ice & Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game and is in no way associated with CMON.